andtheyfailednevertofindthetokensthatledthemontheway，evenastheyhadlearnedoftheSage，sothattheywerenotbeguiledintoanystraying。
　　AndnowtheyhadwornawaythirtydayssincetheyhadpartedfromtheSage，andthedaysbegantoshortenandthenightstolengthenapace；
　　whenontheforenoonofaday，aftertheyhadriddenaveryruggedmountain-neck，theycamedownanddownintoamuchwidervalleyintowhichagreatreefofrocksthrustoutfromthehighmountain，sothatthenorthernhalfofthesaidvalewasnighcleftatwainbyit；
　　wellgrassedwasthevale，andafairriverranthroughit，andtherewereoneithersidethewatergreatgrovesoftallandgreatsweet-chestnutsandwalnuttrees，whereonthenutswerenowripe。
　　Theyrejoicedastheyrodeintoit；fortheyrememberedhowtheSagehadtoldthemthereof，thattheirtravelandtoilshouldbestayedthereawhile，andthattheretheyshouldwinter，becauseofthebreadwhichtheycouldmakethemofthechestnuts，andtheplentyofwalnuts，andthatwithaltherewasfoisonofvenison。
　　Sotheyfoundafordoftheriverandcrossedit，andwentstraighttotheheadoftherockyness，beingshownthitherbytheloreoftheSage，andtheyfoundinthefaceoftherockthemouthofacavern，andbesideitthetokenoftheswordandthebranch。Thereforetheyknewthattheyhadcometotheirwinterhouse，andtheyrejoicedthereat，andwithoutmoreadotheygotofftheirhorsesandwentintothecavern。
　　Theentrythereofwaslow，sothattheymustneedscreepintoit，butwithinitwasarock-hall，high，cleanandsweet-smelling。
　　Therethentheydighttheirdwelling，doingalltheymighttobedonewiththeirworkbeforethewinterwasuponthem。
　　Thedayaftertheyhadcometheretheyfelltoonthein-gatheringoftheirchestnutharvest，andtheydriedthem，andmadethemintomeal；
　　andthewalnutstheygatheredalso。Withaltheyhuntedthedeer，bothgreatandsmall；amongstwhichRalph，notwithoutsomeperil，slewtwogreatbears，ofwhichbeasts，indeed，therewassomewhatmorethanenough，astheycameintothedaletofeeduponthenutsandtheberry-trees。Sotheysoonhadgoodstoreofpeltriesfortheirbedsandtheirwinterraiment，whichUrsulafelltoworkondeftly，forsheknewallthecraftofneedlework；and，shortlytotellit，theyhadenoughandtospareofvictualandraiment。
　　CHAPTER12
　　WinterAmidstoftheMountainsInallthistheyhadenoughtobebusywith，sothattimehungnotheavyontheirhands，andtheshadowoftheQuestwasnowiseburdensometothem，sincetheywottedthattheyhadtoabidethewearingofthedaystillspringwascomewithfreshtidings。
　　Theirlabourwasnowiseirksometothem，sinceRalphwasdeftinallmannerofsportsandcrafts，suchasup-countryfolkfollow，andthoughhewereaking’sson，hehadmadeadoughtyyeoman：
　　andasforUrsula，shealsowascountry-bred，ofalineageoffield-folk，andknewallthemannersofthefields。
　　Withalinwhatsoeverwayitwere，theylovedeachotherdearly，andallkindofspeechflowedfreelybetwixtthem。
　　Soothtosay，Ralph，takingheedofUrsula，deemedthatshewerefaintolovehimbodily，andhewottedwellbynow，that，whateverhadbefallen，helovedher，bodyandsoul。
　　Yetstillwasthatfearofhernaysaylurkinginhisheart，ifheshouldkissher，orcaressher，asamanwithamaid。
　　Thereforeheforbore，thoughdesireofhertormentedhimgrievouslyatwhiles。
　　Theyworetheirarmourbutlittlenow，savewhentheywereaboutsomejourneywhereinwasperilofwildbeasts。Ursulahaddighthersomeduewoman’sraimentbetwixtherknight’ssurcoatanddoe-skinswhichtheyhadgotten，sothatitwasnotunseemlyoffashion。Asfortheirhorses，theybutseldombackedthem，butusedthemtodrawstufftotheirrock-houseonsledges，whichtheymadeoftree-boughs；sothatthebeastsgrewfat，feedingonthegrassofthevalleyandthewild-oatswithal，whichgrewattheupperendofthebightofthevalley，towardthenorthernmountains，wherethegroundwassandy。
　　Nomantheysaw，noranysignsofman，norhadtheyseenanysavetheSage，sincethoseridersofUtterbolhadvanishedbeforethemintothenight。
