wherebythewayfarerswottedthatthishadbeendoneinhismemorybyhisbrother，thenewLordofUtterbol。
　　SotheycamedownoutofthemountainstoWhiteness，wheretheyhadgoodentertainment，buttarriednotsaveforonenight，ridingtheirwaysbetimestoCheapingKnowe：
　　andtheycamebeforethegatethereofsafeandsoundonthethirdday；andsleptinthehostelryofthechapmen。
　　OnthemorrowRalphwentuptotheKing’sCastlewithbutthreemenunweaponedbearingthegiftwhichhehadgotfortheKing。
　　Albeithesentnotawayhismen-at-armstillheshouldknowhowtheKingwasmindedtowardshim。
　　Ashewenthesawinthestreetssadtokensofthelord’scrueljustice，ashandlessmen，fettered，draggingthemselvesabout，andfolkhungupbeforechapmen’sbooths，andwhipping-cheer，andthepillar，andsuchlike。
　　Butwhereashemightnothelphewouldnotheed，butcamerighttotheCastle-gate，andenteredeasilywhenhehadtoldhiserrand，forgift-bearingmenarenotoftenestwithstood。
　　Hewasbroughtstraightwayintothegreathall，wheresattheKingonhisthroneamidstthechiefsofthePorte，andhiscaptainsandsergeants，whowere，sotosay，hisbarons，thoughtheywerenotbaronsoflineage，butmasterfulmenwhowerewisetodohisbidding。
　　Ashewentupthehallhesawasortofpoorcaytiffs，womenaswellasmen，ledawayfromthehigh-placeinchainsbybailiffsandtipstaves；
　　andhedoubtednotthatthesewerefortormentsormaiminganddeath；
　　andthoughtitwerewellmighthedothemsomegood。
　　BeingcometotheKing，hemadehisobeisancetohim，andcravedhisgoodwillandleavetowagemen-at-armstobringhimthroughthemountains。
　　TheKingwasatallman，apropermanofwar；long-legged，blackbearded，andfierce-eyed。SomewordhehadheardofRalph’sgift，thereforehewasgracioustohim；hespakeandsaid：“Thouhastcomeacrossthemountainsalongway，fairSir；pritheeonwhaterrand？”
　　AnsweredRalph：“Fornoerrand，lord，savetofarehometomineownland。”
　　“Whereisthineownland？”saidtheKing，stretchingouthislegsandlyingbackinhischair。“West-away，lord，manyamile。”saidRalph。
　　“Yea。”quoththeKing，“andhowfardidstthougobeyondthemountains？
　　AsfarasUtterbol？”SaidRalph：“Yetfurther，butnottoUtterbol。”
　　“Hah！”saidtheKing，“whogoethbeyondUtterbolmusthaveagreaterrand；
　　whatwasthine？”
　　Ralphthoughtforamoment，anddeemeditbesttosayaslittleashemightconcerningUrsula；soheanswered，andhisvoicegrewloudandbold：
　　“IwasmindedtodrinkadraughtoftheWELLattheWORLD’SEND，andevensoIdid。”Ashespake，hedrewhimselfup，andhisbrowswereknitalittle，buthiseyessparkledfromunderthem，andhischelekswerebrightandrosy。
　　Hehalfdrewtheswordfromthescabbard，andsentitbackrattling，sothatthesoundofitwentaboutthehall；heuprearedhisheadandlookedaroundhimonthisandthatoneofthewarriorsofthealiens，andhesniffedtheairintohisnostrilsashestoodaloneamongstthem，andsethisfootdownhardontheflooroftheKing’shall，andhisarmourrattleduponhim。
　　ButtheKingsatboltuprightinhischairandstaredRalph’sface；
　　andthewarriorsandlordsandmerchantsfellbackfromRalphandstoodinanorderedrankoneithersideofhimandbenttheirheadsbeforehim。
　　NonespoketilltheKingsaidinahoarsevoice，butlowlyandwheedling：
　　“Tellus，fairSir，whatisitthatwecandotopleasurethee？”
　　“King。”saidRalph，“Iamnotheretotakegiftsbuttogivethemrather：
　　yetsincethoubiddestmeIwillcravesomewhatofthee，thatthoumaystbethemorecontent：andmoreoverthegivingshallcosttheenothing：
　　IcraveoftheetogivemelifeandlimbandfreedomforthepoorfolkwhomIsawleddownthehallbythytipstaves，evennow。
　　Givemethatornothing。”TheKingscowled，buthespake：
