TheyCometotheSeaofMoltenRocksWhentheywokeagainthesunwashighabovetheirheads，andtheysawtheSagedightingtheirbreakfast。Sotheyaroseandwashedthenightofftheminthestreamandatehastily，andgottohorseonafairforenoon；
　　thentheyrodethemountainneckeastfromthatvalley；anditwasalongslopeofstonyandbarrenmountainnighwaterless。
　　AndonthewayUrsulatoldRalphhowthemanwhowasscaredbythewizardrylastnightwasverilythenephewoftheLordfromwhomshehadstolenherarmourbywheedlingandaseemingpromise。
　　“But。”saidshe，“hislovelaynotsodeepbutthathewouldhaveavengedhimformyguileonmyverybodyhadhetakenus。”
　　Ralphreddenedandscowledatherword，andtheSageledthemintotheothertalk。
　　Solongwasthatfell，thattheywerenighbenightederetheygainedthetopmost，orcametoanypass。
　　Whentheyhadcometoaplacewheretherewasalittlepoolinahollowoftherockstheymadestaythere，andsleptsafe，butill-lodged，andonthemorrowwereontheirwaybetimes，andwenttoilinguptheneckanotherfourhours，andcametoalongrockyridgeorcrestthatranathwartit；andwhentheyhadcometothebrowthereof，thenweretheyfacetofacewiththeGreatMountains，whichnowlookedsohugethattheyseemedtofillalltheworldsavethegroundwhereontheystood。
　　Cloudlesswastheday，andtheaircleanandsweet，andeverynookandcrannywascleartobeholdfromwheretheystood：
　　thereweregreatjuttingnesseswithstraight-walledburgsattheirtop-most，andpyramidsandpinnaclesthatnohandofmanhadfashioned，andawfulcleftslikelongstreetsinthecityofthegiantswhowroughttheworld，andhighabovealltheundyingsnowthatlookedasiftheskyhadcomedownontothemountainsandtheywereupholdingitasaroof。
　　Butclearaswasthefashionofthemountains，theywereyetalongwayoff：forbetwixtthemandtheridgewhereonthosefellowsstood，stretchedavastplain，houselessandtreeless，and，astheybehelditthencegreyandungrassedthoughindeeditwasnotwhollyso
　　likeahugeriverorfirthoftheseaitseemed，andsuchindeedithadbeenonce，towitafloodofmoltenrockintheolddayswhentheearthwasa-burning。
　　Nowastheystoodandbeheldit，theSagespake：
　　“Loye，mychildren，thecastleanditsoutwork，anditsdykethatwardeththelandoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
　　Nowfromto-morrow，whenweenterintothegreatseaoftherockmoltenintheancientearth-fires，thereisnoleastperilofpursuitforyou。Yetamidstthatseashouldyeperishbelike，wereitnotforthewisdomgatheredbyafew；andtheyaredeadnowsavefortheBook，andforme，whoreadituntoyou。
　　NowyewouldnotturnbackwereItobidyou，andIwillnotbidyou。
　　Yetsincethejourneyshallbeyetwithgrievoustoilandmuchperil，andshalltrytheveryheartswithinyou，wereyeaswiseasSolomonandasmightyasAlexander，Iwillsaythismuchuntoyou；
　　thatifyelovenottheearthandtheworldwithallyoursouls，andwillnotstriveallyemaytobefrankandhappytherein，yourtoilandperilaforesaidshallwinyounoblessingbutacurse。ThereforeIbidyoubenotyrantsorbuildersofcitiesformerchantsandusurersandwarriorsandthralls，likethefoolwhobuildedGoldbergtobeforatombtohim：
　　orlikethethrall-mastersoftheBurgoftheFourFriths，whoevennow，itmaybe，arepiercedbytheirownstafforoverwhelmedbytheirownwall。ButratherIbidyoutoliveinpeaceandpatiencewithoutfearorhatred，andtosuccourtheoppressedandlovethelovely，andtobethefriendsofmen，sothatwhenyearedeadatlast，menmaysayofyou，theybroughtdownHeaventotheEarthforalittlewhile。
　　Whatsayye，children？”
　　ThensaidRalph：“Father，Iwillsaythesoothaboutmineintent，thoughyemaydeemitlittle-minded。WhenIhaveaccomplishedthisquest，IwouldgetmehomeagaintothelittlelandofUpmeads，toseemyfatherandmymother，andtoguarditsmeadowsfromwasteanditshousesfromfire-raising：
