ThemanstaredwildatRalphwhilehewasspeaking，andseemedtostaggerinhissaddle；thenhelethissalletfalloverhisface，and，turninghishorseabout，rodeswiftly，heandhistwofellows，downthehillandawaytothebattleoftheBurgers。
Nonefollowedorcriedafterhim；fornowhadagreatlongingandexpectationfallenuponRalph’sfolk，andtheyabodewhatshallbefallwithlittlenoise。Theynotedsosoonasthemessengerwasgottentothemainofthefoementhattherewasastiramongstthem，andtheywereorderingtheirrankstomoveagainstthehill。
AndwithaltheysawmenallarmedcomingfromouttheHighHouse，whowentdowntotheBridgeandabodethere。Upmeads-waterranthroughthemeadowsbetwixtthehillandtheHighHouse，ashathbeensaidafore；
butasitwindedalong，onereachofitwentnightotheHouse，andmadewellnighaquarterofacircleaboutitbeforeitturnedtorundownthemeadowstotheeastward；andatthisnighestpointwasthereawidebridgewellbuildedofstone。
TheBurg-devilsheedednotthemenattheBridge，but，beingallarrayed，madebutshorttarrying(andthatbelikeonlytohearthetaleoftheirmessenger)eretheycameintwobattlesstraightacrossthemeadow。
Theyontheirrightwereallriders，andthesefacedtheChampionsoftheDryTree，butagreatbattleoffootmencameagainsttheShepherdsandtherestofRalph’sfootmen，butintheirrearwardwasacompanyofwell-horsedmen-at-arms；andallofthemwerewellarmedandwentrightorderlyandwarrior-like。
Itwasbutsomefifteenminuteseretheywerecometothefootofthehill，andtheyfelltomountingitwithlaughterandmockery，butRalph’smenheldtheirpeace。Thehorsemenweresomewhatspeedierthanthoseonfoot，thoughtheyrodebutatafoot’space，andwhentheywereabouthalfwayupthehillandwerefalteringalittle(foritwassomewhatsteep，thoughnoughthigh)，theChampionsoftheDryTreecouldforbearthemnolonger，butsetupahugeroar，androdeatthem，sothattheyallwentdownthehilltogether，buttheChampionswerelostamidstofthehugemassofthefoemen。
ButRalphwasleftattheveryleftendofhisfolk，andthefoemencameupthehillspeedilywithmuchnoiseandmanyfoulmocksasaforesaid，andtheyweremanyandmanymorethanRalph’sfolk，andnowthattheChampionsweregone，couldhaveenfoldedthemateitherend；butnomanofthecompanyblenchedorfaltered，onlyhereandthereonespakesofttohisneighbour，andhereandthereonelaughedthebattle-laugh。
Nowatthehangingofthehill，whenaseithersidecouldseethewhitesofthefoemen’seyes，therobbersstayedalittletogatherbreath；
andinthatnickoftimeRalphstrodeforthintothemidstbetweenthetwolinesandupontoalittlemoundonthehill-side(whichwellheknew)，andhelifteduptheancientguisarme，andcriedonhigh：“Homenow！
HometoUpmeads！”
Thenbefellamarvel，forevenasalleyesofthefoemenwereturnedonhim，straightwaytheirshoutsandjeeringandlaughterfelldead，andthengaveplacetoshrieksandwailing，asalltheywhobeheldhimcastdowntheirweaponsandfledwildlydownthehill，overturningwhateverstoodintheirway，tillthewholemassofthemwasbrokentopieces，andthehillwascoveredwithnoughtbutcravensandthelight-footedShepherdsslaughteringtheminthechase。
ButRalphcalledClementtohimandtheydrewastalworthbandtogether，and，heedingnoughtthechaseoftherunaways，theyfellonthosewhohadtheChampionsintheirmidst，andfelltosmitingdownmenoneitherhand；andeverymanwholookedonRalphcrouchedandcoweredbeforehim，castingdownhisweaponsandthrowinguphishands。
Shortlytosayit，whenthesehorsemenfeltthisnewonset，andlookingroundsawtheirmenfleeinghitherandthitheroverthegreenfieldsofUpmeads，smittenbytheShepherdsandleapingintothedeeppoolsoftheriver，theyturnedandfled，everymanwhocouldkeephissaddle，andmadefortheBridge，theDryTreethunderingattheirbacks。Butevenastheycamewithinbowshot，agreatflightofarrowscamefromthefurthersideofthewater，andthebanneroftheFruitfulTreecameforthfromthebridge-endwithNicholasandhistriedmen-at-armsbehindit；andthenindeedgreatandgrimwasthemurder，andtheproudmenoftheBurggrovelledonthegroundandprayedformercytillneithertheChampionsnorthemenofNicholascouldsmitehelplessmenanylonger。
