ThenevenasIwasIwentintomyLadyandtoldhertheendofmytale，andinthreeminutesshelayinmyarms，andinthreedaysinmybedasmyweddedwife。AstoAgatha，whenIhadalittlejeeredher，Igaveherrichgiftsandgoodlands，andfreedom，tobootherforhermanystripes。
Andlothere，King’sSonandSweetLady，theendofallmytale。”
“Yea。”quothOtter，“savingthis，thatevenalreadythouhasraisedupUtterbolfromHelltoEarth，andyetmeseemeththouhastgood-willtoraiseithigher。”
Bullreddenedathisword，andsaid：“Tush，man！praisethedaywhenthesunhasset。”ThenheturnedtoRalph，andsaid：
“Yetcouldstthouatwhilesputinagoodwordformehereandthereamongstthefolksthatthoushaltpassthroughonthywayshome，IwerefaintoknowthatIhadawell-speakingfriendabroad。”
“Weshalldonoless。”saidRalph；andUrsulaspakeinlikewise。
Sotheytalkedtogethermerrilyawhilelonger，tillnightbegantogrowold，andthenwenttotheirchambersinallcontentandgood-liking。
TheyRideFromValeTurris。RedheadTellsofAgathaOnthemorrowwhentheyarose，Ralphheardthesoundofhorsesandtheclashingofarms：hewenttothewindow，andlookedout，andsawhowthespearsstoodupthicktogetherattheTower’sfoot，andknewthatthesewerethemenwhoweretobehisfellowsbytheway。
Theircaptainhesaw，abigmanall-armedinsteel，buthimseemedthatheknewhisfaceunderhissallet，andpresentlysawthatitwasRedhead。
Hewasgladthereof，andcladhimselfhastily，andwentouta-doors，andwentuptohimandhailedhim，andRedheadleaptoffhishorse，andcasthisarmsaboutRalph，andmademuchofhim，andsaid：
“Itisgoodforsoreeyestoseethee，lord；andIamgladatheartthatallwentwellwiththeethattime。Although，forsooth，therewasguilebehindit。YetwhereasIwottednothingthereof，whichI
willpraytheetobelieve，andwhereasthouhastthegainofall，Ideemthoumaystpardonme。”
SaidRalph：“Thouhastwhatpardonofmethouneedest；sobecontent。
Fortherest，littleneedistheretoaskifthouthrivest，forIbeholdtheegladandwellhonoured。”
AstheyspokecametheLordforthfromtheTower，andsaid：
“Comethou，LordRalph，andeatwithuserethoutakesttotheroad；
ImeanwithOtterandme。Asforthee，Redhead，ifaughtofillbefallthisKing’sSonunderthyway-leading，looktoitthatthoushaltlosemygoodwordwithAgatha；yea，orgainmynaysayherein；
wherebythoushaltmissbothfeeandfairdame。”
RedheadlookedsheepishlyonRalphatthatword，yetwinkedathimalso，asifitpleasedhimtobejeeredconcerninghiswooing；
sothatRalphsawhowthelandlay，andthattheguilefulhandmaidwasnotillcontentwiththatbigman。Sohesmiledkindlyonhimandnodded，andwentbackwithBullintotheTower。
Theretheysatdownalltomeattogether；andwhentheyweredonewiththeirvictual，Bullspake，andsaidtoRalph：
“FairKing’sSon，isthisthenthelastsightofthee？wiltthounevercomeoverthemountainsagain？”SaidRalph：“Whoknoweth？
Iamyoungyet，andhavedrunkoftheWateroftheWell。”
Bullgrewsomewhatpensiveandsaid：“Yea，thoumeanestthatthoumayestcomebackandfindmenolongerhere。
Yetifthoufindestbutmygrave-mound，yetmayhappenthoushaltcomeonsomethingsaidorsungofme，whichshallpleasethee。
ForIwilltellthee，thatthouhastchangedmyconditions；
how，Iwotnot。”
“Thywordisgood。”saidRalph，“yetImeantnotthat；nevershouldIcometoUtterbolifIlookednottofindtheelivingthere。”
Bullsmiledonhimasthoughhelovedhim，andsaid：
“Thisiswellspoken；IshalllooktoseetheebeforeIdie。”
ThensaidUrsula：“LordofUtterbol，thisalsothoumaystthinkon，thatitisnofurtherfromUtterboltoUpmeadsthanfromUpmeadstoUtterbol。”
