Wanedtheeven，andfolkbegantogobedward，sothatthehallgrewthinofguests。ThencameupthecarlinetoRalphandtookhimasideintoanook，andsaidtohim：“Youngknight，nowwillItelltheewhatseemedtomestrangee’ennow；
towit，thatthecaptivedamselshouldbebearinganecklaceaboutherneckasliketothineasonelambistoanother：
butIthoughtthoumightestbelieverthatIspakeitnotopenlybeforealltheotherfolk。SoIheldmypeace。”
“Dame。”saidhe，“Ithankthee：forsoothIfearsorelythatthisdamselismysister；foreverwehavewornthesamelikepairofbeads。
AndasformeIhavecomehithertofindher，andevilwillitbeifI
findherenthralled，anditmaybepastredemption。”
AndtherewithhegaveherapieceofthegoldmoneyofUpmeads。
“Yea。”saidshe，“pooryouth；thatwillbesoothindeed，forthouartsomewhatlikeuntoher，yetfargoodlier。
ButIgrieveforthee，andknownotwhatthouwiltdo；
whereasbythistimemostlikeshehasbeensoldandboughtandisdwellinginsomelord’sstrong-house；sometyrantthatneedethnotmoney，andwillnotlethispreygoforaprayer。
Here，takethouthygoldagain，forthoumaystwellneedit，andletmeshearalockofthygoldenhair，andIshallbewellapaidformykeepingsilenceconcerningthylove。
ForIdeemthatitisevenso，andthatsheisnotthysister，elsehadstthoustayedathome，andprayedforherwithbookandpriestandaltar，andnotgoneseekingherawearyway。”
Ralphreddenedbutsaidnaught，andletherputscizzorsamongsthiscurlylocks，andtakewhatofthemshewould。
Andthenhewenttohisbed，andponderedthesematterssomewhat，andsaidtohimselfthatitwasbythisdamsel’smeansthatheshouldfindtheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
Yethesaidalso，that，whetheritweresoornot，hewasboundtoseekher，anddeliverherfromthralldom，sincehehadkissedhersosweetandfriendly，likeabrother，forthesweetnessandkindnessofher，beforehehadfallenintothelovethathadbroughthimsuchjoyandsuchgrief。
Andtherewithhetookoutthatpieceofhergownfromhispouch，anditseemeddeartohim。Butitmadehimthinksadlyofwhatgrieforpainshemighteventhenbebearing，sothathelongedtodeliverher，andthatlongingwassweettohim。
Insuchthoughtshefellasleep。
ABattleintheMountainsWhenitwasmorningtheyaroseearlyandateamorsel；andClementgavefreelytotheWardenandhishelpmateonbehalfofthefellowship；
andthentheysaddledtheirnags，anddidontheloadsanddeparted；
andthewaywasevilotherwise，butitwasdownhill，andallwatersraneast。
Alldaytheyrode，andatevenwhenthesunhadnotquiteset，theypitchedtheircampatthefootofaroundknollamidstavalleywherewaswaterandgrass；andlookingdownthence，theyhadasightofthefruitfulplain，whereinlayCheapingKnoweallgoodlyblueinthedistance。
Thiswasafairplaceandalovely，andgreateasewouldtheyhavehadthere，wereitnotthattheymustkeepwatchandwardwithmorepainsthantheretofore；forClementdeemeditasgoodascertainthatthewildmenwouldfalluponthemthatnight。
Butallwaspeacefulthenightthrough，andinthemorningtheygattothewayspeedily，ridingwiththeirarmouron，andtheirbowsbent：
andthreeofthemen-at-armsrodeaheadtoespytheway。
Soitbefellthattheyhadnotriddentwohourserebackcamethefore-riderswiththetidingsthatthepassnextbelowthemwasthickwiththeStrong-thieves。
Thefellowshipwereastheninsuchaplace，thattheywereridingahighbareridge，andcouldnotbeassailedtotheadvantageofthethievesiftheyabodewheretheywere；whereasiftheywentforward，theymustneedsgodownwiththeroadintothedalethatwasbesetbythewildmen。Nowtheywerethree-scoreandtwoalltold，butofthesebutascoreofmen-at-armsbesidesRalph，andClement，whowasastoutfighterwhenneedwas。
Oftheothers，somewerebutlads，andoftheChapmenwerethreeoldmen，andmorethanoneblencherbesides。However，allmenwerearmed，andtheyhadmanybows，andsomeofthechapmen’sknaveswerefellarchers。
