ThenwasRalphexceedinggladofherwords，andtheSagelaughedinwardlywhenhebeheldthemthus。
Sotheycameadownfromtherockandlaydownpresentlyunderthefieryheavens：andtheirsoulswerecomfortedbythesoundofthehorsescroppingthegrasssoclosetotheirears，thatitbrokethevoiceoftheearth-fires’thunder，thateverandanonrolledoverthegreyseaamidstwhichtheylay。
Onthemorrowtheystillrodethelavaliketoclinkers，anditrosehigheraboutthem，tillsuddenlynighsunsetitendedataturnoftheirwindingroad，andnaughtlaybetwixtthemandthatmightynessofthemountains，saveawidegrassyplain，hereandthereswellingintolowwiderisingsnottobecalledhills，andbesprinkledwithcopsesofbushes，andwithtreesneithergreatnorhigh。ThenspaketheSage：
“Herenowwillwerest，andbymywillto-morrowalso，thatyourbeastsmaygrazetheirfillofthesweetgrassoftheseunwardedmeadows。
whichfeedethmanyaherdunownedofman，albeittheypayaquit-renttowildthingsthatbemightierthanthey。
Andnow，children，wehavepassedoverthemightyriverthatonceranmoltenbetwixtthesemountainsandthehillsyondertothewest，whichwetrodtheotherday；yetoncemore，ifyourheartsfailyou，thereisyettimetoturnback；andnoharmshallbefallyou，butIwillbeyourfellowallthewayhometoSwevenhamifyewill。
ButifyestillcravethewateroftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，Iwillleadyouoverthisgreenplain，andthengobackhometominehermitage，andabidetheretillyecometome，orIdie。”
Ralphsmiledandsaid：“Master，nosuchsorrystoryshallIbearbacktoUpmeads，thataftermanysorrowsborne，andperilsovercome，IcametotheGatesoftheMountains，andturnedbackforfearofthatwhichIhadnotproved。”
Sospakehe；butUrsulalaughedandsaid：“Yea，thenshouldI
deemthyfriendshiplightifthouleftestmealoneandunholpenintheuttermostwilderness；andthymanhoodlighttoturnbackfromthatwhichdidnotmakeawomanafraid。”
ThentheSagelookedkindlyonthemandsaid：“Yea，thenisthelastwordspoken，andtheworldmayyetgrowmerriertome。
Lookyou，sometherebewhomayabusethegiftsoftheWellforevilerrands，andsomewhomayuseitforgooddeeds；
butIamonewhohathnotdaredtouseitlestIshouldabuseit，Ibeingalongamongstweaklingsandfools：
butnowifyecomeback，whoknowsbutthatImayfearnolonger，butusemylife，andgrowtobeamightyman。Comenow，letusdightoursupper，andkindleasbigafireaswelightlymay；
sincethereismanyaprowlingbeastabout，asbearandlynxandlion；
fortheyhauntthisedgeoftherock-seawheretothehartsandthewildbullsandthegoatsresortforthesweetgrass，andthewaterthatflowethforthfromthelava。”
Sotheycutgoodstoreoffiring，whereastherewasaplentyofbushesgrowinginthecleftsoftherocks，andtheymadeabigfireandtetheredtheirhorsesanighitwhentheylaydowntorest；
andinthenighttheyheardtheroaringofwildthingsroundaboutthem，andmorethanonceortwice，awakeningbeforeday，theysawtheshapeofsometerriblecreaturebythelightofthemoonmingledwiththeglareoftheearth-fires，butnoneofthesemeddledwiththem，andnaughtbefellthemsavethecomingofthenewday。
TheyCometotheGateoftheMountainsThatdaytheyherdedtheirhorsesthereabout，andfromtimetotimetheSagetriedthosetwoiftheywereperfectintheloreoftheroad；
andhefoundthattheyhadmissednothing。
Theylaydownintheself-sameplaceagainthatnight，andarosebetimesonthemorrowandwenttheirwaysovertheplainastheSageled，tillitwasasifthemountainsandtheirterrorhungovertheirveryheads，andthehugenessandblacknessofthemwereworsethanawalloffirehadbeen。
Itwasstillalongwaytothem，sothatitwasnottillnoonofthethirddayfromtherock-seathattheycametotheveryfeetofthatfire-scorchedness，andwonderfulindeeditseemedtothemthatanythingsavetheeaglescouldhaveaughttotellofwhatlaybeyondit。
