ThoseTwoAreLearnedLorebytheSageofSwevenhamNowtheSageledthemthroughthewoodtilltheycametoagrassylawnamidstofwhichwasatableofstone，whichitseemedtoRalphmustbeliketothatwhereonthewitch-wifehadofferedupthegoattoherdevilsastheLadyofAbundancehadtoldhim；
　　andhechangedcountenanceasthethoughtcameintohismind。
　　ButtheSagelookedonhimandshookhisheadandspakesoftly：
　　“Inthesewastesandwildsaremanysuch-likeplaces，whereofoldtimetheancientfolksdidworshiptotheGodsoftheEarthastheyimaginedthem：andwhereastheloreinthisbookcomethofsuchfolk，thisisnoillplaceforthereadingthereof。
　　Butifyefearthebookanditswriters，whoaredeadlongago，thereisyettimetogobackandseektheWellwithoutmyhelping；andIsaynotbutthatyemayfinditeventhus。
　　Butifyefearnot，thensityedownonthegrass，andI
　　willlaythebookonthismostancienttable，andreadinit，anddoyehearkenheedfully。”
　　Sotheysatdownsidebyside，andRalphwouldhavetakenUrsula’shandtocaressit，butshedrewitawayfromhim；howbeitshefoundithardtokeephereyesfromoffhim。TheElderlookedonthemsoberly，butnowiseinanger，andpresentlybeganreadinginthebook。
　　Whathereadshallbeseenhereafterintheprocessofthistale；
　　forthemorepartthereofhadbuttodowiththewaytotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，allthingsconcerningwhichweretoldoutfully，bothgreatandsmall。Longwasthisa-reading，andwhentheSagehaddone，hebadenowone，nowtheotheranswerhimquestionsastowhathehadread；andiftheyansweredamisshereadthatpartagain，andyetagain，aschildrenaretaughtintheschool。
　　UntilatlastwhenheaskedanyquestionRalphorthemaidenanswereditrightlyatonce；andbythistimethesunwasabouttoset。
　　Sohebadethemhometohishousethattheymighteatandsleepthere。
　　“Butto-morrow。”saidhe，“Ishallgiveyouyourlastlessonfromthisbook，andthereafteryeshallgoyourwaystotheRockoftheFightingMan，andIlooknotforitthatyeshallcometoanyharmontheway；
　　butwhereasIseemto-daytohaveseenthefoesofUtterbolseekingyou，Iwillleadyouforthalittle。”
　　Sotheywenthometothehouse，andhemadethemthemostcheerthathemight，andspaketotheminfriendlyandpleasantmood，sothattheyweremerry。
　　Whenitwasmorningtheywentagaintotheancientaltar，andagaintheylearnedlorefromtheElder，tilltheywerewaxenwiseinthemattersoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andlongtheysatandhearkenedhimtillitwaseveningagain，andoncemoretheysleptinthehouseoftheSageofSwevenham。
　　AnAdventurebytheWayWhenmorrowdawnedtheyarosebetimesanddidontheirworldlyraiment；
　　andwhentheyhadeatenamorseltheymadethemreadyfortheroad，andtheeldergavethemvictualforthewayintheirsaddle-bags，saying：
　　“Thisshallsufficeforthepassingdays，andwhenitisgoneyehavelearnedwhattodo。”
　　Therewithalltheygattohorse；butRalphwouldhavetheElderridehisnag，whilehewentafootbythesideofUrsula。
　　SotheSagetookhisbidding，butsmiledtherewith，andsaid：
　　“ThouartaKing’ssonandafriendlyyoungman，elsehadIsaidnaytothis；foritneedethnot，whereasIamstrongerthanthou，sohathmydraughtoftheWelldealtwithme。”
　　Thusthentheywenttheirways；butRalphnotedofUrsulathatshewassilentandshywithhim，anditirkedhimsomuch，thatatlasthesaidtoher：“Myfriend，dothaughtailmewiththee？Wiltthounottellme，sothatImayamendit？
　　Forthouaregrownoffewwordswithmeandturnesttheefromme，andseemestasifthouheedestmelittle。Thouartasafairspringmorninggonecoldandovercastintheafternoon。
　　Whatisitthen？wearegoingalongjourneytogether，andbelikeshallfindlittlehelporcomfortsaveineachother；
　　andillwillitbeifwefallasunderinheart，thoughwebenighinbody。”
