RalphMeetethWithAnotherAdventureintheWoodUndertheMountainSoonthewoodgrewverythickofpine-trees，thoughtherewasnoundergrowth，sothatwhenthesunsankitgrewdarkveryspeedily；buthestillrodeoninthedusk，andtherewerebutfewwildthings，andthosemostlyvoiceless，inthewood，anditwaswithoutwindandverystill。
　　Nowhethoughtheheardthesoundofahorsegoingbehindhimorononeside，andhewonderedwhetherthechacewereup，andhastenedwhathemight，tillatlastitgrewblacknight，andhewasconstrainedtoabide。Sohegotoffhishorse，andleanedhisbackagainstatree，andhadthebeast’sreinsoverhisarm；andnowhelistenedagaincarefully，andwasquitesurethathecouldhearthefootstepsofsomehard-footedbeastgoingnowisefarfromhim。Helaughedinwardly，andsaidtohimself：
　　“Ifthechacerweretopassbutthreefeetfrommynoseheshouldbenonethewiserbutifhehearmeormyhorse。”
　　Andtherewithhecastalapofhiscloakoverthehorse’shead，lestheshouldwhinnyifhebecameawareoftheotherbeast；
　　andsotherehestoodabiding，andthenoisegrewgreatertillbecouldhearclearlythehorse-hoofsdrawingnigh，tilltheycameverynigh，andthenstopped。
　　Thencameaman’svoicethatsaid：“Isthereamananighinthewood？”
　　Ralphheldhispeacetillheshouldknowmore；andthevoicespakeagaininalittlewhile：“IftherebeamananighlethimbesurethatI
　　willdohimnohurt；nay，Imaydohimgood，forIhavemeatwithme。”
　　Clearwasthevoice，andassweetastheAprilblackbirdsings。
　　Itspakeagain：“Naughtanswereth，yetmeseemethIknowsurelythatamanisanigh；andIamawearyofthewaste，andlongforfellowship。”
　　Ralphhearkened，andcalledtomindtalesofway-farersentrappedbywood-wivesandevilthings；buthethought：
　　“AtleastthisisnosendingoftheLordofUtterbol，and，St。Nicholastoaid，Ihavelittlefearofwood-wights。WithalIshallbebutadastardifIanswernotoneman，forfearofI
　　knownotwhat。”Sohespakeinaloudandcheerfulvoice：
　　“Yea，thereisamananigh，andIdesirethyfellowship，ifwemightbutmeet。Buthowshallweseeeachotherintheblacknessofthewildwoodnight？”
　　Theotherlaughed，andthelaughsoundedmerryandsweet，andthevoicesaid：“Hastthounoflintandfire-steel？”
　　“No。”saidRalph。“ButIhave。”saidthevoice，“andIamfaintoseethee，forthyvoicesoundethpleasanttome。
　　AbidetillIgropeaboutforastickortwo。”
　　Ralphlaughedinturn，asheheardthenew-comermovingabout；
　　thenheheardtheclickofthesteelontheflint，andsawthesparksshoweringdown，sothatalittlepieceofthewoodgrewgreenagaintohiseyes。Thenalittleclearflamesprangup，andtherewithhesawthetree-stemsclearly，andsometwentyyardsfromhimahorse，andamanstoopingdownoverthefire，whosprangupnowandcriedout：
　　“Itisaknight-at-arms！Comehither，fellowofthewaste；
　　itisfivedayssinceIhavespokentoachildofAdam；
　　socomenighandspeaktome，andasarewardofthyspeechthoushalthavebothmeatandfirelight。”
　　“Thatwillbewellpaid。”saidRalphlaughing，andhesteppedforwardleadinghishorse，fornowthewoodwaslightallabout，asthefirewaxedandburnedclear；sothatRalphcouldseethatthenew-comerwascladinquaintly-fashionedarmourafterthefashionofthatland，withabrightsteelsalletonthehead，andalonggreensurcoatoverthebodyarmour。
