RalphMeetethWithAnotherAdventureintheWoodUndertheMountainSoonthewoodgrewverythickofpine-trees，thoughtherewasnoundergrowth，sothatwhenthesunsankitgrewdarkveryspeedily；buthestillrodeoninthedusk，andtherewerebutfewwildthings，andthosemostlyvoiceless，inthewood，anditwaswithoutwindandverystill。
Nowhethoughtheheardthesoundofahorsegoingbehindhimorononeside，andhewonderedwhetherthechacewereup，andhastenedwhathemight，tillatlastitgrewblacknight，andhewasconstrainedtoabide。Sohegotoffhishorse，andleanedhisbackagainstatree，andhadthebeast’sreinsoverhisarm；andnowhelistenedagaincarefully，andwasquitesurethathecouldhearthefootstepsofsomehard-footedbeastgoingnowisefarfromhim。Helaughedinwardly，andsaidtohimself：
“Ifthechacerweretopassbutthreefeetfrommynoseheshouldbenonethewiserbutifhehearmeormyhorse。”
Andtherewithhecastalapofhiscloakoverthehorse’shead，lestheshouldwhinnyifhebecameawareoftheotherbeast；
andsotherehestoodabiding，andthenoisegrewgreatertillbecouldhearclearlythehorse-hoofsdrawingnigh，tilltheycameverynigh，andthenstopped。
Thencameaman’svoicethatsaid：“Isthereamananighinthewood？”
Ralphheldhispeacetillheshouldknowmore；andthevoicespakeagaininalittlewhile：“IftherebeamananighlethimbesurethatI
willdohimnohurt；nay，Imaydohimgood，forIhavemeatwithme。”
Clearwasthevoice，andassweetastheAprilblackbirdsings。
Itspakeagain：“Naughtanswereth，yetmeseemethIknowsurelythatamanisanigh；andIamawearyofthewaste，andlongforfellowship。”
Ralphhearkened，andcalledtomindtalesofway-farersentrappedbywood-wivesandevilthings；buthethought：
“AtleastthisisnosendingoftheLordofUtterbol，and，St。Nicholastoaid，Ihavelittlefearofwood-wights。WithalIshallbebutadastardifIanswernotoneman，forfearofI
knownotwhat。”Sohespakeinaloudandcheerfulvoice：
“Yea，thereisamananigh，andIdesirethyfellowship，ifwemightbutmeet。Buthowshallweseeeachotherintheblacknessofthewildwoodnight？”
Theotherlaughed，andthelaughsoundedmerryandsweet，andthevoicesaid：“Hastthounoflintandfire-steel？”
“No。”saidRalph。“ButIhave。”saidthevoice，“andIamfaintoseethee，forthyvoicesoundethpleasanttome。
AbidetillIgropeaboutforastickortwo。”
Ralphlaughedinturn，asheheardthenew-comermovingabout；
thenheheardtheclickofthesteelontheflint，andsawthesparksshoweringdown，sothatalittlepieceofthewoodgrewgreenagaintohiseyes。Thenalittleclearflamesprangup，andtherewithhesawthetree-stemsclearly，andsometwentyyardsfromhimahorse，andamanstoopingdownoverthefire，whosprangupnowandcriedout：
“Itisaknight-at-arms！Comehither，fellowofthewaste；
itisfivedayssinceIhavespokentoachildofAdam；
socomenighandspeaktome，andasarewardofthyspeechthoushalthavebothmeatandfirelight。”
“Thatwillbewellpaid。”saidRalphlaughing，andhesteppedforwardleadinghishorse，fornowthewoodwaslightallabout，asthefirewaxedandburnedclear；sothatRalphcouldseethatthenew-comerwascladinquaintly-fashionedarmourafterthefashionofthatland，withabrightsteelsalletonthehead，andalonggreensurcoatoverthebodyarmour。
Slenderofmakewasthenew-comer，notbignortallofstature。
Ralphwentuptohimhastily，andmerrilyputhishandonhisshoulder，andkissedhim，saying：“Thekissofpeaceinthewildernesstothee！”
Andhefoundhimsmooth-facedandsweet-breathed。
Butthenewcomertookhishandandledhimtowherethefirelightwasbrightestandlookedonhimsilentlyawhile；andRalphgavebackthelook。
Thestrange-wroughtsallethidbutlittleofthenewcomer’sface，andasRalphlookedthereonasuddenjoycameintohisheart，andhecriedout：
“O，butIhavekissedthyfacebefore！O，myfriend，myfriend！”
Thenspakethenew-comerandsaid：“Yea，Iamawoman，andIwasthyfriendforalittlewhileatBourtonAbbas，andatthewant-waysoftheWoodPerilous。”
ThenRalphcasthisarmsaboutherandkissedheragain；
butshewithdrewherfromhim，andsaid：“Helpme，myfriend，thatwemaygatherstickstofeedourfire，lestitdieandthedarkcomeagainsothatweseenoteachother’sfaces，andthinkthatwehavebutmetinadream。”
