“Soitis。”saidRalph；“butmenareoftmis-saidbythemthatknowthemnotthoroughly：andnow，ifitwereagoodwish，OSageofSwevenham，Iwerefaintofallinwiththebestofallthosechampions，atallmanandaproper，who，meseems，hadgood-willtowardme，Iknownotwhy。”
QuoththeSage：“Ifthoucanstnotseetheendofthiswishfulfilled，nomorecanI。Andyet，meseemssomethingmayfollowitwhichisakintogrief：becontentwiththingssodone，myson。”
NowRalphholdshispeace，andtheyspeedontheirway，UrsularidingclosebyRalph’sside，andcaressinghimwithlooks，andbytouchalsowhenshemight；andafterawhilehefelltotalkingagain，andeverinthesameloud，cheerfulvoice。
Tillatlast，inaboutanotherhour，theycameinsightofthestreamwhichrandowntowardtheSwellingFloodfromthatpoolwhereinersttheLadyofAbundancehadbathedherbeforethemurder。
HardlookedRalphonthestream，buthowsoeverhisheartmightachewiththememoryofthatpassedgrief，likeasthebodyacheswiththebruiseofyesterday’sblow，yethechangedcountenancebutlittle，andinhisvoicewasthesamecheerysound。
ButUrsulanotedhim，andhowhiseyeswandered，andhowlittleheheededthewordsoftheothers，andsheknewwhatailedhim，forlongagohehadtoldherallthattale，andsonowherheartwastroubled，andshelookedonhimandwassilent。
Thus，then，alittlebeforesunset，theycameonthatsteepcliffwiththecavetherein，andthelittlegreenplainthereunder，andtherockybankgoingdownsheerintothewaterofthestream。
Forsooththeycameonitsomewhatsuddenlyfromoutofthebushesofthevalley；andthereindeednotonlytheSageandRichard，butUrsulaalso，werestayedbythesightasfolkcompelled；
forallthreeknewwhathadbefallenthere。ButRalph，thoughhelookedoverhisshoulderatitall，yetrodeonsteadily，andwhenhesawthattheotherslingered，hewavedhishandandcriedoutasherode：
“On，friends，on！fortheroadshortenstowardsmyFathers’House。”
Thenweretheyashamed，andshooktheirreinstohastenafterhim。
Butinthatverynickoftimetherecameforthonefromamidstthebushesthatedgedthepoolofthestreamandstrodedrippingontotheshallow；
amanbrownandhairy，andnaked，saveforagreenwreathabouthismiddle。
Tallhewasabovethestatureofmostmen；awfulofaspect，andhiseyesglitteredfromhisdarkbrownfaceamidstofhisshockheadofthecolourofrain-spoilthay。Hestoodandlookedwhileonemightcountfive，andthenwithoutawordorcryrushedupfromthewater，straightonUrsula，whowasridingfirstofthethreelingerers，andinthetwinklingofaneyetoreherfromoffherhorse；
andshewasinhisgraspasthecushatintheclawsofthekite。
Thenhecasthertoearth，andstoodoverher，shakingagreatclub，butoreverhebroughtitdownheturnedhisheadoverhisshouldertowardthecliffandthecavetherein，andinthatsamemomentfirstonebladeandthenanotherflashedabouthim，andhefellcrashingdownuponhisback，smitteninthebreastandthesidebyRichardandRalph；
andthewoundsweredeepanddeadly。
Ralphheededhimnomore，butdrewUrsulaawayfromhim，andraisedherupandlaidherheaduponhisknee；andshehadnotquiteswoonedaway，andforsoothhadtakenbutlittlehurt；
onlyshewasdizzywithterrorandtheheavingupandcastingdown。
ShelookedupintoRalph’sface，andsmiledonhimandsaid：
“Whathathbeendonetome，andwhydidhedoit？”
Hiseyeswerestillwildwithfearandwrath，asheanswered：“OBeloved，Deathandthefoemanofoldcameforthfromthecavernofthecliff。
Whatdidtheythere，LordGod？andhecaughttheetoslaythee；
buthimhaveIslain。Nevertheless，itisaterribleandevilplace：
letusgohence。”
