Thenrodeoutfromthosemenaverytallman，andtwowithhim，oneoneitherside，andhethrewbackthesalletfromhisface，andsaid：
“Wayfarer，allwehaveweaponsinourhands，andwesomanythatthouandthinewillbeinregardofusasthepipstotheapple。
Wherefore，yieldye！”QuothRalph：“UntowhomthenshallIyieldme？”
Saidtheother：“TothemenoftheKingofCheapingKnowe。”
ThenspakeRalph：“Whatwillyedowithuswhenweareyolden？
Shallwenotpayransomandgoourways？”“Yea。”saidthetallman，“andthisistheransom：thatyegiveupintomyhandsmydastardwhohathbewrayedme，andthewomanwhowendethinyourcompany。”
Ralphlaughed；forbythistimeheknewthevoiceoftheKing，yea，andthefaceofhimunderhissallet。
Sohecriedbackinanswer，andinsuchwiseasifthewordscameratherfromhisluckthanfromhisyouth：“Ho，SirKing！
bewarebeware！lestthoutremblewhenthouseestthebarebladeoftheFriendoftheWellmorethanthoutrembledsterst，whenthebladewashiddeninthesheathbeforethethroneofthinehall。”
ButtheKingcriedoutinaloudharshvoice。
“Thou，youngman，bewarethou！andtrynotthyluckovermuch。
Weareasmanyasthesetrees，andthoucanstnotprevailoverus。
Gothywaysfree，andleavemewhatthoucanstnothelpleaving。”
“Yea，fool。”criedRalph，“andwhatwiltthoudowiththesetwo？”
SaidtheKing：“ThetraitorIwillflay，andthewomanIwillbed。”
ScarcewerethewordsoutofhismouthereRalphgaveforthagreatcryanddrewhissword，setspurstohishorse，andgalloppedonuptheroadwithallhisbandathisbackfortheyhaddrawnanighamidstthistalk。
Butorevertheycameonthefoemen，theyheardagreatconfusedcryofonsetmingledwithaffright，andlo！theKingthrewuphisarms，andfellforwardonhishorse’sneckwithagreatarrowthroughhisthroat。
Ralphdraveonswordinhand，cryingout，“Home，hometoUpmeads！”
andanonwasamidstofthefoesmitingoneitherhand。
Hismenfollowed，shouting：“Ho，fortheFriendoftheWell！”
Andamongstthefoemen，whowereindeedverymany，washugedismay，sothattheymadebutasorrydefencebeforethebandofthewayfarers，whoknewnotwhattomakeofit，tilltheynotedthatarrowsandcasting-spearswerecomingoutofthewoodoneitherside，whichsmotenoneofthem，butmanyofthefoemen。
Shortwasthetale，forinafewminutestherewerenomenofthefoetogethersavethosethatwerefleeingdowntheroadtoCheapingKnowe。
Ralphwouldnotsufferhismentofollowthechase，forhewottednotwithwhomhemighthavetodealbesidestheKing’smen。
HedrewhismentogetherandlookedroundforUrsula，andsawthattheSagehadbroughtherupanighhim，andthereshesata-horseback，paleandpantingwiththefearofdeathandjoyofdeliverance。
NowRalphcriedoutfromhissaddleinaloudvoice，andsaid：
“Hoyeofthearrowsofthewood！yehavesavedmefrommyfoemen；
wherebeye，andwhatbeye？”Camealoudvoicefromoutofthewoodontherighthand：“Children，tellthewarriorwhosesonsyebe！”
Straightwaybrakeoutahugebellowingoneithersideoftheroad，asthoughthewoodwereallfullofgreatneat。
ThencriedoutRalph：“IfyebeofthekindredoftheBull，yewillbelikebemyfriendsratherthanmyfoes。OrhaveyeheardtellofRalphofUpmeads？
Nowletyourcaptaincomeforthandspeakwithme。”