NowhadRalphheldhishandfromthechase，andhewassittingonamoundamidstofthemeadowunderanancientthorn，andbesidehimsattheSageofSwevenhamandUrsula。
Andshewasgrownpalenowandlookedsomewhatscared，andshespakeinatremblingvoicetoRalph，andsaid：
“Alasfriend！thatthisshouldbesogrim！Whenweheartheowlsa-nighttimeabouttheHighHouse，shallwenotdeematwhilesthatitistheghostsofthisdreadfulbattleandslaughterwanderingaboutourfairfields？”
ButRalphspakesternlyandwrathfullyashesattherebareheadedandallunarmedsavefortheancientglaive：
“Whydidtheynotslaymethen？Bettertheghostsofrobbersinourfieldsbynight，thantheover-burdenedhaplessthrallbyday，andthescourgedwoman，andruinedchild。
Thesethingstheysoughtforusandhavefounddeathontheway——
letitbe！”
Helaughedashespake；butthenthegriefoftheendofbattlecameuponhimandhetrembledandshook，andgreattearsburstfromhiseyesandrolleddownhischeeks，andhebecamestarkandhard-faced。
ThenUrsulatookhishandsandcaressedthem，andkissedhisface，andfella-talkingtohimofhowtheyrodethepasstotheValleyofSweetChestnuts；andinawhilehisheartandhismindcamebacktohimasitdidthatothertimeofwhichshespake，andhekissedherinturn，andbegantotellherofhisoldchamberintheturretoftheHighHouse。
Andnowtherecomeridingacrossthefieldtwowarriors。
Theydrawreinbythemound，andonelightsdown，andlo！itisLongNicholas；andhetookRalphinhisarms，andkissedhimandweptoverhimforallhisgrizzledbeardandhisgauntlimbs；
butfewwordshehadforhim，savethis：“MylittleLord，wasitthouthatwasthewisecaptainto-day，orthisstoutlifterandreiver！”
ButtheothermanwasStephena-Hurst，wholaughedandsaid：
“Nay，Nicholas，Iwasthefool，andthisstriplingthewisewarrior。
But，LordRalph，thouwiltpardonme，Ihope，butwecouldnotkillthemall，fortheywouldnotfightinanywise；whatshallwedowiththem？”Ralphknithisbrowsandthoughtalittle；thenhesaid：
“Howmanyhastthoutaken？”SaidStephen：“Sometwohundredalive。”
“Well。”quothRalph；“stripthemofallarmourandweapons，andletascoreofthyridersdrivethembackthewaytheycameintotheDebateableWood。Butgivethemthislastwordfromme，thatorlongIshallclearthesaidwoodofallstrong-thieves。”
Stephendepartedonthaterrand；andpresentlycomesGilesandanotheroftheShepherdswithaliketale，andhadalikeanswer。
Nowamidstallthesedeedsityetlackedanhourofnoon。SopresentlyRalpharoseandtookRichardapartforawhileandspokewithhimalittle，andthencamebacktoUrsulaandtookherbythehand，andsaid：
“Beloved，Richardshalltaketheenowtoapleasantabodethissidethewater；forIgrudgethatthoushouldstentertheHighHousewithoutme；andasformeImustneedsridebacktoWulsteadtobringhithermyfatherandmother，asIpromisedtodoafterthebattle。
Ingoodsooth，Ideemeditwouldhavelastedlonger。”SaidUrsula：
“Dearfriend，thisisevenwhatIshouldhavebiddentheemyself。
Departspeedily，thatthoumaystbebackthesooner；forsorelydoIlongtoenterthinehouse，beloved。”ThenRalphturnedtoNicholas，andsaid：
“Ourhostisnotsogreatbutthatthoumaystvictualitwell；yetI
deemitislittlelessthanwhenweleftWulsteadearlythismorning。”
“Trueisthat，littlelord。”saidNicholas。“Hearawonderamongstbattles：
ofthyShepherdsandtheotherfootmenisnotoneslain，andbutsomefivehurt。TheChampionshavelostthreemenslainoutright，andsomefifteenhurt；ofwhomisthybrotherHugh，butnotsorely。”
“Betterthanwellisthystorythen。”saidRalph。“Nowletthembringmeahorse。”Sowhenhewashorsed，hekissedUrsulaandwenthisways。
AndsheabodehiscomingbackatRichard’shouseanighthewater。
