butoftenesttheforesthidallbuttheneartrees。
Thustheyrodesometwentymiles，andmadestayatsunsetinaplacethatseemedratheraclearingofthewoodthanameadow；
fortheyhadtreesontheirlefthandatafurlong’sdistance，aswellasontheirrightatastone’sthrow。
RalphsawnotRedheadashegotoffhishorse，andDavidaccordingtohiswontwentwithhimtohistent。Butaftertheyhadsuppedtogether，andDavidhadmademuchofRalph，andhaddrankmanycupstohishealth，hesaidtohim：
“Thenightisyetyoung，yea，butnew-born；yetmustIdepartfromthee，ifImay，tomeetamanwhowillsellmeanoblehorsegoodcheap；
andImaywellleavetheenow，seeingthatthouhastbecomeafreeman；
soIbidtheegoodnight。”
Therewithhedeparted，andwasscarcegoneoutereRedheadcomethin，andsaithinhiswontedroughloudvoice：“Here，knight，hereisthebridlethoubadestmegetmended；willthecobblingserve？”
Thenseeingnoonethere，hefelltospeakingsofterandsaid：
“Iheardtheoldpimpcalltheeafreemane’ennow：
Ifearmethatthouartnotsofreeashewouldhavetheethink。
Anyhow，wereIthou，Iwouldbefreerintwohoursspace。
Isittobeso？”
“Yea，yea。”saidRalph。Redheadnodded：“Goodisthat。”saidhe；“Isayintwohours’timeallwillbequiet，andweareasnearthethicketasmaybe；
thereisnomoon，butthenightisfairandthestarsclear；soallthatthouhasttodoistowalkoutofthistent，andturnatoncetothyrighthand：
comeoutwithmenowquietly，andIwillshowthee。”
TheywentouttogetherandRedheadsaidsoftly：“Lothouthatdodderedoakyonder；likeapieceofahay-rickitlooksunderthestars；
ifthouseestit，comeinagainatonce。”
RalphturnedanddrewRedheadin，andsaidwhentheywereinthetentagain：
“Yea，Isawit：whatthen？”
SaidRedhead：“Ishallbebehinditabidingthee。”
“MustIgoafoot？”saidRalph，“orhowshallIgetmeahorse？”
“Ihaveahorseforthee。”saidRedhead，“notthineown，butabetteroneyet，thathathnotbeenbackedto-day。Nowgivemeacupofwine，andletmego。”
Ralphfilledforhimandtookacuphimself，andsaid：
“Ipledgethee，friend，andwishtheebetterluck；andIwouldhavetheeformyfellowinthisquest。”
“Nay。”saidRedhead，“itmaynotbe：Iwillnotburdenthyluckwithmyill-luck……andmoreoverIamseekingsomethingwhichImaygainatUtterbol，andifIhaveit，Imaydomybesttosaygood-nighttothatevilabode。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“andIwishtheewelltherein。”
SaidRedhead，stammeringsomewhat；“ItiseventhatwomanoftheQueen’swhereofItoldthee。Andnowonelastword，sinceImustnotbeoverlonginthytent，lestsomeonecomeuponus。But，fairsir，ifthymindmisgivetheeforthisturningasidefromUtterbol；thoughitisnottobedoubtedthatthedamselwhomthouseekesthathbeenthere，itisnotallsosurethatthouwouldsthavefoundherthere。
Foroflate，whatwithmyLordandmyLadybeingbothaway，theplacehathbeenscantoffolk；andnotonlyisthesaiddamselwiseandwary，buttherebeotherswhohaveseenherbesidesmyLord，andwhosohathseenherisliketoloveher；
andsuchisshe，thatwhosolovethherisliketodoherwill。
SoIbidtheeinallcasebeearnestinthyquest；andthinkthatifthoudieontheroadthydamselwouldhavediedforthee；
andifthoudrinkoftheWellandcomebackwholeandsafe，IknownotwhythoushouldestnotgostraighttoUtterbolandhavethedamselawaywiththee，whosoevergainsayit。
Forthey(iftherebeanysuch)whohavedrunkoftheWellattheWorld’sEndarewelllookedtointhisland。
Nowonemorewordyet；whenIcometoUtterbol，ifthydamselbetherestill，fearnotbutIwillhavespeechofher，andtellofthee，andwhatthouwertlookingto，andhowthoudeemedstofher。”
