ThenwasRalphexceedinggladofherwords，andtheSagelaughedinwardlywhenhebeheldthemthus。
　　Sotheycameadownfromtherockandlaydownpresentlyunderthefieryheavens：andtheirsoulswerecomfortedbythesoundofthehorsescroppingthegrasssoclosetotheirears，thatitbrokethevoiceoftheearth-fires’thunder，thateverandanonrolledoverthegreyseaamidstwhichtheylay。
　　Onthemorrowtheystillrodethelavaliketoclinkers，anditrosehigheraboutthem，tillsuddenlynighsunsetitendedataturnoftheirwindingroad，andnaughtlaybetwixtthemandthatmightynessofthemountains，saveawidegrassyplain，hereandthereswellingintolowwiderisingsnottobecalledhills，andbesprinkledwithcopsesofbushes，andwithtreesneithergreatnorhigh。ThenspaketheSage：
　　“Herenowwillwerest，andbymywillto-morrowalso，thatyourbeastsmaygrazetheirfillofthesweetgrassoftheseunwardedmeadows。
　　whichfeedethmanyaherdunownedofman，albeittheypayaquit-renttowildthingsthatbemightierthanthey。
　　Andnow，children，wehavepassedoverthemightyriverthatonceranmoltenbetwixtthesemountainsandthehillsyondertothewest，whichwetrodtheotherday；yetoncemore，ifyourheartsfailyou，thereisyettimetoturnback；andnoharmshallbefallyou，butIwillbeyourfellowallthewayhometoSwevenhamifyewill。
　　ButifyestillcravethewateroftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，Iwillleadyouoverthisgreenplain，andthengobackhometominehermitage，andabidetheretillyecometome，orIdie。”
　　Ralphsmiledandsaid：“Master，nosuchsorrystoryshallIbearbacktoUpmeads，thataftermanysorrowsborne，andperilsovercome，IcametotheGatesoftheMountains，andturnedbackforfearofthatwhichIhadnotproved。”
　　Sospakehe；butUrsulalaughedandsaid：“Yea，thenshouldI
　　deemthyfriendshiplightifthouleftestmealoneandunholpenintheuttermostwilderness；andthymanhoodlighttoturnbackfromthatwhichdidnotmakeawomanafraid。”
　　ThentheSagelookedkindlyonthemandsaid：“Yea，thenisthelastwordspoken，andtheworldmayyetgrowmerriertome。
　　Lookyou，sometherebewhomayabusethegiftsoftheWellforevilerrands，andsomewhomayuseitforgooddeeds；
　　butIamonewhohathnotdaredtouseitlestIshouldabuseit，Ibeingalongamongstweaklingsandfools：
　　butnowifyecomeback，whoknowsbutthatImayfearnolonger，butusemylife，andgrowtobeamightyman。Comenow，letusdightoursupper，andkindleasbigafireaswelightlymay；
　　sincethereismanyaprowlingbeastabout，asbearandlynxandlion；
　　fortheyhauntthisedgeoftherock-seawheretothehartsandthewildbullsandthegoatsresortforthesweetgrass，andthewaterthatflowethforthfromthelava。”
　　Sotheycutgoodstoreoffiring，whereastherewasaplentyofbushesgrowinginthecleftsoftherocks，andtheymadeabigfireandtetheredtheirhorsesanighitwhentheylaydowntorest；
　　andinthenighttheyheardtheroaringofwildthingsroundaboutthem，andmorethanonceortwice，awakeningbeforeday，theysawtheshapeofsometerriblecreaturebythelightofthemoonmingledwiththeglareoftheearth-fires，butnoneofthesemeddledwiththem，andnaughtbefellthemsavethecomingofthenewday。
　　TheyCometotheGateoftheMountainsThatdaytheyherdedtheirhorsesthereabout，andfromtimetotimetheSagetriedthosetwoiftheywereperfectintheloreoftheroad；
　　andhefoundthattheyhadmissednothing。
　　Theylaydownintheself-sameplaceagainthatnight，andarosebetimesonthemorrowandwenttheirwaysovertheplainastheSageled，tillitwasasifthemountainsandtheirterrorhungovertheirveryheads，andthehugenessandblacknessofthemwereworsethanawalloffirehadbeen。
　　Itwasstillalongwaytothem，sothatitwasnottillnoonofthethirddayfromtherock-seathattheycametotheveryfeetofthatfire-scorchedness，andwonderfulindeeditseemedtothemthatanythingsavetheeaglescouldhaveaughttotellofwhatlaybeyondit。
