theywereadozeninall，andfourwerehorsed。Ralphsethishandtohissword，buttheminstrelcriedout，“Nay，noweapons，noweapons！
Pulloutthylet-passagainandshowitinthinehand，andthenletuson。”
Sosayinghedrewawhitekerchieffromhishand，andtiedittotheendofhisridingstaff，andsorodetremblingbyRalph’sside：
therewiththeyrodeontogethertowardsthosemen，whomastheydrewnearertheyheardlaughingandjeeringatthem，thoughinatonguethatRalphknewnot。
Theycamesocloseatlastthatthewaylayerscouldseetheparchmentclearly，withthesealthereon，andthentheymadeobeisancetoit，asthoughitweretherelicofasaint，anddrewoffquietlyintothewoodonebyone。
Thesewerebigmen，andsavage-looking，andtheirarmourwasutterlyuncouth。
Theminstrelwasloudinhismirthwhentheywerewellpastthesemen；
butRalphrodeonsilently，andwassomewhatsoberly。
“Fairsir。”quoththeminstrel，“IwouldwagerthatIknowthythought。”“Yea。”saidRalph，“whatisitthem？”
Saidtheminstrel：“Thouartthinkingwhatthoushaltdowhenthoumeetestsuchlikefolkonthywayback；butfearnot，forwiththatsamesealthoushaltpassthroughthelandagain。”
SaidRalph：“Yea，somethinglikethat，forsooth，wasmythought。
ButalsoIwasponderingwhoshouldbemyguidewhenI
leaveUtterbol。”Theminstrellookedathimaskance；quothhe：
“Thoumaystleavethinkingofthatawhile。”Ralphlookedhardathim，butcouldmakenaughtofthelookofhisface；
sohesaid：“Whydostthousaythat？”SaidMorfinn：
“BecauseIknowwhitherthouartbound，andhavebeenwonderingthislongwhilethatthouhastaskedmenotaboutthewaytotheWELLattheWORLD’SEND：sinceItoldthyfriendthemerchantthatIcouldtelltheesomewhatconcerningit。
ButIsupposethouhastbeenthinkingofsomethingelse？”
“Well。”saidRalph，“tellmewhatthouhasttosayoftheWell。”
SaidMorfinn：“ThiswillItelltheefirst：thatifthouhastanydoubtthatsuchaplacethereis，thoumaystsetthataside；
forweofUtternessandUtterbolaresurethereof；andofallnationsandpeopleswhereofweknow，wedeemthatwearethenighestthereto。Howsayestthou，isthatnotalreadysomething？”
“Yea，verily。”saidRalph。
“Now。”saidMorfinn，“thenextthingtobesaidisthatweareontheroadthereto：butthethirdthingagainisthis，lord，thatthoughfewwhoseekitfindit，yetweknowthatsomehavefailednotofit，besidesthatlordofGoldburg，ofwhomIknowthatthouhastheard。
Furthermore，theredwellethasageinthewoodsnotrightfarfromUtterbol，ahermitlivingbyhimself；andfolkseektohimfordiverslore，tobeholpenbyhiminonewayorother，andofhimmensaythathehathsomuchloreconcerningtheroadtotheWell(whetherhehathbeentherehimselftheyknownotcertainly)，thatifhewill，hecanputanyoneontheroadsosurelythathewillnotfailtocomethere，buthebeslainontheway，asIsaidtotheeinGoldburg。
Trueitisthatthesaidsageischaryofhislore，andifhethinkanyharmoftheseeker，hewillshowhimnaught；but，fairsir，thouartsovaliantandsogoodly，andasmeseemethsogoodaknightperamours，thatIdeemitacertainthingthathewilltelltheetheuttermostofhisknowledge。”
NowagainwaxedRalpheagerconcerninghisquest；fortrueitisthatsincehehadhadthatstoryofthedamselfromtheminstrel，shehadstoodinthewaybeforetheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
Butnowhesaid：“Andcanstthoubringmetothesaidsage，goodminstrel？”
“Withoutdoubt。”quothMorfinn，“whenweareoncesafeatUtterbol。
FromUtterbolyemaywendanyroad。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“andthereareperilsyetafewontheway，isitnotso？”
“Soitis。”saidtheminstrel；“butto-morrowshalltryall。”SaidRalph：
“Andistheresomespecialperilaheadto-morrow？Andifitbeso，whatisit？”Saidhisfellow：“Itwouldavailtheenaughttoknowit。
Whatthen，doththatdauntthee？”“No。”saidRalph，“bythenitisnighenoughtohurtus，weshallbenighenoughtoseeit。”“Wellsaid！”