　　Soworeautumnintowinter，andthefrostcame，andthesnow，withprodigiouswindsfromoutofthemountains：
　　yetwasnottheweathersohardbutthattheymightgoforthmostdays，andcometonohurtiftheywerewaryofthedrifts；
　　andforsoothneedsmusttheygoabroadtotakevenisonfortheirlivelihood。
　　Sothewinterworealsoamidstsweetspeechandfriendlinessbetwixtthetwo，andtheylivedstillasdearfriends，andnotaslovers。
　　SeldomtheyspokeoftheQuest，foritseemedtothemnowamatterovergreatforspeech。ButnowtheyweregrownsofamiliareachtoeachthatUrsulatookhearttotellRalphmoreofthetidingsofUtterbol，fornowtheshameandgriefofherbondagetherewasbutasastorytoldofanother，sofarawayseemedthattimefromthis。
　　ButsogrievouswashertalethatRalphgrewgrimthereover，andhesaid：
　　“BySt。Nicholas！itwereagooddeed，oncewearepastthemountainsagain，toridetoUtterbolanddragthatswineandwittolfromhishallandslayhim，andgivehisfolkagoodday。Butthenthereisthou，myfriend，andhowshallIdrawtheeintodeadlystrife？”
　　“Nay。”shesaid，“wheresothouridestthitherwillI，andonefateshalllieonusboth。WewillthinkthereofandasktheSageofitwhenwereturn。
　　Whoknowswhatshallhavebefallenthen？RememberthelightingofthecandleofUtterbolthatwesawfromtheRock-sea，andthebodingthereof。”
　　SoRalphwasappeasedforthattime。
　　Oftalsotheyspakeofthelittlelandswhencetheycame，andonatimeamidstofsuchtalkUrsulasaid：“Butalas，friend，whydoIspeakofallthis，whennowsaveformybrother，wholovethmebutafterafashion，towitthatImustinallwisedohisbidding，ladasheis，Ihavenolongerkithnorkinthere，saveagainasallthefolkofonesteadaresomewhatakin。
　　Ithink，mydear，thatIhavenocountry，noranyhousetowelcomeme。”
　　SaidRalph：“Alllands，anylandthatthoumaystcometo，shallwelcomethee，andIshalllooktoitthatsoitshallbe。”
　　AndinhishearthethoughtofthewelcomeofUpmeads，andofUrsulasittingonthedaisofthehalloftheHigh-House。
　　SoworethedaystillCandlemass，whenthefrostbrokeandthesnowsbegantomelt，andthewaterscamedownfromthemountains，sothattheriverroseoveritsbanksanditswaterscoveredtheplainpartsofthevalley，andthosetwocouldgodryshodbutalittlewayoutoftheircavern；
　　nofurtherthanthegreenmoundortoftwhichlayatthemouththereof：
　　butthewaterswerethrongedwithfowl，asmallardandtealandcoots，andofthesetheytookwhattheywould。Whilesalsotheywadedtheshallowsoftheflood，andwhilespoledaraftaboutit，andsohadpleasureofthewatersasbeforetheyhadhadofthesnow。
　　Butwhenatlasttheveryspringwascome，andthegrassbegantogrowaftertheshowershadwashedtheplainofthewaterbornemud，andthesnowdrophadthrustupandblossomed，andthecelandinehadcome，andthenwhentheblackthornbloomedandtheLent-lilieshidthegrassbetwixtthegreatchestnut-boles，whenthesunshonebetwixttheshowersandthewestwindblew，andthethrostlesandblackbirdsceasednottheirsongbetwixtdawnanddusk，thenbeganRalphtosaytohimself，thateveniftheWellattheWorld’sEndwerenot，andallthattheSagehadtoldthemwasbutataleofSwevenham，yetwereallbetterthanwellifUrsulawerebuttohimawomanbelovedratherthanafriend。
　　Andwhileshewaspensiveandsilent，evenwhenshewasbyhim，andshenoteditandforboresomewhatthesweetnessofherglances，andthecaressingofhersoftspeech：thoughoftwhenhelookedonherfondly，thebloodwouldrisetohercheeks，andherbosomwouldheavewiththethoughtofhisdesire，whichquickenedherssosorely，thatitbecameapainandgrieftoher。
　　CHAPTER13
　　OfUrsulaandtheBearItbefellonafairsunnymorningofspring，thatRalphsataloneonthetoftbytherock-house，forUrsulahadgonedownthemeadowtodisportherandtobatheintheriver。Ralphwasfittingthebladeofadaggertoalongashenshaft，tomakehimastrongspear；
　　forwiththewaxingspringthebearswereofteninthemeadowsagain；
