NowdeemsRalphthatasforatrapoftheWoodPerilous，hehadalreadyfallenintothetrap；forhescarceneededtobetoldthattheseweremenoftheDryTree。HeknewalsothatitwasRogerwhohadledhimintothistrap，althoughhedeemeditdonewithnomaliceagainsthim。SohesaidtohimselfthatifhewentwithRogerhebutwentaroundaboutroadtotheDryTree；
sothathewaswellnighchoosingtogoonwiththeircompany。
YetagainhethoughtthatsomethingmightwellbefallwhichwouldfreehimfromthatfellowshipifhewentwithRogeralone；
whereasifhewentwiththeothersitwasnotthathemightbe，butthathewasalreadyofthefellowshipoftheDryTree，andmostlikewouldgostraightthencetotheirstronghold。
Sohespakeassoberlyasthetallmanhaddone。
“Sinceyegivemethechoice，fairsir，IwilldeparthencewithRogeralone，whomyecallmyman，thoughtomeheseemethtobeyours。Howbeit，hehasledmetoyouonce，andbelikewilldosooncemore。”
“Yea。”quoththebigmansmilingnowhitmorethanerst，“andthatwillmakethefourthtime。Departthen，fairsir，andtakethiswordwiththeethatIwishtheegoodandnotevil。”
RalphRideththeWoodPerilousAgainNowRogerleduptoRalphastronghorse，redroanofhue，dulyharnessedforwar，andhehimselfhadagoodgreyhorse，andtheymountedatonce，andRalphrodeslowlyawaythroughthewoodathishorse’swill，forhewasponderingallthathadbefallenhim，andwonderingwhatnextshouldhap。
Meanwhilethoseothershadnotloitered，butwerea-horsebackatonce，andwenttheirwaysfromRalphthroughthewildwood。
NoughtspakeRalphforawhiletillRogercamecloseuptohimandsaid：
“Whithershallwebetakeus，fairlord？hastthouaninklingoftheroadwhereonliesthineerrand？”
NowtoRalphthisseemedbutmockery，andheansweredsharply：
“Iwotnot，thouwiltleadwhitherthouwilt，evenasthouhasttrainedmehitherwardwithliesandaforgedtale。IsupposethouwiltleadmenowbysomeroundaboutroadtothestrongholdoftheDryTree。
Itmatterslittle，sincethoudurstnotleadmebackintotheBurg。
YetnowIcometothinkofit，itiseviltobealonewithafoundouttraitorandliar；andIhadbelikehavedonebettertogowiththeircompany。”
“Naynay。”quothRoger，“thouartangry，andImarvelnotthereat；
butletthywrathrunofftheeifthoumayest；forindeedwhatI
havetoldtheeofmyselfandmygriefsisnotallmerelying。
NeitherwasitanyliethatthouwertinperilofthylifeamongstthosetyrantsoftheBurg；thouwiththymanlybearing，andfreetongue，andbred，asIjudge，tohatecrueldeedsandinjustice。
Suchfreedomtheycannotawaywithinthatfellowshipofhardmen-at-arms；andsoonhadstthoucometoharmamongstthem。
Andfurther，letalonethatitisnotilltobesunderedfromyondercompany，whomayhapwillhaveroughworktodoorevertheywinhome，IhavenoughttodotobringtheetoHamptonunderScaurifthouhastnowilltogothither：
thoughcertesIwouldleadtheesomewhither，whereofthoushaltaskmenoughtasnow；yetwillIsaythereofthismuch，thattherethoushaltbebothsafeandwellatease。
Nowlastlyknowthis，thatwhateverIhavedone，Ihavedoneittodotheegoodandnotill；andthereisalsoanotherone，whomIwillnotnametothee，whowisheththeebetteryet，bythetokenofthosetwostrokesstrickenbytheeintheWoodPerilousbeforeyesterdaywasaday。”
NowwhenRalphheardthoselastwords，suchstrongandsweethopeanddesirestirredinhimtoseethatwomanoftheWant-waysoftheWoodPerilousthatheforgatallelse，exceptthathemustnowisefalltostrifewithRoger，lesttheyshouldsunder，andheshouldlosethehelpofhim，whichhenowdeemedwouldbringhimtosightofherwhomhehadunwittinglycometolongformorethanaughtelse；sohespaketoRogerquietlyandhumbly：