　　Shelaughedandreddenedtherewithal；andthenhercountenancefellandshelookedpiteouslyonhimandsaid：“IfIseemedtotheeasthousayest，Iamsorry；forImeantnottobethuswiththeeasthoudeemest。
　　ButsoitisthatIwasthinkingofthislongjourney，andoftheeandmetogetherinit，andhowweshallbewitheachotherifwecomebackagainalive，withallthingsdonethatwehadtodo。”
　　Shestayedherspeechawhile，andseemedtofindithardtogiveforththewordthatwasinher；butatlastshesaid：
　　“Friend，thoumustpardonme；butthatwhichthousawestinme，Ialsoseemedtoseeinthee，thatthouwertgrownshyandcoldwithme；
　　butnowIknowitisnotso，sincethouhastseenmewrongly；
　　butthatIhaveseentheewrongly，asthouhastme。”
　　Therewithshereachedherhandtohim，andhetookitandkisseditandcaresseditwhileshelookedfondlyathim，andtheyfaredonsweetlyandhappilytogether。Butasthiswasa-sayinganda-doingbetwixtthem，andawhileafter，theyhadheededtheElderlittleornotatall，thoughherodeontherighthandofRalph。
　　Andforhisparttheoldmansaidnaughttothemandmadeasifheheardthemnot，whentheyspakethuswisetogether。
　　Nowtheyrodethewoodonsomewhatlevelgroundforawhile；
　　thenthetreesbegantothin，andthegroundgrewbroken；
　　andatlastitwasveryrugged，withhighhillsanddeepvalleys，andallthelandpopulousofwildbeasts，sothataboutsunsettheyheardthricetheroarofalion。
　　ButevertheSageledthembywindingwaysthatheknew，roundthefeetofthehills，alongstream-sidesforthemostpart，andbypassesoverthemountain-neckswhentheyneedsmust，whichwastwiceintheday。
　　Duskfellontheminalittlevalley，throughwhichranastreambushedaboutitsedges，andwhichfortherestwasgrassyandpleasant，withbigsweet-chestnuttreesscatteredaboutit。
　　“Now。”quoththeElder；“twothingswehavetobewareofinthisvalley，thelionsfirst；which，thoughbeliketheywillnotfalluponweaponedmen，maywellmakeanonslaughtonyourhorses，iftheywindthem；andthelossofthebeastsweresoretoyouasnow。
　　ButthesecondthingisthechasefromUtterbol。Astothelions，ifyebuildupabigfire，andkeepsomewhatalooffromthestreamanditsbushes，andtetheryouhorsesanighthefire，yewillhavenoharmofthem。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“butiftheridersofUtterbolareanighus，shallwelightacandleforthemtoshowthemtheway？”SaidtheSage：
　　“Wereyebyyourselves，Iwouldbidyoujourneynight-long，andrunallriskratherthantheriskoffallingintotheirhands。
　　ButwhereasIamyourguide，Ibidyoukindleyourfireunderyonderbigtree，andleavemetodealwiththemenofUtterbol；
　　onlywhatsoIbidyou，thatdoyestraightway。”
　　“Sobeit。”saidRalph，“Ihavebeenbewrayedsooftoflate，thatImustneedstrustthee，orallhelpshallfailme。
　　Letustowork。”Sotheyfelltoandbuiltupabigbaleandkindledit，andtheirhorsestheytetheredtothetree；
　　andbythentheyhaddonethis，darknighthadfallenuponthem。
　　SotheycookedtheirvictualatthefireforRalphhadshotaharebythewayandtheSagewentdowntothestreamandfetchedthemwaterinalethernbudget：“For。”saidhe，“Iknowthebeastsofthewoodandtheyme，andthereispeacebetwixtus。”
　　Therethentheysattomeatunarmed，fortheSagehadsaidtothem：
　　“Doffyourarmour；yeshallnotcometohandystrokeswiththeUtterbolRiders。”
　　Sotheyatetheirmeatinthewilderness，andwerenowiseungleeful，fortothosetwaintheworldseemedfair，andtheyhopedforgreatthings。
　　Butthoughtheywereglad，theywerewearyenough，forthewayhadbeenbothruggedandlong；sotheylaythemdowntosleepwhilethenightwasyetyoung。ButoreverRalphclosedhiseyeshesawtheSagestandingupwithhiscloakwrappedabouthishead，andmakingstrangesignswithhisrighthand；sothathedeemedthathewouldwardthembywizardry。
　　Sotherewithheturnedaboutonthegrassandwasasleepatonce。
　　Afterawhilehestartedandsatup，halfawakeatfirst；forbefeltsomeonetouchhim；andhishalfdreamswentbacktopastdays，andhecriedout：“HahRoger！isitthou？Whatistoward？”
