AFriendGivesRalphWarningOnthemorrowRalphwanderedabouttheDalewherehewould，andnonemeddledwithhim。Andashewalkedeastalongthestreamwherethevalleybegantonarrow，hesawamansittingonthebankfishingwithanangle，andwhenhedrewnear，themanturnedabout，andsawhim。
　　Thenhelaysdownhisanglingrodandrisestohisfeet，andstandsfacingRalph，lookingsheepish，withhishandshangingdownbyhissides；
　　andRalph，whowasthinkingofotherfolk，wonderedwhathewould。
　　Sohesaid：“Hail，goodfellow！Whatwouldstthou？”Saidtheman：
　　“Iwouldthankthee。”“Whatfor？”saidRalph，butashelookedonhimhesawthatitwasRedhead，whosepardonhehadwonoftheLordyesterday；
　　soheheldouthishand，andtookRedhead’s，andsmiledfriendlyonhim。
　　Redheadlookedhimfullintheface，andthoughhewasbothbigandveryrough-looking，hehadnotaltogetherthelookofarascal。
　　Hesaid：“Fairlord，IwouldthatImightdosomethingforthineavail，andperchanceImay：butitishardtodogooddeedsinHell，especiallyforoneofitsdevils。”
　　“Yea，isitsobadasthat？”saidRalph。“Fortheenotyet。”saidRedhead，“butitmaycometoit。Hearken，lord，thereisnoneanighusthatIcansee，soIwillsayawordtotheeatonce。Lateronitmaybeoverlate：
　　GothounottoUtterbolwhatevermaybetide。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“buthowifIbetakenthither？”QuothRedhead：
　　“Icanseethis，thatthouartsofavouredthatthoumaystgowhitherthouwiltaboutthecampwithnonetohinderthee。
　　Thereforeitwillbeeasyfortheetodepartbynightandcloud，orinthegreyofmorning，whenthoucomesttoagoodpass，whereofIwilltellthee。AndstillIsay，gothounottoUtterbol：
　　forthouartovergoodtobemadeadevilof，liketous，andthereforethoushaltbetormentedtillthylifeisspoilt，andbythatroadshaltthoubesenttoheaven。”
　　“Butthousaidstevennow。”saidRalph，“thatIwashighintheLord’sgrace。”“Yea。”saidRedhead，“thatmaylasttillthouhastcommandtodosomedastard’sdeedandnay-sayestit，asthouwilt：
　　andthenfarewelltothee；forIknowwhatmyLordmeanethforthee。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“andwhatisthat？”SaidRedhead；“Hehathboughttheetogivetohiswifeforatoyandaminion，andifshelikethee，itwillbewellforawhile：butonthefirstoccasionthatservethhim，andsheweariethoftheeforsheisawomanlikeaweather-cock，hewilllayhandontheeandtakethemanhoodfromthee，andlettheedriftaboutUtterbolamockforallmen。
　　Foralreadyathearthehateththee。”
　　Ralphstoodponderingthisword，forsomehowitchimedinwiththethoughtalreadyinhisheart。YethowshouldhenotgotoUtterbolwiththeDamselabidingdeliveranceofhimthere：
　　andyetagain，iftheymetthereandwereespiedon，wouldnotthatruineverythingforheraswellasforhim？
　　Atlasthesaid：“Goodfellow，thismaybetrue，buthowshallIknowitfortruebeforeIruntheriskoffleeingaway，insteadofgoingontoUtterbol，whereasfolkdeemhonourawaitethme。”
　　SaidRedhead：“ThereisnohonouratUtterbolsaveforsuchasareunworthyofhonour。ButthyriskisasIsay，andIshalltelltheewhenceIhadmytale，sinceIlovetheeforthykindnesstome，andthymanliness。Itwastoldmeyester-evebyawomanwhoisintheveryprivityoftheLadyofUtterbol，andiswellwiththeLordalso：
　　anditjumpethwithmineownthoughtonthematter；soIbidtheebeware：
　　forwhatisinmetogrievewouldbesoregrievedwertthoucastaway。”
　　“Well。”saidRalph，“letussitdownhereonthebankandthentellmemore；
　　butgoonwiththineanglingthewhile，lestanyshouldseeus。”
　　Sotheysatdown，andRedheaddidasRalphbade；andhesaid：
　　“Lord，Ihavebiddentheetoflee；butthisisanilllandtofleefrom，andindeedthereisbutonepasswherebyyemaywellgetawayfromthiscompanybetwixtthisandUtterbol；
