butoftenesttheforesthidallbuttheneartrees。
　　Thustheyrodesometwentymiles，andmadestayatsunsetinaplacethatseemedratheraclearingofthewoodthanameadow；
　　fortheyhadtreesontheirlefthandatafurlong’sdistance，aswellasontheirrightatastone’sthrow。
　　RalphsawnotRedheadashegotoffhishorse，andDavidaccordingtohiswontwentwithhimtohistent。Butaftertheyhadsuppedtogether，andDavidhadmademuchofRalph，andhaddrankmanycupstohishealth，hesaidtohim：
　　“Thenightisyetyoung，yea，butnew-born；yetmustIdepartfromthee，ifImay，tomeetamanwhowillsellmeanoblehorsegoodcheap；
　　andImaywellleavetheenow，seeingthatthouhastbecomeafreeman；
　　soIbidtheegoodnight。”
　　Therewithhedeparted，andwasscarcegoneoutereRedheadcomethin，andsaithinhiswontedroughloudvoice：“Here，knight，hereisthebridlethoubadestmegetmended；willthecobblingserve？”
　　Thenseeingnoonethere，hefelltospeakingsofterandsaid：
　　“Iheardtheoldpimpcalltheeafreemane’ennow：
　　Ifearmethatthouartnotsofreeashewouldhavetheethink。
　　Anyhow，wereIthou，Iwouldbefreerintwohoursspace。
　　Isittobeso？”
　　“Yea，yea。”saidRalph。Redheadnodded：“Goodisthat。”saidhe；“Isayintwohours’timeallwillbequiet，andweareasnearthethicketasmaybe；
　　thereisnomoon，butthenightisfairandthestarsclear；soallthatthouhasttodoistowalkoutofthistent，andturnatoncetothyrighthand：
　　comeoutwithmenowquietly，andIwillshowthee。”
　　TheywentouttogetherandRedheadsaidsoftly：“Lothouthatdodderedoakyonder；likeapieceofahay-rickitlooksunderthestars；
　　ifthouseestit，comeinagainatonce。”
　　RalphturnedanddrewRedheadin，andsaidwhentheywereinthetentagain：
　　“Yea，Isawit：whatthen？”
　　SaidRedhead：“Ishallbebehinditabidingthee。”
　　“MustIgoafoot？”saidRalph，“orhowshallIgetmeahorse？”
　　“Ihaveahorseforthee。”saidRedhead，“notthineown，butabetteroneyet，thathathnotbeenbackedto-day。Nowgivemeacupofwine，andletmego。”
　　Ralphfilledforhimandtookacuphimself，andsaid：
　　“Ipledgethee，friend，andwishtheebetterluck；andIwouldhavetheeformyfellowinthisquest。”
　　“Nay。”saidRedhead，“itmaynotbe：Iwillnotburdenthyluckwithmyill-luck……andmoreoverIamseekingsomethingwhichImaygainatUtterbol，andifIhaveit，Imaydomybesttosaygood-nighttothatevilabode。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“andIwishtheewelltherein。”
　　SaidRedhead，stammeringsomewhat；“ItiseventhatwomanoftheQueen’swhereofItoldthee。Andnowonelastword，sinceImustnotbeoverlonginthytent，lestsomeonecomeuponus。But，fairsir，ifthymindmisgivetheeforthisturningasidefromUtterbol；thoughitisnottobedoubtedthatthedamselwhomthouseekesthathbeenthere，itisnotallsosurethatthouwouldsthavefoundherthere。
　　Foroflate，whatwithmyLordandmyLadybeingbothaway，theplacehathbeenscantoffolk；andnotonlyisthesaiddamselwiseandwary，buttherebeotherswhohaveseenherbesidesmyLord，andwhosohathseenherisliketoloveher；
　　andsuchisshe，thatwhosolovethherisliketodoherwill。
　　SoIbidtheeinallcasebeearnestinthyquest；andthinkthatifthoudieontheroadthydamselwouldhavediedforthee；
　　andifthoudrinkoftheWellandcomebackwholeandsafe，IknownotwhythoushouldestnotgostraighttoUtterbolandhavethedamselawaywiththee，whosoevergainsayit。
　　FortheyiftherebeanysuchwhohavedrunkoftheWellattheWorld’sEndarewelllookedtointhisland。
　　Nowonemorewordyet；whenIcometoUtterbol，ifthydamselbetherestill，fearnotbutIwillhavespeechofher，andtellofthee，andwhatthouwertlookingto，andhowthoudeemedstofher。”
