ThereforeyedobutrighttoseektotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，thatyemaythebetteraccomplishthatwhichbehovethyou，andthatyemayserveyourfellowsanddeliverthemfromthethralldomofthosethatbestrongandunwiseandunkind，ofwhomwehaveheardstrangetales。”
　　Ralphreddenedashespake，andUrsulalookedonhimanxiously，butthattalkdroppedforthepresent，andtheyfelltotalkingoflighterandmorefamiliarmatters。
　　Thereaftertheywanderedaboutthewoodswiththewardensandtheway-leaders，andtheelderbroughtthemtotheancientaltarinthewoodwhereontheSorceresshadofferedupthegoat；
　　andthehoweofthewomandightwiththenecklaceoftheQuestwhomtheLadyfounddeadinthesnow；andtheplacenighthehousewheretheSorceressusedtotormentherthrallthatwasafterwardstheLadyofAbundance；yea，andtheywentfurtherafieldtilltheycametotheValeofLore，andtheHeathaboveitwheretheymet，theKing’sSonandtheLady。
　　AlltheseandotherplaceswerenowbecomeashallowedgroundtotheInnocentPeople，andtoRalphnoless。
　　Inthehouse，moreover，wasafairarkwhereintheykeptmatterswhichhadbelongedtotheLady，ashershoesandhersmock，wrappedingoodlyclothamidstwell-smellingherbs；andthesethingstheyworshippedasfolkdowithrelicsofthesaints。
　　InanotherarkalsotheyshowedtheseekersabookwhereinwaswrittenloreconcerningtheWell，andthewaythereto。
　　ButofthisbookhadtheSageforewarnedRalphandhismate，andhadbiddenthemlooktoitthattheyshouldreadinit，andnootherwherethanatthatancientaltarinthewood，theytwoalone，andcladinsuch-likegearastheyworewhentheyhearkenedtohisreadingbyhishermitage。
　　Andsoitwasthattheyfoundthedueraimentinthearkalongwiththebook。Thereforedayafterdaybetimesinthemorningtheyborethesaidbooktothealtarandreadtherein，tilltheyhadlearnedmuchwisdom。
　　Thustheydidforeightdays，andontheninththeyrestedandweremerrywiththeirhosts：butonthetenthdaytheymountedtheirhorsesandsaidfarewell，anddepartedbythewaystheyhadlearnedof，theytwoalone。
　　Andtheyhadwiththembreadandmeal，asmuchastheymightbear，andwater-skinsmoreover，thattheymightfillthematthelastsweetwaterbeforetheycametothewaterlessdesert。
　　CHAPTER17
　　TheyComeThroughtheWoodlandtotheThirstyDesertSotheyridetheirways，andwhentheywerecomewellintothewildwoodpastthehouse，andhadspokenbutfewwordstoeachother，Ralphputforthhishand，andstayedUrsula，andtheygatofftheirhorsesunderagreat-limbedoak，anddidofftheirarmour，andsatdownonthegreenswardthere，andlovedeachotherdearly，andweptforjoyoftheirpainandtravailandlove。Andafterwards，astheysatsidebysideleaningupagainstthegreatoak-bole，Ralphspakeandsaid：
　　“Nowarewetwoonceagainallaloneintheuttermostpartsoftheearth，andbelikewearenotveryfarfromtheWellattheWorld’sEnd；
　　andnowIhavebethoughtmethatifwegainthatwhichweseekfor，andbearbackourlivestoourownpeople，thedaymaycomewhenwearegrownold，forasyoungaswemayseem，thatweshallbeaslonelythenaswearethishour，andthatthefolkroundaboutusshallbetousasmuchandnomorethanthesetreesandthewildthingsthatdwellamongstthem。”
　　Shelookedonhimandlaughedasoneover-happy，andsaid：
　　“Thourunnestforwardswiftlytomeettrouble，beloved！
　　ButIsaythatwellwillitbeinthosedaysifIlovethefolkthenaswellasnowIlovethesetreesandthewildthingswhosehousetheyare。”
　　Andsheroseuptherewithandthrewherarmsabouttheoak-boleandkisseditsruggedness，whileRalphashelaykissedthesleeknessofherfeet。
　　Andtherecamearobinhoppingovertheleavesanighthem，forinthatwoodmostofthecreatures，knowingnotman，weretametohim，andfearedthehorsesofthosetwainmorethantheirriders。