　　andthedaybeforetheyhadcomeacrossafamilyofthebeastsinthesandybightunderthemountains；towitacarle，andaqueanwithhercubs；thebeastshadseenthembutafaroff，andwhereasthemenweretwoandthesunshonebackfromtheirweapons，theyhadforbornethem；althoughtheywerefierceandproudinthosewastes，andcouldnotawaywithcreaturesthatwerenotoftheirkind。
　　SobecauseofthisRalphhadbiddenUrsulanottofareabroadwithouthersword，whichwassharpandstrong，andshenoweaklingwithal。
　　Hebethoughthimofthisjustashehadmadeanendofhisspear-shaping，sotherewithhelookedasideandsawthesaidswordhangingtoaboughofalittlequicken-tree，whichgrewhardbythedoor。
　　Fearcameintohishearttherewith，sohearoseandstrodedownoverthemeadowhastilybearinghisnewspear，andgirtwithhissword。
　　Nowtherewasagroveofchestnutsbetwixthimandtheriver，butontheothersideofthemnaughtbutthegreengrassdowntothewater’sedge。
　　Sureenoughashecameunderthetreesheheardashrillcry，andknewthatitcouldbenaughtsaveUrsula；soheranthitherwardwhencecamethecry，shoutingasheran，andwasscarcecomeoutofthetreeserehesawUrsulaindeed，mother-naked，heldinchasebyahugebearasbigasabullock：heshoutedagainandranthefaster；buteventherewith，whethersheheardandsawhim，andhopedfortimelyhelp，orwhethershefeltherlegsfailingher，sheturnedonthebear，andRalphsawthatshehadalittleaxeinherhandwherewithshesmotehardilyatthebeast；
　　buthe，afterthefashionofhiskind，havingrisentohishindlegs，fencedwithhisgreatpawslikeaboxer，andsmotetheaxeoutofherhand，andshecriedoutbitterlyandswervedfromhimandfellarunningagain；
　　butthebeartarriednot，andwouldhavecaughtherinafewturns；
　　buteventherewithwasRalphcomeup，whothrustthebeastintothesidewithhislong-headedspear，andnotwaitingtopullitoutagain，drewswordinatwinkling，andsmoteafore-pawoffhimandthendravetheswordinovertheshouldersohappilythatitreachedhisheart，andhefelloverdeadwithamightythump。
　　ThenRalphlookedaroundforUrsula；butshehadalreadyrunbacktotheriver-sideandwascastingherraimentonher；
　　soheawaitedherbesidetheslainbear，butwithdrawnsword，lesttheotherbearshouldcomeuponthem；forthiswasthehe-bear。HowbeithesawnaughtsavepresentlyUrsulaallcladandcomingtowardshimspeedily；soheturnedtowardher，andwhentheymethecasthimselfuponherwithoutaword，andkissedhergreedily；andsheforborenotatall，butkissedandcaressedhimasifshecouldneverbesatisfied。
　　Soatlasttheydrewapartalittle，andwalkedquietlytowardtherock-househandinhand。Andonthewayshetoldhimthatevenasshecameupontothebankfromthewatershesawthebearcomingdownonherasfastashecoulddrive，andsoshebutcaughtupheraxe，andranforit：“YetIhadlittlehope，dearfriend。”
　　shesaid，“butthatthoushouldstbeleftaloneinthewilderness。”
　　Andtherewithsheturnedonhimandcastherarmsabouthimagain，allweepingforjoyoftheirtwolives。
　　Thusslowlytheycamebeforethedooroftheirrock-houseandRalphsaid：
　　“Letussitdownhereonthegrass，andifthouartnotoverweariedwiththeflightandthebattle，Iwillasktheeaquestion。”
　　Shelaidherselfdownonthegrasswithasigh，yetitwasasofonewhosighsforpleasureandrest，andsaid，ashesatdownbesideher：
　　“Iamfaintorestmylimbsandmybody，butmyheartisatrest；
　　soaskon，dearfriend。”
　　Thesongofbirdswasallaroundthem，andthescentofmanyblossomswentpastonthewingsofthewestwind，andRalphwassilentalittleashelookedatthelovelinessofhisfriend；
　　thenhesaid：“Thisisthequestion；ofwhatkindarethykissesthismorning，aretheythekissesofafriendoralover？
　　Wiltthounotcalledmebelovedandnotfriend？Shallnotwetwolieonthebridalbedthissamenight？”
　　Shelookedonhimsteadily，smiling，butforloveandsweetness，notforshameandfolly；thenshesaid：“O，dearfriendanddearestlover，threequestionsaretheseandnotone；