Onthemornofdeparture，whenRalpharose，Davidcametohimandsaid：
　　“MyLordisastiralready，andwouldseetheeforthygood。”
　　SoRalphwentwithDavid，whobroughthimtotheTower，andtheretheyfoundtheLordsittinginawindow，andOtterstoodbeforehim，andsomeothersofhishighestfolk。ButbesidehimsatJoyce，anditseemedthathethoughtitnaughtbutgoodtoholdherhandandplaywiththefingersthereof，thoughallthosegreatmenwereby；
　　andRalphhadnothoughtofherbutthatshewastheQueen。
　　SoRalphmadeobeisancetotheLordandstoodawaitinghisword；
　　andtheLordsaid：“Wehavebeenthinkingofthee，youngman，andhavedeemedthylottobesomewhatofthehardest，ifthoumustneedsbeathrall，sincethouartbothyoungandwell-born，andsogoodamanofthinehands。Now，wiltthoubeourmanatUtterbol？”
　　RalphdelayedhisansweraspaceandlookedatOtter，whoseemedtohimtoframeaYeawithhislips，aswhoshouldsay，takeit。Sohesaid：
　　“Lord，thouartgoodtome，yetmaystthoubebetterifthouwilt。”
　　“Yea，man！”saidtheLordknittinghisbrows；“Whatshallitbe？saythysay，andbedonewithit。”
　　“Lord。”saidRalph，“Ipraytheetogivememychoice，whetherIshallgowiththeetoUtterbolorforbeargoing？”
　　“Why，loyou！”saidtheLordtestily，andsomewhatsourly；
　　“thouhastthechoice。HaveInottoldtheethatthouartfree？”
　　ThenRalphkneltbeforehim，andsaid：“Lord，Ithanktheefromafullheart，inthatthouwiltsuffermetodepartonmineerrand，foritisagreatone。”ThescowldeepenedontheLord’sface，andheturnedawayfromRalph，andsaidpresently：
　　“OttertaketheKnightawayandlethimhaveallhisarmourandweaponsandarightgoodhorse；andthenlethimdoashewill，eitherridewithus，ordepartifhewill，andwhitherhewill。
　　Andifhemustneedsrideintothedesert，andcasthimselfawayinthemountains，sobeit。Butwhateverhehathamindto，letnonehinderhim，butfurtherhimrather；hearestthou？takehimwiththee。”
　　ThenwasRalphoverflowingwiththanks，buttheLordheededhimnaught，butlookedaskanceathimandsourly。Andheroseupwithal，andledthedamselbythehandintoanotherchamber；andshemincedinhergaitandleanedovertotheLordandspakesoftlyinhisearandlaughed，andhelaughedinhisturnandtoyedwithherneckandshoulders。
　　ButthegreatmenturnedandwenttheirwaysfromtheTower，andRalphwentwithOtterandwasfullofglee，andasmerryasabird。ButOtterlookedonhim，andsaidgruffly：
　　“Yeanow，thouartlikeasong-birdbutnewlyletoutofhiscage。
　　ButIcanseethestringwhichistiedtothyleg，thoughthoufeelestitnot。”
　　“Why，whatnow？”quothRalph，makingasthoughhewereastonished。
　　“Hearken。”saidOtter：“thereisnonenighus，soIwillspeakstraightout；
　　forIlovetheesincethejustingwhenwetriedourmighttogether。
　　Ifthoudeemestthatthouartverilyfree，rideoffonthebackwardroadwhenwegoforward；Iwarrantmethoushaltpresentlymeetwithanadventure，andbebroughtinacaptiveforthesecondtime。”
　　“Howthen。”saidRalph，“hathnottheLordgoodwilltowardme？”
　　SaidOtter：“Isaynotthatheisnowmindedtodotheeamischiefforcruelty’ssake；butheismindedtogetwhathecanoutofthee。
　　Ifheusetheenotforthepleasuringofhiswifesolongasherpleasureintheelastethhewillverilyusetheeforsomewhatelse。
　　Andtospeakplainly，Inowdeemthathewillmaketheemymate，tousewithme，oragainstmeasoccasionmayserve；sothoushaltbeanothercaptainofhishost。”Helaughedwithal，andsaidagain：
　　“Butifthoubenotwary，thouwilttumbleoffthatgiddyheight，andfindthyselfathralloncemore，andmaybeageldingtoboot。”
　　NowwaxedRalphangryandforgathisprudence，andsaid：
　　“Yea，buthowshallheusemewhenIamoutofreachofhishand？”
　　“Oho，youngman。”saidOtter，“whitherawaythen，tobeoutofhisreach？”
　　“Why。”quothRalphstillangrily，“isthyLordmasterofalltheworld？”“Nay。”saidthecaptain，“butofapiecethereof。
　　Inshort，betwixtUtterbolandGoldburg，andUtterbolandthemountains，andUtterbolandanhundredmilesnorth，andanhundredmilessouth，thereisnoplacewherethoucanstlive，noplacesavethehowlingwilderness，andscarcelythereeither，wherehemaynotlayhandontheeifhedobutwhistle。What，man！benotdownhearted！comewithustoUtterbol，sincethouneedsmust。