RalphBringsHisFatherandMothertoUpmeadsShortwastheroadbackagaintoWulstead，andwhereasthedaywasnotveryoldwhenRalphcamethere，hefailednottostopatClement’shouse，andcameintothechamberwheresatDameKatherineinpensivewisenightothewindow，withheropenhandsinherlap。
QuothRalph：“Rejoice，gossip！forneitherisClementhurt，norI，andallisdonethatshouldbedone。”Shemovedherbutlittle，butthetearscameintohereyesandrolleddownhercheeks。
“What，gossip？”quothRalph；“thesebescarcetearsofjoy；
whataileththee？”“Nay。”saidKatherine，“indeedIamjoyfulofthytidings，thoughsoothtosayIlookedfornoneother。
But，dearlordandgossip，forgivememytearsonthedayofthytriumph；
foriftheybenotwhollyofjoy，soalsoaretheynotwhollyofsorrow。
Butloveandthepassingofthedaysarebittersweetwithinmyheartto-day。LateronthoushaltseefewfacesmorecheerfulandmerryinthehallatUpmeadsthanthisofthygossip’s。Sobemerrynow，andgofetchthyfatherandthymother，andrejoicetheirheartsthatthouhastbeenevenbetterthanthywordtothem。
Farewell，gossip；butlooktoseemeatUpmeadsbeforemanydaysarepast；forIknowtheewhatthouart；andthatthedayswillpresentlyfinddeedsforthee，andthouwiltberidingintoperil，andcomingsafefromoutofit。Farewell！”
SohedepartedandrodetotheHouseofSt。Austin，andthefolkgatheredsoabouthiminthestreetthatatthegateofthePrioryhehadtoturnaboutandspeaktothem；andhesaid：“Goodpeople，rejoice！therearenomorefoemenofWulsteadanighyounow；
andtakethiswordofme，thatIwillseetoitintimetocomethatyeliveinpeaceandquiethere。”
Folkshoutedforjoy，andthefatherswhowerestandingwithinthegateheardhiswordandrejoiced，andsomeofthemranofftotellKingPeterthathissonwascomebackvictoriousalready；
sothatbythenhehaddismountedattheGuest-housedoor，lo！therewastheKingandhiswifewithhim，andboththeyalbounfordeparture。AndwhentheysawhimKingPetercriedout：
“Thereisnoneedtosayaword，myson；unlessthouwouldsttellthetaletotheholyfatherPrior，who，asyesee，hase’ennowcomeouttous。”
SaidRalph：“Fatherandmother，Iprayyourblessing，andalsotheblessingofthefatherPriorhere；andthetaleisshortenough：
thatwehaveoverthrownthemandslainthemorepart，andtheothersarenowbeingdrivenlikeaherdofswineintotheirstrongholdoftheWoodDebateable，where，forsooth，Ishallbeeretheworldisonemontholder。Andinthedoingofallthishavebutthreeofourmenbeenslainandafewhurt，amongstwhomisthysonHugh，butnotsorely。”
“Oyea，son。”saidhismother，“heshalldowellenough。
Butnowwiththyleave，holyPrior，wewilldepart，sothatwemaysleepintheHighHouseto-night，andfeelthatmydearson’shandisoverustowardus。”
ThenRalphkneltbeforethem，andKingPeterandhiswifeblessedtheirsonwhentheyhadkissedandembracedeachother，andtheyweptforjoyofhim。ThePrioralso，whowasold，andaworthyprelate，andanancientfriendofKingPeter，mightnotrefrainhistearsatthejoyofhisfriendsashegaveRalphhisblessing。Andthen，whenRalphhadrisenupandthehorseswerecome，hesaidtohim：
“Onethingthouartnottoforget，youngconqueror，towit，thatthouarttocomehereearlyoneday，andtellmeallthytaleatfulllength。”
“Yea，Prior。”saidRalph，“orthereistheHighHouseofUpmeadsfortheetouseasthineown，andarestfortheeofthreeorfourdayswhilethouhearkenestthetale；foritmayneedthat。”
“Hearken。”saidKingPetersoftlytotheDame，“howhereckonsitallhisown；mydayisdone，mydear。”Hespakesmiling，andshesaid：
“Soothlyheiswaxenmasterful，andwellitbecomeththedearyoungling。”
Nowtheygettohorseandridetheirways，whileallfolkblessedthem。
ThetwooldfolkrodefastandpressedtheirnagswhateverRalphmightdotogivethempastimeofwords；sotheycameintotheplainfieldofUpmeadstwohoursbeforesunset；andKingPetersaid：
“NowIaccountitthatIhavehadonedaymoreofmylifethanwasmydue，andthou，son，hastaddedittotheotherswhereasthoudidstnotpromisetobringmehithertillmorrow。”