“Yea。”shesaid，“letusgospeedily！”Thenshestoodup，weakandtotteringstill，andRalpharoseandputhisleftarmabouthertostayher；andlo，therebeforethemwasRichardkneelingoverthewild-man，andtheSagewascomingbackfromtheriverwithhisheadpiecefullofwater；
soRalphcriedout：“Tohorse，Richard，tohorse！
Hastthounotdoneslayingthewoodman？”
Buttherewithcameaweakandhoarsevoicefromtheearth，andthewild-manspake。“ChildofUpmeads，drivenotonsohard：
itwillnotbelong。ForthouandRichardtheRedarenaughtlighthanded。”
Ralphmarvelledthatthewild-manknewhimandRichard，butthewild-manspakeagain：“Hearken，thoulover，thouyoungman！”
ButtherewithwastheSagecometohimandkneelingbesidehimwiththewater，andhedrankthereof，whileRalphsaidtohim：
“Whatisthiswoodman？andcanstthouspeakmyLatin？
Whatartthou？”
Thenthewild-manwhenhehaddrunkraisedhimupalittle，andsaid：
“Youngman，thouandRichardaredeftleeches；yehaveletmebloodtoapurpose，andhavebroughtbacktomemywits，whichwerewanderingwide。
YetamIindeedwheremyfool’sbrainstoldmeIwas。”
Thenhelaybackagain，andturnedhisheadaswellashecouldtowardthecaverninthecliff。ButRalphdeemedhehadheardhisvoicebefore，andhisheartwassoftenedtowardhim，heknewnotwhy；buthesaid：
“Yea，butwhereforedidstthoufallupontheLady？”Thewild-manstrovewithhisweakness，andsaidangrily：“Whatdidanotherwomanthere？”
Thenhesaidinacalmerbutweakervoice：“Nay，mywitsshallwandernomorefromme；wewillmakethejourneytogether，Iandmywits。But0，youngman，thisIwillsayifIcan。Thoufleddestfromherandforgattesther。
Icametoherandforgatallbuther；yea，myverylifeIforgat。”
Againhespoke，andhisvoicewasweakeryet：“Kneeldownbyme，orImaynottelltheewhatIwould；myvoicediethbeforeme。”
ThenRalphkneltdownbyhim，forhebegantohaveadeemingofwhathewas，andheputhisfaceclosetothedyingman’s，andsaidtohim；“Iamhere，whatwouldstthou？”
Saidthewild-manveryfeebly：“Ididnotmuchfortheetimewas；
howmightI，whenIlovedhersosorely？ButIdidalittle。
Believeit，anddosomuchformethatImayliebyhersidewhenIamdead，whoneverlaybyherliving。ForintothecaveIdurstgonever。”
ThenRalphknewhim，thathewasthetallchampionwhomhehadmetfirstatthechurchyardgateofNetherton；sohesaid：
“Iknowtheenow，andIwillpromisetodothywillherein。
IamsorrythatIhaveslainthee；forgiveitme。”
Amockingsmilecameintothedyingman’seyes，andhespakewhispering：
“Richarditwas；notthou。”
Thesmilespreadoverhisface，hestrovetoturnmoretowardRalph，andsaidinaveryfaintwhisper：“Thelasttime！”
Nomorehesaid，butgaveuptheghostpresently。TheSageroseupfromhissideandsaid：“Yemaynowburythismanashecravedofthee，forheisdead。Thushaththywishbeenaccomplished；
forthiswasthegreatchampionanddukeofthemenoftheDryTree。
Indeeditisapityofhimthatheisdead，forasterribleashewastohisfoes，hewasnoillman。”
SpakeRichard：“Nowistheriddlearededofthewild-manandthemightygiantthathauntedthesepasses。Wehaveplayedtogetherornow，indayslongpast，heandI；andeverhecametohisabove。
Hewasawisemanandaprudentthatheshouldhavebecomeawild-man。
Itisgreatpityofhim。”
ButRalphtookhisknight’scloakofredscarlet，andtheylappedthewild-mantherein，whohadoncebeenachampionbeworshipped。
ButfirstUrsulashearedhishairandhisbeard，tillthefaceofhimcamebackagain，grave，andsomewhatmocking，asRalphrememberedit，timewas。Thentheyborehiminthefourcornersacrossthestream，andupontothelawnbeforethecliff；
andRichardandtheSageborehimintothecave，andlaidhimdowntherebesidethehowewhichRalphhaderewhileheapedovertheLady；
andnowoverhimalsotheyheapedstones。
MeanwhileUrsulakneltatthemouthofthecaveandwept；
