ThebloodmountedtoRalph’sbrowforanger；whenhecalledtomindhowhehadbeenledhitherandthitheronotherfolk’serrandseversinceheleftUpmeads。Buthesaidnaught，andAgathalookedonhimtimidlyandsaid：
　　“IsayIamherthrall，andIdidittoserveherandbecauseshebademe。”
　　SaidRalphroughly：“AndRedhead，himwhomIsavedfromtormentsanddeath；
　　dostthouknowhim？didstthouknowhim？”
　　“Yea。”shesaid，“Ihadfromhimwhathehadlearnedconcerningtheefromthesergeantsandothers，andthenIputwordsintohismouth。”
　　“Yeathen。”quothRalph，“thenhealsoisatraitor！”“Nay，nay。”
　　shesaid，“heisatruemanandloveththee，andwhateverhehathsaidtotheehetrowethhimself。Moreover，ItelltheehereandnowthatallthathetoldtheeoftheaffairsofUtterbol，andthineoutlookthere，istrueandovertrue。”
　　Shesprangtoherfeettherewith，andstoodbeforehimandclaspedherhandsbeforehimandsaid：“IknowthatthouseekesttheWellattheWorld’sEndandthedeliveranceofthedamselwhomtheLordravishedfromthewildman：
　　nowIswearitbythymouth，thatifthougotoUtterbolthouartundoneandshaltcometothefoulestpassthere，andmoreoverthatsogoingthoushaltbringtheuttermostshameandtormentsonthedamsel。”
　　SaidRalph：“Yea，butwhatishercaseasnow？tellme。”
　　QuothAgatha：“Sheisinnosuchevilcase；formyladyhatethhernotasyet，orbutlittle；and，whichisfarmore，mylordlovethherafterhisfashion，andwithalasIdeemfearethher；forthoughshehathutterlygainsaidhisdesire，hehathscarcesomuchasthreatenedher。Athingunheardof。
　　HaditbeenanotherwomanshehadbythistimeknownallthebitternessthatleadethuntodeathatUtterbol。”
　　Ralphpaledandhescowledonher，thenhesaid：
　　“AndhowknowestthoualltheprivityoftheLordofUtterbol？
　　whotelleththeeofallthis？”Shesmiledandspakedaintily：
　　“ManyfolktellmethatwhichIwouldknow；andthatisbecausewhilesIconquerthetidingswithmywits，andwhilesbuyitwithmybody。AnyhowwhatItelltheeistheverysoothconcerningthisdamsel，andthisitis：
　　thatwhereassheisbutinperil，sheshallbeindeadlyperil，yeaandthatinstant，ifthougotoUtterbol，thou，whoartherlover……”“Nay。”saidRalphangrily，“Iamnotherlover，Iambutherwell-willer。”“Well。”quothAgathalookingdownandknittingherbrows，“whenthygoodwilltowardsherhasbecomeknown，thenshallshebethrownatonceintothepitofmylord’scruelty。Yea，tospeaksooth，evenasitis，forthysakeforherIheednaughtIwouldthatthelordmightfindhergonewhenhecomethbacktoUtterbol。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，reddening，“andisthereanyhopeforhergettingclearoff？”“SoIdeem。”saidAgatha。
　　Shewassilentawhileandthenspakeinalowvoice：
　　“Itissaidthateachmanthatseethherlovethher；yea，andwillbefriendher，eventhoughsheconsentnottohisdesire。
　　MaybeshehathfledfromUtterbol。”
　　Ralphstoodsilentawhilewithatroubledface；andthenhesaid：
　　“Yetthouhastnottoldmethewhyandwhereforeofthisplayofthine，andthebeguilingmeintofleeingfromthecamp。
　　TellitmethatImaypardontheeandpasson。”
　　Shesaid：“BythineeyesIswearthatthisissooth，andthatthereisnaughtelseinitthanthis：Myladysetherlove，whenfirstshesethereyesuponthee——asforsoothallwomenmust：
　　asforme，IhadnotseentheethoughItoldmyladythatIhad
　　tillwithinthishourthatwemetinthewood。”
　　Shesighedtherewith，andwithherrighthandplayedwiththerentraimentaboutherbosom。Thenshesaid：
　　“ShedeemedthatifthoucamestamerethralltoUtterbol，thoughshemightcommandthybody，yetshewouldnotgainthylove；