　　Slenderofmakewasthenew-comer，notbignortallofstature。
　　Ralphwentuptohimhastily，andmerrilyputhishandonhisshoulder，andkissedhim，saying：“Thekissofpeaceinthewildernesstothee！”
　　Andhefoundhimsmooth-facedandsweet-breathed。
　　Butthenewcomertookhishandandledhimtowherethefirelightwasbrightestandlookedonhimsilentlyawhile；andRalphgavebackthelook。
　　Thestrange-wroughtsallethidbutlittleofthenewcomer’sface，andasRalphlookedthereonasuddenjoycameintohisheart，andhecriedout：
　　“O，butIhavekissedthyfacebefore！O，myfriend，myfriend！”
　　Thenspakethenew-comerandsaid：“Yea，Iamawoman，andIwasthyfriendforalittlewhileatBourtonAbbas，andatthewant-waysoftheWoodPerilous。”
　　ThenRalphcasthisarmsaboutherandkissedheragain；
　　butshewithdrewherfromhim，andsaid：“Helpme，myfriend，thatwemaygatherstickstofeedourfire，lestitdieandthedarkcomeagainsothatweseenoteachother’sfaces，andthinkthatwehavebutmetinadream。”
　　Thenshebusiedherselfwithgatheringthekindling；butpresentlyshelookedupathim，andsaid：“Letusmakethewoodshinewideabout，forthisisafeastfulnight。”
　　Sotheygatheredaheapofwoodandmadethefiregreat；andthenRalphdidoffhishelmandhauberkandthedamseldidthelike，sothathecouldseetheshapelinessofheruncoveredhead。
　　Thentheysatdownbeforethefire，andthedamseldrewmeatanddrinkfromhersaddle-bags，andgavethereoftoRalph，whotookitofherandherhandwithal，andsmiledonherandsaid：“ShallwebefriendstogetheraswewereatBourtonAbbasandthewant-waysoftheWoodPerilous？”
　　Sheshookherheadandsaid：“Ifitmightbe！butitmaynotbe。
　　Notmanydayshavewornsincethen；buttheyhavebroughtaboutchangeddays。”Helookedonherwistfullyandsaid：
　　“Butthouwertdeartomethen。”
　　“Yea。”shesaid，“andthoutome；butotherthingshavebefallen，andthereischangebetwixt。”
　　“Nay，whatchange？”saidRalph。
　　Evenbythefirelighthesawthatshereddenedassheanswered：
　　“Iwasafreewomanthen；nowamIbutarunawaythrall。”
　　ThenRalphlaughedmerrily，andsaid，“Thenarewebroughtthenighertogether，forIalsoamarunawaythrall。”
　　Shesmiledandlookeddown：thenshesaid：“Wiltthoutellmehowthatbefell？”
　　“Yea。”saidhe，“butIwillasktheefirstaquestionortwo。”
　　Shenoddedayeasay，andlookedonhimsoberly，asachildwaitingtosayitstask。
　　SaidRalph：“Whenwepartedatthewant-waysoftheWoodPerilousthousaidstthatthouwertmindedfortheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andtotryitforlifeordeath。
　　Butthouhadstnotthenthenecklace，whichnowIseetheebear，andwhich，seestthou！isliketothataboutmyneck。
　　Wiltthoutellmewhencethouhadstit？”
　　Shesaid：“Yea；itwasgivenuntomebyalady，mightyasIdeem，andcertainlymostlovely，whodeliveredmefromanevilplight，andaperilpastwords，butwhereofIwilltelltheeafterwards。
　　AndsheitwaswhotoldmeofthewaytotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andmanymattersconcerningthemthatseekit，whereofthoushaltwotsoon。”
　　SaidRalph：“Astohowthouwertmadeathrallthouneedestnottotellme；
