AFriendGivesRalphWarningOnthemorrowRalphwanderedabouttheDalewherehewould，andnonemeddledwithhim。Andashewalkedeastalongthestreamwherethevalleybegantonarrow，hesawamansittingonthebankfishingwithanangle，andwhenhedrewnear，themanturnedabout，andsawhim。
Thenhelaysdownhisanglingrodandrisestohisfeet，andstandsfacingRalph，lookingsheepish，withhishandshangingdownbyhissides；
andRalph，whowasthinkingofotherfolk，wonderedwhathewould。
Sohesaid：“Hail，goodfellow！Whatwouldstthou？”Saidtheman：
“Iwouldthankthee。”“Whatfor？”saidRalph，butashelookedonhimhesawthatitwasRedhead，whosepardonhehadwonoftheLordyesterday；
soheheldouthishand，andtookRedhead’s，andsmiledfriendlyonhim。
Redheadlookedhimfullintheface，andthoughhewasbothbigandveryrough-looking，hehadnotaltogetherthelookofarascal。
Hesaid：“Fairlord，IwouldthatImightdosomethingforthineavail，andperchanceImay：butitishardtodogooddeedsinHell，especiallyforoneofitsdevils。”
“Yea，isitsobadasthat？”saidRalph。“Fortheenotyet。”saidRedhead，“butitmaycometoit。Hearken，lord，thereisnoneanighusthatIcansee，soIwillsayawordtotheeatonce。Lateronitmaybeoverlate：
GothounottoUtterbolwhatevermaybetide。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“buthowifIbetakenthither？”QuothRedhead：
“Icanseethis，thatthouartsofavouredthatthoumaystgowhitherthouwiltaboutthecampwithnonetohinderthee。
Thereforeitwillbeeasyfortheetodepartbynightandcloud，orinthegreyofmorning，whenthoucomesttoagoodpass，whereofIwilltellthee。AndstillIsay，gothounottoUtterbol：
forthouartovergoodtobemadeadevilof，liketous，andthereforethoushaltbetormentedtillthylifeisspoilt，andbythatroadshaltthoubesenttoheaven。”
“Butthousaidstevennow。”saidRalph，“thatIwashighintheLord’sgrace。”“Yea。”saidRedhead，“thatmaylasttillthouhastcommandtodosomedastard’sdeedandnay-sayestit，asthouwilt：
andthenfarewelltothee；forIknowwhatmyLordmeanethforthee。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“andwhatisthat？”SaidRedhead；“Hehathboughttheetogivetohiswifeforatoyandaminion，andifshelikethee，itwillbewellforawhile：butonthefirstoccasionthatservethhim，andsheweariethofthee(forsheisawomanlikeaweather-cock)，hewilllayhandontheeandtakethemanhoodfromthee，andlettheedriftaboutUtterbolamockforallmen。
Foralreadyathearthehateththee。”
Ralphstoodponderingthisword，forsomehowitchimedinwiththethoughtalreadyinhisheart。YethowshouldhenotgotoUtterbolwiththeDamselabidingdeliveranceofhimthere：
andyetagain，iftheymetthereandwereespiedon，wouldnotthatruineverythingforheraswellasforhim？
Atlasthesaid：“Goodfellow，thismaybetrue，buthowshallIknowitfortruebeforeIruntheriskoffleeingaway，insteadofgoingontoUtterbol，whereasfolkdeemhonourawaitethme。”
SaidRedhead：“ThereisnohonouratUtterbolsaveforsuchasareunworthyofhonour。ButthyriskisasIsay，andIshalltelltheewhenceIhadmytale，sinceIlovetheeforthykindnesstome，andthymanliness。Itwastoldmeyester-evebyawomanwhoisintheveryprivityoftheLadyofUtterbol，andiswellwiththeLordalso：
anditjumpethwithmineownthoughtonthematter；soIbidtheebeware：
forwhatisinmetogrievewouldbesoregrievedwertthoucastaway。”
“Well。”saidRalph，“letussitdownhereonthebankandthentellmemore；
butgoonwiththineanglingthewhile，lestanyshouldseeus。”
Sotheysatdown，andRedheaddidasRalphbade；andhesaid：
“Lord，Ihavebiddentheetoflee；butthisisanilllandtofleefrom，andindeedthereisbutonepasswherebyyemaywellgetawayfromthiscompanybetwixtthisandUtterbol；
