ThoseTwoAreLearnedLorebytheSageofSwevenhamNowtheSageledthemthroughthewoodtilltheycametoagrassylawnamidstofwhichwasatableofstone，whichitseemedtoRalphmustbeliketothatwhereonthewitch-wifehadofferedupthegoattoherdevilsastheLadyofAbundancehadtoldhim；
andhechangedcountenanceasthethoughtcameintohismind。
ButtheSagelookedonhimandshookhisheadandspakesoftly：
“Inthesewastesandwildsaremanysuch-likeplaces，whereofoldtimetheancientfolksdidworshiptotheGodsoftheEarthastheyimaginedthem：andwhereastheloreinthisbookcomethofsuchfolk，thisisnoillplaceforthereadingthereof。
Butifyefearthebookanditswriters，whoaredeadlongago，thereisyettimetogobackandseektheWellwithoutmyhelping；andIsaynotbutthatyemayfinditeventhus。
Butifyefearnot，thensityedownonthegrass，andI
willlaythebookonthismostancienttable，andreadinit，anddoyehearkenheedfully。”
Sotheysatdownsidebyside，andRalphwouldhavetakenUrsula’shandtocaressit，butshedrewitawayfromhim；howbeitshefoundithardtokeephereyesfromoffhim。TheElderlookedonthemsoberly，butnowiseinanger，andpresentlybeganreadinginthebook。
Whathereadshallbeseenhereafterintheprocessofthistale；
forthemorepartthereofhadbuttodowiththewaytotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，allthingsconcerningwhichweretoldoutfully，bothgreatandsmall。Longwasthisa-reading，andwhentheSagehaddone，hebadenowone，nowtheotheranswerhimquestionsastowhathehadread；andiftheyansweredamisshereadthatpartagain，andyetagain，aschildrenaretaughtintheschool。
UntilatlastwhenheaskedanyquestionRalphorthemaidenanswereditrightlyatonce；andbythistimethesunwasabouttoset。
Sohebadethemhometohishousethattheymighteatandsleepthere。
“Butto-morrow。”saidhe，“Ishallgiveyouyourlastlessonfromthisbook，andthereafteryeshallgoyourwaystotheRockoftheFightingMan，andIlooknotforitthatyeshallcometoanyharmontheway；
butwhereasIseemto-daytohaveseenthefoesofUtterbolseekingyou，Iwillleadyouforthalittle。”
Sotheywenthometothehouse，andhemadethemthemostcheerthathemight，andspaketotheminfriendlyandpleasantmood，sothattheyweremerry。
Whenitwasmorningtheywentagaintotheancientaltar，andagaintheylearnedlorefromtheElder，tilltheywerewaxenwiseinthemattersoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andlongtheysatandhearkenedhimtillitwaseveningagain，andoncemoretheysleptinthehouseoftheSageofSwevenham。
AnAdventurebytheWayWhenmorrowdawnedtheyarosebetimesanddidontheirworldlyraiment；
andwhentheyhadeatenamorseltheymadethemreadyfortheroad，andtheeldergavethemvictualforthewayintheirsaddle-bags，saying：
“Thisshallsufficeforthepassingdays，andwhenitisgoneyehavelearnedwhattodo。”
Therewithalltheygattohorse；butRalphwouldhavetheElderridehisnag，whilehewentafootbythesideofUrsula。
SotheSagetookhisbidding，butsmiledtherewith，andsaid：
“ThouartaKing’ssonandafriendlyyoungman，elsehadIsaidnaytothis；foritneedethnot，whereasIamstrongerthanthou，sohathmydraughtoftheWelldealtwithme。”
Thusthentheywenttheirways；butRalphnotedofUrsulathatshewassilentandshywithhim，anditirkedhimsomuch，thatatlasthesaidtoher：“Myfriend，dothaughtailmewiththee？Wiltthounottellme，sothatImayamendit？
Forthouaregrownoffewwordswithmeandturnesttheefromme，andseemestasifthouheedestmelittle。Thouartasafairspringmorninggonecoldandovercastintheafternoon。
Whatisitthen？wearegoingalongjourneytogether，andbelikeshallfindlittlehelporcomfortsaveineachother；
andillwillitbeifwefallasunderinheart，thoughwebenighinbody。”