Thenshebusiedherselfwithgatheringthekindling；butpresentlyshelookedupathim，andsaid：“Letusmakethewoodshinewideabout，forthisisafeastfulnight。”
Sotheygatheredaheapofwoodandmadethefiregreat；andthenRalphdidoffhishelmandhauberkandthedamseldidthelike，sothathecouldseetheshapelinessofheruncoveredhead。
Thentheysatdownbeforethefire，andthedamseldrewmeatanddrinkfromhersaddle-bags，andgavethereoftoRalph，whotookitofherandherhandwithal，andsmiledonherandsaid：“ShallwebefriendstogetheraswewereatBourtonAbbasandthewant-waysoftheWoodPerilous？”
Sheshookherheadandsaid：“Ifitmightbe！butitmaynotbe。
Notmanydayshavewornsincethen；buttheyhavebroughtaboutchangeddays。”Helookedonherwistfullyandsaid：
“Butthouwertdeartomethen。”
“Yea。”shesaid，“andthoutome；butotherthingshavebefallen，andthereischangebetwixt。”
“Nay，whatchange？”saidRalph。
Evenbythefirelighthesawthatshereddenedassheanswered：
“Iwasafreewomanthen；nowamIbutarunawaythrall。”
ThenRalphlaughedmerrily，andsaid，“Thenarewebroughtthenighertogether，forIalsoamarunawaythrall。”
Shesmiledandlookeddown：thenshesaid：“Wiltthoutellmehowthatbefell？”
“Yea。”saidhe，“butIwillasktheefirstaquestionortwo。”
Shenoddedayeasay，andlookedonhimsoberly，asachildwaitingtosayitstask。
SaidRalph：“Whenwepartedatthewant-waysoftheWoodPerilousthousaidstthatthouwertmindedfortheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andtotryitforlifeordeath。
Butthouhadstnotthenthenecklace，whichnowIseetheebear，andwhich，seestthou！isliketothataboutmyneck。
Wiltthoutellmewhencethouhadstit？”
Shesaid：“Yea；itwasgivenuntomebyalady，mightyasIdeem，andcertainlymostlovely，whodeliveredmefromanevilplight，andaperilpastwords，butwhereofIwilltelltheeafterwards。
AndsheitwaswhotoldmeofthewaytotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andmanymattersconcerningthemthatseekit，whereofthoushaltwotsoon。”
SaidRalph：“Astohowthouwertmadeathrallthouneedestnottotellme；
forIhavelearnedthatofthosethathadtodowithtakingtheetoUtterbol。Buttellme；herearemetwetwointhepathlesswilds，asifitwereonthedeepsea，andwetwoseekingthesamething。
Didstthoudeemthatweshouldmeet，orthatIshouldseekthee？”
Nowwasthefireburningsomewhatlow，buthesawthatshelookedonhimsteadily；yetwithalhersweetvoicetrembledalittleassheanswered：
“Kindfriend，Ihadahopethatthouwertseekingmeandwouldstfindme：
forindeedthatfairestofwomenwhogavemethebeadsspaketomeofthee，andsaidthatthoualsowouldstturntheetothequestoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd；andalreadyhadIdeemedthineeyesluckyaswellaslovely。
Buttellme，myfriend，whathasbefallenthatladythatsheisnotwiththee？Forinsuchwiseshespakeofthee，thatIdeemedthatnaughtwouldsunderyousavedeath。”
“Itisdeaththathathsunderedus。”saidRalph。
Thenshehungherhead，andsatsilentawhile，neitherdidhespeaktillshehadrisenupandcastmorewooduponthefire；
andshestoodbeforeitwithherbacktowardshim。
Thenhespaketoherinacheerfulvoiceandsaid：“Belikeweshallbelongtogether：tellmethyname；isitnotDorothy？”
Sheturnedabouttohimwithasmilingface，andsaid：
“Naylord，nay：didInottelltheemynamebefore？
TheythatheldmeatthefontbidthepriestcallmeUrsula，aftertheFriendofMaidens。Butwhatisthyname？”
“IamRalphofUpmeads。”quothhe；andsatawhilesilent，ponderinghisdreamandhowithadbetrayedhimastohername，whenithadtoldhimmuchthatheyetdeemedtrue。
Shecameandsatdownbyhimagain，andsaidtohim：“ThyquestionsI
haveanswered；butthouhastnotyettoldmethetaleofthycaptivity。”
Hervoicesoundedexceedingsweettohim，andhelookedonherfaceandspakeaskindlyasheknewhow，andsaid：“Ashorttaleitisto-nightatleast：
IcamefromWhitwallwithaCompanyofChapmen，anditwastheeIwasseekingandtheWellattheWorld’sEnd。Allwentwellwithme，tillI
cametoGoldburg，andthereIwasbetrayedbyafelon，whohadpromisedtoleadmesafetoUtterness，andtellmeconcerningthewayuntotheWell。
ButhesoldmetotheLordofUtterbol，whowouldleadmetohishouse；
whichirkedmenot，atfirst，becauseIlookedtofindtheethere。
