Evensotheydid，androdeforward，andpresentlytheysawthespearmenthattheyweresomewhatmorethantheircompany，andthattheywerewellmountedonblackhorsesandcladinblackarmour。
　　ThentheydrewreinforawhileandRedheadscannedthemagainandsaid：
　　“Yea，thesearethemenofthebrotherofthyhotwooer，LadyUrsula，whomIcooledintheRam’sBane，butamanwellnighasoldashisuncle，thoughhehathnotmadementremblesosore，albeithebefarthebetterman，agoodwarrior，awiseleader，areiverandlifterwellwroughtatallpoints。Well，’tisnotunlikethatweshallhavetospeaktohismenagain，eitherout-goingorhome-coming：sowehadbestkillasmanyoftheseaswemaynow。
　　Doonthysallet，mylord；andthou，Michael-a-greenshakeouttheBull；
　　andthou，ourNoise，blowapointofwarthattheymaybewarned。
　　Godtoaid！buttheybereadyandspeedy！”
　　InsoothevenasthepennonoftheBullrandownthewindandtheUtterbolhornwaswinded，theBlackmen-at-armscameonatatrot，andpresentlywithagreatscreechingyellcasttheirspearsintotherest，andspurredonalltheymight，whileahalfscoreofbowmenwhohadcomeoutofthethicketbenttheirbowsandfella-shooting。ButnowthemenofUtterbolspurredtomeetthefoe，andasRedheadcasthisspearintotherest，hesaidtoRalph：
　　“GladamIthatthyLadyisaneartoseeme，fornowIworshipher。”
　　Therewiththetwobandsmet，andwhereasonneithersidewasthearmourverystout，somemenofeitherbandwerehurtorslainatoncewithspearthrust；though，saveforRalph，theydidnotrunstraightoneachother；butfencedandfoinedwiththeirspearsdeftlyenough。
　　AsforRalph，hesmoteatallmanfullonthebreastandpiercedhimthroughandthrough，andthenpulledouttheUpmeadsbladeandsmoteontherighthandandtheleft，sothatnonecameanighhimwillingly。
　　Shortlytosayit，infiveminutes’timetheBlackRiderswerefleeingalloverthefieldwiththemofUtterbolattheirheels，andthebowmenranbackagainintothewood。
　　Butoneofthefoemenashefledcastajavelinataventure，andwhoshouldbebeforeitsaveUrsula，sothatshereeledinhersaddle，andwouldhavefallendownrightbutforoneoftheUtterbolfellowswhostayedher，andgothergentlyoffherhorse。
　　ThisRalphsawnot，forhefollowedfarinthechase，andwascomingbacksomewhatslowlyalongwithRedhead，whowashurt，butnotsorely。Sowhenhecameup，andsawUrsulasittingonthegrasswithfourorfivemenabouther，hesickenedforfear；
　　butsheroseupandcameslowlyandpale-facedtomeethim，andsaid：“Fearnot，beloved，forsteelkeptoutsteel：
　　Ihavenoscratchorpointoredgeonme。”Sotherewithhekissedher，andembracedher，andwasglad。
　　TheUtterbolRidershadslainsixteenoftheirfoemen；
　　fortheytooknonetomercy，andfouroftheirbandwereslainoutright，andsixhurt，butnotgrievously。
　　Sotheytarriedawhileonthefieldofdeedtorestthemandtendtheirwoundedmen，andsorodeonagainheedfully。
　　ButRedheadspake：“Itisgoodtoseetheetilting，King’sSon。
　　IdoubtmeIshallneverlearnthydownrightthrust。
　　DostthourememberhowsorryajobImadeofit，whenwemetinthelistsatValeTurristhatotherday？”
　　“Yea，yea。”saidRalph。“Thouwerebestletthatfleastickonthewall。
　　Forto-day，atleast，Ihaveseentheeplayatsharpsdeftlyenough。”
　　QuothRedhead：“Lord，itisnaught，afiveminutes’scramble。
　　Thatwhichtriethaman，istofightandovercome，andstraighthavetofightwithfreshfoemen，andyetagain，tillyelongfordarknighttocoveryou——yea，orevendeath。”
　　“Warrior-likeandwiselythouspeakest。”saidRalph；
　　“andwhoeverthouservestthoushaltservewell。
　　AndnowoncemoreIwoulditwereme。”
　　Redheadshookhisheadatthatword，andsaid：“Iwoulditmightbeso；
　　butitwillnotbesoasnow。”
　　Forthontheyrode，andsleptinawoodthatnight，keepinggoodwatch；
　　butsawnomoreoftheBlackRidersforthattime。
　　Onadaythereafterwhenitwasnighevening，Ralphlookedabout，andsawacertainwoodontheedgeofaplain，andhestayedUrsula，andsaid：
　　“Lookroundabout，beloved；forthisistheveryfieldwhereasIwasbetrayedintothehandsofthemenofUtterbol。”Shesmiledonhimandsaid：