Shelaughedandreddenedtherewithal；andthenhercountenancefellandshelookedpiteouslyonhimandsaid：“IfIseemedtotheeasthousayest，Iamsorry；forImeantnottobethuswiththeeasthoudeemest。
ButsoitisthatIwasthinkingofthislongjourney，andoftheeandmetogetherinit，andhowweshallbewitheachotherifwecomebackagainalive，withallthingsdonethatwehadtodo。”
Shestayedherspeechawhile，andseemedtofindithardtogiveforththewordthatwasinher；butatlastshesaid：
“Friend，thoumustpardonme；butthatwhichthousawestinme，Ialsoseemedtoseeinthee，thatthouwertgrownshyandcoldwithme；
butnowIknowitisnotso，sincethouhastseenmewrongly；
butthatIhaveseentheewrongly，asthouhastme。”
Therewithshereachedherhandtohim，andhetookitandkisseditandcaresseditwhileshelookedfondlyathim，andtheyfaredonsweetlyandhappilytogether。Butasthiswasa-sayinganda-doingbetwixtthem，andawhileafter，theyhadheededtheElderlittleornotatall，thoughherodeontherighthandofRalph。
Andforhisparttheoldmansaidnaughttothemandmadeasifheheardthemnot，whentheyspakethuswisetogether。
Nowtheyrodethewoodonsomewhatlevelgroundforawhile；
thenthetreesbegantothin，andthegroundgrewbroken；
andatlastitwasveryrugged，withhighhillsanddeepvalleys，andallthelandpopulousofwildbeasts，sothataboutsunsettheyheardthricetheroarofalion。
ButevertheSageledthembywindingwaysthatheknew，roundthefeetofthehills，alongstream-sidesforthemostpart，andbypassesoverthemountain-neckswhentheyneedsmust，whichwastwiceintheday。
Duskfellontheminalittlevalley，throughwhichranastreambushedaboutitsedges，andwhichfortherestwasgrassyandpleasant，withbigsweet-chestnuttreesscatteredaboutit。
“Now。”quoththeElder；“twothingswehavetobewareofinthisvalley，thelionsfirst；which，thoughbeliketheywillnotfalluponweaponedmen，maywellmakeanonslaughtonyourhorses，iftheywindthem；andthelossofthebeastsweresoretoyouasnow。
ButthesecondthingisthechasefromUtterbol。Astothelions，ifyebuildupabigfire，andkeepsomewhatalooffromthestreamanditsbushes，andtetheryouhorsesanighthefire，yewillhavenoharmofthem。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“butiftheridersofUtterbolareanighus，shallwelightacandleforthemtoshowthemtheway？”SaidtheSage：
“Wereyebyyourselves，Iwouldbidyoujourneynight-long，andrunallriskratherthantheriskoffallingintotheirhands。
ButwhereasIamyourguide，Ibidyoukindleyourfireunderyonderbigtree，andleavemetodealwiththemenofUtterbol；
onlywhatsoIbidyou，thatdoyestraightway。”
“Sobeit。”saidRalph，“Ihavebeenbewrayedsooftoflate，thatImustneedstrustthee，orallhelpshallfailme。
Letustowork。”Sotheyfelltoandbuiltupabigbaleandkindledit，andtheirhorsestheytetheredtothetree；
andbythentheyhaddonethis，darknighthadfallenuponthem。
Sotheycookedtheirvictualatthefire(forRalphhadshotaharebytheway)andtheSagewentdowntothestreamandfetchedthemwaterinalethernbudget：“For。”saidhe，“Iknowthebeastsofthewoodandtheyme，andthereispeacebetwixtus。”
Therethentheysattomeatunarmed，fortheSagehadsaidtothem：
“Doffyourarmour；yeshallnotcometohandystrokeswiththeUtterbolRiders。”
Sotheyatetheirmeatinthewilderness，andwerenowiseungleeful，fortothosetwaintheworldseemedfair，andtheyhopedforgreatthings。
Butthoughtheywereglad，theywerewearyenough，forthewayhadbeenbothruggedandlong；sotheylaythemdowntosleepwhilethenightwasyetyoung。ButoreverRalphclosedhiseyeshesawtheSagestandingupwithhiscloakwrappedabouthishead，andmakingstrangesignswithhisrighthand；sothathedeemedthathewouldwardthembywizardry。
Sotherewithheturnedaboutonthegrassandwasasleepatonce。
Afterawhilehestartedandsatup，halfawakeatfirst；forbefeltsomeonetouchhim；andhishalfdreamswentbacktopastdays，andhecriedout：“HahRoger！isitthou？Whatistoward？”