　　AndnowasUrsulaknelttoembraceRalphwithonehand，sheheldouttheothertothesaidrobinwhoperchedonherwrist，andsatthereasahoodedfalconhaddone，andfelltowhistlinghissweetnotes，asifhewerea-talkingtothosenew-comers：thenUrsulagavehimasong-rewardoftheirbrokenmeat，andheflewupandperchedonhershoulder，andnestledupagainsthercheek，andshelaughedhappilyandsaid：
　　“Loyou，sweet，havenotthewildthingsunderstoodmywords，andsentthisfairmessengertoforetellusallgood？”
　　“Itisgood。”saidRalphlaughing，“yettheoak-treehathnotspokenyet，despiteofallthykissing：andlotheregoesthyfriendtherobin，nowthouhastnomoremeattogivehim。”
　　“HeisflyingtowardstheWellattheWorld’sEnd。”shesaid，“andbiddethusonward：letustohorseandhasten：
　　forifthouwilthavethewholetruthconcerningmyheart，itisthis，thatsomechance-hapmayyettaketheefrommeerethouhastdrunkofthewatersoftheWell。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“andintheinnermostofmyheartlieththefearthatmayhappenthereisnoWell，andnohealinginitifwefindit，andthatdeath，andthebackwardwaymayyetsunderus。
　　Thisistheworstofmyheart，andevilismycowardfear。”
　　Butshecastherarmsabouthimandkissedandcaressedhim，andcriedout：
　　“Yea，thenfairhavebeenthedaysofourjourneying，andfairthishourofthegreenoak！Andboldandtruethineheartthathathledtheethusfar，andwontheethydesireofmylove。”
　　Sothentheyarmedthem，andmountedtheirhorsesandsetforward。
　　Theylivedwellwhiletheywereinthewood，butonthethirddaytheycametowhereitthinnedandatlastdiedoutintoastonywastelikeuntothatwhichtheyhadpassedthroughbeforetheycametotheHouseoftheSorceress，savethatthislayinridgesasthewavesofagreatsea；
　　andthesesameridgestheywerebiddentocrossoverattheirhighest，lesttheyshouldbebewilderedinamazeoflittlehillsanddalesleadingnowhither。
　　Sotheyenteredonthisdesert，havingfilledtheirwater-skinsataclearbrook，whereattheyrejoicedwhentheyfoundthatthefaceofthewildernesswascoveredwithasaltscurf，andthatnaughtgrewtheresaveasprinklingofsmallsagebushes。
　　Nowontheseconddayoftheirridingthisuglywaste，astheycameupoverthebrowofoneofthesestonyridges，Ralphthefar-sightedcriedoutsuddenly：“Hold！forIseeamanweaponed。”
　　“Whereishe？”quothUrsula，“andwhatisheabout？”
　　SaidRalph：“Heisupyonderontheswellofthenextridge，andbyseemingisasleepleaningagainstarock。”
　　ThenhebenttheTurkbowandsetanarrowonthestringandtheywentonwarily。WhentheyweredownatthefootoftheridgeRalphhailedthemanwithalustycry，butgatnoanswerofhim；
　　sotheywentonupthebent，tillRalphsaid：“NowIcanseehisfaceunderhishelm，anditisdarkandtheeyesarehollow：
　　Iwilloffhorseandgouptohimafoot，butdothou，beloved，sitstillinthysaddle。”
　　Butwhenhehadcomenigher，heturnedandcriedouttoher：
　　“Themanisdead，comeanigh。”Soshewentuptohimanddismounted，andtheybothtogetherstoodovertheman，whowaslyingupagainstabigstonelikeoneatrest。HowlonghehadlaintherenoneknowsbutGod；forinthesaltnessofthedrydesertthefleshhaddriedonhisboneswithoutcorrupting，andwasashardenedleather。
　　Hewasinfullarmourofastrangeandancientfashion，andhisswordwasgirttohisside，neitherwasthereanysignofawoundabouthim。
　　Underacraganighhimtheyfoundhishorse，deadanddryliketohimself；
　　andalittlewayoverthebrowoftheridgeanotherhorseinlikecase；
　　andclosebyhimawomanwhoseraimenthadnotutterlyperished，norherhair；
　　thereweregoldringsonherarms，andhershoesweredonewithgold：
　　shehadaknifestuckinherbreast，withherhandstillclutchingthehandlethereof；sothatitseemedthatshehadherselfgivenherselfdeath。