　　Therewithheturnedanddepartedhastily。
　　ButRalphleftalonewassorelymovedwithhopeandfear，andalongingthatgrewinhimtoseethedamsel。Forthoughhewasfirmlysetondeparture，andonseekingthesageaforesaid，yethisheartwasdrawnthiswayandthat：
　　anditcameintohismindhowthedamselwouldfarewhentheevilLordcamehometoUtterbol；andhecouldnotchoosebutmakestoriesofhermeetingofthetyrant，andherfearandgriefandshame，andthedespairofherheart。
　　Sotheminuteswentslowtohim，tillheshouldbeinsomenewplaceanddoingsomewhattowardbringingaboutthedeliveranceofherfromthralldom，andthemeetingofhimandher。
　　oTheWellAtWorld’sEnd。
　　AnAdventureintheWoodUndertheMountainsNowwasthenightworntothetimeappointed，foritwastwohoursaftermidnight，sohesteppedoutofhistentcladinallhiswargear，andwentstraighttothedodderedoak，andfoundRedheadtherewithbutonehorse，wherebyRalphknewthatheheldtohispurposeofgoinghiswaystoUtterbol：
　　sohetookhimbytheshouldersandembracedhim，roughcarleashewas，andRedheadkneeledtohimonemomentoftimeandthenaroseandwentoffintothenight。ButRalphgota-horsebackwithoutdelayandrodehiswayswarilyacrossthehighwayandintothewood，andtherewasnonetohinderhim。
　　Thoughitwasdarkbutforthestarlight，therewasapath，whichthehorse，andnotRalph，found，sothathemadesomewayevenbeforethefirstglimmerofdawn，allthemoreasthewoodwasnotverythickafterthefirstmile，andtherewereclearingshereandthere。
　　SorodeRalphtillthesunwasatpointtorise，andhewasaboutthemidstofoneofthoseclearingsorwood-lawns，onthefurthersidewhereoftherewasmorethicket，ashedeemed，thenhehadyetcometo；
　　sohedrewreinandlookedabouthimforaminute。Eventherewithhedeemedheheardasoundlessharshthanthecryofthejayinthebeech-trees，andshrillerthanthemoaningofthemorningbreezeinthewood。
　　Sohefallstolisteningwithbothears，andthistimedeemsthathehearsthevoiceofawoman：andtherewithcameintohismindthatoldanddearadventureoftheWoodPerilous；forhewasdreamywiththepasteagernessofhisdeeds，andthelongandlonelynight。
　　Butyethedoubtedsomewhatofthevoicewhenithadpassedhisears，soheshookhisrein，forhethoughtitnotgoodtotarry。
　　Scarcethenhadhishorsesteppedout，eretherecameawomanrunningoutofthethicketbeforehimandmadetowardhimoverthelawn。
　　Sohegatoffhishorseatonceandwenttomeether，leadinghishorse；
　　andashedrewnighhecouldseethatshewasinasorryplight；shehadgatheredupherskirtstorunthebetter，andherlegsandfeetwerenaked：
　　thecoifwasgonefromherheadandherblackhairstreamedoutbehindher：
　　hergownwasrentabouttheshouldersandbosom，sothatonesleevehungtattered，asifbythehandlingofsomeone。
　　Sosheranuptohimcryingout：“Help，knight，helpus！”
　　andsankdowntherewithathisfeetpantingandsobbing。
　　Hestoopeddowntoher，andraisedherup，andsaidinakindvoice：
　　“Whatisamiss，fairdamsel，thatthouartinsuchaplight；
　　andwhatmayIforthineavail？Dothanypursuethee，thatthoufleestthus？”
　　Shestoodsobbingawhile，andthentookholdofhistwohandsandsaid：
　　“Ofairlord，comenowandhelpmylady！forasforme，sinceIamwiththee，Iamsafe。”
　　“Yea。”saidhe，“ShallIgettohorseatonce？”
　　AndItherewithhemadeasifhewouldmoveawayfromher；
　　butshestillheldhishands，andseemedtothinkitgoodsotodo，andshespakenotforawhilebutgazedearnestlyintohisface。
　　Shewasafairwoman，darkandsleekandlithe……foringoodsoothshewasnoneotherthanAgatha，whoisaforetoldof。