　　Therewerenofoothillsordownsbetwixttheplainandthemountains，naughtsaveatumbleofrocksthathadfallenfromthecliffs，piledupstrangely，andmakingamazethroughwhichtheSageledthemsurely；andatlasttheywereclearevenofthis，andwereunderneaththeflankofthatness，whichwassohugethatthemseemedthattherecouldscarcebeanymoremountainthanthat。
　　Littleofitshugeheightcouldtheysee，nowtheywereclosetoit，foritwentupsheeratfirstandthenbeetledoverthemtilltheycouldseenomoreofitsside；astheywoundaboutitsflank，andtheywerelongaboutit，theSagecriedouttothosetwoandstretchedouthishand，andbehold！thesideoftheblackcliffplainandsmoothandshiningasifithadbeendonebythehandofmenorgiants，andonthissmoothspacewascarveninthelivingrocktheimageofawarriorinmailandhelmofancientfashion，andholdingaswordinhisrighthand。Fromheadtoheelheseemedsomesixtyfeethigh，andtherockwassohard，thathewasallcleanandcleartosee；
　　andtheydeemedofhimthathisfacewaskeenandsternofaspect。
　　Sotheretheystoodinanawfulbightofthemountain，madebythatness，andthemainwallfromwhichitthrustout。
　　Butaftertheyhadgazedawhileandtheirheartswereintheirmouths，theSageturnedonthosetwainandsaid：
　　“Herethenistheendofmyjourneywithyou；andyewotallthatIcantellyou，andIcansaynowordmoresavetobidyoucastallfearasideandthrive。Yehaveyetforthisday’sjourneycertainhoursofsuchdaylightasthemountainpasswillgiveyou，whichatthebestislittlebetterthantwilight；
　　thereforeredeemyethetime。”
　　ButRalphgotoffhishorse，andUrsuladidinlikewise，andtheybothkissedandembracedtheoldman，fortheirheartswerefullandfain。
　　Buthedrewhimselfawayfromthem，andturnedaboutwithnowordmore，andwenthisways，andpresentlywashiddenfromtheireyesbytherockymazewhichlayaboutthemountain’sfoot。
　　Thenthetwainmountedtheirhorsesagainandsetforthsilentlyontheroad，astheyhadbeenbidden。
　　Inalittlewhiletherocksofthepassclosedaboutthem，leavingbutawaysonarrowthattheycouldseeaglimmerofthestarsabovethemastheyrodethetwilight；nosighttheyhadofthemeasurelessstonydesert，yetintheirheartstheysawit。
　　Theyseemedtobewendingastraight-walledprisonwithoutanend，sothattheyweregladwhenthedarknightcameonthem。
　　Ralphfoundsomeshelterinthecleftofarockaboveamoundwherewaslittlegrassforthehorses。HedrewUrsulaintoit，andtheysatdownthereonthestonestogether。
　　SolongtheysatsilentthatagreatgloomsettleduponRalph，andhescarceknewwhetherhewereasleeporwaking，aliveordead。
　　Butamidstofitfellasweetvoiceonhisears，andfamiliarwordsaskinghimofwhatlikewerethefieldsofUpmeads，andtheflowers；
　　andofthefishofitswater，andofthefashionofthebuildingofhisfather’shouse；andofhisbrethren，andthemotherthatborehim。
　　Thenwasittohimatfirstasifasweetdreamhadcomeacrossthevoidofhisgloom，andthenatlastthegloomandthedreadandthedeadnesslefthim，andheknewthathisfriendandfellowwastalkingtohim，andthathesatbyherkneetoknee，andthesweetnessofhersavouredinhisnostrilsassheleanedherfacetowardhim，andheknewhimselfforwhathewas；
　　andyetformemoryofthatpasthorror，andthesweetnessofhisfriendandwhatnotelse，hefella-weeping。ButUrsulabestirredherselfandbroughtoutfoodfromherwallet，andsatdownbesidehimagain，andhewipedthetearsfromhiseyesandlaughed，andchidhimselfforbeingasachildinthedark，andthentheyateanddranktogetherinthatdusknookofthewilderness。
　　Andnowwashehappyandhistonguewasloosed，andhefelltotellinghermanythingsofUpmeads，andofthetaleofhisforefathers，andofhisoldlovesandhisfriends，tilllifeanddeathseemedtohimastheyhadseemedoftimepastinthemerrylandofhisbirth。
　　Sothereanontheyfellasleepforweariness，andnodreamsofterrorbesettheirslumbers。