　　“Thisisindeedalittlegiftoftheetotake；yettononeelsesavetheehadIgivenit。”
　　Therewithhespaketoamanbesidehimandsaid：“Gothou，setthemfree，andifanyhurthathbefallenthemthylifeshallanswerforit。Isitenough，fairSir，andhavewethygoodwill？”
　　Ralphlaughedforjoyofhislifeandhismight，andheanswered：
　　“King，thisisthetokenofmygoodwill；fearnaughtofme。”
　　Andheturnedtohismen，andbadethembrightforththegiftofGoldburgandopenitbeforetheKing；andtheydidso。
　　ButwhentheKingcasteyesonthewareshisfacewasgladdened，forhewasagreedywolf，andwhosohadbeenclosetohismouthwouldhaveheardhimmutter：“Somighty！yetsowealthy！”
　　ButhethankedRalphaloudandinsmoothwords。AndRalphmadeobeisancetohimagain，andthenturnedandwenthiswaysdownthehall，andwasgladatheartthathehadbecomesomightyaman，forallfellbackbeforehimandlookedonhimwithworship。
　　HowbeithehadlookedontheKingcloselyandwisely，anddeemedthathewasbothcruelandguileful，sothatherejoicedthathehadspokennaughtofUrsula，andhewasmindedtokeepherwithingatesallthewhiletheyabodeatCheaping-Knowe。
　　Whenhecametothehostelhecalledhismen-at-armstogetherandaskedthemhowfartheywouldfollowhim，andwithonevoicetheysaidallthattheywouldgowithhimwheresohewould，sothatitwerenotbeyondreason。
　　Sotheyarrayedthemfordepartureonthemorrow，andweretorideoutofgatesaboutmid-morning。Soworethedaytoevening；
　　buterethenightwasoldcameamanaskingforRalph，asonewhowouldhaveaspecialalmsofhim，apoormanbyseeming，andevillyclad。
　　ButwhenRalphwasalonewithhim，thepoormandidhimtowitthatforallhisseemingwretchednesshewasbutdisguised，andwasinsoothamanofworship，andoneofthePorte。Quothhe：
　　“IamoftheKing’sCouncil，andImustneedstelltheeathingoftheKing：
　　thatthoughhewasatthefirstoverawedandcowedbythemajestyofthee，aFriendoftheWell，hepresentlycametohimself，whichwasbutill；
　　sothatwhatforgreed，whatforfeareven，heismindedtosendmentowaylaythee，somethreeleaguesfromthetown，onyourwaytothemountains，butyeshalleasilyescapehisginnowIhavehadspeechofthee；
　　foryemaytakeaby-roadandfetchacompassofsometwelvemiles，andgetabackofthewaylayers。Yetifyeescapethisfirstambush，unlessyearetimelyinridingearlytomorrowitisnotunlikethatheshallsendswiftriderstocatchupwithyouereyecometothemountains。
　　NowIamcometowarntheehereof，partlybecauseIwouldnothavesofairalifespilt，whichshouldyetdosowellforthesonsofAdam，andpartlyalsobecauseIwouldhavearewardoftheeformywarningandmywayleading，forIshallshowtheethewayandtheroad。”
　　SaidRalph：“Askandfearnot；forifImaytrusttheeIalreadyowetheeareward。”“MynameisMichael-a-dale。”saidtheman，“andfromSwevenhamIcamehither，andfainwouldIgothither，andlittlehopeIhavethereofsaveIgoprivilyinsomesuchbandasthine，whereasthetyrantholdethmeonpain，aswellIknow，ofanevildeath。”
　　“Igrantthineasking，friend。”saidRalph；“andnowthouwertbestgotothinehouseandtrusswhatstuffthoumaysthavewiththeeandcomebackhitherinthegreyofthemorning。”
　　Themanshookhisheadandsaid：“Nay；heremustIbidenight-long，andgooutofgatesamongstthymen-at-arms，andcladlikeoneofthemwithironenoughaboutmetohidethefashionofme；
　　itwerenowisesafeformetogobackintothetown；forthistyrantwagesmanyaspy：yea，forsooth，IfearmebycertaintokensthatitisnotallsocertainthatIhavenotbeenspieduponalready，andthatitisknownthatIhavecometothee。
　　AndIwilltelltheethatbyhookorbycrooktheKingalreadyknowethsomewhatoftheeandofthewomanwhoisinthycompany。”
