ButtherewiththeSagedrewuptothemandsaid：“Benotdismayed，LordRalph。WhatwertthougoingtosaytotheChampionswhenthiscarlebrakein？”
“This。”saidRalph，“thatIthankedtheDryTreeheartilyforitsgift，butthatmeseemeditnaughtwisetoleavethisstrongholddisgarnishedofmentillIcancomeorsendbackfromUpmeads。”
Stephen’sfaceclearedattheword，andhesaid：“Ibidtheebelieveit，lord，thatthereisnotreasoninourCaptain’sheart；
andthatiftherewereIwouldfightagainsthimandhismenonthybehalf。”AndRoger，thoughinasomewhatsurlyvoice，saidthelike。
Ralphthoughtalittle，andthenhesaid：“Itiswell；gowedownandoutofgatestomeetthem，thatwemaythesoonergetonourwaytoUpmeads。”
AndwithoutmorewordshewentuptoUrsulaandtookherhandandwentoutofthehall，anddowntherock-cutstair，andalltheywithhim。
AndwhentheycameintotheBase-court，Ralphspoketothecarlesofthethorp，whostoodhuddledtogethersoreafeard，andsaid：
“Throwopenthegates。TheseriderswhohavesoscaredyouarenaughtelsethantheChampionsoftheDryTreewhoarecomingbacktotheirstrongholdthattheymaykeepyousureagainstwickedtyrantswhowouldoppressyou。”
Thecarleslookedaskanceatoneanother，butstraightwayopenedthegates，andRalphandhiscompanywentforth，andabodethenew-comersonalittlegreenmoundhalfabowshotfromtheCastle。
RalphsatdownonthegrassandUrsulabyhim，andshesaid：
“MyhearttellsmethattheseChampionsarenotraitors，howeverroughandfiercetheyhavebeen，andstillshallbeifoccasionserve。
But0，sweetheart，howdearandsweetisthissunlitgreenswardafteryondergrimhold。Surely，sweet，itshallneverbeourdwelling？”
“Iwotnot，beloved。”saidhe；“mustwenotgoanddwellwheredeedsshallleadus？andthehandofWeirdismighty。
Butlothou，herearethenewcomerstohand！”
Soitwasashesaid，andpresentlythewholebandcamebeforethem，andtheywerealloftheDryTree，stoutmenandwellweaponed，andtheyhadriddenexceedingfast，sothattheirhorsesweresomewhatspent。
Atallmanverygallantlyarmed，whorodeattheirhead，leaptatoncefromhishorseandcameuptoRalphandhailedhim，andRogerandStephenbothmadeobeisancetohim。Ralph，whohadrisenup，hailedhiminhisturn，andthetallmansaid：“IamtheCaptainoftheDryTreeforlackofabetter；artthouRalphofUpmeads，fairsir？”
“Evenso。”saidRalph。
SaidtheCaptain：“ThouwiltmarvelthatIhaveriddenaftertheeonthespur；sohereisthetaleshortly。
YourbackswerenotturnedonthewallsoftheBurganhour，erethreeofmyridersbroughtintomeamanwhosaid，andgavemetokensofhiswordbeingtrue，thathehadfalleninwithacompanyoftheoldBurgersintheWoodDebateable，whichbelikethouwottestof。”
“AllweofUpmeadswotofit。”saidRalph。“Well。”saidtheCaptain，“amongstthesesaidBurgers，whoweredwellinginthewildwoodinsummercontent，thewordwentfreethattheywouldgathertothemotherbandsofstrong-thieveswhohauntthatwood，andgowiththemuponUpmeads，andfromUpmeads，whentheywerewaxenstrong，theywouldfalluponHighambytheWay，andthencewithyetmorestrengthontheirolddwellingoftheBurg。
NowwhereasIknowthatthouartofUpmeads，andalsowhatthouart，andwhatthouhastdone，Ihaveriddenaftertheetotelltheewhatistoward。
ButifthoudeemestIhavebroughttheealltheseridersitisnotwhollyso。
Foritwasborneintomymindthatouroldstrongholdwasleftbareofmen，andIknewnotwhatmightbetide；andthatthemore，asmorethanonemanhastoldushowthatanotherbandofthedisinheritedBurgershavefallenuponHighamorthelandsthereof，andHighamisnogreatwayhence；
sothatsomefivescoreoftheseridersaretoholdourCastleoftheScaur，andtherestarefortheetorideafieldwith。Asfortheothers，thouhastbeentoldalreadythattheScaur，andHamptontherewithisagiftfromustothee；forhenceforwardwebethelordsoftheBurgoftheFourFriths，andthatismorethanenoughforus。”