　　Bewise，andthentheLordshallhavenooccasionagainstthee；
　　aboveall，bewareofcrossinghiminanymatterofawoman。
　　Thenwhoknows“andherehesunkhisvoicewellnightoawhisper
　　“butthouandItogethermayruleinUtterbolandmakebetterdaysthere。”
　　Ralphwaswaxenmasterofhimselfbynow，andwasgottenwaryindeed，sohemadeasifhelikedOtter’scounselwell，andbecameexceedinggay；
　　forindeedtheheartwithinhimwasverilygladatthethoughtofhisescapingfromthralldom；formorethanevernowhewasfastinhismindtofleeatthetimeappointedbyRedhead。
　　SoOttersaid：“Well，youngling，Iamgladthatthoutakestitthus，forIdeemthatifthouwerttoseektodepart，theLordwouldmakeitanoccasionagainstthee。”
　　“Suchanoccasionshallhenothave，fellowinarms。”quothRalph。
　　“Buttellme，weridepresently，andIsupposeareboundforUtternessbytheshortestroad？”“Yea。”saidOtter，“andanonweshallcometothegreatforestwhichliethalongourroadallthewaytoUtternessandbeyondit；forthetownis，asitwere，anislandintheseaofwoodlandwhichcoversall，rightuptothefeetoftheGreatMountains，anddoeswhatitmaytoclimbthemwheresothegreatwalloritsbuttressesareanywisebrokendowntowardourcountry；buttheendofitliethalongourroad，asIsaid，andwedobutskirtit。
　　Awoefulwooditis，andsaveforthehuntingofthebeasts，whichbethereingreatplenty，withwolvesandbears，yea，andlionstoboot，whichcomedownfromthemountains，thereisnogaininit。
　　Nogain，thoughforsooththeysaythatsomehavefounditgainful。”
　　“Howso？”saidRalph。SaidOtter：“ThatwaylieththewaytotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，ifonemightfindit。
　　IfatanytimewewereclearofUtterbol，Ihaveamindfortheadventurealongwiththee，lad，andsoIdeemhastthoufromallthequestionsthouhastputtomethereabout。”
　　Ralphmasteredhimselfsothathisfacechangednot，andhesaid：
　　“Well，Captain，thatmaycometopass；buttellme，arethereanytokensknownwherebyamanshallknowthatheisontherightpathtotheWell？”
　　“Thereportoffolkgoeth。”saidOtter，“concerningonetoken，whereistheroadandthepassthroughtheGreatMountains，towit，thatontheblackrocktherebyiscarventheimageofaFightingMan，ormonstrousgiant，ofthedayslonggoneby。
　　OfothersignsIcantelltheenaught；andfewofmenarealivethatcan。ButthereisaSagedwellethinthewoodunderthemountainstowhomfolkseekforhisdiverselore；andhe，ifhewill，saymen，cansetforthalltheway，anditsperils，andhowtoescapethem。Well，knight，whenthetimecomes，thouandIwillgofindhimtogether，forheatleastisnothardtofind，andifhebegracioustous，thenwillweonourquest。
　　Butasnow，seeye，theyhavestruckourtentsandtheQueen’spavilionalso；sotohorse，istheword。”
　　“Yea。”quothRalph，lookingcuriouslytowardtheplacewheretheQueen’spavilionhadstood；“isnotyondertheQueen’slittertakingtheroad？”
　　“Yea，surely。”saidOtter。
　　“Thenthelitterwillbeempty。”saidRalph。“Maybe，ormaybenot。”
　　saidOtter；“butnowImustgetmegonehastilytomyfolk；
　　doubtlessweshallmeetupontheroadtoUtterbol。”
　　Soheturnedandwenthisways；andRalphalsorantohishorse，wherebywasDavidalreadyinthesaddle，andsomounted，andthewholeroutmovedslowlyfromoutofValeTurris，RalphgoingeverbyDavid。
　　Thecompanywasnowagreatone，formanywainswerejoinedtothem，ladenwithmeal，andfleeces，andotherhouseholdstuff，andwithaltherewasagreatherdofneat，andofsheep，andofgoats，whichtheLord’smenhadbeengatheringinthefruitfulcountrythesetwodays；
　　buttheLordwastarryingstillinthetower。
　　TheyRideTowardUtternessFromOutofValeTurrisSotheyrodebyagoodhighway，wellbeaten，pasttheTowerandovertheridgeofthevalley，andcamefullupontheterriblesightoftheGreatMountains，andtheseaofwoodlandlaybeforethem，swellingandfalling，andswellingagain，tillitbrokegreyagainstthedarkblueofthemountainwall。Theywentasthewayled，downhill，andwhentheywereatthebottom，thencealongtheirhighwaypartedthetillageandfencedpasturesfromtheroughedgesofthewoodlandlikeasaditchsundersfieldfromfield。
