ButnowIseetheedroopingwiththegriefofdaysbygone；
　　andIdeemalsothatthouartwearywiththetoiloftheway。
　　SoIredetheeliedownhereinthewildernessandsleep，andforgetgrieftillto-morrowisanewday。”
　　“Woulditwerecome。”saidhe，“thatImightseethyfacetheclearer；
　　yetIamindeedweary。”
　　Sohewentandfetchedhissaddleandlaydownwithhisheadthereon；
　　andwaspresentlyasleep。Butshe，whohadagaincastwoodonthefire，satbyhisheadwatchinghimwithadrawnswordbesideher，tillthedawnofthewoodlandbegantoglimmerthroughthetrees：
　　thenshealsolaidherselfdownandslept。
　　TheyRidetheWoodUndertheMountainsWhenRalphwokeonthemorrowitwasbroaddayasfarasthetreeswouldhaveitso。Heroseatonce，andlookedaboutforhisfellow，butsawhernot，andforsomemomentsoftimehethoughthehadbutdreamedofher；buthesawthatthefirehadbeenquickenedfromitsembers，andclosebylaythehauberkandstrange-fashionedhelm，andtheswordofthedamsel，andpresentlyhesawhercomingthroughthetreesbarefoot，withthegreen-sleevedsilkensurcoathangingbelowthekneesandherhairfloatinglooseabouther。
　　ShesteppedlightlyuptoRalphwithacheerfulsmilingcountenanceandaruddycolourinhercheeks，buthereyesmoistasifshecouldscarcekeepbackthetearsforjoyofthemorning’smeeting。
　　Hethoughtherfairerthanerst，andmadeasifhewouldputhisarmsabouther，butsheheldalittlealooffromhim，blushingyetmore。
　　Thenshesaidinhersweetclearvoice：“Hailfellow-farer！nowbeginstheday’swork。Ihavebeendownyonder，andhavefoundabrightwoodlandpool，towashthenightoffme，andifthouwiltdoinlikewiseandcomebacktome，Iwilldightourbreakfastmeantime，andwillwespeedilytotheroad。”Hedidasshebadehim，thinkingofherallthewhiletillhecamebacktoherfreshandgay。
　　Thenhelookedtotheirhorsesandgavethemfoddergatheredfromthepool-side，andsoturnedtoUrsulaandfoundherwiththemeatreadydight；sotheyateandwereglad。
　　WhentheyhadbrokentheirfastRalphwenttosaddlethehorses，andcomingbackfoundUrsulabindingupherlonghair，andshesmiledonhimandsaid：
　　“NowwearefortheroadImustbeanarmedknightagain：forsoothI
　　unboundmyhaire’ennowandletmysurcoathanglooseaboutmeintokenthatthouwottestmysecret。Soothly，myfriend，itirksmethatnowwehavemetafteralongwhile，Imustneedsbecladthusgraceless。
　　Butneeddravemetoit，andwithaltheoccasionthatwasgiventometostealthisgayarmourfromaladatUtterbol，thenephewofthelord；
　　wholikehisemewashalfmylover，halfmytyrant。OfallwhichIwilltelltheehereafter，andwhatwiseImustneedssteerbetwixtstripesandkissestheselastdays。Butnowletusarmandtohorse。Yetfirstloyou，herearesometoolsthatinthinehandsshallkeepusfromsheerfamine：
　　asformeIamnoarcher；andforsoothnoman-at-armssaveinseeming。”
　　TherewithsheshowedhimashortTurkbowandaquiverofarrows，whichhetookwellpleased。Sothentheyarmedeachtheother，andasshehandledRalph’swargearshesaid：“Howwell-wroughtandtrustyisthishauberkofthine，myfriend；mycoatisbutatoytoit，withitsgoldandsilverringsanditsgemmedcollar：
　　andthyplatesbethickandwideandwell-wrought，whereasminearelittlemorethanadornmentstomyarmsandlegs。”
　　Helookedonherlovinglyandlovedhershapelyhandsamidstthedarkgreymail，andsaid：“Thatiswell，dearfriend，forsincemybreastisashieldfortheeitbehovesittobewellcovered。”
　　Shelookedathim，andherlipstrembled，andsheputoutherhandasiftotouchhischeek，butdrewitbackagainandsaid：
　　“Comenow，letustohorse，dearfellowinarms。”