RalphthankedtheCaptainforthis，anddidhimtowitthathewouldtakethegiftifhecamebackouttheUpmeadsfrayalive：saidhe，“WiththeeandtheWheat-wearersintheBurg，andmeintheScaur，nostrong-thiefshalldareliftuphishandintheseparts。”
TheCaptainsmiled，andRalphwenton：“AndnowImustneedsasktheeforleavetodepart；whichisallthemoreneedful，whereasthymenhaveover-riddentheirhorses，andwemustneedsgoasoftpacetillwecometoHigham。”
“Yea，artthouforHigham，fairsir？”saidtheCaptain。“Thatiswell；
foryemaygetmentherefrom，andattheleastitislikethatyeshallheartidings：astomymenandtheirhorses，thishathbeenlookedto。
ForfivehundredgoodmenoftheWheat-wearers，menwhohavenotlearnedthefeatofarmsa-horseback，arecomingthroughthewoodshithertohelpwardthycastle，fairlord；theywillbehereinsomethreehours’
spaceandwillbringhorsesforthyfivescoremen，thereforedoyebutridesoftlytoHighamandifthesesergeantscatchupwithyouitiswell，butifnot，abidethematHigham。”
“Thankshavethouforthisoncemore。”saidRalph；“andnowI
havenomorewordthanthisforthee；thatIwillcometotheeatthyleastword，andservetheewithallthatIhave，tomyverylifeifneedbe。AndyetImustsaythis，thatIwotnotwhyyeandtheseothersarebecometome，whoamalientoyou，asverybrothers。”SaidtheCaptain：
“Thereisthistobesaidofit，aswasaforesaid，thatallwecountthywinningoftheWellattheWorld’sEndasvaliancyinthee，yea，andluckwithal。But，moreover，shewhowasOurLadywouldhavehadtheeforherfriendhadshelived，andhowthencouldwebelessthanfriendstothee？
Departinpeace，myfriend，andwelooktoseetheeagaininalittlewhile。”
Therewithhekissedhim，andbadefarewell；andRalphbadehisbandtohorse，andtheywereinthesaddleinatwinkling，androdeawayfromHamptonatasoftpace。
Butastheywent，RalphturnedtoUrsulaandsaid：
“AndnowbelikeshallweseeBourtonAbbasoncemore，andthehousewherefirstIsawthee。AndOhowsweetthouwert！
AndIwassohappyandsoyoung。”
“Yea。”shesaid，“andsorelyIlongedforthee，andnowwehavelongbeentogether，asitseemeth；andyetthatlongspaceshallbebutalittlewhileofourlives。But，myfriend，astoBourtonAbbas，Imisdoubtmeofourseeingit；
forthereisanigherroadbytheby-waystoHigham，whichthesemenknow，anddoubtlessthatwayweshallwend：
andIamgladthereof；forIshalltellthee，thatsomewhatI
fearthatthorp，lestitshouldlayholdofme，andwakemefromadream。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“buteventhen，belikethoushouldstfindmebesidethee；asifIhadfallenasleepintheale-house，anddreamedoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andthenawokeandseenthedearbarefootmaidenbusyingheraboutherhouseanditsmatters。
Thatwerenaughtsoill。”
“Ah。”shesaid，“lookroundonthymen，andthinkofthemightofwarthatisinthem，andthinkofthedeedstocome。
ButOhowIwouldthatthesenextfewdayswerewornaway，andweyetaliveforalongwhile。”
TheyCometotheGateofHighamBytheWayItwasasUrsulahaddeemed，andtheymadeforHighambytheshortestroad，sothattheycamebeforethegatealittlebeforesunset：
totheverygatetheycamenot；fortherewerestrongbarriersbeforeit，andmen-at-armswithinthem，asthoughtheywerelookingforanonfall。
AndamongstthesewerebowmenwhobendedtheirbowsonRalphandhiscompany。
SoRalphstayedhismen，androdeuptothebarrierswithRichardandStephena-Hurst，allthreeofthembare-headedwiththeirswordsinthesheaths；
andStephenmoreoverbearingawhiteclothonatruncheon。Thenaknightofthetown，verybravelyarmed，cameforthfromthebarriersandwentuptoRalph，andsaid：“Fairsir，artthouaknight？”“Yea。”saidRalph。
Saidtheknight，“Whobeye？”“IhightRalphofUpmeads。”saidRalph，“andthesebemymen：andwepraytheeforguestinginthetownofmyLordAbbotto-night，andleavetodepartto-morrowbetimes。”