Sotheytookcounseltogether，andtosomeitseemedbettertoabidetheonsetontheirvantageground。
ButtoClementandtheoldermen-at-armsthisseemedofnoavail。
Forthoughtheycouldseetheplaincountrydownbelow，theywouldhavenosuccourofit；andClementbadethemthinkhowthenightwouldcomeatlast，andthatthelongertheyabode，thegreaterwouldbethegatheringoftheStrong-thieves；
sothat，allthingsconsidered，itwerebettertofallonatonceandtotrytheadventureofthevalley。
Andthisaftersometalktheyyea-saidall，saveafewwhoheldtheirskinssodearthattheirwitswanderedsomewhat。
Sothesetimorousonestheybadeguardthesumpterbeastsandtheirloads；
andevensotheydid，andabodealittle，whilethemen-at-armsandthebowmenwentforwardwithoutmoreado；andRalphrodebetwixtClementandthecaptainofthemen-at-arms。
Presentlytheywerecomeclosetotheplacewherethewaywentdownintothevalley，cleavingthroughaclayeybent，sothattheslipperysidesofthecleftwentuphightorightandleft；
whereforebygoodhaptherewerenobigstonesanightorolldownuponthem。Moreoverthewaywasshort，andtheyrodesixabreastdownthepassandweresoonthroughthehollowway。
AsherodeRalphsawafewoftheStrong-thievesatthenetherendwherethepasswidenedout，andtheyletflysomearrowsatthechapmenwhichdidnohurt，thoughsomeoftheshaftsrattledonthearmourofthecompanions。
ButwhenClementsawthatfolk，andheardthenoiseoftheirshoutingheliftedupagreataxethatheboreandcried，“St。AgnesfortheMercers！”andsetspurstohishorse。
Sodidtheyall，andcameclatteringandshoutingdownthesteeproadlikeastoneoutofasling，anddraverightintothevalleyoneandall，thewouldbelaggardsfollowingafter；
fortheywereafraidtobeleftbehind。
Thewildmen，who，saveforwideshieldswhichtheybore，werebutevillyarmed，mostlyinskinsofbeasts，madenocountenanceofdefence，butfledalltheymighttowardsthesteepslopesofthevalley，andthenturnedandfelltoshooting；
forthecompanionsdurstnotpursueinhastelesttheyshouldbescattered，andoverwhelmedbythemultitudeoffoemen；
buttheydrewupalongthesouthsideofthevalley，andhadthemasteryoftheroad，sothatthisfirstboutwaswithoutblood-shedding。Albeitthethievesstillshotintheirweakbowsfromthehill-side，butscarcehurtaman。
Thenthebowmenofthefellowshipfelltoshootingatthewildmen，whilethemen-at-armsbreathedtheirhorses，andthesumpter-beastsweregatheredtogetherbehindthem；
fortheyhadnodreadofabidingthereawhile，whereasbehindthemthegroundwasbrokenintoasteepshalycliff，bushedhereandtherewithtoughbushes，sothatnomancouldcomeupitsavebyclimbingwithhandandknee，andthatnoteasily。
Nowwhenthearchershadshotagoodwhile，andsomeofthethieveshadfallenbeforethem，andmenwereingoodheartbecauseoftheflightofthewildmen，Ralph，seeingthatthesestillhungabouttheslopes，criedout：
“MasterClement，andthouCaptain，sureitwillbeill-donetoleavethesemenunbrokenbehindus，lesttheyfollowusandhangaboutourhindermost，slayingusbothmenandhorses。”
“Evenso。”quoththecaptain，whowasamanoffewwords，“letusgo。
Butdothou，Clement，abidebythestuffwiththeladsandbowmen。”
Thenhecriedoutaloud：“St。Christophertoaid！”andshookhisrein，andalltheywhowerecladinarmourandwellmountedspurredonwithhimagainstthestrong-thieves。Butthese，whentheysawtheonsetofthehorsemen，butdrewalittleupthehill-sideandstoodfast，andsomeofthehorseswerehurtbytheirshot。
Sothecaptainbadedrawreinandoffhorse，whileClementledhisbowmennigher，andtheyshotwelltogether，andhinderedthethievesfromclosingroundthemen-at-arms，orfallingonthehorses。
