ButtherewiththeSagedrewuptothemandsaid：“Benotdismayed，LordRalph。WhatwertthougoingtosaytotheChampionswhenthiscarlebrakein？”
　　“This。”saidRalph，“thatIthankedtheDryTreeheartilyforitsgift，butthatmeseemeditnaughtwisetoleavethisstrongholddisgarnishedofmentillIcancomeorsendbackfromUpmeads。”
　　Stephen’sfaceclearedattheword，andhesaid：“Ibidtheebelieveit，lord，thatthereisnotreasoninourCaptain’sheart；
　　andthatiftherewereIwouldfightagainsthimandhismenonthybehalf。”AndRoger，thoughinasomewhatsurlyvoice，saidthelike。
　　Ralphthoughtalittle，andthenhesaid：“Itiswell；gowedownandoutofgatestomeetthem，thatwemaythesoonergetonourwaytoUpmeads。”
　　AndwithoutmorewordshewentuptoUrsulaandtookherhandandwentoutofthehall，anddowntherock-cutstair，andalltheywithhim。
　　AndwhentheycameintotheBase-court，Ralphspoketothecarlesofthethorp，whostoodhuddledtogethersoreafeard，andsaid：
　　“Throwopenthegates。TheseriderswhohavesoscaredyouarenaughtelsethantheChampionsoftheDryTreewhoarecomingbacktotheirstrongholdthattheymaykeepyousureagainstwickedtyrantswhowouldoppressyou。”
　　Thecarleslookedaskanceatoneanother，butstraightwayopenedthegates，andRalphandhiscompanywentforth，andabodethenew-comersonalittlegreenmoundhalfabowshotfromtheCastle。
　　RalphsatdownonthegrassandUrsulabyhim，andshesaid：
　　“MyhearttellsmethattheseChampionsarenotraitors，howeverroughandfiercetheyhavebeen，andstillshallbeifoccasionserve。
　　But0，sweetheart，howdearandsweetisthissunlitgreenswardafteryondergrimhold。Surely，sweet，itshallneverbeourdwelling？”
　　“Iwotnot，beloved。”saidhe；“mustwenotgoanddwellwheredeedsshallleadus？andthehandofWeirdismighty。
　　Butlothou，herearethenewcomerstohand！”
　　Soitwasashesaid，andpresentlythewholebandcamebeforethem，andtheywerealloftheDryTree，stoutmenandwellweaponed，andtheyhadriddenexceedingfast，sothattheirhorsesweresomewhatspent。
　　Atallmanverygallantlyarmed，whorodeattheirhead，leaptatoncefromhishorseandcameuptoRalphandhailedhim，andRogerandStephenbothmadeobeisancetohim。Ralph，whohadrisenup，hailedhiminhisturn，andthetallmansaid：“IamtheCaptainoftheDryTreeforlackofabetter；artthouRalphofUpmeads，fairsir？”
　　“Evenso。”saidRalph。
　　SaidtheCaptain：“ThouwiltmarvelthatIhaveriddenaftertheeonthespur；sohereisthetaleshortly。
　　YourbackswerenotturnedonthewallsoftheBurganhour，erethreeofmyridersbroughtintomeamanwhosaid，andgavemetokensofhiswordbeingtrue，thathehadfalleninwithacompanyoftheoldBurgersintheWoodDebateable，whichbelikethouwottestof。”
　　“AllweofUpmeadswotofit。”saidRalph。“Well。”saidtheCaptain，“amongstthesesaidBurgers，whoweredwellinginthewildwoodinsummercontent，thewordwentfreethattheywouldgathertothemotherbandsofstrong-thieveswhohauntthatwood，andgowiththemuponUpmeads，andfromUpmeads，whentheywerewaxenstrong，theywouldfalluponHighambytheWay，andthencewithyetmorestrengthontheirolddwellingoftheBurg。
　　NowwhereasIknowthatthouartofUpmeads，andalsowhatthouart，andwhatthouhastdone，Ihaveriddenaftertheetotelltheewhatistoward。
　　ButifthoudeemestIhavebroughttheealltheseridersitisnotwhollyso。
　　Foritwasborneintomymindthatouroldstrongholdwasleftbareofmen，andIknewnotwhatmightbetide；andthatthemore，asmorethanonemanhastoldushowthatanotherbandofthedisinheritedBurgershavefallenuponHighamorthelandsthereof，andHighamisnogreatwayhence；
　　sothatsomefivescoreoftheseridersaretoholdourCastleoftheScaur，andtherestarefortheetorideafieldwith。Asfortheothers，thouhastbeentoldalreadythattheScaur，andHamptontherewithisagiftfromustothee；forhenceforwardwebethelordsoftheBurgoftheFourFriths，andthatismorethanenoughforus。”