　　butthatifperchancethoumightestseeherinhardneed，andevillymishandled，andmightestdeliverher，theremightatleastgrowuppityintheeforher，andthatlovemightcomethereof，asofthathhappedaforetime；formyladyisafairwoman。
　　ThereforeI，whoammylady’sservantandthrall，andwho，Ibidtheeremember，hadnotseenthee，tookuponmetomakethisadventure，liketoaminstrel’staledoneintheflesh。
　　AlsoIspaketomylordandtoldhimthereof；andthoughhejeeredatmyladytome，hewascontent，becausehewouldhavehersetherheartontheeutterly；sincehefearedherjealousy，andwouldfainbedeliveredofit，lestsheshouldplaysometurntohisnewlybeloveddamselanddoheramischief。
　　Thereforedidhesettheefreeinwordsmeaning，whenhehadtheesafeatUtterbolagainashenowisedoubtedtohavethee
　　todoashewouldwiththee，accordingasoccasionmightserve。
　　Forathearthehateththee，asIcouldseewell。
　　Soalittlebeforethoudidstleavethecamp，we，theQueenandI，wentprivilyintoaplaceofthewoodsbutalittlewayhence。
　　ThereIdisarrayedbothmyladyandmyselfsofaraswasneedfulfortheplayingouttheplaywhichwastohaveseemedtotheearealadventure。ThencameItotheeasifbychancehap，thatI
　　mightbringtheetoher；andifthouhadstcome，wehadastoryforthee，wherebythoumightestnotforveryknighthoodforbeartosuccourherandbringherwhithershewould，whichinthelongrunhadbeenUtterbol，butforthepresenttimewastohavebeenacertainstrong-houseappertainingtoUtterbol，andnighuntoit。
　　Thisisallthetale，andnowifthouwilt，thoumaystpardonme；
　　orifthouwilt，thoumaystdrawoutthyswordandsmiteoffmyhead。
　　AndforsoothIdeemthatwerethebetterdeed。”
　　Shekneltdownbeforehimandputherpalmstogether，andlookedupathimbeseechingly。Hisfacedarkenedashebeheldherthus，butitclearedatlast，andhesaid：
　　“Damsel，thouwouldstturnoutbutasorrymaker，andthyplayisnaught。ForseestthounotthatIshouldhavefoundoutalltheguileatUtterbol，andowedthyladyhatredratherthanlovethereafter。”
　　“Yea。”shesaid，“butmyladymighthavehadenoughofthylovebythen，andwouldbelikehavelettheealonetofallintothehandsoftheLord。
　　Lonow！Ihavedeliveredtheefromthis，sothatthouartquitbothoftheLordandtheladyandme：andagainIsaythatthoucouldstscarcehavemissed，boththouandthydamsel，ofamiserableendingatUtterbol。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，softly，andasifspeakingtohimself，“yetamIlonelyandunholpen。”ThenheturnedtoAgathaandsaid：
　　“TheendofallthisisthatIpardonthee，andmustdepartforthwith；
　　forwhenyetwocomebacktothecamp，thenpresentlywillthehuntbeup。”
　　Sherosefromherknees，andstoodbeforehimhumblyandsaid：
　　“Nay，Ishallrequitetheethypardonthusfar，thatIwillfashionsometaleformyladywhichwillkeepusinthewoodstwodaysorthree；
　　forwehaveprovidedvictualforouradventure。”
　　SaidRalph：“Imayatleastthanktheeforthat，andwilltrustintheetodosomuch。”Quothshe：“ThenmightIaskarewardofthee：
　　sinceforsoothotherrewardawaitethmeatUtterbol。”
　　“Thoushalthaveit。”saidRalph。Shesaid：“Therewardisthatthoukissmeerewepart。”
　　“Itmustneedsbeaccordingtomyword。”saidRalph，“yetImusttelltheethatmykisswillbearbutlittlelovewithit。”
　　Sheanswerednaughtbutlaidherhandsonhisbreastandputupherfacetohim，andhekissedherlips。Thenshesaid：
　　“Knight，thouhastkissedathrallandaguilefulwoman，yetonethatshallsmartforthee；thereforegrudgenotthekissnorrepenttheeofthykindness。”