andweshallencamphardbyitontheseconddayofourfaringhence。
YetImusttelltheethatitisnoroadforadastard；foritleadeththroughtheforestupintothemountains：yetsuchasitis，foramanboldandstronglikethee，Ibidtheetakeit：
andIcanseetoitthatleavingthiscompanyshallbeeasytothee：
onlythoumustmakeupthymindspeedily，sincethetimedrawssonigh，andwhenthouartcometoUtterbolwithallthisrout，andthehousefull，andsomeoneorotherdoggingeachfootstepofthine，fleeingwillbeanothermatter。Nowthusitis：
onthatsamesecondnight，notonlyisthewoodathandtocoverthee，butIshallbechiefwarderofthesideofthecampwherethoulodgest，sothatIcanputtheeontheroad：
andifIwerebetterworth，Iwouldsay，takemewiththee，butasitis，Iwillnotburdentheewiththatprayer。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“Ihavehadoneguideinthiscountry-sideandhebewrayedme。Thisisamatteroflifeanddeath，soIwillspeakoutandsayhowamItoknowbutthatthoualsoartgoingabouttobewrayme？”
Redheadleptuptohisfeet，androaredout：“WhatshallIsay？
whatshallIsay？BythesoulofmyfatherIamnotbewrayingthee。
MayallthecursesofUtterbolbesevenfoldheavieronmeifIamthytraitoranddastard。”
“Softlylad，softly。”saidRalph，“lestsomeoneshouldhearthee。
Contentthee，Imustneedsbelievetheeifthoumakestsomuchnoiseaboutit。”
ThenRedheadsathimdownagain，andforallthathewassoroughandsturdyacarlehefella-weeping。
“Nay，nay。”saidRalph，“thisisworseinallwisethantheothernoise。Ibelievetheeaswellasamancanwhoisdealingwithonewhoisnothisclosefriend，andwhothereforesparethtruthtohisfriendbecauseofmanyyearsuseandwont。
Cometothyselfagainandletuslookatthismattersquareintheface，andspeedilytoo，lestsomeunfriendorbusybodycomeonus。
Therenow！Now，inthefirstplacedostthouknowwhyIamcomeintothisperilousandtyrannousland？”
SaidRedhead：“IhavehearditsaidthatthouartonthequestoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。”
“Andthatisbutthesooth。”saidRalph。“Wellthen。”quothRedhead，“thereisthegreatercauseforthyfleeingatthetimeandinthemannerI
havebiddenthee。ForthereisacertainsagewhodwellethinthewildwoodbetwixtthatplaceandtheGreatMountains，andhehathsomuchloreconcerningtheMountains，yea，andtheWellitself，thatifhewilltelltheewhathecantell，thouartinafairwaytoendthyquesthappily。
Whatsayestthouthen？”
SaidRalph，“IsaythattheSageisgoodifImayfindhim。
ButthereisanothercausewhyIhavecomehitherfromGoldburg。
“Whatisthat？”saidRedhead。“This。”saidRalph，“tocometoUtterbol。”
“Heavenhelpus！”quothRedhead，“andwherefore？”
Ralphsaid：“Belikeitisneitherprudentnorwisetotellthee，butIdoverilytrustthee；sohearken！IgotoUtterboltodeliverafriendfromUtterbol；andthisfriendisawoman——holdaminute——
andthiswoman，asIbelieve，hathbeenoflatebroughttoUtterbol，havingbeentakenoutofthehandsofoneofthemenofthemountainsthatliebeyondCheapingKnowe。”
Redheadstaredastonished，andkeptsilenceawhile；
thenhesaid：“NowallthemoreIsay，flee！flee！flee！
Doubtlessthewomanisthere，whomthouseekest；foritwouldtakenonelessfairandnoblethanthatnew-comethralltodrawtoheronesofairandnobleasthouart。Butwhatavailethit？
IfthougotoUtterbolthouwiltdestroybothherandthee。
Forknow，thatwecanallseethattheLordhathsethisloveonthisdamsel；andwhatbettercanbetide，ifthoucometoUtterbol，butthattheLordshallatonceseethatthereislovebetwixtyoutwo，andthentherewillbeanendofthestory。”