“Well，faring-fellow，thouseesthowIamlittlemorethanalad，andhavefallenintomattersmightyandperilous，whichImaynotdealwithofmyownstrength，atleastuntilIgetnighertothemsothatImaylookthemintheeyes，andstrikeastrokeortwoonthemiftheybeatenmitywithme。
SoIbidtheeleadmewhitherthouwilt，andifthoubeatraitortome，onthineownheadbeit；ingoodsooth，sinceIknownoughtofthiswoodandsinceImightgoastrayandsocomebacktotheBurgwherebethosewhomthouhastnowmademyfoemen，Iamcontenttotaketheeonthyword，andtohopethebestofthee，andasknoquestionofthee，savewhitherward。”
“Fairsir。”saidRoger，“awayfromthisplaceatleast；
forweareasyetovernightotheBurgtobesafe：
butastoelsewhitherwemaywend，thereofwemayspeakontheroadaswehaveleisure。”
Therewithhesmotehishorsewithhisheelandtheywentforwardatasmarttrot，forthehorseswereunwearied，andthewoodthereaboutsofbeechandclearofunderwood；andRogerseemedtoknowhiswaywell，andmadenofumblingoverit。
Fourhoursormoregone，thewoodthinnedandthebeechesfailed，andtheycametoacountry，stillwaste，oflittlelowhills，stonyforthemorepart，besetwithscraggythorn-bushes，andhereandtheresomeotherberry-treesownbythebirds。ThensaidRoger：
“NowIdeemuswelloutoftheperilofthemoftheBurg，whoiftheyfollowthechaseasfarasthesunderingofusandtheothers，willheedourslotnothing，butwillfollowonthatofthecompany：
sowemaybreatheourhorsesalittle，thoughtheirbaitwillbebutsmallinthisroughwaste：thereinwearebetteroffthanthey，forloyou，saddlebagsonmynagandmeatanddrinktherein。”
Sotheylighteddownandlettheirhorsesgrazewhattheycould，whiletheyateanddrank；amidstwhichRalphagainaskedRogerofwhithertheyweregoing。SaidRoger：“Ishallleadtheetoagoodharbour，andanoblehouseofamasterofmine，whereinthoumaystdwellcertaindays，ifthouhastamindthereto，notwithoutsolacemaybe。”
“Andthismaster。”saidRalph，“isheoftheDryTree？”
SaidRoger：“Iscarceknowhowtoanswertheewithoutlying：
butthisIsay，thatwhetherhebeornot，thisistrue；
amongstthosemenIhavefriendsandamongstthemfoes；
butfatebindethmetothemforawhile。”SaidRalphreddening：
“Bethereanywomenamongstthem？”“Yea，yea。”quothRoger，smilingalittle，“doubtnotthereof。”
“AndthatLadyoftheDryTree。”quothRalph，reddeningyetmore，butholdinguphishead，“thatwomanwhereoftheBurgherspokesobitterly，threateningherwithtormentsanddeathiftheymightbutlayholdofher；whatwiltthoutellmeconcerningher？”
“Butlittle。”saidRoger，“savethis，thatthoudesiresttoseeher，andthatthoumayesthavethywillthereonifthouwiltbeguidedbyme。”
RalphhearkenedasifheheededlittlewhatRogersaid；
butpresentlyheroseupandwalkedtoandfroinshortturnswithknitbrowsasoneponderingahardmatter。
Hespakenought，andRogerseemedtoheedhimnothing，thoughinsoothhelookedathimaskancefromtimetotime，tillatlasthecameandlaydownagainbyRoger，andinawhilehespake：
“IwotnotwhyyeoftheDryTreewantme，orwhatyewilldowithme；andbutforonethingIwouldevennowrideawayfromtheeatalladventure。”
Rogersaid：“Allthisyeshalllearnlateron，andshaltfinditbutasimplematter；andmeanwhileItelltheeagainthatallisforthygainandthypleasure。Sonowrideawayifthouwilt；
whohindereththee？certesnotI。”
“Nay。”saidRalph，“Iwillridewiththeefirsttothatfairhouse；
andafterwardsweshallseewhatistohap。”“Yea。”quothRoger，“thenletustohorsestraightway，sothatwemaybethereifnotbeforedarknightyetatleastbeforebrightmorn；
foritisyetfaraway。”