　　RalphthankedtheCaptainforthis，anddidhimtowitthathewouldtakethegiftifhecamebackouttheUpmeadsfrayalive：saidhe，“WiththeeandtheWheat-wearersintheBurg，andmeintheScaur，nostrong-thiefshalldareliftuphishandintheseparts。”
　　TheCaptainsmiled，andRalphwenton：“AndnowImustneedsasktheeforleavetodepart；whichisallthemoreneedful，whereasthymenhaveover-riddentheirhorses，andwemustneedsgoasoftpacetillwecometoHigham。”
　　“Yea，artthouforHigham，fairsir？”saidtheCaptain。“Thatiswell；
　　foryemaygetmentherefrom，andattheleastitislikethatyeshallheartidings：astomymenandtheirhorses，thishathbeenlookedto。
　　ForfivehundredgoodmenoftheWheat-wearers，menwhohavenotlearnedthefeatofarmsa-horseback，arecomingthroughthewoodshithertohelpwardthycastle，fairlord；theywillbehereinsomethreehours’
　　spaceandwillbringhorsesforthyfivescoremen，thereforedoyebutridesoftlytoHighamandifthesesergeantscatchupwithyouitiswell，butifnot，abidethematHigham。”
　　“Thankshavethouforthisoncemore。”saidRalph；“andnowI
　　havenomorewordthanthisforthee；thatIwillcometotheeatthyleastword，andservetheewithallthatIhave，tomyverylifeifneedbe。AndyetImustsaythis，thatIwotnotwhyyeandtheseothersarebecometome，whoamalientoyou，asverybrothers。”SaidtheCaptain：
　　“Thereisthistobesaidofit，aswasaforesaid，thatallwecountthywinningoftheWellattheWorld’sEndasvaliancyinthee，yea，andluckwithal。But，moreover，shewhowasOurLadywouldhavehadtheeforherfriendhadshelived，andhowthencouldwebelessthanfriendstothee？
　　Departinpeace，myfriend，andwelooktoseetheeagaininalittlewhile。”
　　Therewithhekissedhim，andbadefarewell；andRalphbadehisbandtohorse，andtheywereinthesaddleinatwinkling，androdeawayfromHamptonatasoftpace。
　　Butastheywent，RalphturnedtoUrsulaandsaid：
　　“AndnowbelikeshallweseeBourtonAbbasoncemore，andthehousewherefirstIsawthee。AndOhowsweetthouwert！
　　AndIwassohappyandsoyoung。”
　　“Yea。”shesaid，“andsorelyIlongedforthee，andnowwehavelongbeentogether，asitseemeth；andyetthatlongspaceshallbebutalittlewhileofourlives。But，myfriend，astoBourtonAbbas，Imisdoubtmeofourseeingit；
　　forthereisanigherroadbytheby-waystoHigham，whichthesemenknow，anddoubtlessthatwayweshallwend：
　　andIamgladthereof；forIshalltellthee，thatsomewhatI
　　fearthatthorp，lestitshouldlayholdofme，andwakemefromadream。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“buteventhen，belikethoushouldstfindmebesidethee；asifIhadfallenasleepintheale-house，anddreamedoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andthenawokeandseenthedearbarefootmaidenbusyingheraboutherhouseanditsmatters。
　　Thatwerenaughtsoill。”
　　“Ah。”shesaid，“lookroundonthymen，andthinkofthemightofwarthatisinthem，andthinkofthedeedstocome。
　　ButOhowIwouldthatthesenextfewdayswerewornaway，andweyetaliveforalongwhile。”
　　TheyCometotheGateofHighamBytheWayItwasasUrsulahaddeemed，andtheymadeforHighambytheshortestroad，sothattheycamebeforethegatealittlebeforesunset：
　　totheverygatetheycamenot；fortherewerestrongbarriersbeforeit，andmen-at-armswithinthem，asthoughtheywerelookingforanonfall。
　　AndamongstthesewerebowmenwhobendedtheirbowsonRalphandhiscompany。
　　SoRalphstayedhismen，androdeuptothebarrierswithRichardandStephena-Hurst，allthreeofthembare-headedwiththeirswordsinthesheaths；
　　andStephenmoreoverbearingawhiteclothonatruncheon。Thenaknightofthetown，verybravelyarmed，cameforthfromthebarriersandwentuptoRalph，andsaid：“Fairsir，artthouaknight？”“Yea。”saidRalph。
　　Saidtheknight，“Whobeye？”“IhightRalphofUpmeads。”saidRalph，“andthesebemymen：andwepraytheeforguestinginthetownofmyLordAbbotto-night，andleavetodepartto-morrowbetimes。”