　　andweshallencamphardbyitontheseconddayofourfaringhence。
　　YetImusttelltheethatitisnoroadforadastard；foritleadeththroughtheforestupintothemountains：yetsuchasitis，foramanboldandstronglikethee，Ibidtheetakeit：
　　andIcanseetoitthatleavingthiscompanyshallbeeasytothee：
　　onlythoumustmakeupthymindspeedily，sincethetimedrawssonigh，andwhenthouartcometoUtterbolwithallthisrout，andthehousefull，andsomeoneorotherdoggingeachfootstepofthine，fleeingwillbeanothermatter。Nowthusitis：
　　onthatsamesecondnight，notonlyisthewoodathandtocoverthee，butIshallbechiefwarderofthesideofthecampwherethoulodgest，sothatIcanputtheeontheroad：
　　andifIwerebetterworth，Iwouldsay，takemewiththee，butasitis，Iwillnotburdentheewiththatprayer。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“Ihavehadoneguideinthiscountry-sideandhebewrayedme。Thisisamatteroflifeanddeath，soIwillspeakoutandsayhowamItoknowbutthatthoualsoartgoingabouttobewrayme？”
　　Redheadleptuptohisfeet，androaredout：“WhatshallIsay？
　　whatshallIsay？BythesoulofmyfatherIamnotbewrayingthee。
　　MayallthecursesofUtterbolbesevenfoldheavieronmeifIamthytraitoranddastard。”
　　“Softlylad，softly。”saidRalph，“lestsomeoneshouldhearthee。
　　Contentthee，Imustneedsbelievetheeifthoumakestsomuchnoiseaboutit。”
　　ThenRedheadsathimdownagain，andforallthathewassoroughandsturdyacarlehefella-weeping。
　　“Nay，nay。”saidRalph，“thisisworseinallwisethantheothernoise。Ibelievetheeaswellasamancanwhoisdealingwithonewhoisnothisclosefriend，andwhothereforesparethtruthtohisfriendbecauseofmanyyearsuseandwont。
　　Cometothyselfagainandletuslookatthismattersquareintheface，andspeedilytoo，lestsomeunfriendorbusybodycomeonus。
　　Therenow！Now，inthefirstplacedostthouknowwhyIamcomeintothisperilousandtyrannousland？”
　　SaidRedhead：“IhavehearditsaidthatthouartonthequestoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。”
　　“Andthatisbutthesooth。”saidRalph。“Wellthen。”quothRedhead，“thereisthegreatercauseforthyfleeingatthetimeandinthemannerI
　　havebiddenthee。ForthereisacertainsagewhodwellethinthewildwoodbetwixtthatplaceandtheGreatMountains，andhehathsomuchloreconcerningtheMountains，yea，andtheWellitself，thatifhewilltelltheewhathecantell，thouartinafairwaytoendthyquesthappily。
　　Whatsayestthouthen？”
　　SaidRalph，“IsaythattheSageisgoodifImayfindhim。
　　ButthereisanothercausewhyIhavecomehitherfromGoldburg。
　　“Whatisthat？”saidRedhead。“This。”saidRalph，“tocometoUtterbol。”
　　“Heavenhelpus！”quothRedhead，“andwherefore？”
　　Ralphsaid：“Belikeitisneitherprudentnorwisetotellthee，butIdoverilytrustthee；sohearken！IgotoUtterboltodeliverafriendfromUtterbol；andthisfriendisawoman——holdaminute——
　　andthiswoman，asIbelieve，hathbeenoflatebroughttoUtterbol，havingbeentakenoutofthehandsofoneofthemenofthemountainsthatliebeyondCheapingKnowe。”
　　Redheadstaredastonished，andkeptsilenceawhile；
　　thenhesaid：“NowallthemoreIsay，flee！flee！flee！
　　Doubtlessthewomanisthere，whomthouseekest；foritwouldtakenonelessfairandnoblethanthatnew-comethralltodrawtoheronesofairandnobleasthouart。Butwhatavailethit？
　　IfthougotoUtterbolthouwiltdestroybothherandthee。
　　Forknow，thatwecanallseethattheLordhathsethisloveonthisdamsel；andwhatbettercanbetide，ifthoucometoUtterbol，butthattheLordshallatonceseethatthereislovebetwixtyoutwo，andthentherewillbeanendofthestory。”