　　RalphandUrsulaburiedthesetwowiththeheapingofstonesandwenttheirways；butsometwomilesthencetheycameuponanotherdeadman-at-arms，andnearhimanoldmanunweaponed，andtheyheapedstonesonthem。
　　Thereaboutnightovertookthem，anditwasdark，sotheylaydowninthewaste，andcomfortedeachother，andslepttwoorthreehours，butarosewiththefirstglimmerofdawn，andmountedandrodeforthonward，thattheymightthesoonerbeoutofthatdeadlydesert，forfearclungtotheirhearts。
　　Thisday，forsooth，theyfoundsomanydeadfolk，thattheymightnotstaytoburythem，lesttheythemselvesshouldcometolietherelackingburial。
　　Sotheymadeallthewaytheymight，androdeonsomehoursbystarlightafterthenightwascome，foritwasclearandcold。Sothatatlasttheyweresoutterlyweariedthattheylaydownamongstthosedeadfolk，andsleptsoundly。
　　OnthemorrowmornRalphawokeandsawUrsulasleepingpeacefullyashedeemed，andhelookedaboutonthedrearydesertanditsdeadmenandsawnoendtoit，thoughtheylayonthetopofoneofthosestonybents；andhesaidsoftlytohimself：“Willitendatallthen？
　　SurelyallthispeopleofthedaysgonebywereSeekersoftheWellaswebe；andhavetheybeliketurnedbackfromsomewherefurtheron，andmightnotescapethedesertdespiteofall？Shallweturnnow：
　　shallweturn？surelywemightgetintothekindlywoodfromhere。”
　　Sohespake；butUrsulasatupforshewasnotasleepandsaid：
　　“Theperilsofthewastebeingabundantandexceedinghardtoface，wouldnottheSageorhisbookshavetoldusofthemostdeadly？”
　　SaidRalph：“Yethereareallthesedead，andwewerenottoldofthem，neverthelesswehaveseenthetokenontherocksoft-timesyesterday，soweareyetintheroad，unlessallthishathbeenbutasnareandabetrayal。”
　　Sheshookherhead，andwassilentalittle；thenshesaid：
　　“Ralph，mylad，didstthouseethistokenandshesethandtothebeadsaboutherneckonanyofthosedeadfolkyesterday？”
　　“Nay。”saidRalph，“thoughsoothtosayIlookedforit。”
　　“AndIinlikewise。”shesaid；“forindeedIhadmisgivingsasthedaygrewold；butnowIsay，letusoninthefaithofthattokenandthekindnessoftheSage，andtheloveoftheInnocentPeople；yea，andthyluck，Oladofthegreenfieldsfaraway，thathathbroughttheeunscathedsofarfromUpmeads。”
　　Sotheymountedandrodeforth，andsawmoreandmoreofthedeadfolk；
　　andeverandanontheylookedtothemtonoteiftheyworethebeadsliketothembutsawnonesodight。ThenUrsulasaid：
　　“Yea，whyshouldtheSageandthebookshavetoldusaughtofthesedeadbodies，thatarebutastheplenishingofthewaste；liketotheflowersthatarecastdownbeforethebierofasaintonaholy-daytobetroddenunderfootbythechurlsandthevicarsoftheclose。
　　Forsoothhadtheybeenalivenow，withswordstosmitewithal，andhandstodragusintocaptivity，ithadbeenanothermatter：
　　butagainsttheseIfeelbold。”
　　Ralphsighed，andsaid：“Yea，butevenifwedienotinthewaste，yetthisispiteous；somanylivespassedaway，somanyhopesslain。”
　　“Yea。”shesaid；“butdonotfolkdiethereintheworldbehindus？
　　IhaveseensightsfarworserthanthisatUtterbol，littlewhileasIwasthere。MoreoverIcannotethatthisarmyofdeadmenhasnotcomeallinonedayoroneyear，butinalong，longwhile，byoneandtwoandthree；
　　forhastthounotnotedthattheirraimentandwargearboth，isofmanyfashions，andsomemuchmoreperishedthanother，longasthingslastinthisDryWaste？Isaythatmendieasintheworldbeyond，buthereweseethemastheyliedead，andhavelainforsolong。”
　　Hesaid：“IfearneithertheWastenorthedeadmenifthoufearestnot，beloved：butIlamentforthesepoorsouls。”
　　“AndIalso。”saidshe；“thereforeletuson，thatwemaycometothosewhosegriefwemayheal。”