“Howso？”quothRalph。SaidRedhead：“AtUtterbolalldothewilloftheLordofUtterbol，andheissolustfulandcruel，andsofalsewithal，thathiswillshallbetotormentthedamseltodeath，andtogeldandmaimthee；sothatnonehereaftershallknowhowgoodlyandgallantthouhastbeen。”
“Redhead。”quothRalphmuchmoved，“thoughthouartinnoknightlyservice，thoumaystunderstandthatitisgoodforafriendtodiewithafriend。”
“Yea，forsooth。”saidRedhead，“Ifhemaydonomoretohelpthanthat！
Wouldstthounothelpthedamsel？NowwhenthoucomestbackfromthequestoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，thouwiltbetoomightyandgloriousfortheLordofUtterboltothrusttheeasideliketoanovereagerdog；
andthoumaysthelpherthen。ButnowIsaytothee，andsweartothee，thatthreedaysafterthouhastmetthybelovedinUtterbolshewillbedead。
IwouldthatthoucouldstasksomeoneelsenearertotheLordthanI
havebeen。Thetalewouldbethesameasmine。”
Nowsoothlytosayit，thiswasevenwhatRalphhadfearedwouldbe，andhecouldscarcedoubtRedhead’sword。Sohesatthereponderingthematteragoodwhile，andatlasthesaid：
“Myfriend，Iwilltrusttheewithanotherthing；Ihaveamindtofleetothewildwood，andyetcometoUtterbolforthedamsel’sdeliverance。”
“Yea。”saidRedhead，“andhowwiltthouworkinthematter？”
SaidRalph；“HowwoulditbeifIcamehitherinotherguisethanmineown，sothatIshouldnotbeknowneitherbythedamselorhertyrants？”
SaidRedhead：“Therewereperilinthat；yethopealso。
Yea，andinonewaythoumightestdoit；towit，ifthouwerttofindthatSage，andtellhimthytale：ifhebeofgoodwilltothee，hemightthenchangenotthygearonly，butthyskinalso；
forhehathexceedinggreatlore。”
“Well。”saidRalph，“Thoumaystlookuponitascertainthatonthataforesaidnight，Iwilldomybesttoshakeoffthiscompanyoftyrantandthralls，unlessIhearfreshtidings，sothatImustneedschangemypurpose。
ButIwillasktheetogivemesometokenthatallholdstogethersomelittletimebeforehand。”QuothRedhead：“Evensoshallitbe；
thoushaltseemeatlatestontheeveofthenightofthydeparture；
butonthenightbeforethatifitbeanywisepossible。”
“NowwillIgoawayfromthee。”saidRalph，“andIthanktheeheartilyforthinehelp，anddeemtheemyfriend。Andifthouthinkbetteroffleeingwithme，thouwiltgladdenmethemore。”
Redheadshookhisheadbutspakenot，andRalphwenthiswaysdownthedale。
TheLordofUtterbolMakesRalphaFreeManHewenttoandfrothatdayandthenext，andnonemeddledwithhim；
withRedheadhespakenotagainthosedays，buthadtalkwithOtterandDavid，whowereblitheenoughwithhim。Agathahesawnotatall；
northeLady，andstilldeemedthatthewhite-skinnedwomanwhomhehadseensittingbytheLordafterthetiltingwastheQueen。
AsfortheLadysheabodeinherpavilion，andwhileslayinaheaponthefloorweeping，ordullandblindwithgrief；
whilesshewalkedupanddownmadwrothwithwhomsoevercameinherway，eventothedealingoutofstripesandblowstoherwomen。
ButontheevebeforethedayofdepartureAgathacameintoher，andchidher，andbadeherbemerry：“IhaveseentheLordandtoldhimwhatIwould，andfounditnohardmattertogethimtoyeasayourplot，whichwerehardtocarryoutwithouthisgoodwill。
WithaltheseedthatIhavesowedtwodaysormoreagoisbearingfruit；
sothatthoumaystlooktoitthatwhatsoeverplightwemaybein，weshallfindadeliverer。”
“Iwotnotthymeaning。”quoththeLady，“butIdeemthouwiltnowtellmewhatthouartplanning，andgivemesomehope，lestIlayhandsonmyself。”
ThenAgathatoldherwithouttarryingwhatshewasaboutdoingforher，thetaleofwhichwillbeseenhereafter；andwhenshehaddone，theLadymendedhercheer，andbadebringmeatanddrink，andwasoncemorelikeagreatandproudLady。