quoththeminstrel；“butnowwemustmendourpace，ordarknightshallovertakeusamidtheseroughways。”
Wildasthelandwas，theycameateventoaplacewherewereafewhousesofwoodmenorhunters；andtheygotofftheirhorsesandknockedatthedoorofoneofthese，andagreatblack-hairedcarleopenedtothem，who，whenhesawtheknight’sarmour，wouldhaveclappedthedoortoagain，hadnotRalphbytheminstrel’sredeheldouttheparchmenttohim，whowhenhesawitbecamehumbleindeed，andgavethemsuchguestingashemight，whichwasscantindeedofvictualordrink，savewild-fowlfromtheheath。
Buttheyhadwinewiththemfromthelastguest-house，whereoftheybadethecarletodrink；buthewouldnot，andinallwiseseemedtobeindreadofthem。
Whenitwasmorningearlytheyrodetheirways，andthecarleseemedgladtoberidofthem。Aftertheyhadriddenafewmilesthelandbetteredsomewhat；therewereislandsofdeepgreenpastureamidsttheblacknessoftheheath，withcattlegrazingonthem，andhereandtherewasalittletillage：
thelandwaslittlebetterthanlevel，onlyitswelledalittlethiswayandthat。Itwasabrightsunnydayandtheairveryclear，andastheyrodeRalphsaid：“Quiteclearisthesky，andyetonecloudthereisintheoffing；butthisisstrangeaboutit，thoughIhavebeenwatchingitthishalfhour，andlookingtoseetherackcomeupfromthatquarter，yetitchangesnotatall。
Ineversawthelikeofthiscloud。”
Saidtheminstrel：“Yea，fairsir，andofthiscloudImusttelltheethatitwillchangenomoretillthebonesoftheeartharetumbledtogether。
Forsooththisisnocloud，butthetopmostheadofthemountainridgewhichmencalltheWalloftheWorld：andifeverthoucomecloseuptothesaidWall，thatshallfearthee，Ideem，howeverfearlessthoube。”
“IsitnightoUtterness？”saidRalph。“Nay。”saidtheminstrel，“notsonigh；forashugeasitseemeththence。”
SaidRalph：“DofolktellthattheWellattheWorld’sEndliethbeyondit？”
“Surely。”saidtheminstrel。
SaidRalph，hisfaceflushing：“Forsooth，thatancientlordofGoldburgcamethroughthosemountains，andwhynotI？”
“Yea。”saidtheminstrel，“whynot？”AndtherewithhelookeduneasilyonRalph，whoheededhislooksnaught，forhismindwassetonhighmatters。
Onthentheyrode，andwhentreesorsomedipinthelandhidthatmountaintopfromthem，thewayseemedlongtoRalph。
Naughtbefelltotellofforsomewhile；butatlast，whenitwasdrawingtowardseveningagain，theyhadbeenridingthroughathickpine-woodforalongwhile，andcomingoutofittheybeheldbeforethemaplaincountryfairlywellgrassed，butlo！onthefieldnotfarfromtheroadsideapavilionpitchedandabanneronthetopthereof，butthebannerhungdownaboutthestaff，sothatthebearingwasnotseen：
andaboutthispavilion，whichwasgreatandrichoffashion，weremanytentsgreatandsmall，andtherewerehorsestetheredinthefield，andmenmovingaboutthegleamofarmour。
Atthissighttheminstreldrewreinandstaredabouthimwildly；
butRalphsaid：“Whatisthis，isittheperilaforesaid？”
“Yea。”quoththeminstrel，shiveringwithfear。“Whataileththee？”
saidRalph；“havewenotthelet-pass，whatthencanbefallus？
IfthisbeotherthantheLordofUtterbol，hewillseeourlet-passandletusalone；orifitbeheindeed，whatharmshallhedotothebearersofhisownpass？
Comeonthen，orelse(andtherewithhehalfdrewhissword)
isthisLordofUtterbolbutanothernamefortheDevilinHell？”
Buttheminstrelstillstaredwildandtrembled；thenhestammeredout：
“IthoughtIshouldbringtheetoUtternessfirst，andthatsomeothershouldleadtheethence，Ididnotlooktoseehim。Idarenot，Idarenot！
Olook，look！”
Ashespakethewindaroseandranalongthewood-side，andbeatbackfromitandstirredthecanvasofthetentsandraisedthefoldsofthebanner，andblewitout，sothatthebearingwascleartosee；
yetRalphdeemeditnaughtdreadful，butanarmouryfitforabaron，towit，ablackbearonacastle-wallonafieldofgold。