　　“Howso？”quothRalph。SaidRedhead：“AtUtterbolalldothewilloftheLordofUtterbol，andheissolustfulandcruel，andsofalsewithal，thathiswillshallbetotormentthedamseltodeath，andtogeldandmaimthee；sothatnonehereaftershallknowhowgoodlyandgallantthouhastbeen。”
　　“Redhead。”quothRalphmuchmoved，“thoughthouartinnoknightlyservice，thoumaystunderstandthatitisgoodforafriendtodiewithafriend。”
　　“Yea，forsooth。”saidRedhead，“Ifhemaydonomoretohelpthanthat！
　　Wouldstthounothelpthedamsel？NowwhenthoucomestbackfromthequestoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，thouwiltbetoomightyandgloriousfortheLordofUtterboltothrusttheeasideliketoanovereagerdog；
　　andthoumaysthelpherthen。ButnowIsaytothee，andsweartothee，thatthreedaysafterthouhastmetthybelovedinUtterbolshewillbedead。
　　IwouldthatthoucouldstasksomeoneelsenearertotheLordthanI
　　havebeen。Thetalewouldbethesameasmine。”
　　Nowsoothlytosayit，thiswasevenwhatRalphhadfearedwouldbe，andhecouldscarcedoubtRedhead’sword。Sohesatthereponderingthematteragoodwhile，andatlasthesaid：
　　“Myfriend，Iwilltrusttheewithanotherthing；Ihaveamindtofleetothewildwood，andyetcometoUtterbolforthedamsel’sdeliverance。”
　　“Yea。”saidRedhead，“andhowwiltthouworkinthematter？”
　　SaidRalph；“HowwoulditbeifIcamehitherinotherguisethanmineown，sothatIshouldnotbeknowneitherbythedamselorhertyrants？”
　　SaidRedhead：“Therewereperilinthat；yethopealso。
　　Yea，andinonewaythoumightestdoit；towit，ifthouwerttofindthatSage，andtellhimthytale：ifhebeofgoodwilltothee，hemightthenchangenotthygearonly，butthyskinalso；
　　forhehathexceedinggreatlore。”
　　“Well。”saidRalph，“Thoumaystlookuponitascertainthatonthataforesaidnight，Iwilldomybesttoshakeoffthiscompanyoftyrantandthralls，unlessIhearfreshtidings，sothatImustneedschangemypurpose。
　　ButIwillasktheetogivemesometokenthatallholdstogethersomelittletimebeforehand。”QuothRedhead：“Evensoshallitbe；
　　thoushaltseemeatlatestontheeveofthenightofthydeparture；
　　butonthenightbeforethatifitbeanywisepossible。”
　　“NowwillIgoawayfromthee。”saidRalph，“andIthanktheeheartilyforthinehelp，anddeemtheemyfriend。Andifthouthinkbetteroffleeingwithme，thouwiltgladdenmethemore。”
　　Redheadshookhisheadbutspakenot，andRalphwenthiswaysdownthedale。
　　TheLordofUtterbolMakesRalphaFreeManHewenttoandfrothatdayandthenext，andnonemeddledwithhim；
　　withRedheadhespakenotagainthosedays，buthadtalkwithOtterandDavid，whowereblitheenoughwithhim。Agathahesawnotatall；
　　northeLady，andstilldeemedthatthewhite-skinnedwomanwhomhehadseensittingbytheLordafterthetiltingwastheQueen。
　　AsfortheLadysheabodeinherpavilion，andwhileslayinaheaponthefloorweeping，ordullandblindwithgrief；
　　whilesshewalkedupanddownmadwrothwithwhomsoevercameinherway，eventothedealingoutofstripesandblowstoherwomen。
　　ButontheevebeforethedayofdepartureAgathacameintoher，andchidher，andbadeherbemerry：“IhaveseentheLordandtoldhimwhatIwould，andfounditnohardmattertogethimtoyeasayourplot，whichwerehardtocarryoutwithouthisgoodwill。
　　WithaltheseedthatIhavesowedtwodaysormoreagoisbearingfruit；
　　sothatthoumaystlooktoitthatwhatsoeverplightwemaybein，weshallfindadeliverer。”
　　“Iwotnotthymeaning。”quoththeLady，“butIdeemthouwiltnowtellmewhatthouartplanning，andgivemesomehope，lestIlayhandsonmyself。”
　　ThenAgathatoldherwithouttarryingwhatshewasaboutdoingforher，thetaleofwhichwillbeseenhereafter；andwhenshehaddone，theLadymendedhercheer，andbadebringmeatanddrink，andwasoncemorelikeagreatandproudLady。