Scarcewerethewordsoutofhismouthereamancameleapingforthfromoutthewood，andstoodbeforeRalphinthetwilightoftheboughs，andRalphnotedofhimthathewascladprettymuchliketoBullShockheadofpasttime，savethathehadagreatbull’sheadforahelm(whichafterwardsRalphfoundoutwasofironandleather)
andagreatgoldringonhisarm。
ThenRalphthrusthisswordbackintothesheath，andhisfolkhandledtheirweaponspeaceably，whileRalphhailedthenew-comerasLordorDukeoftheBulls。
“Belike。”quoththesaidchieftain，“thouwouldstwishtoshowmesometoken，wherebywemaywotthatthouartthatFriendoftheWellandofourkinsmanconcerningwhomhesentusamessage。”
ThenRalphbethoughthimofthepouchwiththeknotofgrassthereinwhichBullShockheadhadgivenhimatGoldburg；
sohedrewitout，andgaveitintothehandofthechieftain，whonosoonercaughtaglimpsethereofthanhesaid：
“Verilyourbrother’shandhathmetthinewhenhegavetheethis。
Yetforsooth，nowthatIlookonthee，ImaysaythatscarcedidIneedtokentotellmethatthouwerttheveryman。
ForIcanseethee，thatthouartofgreathonourandworship，andthoudidstrideboldlyagainstthefoemenwhenthouknewestnotthatwehadwaylaidthywaylayers。
NowIwotthatthereisnoneedtoasktheewhetherthouwouldstgettheeoutofourmountainsbytheshortestroad，yetwiltthoumakeitlittlelonger，andsomewhatsafer，ifyewillsufferustoleadtheebywayofourdwelling。”
SoRalphyeasaidhisbiddingwithoutmorewords。
Astheyspakethustogethertheroadbothaboveandbelowwasbecomeblackwithweaponedmen，andsomeofRalph’sbandlookedononeanother，asthoughtheydoubtedtheirnewfriendssomewhat。
ButtheSageofSwevenhamspoketothemandbadethemfearnought。
“For。”saidhe，“sofaraswego，whoarenowtheirfriends，thereisnoguileinthesemen。”TheBullcaptainheardhimandsaid：
“Thousayestsooth，oldman；andIshalltelltheethatscarcehadabandlikethinecomesafethroughthemountains，savebygreatgoodluck，withouttheleaveofus；forthefoolwiththecrownthatlieththeredeadhadoflatedayssostirreduptheFolksoftheFellsthroughhisgrimnessandcrueltythatwehavebeenmindedtostopeverythingbiggerthanacur-dogthatmightseektopassbyus，foratleastsolongasyonderrascalshouldlive。
Butyebewelcome；sonowletustotheroad，forthedayweareth。”
Sothetribesmengatthemintoorder，andtheirDukewentontheleftsideofRalph，whileUrsularodeonhisrighthand。TheDukeandallhismenwereafoot，buttheywenteasilyandswiftly，aswolvestrot。
Asfortheslainofthewaylayers，ofwhomthereweresomethreescore，theBullcaptainwoulddonoughtbutletthemlieontheroad。
“For。”saidhe，“therebewolvesandlynxesenoughinthewood，andtheravensoftheuplands，andthekitesshallsoonscentthecarrion。
Theyshallhaveburialsoonenough。Neitherwillwemeddlewithit；
nay，notsomuchastohangthefelonKing’sheadatthysaddle-bow，lord。”
Bysunsettheywereoutofthewoodandonthesideofaroughfell，sotheywentnofurther，butlightedfiresattheedgeofthethicket，andmademerryroundaboutthem，singingtheirsongsconcerningthedeedsoftheirfolk，andjestingwithal，butnotfoully；andtheyroastedvenisonofhartandhindatthefires，andtheyhadwiththemwine，themorepartwhereoftheyhadfoundintheslainKing’scarriages，andtheymadegreatfeasttothewayfarers，andwereexceedingfainofthem；aftertheirfashion，whereasifamanweretheirfriendhecouldscarcebeenoughtheirfriend，andifheweretheirfoe，theycouldneverbefierceenoughwithhim。