　　“Letmelightdownthen，thatImaykisstheearthofthatkindfield，wherethouwertnotstayedoverlong，butevenlongenoughthatwemightmeetinthedarkwoodthereafter。”
　　“Sweetling。”saidRalph，“thismaystthoudoandgrievenoman，notevenforalittle。Forloyou！thecaptainisstayingthesumpter-beasts，anditishismind，belike，thatweshallsleepinyonderwoodto-night。”Therewithhelighteddownandsheinlikewise：
　　thenhetookherbythehandandledheronafewyards，andsaid：
　　“Lo，beloved，thisquicken-tree；herebyitwasthatthetentwaspitchedwhereinIlaythenightwhenIwastaken。”
　　Shelookedonhimshylyandsaid：“Wiltthounotsleephereoncemoreto-night？”
　　“Yea，well-beloved。”saidhe，“Iwillbidthempitchthytentonthissameplace，thatImaysmellthewildthymeagain，asIdidthatotherwhile。”
　　Sothereonthefieldofhisancientgrieftheyrestedthatnightinallloveandcontent。
　　OfGoldburgAgain，andtheQueenThereofNextdaytheywentforththroughthecountrywherethroughMorfinnhadledRalphintocaptivity；andRedheadrodewarily；
　　forthereweremanypasseswhichlookeddoubtful：butwhethertheillmenfearedtomeddlewiththem，orhoweveritwere，nonewaylaidthem，andtheyallcamesafelytothegateofGoldburg，thetowerswhereofwerefulloffolklookingforthonthem。
　　Sotheydisplayedtheirpennon，androdeintothestreet，wherefolkpressedabouttheminfriendlywise；forthenewLordofUtterbolhadmadefirmandfastpeacewithGoldburg。
　　Sotheyrodetothehostel，andgatthemvictual，andrestedinpeacethatnight。ButRalphwonderedwhethertheQueenwouldsendforhimwhensheheardofhiscomingbackagain，andhehopedthatshewouldlethimbe；forhewasashamedwhenhethoughtofherloveforhim，andhowthathehadcleanforgottenhertillhewasclosetoGoldburgagain。
　　ButwhenmorningwascomeRalphspaketoRedheadandaskedhimhowheshoulddotowagemenforthehomewardjourneyonthence；
　　andRedheadsaid：“IhavealreadyseentheClerkofthePorte，andhewillbehereinanhourwiththelicensefortheetowagementogowiththeetoCheapingKnowe。Asforme，ImustneedsgoseetheKing，andgivehimalettersealedbymylord’shand；
　　andwhenIcomebackfromhim，Iwillgoroundtothealehouseswhichbehauntedofthemen-at-armstoseeafterstrongcarlesforthineavail。
　　ButtotheKinghastthounoneedtogo，savehesendforthee，whereasthouartnotcomehithertochaffer，andheneedethnotmenofwar。”
　　Ralphstaredathimandsaid：“TheKing，saystthou？istherenoQueenofGoldburg？”SaidRedhead：“ThereistheKing’sweddedwife，buthertheycallnotQueen，butLady。”
　　“ButtheQueenthatwas。”saidRalph，“whereisshethen？”
　　“Yeatruly。”saidRedhead，“aQueensataloneasrulerhereawhileago；
　　butwhethershedied，orwhatbefellher，Iknownothing。
　　IhadlittletodowithGoldburgtillourlordconqueredUtterbol。
　　Loherethehost！hemaytelltheethetalethereof。”
　　Therewithhedeparted，andleftRalphwiththehost，whomRalphquestionedofthestory，forhisheartwaswrunglestsuchafairwomanandsofriendlyshouldhavecometoharm。
　　SothehostsatdownbyRalphandsaid：“Mymaster，thisisatalewhichisgrievoustous：forthoughthesaintsforbidIshouldsayawordagainstmylordthatisnow，noristhereanyneedto，yetwedeemedushappytobeundersodearaladyandsogoodandfairasshewas。
　　Well，sheisgonesothatwewotnotwhethershebelivingordead。
　　Forsoitisthatintheearlyspring，somewhatmorethanayearagothatis，onemorningwhenfolkarose，theQueen’splacewasempty。
　　Ridingandrunningtherewasaboutandabout，butnonethemorewasshefound。Forsoothastimewore，talesweretoldofwhatwisesheleftus，andwhy：butshewasgone。Well，fairsir，manydeemedthatthoughherlineagewasknownbyseeming，yetshewasofthefairy，andneededneithersteednorchariottogowhereshewould。
　　Butherwomenandthosethatknewherbest，deemedthatwhatsoshewere，shehadslainherself，astheythought，forsomeunhappinessoflove。
　　Forindeedshehadlonggoneaboutsadanddistraught，thoughsheneitherwept，norwouldsayonewordofhersorrow，whatsoeveritmightbe。