　　Theyhadthewildwoodeverontheirrighthand，andbutalittlewayfromwheretheyrodethewoodthickenedforthemorepartintodarkandclosethicket，thetreeswhereofweresotallthattheyhidtheovershadowingmountainswhensotheyrodethebottoms，thoughwhenthewaymountedontheridges，andthetreesgavebackalittle，theyhadsightofthewoodlandandthemountains。
　　Ontheotherhandatwhilesthethicketcamecloseuptotheroadside。
　　NowDavidbiddethpressonpastthewainsandthedrivenbeasts，whichweregoingveryslowly。Sodidthey，andatlastwerewellnighattheheadoftheLord’scompany，butwhenRalphwouldhavepressedonstill，Davidrefrainedhim，andsaidthattheymustbynomeansoutgotheQueen’speople，orevenminglewiththem；sotheyrodeonsoftly。
　　Butastheafternoonwasdrawingtowardeveningtheyheardgreatnoiseofhornsbehindthemandthesoundofhorsesgalloping。
　　ThenDaviddrewRalphtothesideoftheway，andeverybodyabout，bothbeforeandbehindthem，drewupinwiseatthewayside，andoreverRalphcouldaskanyquestion，cameabandofmen-at-armsatthegallopledbyOtter，andafterthemtheLordonhisblacksteed，andbesidehimonawhitepalfreythewomanwhomRalphhadseenintheTower，andwhomhehadtakenfortheQueen，herlightraimentstreamingoutfromher，andheryellowhairflyingloose。
　　Theypassedinamomentoftime，andthenDavidandRalphandtherestrodeonafterthem。
　　ThensaidRalph：“TheQueenridethwellandhardily。”
　　“Yea。”saidDavid，screwinghisfaceintoagrin，wouldheorno。
　　Ralphbeheldhim，anditcameintohismindthatthiswasnottheQueenwhomhehadlookedonwhentheyfirstcameintoValeTurris，andhesaid：
　　“Whatthen！thiswomanisnottheQueen？”
　　Davidspakenotforawhile，andthenheanswered：
　　“SirKnight，therebematterswhereofweservantsofmyLordsaylittleornothing，andthouwertbesttodothelike。”
　　Andnomorewouldhesaythereon。
　　RedheadKeepsTrystTheyrodenotaboveadozenmilesthatday，andpitchedtheirtentsandpavilionsinthefairmeadowsbythewaysidelookingintothethickoftheforest。Therethisbetidtotellof，thatwhenRalphgotoffhishorse，andthehorse-ladsweregatheredaboutthemen-at-armsandhighfolk，whoshouldtakeRalph’shorsebutRedhead，whomadeasigntohimbyliftinghiseyebrowsasifhewereaskinghimsomewhat；andRalphtookitasaquestionastowhetherhispurposeheldtofleeonthemorrownight；
　　sohenoddedayeasay，justsomuchasRedheadmightnoteit；
　　andnaughtelsebefellbetwixtthem。
　　Whenitwasbarelydawnafterthatnight，Ralphawokewiththesoundofgreatstirinthecamp，andshoutingofmenandlowingandbleatingofbeasts；sohelookedout，andsawthatthewainsandtheflocksandherdswerebeinggotontotheroad，sothattheymightmakegoodwaybeforethecompanyofthecamptooktheroad。
　　Butheheededitlittleandwenttosleepagain。
　　Whenitwasfullymorninghearose，andfoundthatthemenwerenothasteningtheirdeparture，butwererestingbythewood-sideanddisportingthemaboutthemeadow；sohewanderedaboutamongstthemen-at-armsandserving-men，andcameacrossRedheadandhailedhim；andtherewasnomanverynightothem；
　　soRedheadlookedabouthimwarily，andthenspakeswiftlyandsoftly：
　　“Failnotto-night！failnot！ForyesterdayagainwasItoldbyonewhowottethsurely，whatabideththeeatUtterbolifthougothither。
　　Isayifthoufail，thoushaltrepentbutonce——allthylifelongtowit。”
　　Ralphnoddedhishead，andsaid：“Fearnot，Iwillnotfailthee。”
　　Andtherewiththeyturnedawayfromeachotherlesttheyshouldbenoted。
　　Abouttwohoursbeforenoontheygottohorseagain，and，beingnomoreencumberedwiththewainsandthebeasts，rodeatagoodpace。
　　Asonthedaybeforetheroadledthemalongtheedgeofthewildwood，andwhilesitevenwentclosetotheverythicket。
　　Whilesagaintheymountedsomewhat，andlookeddownonthethicket，leaguesandleaguesthereof，whichyetseemedbutalittlespacebecauseofthehugenessofthemountainwallwhichbroodedoverit；