Buttherewithhewokeupfully，andknewthatitwastheSagethathadtouchedhim，andwithalhesawhardbyUrsula。
sittingupalso。
Therewasstillaflickeringflameplayingabouttheredembersoftheirfire，fortheyhadmadeitverybig；andthemoonhadarisenandwasshiningbrightinacloudlesssky。
TheSagespakesoftlybutquickly：“Liedowntogether，yetwo，andIshallcastmycloakoveryou，andlooktoitthatyestirnotfromoutofit，norspeakonewordtillIbidyou，whate’ermaybefall：
fortheridersofUtterbolareuponus。”
Theydidashebadethem，butRalphgotsomewhatofaneye-shotoutofacornerofthecloak，andhecouldseethattheSagewentandstoodupagainstthetree-trunkholdingahorsebythebridle，oneoneachsideofhim。
EventherewithRalphheardtheclatterofhorse-hoofsoverthestonesaboutthestream，andaman’svoicecriedout：
“Theywillhaveheardus；sospuroverthegrasstothefireandthebigtree：forthentheycannotescapeus。”
Thencamethethumpofhorse-hoofsontheturf，andinhalfaminutetheywereamidstofaroutofmena-horseback，morethanascore，whosearmourandweaponsgleamedinthemoonlight：
yetwhentheseridersweregottenthere，theyweresilent，tillonesaidinaquaveringvoiceasifafeard：
“Otter，Otter！whatisthis？Aminuteagoandwecouldseethefire，andthetree，andmenandhorsesaboutthem：
andnow，loyou！thereisnaughtsavetwogreatgreystoneslyingonthegrass，andaman’sbarebonesleaningupagainstthetree，andaruckleofoldhorse-bonesoneithersideofhim。
Wherearewethen？”
Thenspakeanother；andRalphknewthevoiceforOtter’s：“I
wotnot，lord；naughtelseischangedsavethefireandthehorsesandthemen：yonderarethehills，yonderoverheadisthemoon，withthelittlelightclouddoggingher；eventhatisscarcechanged。
Belikethefirewasanearth-fire，andfortherestwesawwronginthemoonlight。”
Spakethefirstmanagain，andhisvoicequaveredyetmore：
“Naynay，Otter，itisnotso。Loyoutheskeletonandthebonesandthegreystones！Andthefire，herethisminute，therethenext。
OOtter，thisisanevilplaceofanevildeed！Letusgoseekelsewhere；letusdepart，lestaworsethingbefallus。”
Andsowithnomoreadoheturnedhishorseandsmotehisspursintohimandgallopedoffbythewayhehadcome，andtheothersfollowed，nothingloth；onlyOttertarriedalittle，andlookedaroundhimandlaughedandsaid：
“TheregoesmyLord’snephew；likemyLordheisnotoverbold，saveindealingwitha，shackledman。Well，formypartifthoseothershavesunkintotheearth，orgoneupintotheair，theyarewelcometotheirwizardry，andIamgladofit。
ForIknownothowIshouldhavedonetohaveseenmymatethatout-tiltedmemadeageldedwretchof；anditwouldhaveirkedmetoseethatfairwomaninthehandsofthetormentors，thoughforsoothIhaveoftseensuchsights。Well，itisgood；
butbetterwereittoridewithmymatethanservetheDevilandhisNephew。”
Therewithheturnedreinandgallopedoffaftertheothers，andinalittlewhilethesoundofthemhaddiedoffutterlyintothenight，andtheyheardbutthevoicesofthewildthings，andthewimbrellaughingfromthehill-sides。ThencametheSageanddrewthecloakfromthosetwo，andlaughedonthemandsaid：
“Nowmayyesleepsoundly，whenIhavemendedourfire；
foryewillseenomoreofUtterbolforthistime，andityetlacksthreehoursofdawn：sleepyethenanddreamofeachother。”
ThentheyaroseandthankedtheSagewithwholeheartsandpraisedhiswisdom。ButwhiletheoldmanmendedthefireRalphwentuptoUrsulaandtookherhand，andsaid：
“Welcometolife，fellow-farer！”andhegazedearnestlyintohereyes，asthoughhewouldhaveherfallintohisarms：
butwhereassherathershrankfromhim，thoughshelookedonhimlovingly，ifsomewhatshyly，hebutkissedherhand，andlaidhimdownagain，whenhehadseenherlyinginherplace。
Andtherewiththeyfellasleepandsleptsweetly。