　　forIhavelearnedthatofthosethathadtodowithtakingtheetoUtterbol。Buttellme；herearemetwetwointhepathlesswilds，asifitwereonthedeepsea，andwetwoseekingthesamething。
　　Didstthoudeemthatweshouldmeet，orthatIshouldseekthee？”
　　Nowwasthefireburningsomewhatlow，buthesawthatshelookedonhimsteadily；yetwithalhersweetvoicetrembledalittleassheanswered：
　　“Kindfriend，Ihadahopethatthouwertseekingmeandwouldstfindme：
　　forindeedthatfairestofwomenwhogavemethebeadsspaketomeofthee，andsaidthatthoualsowouldstturntheetothequestoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd；andalreadyhadIdeemedthineeyesluckyaswellaslovely。
　　Buttellme，myfriend，whathasbefallenthatladythatsheisnotwiththee？Forinsuchwiseshespakeofthee，thatIdeemedthatnaughtwouldsunderyousavedeath。”
　　“Itisdeaththathathsunderedus。”saidRalph。
　　Thenshehungherhead，andsatsilentawhile，neitherdidhespeaktillshehadrisenupandcastmorewooduponthefire；
　　andshestoodbeforeitwithherbacktowardshim。
　　Thenhespaketoherinacheerfulvoiceandsaid：“Belikeweshallbelongtogether：tellmethyname；isitnotDorothy？”
　　Sheturnedabouttohimwithasmilingface，andsaid：
　　“Naylord，nay：didInottelltheemynamebefore？
　　TheythatheldmeatthefontbidthepriestcallmeUrsula，aftertheFriendofMaidens。Butwhatisthyname？”
　　“IamRalphofUpmeads。”quothhe；andsatawhilesilent，ponderinghisdreamandhowithadbetrayedhimastohername，whenithadtoldhimmuchthatheyetdeemedtrue。
　　Shecameandsatdownbyhimagain，andsaidtohim：“ThyquestionsI
　　haveanswered；butthouhastnotyettoldmethetaleofthycaptivity。”
　　Hervoicesoundedexceedingsweettohim，andhelookedonherfaceandspakeaskindlyasheknewhow，andsaid：“Ashorttaleitisto-nightatleast：
　　IcamefromWhitwallwithaCompanyofChapmen，anditwastheeIwasseekingandtheWellattheWorld’sEnd。Allwentwellwithme，tillI
　　cametoGoldburg，andthereIwasbetrayedbyafelon，whohadpromisedtoleadmesafetoUtterness，andtellmeconcerningthewayuntotheWell。
　　ButhesoldmetotheLordofUtterbol，whowouldleadmetohishouse；
　　whichirkedmenot，atfirst，becauseIlookedtofindtheethere。
　　Thereafter，ifforshameImaytellthetale，hisladyandwifecastherloveuponme，andIwasentangledinthenetsofguile：
　　yetsinceIwastold，andbelievedthatitwouldbeillbothfortheeandformeifImettheeatUtterbol，Itookoccasiontofleeaway，Iwilltelltheehowanotherwhile。”
　　Shehadturnedpaleassheheardhim，andnowshesaid：“ItisindeedGod’smercythatthoucamestnottoUtterbolnorfoundestmethere，forthenhadbothwebeenundoneamidstthelustsofthosetwo；
　　orthatthoucamestnottheretofindmefled，elsehadstthoubeenundone。
　　Myheartissicktothinkofit，evenasIsitbythyside。”
　　SaidRalph：“Thylastwordmakethmeafraidandashamedtoasktheeathing。
　　Buttellmefirst，isthatLordofUtterbolasevilasmen’sfearwouldmakehim？fornomanisfearedsomuchunlessheisdeemedevil。”
　　Shewassilentawhile，andthenshesaid：“Heissoevilthatitmightbedeemedthathehasbeenbroughtupoutofhell。”
　　ThenRalphlookedsoretroubled，andhesaid：“Dearfriend，thisisthethinghardformetosay。InwhatwisedidtheyusetheeatUtterbol？
　　Didtheydealwiththeeshamefully？”Sheansweredhimquietly：