TheyComeThroughtheMountainsIntothePlainOnthemorrowearlytheyallfaredontogether，andthereaftertheywentfortwodaysmoretilltheycameintoavalleyamidstofthemountainswhichwasfairandlovely，andthereinwasthedwellingortownofthisFolkoftheFells。
Itwasindeednostronghold，savethatitwasnoteasytofind，andthatthewaythitherwaswelldefensiblewerefoementotryit。Thehousesthereofwereartless，thechiefestofthemliketothegreatbarnofanabbeyinourland，theotherslowandsmall；butthepeople，bothmenandwomen，hauntedmostlythebighouse。Asforthefolk，theywereforthemorepartlikethosewhomtheyhadmetafore：
strongmen，butnothighofstature，black-haired，withblueorgreyeyes，cheerfulofcountenance，andofmanywords。
Theirwomenweremostlysomewhatmorethancomely，smiling，kindofspeech，butnotsufferingthecaressesofaliens。
Theysawnothrallsamongstthem；andwhenRalphaskedhereof，howthatmightbe，sincetheyweremen-catchers，theytoldhimthatwhentheytookmenandwomen，asofttheydid，theyalwayssoldthemforwhattheywouldbringtotheplain-dwellers；
orelseslewthem，orheldthemtoransom，butneverbroughtthemhometotheirstead。Howbeit，whentheytookchildren，aswhilesbefell，theysometimesbroughtthemhome，andmadethemverychildrenoftheirFolkwithmanyuncouthprayersandworshipoftheirGods，whowereindeed，astheydeemed，butforefathersoftheFolk。
NowRalph，heandhis，beingknownforfriends，thesewildmencouldnotmakeenoughofthem，andasitwere，compelledthemtoabidetherethreedays，feastingthem，andmakingthemallthecheertheymight。
Andtheyshowedthewayfarerstheirmannerofhunting，bothofthehartandtheboar，andofwildbullsalso。AtfirstRalphsomewhatloathedallthis(thoughhekeptapleasantcountenancetowardhishost)，forsorelyhedesiredthefieldsofUpmeadsandhisfather’shouse。
Butatlastwhenthehuntwasupinthemountains，andespeciallyofthewildbulls，theheartandthemightinhimsoarosethatheenforcedhimselftodowell，andthewildmenwonderedathisprowess，whereashewasuntriedinthismannerofsports，andtheydeemedhimoneoftheGods，andsaidthattheirkinsmanhaddonewelltogethimsogoodafriend。
BothUrsulaandtheSagewithheldthemfromthishunting，andUrsulaabodewiththewomen，whotoldhermuchoftheirwaysoflife，andstoriesofoldtime；frankandfreetheywere，andlovedhermuch，andshewasfainofsuchmanly-mindedwomenafterthesleightandliesofthepoorthrallsofUtterbol。
Onthefourthdaythewayfarersmadethemreadyanddeparted；
andthechiefoftheFolkwentwiththemwithachosenbandofweaponedmen，partlyfortheloveofhisguests，andpartlythathemightseetheGoldburgmen-at-armssafebacktotheroaduntotheplainandtheMidhouseoftheMountains，fortheywentnowbyotherways，whichmissedthesaidHouse。
Onthisjourneynaughtbefelltotellof，andtheyallcamedownsafeintotheplain。
TheretheGoldburgmentooktheirwage，andbiddingfarewell，turnedbackwiththewildmen，praisingRalphmuchforhisfranknessandopenhand。
Asforthewildmen，theyexceededintheirsorrowfortheparting，andmanyofthemweptandhowledasthoughtheyhadseenhimdiebeforetheirfaces。