　　TheyCometotheValeofSweetChestnutsWhentheywentontheirwaynextmorningtheyfoundlittlechangeinthepass，andtheyrodethedreadhighwaydaylong，anditwasstillthesame：
　　sotheyrestedalittlebeforenightfallataplacewheretherewaswaterrunningoutoftherocks，butnaughtelsefortheiravail。
　　Ralphwasmerryandhelpfulandfilledwaterfromtherunnel，andwroughtwhathemighttomakethelodgingmeet；andastheyateandrestedhesaidtoUrsula：“Lastnightitwasthouthatbeguiledmeofmygloom，yetthereaftertillwesleptitwasmyvoiceforthemorepart，andnotthine，thatwasheardinthewilderness。
　　Nowto-nightitshallbeotherwise，andIwillbutaskaquestionofthee，andhearkentothesweetnessofthyvoice。”
　　Shelaughedalittleandverysweetly，andshesaid：
　　“Forsooth，dearfriend，IspoketotheethatImighthearthyvoiceforthemorepart，andnotmine，thatwasheardinthedesert；
　　butwhenIheardthee，Ideemedthattheworldwasyetaliveforustocomebackto。”
　　Hewassilentawhile，forhisheartwaspiercedwiththesweetnessofherspeech，andhehadfainhavespokenbackassweetlyasamanmight；
　　yethecouldnotbecausehefearedhersomewhat，lestsheshouldturncoldtohim；thereforehimseemedthathespokeroughly，ashesaid：
　　“Nevertheless，myfriend，Ibeseechtheetotellmeofthineoldhome，evenaslastnightItoldtheeofmine。”
　　“Yea。”shesaid，“withagoodwill。”Andstraightwayshefelltotellinghimofherwayswhenshewaslittle，andofherfatherandmother，andofhersisterthathaddied，andthebrotherwhomRalphhadseenatBourtonAbbas：
　　shetoldalsoofbachelorswhohadwooedher，andjestedconcerningthem，yetkindlyandwithoutmalice，andtalkedsosweetlyandplainly，thatthewildernesswasbecomeafamiliarplacetoRalph，andhetookherhandintheduskandsaid：
　　“But，myfriend，howwasitwiththemanforwhomthouwertweepingwhenIfirstfellinwiththeeatBourtonAbbas？”
　　Shesaid：“Iwilltelltheeplainly，asafriendmaytoafriend。
　　Threehourshadnotwornfromthydepartureeretidingscametomeconcerninghim，thatneitherdeathnorwoundinghadbefallenhim；
　　andthathismasterlesshorseandbloodstainedsaddlewerebutadevicetothrowdustintooureyes，sothattheremightbenochaseafterhimbythemenoftheAbbot’sbailiff，andthathemightlightlydoashewould，towit，swearhimselfintotheridersoftheBurgoftheFourFriths；for，insooth，hewaswearyofmeandmine。
　　Yetfurther，ImustneedstelltheethatIknownow，thatwhenIweptbeforetheeitwaspartlyindespite，becauseIhadfoundoutinmyheartthoughIbadeitnottellmesomuchthatIlovedhimbutlittle。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“andwhendidstthoucometothatknowledgeofthineheart？”
　　“Dearfriend。”shesaid，“mayhappenImaytelltheehereafter，butasnowIwillforbear。”Helaughedforjoyofher，andinalittlethattalkfelldownbetweenthem。
　　Despitetheterrorofthedesertandthelonelyways，whenRalphlaidhimdownonhisstonybed，happinesswrappedhisheartabout。
　　Albeitallthiswhilehedurstnotkissorcaressher，saveverymeasurely，forhedeemedthatshewouldnotsufferit；
　　norasyetwouldheaskherwherefore，thoughhehaditinhismindthathewouldnotalwaysforbeartoaskher。
　　Manydaystheyrodethatpassofthemountains，thoughitwasnotalwayssoevilanddreadfulasatthefirstbeginning；
　　fornowagainthepassopenedoutintolittlevalleys，whereinwasfoisonofgrassandsweetwaterswithal，andafewtrees。
　　Insuchplacesmusttheyneedsrestthem，torefreshtheirhorsesaswellasthemselves，andtogatherfood，ofvenison，andwild-fruitandnuts。Butabidinginsuchvaleswasverypleasanttothem。
　　Atlastthesesaidvalleyscameoftenandoftener，tillitwassothatallwasprettymuchonevalley，whilesbrokenbyamountainneck，whilesstraitenedbyanessofthemountainsthatjuttedintoit，butneverquiteblind：yetwasthesaidvalleyveryhighup，andasitwereatrenchofthegreatmountain。
　　Sotheyweregladthattheyhadescapedfromthatstraitprisonbetwixttherock-walls，andwerewellatease：