Thereafter，ifforshameImaytellthetale，hisladyandwifecastherloveuponme，andIwasentangledinthenetsofguile：
yetsinceIwastold，andbelievedthatitwouldbeillbothfortheeandformeifImettheeatUtterbol，Itookoccasiontofleeaway，Iwilltelltheehowanotherwhile。”
Shehadturnedpaleassheheardhim，andnowshesaid：“ItisindeedGod’smercythatthoucamestnottoUtterbolnorfoundestmethere，forthenhadbothwebeenundoneamidstthelustsofthosetwo；
orthatthoucamestnottheretofindmefled，elsehadstthoubeenundone。
Myheartissicktothinkofit，evenasIsitbythyside。”
SaidRalph：“Thylastwordmakethmeafraidandashamedtoasktheeathing。
Buttellmefirst，isthatLordofUtterbolasevilasmen’sfearwouldmakehim？fornomanisfearedsomuchunlessheisdeemedevil。”
Shewassilentawhile，andthenshesaid：“Heissoevilthatitmightbedeemedthathehasbeenbroughtupoutofhell。”
ThenRalphlookedsoretroubled，andhesaid：“Dearfriend，thisisthethinghardformetosay。InwhatwisedidtheyusetheeatUtterbol？
Didtheydealwiththeeshamefully？”Sheansweredhimquietly：
“Nay。”shesaid，“fearnot！noshamebefellme，savethatIwasathrallandnotfreetodepart。Forsooth。”shesaid，smiling，“Ifledawaytimelybeforethetormentorsshouldbeready。
Forsoothitisanevilhouseandamerepieceofhell。
Butnowweareoutofitandfreeinthewildwood，soletusforgetit；
forindeeditisagrieftorememberit。Andnowoncemoreletusmendthefire，forthyfaceisgrowingdimtome，andthatmislikethme。
Afterwardsbeforeweliedowntosleepwewilltalkalittleoftheway，whitherwardweshallturnourfacesto-morrow。”
Sotheycastonmorewood，andpineapples，andsweetitwastoRalphtoseeherfacecomeclearagainfromoutthemirkofthewood。
Thentheysatdownagaintogetherandshesaid：“WetwoareseekingtheWellattheWorld’sEnd；nowwhichofusknowsmoreoftheway？whoistolead，andwhotofollow？”SaidRalph：
“IfthouknownomorethanI，itislittlethatthouknowest。
SoothitisthatformanydayspastIhavesoughttheethatthoumightestleadme。”
Shelaughedsweetly，andsaid：“Yea，knight，andwasitforthatcausethatthousoughtestme，andnotformydeliverance？”
Hesaidsoberly：“YetinverydeedIsetmyselftodeliverthee。”
“Yea。”shesaid，“thensinceIamdelivered，Imustneedsdeemofitasifitwerethroughthydeed。AndasIsupposethoulookestforarewardtherefor，sothyrewardshallbe，thatI
willleadtheetotheWellattheWorld’sEnd。Isitenough？”
“Nay。”saidRalph。Theyheldtheirpeaceaminute，thenshesaid：
“MaybewhenwehavedrunkofthatWaterandarecomingback，itwillbefortheetolead。FortrueitisthatIshallscarceknowwhithertowend；sinceamidstofmydreamingoftheWell，andof……othermatters，myhomethatwasisgonelikeadream。”
Helookedather，butscarceasifhewereheedingallherwords。
Thenhespoke：“Yea，thoushaltleadme。IhavebeenledbyoneoranothereversinceIhaveleftUpmeads。”
Nowshelookedonhimsomewhatruefully，andsaid：
“Thouwertnothearkeninge’ennow；soIsayitagain，thatthetimeshallcomewhenthoushaltleadme。”
InRalph’smindhadsprungupagainthatjourneyfromtheWateroftheOak-tree；sohestrovewithhimselftoputthethoughtfromhim，andsighedandsaid：“Dostthouverilyknowmuchoftheway？”
Shenoddedyeasay。“KnowestthouoftheRockoftheFightingMan？”
“Yea。”shesaid。“AndoftheSagethatdwellethinthissamewood？”
“Mostsurely。”shesaid，“andto-morroweveningorthemorrowafterweshallfindhim；forIhavebeentaughtthewaytohisdwelling；
andIwotthatheisnowcalledtheSageofSwevenham。YetImusttelltheethatthereissomeperilinseekingtohim；whereashisdwellingisknownoftheUtterbolriders，whomayfollowusthither。
AndyetagainIdeemthathewillfindsomeremedythereto。”
SaidRalph：“Whencedidstthoulearnallthis，myfriend？”
Andhisfacegrewtroubledagain；butshesaidsimply：
“ShetaughtittomewhospaketomeinthewoodbyHamptonunderScaur。”
Shemadeasifshenotednotthetroubleinhisface，butsaid：
“Putthytrustinthis，thathereandwithmethouartevennownighertotheWellattheWorld’sEndthananyothercreatureontheearth。Yea，eveniftheSageofSwevenhambedeadorgonehence，yethaveItokenstofindtheRockoftheFightingMan，andthewaythroughthemountains，thoughIsaynotbutthathemaymakeitallclearer。