Therewerenofoothillsordownsbetwixttheplainandthemountains，naughtsaveatumbleofrocksthathadfallenfromthecliffs，piledupstrangely，andmakingamazethroughwhichtheSageledthemsurely；andatlasttheywereclearevenofthis，andwereunderneaththeflankofthatness，whichwassohugethatthemseemedthattherecouldscarcebeanymoremountainthanthat。
Littleofitshugeheightcouldtheysee，nowtheywereclosetoit，foritwentupsheeratfirstandthenbeetledoverthemtilltheycouldseenomoreofitsside；astheywoundaboutitsflank，andtheywerelongaboutit，theSagecriedouttothosetwoandstretchedouthishand，andbehold！thesideoftheblackcliffplainandsmoothandshiningasifithadbeendonebythehandofmenorgiants，andonthissmoothspacewascarveninthelivingrocktheimageofawarriorinmailandhelmofancientfashion，andholdingaswordinhisrighthand。Fromheadtoheelheseemedsomesixtyfeethigh，andtherockwassohard，thathewasallcleanandcleartosee；
andtheydeemedofhimthathisfacewaskeenandsternofaspect。
Sotheretheystoodinanawfulbightofthemountain，madebythatness，andthemainwallfromwhichitthrustout。
Butaftertheyhadgazedawhileandtheirheartswereintheirmouths，theSageturnedonthosetwainandsaid：
“Herethenistheendofmyjourneywithyou；andyewotallthatIcantellyou，andIcansaynowordmoresavetobidyoucastallfearasideandthrive。Yehaveyetforthisday’sjourneycertainhoursofsuchdaylightasthemountainpasswillgiveyou，whichatthebestislittlebetterthantwilight；
thereforeredeemyethetime。”
ButRalphgotoffhishorse，andUrsuladidinlikewise，andtheybothkissedandembracedtheoldman，fortheirheartswerefullandfain。
Buthedrewhimselfawayfromthem，andturnedaboutwithnowordmore，andwenthisways，andpresentlywashiddenfromtheireyesbytherockymazewhichlayaboutthemountain’sfoot。
Thenthetwainmountedtheirhorsesagainandsetforthsilentlyontheroad，astheyhadbeenbidden。
Inalittlewhiletherocksofthepassclosedaboutthem，leavingbutawaysonarrowthattheycouldseeaglimmerofthestarsabovethemastheyrodethetwilight；nosighttheyhadofthemeasurelessstonydesert，yetintheirheartstheysawit。
Theyseemedtobewendingastraight-walledprisonwithoutanend，sothattheyweregladwhenthedarknightcameonthem。
Ralphfoundsomeshelterinthecleftofarockaboveamoundwherewaslittlegrassforthehorses。HedrewUrsulaintoit，andtheysatdownthereonthestonestogether。
SolongtheysatsilentthatagreatgloomsettleduponRalph，andhescarceknewwhetherhewereasleeporwaking，aliveordead。
Butamidstofitfellasweetvoiceonhisears，andfamiliarwordsaskinghimofwhatlikewerethefieldsofUpmeads，andtheflowers；
andofthefishofitswater，andofthefashionofthebuildingofhisfather’shouse；andofhisbrethren，andthemotherthatborehim。
Thenwasittohimatfirstasifasweetdreamhadcomeacrossthevoidofhisgloom，andthenatlastthegloomandthedreadandthedeadnesslefthim，andheknewthathisfriendandfellowwastalkingtohim，andthathesatbyherkneetoknee，andthesweetnessofhersavouredinhisnostrilsassheleanedherfacetowardhim，andheknewhimselfforwhathewas；
andyetformemoryofthatpasthorror，andthesweetnessofhisfriendandwhatnotelse，hefella-weeping。ButUrsulabestirredherselfandbroughtoutfoodfromherwallet，andsatdownbesidehimagain，andhewipedthetearsfromhiseyesandlaughed，andchidhimselfforbeingasachildinthedark，andthentheyateanddranktogetherinthatdusknookofthewilderness。
Andnowwashehappyandhistonguewasloosed，andhefelltotellinghermanythingsofUpmeads，andofthetaleofhisforefathers，andofhisoldlovesandhisfriends，tilllifeanddeathseemedtohimastheyhadseemedoftimepastinthemerrylandofhisbirth。
Sothereanontheyfellasleepforweariness，andnodreamsofterrorbesettheirslumbers。