Therewithheturnedanddepartedhastily。
ButRalphleftalonewassorelymovedwithhopeandfear，andalongingthatgrewinhimtoseethedamsel。Forthoughhewasfirmlysetondeparture，andonseekingthesageaforesaid，yethisheartwasdrawnthiswayandthat：
anditcameintohismindhowthedamselwouldfarewhentheevilLordcamehometoUtterbol；andhecouldnotchoosebutmakestoriesofhermeetingofthetyrant，andherfearandgriefandshame，andthedespairofherheart。
Sotheminuteswentslowtohim，tillheshouldbeinsomenewplaceanddoingsomewhattowardbringingaboutthedeliveranceofherfromthralldom，andthemeetingofhimandher。
oTheWellAtWorld’sEnd。
AnAdventureintheWoodUndertheMountainsNowwasthenightworntothetimeappointed，foritwastwohoursaftermidnight，sohesteppedoutofhistentcladinallhiswargear，andwentstraighttothedodderedoak，andfoundRedheadtherewithbutonehorse，wherebyRalphknewthatheheldtohispurposeofgoinghiswaystoUtterbol：
sohetookhimbytheshouldersandembracedhim，roughcarleashewas，andRedheadkneeledtohimonemomentoftimeandthenaroseandwentoffintothenight。ButRalphgota-horsebackwithoutdelayandrodehiswayswarilyacrossthehighwayandintothewood，andtherewasnonetohinderhim。
Thoughitwasdarkbutforthestarlight，therewasapath，whichthehorse，andnotRalph，found，sothathemadesomewayevenbeforethefirstglimmerofdawn，allthemoreasthewoodwasnotverythickafterthefirstmile，andtherewereclearingshereandthere。
SorodeRalphtillthesunwasatpointtorise，andhewasaboutthemidstofoneofthoseclearingsorwood-lawns，onthefurthersidewhereoftherewasmorethicket，ashedeemed，thenhehadyetcometo；
sohedrewreinandlookedabouthimforaminute。Eventherewithhedeemedheheardasoundlessharshthanthecryofthejayinthebeech-trees，andshrillerthanthemoaningofthemorningbreezeinthewood。
Sohefallstolisteningwithbothears，andthistimedeemsthathehearsthevoiceofawoman：andtherewithcameintohismindthatoldanddearadventureoftheWoodPerilous；forhewasdreamywiththepasteagernessofhisdeeds，andthelongandlonelynight。
Butyethedoubtedsomewhatofthevoicewhenithadpassedhisears，soheshookhisrein，forhethoughtitnotgoodtotarry。
Scarcethenhadhishorsesteppedout，eretherecameawomanrunningoutofthethicketbeforehimandmadetowardhimoverthelawn。
Sohegatoffhishorseatonceandwenttomeether，leadinghishorse；
andashedrewnighhecouldseethatshewasinasorryplight；shehadgatheredupherskirtstorunthebetter，andherlegsandfeetwerenaked：
thecoifwasgonefromherheadandherblackhairstreamedoutbehindher：
hergownwasrentabouttheshouldersandbosom，sothatonesleevehungtattered，asifbythehandlingofsomeone。
Sosheranuptohimcryingout：“Help，knight，helpus！”
andsankdowntherewithathisfeetpantingandsobbing。
Hestoopeddowntoher，andraisedherup，andsaidinakindvoice：
“Whatisamiss，fairdamsel，thatthouartinsuchaplight；
andwhatmayIforthineavail？Dothanypursuethee，thatthoufleestthus？”
Shestoodsobbingawhile，andthentookholdofhistwohandsandsaid：
“Ofairlord，comenowandhelpmylady！forasforme，sinceIamwiththee，Iamsafe。”
“Yea。”saidhe，“ShallIgettohorseatonce？”
AndItherewithhemadeasifhewouldmoveawayfromher；
butshestillheldhishands，andseemedtothinkitgoodsotodo，andshespakenotforawhilebutgazedearnestlyintohisface。
Shewasafairwoman，darkandsleekandlithe……foringoodsoothshewasnoneotherthanAgatha，whoisaforetoldof。