　　“Howshaltthousuffer？”saidhe。Shelookedonhimsteadfastlyamoment，andsaid：“Farewell！mayallgoodgowiththee。”
　　Therewithsheturnedawayandwalkedoffslowlythroughthewood，andsomewhathepitiedher，andsighedashegotintohissaddle；
　　buthesaidtohimself：“HowmightIhelpher？Yettrueitisthatshemaywellbeinanevilcase：Imaynothelpeveryone。”
　　Thenheshookhisreinandrodehisways。
　　RalphRidestheWoodUndertheMountainsAlongwaynowrodeRalph，andnaughtbefellhimbutthefashionofthewood。
　　Andasherode，theheartwithinhimwaslightenedthathehadescapedfromalltheconfusionandthelyingofthosealiens，whoknewhimnot，norhiskindred，andyetwouldallusehimeachforhisownends：
　　andwithalhewasgladthathewasridingallaloneuponhisquest，butfree，unwounded，andwellweaponed。
　　Thewoodwasnotverythickwhereasherode，sothathecouldseethewhereaboutsofthesun，androdeeastasfarashecouldjudgeit。
　　Somelittlevictualhehadwithhim，andhefoundwoodlandfruitripeninghereandthere，andekedouthisbreadtherewith；neitherdidwaterfailhim，forherodeagoodwayupalongawoodlandstreamthatcleftthethicket，comingdownashedeemedfromthemountains，andtherebyhemadethemoreway：butatlasthedeemedthathemustneedsleaveit，asitturnedovermuchtothenorth。
　　Thelightwasfailingwhenhecameintoawoodlawnamidstofwhichwasapoolofwater，andallthatdayhehadhadnoadventurewithbeastorman，sincehehadsunderedfromAgatha。
　　Sohelaydownandslepttherewithhisnakedswordbyhisside，andawokenottillthesunwashighintheheavensnextmorning。
　　Thenhearoseatonceandwentonhiswayafterhehadwashedhim，andeatenamorsel。
　　Afteralittlethethickofthewoodgaveout，andthelandwasnolongerflat，asithadbeen，butwasofdalesandofhills，notblindedbytrees。Inthislandhesawmuchdeer，ashartandwildswine；andhehappenedalsoonabear，whowasaboutahoneytree，andhadtakenmuchcombfromthewildbees。
　　OnhimRalphdrewhisswordanddravehimexceedinglothfromhispurchase，sothattheknightdinedoffthebear’sthieving。
　　Anothertimehecameacrossabentwhereonthesouthsidegrewvineswellfruited，andthegrapesa-ripening；
　　andheatewellthereofbeforehewentonhisway。
　　Beforenightfallhecameonthatsamestreamagain，anditwasnowrunningstraightfromtheeast；sohesleptthatnightonthebankthereof。
　　Onthemorrowherodeupalongitagreatway，tillagainitseemedtobecomingovermuchfromthenorth；andthenheleftit，andmadeoneastasnearashecouldguessitbythesun。
　　Nowhepassedthroughthicketsatwhilesnotverygreat，andbetwixtthemrodehillylandgrassedmostlywithlongcoarsegrass，andwithwhinandthorn-treesscatteredabout。
　　Thencehesawagainfromtimetotimethehugewallofthemountainsrisingupintotheairlikeagreatblackcloudthatwouldswallowupthesky，andthoughthesightwasterrible，yetitgladdenedhim，sinceheknewthathewasontherightway。
　　Sofarherode，goingonthewholeup-hill，tillatlasttherewasagreatpine-woodbeforehim，sothathecouldseenoendingtoiteithernorthorsouth。
　　Itwasnowlateintheafternoon，andRalphponderedwhetherheshouldabidethenightwherehewasandsleepthenightthere，orwhetherheshouldpressoninhopeofwinningtosomeclearplacebeforedark。
　　Sowhereashewasinaplacebothroughandwaterless，hedeemeditbettertogoon，afterhehadrestedhishorseandlethimbitetheherbageawhile。
　　Thenherodehisways，andenteredthewoodandmadethemostoftheway。