ButasRalphsatonhishorsegazing，himseemedthatmenwerelookingtowardshim，andagreathornwassoundedhardbythepavilion；thenRalphlookedtowardtheminstrelfiercely，andlaughedandsaid：“Iseenowthatthouartanothertraitor：
sogettheegone；Ihavemoretodothantheslayingofthee。”
Andtherewithheturnedhishorse’shead，andsmotethespursintothesidesofhim，andwentagreatgallopoverthefieldontherightsideoftheroad，awayfromthegaypavilion；
buteventherewithcameahalf-scoreofhorsemenfromthecamp，asiftheywereawaitinghim，andtheyspurredafterhimstraightway。
Theracewasnolongone，forRalph’sbeastwaswearied，andtheotherhorseswerefresh，andRalphknewnaughtofthecountrybeforehim，whereasthoseridersknewitwell。
Thereforeitwasbutafewminutestilltheycameupwithhim，andhemadenoshowofdefence，butsufferedthemtoleadhimaway，andhecrossedthehighway，wherehesawnotokenoftheminstrel。
Sotheybroughthimtothepavilion，andmadehimdismountandledhimin。
Theduskhadfallenbynow，butwithinitwasallbrightwithcandles。
Thepavilionwashungwithrichsilkencloth，andatthefurtherend，onacarpetofthehunting，wasanivorychair，whereonsataman，whowastheonlyonesitting。Hewascladinagownofbluesilk，broideredwithroundelsbeatenwiththeBearupontheCastle-wall。
RalphdeemedthatthismustbenootherthantheLordofUtterbol，yetafterallthetaleshehadheardofthatlord，heseemednosuchterribleman：hewasshortofstature，butbroadacrosstheshoulders，hishairlong，strait，anddarkbrownofhue，andhisbeardscanty：
hewasstraight-featuredandsmooth-faced，andhadbeennoill-lookingman，savethathisskinwassallowandforhiseyes，whichwerebrown，small，andsomewhatbloodshot。
BesidehimstoodMorfinnboweddownwithfearandnotdaringtolookeitherattheLordoratRalph。Whereforeheknewforcertainthatwhenhehadcalledhimtraitorevennow，thatitwasnomorethantheverysooth，andthathehadfallenintothetrap；thoughhoworwhyhewottednotclearly。
Wellthenmighthishearthavefallen，butsoitwas，thatwhenhelookedintothefaceofthisLord，theterrorofthelands，hatredofhimsobesethisheartthatitswallowedupfearinhim。
Albeitheheldhimselfwellinhand，forhissoulwaswaxing，andhedeemedthatheshouldyetdogreatdeeds，thereforehedesiredtolive，whatsoeverpainsorshameofthepassingdayhemightsuffer。
Nowthismightylordspake，andhisvoicewasharshandsqueaking，sothatthesoundofitwasworsethanthesightofhisface；
andhesaid：“Bringthemanforth，thatImayseehim。”
SotheybroughtupRalph，tillhewaseyetoeyewiththeLord，whoturnedtoMorfinnandsaid：“Isthisthycatch，luckyman？”
“Yea。”quaveredMorfinn，notliftinghiseyes；“Willhedo，lord？”
“Do？”saidthelord，“HowcanIseehimwhenheisallmuffledupinsteel？
Yefools！doffhiswargear。”
SpeedilythenhadtheystrippedRalphofhauberk，andhelm，andarmandlegplates，sothathestoodupinhisjerkinandbreeches，andthelordleanedforwardtolookonhimasifhewerecheapeningahorse；andthenturnedtoamansomewhatstrickeninyears，cladinscarlet，whostoodonhisotherhand，andsaidtohim：
“Well，DavidtheSage，isthisthesortofman？Ishegoodlyenough？”
ThentheelderputonapairofspectaclesandeyedRalphcuriouslyawhile，andthensaid：“Therearenotwowordstobesaidaboutit；
heisagoodlyandwell-fashionedayoungmanaswaseversold。”
“Well。”saidthelord，turningtowardsMorfinn，“thecatchisgood，luckyman：Davidwillgivetheegoldforit，andthoumaystgobackwestwhenthouwilt。Andthoumustbeluckyagain，moreover；becausetherearewomenneededformyhouse；andtheymustbegoodlyandmeek，andnotgrievouslymarkedwithstripes，orbranded，sothatthouhadstbesttakethem，luckilyifthoumayst，andnotbuythem。
Nowgo，fortherearemorethanenoughmenunderthiswovenroof，andweneednohalf-mentoboot。”
SaidDavid，theoldman，grinning：“Hewillholdhimwellpaidifhegounscathedfrombeforethee，lord：forhelookednottomeettheehere，butthoughttobringtheyoungmantoUtterness，thathemightbekepttheretillthoucamest。”