butRalphturnedhimaboutandstoodontheedgeofthebank，andlookedovertherippleofthestreamontothevalley，wherethemoonwasnowbeginningtocastshadows，tillthosetwocameoutofthecaveforthelasttime。
ThenRalphturnedtoUrsulaandraisedherupandkissedher，andtheywentdownallofthemfromthatplaceofdeathandill-hap，andgattohorseontheothersideofthestream，androdethreemilesfurtheronbytheglimmerofthemoon，andlaydowntorestamongstthebushesofthewaste，withfewwordsspokenbetweenthem。
CHAPTER16
TheyCometotheCastleofAbundanceOnceMoreWhentheyrodeonnextmorningRalphwasfew-spoken，andseemedtoheedlittlesolongastheymadegoodspeedontheway：
mostofthetalkwasbetwixtRichardandtheSage，Ralphbutputtinginawordwhenitwouldhaveseemedchurlishtoforbear。
SotheywenttheirwaysthroughthewoodtillbythenthesunwaswellwesteringtheycameoutattheWateroftheOak，andRicharddrewreinthere，andspake：“Hereisafairplaceforasummernight’slodging，andIwouldwarrantbothgoodknightandfairladyhavelainhereaforetime，andwishedthedarklonger：
shallwenotresthere？”
Ralphstaredathimastonished，andthenangergrewinhisfaceforalittle，because，forsooth，asRichardandtheSagebothwottedoftheplaceoftheslayingoftheLady，andhehimselfhadeveryyardofthewayinhismindastheywent，itseemedbutduethattheyshouldhaveknownofthisplacealso，whatbetidthere：
butitwasnotso，andtheplacewastoRichardlikeanyotherlawnofthewoodland。
ButthoughtcamebacktoRalphinamoment，andhesmiledathisownfolly，howbeithecouldnotdotolieanothernightonthatlawnwithotherfolkthanerst。Sohesaidquietly：
“Nay，friend，werewenotbettertomakethemostofthisdaylight？
Seestthouitwantsyetanhourofsunset？”
Richardnoddedayeasay，andtheSagesaidnowordmore；butUrsulacastheranxiouslookonRalphasthoughsheunderstoodwhatwasmovinginhim；
andtherewiththoseothersrodeawaylightly，butRalphturnedslowlyfromtheoak-tree，andmightnotforbearlookingontotheshortswardroundabout，asifhehopedtoseesometokenleftbehind。
Thenhelifteduphisfaceasoneawaking，shookhisrein，androdeaftertheothersdownthelongwater。
Sotheyturnedfromthewateranon，androdethewoodlandways，andlaythatnightbyastreamthatranwest。
Theyarosebetimesonthemorrow，andwhereastheSageknewthewoodlandwayswell，theymadebutashortjourneyofittotheCastleofAbundance，andcameintothelittleplainbuttwohoursafternoon，wheresavingthatthescythehadnotyetwendedthetallmowinggrassinthecroftswhichthebeastsandsheepwerenotpasturing，allwasasonthatothertide。
Thefolkwereatworkintheirgardens，orherdingtheircattleinthemeads，andasaforetimetheyweremerryofcountenanceandwell-clad，fairandgentletolookon。
Thereweretheirpleasantcots，andthelittlewhitechurch，andthefairwallsofthecastleonitslowmound，andthedaybrightandsunny，allasaforetime，andRalphlookedonitall，andmadenocountenanceofbeingmovedbeyondhiswont。
Sotheycameoutofthewood，androdetothefordoftheriver，andthecarlesandqueanscamestreamingfromtheirgarthsandmeadstomeetthem，andstoodroundwonderingatthem；butanoldcarlecamefromoutthethrongandwentuptoRalph，andhailedhim，andsaid：
“Oh，Knight！andhastthoucomebacktous？andhasthoubroughtustidingsofourLady？Whoisthisfairwomanthatridethwiththee？
Isitshe？”
SpakeRalph：“Nay；golookonherclosely，andtellmethydeemingofher。”
SothecarlewentuptoUrsula，andpeeredcloselyintoherface，andtookherhandandlookedonit，andkneltdownandtookherfootoutofthestirrup，andkissedit，andthencamebacktoRalph，andsaid：“FairSir，Iwotnotbutitmaybehersister；