　　Sotheymountedandwenttheirwaysthroughaclosepine-wood，wherethegroundwascoveredwiththepine-treeneedles，andallwasstillandwindless。SoastheyrodesaidUrsula：
　　“IseektokensofthewaytotheSageofSwevenham。
　　Hastthouseenawateryesterday？”“Yea。”saidRalph，“Irodefaralongit，butleftitbecauseIdeemedthatitturnednorthovermuch。”“Thouwertright。”shesaid，“besidesthatthyturningfromithathbroughtustogether；
　　foritwouldhavebroughttheetoUtterbolatlast。Butnowhavewetohituponanotherthatrunnethstraightdownfromthehills：
　　nottheGreatMountains，butthehighgroundwhereonistheSage’sdwelling。Iknownotwhethertheridebelongorshort；
　　butthestreamistoleadus。”
　　Ontheyrodethroughthewood，whereinwaslittlechangeforhours；
　　andastheyrestedUrsulagaveforthadeepbreath，asonewhohascastoffaloadofcare。AndRalphsaid：“Whysighestthou，fellow-farer？”
　　“O。”shesaid，“itisforpleasure，andathoughtthatIhad：
　　forawhileagoIwasathrall，livingamongstfearsthatsickenedtheheart；
　　andthenalittlewhileIwasalonelywanderer，andnow……ThereforeIwasthinkingthatifeverIcomebacktomineownlandandmyhome，thescentofapine-woodshallmakemehappy。”
　　Ralphlookedonhereagerly，butsaidnaughtforawhile；
　　butatlasthespoke：“Tellme，friend。”saidhe，“ifwebemetbystrong-thievesontheway，whatshallwedothen？”
　　“Itisnotliketobefall。”shesaid，“formenfearthewood，thereforeistherelittlepreyforthievestherein：butifwechanceonthem，thetokenofUtterbolonminearmourshallmakethemmeekenough。”Thenshefellsilentawhile，andspokeagain：
　　“TrueitisthatwemaybefollowedbytheUtterbolriders；
　　forthoughtheyalsofearthewood，theyfearitnotsomuchastheyfeartheirLord。Howbeit，webewellahead，anditislittlelikethatweshallbeovertakenbeforewehavemettheSage；
　　andthenbelikeheshallprovide。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“butwhatifthechasecomeupwithus：
　　shallwesufferustobetakenalive？”Shelookedonhimsolemnly，laidherhandonthebeadsaboutherneck，andanswered：
　　“Bythistokenwemustliveaslongaswemay，whatsoevermaybefall；
　　forattheworstmaysomeroadofescapebeopenedtous。
　　YetO，howfareasieritweretodiethantobeledbacktoUtterbol！”
　　Awhiletheyrodeinsilence，bothofthem：butatlastspakeRalph，butslowlyandinadullandsternvoice：“MaybeitweregoodthatthoutoldmesomewhatofthehorrorsandevildaysofUtterbol？”
　　“Maybe。”shesaid，“butI；willnottelltheeofthem。
　　Forsooththerearesomethingswhichamanmaynoteasilytelltoaman，beheneversomuchhisfriendasthouarttome。Butbethinkthee“
　　andshesmiledsomewhat“thatthisgearbeliethme，andthatIambutawoman；andsomethingstherebewhichawomanmaynottelltoaman，nay，notevenwhenhehathheldherlonginhisarms。”
　　Andtherewithsheflushedexceedingly。Buthesaidinakindvoice：
　　“IamsorrythatIaskedthee，andwillasktheenomorethereof。”
　　Shesmiledonhimfriendly，andtheyspakeofothermattersastheyrodeon。
　　ButafterawhileRalphsaid：“IfitwerenomiseasetotheetotellmehowthoudidstfallintothehandsofthemenofUtterbol，Iwerefaintohearthetale。”
　　Shelaughedoutright，andsaid：“Whywiltthoubeforeverharpingonthetimeofmycaptivity，friend？Andthouwhoknowestthestorysomewhatalready？
　　Howbeit，Imaytelltheethereofwithoutheart-burning，thoughitbeafelontale。”
　　Hesaid，somewhatshame-facedly：“TakeitnotillthatIamfaintohearoftheeandthylife-days，sincewearebecomefellow-farers。”
　　“Well。”shesaid，“thisbefelloutsideUtterbol，soIwilltellthee。