　　NowRalphissomewhatabashedbyhereagerness，andletshiseyesfallbeforehers；andhecannotbutnotethatdespitethebramblesandbriarsofthewoodthatshehadrunthrough，therewerenoscratchesonherbarelegs，andthatherarmwasunbruisedwherethesleevehadbeenrentoff。
　　Atlastshespake，butsomewhatslowly，asifshewerethinkingofwhatshehadtosay：“Oknight，bythyknightlyoathIchargetheecometomyladyandhelpandrescueher：
　　sheandIhavebeentakenbyevilmen，andIfearthattheywillputhertoshame，andtormenther，eretheycarryheroff；
　　fortheywereabouttyinghertoatreewhenIescaped：
　　fortheyheedednotmewhoambutthemaid，whentheyhadthemistressintheirhands。”“Yea。”saidhe，“andwhoisthymistress？”
　　Saidthedamsel：“SheistheLadyoftheBurntRock；
　　andIfearmethatthesemenareoftheRidersofUtterbol；
　　andthenwillitgohardwithher；forthereisnaughtbuthatredbetwixtmylordherhusbandandthetyrantofUtterbol。”
　　SaidRalph：“Andhowmanywerethey？”“Obutthree，fairsir，butthree。”shesaid；“andthousofairandstrong，likethewar-godhimself。”
　　Ralphlaughed：“Threetooneislongodds。”quothhe，“butIwillcomewiththeewhenthouhastletgomyhandssothatImaymountmyhorse。
　　Butwiltthounotridebehindme，fairdamsel；soweariedandspentasthouwiltbebythynight。”
　　Shelookedonhimcuriously，andlaidahandonhisbreast，andthehauberkringstinkledbeneaththebroideredsurcoat；
　　thenshesaid：“Nay，Ihadbestgoafootbeforethee，sodisarrayedasIam。”
　　Thenshelethimgo，butfollowedhimstillwithhereyesashegathimintothesaddle。Shewalkedonbesidehishorse’shead；
　　andRalphmarvelledofherthatforallherhasteshehadbeenin，shewentsomewhatleisurely，pickingherwaydaintilysoastotreadthesmooth，andkeepherfeetfromtherough。
　　Thustheywenton，intothethicketandthroughit，andthedamselputthethornsandbriarsasidedaintilyasshestepped，andwentslowerstilltilltheycametoapleasantplaceofoak-treeswithgreenswardbeneaththem；
　　andthenshestopped，andturning，facedRalph，andspokewithanothervoicethanheretofore，whereastherewasnaughtruefulorwhiningtherein，butsomewhatbothofgleeandofmockingasitseemed。“Sirknight。”
　　shesaid，“Ihaveawordortwoforthyears；andthisisapleasantplace，andgoodforustotalktogether，whereasitisneithertooneartoher，nortoofarfromher，sothatIcaneasilyfindmywaybacktoher。
　　Now，lord，Ipraytheelightdownandlistentome。”Andtherewithshesatdownonthegrassbytheboleofagreatoak。
　　“Butthylady。”saidRalph，“thylady？”“Osir。”shesaid；
　　“Myladyshalldowellenough：sheisnottiedsofast，butshemightlooseherselfiftheneedwerepressing。
　　Lightdown，dearlord，lightdown！”
　　ButRalphsatstillonhishorse，andknithisbrows，andsaid：
　　“Whatisthis，damsel？hastthoubeenplayingaplaywithme？
　　Whereisthyladywhomthouwouldsthavemedeliver？
　　Ifthisbebutgameandplay，letmegomyways；fortimepresses，andIhaveaweightyerrandonhand。”
　　Sheroseupandcameclosetohim，andlaidahandonhiskneeandlookedwistfullyintohisfaceasshesaid：“Naythen，Icantelltheeallthetaleasthousittestinthysaddle；
　　formeseemsshortwillbethyfarewellwhenIhavetoldit。”
　　Andshesighedwithal。
　　ThenRalphwasashamedtogainsayher，andshenowbecomegentleandsweetandenticing，andsadwithal；sohegotoffhishorseandtiedhimtoatree，andwentandstoodbythedamselasshelayuponthegrass，andsaid：
　　“Ipritheetellthytaleandletmedepartiftherebenaughtformetodo。”
　　Thenshesaid：“Thisisthefirstword，thatastotheRedRock，Ilied；andmyladyistheQueenofUtterbol，andIamherthrall，anditisIwhohavedrawntheehitherfromthecamp。”