　　“Ounhappyyoungman。”saidtheknight，“meseemsthesemenbenotsomuchthineasthouarttheirs；fortheyareoftheDryTree，andbeartheirtokenopenly。Wiltthouthenlodgethycompanyofstrong-thieveswithhonestmen？”
　　Stephena-Hurstlaughedroughlyatthisword，butRalphsaidmildly：
　　“ThesemenareindeedoftheDryTree，buttheyaremymenandundermyrule，andtheyberidingonmyerrands，whichbelawful。”
　　Theknightwassilentawhileandthenhesaid：“Well，itmaybeso；
　　butintothistowntheycomenot，forthetaleofthemisoverlongforhonestmentohearkento。”
　　Evenashespake，aman-at-armssomewhatevillyarmedshovedthroughthebarriers，thrustingabackcertainofhisfellows，and，cominguptoRalph，stoodstaringupintohisfacewiththetearsstartingintohiseyes。
　　Ralphlookedamoment，andthenreacheddownhisarmstoembracehim，andkissedhisface；forlo！itwashisownbrotherHugh。
　　Withalhewhisperedinhisear：“Gettheebehindus，Hugh，ifthouwiltcomewithus，lad。”SoHughpassedonquietlytowardtheband，whileRalphturnedtotheknightagain，whosaidtohim，“Whoisthatman？”
　　“Heismineownbrother。”saidRalph。“Behethebrotherofwhomhewill。”
　　saidtheknight，“hewasnonethelessourswornman。Yefools。”
　　saidhe，turningtowardthemeninthebarrier，“whydidyenotslayhim？”
　　“Heslippedout。”saidthey，“beforewewottedwhathewasabout。”
　　Saidtheknight，“Wherewereyourbows，then？”
　　Saidaman：“Theywerepressingsohardonthebarrier，thatwecouldnotdrawabowstring。Besides，howmightweshoothimwithouthittingthee，belike？”
　　TheknightturnedtowardRalph，grownwrothandsurly，andthatthemorehesawStephenandRichardgrinning；hesaid：
　　“Fairsir，yehavestrengthenedtheoldsawthatsaith，Tellmewhatthyfriendsare，andIwilltelltheewhatthouart。
　　Thouhaststolenourmanwithnotawordonit。”
　　“Fairsir。”saidRalph，“meseemeththoumakestmorewordsthanenoughaboutit。ShallIbuymybrotherofthee，then？
　　Ihaveagoodfewpiecesinmypouch。”Thecaptainshookhisheadangrily。
　　“Well。”saidRalph，“howcanIpleasethee，fairsir？”
　　Quoththeknight：“Thoucanstpleasemebestbyturningthyhorses’
　　headsawayfromHigham，allthesortofyou。”Hesteppedbacktowardthebarriers，andthencameforwardagain，andsaid：
　　“Lookyou，man-at-arms，IwarntheethatItrusttheenot，anddeemthatthouliest。NowhaveImindtoissueoutandfalluponyou：
　　foryeshallbeevilguestsinmyLordAbbot’slands。”
　　NowatlastRalphwaxedsomewhatwroth，andhesaid：
　　“Comeoutthen，ifyouwill，andweshallmeetyoumanforman；
　　thereisyetlightonthislilylea，andwewilldosomuchforthee，churlthoughthoube。”
　　Butashespoke，camethesoundsofhorns，andlo，overthebentshowedthepointsofspears，andthenallthosefive-scoreoftheDryTreewhomthecaptainhadsentafterRalphcamepouringdownthebent。
　　Theknightlookedonthemunderthesharpofhishand，tillhesawtheDryTreeontheircoatsalso，andthenheturnedandgathimhastilyintothebarriers；andwhenhewasamongsthisownmenhefelltoroaringoutadefiancetoRalph，andaboltflewforth，andtwoorthreeshafts，buthurtnoone。RichardandStephendrewtheirswords，butRalphcriedout：
　　“Comeaway，friends，tarrynottobickerwiththesefools，whoareafraidoftheyknownotwhat：itisbutlyingunderthenakedheavento-nightinsteadofundertherafters，butwehavealllodgedthusamanytimes：
　　andweshallbenighertoourjourney’sendto-morrowwhenwewakeup。”
　　TherewithheturnedhishorsewithRichardandStephenandcametohisownmen。TherewasmuchlaughterandjeeringattheAbbot’smenamidstoftheDryTree，bothofthosewhohadriddenwithRalph，andthenew-comers；buttheyarrayedthemtoridefurtheringoodorder，andpresentlywereskirtingthewallsofHighamoutofbow-shot，andmakingfortheDowncountrybytheclearofthemoon。
　　ThesergeantshadgottenahorseforHugh，andbyRalph’sbiddingherodebesidehimastheywenttheirways，andthetwobrethrentalkedtogetherlovingly。