TheyCometotheValeofSweetChestnutsWhentheywentontheirwaynextmorningtheyfoundlittlechangeinthepass，andtheyrodethedreadhighwaydaylong，anditwasstillthesame：
sotheyrestedalittlebeforenightfallataplacewheretherewaswaterrunningoutoftherocks，butnaughtelsefortheiravail。
Ralphwasmerryandhelpfulandfilledwaterfromtherunnel，andwroughtwhathemighttomakethelodgingmeet；andastheyateandrestedhesaidtoUrsula：“Lastnightitwasthouthatbeguiledmeofmygloom，yetthereaftertillwesleptitwasmyvoiceforthemorepart，andnotthine，thatwasheardinthewilderness。
Nowto-nightitshallbeotherwise，andIwillbutaskaquestionofthee，andhearkentothesweetnessofthyvoice。”
Shelaughedalittleandverysweetly，andshesaid：
“Forsooth，dearfriend，IspoketotheethatImighthearthyvoiceforthemorepart，andnotmine，thatwasheardinthedesert；
butwhenIheardthee，Ideemedthattheworldwasyetaliveforustocomebackto。”
Hewassilentawhile，forhisheartwaspiercedwiththesweetnessofherspeech，andhehadfainhavespokenbackassweetlyasamanmight；
yethecouldnotbecausehefearedhersomewhat，lestsheshouldturncoldtohim；thereforehimseemedthathespokeroughly，ashesaid：
“Nevertheless，myfriend，Ibeseechtheetotellmeofthineoldhome，evenaslastnightItoldtheeofmine。”
“Yea。”shesaid，“withagoodwill。”Andstraightwayshefelltotellinghimofherwayswhenshewaslittle，andofherfatherandmother，andofhersisterthathaddied，andthebrotherwhomRalphhadseenatBourtonAbbas：
shetoldalsoofbachelorswhohadwooedher，andjestedconcerningthem，yetkindlyandwithoutmalice，andtalkedsosweetlyandplainly，thatthewildernesswasbecomeafamiliarplacetoRalph，andhetookherhandintheduskandsaid：
“But，myfriend，howwasitwiththemanforwhomthouwertweepingwhenIfirstfellinwiththeeatBourtonAbbas？”
Shesaid：“Iwilltelltheeplainly，asafriendmaytoafriend。
Threehourshadnotwornfromthydepartureeretidingscametomeconcerninghim，thatneitherdeathnorwoundinghadbefallenhim；
andthathismasterlesshorseandbloodstainedsaddlewerebutadevicetothrowdustintooureyes，sothattheremightbenochaseafterhimbythemenoftheAbbot’sbailiff，andthathemightlightlydoashewould，towit，swearhimselfintotheridersoftheBurgoftheFourFriths；for，insooth，hewaswearyofmeandmine。
Yetfurther，ImustneedstelltheethatIknownow，thatwhenIweptbeforetheeitwaspartlyindespite，becauseIhadfoundoutinmyheart(thoughIbadeitnottellmesomuch)thatIlovedhimbutlittle。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“andwhendidstthoucometothatknowledgeofthineheart？”
“Dearfriend。”shesaid，“mayhappenImaytelltheehereafter，butasnowIwillforbear。”Helaughedforjoyofher，andinalittlethattalkfelldownbetweenthem。
Despitetheterrorofthedesertandthelonelyways，whenRalphlaidhimdownonhisstonybed，happinesswrappedhisheartabout。
Albeitallthiswhilehedurstnotkissorcaressher，saveverymeasurely，forhedeemedthatshewouldnotsufferit；
norasyetwouldheaskherwherefore，thoughhehaditinhismindthathewouldnotalwaysforbeartoaskher。
Manydaystheyrodethatpassofthemountains，thoughitwasnotalwayssoevilanddreadfulasatthefirstbeginning；
fornowagainthepassopenedoutintolittlevalleys，whereinwasfoisonofgrassandsweetwaterswithal，andafewtrees。
Insuchplacesmusttheyneedsrestthem，torefreshtheirhorsesaswellasthemselves，andtogatherfood，ofvenison，andwild-fruitandnuts。Butabidinginsuchvaleswasverypleasanttothem。
Atlastthesesaidvalleyscameoftenandoftener，tillitwassothatallwasprettymuchonevalley，whilesbrokenbyamountainneck，whilesstraitenedbyanessofthemountainsthatjuttedintoit，butneverquiteblind：yetwasthesaidvalleyveryhighup，andasitwereatrenchofthegreatmountain。
Sotheyweregladthattheyhadescapedfromthatstraitprisonbetwixttherock-walls，andwerewellatease：