“Ounhappyyoungman。”saidtheknight，“meseemsthesemenbenotsomuchthineasthouarttheirs；fortheyareoftheDryTree，andbeartheirtokenopenly。Wiltthouthenlodgethycompanyofstrong-thieveswithhonestmen？”
Stephena-Hurstlaughedroughlyatthisword，butRalphsaidmildly：
“ThesemenareindeedoftheDryTree，buttheyaremymenandundermyrule，andtheyberidingonmyerrands，whichbelawful。”
Theknightwassilentawhileandthenhesaid：“Well，itmaybeso；
butintothistowntheycomenot，forthetaleofthemisoverlongforhonestmentohearkento。”
Evenashespake，aman-at-armssomewhatevillyarmedshovedthroughthebarriers，thrustingabackcertainofhisfellows，and，cominguptoRalph，stoodstaringupintohisfacewiththetearsstartingintohiseyes。
Ralphlookedamoment，andthenreacheddownhisarmstoembracehim，andkissedhisface；forlo！itwashisownbrotherHugh。
Withalhewhisperedinhisear：“Gettheebehindus，Hugh，ifthouwiltcomewithus，lad。”SoHughpassedonquietlytowardtheband，whileRalphturnedtotheknightagain，whosaidtohim，“Whoisthatman？”
“Heismineownbrother。”saidRalph。“Behethebrotherofwhomhewill。”
saidtheknight，“hewasnonethelessourswornman。Yefools。”
saidhe，turningtowardthemeninthebarrier，“whydidyenotslayhim？”
“Heslippedout。”saidthey，“beforewewottedwhathewasabout。”
Saidtheknight，“Wherewereyourbows，then？”
Saidaman：“Theywerepressingsohardonthebarrier，thatwecouldnotdrawabowstring。Besides，howmightweshoothimwithouthittingthee，belike？”
TheknightturnedtowardRalph，grownwrothandsurly，andthatthemorehesawStephenandRichardgrinning；hesaid：
“Fairsir，yehavestrengthenedtheoldsawthatsaith，Tellmewhatthyfriendsare，andIwilltelltheewhatthouart。
Thouhaststolenourmanwithnotawordonit。”
“Fairsir。”saidRalph，“meseemeththoumakestmorewordsthanenoughaboutit。ShallIbuymybrotherofthee，then？
Ihaveagoodfewpiecesinmypouch。”Thecaptainshookhisheadangrily。
“Well。”saidRalph，“howcanIpleasethee，fairsir？”
Quoththeknight：“Thoucanstpleasemebestbyturningthyhorses’
headsawayfromHigham，allthesortofyou。”Hesteppedbacktowardthebarriers，andthencameforwardagain，andsaid：
“Lookyou，man-at-arms，IwarntheethatItrusttheenot，anddeemthatthouliest。NowhaveImindtoissueoutandfalluponyou：
foryeshallbeevilguestsinmyLordAbbot’slands。”
NowatlastRalphwaxedsomewhatwroth，andhesaid：
“Comeoutthen，ifyouwill，andweshallmeetyoumanforman；
thereisyetlightonthislilylea，andwewilldosomuchforthee，churlthoughthoube。”
Butashespoke，camethesoundsofhorns，andlo，overthebentshowedthepointsofspears，andthenallthosefive-scoreoftheDryTreewhomthecaptainhadsentafterRalphcamepouringdownthebent。
Theknightlookedonthemunderthesharpofhishand，tillhesawtheDryTreeontheircoatsalso，andthenheturnedandgathimhastilyintothebarriers；andwhenhewasamongsthisownmenhefelltoroaringoutadefiancetoRalph，andaboltflewforth，andtwoorthreeshafts，buthurtnoone。RichardandStephendrewtheirswords，butRalphcriedout：
“Comeaway，friends，tarrynottobickerwiththesefools，whoareafraidoftheyknownotwhat：itisbutlyingunderthenakedheavento-nightinsteadofundertherafters，butwehavealllodgedthusamanytimes：
andweshallbenighertoourjourney’sendto-morrowwhenwewakeup。”
TherewithheturnedhishorsewithRichardandStephenandcametohisownmen。TherewasmuchlaughterandjeeringattheAbbot’smenamidstoftheDryTree，bothofthosewhohadriddenwithRalph，andthenew-comers；buttheyarrayedthemtoridefurtheringoodorder，andpresentlywereskirtingthewallsofHighamoutofbow-shot，andmakingfortheDowncountrybytheclearofthemoon。
ThesergeantshadgottenahorseforHugh，andbyRalph’sbiddingherodebesidehimastheywenttheirways，andthetwobrethrentalkedtogetherlovingly。