RalphComethtotheHouseofAbundanceTherewithaltheygattohorseandrodeawaythroughthatstonyland，whereinwasnoriver，butforwatermanypoolsinthebottoms，withlittlebrooksrunningfromthem。
Butafterawhiletheycameuponaridgesomewhathigh，onthefurthersidewhereofwasawidevalleywell-grassedandwithfewtrees，andnohabitationofmanthattheymightsee。
Butawideriverrandownthemidstofit；anditwasnowfourhoursafternoon。QuothRoger：“Thedaywearsandweshallbynomeansreachharbourbeforedarknight，evenifwedoourbest：
artthouwellusedtothewater，lord？”“Muchasamallardis。”
saidRalph。SaidRoger：“Thatiswell，forthoughthereisafordsomemileandahalfdownstream，forthatsamereasonitisthewaywherebymenmostlycrossthewaterintothewildwood；
andhereagainwearemoreliketomeetfoesthanwell-wishers；
orattheleasttherewillbequestionofwhoweare，andwhenceandwhither；andwemaystumbleinouranswers。”SaidRalph：
“Thereisnoneedtotarry，ridewedowntothewater。”
Sodidthey，andtookthewater，whichwasdeep，butnotswift。
Onthefurthersidetheyclombupahillsomewhatsteep；
atthecrowntheydrewreintogivetheirhorsesbreath，andRalphturnedinhissaddleandlookeddownontothevalley，andasaforesaidhewasclear-sightedandfar-sighted；nowhesaid：
“Fellow-farer，Iseetheridingoffolkdownbelowthere，andmeseemstheybespurringtowardthewater；andtheyhaveweapons：
there！dostthounotseethegleam？”
“Iwilltakethywordforit，fairsir。”saidRoger，“andwillevenspur，sincetheybethefirstmenwhomwehaveseensinceweleftthethickets。”
Andtherewithhewentoffatahandgallop，andRalphfollowedhimwithoutmoreado。
Theyrodeuphillanddowndaleofagrassydownland，tillatlasttheysawawoodbeforethemagain，andsoondrewreinundertheboughs；fornowweretheirhorsessomewhatwearied。
ThensaidRalph：“Herehaveweriddenafairland，andseenneitherhousenorherd，neithersheep-cotenorshepherd。
Iwonderthereat。”
SaidRoger：“Thouwouldstwonderthelessdidstthouknowthestoryofit。”
“Whatstory？”saidRalph。QuothRoger：“Astoryofwarandwasting。”
“Yea？”saidRalph，“yetsurelysomeboldknightorbaronhathrightsintheland，andmightbefreetobuildhimastronghouseandgathermentohimtoguardtheshepherdsandhusbandmenfromburnersandlifters。”
“Soothisthat。”saidRoger；“butthereareotherthingsinthetale。”
“Whatthings？”saidRalph。QuothRoger：“IllhapandsorrowandtheHandofFateandgreatSorcery。”“Anddastardswithal？”
saidRalph。“Evenso。”saidRoger，“yetmingledwithvaliantmen。
Overlongisthetaletotellasnow，solowasthesunis；
sonowrideweonwithlittlefearoffoemen。Forlookyou，thiswood，likethethicketsabouttheBurgoftheFourFriths，hathanevilname，andfewfolkrideituncompelled；thereforeitisthesaferforus。
AndyetIwillsaythistothee，thatwhereasawhileagonethoumightesthavedepartedfrommewithlittleperilofaughtsavethestumblingonsomeoftheridersoftheBurgoftheFourFriths，departingfrommenowwillbeahardmattertothee；forthesaintsinHeavenonlyknowwhitherwardthoushouldestcome，ifthouwerttoguidethyselfnow。
Thisaroughword，butatrueone，sohelpmeGodandSaintMichael！
Whatsayestthou；artthoucontent，orwiltthoucasthardwordsatmeagain？”
SoitwasthatforallthathadcomeandgoneRalphwaslight-heartedandhappy；sohelaughedandsaid：
“ContentwereI，evenifIwerenotcompelledthereto。
Formyhearttellsmeofnewthings，andmarvellousandjoyousthatIshallseeerelong。”
“Andthineheartliethnot。”saidRoger，“foramidstofthiswoodisthehousewhereweshallhaveguestingto-night，whichwillbetothee，belike，thedooroflifeandmanymarvels。