　　toholdwaraloofandwalkinfreefields，andseemychildrengrowingupaboutme，andlieatlastbesidemyfathersinthechoirofSt。Laurence。
　　ThedeadwouldIloveandremember；thelivingwouldIloveandcherish；
　　andEarthshallbethewellbelovedhouseofmyFathers，andHeaventhehighesthallthereof。”
　　“Itiswell。”saidtheSage，“allthisshaltthoudoandbenolittle-heart，thoughthoudonomore。Andthou，maiden？”
　　ShelookedonRalphandsaid：“Ilost，andthenIfound，andthenIlostagain。MaybeIshallfindthelostoncemore。
　　Andfortherest，inallthatthismanwilldo，Iwillhelp，livingordead，forIknownaughtbettertodo。”
　　“Againitiswell。”saidtheSage，“andthelostwhichwasverilythineshaltthoufindagain，andgooddaysandtheirendingshallbetidethee。
　　Yeshallhavenoshameinyourlivesandnofearinyourdeaths。
　　Whereforenowlieththeroadfreebeforeyou。”
　　Thenwashesilentawhile，neitherspaketheothersaught，butstoodgazingonthedarkgreyplain，andthebluewallthatrosebeyondit，tillatlasttheSagelifteduphishandandsaid：
　　“Lookyonder，children，towhereIpoint，andyeshallseehowtherethrustethoutanessfromthemountain-wall，andtheendofitstandslikeabastionabovethelava-sea，andonitssidesanditsheadarestreaksruddyandtawny，wheretheearth-fireshaveburntnotsolongago：seeye？”
　　Ralphlookedandsaid：“Yea，father，Iseeit，anditsriftsanditsridges，anditscrannies。”
　　QuoththeSage：“BehindthatnessshallyecometotheRockoftheFightingMan，whichistheveryGateoftheMountains；
　　andIwillnotturnagainnorbidyoufarewelltillIhavebroughtyouthither。Andnowtimepresses；forIwouldhaveyoucometimelytothatcavern，whereofIhavetaughtyou，beforeyefallonthefirstdaysofwinter，oryeshallbehardbestead。
　　Sonowwewilleatamorsel，andthenusediligencethatwemayreachthebeginningoftherock-seabeforenightfall。”
　　Sodidthey，andtheSageledthemdownbyaslant-wayfromofftheridge，whichwastoilsomebutnowiseperilous。
　　Soaboutsunsettheycamedownintotheplain，andfoundabeltofgreensward，andwatersthereinbetwixtthefootoftheridgeandtheedgeoftherock-sea。Andasforthesaidsea，thoughfromafaritlookedplainandunbroken，nowthattheywerecloseto，andonalevelwithit，theysawthatitroseupintocliffs，brokendowninsomeplaces，andinothersarisinghighintotheair，anhundredfoot，itmightbe。
　　Sometimesitthrustoutintothegreenshorebelowthefell，andotherwhiledrewbackfromitasithadcooledagesago。
　　Sotheycametoaplacewheretherewasahighwallofrockroundthreesidesofagrassyplacebyastream-side，andtheretheymadetheirresting-place，andthenightwentcalmlyandsweetlywiththem。
　　TheyComeForthFromtheRock-SeaOnthemorrowtheSageledthemstraightintotherock-seawhereasitseemedtothematfirstthathewasbutbringingthemintoablindalley；
　　butattheendofthebighttherock-wallwasbrokendownintoalongscreeofblackstones。TheretheSagebadeRalphandUrsuladismountasforhimhehadbeengoingafooteversincethatfirstday
　　andtheyledthehorsesupthesaidscree，whichwasahardbusiness，astheywerenomountainbeasts。Andwhentheywereatopofthescreeitwasharderyettogetthemdown，foronthatsideitwassteeper；
　　butatlasttheybroughtitabout，andcamedownintoalittlegrassyplainorisleintherocksea，whichnarrowedtowardtheeasternend，andtherocksoneithersideweresmoothandglossy，asiftheheathadgoneoutofthemsuddenly，whentheearth-fireshadceasedinthemountains。
　　NowtheSageshowedthemonacertainrockasigncut，whereoftheyhadlearnedinthebookaforesaid，towit，aswordcrossedbyathree-leavedbough；andtheyknewbythebookthattheyshouldpressonthroughtherock-seanowhere，eithergoingorreturning，savewheretheyshouldseethistoken。
　　Nowwhentheycametothenarrowendoftheplaintheyfoundstillawidewaybetweentherock-walls，thatwhileswidenedout，andwhilesdrewinagain。