Sothenthecompanionswentforwardstoutlyonfoot，andenteredintothebattleofthethieves，andtherewasthethrustingandthehewinggreat：forthefoemenboreaxes，andmalls，andspears，andwerelittleafraid，havingthevantage-ground；
andtheywerelitheandstrongmen，thoughnottall。
Ralphplayedmanfully，andwashurtbyaspearabovetheknee，butnotgrievously；soheheededitnot，butclearedaspaceallabouthimwithgreatstrokesoftheUpmeads’blade；thenasthewildmengavebacktherewasoneofthemwhostoodhisgroundandletdriveastrokeofalong-handledhammerathim，butRalphraninunderthestrokeandcaughthimbythethroatanddrewhimoutofthepress。
Andeventherewiththewildmenbrokeupbeforetheonsetoftheall-armedcarles，andfledupthehill，andthemen-at-armsfollowedthembutalittle，fortheirarmourmadethemunspeedy；
sothattheytooknomoreofthosemen，thoughtheyslewsome，butturnedaboutandgatheredroundRalphandmademerryoverhiscatch，fortheywerejoyouswiththehappyendofbattle；
andClement，whohadlefthisbowmenwhentheCompanionsweremingledwiththewild-men，wasthereamidstthenighest。
SaidRalphtohim：“Well，haveIgotmeaservantandthrallgoodcheap？”
“Yea。”saidClement，“ifthoudeemapolecatalikelyhound。”
SaidtheCaptain：“Putthyswordthroughhim，knight。”Quothanother：
“Lethimrunuphill，andourbowmenshallshootamatchathim。”
“Nay。”saidRalph，“theyhavedonewellwiththeirshooting，letthemrest。
Astomythrustingmyswordthroughtheman，Captain，Ihaddonethatbefore，hadIbeensominded。Atanyrate，Iwillaskhimifhewillservemetruly。
Otherwiseheseemethastrongcarleandahandy。Howsayestthou，lad，didI
taketheefairly？”“Yea。”saidtheman，“thouartastronglad。”
Heseemedtofeartheswordsabouthimbutlittle，andforsoothhewasawarrior-likeman，andnotill-looking。Hewasofmiddleheight，strongandwell-knit，withblackhairlikeabeast’smaneforshagginess，andbrightblueeyes。Hewascladinashortcoatofgreyhomespun，withanox-skinhabergeonlacedupoverit；hehadneitherhelmnorhat，norshoes，buthosenmadeofawoollenclouttiedabouthislegs；
hisshieldofwoodandox-hidelayonthegroundafewpacesoff，andhishammerbesideit，whichhehaddroppedwhenRalphfirsthandledhim，butagreatuglyknifewasstillgirttohim。
NowRalphsaithtohim：“Whichwiltthou——beslain，orserveme？”
Saidthecarle，grinning，yetnotfoully：“GuessifIwouldnotratherservethee！”“Wiltthouservemetruly？”saidRalph。
“Whynot？”quoththecarle：“yetIwarntheethatifthoubeatme，saveinhotblood，IshallputaknifeintotheewhenImay。”
“O。”saidone，“thrusthimthroughnowatonce，lordRalph。”
“Nay，Iwillnot。”saidRalph；“hehathwarnedmefairly。
Maybehewillservemetruly。MasterClement，wiltthoulendmeahorseformymantoride？”“Yea。”saidClement；
“yetImisdoubtmeofthynewsquire。”Thenheturnedtothemen-at-armsandsaid：“Notarrying，mymasters！
Tohorseandawaybeforetheygathergain！”
Sotheymountedandrodeawayfromthatvalleyofthepass，andRalphmadehismanridebesidehim。Butthemansaidtohim，assoonastheywereriding：“TakenotethatIwillnotfightagainstmykindred。”
“Nonebiddeththeeso。”saidRalph；“butdothoutakeheedthatifthoufightagainstusIwillslaytheeoutright。”Saidtheman：
“Afairbargain！”“Well。”saidRalph，“Iwillhavethyknifeofthee，lestittemptthee，asisthewontofcoldiron，andamaiden’sbody。”
“Nay，master。”quoththeman，“leavememyknife，asthouartagoodfellow。
Intwohourstimeweshallbepastallperilofmypeople，andwhenwecomedownbelowIwillslaytheeasmanyasthouwilt，soitbeoutofthekindred。Forsoothdownthereeviltheybe，andunkinsome。”
“Sobeit，lad。”saidRalph，laughing，“keepthyknife；buthangthiswordofminethereon，thatifthouslayanymanofthisfellowshipsaveme，Iwillratherflaytheealivethanslaythee。”
Quoththecarle：“Thatisthebargain，then，andIyeasayit。”
“Good。”saidRalph；“nowtellmethyname。”“BullShockhead。”
saidthecarle。