Butallthatcametoanend，andpresentlytheircheerwasamended，andtheirmerryspeechandlaughtercamedownfromthepassuntothewayfarers’
earsaseachbandrodeitsway。
TheRoadsSunderAgainRalphandUrsula，withtheSageandMichael-a-dalewenttheirways，andallwassmoothwiththem，andtheysawbutfewfolk，andthosemildandlowly。
Atlast，ofanafternoon，theysawbeforethemafaroffthetowersandpinnaclesofWhitwall，andRalph’sheartrosewithinhim，sothathescarceknewhowtocontainhimself；butUrsulawasshyandsilent，andhercolourcameandwent，asthoughsomefearhadholdofher。
Nowtheytwowereridingonsomewhataheadoftheothers，soRalphturnedtoUrsula，andaskedwhatailedher。Shesmiledonhimandsaid：
“Asimplesickness。Iamdrawingnightothyhome，andIamashamed。
Beyondthemountains，whoknewwhatandwhenceIwas？Iwasfair，andforawomannotunvaliant，andthatwasenough。ButnowwhenIamcomingamongstthebaronagesandthelineages，whatshallIdotoholdupmyheadbeforethefoolsandthedastardsofthesehighkindreds？
Andthatallthemore，myknight，becausethouartchangedsinceyester-year，andsincewemetonthewant-wayoftheWoodPerilous，whenIbadetheerememberthatthouwertaKing’ssonandIayeoman’sdaughter；
forthenthouwertbutalad，high-bornandbeautiful，butsimplemaybe，anduntried；whereasnowthouartmeettositintheKaiser’sthroneandruletheworldfromtheHolyCity。”
Helaughedgailyandsaid：“What！isitallsosoonforgotten，ourdeedsbeyondtheMountains？Belikebecausewehadnominstreltorhymeitforus。Orisitallbutadream？andhasthelastpassofthemountainschangedallthatforus？Whatthen！hastthouneverbecomemybeloved，norlaininonebedwithme？
ThouwhomIlookedtodeliverfromtheshameandthetormentofUtterbol，neverdidstthoufreethyselfwithoutmyhelping，andmeetmeinthedarkwood，andleadmetotheSagewhoridethyonderbehindus！No，nordidstthouridefearlesswithme，leavingtheworldbehind；nordidstthoucomfortmewhenmyheartwentnightobreakinginthewilderness！NortheedidI
deliverasIsawtheerunningnakedfromthejawsofdeath。
Norwereweweddedinthewildernessfarfromourownfolk。
NordidstthoudelivermefromthevenomoftheDryTree。
Yeaverily，nordidwedrinktogetheroftheWateroftheWell！
ItisallbuttalesofSwevenham，abluevapourhangingonthemountainsyonder！Sobeitthen！Andhereweridetogether，deedless，amanandamaidofwhomnotalemaybetold。
Whatnextthen，andwhoshallsunderus？”
Therewithhedrewhisswordfromthesheath，andtosseditintotheair，andcaughtitbythehiltsasitcamedown，andhecriedout：
“Hearken，Ursula！BymyswordIswearit，thatwhenIcomehometothelittleland，ifmyfatherandmymotherandallmykindredfallnotdownbeforetheeandworshipthee，thenwillIbeamanwithoutkindred，andIwillturnmybackonthelandIlove，andtheHousewhereinIwasborn，andwillwinfortheeandmeanewkindredthatalltheworldshalltellof。
SohelpmeSaintNicholas，andallHallows，andtheMotherofGod！”
Shelookedonhimwithexceedinglove，andsaid：“Ah，beloved，howfairthouart！IsitnotasIsaid，yea，andmore，thatnowlieththeworldatthyfeet，ifthouwiltstooptopickitup？
Believeme，sweet，allfolkshallseethisasIseeit，andshalljudgebetwixttheeandme，anddeemmenaught。”