　　Whileswithalwerescreesacrossthepath，andlittlewatersthatranoutofthelavaandintoitagain，andgreatblocksoffallenstone，sometimesasbigasahusbandman’scot，thatwindandweatherhadrentfromtherocks；andallthesethingsstayedthemsomewhat。
　　Buttheywentonmerrily，albeittheirroadwindedsomuch，thattheSagetoldthem，wheneveningwas，thatfortheirdiligencetheyhadbutcomeafewshortmilesasthecrowflies。
　　Manywildthingstherewere，bothbeastandfowl，intheseislandsandbridgesoftherock-sea，haresandconiestowit，amany，andheathfowl，andhereandtherearedfoxlurkingaboutthecranniesoftherock-wall。RalphshotabraceofconieswithhisTurkbow，andwhereastherewerebushesgrowinginthechinks，andnolackofwhinandling，theyhadfiringenough，andsuppedoffthisvenisonoftherocks。
　　Sopassedthatdayandtwodaysmore，andnaughtbefell，savethatonthemidnightofthefirstdayoftheirwendingtherock-sea，Ralphawokeandsawtheskyallablazewithotherlightthanthatofthemoon；
　　sohearoseandwenthastilytotheSage，andtookhimbytheshoulder，andbidhimawake；“Formeseemstheskyisafire，andperchancethefoeisuponus。”
　　TheSageawokeandopenedhiseyes，androseonhiselbowandlookedaroundsleepily；thenhesaidlaughing：“Itisnaught，fairlord，thoumaystliedownandsleepouttheremnantofthenight，andthoualso，maiden：thisisbutanearth-firebreakingoutontheflankofthemountains；itmaybefarawayhence。
　　Nowyeseethathemaynotscaletherocksaboutusherewithouttoil；
　　butto-morrownightwemayclimbupsomewhereandlookonwhatistoward。”
　　SoRalphlaydownandUrsulaalso，butRalphlaylongawakewatchingthelightabovehim，whichgrewfiercerandredderinthehoursbetwixtmoonsetanddaybreak，whenhefellasleep，andwokenotagaintillthesunwashigh。
　　Butonthenextdayastheywent，theaspectoftherock-seaaboutthemchanged：fortherockswerenotsosmoothandshiningandorderly，butroseupinconfusedheapsallclottedtogetherbytheburning，liketoclinkersoutofsomemonstrousforgeoftheearth-giants，sothattheirwaywasnaughtsoclearasithadbeen，butwasratheramazeofjaggedstone。
　　ButtheSageledthroughitallunfumbling，andmoreovernowandagaintheycameonthatcarventokenoftheswordandthebough。Nightfell，andasitgrewdarktheysawtheglaringoftheearth-firesagain；
　　andwhentheywererested，andhaddonetheirmeat，theSagesaid：
　　“Comenowwithme，forhardbyisthereaplaceasitwereastairthatgoethtothetopofagreatrock，letusclimbitandlookaboutus。”
　　Sodidthey，andtheheadoftherockwashigherthanthemainfaceoftherock-sea，sothattheycouldseeafar。
　　Thencetheylookednorthandbeheldafaroffaverypillaroffirerisingupfromanessofthemountainwall，andseemingasifitboreupablackroofofsmoke；andthehugewallgleamedgrey，becauseofitslight，anditcastarayoflightacrosstherock-seaasthemoondothoverthewatersofthedeep：
　　withaltherewasthenoiseasofthunderintheair，butafaroff：
　　whichthunderindeedtheyhadheardoft，astheyrodethroughtheafternoonandevening。
　　SpaketheSage：“Itisfaraway：yetifthewindwerenotblowingfromus，wehadsmeltthesmoke，andtheskyhadbeendarkenedbyit。
　　NowitisnaughtsofarfromUtterbol，anditwillbeforatokentothemthere。ForthatnessiscalledtheCandleoftheGiants，andmendeemthatthekindlingthereofforebodethilltothelordwhosittethonthethroneintheredhallofUtterbol。”
　　RalphlaidhishandonUrsula’sshoulderandsaid：
　　“MaytheSage’ssawbesooth！”
　　Sheputherhanduponthehandandsaid：“ThreemonthsagoIlayonmybedatBourtonAbbas，andallthewhileherewasthishugemanlesswastelyingunderthebareheavensandthreatenedbythestorehouseofthefiresoftheearth：
　　andIhadnotseenit，northeeeither，Ofriend；andnowithathbecomeapartofmeforever。”