TheLordlaughedandsaid：“Soothisthat；andwerebutmyBullhere，asIbeholdyouIshouldbeofmindtoswearbyhimtocomeandseeyouatUpmeadseretenyearshaveworn。”
Thensheputforthherhandandsaid：“Swearbythis！”
Sohetookitandsworetheoath；buttheSageofSwevenhamsaid：
“ThisoaththoushaltkeeptothegainandnotthelossbothoftheeandofthyfriendsofUpmeads。”
Thusweretheyfainofeachother，andRalphsawhowBull’sheartwasgrownbig，andherejoicedthereat。Butanonhearoseandsaid：
“Now，Lord，weaskleavetodepartforthewayislong，andmayhappenmykindrednowlackaman’shelping。ThenBullstoodupandcalledforhishorse，andOtteralso，andtheyallwentforthandgata-horsebackandrodeawayfromValeTurris，andRedheadrodebehindthemhumbly，tillitwasnoonandtheymadestayformeat。
ThenaftertheyhadbrokenbreadtogetheranddrunkacupBullandOtterkissedthewayfarers，andbadethemfarewellandsorodebacktoValeTurris，andRalphandUrsulaandtheSagetarriednotbutrodeontheirways。
ButanonRalphcalledtoRedhead，andbadehimridebesidethemthattheymighttalktogether，andhecameupwiththem，andUrsulagreetedhimkindly，andtheyweremerryonewithanother。
AndRalphsaidtoRedhead：“Friendcaptain，thouartexceedinginhumilitynottoridewiththeLordorCaptainOtter；
saveforchance-hap，Iseenotthatthouartworserthanthey。”
Redheadgrinned，andsaid：“Well，astoOtter，thatisalltrue；
butasforLordBullitisanothermatter；Iwotnotbuthiskindredmaybeasgoodorbetterthananyintheseeastparts。
Inanycase，hehathhiskinandlongdescentfullofteninhismouth，whileIambutagangrelbody。Howbeititisallone，whereaswhatsoheorOtterbidanymantodo，hedoethit，butmybiddingmaybequestionedatwhiles。
Andlookyou，lord，timesarenotill，sowhereforeshouldI
riskachangeofdays？Soothtosay，boththesegreatlordshavedonewellbyme。”
Ralphlaughed：“Andbetterwilltheydo，asthoudeemest；
givetheeAgatha，towit？”“Yea，fairsir。”quothRedhead。
“Nogreatgift，thatseemethtome，forthyvaliancy。”
saidRalph；“sheisguilefulenoughandlooseenoughforaworsemanthanthee。”
“Lord。”saidRedhead，“evenofherthoushaltsaywhatpleaseththee；
butnoothermanshallsayofherwhatpleasethmenot。
Forallthatiscomeandgonesheistrueandvaliant，andnonemaysaythatsheisnotfairandsweetenoughforabettermanthanme；
andmygreatgoodluckitisthat，asIhope，shelookethnofurtherforabetter。”
Ursulasaid：“Isitso，perchance，thatnowsheisfreeandhathnaughttofear，shehathnoneedforguile？”
“Hailtotheeforthyword，lady。”quothRedhead；andthenhewassilent，gloomingsomewhatonRalph。
ButRalphsaid：“Nay，myfriend，Imeantnoharm，butIwaswonderingwhathadbefallentobringyoutwosoclosetogether。”
“Itwasfearandpain，andthehelpingofeachotherthatwroughtit。”
saidRedhead。SaidUrsula：“GoodCaptain，howwasitthatsheescapedtheuttermostofevilatthetyrant’shands？sincefromallthatIhaveheard，itmustneedsbethathelaidtheblameonher(workingforhermistress)
ofmyflightfromUtterbol。”
“Evensoitwas，lady。”saidRedhead；“but，asthouwottestbelike，shehadgotitspreadabroadthatshewascunninginsorcery，andthatherspellwouldnotendwhenherlifeended；nay，thathetowhomherghostshouldbearill-will，andmoreespeciallysuchanoneasmightcompassherdeath，shouldhavebutanilltimeofitwhilehelived，whichshouldnotbelong。
Thistale，which，soothtosay，Imyselfhelpedtospread，theLordofUtterboltrowedinwholly，socunninglywasittold；sothat，tomakealongstoryshort，hefearedher，andfearedhermoredeadthanliving。
Sothatwhenhecamehome，andfoundtheegone，lady，hedidindeeddeemthatthyflightwasofAgatha’scontrivance。Andthisthemorebecausehisnephew(hewhomthoudidstbeguile；Ipartlyguesshow)