NowRalphissomewhatabashedbyhereagerness，andletshiseyesfallbeforehers；andhecannotbutnotethatdespitethebramblesandbriarsofthewoodthatshehadrunthrough，therewerenoscratchesonherbarelegs，andthatherarmwasunbruisedwherethesleevehadbeenrentoff。
Atlastshespake，butsomewhatslowly，asifshewerethinkingofwhatshehadtosay：“Oknight，bythyknightlyoathIchargetheecometomyladyandhelpandrescueher：
sheandIhavebeentakenbyevilmen，andIfearthattheywillputhertoshame，andtormenther，eretheycarryheroff；
fortheywereabouttyinghertoatreewhenIescaped：
fortheyheedednotmewhoambutthemaid，whentheyhadthemistressintheirhands。”“Yea。”saidhe，“andwhoisthymistress？”
Saidthedamsel：“SheistheLadyoftheBurntRock；
andIfearmethatthesemenareoftheRidersofUtterbol；
andthenwillitgohardwithher；forthereisnaughtbuthatredbetwixtmylordherhusbandandthetyrantofUtterbol。”
SaidRalph：“Andhowmanywerethey？”“Obutthree，fairsir，butthree。”shesaid；“andthousofairandstrong，likethewar-godhimself。”
Ralphlaughed：“Threetooneislongodds。”quothhe，“butIwillcomewiththeewhenthouhastletgomyhandssothatImaymountmyhorse。
Butwiltthounotridebehindme，fairdamsel；soweariedandspentasthouwiltbebythynight。”
Shelookedonhimcuriously，andlaidahandonhisbreast，andthehauberkringstinkledbeneaththebroideredsurcoat；
thenshesaid：“Nay，Ihadbestgoafootbeforethee，sodisarrayedasIam。”
Thenshelethimgo，butfollowedhimstillwithhereyesashegathimintothesaddle。Shewalkedonbesidehishorse’shead；
andRalphmarvelledofherthatforallherhasteshehadbeenin，shewentsomewhatleisurely，pickingherwaydaintilysoastotreadthesmooth，andkeepherfeetfromtherough。
Thustheywenton，intothethicketandthroughit，andthedamselputthethornsandbriarsasidedaintilyasshestepped，andwentslowerstilltilltheycametoapleasantplaceofoak-treeswithgreenswardbeneaththem；
andthenshestopped，andturning，facedRalph，andspokewithanothervoicethanheretofore，whereastherewasnaughtruefulorwhiningtherein，butsomewhatbothofgleeandofmockingasitseemed。“Sirknight。”
shesaid，“Ihaveawordortwoforthyears；andthisisapleasantplace，andgoodforustotalktogether，whereasitisneithertooneartoher，nortoofarfromher，sothatIcaneasilyfindmywaybacktoher。
Now，lord，Ipraytheelightdownandlistentome。”Andtherewithshesatdownonthegrassbytheboleofagreatoak。
“Butthylady。”saidRalph，“thylady？”“Osir。”shesaid；
“Myladyshalldowellenough：sheisnottiedsofast，butshemightlooseherselfiftheneedwerepressing。
Lightdown，dearlord，lightdown！”
ButRalphsatstillonhishorse，andknithisbrows，andsaid：
“Whatisthis，damsel？hastthoubeenplayingaplaywithme？
Whereisthyladywhomthouwouldsthavemedeliver？
Ifthisbebutgameandplay，letmegomyways；fortimepresses，andIhaveaweightyerrandonhand。”
Sheroseupandcameclosetohim，andlaidahandonhiskneeandlookedwistfullyintohisfaceasshesaid：“Naythen，Icantelltheeallthetaleasthousittestinthysaddle；
formeseemsshortwillbethyfarewellwhenIhavetoldit。”
Andshesighedwithal。
ThenRalphwasashamedtogainsayher，andshenowbecomegentleandsweetandenticing，andsadwithal；sohegotoffhishorseandtiedhimtoatree，andwentandstoodbythedamselasshelayuponthegrass，andsaid：
“Ipritheetellthytaleandletmedepartiftherebenaughtformetodo。”
Thenshesaid：“Thisisthefirstword，thatastotheRedRock，Ilied；andmyladyistheQueenofUtterbol，andIamherthrall，anditisIwhohavedrawntheehitherfromthecamp。”