　　“AfterIhadstoodinthethrall-marketatCheapingKnowe，andnotbeensold，thewildmanledmeawaytowardthemountainsthatareaboveGoldburg；andaswedrewneartothemonaday，hesaidtomethathewasgladtotheheart-rootthatnonehadcheapenedmeatthesaidmarket；andwhenIaskedhimwherefore，hefellaweepingasherodebesideme，andsaid：
　　’YetwouldGodthatIhadnevertakenthee。’Iaskedwhatailedhim，thoughindeedIdeemedthatIknew。Hesaid：
　　’Thisailethme，thatthoughthouartnotofthebloodwhereinI
　　amboundtowed，Ilovetheesorely，andwouldhavetheetowife；
　　andnowIdeemthatthouwiltnotlovemeagain。’Isaidthatheguessedaright，butthatifhewoulddofriendlywithme，Iwouldbenolessthanafriendtohim。’Thatavailethlittle，’
　　quothhe；’Iwouldhavetheebemineofthineownwill。’
　　Isaidthatmightnotbe，thatIcouldlovebutonemanalone。
　　’Ishealive？’saidhe。’Goodsooth，Ihopeso，’saidI，’butifhebedead，thenisdesireofmendeadwithinme。’
　　“Sowespake，andhewasdowncastandheavyofmood；
　　butthenceforwardwashenoworsetomethanabrother。
　　Andheprofferedittoleadmeback，ifIwould，andputmesafelyonthewaytoWhitwall；but，asthouwottest，Ihadneedtogoforward，andnoneedtogoback。
　　“ThusweenteredintothemountainsofGoldburg；butonemorning，whenhearose，hewasheavierofmoodthanhiswont，andwasrestlesswithal，andcouldbesteadfastneitherinstayingnorgoing，noraughtelse。SoIaskedwhatailedhim，andhesaid：
　　’Myenddrawethnigh；Ihaveseenmyfetch，andamfey。
　　Mygraveabidethmeinthesemountains。’’Thouhastbeendreaminguglydreams，’saidI，’suchthingsareofnoimport。’
　　AndIspokelightly，andstrovetocomforthim。Hechangednothismoodforallthat；butsaid：’Thisisillfortheealso；
　　forthouwiltbeworserwithoutmethanwithmeintheselands。’
　　EvensoIdeemed，andwithalIwassorryforhim，forthoughhewereuncouthandungainly，hewasnoillman。
　　SoagainstmywillItumbledintothesamelikemoodashis，andwebothfaredalongdrearily。Butaboutsunset，aswecameroundacornerofthecliffsofthosemountains，oreverwewerewarewehappeduponahalf-scoreofweaponedmen，whoweredightingacampunderabigrockthereby：
　　butfourtherewerewiththemwhowerestilla-horseback；
　　sothatwhenBullNosyforthatwashisnamestrovetofleeawaywithme，itwasofnoavail；forthesaidhorsementookus，andbroughtusbeforeanevil-lookingman，who，tospeakshortly，washewhomthouhastseen，towit，theLordofUtterbol：
　　hetooknoheedofBullNosy，butlookedonmeclosely，andhandledmeasamandothwithahorseatacheaping，sothatI
　　wentnightosmitinghim，whereasIhadaknifeinmybosom，butthechapletrefrainedme。Tomakeashorttaleofit，hebadeBullsellmetohim，whichBullutterlynaysaid，standingstiffandstarkbeforetheLord，andscowlingonhim。
　　ButtheLordlaughedinhisfaceandsaid：’Sobeit，forIwilltakeherwithoutaprice，andthanktheeforsparingmygold。’
　　ThensaidBull：’Ifthoutakeherasathrall，thouwertbesttakemealso；elseshallIfollowtheeasafreemanandslaytheewhenImay。Manyarethedaysoftheyear，andonsomeoneofthemwillbetidetheoccasionfortheknife。’
　　“ThereattheLordwaxedverypale，andspakenot，butlookedatthatmanofhiswhostoodbyBullwithagreatswordinhisfist，andlifteduphishandtwice，andletitfalltwice，whereatthatmansteppedbackonepace，andswunghissword，andsmoteBull，andclavehisskull。
　　“ThenthecolourcameintotheLord’sfaceagain，andhesaid：
　　’Now，vassals，letusdineandbemerry，foratleastwehavefoundsomethinginthemountains。’Sotheyfelltoandateanddrank，andvictualwasgiventomealso，butIhadnowilltoeat，formysoulwassickandmyheartwasheavy，forebodingtheuttermostevil。
　　WithalIwassorryforBullNosy，forhewasnoillmanandhadbecomemyfriend。