　　“Nay。”shesaid，“fearnot！noshamebefellme，savethatIwasathrallandnotfreetodepart。Forsooth。”shesaid，smiling，“Ifledawaytimelybeforethetormentorsshouldbeready。
　　Forsoothitisanevilhouseandamerepieceofhell。
　　Butnowweareoutofitandfreeinthewildwood，soletusforgetit；
　　forindeeditisagrieftorememberit。Andnowoncemoreletusmendthefire，forthyfaceisgrowingdimtome，andthatmislikethme。
　　Afterwardsbeforeweliedowntosleepwewilltalkalittleoftheway，whitherwardweshallturnourfacesto-morrow。”
　　Sotheycastonmorewood，andpineapples，andsweetitwastoRalphtoseeherfacecomeclearagainfromoutthemirkofthewood。
　　Thentheysatdownagaintogetherandshesaid：“WetwoareseekingtheWellattheWorld’sEnd；nowwhichofusknowsmoreoftheway？whoistolead，andwhotofollow？”SaidRalph：
　　“IfthouknownomorethanI，itislittlethatthouknowest。
　　SoothitisthatformanydayspastIhavesoughttheethatthoumightestleadme。”
　　Shelaughedsweetly，andsaid：“Yea，knight，andwasitforthatcausethatthousoughtestme，andnotformydeliverance？”
　　Hesaidsoberly：“YetinverydeedIsetmyselftodeliverthee。”
　　“Yea。”shesaid，“thensinceIamdelivered，Imustneedsdeemofitasifitwerethroughthydeed。AndasIsupposethoulookestforarewardtherefor，sothyrewardshallbe，thatI
　　willleadtheetotheWellattheWorld’sEnd。Isitenough？”
　　“Nay。”saidRalph。Theyheldtheirpeaceaminute，thenshesaid：
　　“MaybewhenwehavedrunkofthatWaterandarecomingback，itwillbefortheetolead。FortrueitisthatIshallscarceknowwhithertowend；sinceamidstofmydreamingoftheWell，andof……othermatters，myhomethatwasisgonelikeadream。”
　　Helookedather，butscarceasifhewereheedingallherwords。
　　Thenhespoke：“Yea，thoushaltleadme。IhavebeenledbyoneoranothereversinceIhaveleftUpmeads。”
　　Nowshelookedonhimsomewhatruefully，andsaid：
　　“Thouwertnothearkeninge’ennow；soIsayitagain，thatthetimeshallcomewhenthoushaltleadme。”
　　InRalph’smindhadsprungupagainthatjourneyfromtheWateroftheOak-tree；sohestrovewithhimselftoputthethoughtfromhim，andsighedandsaid：“Dostthouverilyknowmuchoftheway？”
　　Shenoddedyeasay。“KnowestthouoftheRockoftheFightingMan？”
　　“Yea。”shesaid。“AndoftheSagethatdwellethinthissamewood？”
　　“Mostsurely。”shesaid，“andto-morroweveningorthemorrowafterweshallfindhim；forIhavebeentaughtthewaytohisdwelling；
　　andIwotthatheisnowcalledtheSageofSwevenham。YetImusttelltheethatthereissomeperilinseekingtohim；whereashisdwellingisknownoftheUtterbolriders，whomayfollowusthither。
　　AndyetagainIdeemthathewillfindsomeremedythereto。”
　　SaidRalph：“Whencedidstthoulearnallthis，myfriend？”
　　Andhisfacegrewtroubledagain；butshesaidsimply：
　　“ShetaughtittomewhospaketomeinthewoodbyHamptonunderScaur。”
　　Shemadeasifshenotednotthetroubleinhisface，butsaid：
　　“Putthytrustinthis，thathereandwithmethouartevennownighertotheWellattheWorld’sEndthananyothercreatureontheearth。Yea，eveniftheSageofSwevenhambedeadorgonehence，yethaveItokenstofindtheRockoftheFightingMan，andthewaythroughthemountains，thoughIsaynotbutthathemaymakeitallclearer。