　　“But，fairsir，sincethouartastranger，andartpresentlydepartingfromourcity，Iwilltelltheeathing。
　　Towit；onemonthorsoaftershehadvanishedaway，Iheldtalkwithacertainoldfishermanofourwater，andhetoldmethatonthatsamenightofhervanishing，ashestoodonthewater-sidehandingthehawserofhisbarque，andthesailwasallreadytobesheetedhome，therecamealongtheshoreawomangoingveryswiftly，who，glancingabouther，asiftoseethattherewasnonelookingonorprying，cameuptohim，andprayedhiminasweetvoiceforinstantpassagedownthewater。
　　Wrappedshewasinadarkcloakandacowloverherhead，butassheputforthherhandtogivehimgold，hesawevenbythelightofhislanternthatitwasexceedingfair，andthatgreatgemsflashedfromthefinger-rings，andthattherewasagreatgoldringmostpreciousonherarm。
　　“Heyeasaidherasking，partlybecauseofhergold，partlyashetoldmethathefearedher，deeminghertobeofthefairy。
　　Thenshesteppedoverhisgangwayofoneboardontohisboat，andasheheldthelanternlowdowntolighther，lestsheshouldmakeafalsestepandfallintothewater，henotedquothhe
　　thatagoldenshoeallbegemmedcameoutfromundergown-hemandthatthesaidhemwasbroideredthicklywithpearlandjewels。
　　“Smallwashisbarque，andhealonewiththewoman，andtherewasawindintheMarchnight，andthestreamisswiftbetwixtthequaysofourcity；sothatbynightandcloudtheymademuchwaydownthewater，andatsunriseweresailingthroughthegreatwoodwhichliethhenceatwentyleaguesseaward。
　　Sowhenthesunwasrisenshestoodupintheforepartoftheboat，andbadehimturnthebarquetowardtheshore，andevenasthebowsranuponthesand，sheleaptoutandletthethicketcoverher；norhaveanyofGoldburgseenhersince，ortheQueen。ButformypartIdeemthewomantohavebeennoneotherthantheQueen。Seestthouthen！sheisgone：
　　buttheKingRainaldhercousinreignsinherstead，awiseman，andamighty，andnotyrantorskinnerofthepeople。”
　　Ralphheardandpondered，andwasexceedingsorry，andmorehadhebeenbutforthejoyousnesswhichcameoftheWateroftheWell。
　　Howbeithemightnotamendit：forevenwerehetoseekfortheQueenandfindher，itmightwellbeworsethanlettingitbe。Forheknewwhenhethoughtofherthatshelovedhim，andhowwoulditbeifshemightnotoutwearherlove，orendurethedaysofGoldburg，andhefaraway？
　　Thishesaidtohimself，whichhemightnothavesaidtoanyothersoul。
　　TheyCometoCheapingKnoweOnceMore。OftheKingThereofTowardeveningcomesRedhead，andtellsRalphhowhehiredhimadozenmen-at-armstofollowhimwell-weaponedtoCheapingKnowe：
　　withalhecounselledhimtotakeagoodgiftwithhimtothatsametowntobuythegoodwilloftheKingthere；whowasaclose-fistandacruellord。
　　Afterwardstheysattogetherinthecourtofthatfairhousebeforegoodwine，RalphandUrsula，andRedheadandtheSageofSwevenham，andspakeofmanythings，andweremerryandkindtogether。
　　ButonthemorrowRedheaddepartedfromGoldburgwithhismen，andhelothtodepart，andtheygavehimfarewelllovingly。
　　ThereafterRalph’snewmencametohiminthehostelry，andhefeastedthemanddidwelltothem，sothattheypraisedhimmuch。
　　Thenhegathimvictualsandsumpter-horsesforthejourney，andboughtgoodstoreofbowsandarrowswithal。FurthermorehetookheedtoRedhead’swordandboughtagoodlygiftofsilvervesselandfineclothfortheKingofCheapingKnowe。
　　ThedayafterheandhiscompanydepartedfromGoldburgtowardthemountains，whichtheypassedunfoughtandunwaylaid：
　　partlybecausetheywereabandofstoutmen，andpartlybecausealittlebeforetherehadbeenagreatoverthrowofthewildmenofthosemountainsatthehandsofthemenofGoldburgandtheChapmen；sothatnowthemountain-menlayclose，andtroublednonethatrodewithanyforce。
　　OnthewaytheyfailednottopassbytheplacewheretheyhaderstfoundBullNosyslain：theretheysawhishowe，heapedupexceedinghigh，coveredinwithearth，whereonthegrasswasnowbeginningtogrow，andwithagreatstandingstoneonthetopthereof，whereonwasgraventheimageofabull，withaswordthereunder；