toldhimamade-uptalehowallwasdonebythespellsofAgatha。
Forthisyouthwasofallmen，notevensavinghisuncle，mostfullofmalice；
andhehatedAgatha，andwouldhavehadhersuffertheuttermostoftormentsandhetobestandingbythewhile；howbeithismaliceovershotitself，sincehistalemadeherevenmoreofawitchthanthelorddeemedbefore。
“Yea。”saidUrsula，“andwhathathbefallenthatevilyoungman，Captain？”SaidRedhead：“Itisnotknowntomany，lady；buttwodaysbeforetheslayingofhisuncle，ImethiminawoodalittlewayfromUtterbol，and，themoodbeingonmeItiedhimneckandheelsandcasthim，withastoneroundhisneck，intoadeepwoodlandpoolhighttheRam’sBane，whichisinthatsamewood。Well，astomytaleofAgatha。
Whenthelordcamehomefirst，hesentforher，andhisragehadsomasteredhisfearforawhilethathisbestwordwasscourgeandrackandfaggot；butshewas，outwardly，socalmandcold，smilingonhimbalefully，thathepresentlycametohimself，afoundthatfearwasinhisbelly，andthathemightnotdowhathewouldwithher；whereforehelookedtoitthathowevershewereused(whichwasillenough，Godwot！)sheshouldkeepthesoulinherbody。
Andatlastthefearsomountedintohisheadthathemadepeacewithher，andevencravedforgivenessofherandgavehergifts。Sheansweredhimsweetlyindeed，yetsoashe(andallotherswhowerebystanding，ofwhomIwasone，)
mightwellseethatshedeemedsheowedhimadayinharvest。
Asforme，heheededmenaught，andIlaylowallImight。
Andinanywiseweworethetimetillthegreatdayofdeliverance。”
TherewithdroppedthetalkaboutAgatha，whentheyhadbiddenhimallluckinhislife。Forsooth，theywerefainofhiswords，andofhiswayswithal。
Forhewasavaliantman，andbrisk，andonewhoforgatnobenefit，andwastrustyassteel；merry-heartedwithal，andkindandreadyofspeechdespitehisuplandishmanners，whichalifenotalittlerudehadthrustonhim。
OfTheirRidingtheWaste，andofaBattleThereonTheysleptinnohousethatnightnorformanynightsafter；
fortheywerenowfairlyonthewaste。TheyborewiththemalighttentforUrsula’slodgingbenights，andtherestofthemsleptonthefieldastheymight；orshouldtheycometoathicketorshaw，theywouldlodgethemtheresoftly。
Victualanddrinkfailedthemnot，fortheyborewhattheyneededonsumpter-horses，andshotsomevenisononthewaywithal。
Theysawbutfewfolk；forthemostpartnaughtsaveafowlerofthewaste，orapeat-cutter，whostoodtolookonthemen-at-armsgoingby，andmadeobeisancetothetokenofUtterbol。
Butonatime，thefifthdayoftheirjourney，theysaw，inthemorning，spearsnotafewstandingupagainstathicket-sideintheoffing。
Redheadlookedunderthesharpofhishand，andlaughedasthoughhewereglad，andsaid：“Iknownotclearlywhatthesemaybe，butitlookethlikewar。Now，knight，thisisbesttodo：
holdwiththeethreeofourbestmen，sothatyemaysafeguardtheLady，andIwiththeotherswillprickonandlookintothis。”
“Nay。”saidRalph，“thoumaystyetbeapaidofaman’said；
andiftherebestrokesonsaleinthecheaping-steadyonder，Iwilldealalongwiththee。LeavethythreemenwiththeLady，andletuson；weshallsoonbeback。”
“Nayoncemore，dearlord。”quothUrsula，“Ifeartobeleftaloneofthee，anditismeetthatthoufreemefromfear。Iwillridewithyou，butthreehorse-lengthsbehind，soasnottohinderyou。
Ihavebeenworsebesteadthanthisshallbe。”
“Itisgood。”quothRedhead，“letherridewithus：
forwhyshouldshesufferthepainoffearinthelonelywaste？
Butletherdoonahauberkoverhercoats，andsteelcoifoverherhead，forshaftandboltwillofttimesgoastray。”