　　Ralphflushedredatthatword，andfelthisheartbound：
　　buteventherewithcameintothemtheSage；andstraightwayRalphtookhimapartandtoldhimonwhaterrandthemanwascome，andaskhimifhedeemedhimtrusty。ThentheSagewentuptoMichaelandlookedhimhardinthefaceawhile，andthensaid：
　　“Yea，honestheisunlessthekindredofMichaeloftheHatchofSwevenhamhaveturnedthievesinthethirdgeneration。”
　　“Yea。”saidMichael，“anddostthouknowtheHatch？”
　　“AsIknowmineownfingers。”saidtheSage；“andevensoIknewityearsandyearsbeforethouwertborn。”Therewithhetoldthenew-comerwhathewas，andthetwomenofSwevenhammadejoyofeachother。
　　AndRalphwasfainofthem，andwentintothechamberwhereinsatUrsula，andtoldherhowallthingsweregoing，andshesaidthatshewouldbenaughtbutgladtoleavethattown，whichseemedtoherliketoUtterboloveragain。
　　AnAdventureontheWaytotheMountainsOnthemorrowRalphgothismentogetherbetimesandrodeouta-gates，andwaslittleafraidthatanyshouldmeddlewithhimwithinthetownoranighit，andevensoitturnedout。
　　ButMichaelrodeinthecompanynewclad，andwithhisheadandfaceallhiddeninawidesallet。AsforRalphandUrsula，theywereexceedingglad，andnowthattheirheadswereturnedtothelastgreatmountains，itseemedtothemthattheywereverilygoinghome，andtheylongedforthenight，thattheymightbealonetogether，andtalkofallthesemattersineachothers’arms。
　　Whentheywereouta-gates，theyrodefortwomilesalongthehighway，heedlesslyenoughbyseeming，andthen，asMichaelbade，turnedsuddenlyintoadeepandnarrowlane，andforthon，asitledbetwixthazelledbanksandcoppicesofsmallwood，skirtingthesideofthehills，sothatitwaslateintheafternoonbeforetheycameintotheHighwayagain，whichwastheonlyroadleadingintothepassesofthemountains。
　　ThensaidMichaelthatnowbyalllikelihoodtheyhadbeguiledthewaylayersforthattime；sotheywentonmerrilytillhalfthenightwasworn，whentheyshiftedforlodginginalittleoak-woodbythewayside。
　　Theretheylaynotlong，butwereafootbetimesinthemorning，androdeswiftlydaylong，andlaydownatnightonthewaysidewiththelessdreadbecausetheywerecomesofarwithouthurt。
　　Butonthethirdday，somewhatafternoon，whentheywerecomeupabovethetilleduplandandthelandwasroughandthewayssteep，therelaybeforethemadarkwoodswallowinguptheroad。
　　ThereaboutRalphdeemedthathesawweaponsglitteringahead，butwasnotsure，forasclear-sightedashewas。
　　Sohestayedhisband，andhadUrsulaintotherearward，andbadeallmenlooktotheirweapons，andthentheywentforwardheedfullyandingoodorder，andpresentlynotonlyRalph，butallofthemcouldseemenstandinginthejawsofthepasswiththewoodoneithersideofthem，andthoughatfirsttheydoubtedifthesewereaughtbutmerestrong-thieves，suchasanywayfarersmightcomeon，theyhadgonebutalittlefurtherwhenMichaelknewthemfortheridersofCheapingKnowe。
　　“Yea。”saidtheSageofSwevenham，“itisclearhowithasbeen：
　　whentheyfoundthatwecamenotthatfirstmorning，theyhadaninklingofwhathadbefallen，andwentforwardtowardthemountains，andnotbacktoCheapingKnowe，andthusoutwentuswhilewewerefetchingthatcompasstogivethemthego-by：whereforeIdeemthatsomegreatmaniswiththem，elsehadtheygonebacktotownforneworders。”
　　“Well。”saidRalph，“thenwilltheybetoomanyforus；
　　sonowwillIrideaheadandseeifwemayhavepeace。”
　　SaidtheSage，“Yea，butbewary，forthouhasttodowiththeguileful。”
　　ThenRalphrodeonalonetillhewascomewithinhailofthosewaylayers。
　　Thenhethrusthisswordintothesheath，andcriedout：
　　“Willanyofthewarriorsinthewoodspeakwithme；forIamthecaptainofthewayfarers？”