　　Buttherewithhewokeupfully，andknewthatitwastheSagethathadtouchedhim，andwithalhesawhardbyUrsula。
　　sittingupalso。
　　Therewasstillaflickeringflameplayingabouttheredembersoftheirfire，fortheyhadmadeitverybig；andthemoonhadarisenandwasshiningbrightinacloudlesssky。
　　TheSagespakesoftlybutquickly：“Liedowntogether，yetwo，andIshallcastmycloakoveryou，andlooktoitthatyestirnotfromoutofit，norspeakonewordtillIbidyou，whate’ermaybefall：
　　fortheridersofUtterbolareuponus。”
　　Theydidashebadethem，butRalphgotsomewhatofaneye-shotoutofacornerofthecloak，andhecouldseethattheSagewentandstoodupagainstthetree-trunkholdingahorsebythebridle，oneoneachsideofhim。
　　EventherewithRalphheardtheclatterofhorse-hoofsoverthestonesaboutthestream，andaman’svoicecriedout：
　　“Theywillhaveheardus；sospuroverthegrasstothefireandthebigtree：forthentheycannotescapeus。”
　　Thencamethethumpofhorse-hoofsontheturf，andinhalfaminutetheywereamidstofaroutofmena-horseback，morethanascore，whosearmourandweaponsgleamedinthemoonlight：
　　yetwhentheseridersweregottenthere，theyweresilent，tillonesaidinaquaveringvoiceasifafeard：
　　“Otter，Otter！whatisthis？Aminuteagoandwecouldseethefire，andthetree，andmenandhorsesaboutthem：
　　andnow，loyou！thereisnaughtsavetwogreatgreystoneslyingonthegrass，andaman’sbarebonesleaningupagainstthetree，andaruckleofoldhorse-bonesoneithersideofhim。
　　Wherearewethen？”
　　Thenspakeanother；andRalphknewthevoiceforOtter’s：“I
　　wotnot，lord；naughtelseischangedsavethefireandthehorsesandthemen：yonderarethehills，yonderoverheadisthemoon，withthelittlelightclouddoggingher；eventhatisscarcechanged。
　　Belikethefirewasanearth-fire，andfortherestwesawwronginthemoonlight。”
　　Spakethefirstmanagain，andhisvoicequaveredyetmore：
　　“Naynay，Otter，itisnotso。Loyoutheskeletonandthebonesandthegreystones！Andthefire，herethisminute，therethenext。
　　OOtter，thisisanevilplaceofanevildeed！Letusgoseekelsewhere；letusdepart，lestaworsethingbefallus。”
　　Andsowithnomoreadoheturnedhishorseandsmotehisspursintohimandgallopedoffbythewayhehadcome，andtheothersfollowed，nothingloth；onlyOttertarriedalittle，andlookedaroundhimandlaughedandsaid：
　　“TheregoesmyLord’snephew；likemyLordheisnotoverbold，saveindealingwitha，shackledman。Well，formypartifthoseothershavesunkintotheearth，orgoneupintotheair，theyarewelcometotheirwizardry，andIamgladofit。
　　ForIknownothowIshouldhavedonetohaveseenmymatethatout-tiltedmemadeageldedwretchof；anditwouldhaveirkedmetoseethatfairwomaninthehandsofthetormentors，thoughforsoothIhaveoftseensuchsights。Well，itisgood；
　　butbetterwereittoridewithmymatethanservetheDevilandhisNephew。”
　　Therewithheturnedreinandgallopedoffaftertheothers，andinalittlewhilethesoundofthemhaddiedoffutterlyintothenight，andtheyheardbutthevoicesofthewildthings，andthewimbrellaughingfromthehill-sides。ThencametheSageanddrewthecloakfromthosetwo，andlaughedonthemandsaid：
　　“Nowmayyesleepsoundly，whenIhavemendedourfire；
　　foryewillseenomoreofUtterbolforthistime，andityetlacksthreehoursofdawn：sleepyethenanddreamofeachother。”
　　ThentheyaroseandthankedtheSagewithwholeheartsandpraisedhiswisdom。ButwhiletheoldmanmendedthefireRalphwentuptoUrsulaandtookherhand，andsaid：
　　“Welcometolife，fellow-farer！”andhegazedearnestlyintohereyes，asthoughhewouldhaveherfallintohisarms：
　　butwhereassherathershrankfromhim，thoughshelookedonhimlovingly，ifsomewhatshyly，hebutkissedherhand，andlaidhimdownagain，whenhehadseenherlyinginherplace。
　　Andtherewiththeyfellasleepandsleptsweetly。