“Soitis。”saidRalph；“butmenareoftmis-saidbythemthatknowthemnotthoroughly：andnow，ifitwereagoodwish，OSageofSwevenham，Iwerefaintofallinwiththebestofallthosechampions，atallmanandaproper，who，meseems，hadgood-willtowardme，Iknownotwhy。”
　　QuoththeSage：“Ifthoucanstnotseetheendofthiswishfulfilled，nomorecanI。Andyet，meseemssomethingmayfollowitwhichisakintogrief：becontentwiththingssodone，myson。”
　　NowRalphholdshispeace，andtheyspeedontheirway，UrsularidingclosebyRalph’sside，andcaressinghimwithlooks，andbytouchalsowhenshemight；andafterawhilehefelltotalkingagain，andeverinthesameloud，cheerfulvoice。
　　Tillatlast，inaboutanotherhour，theycameinsightofthestreamwhichrandowntowardtheSwellingFloodfromthatpoolwhereinersttheLadyofAbundancehadbathedherbeforethemurder。
　　HardlookedRalphonthestream，buthowsoeverhisheartmightachewiththememoryofthatpassedgrief，likeasthebodyacheswiththebruiseofyesterday’sblow，yethechangedcountenancebutlittle，andinhisvoicewasthesamecheerysound。
　　ButUrsulanotedhim，andhowhiseyeswandered，andhowlittleheheededthewordsoftheothers，andsheknewwhatailedhim，forlongagohehadtoldherallthattale，andsonowherheartwastroubled，andshelookedonhimandwassilent。
　　Thus，then，alittlebeforesunset，theycameonthatsteepcliffwiththecavetherein，andthelittlegreenplainthereunder，andtherockybankgoingdownsheerintothewaterofthestream。
　　Forsooththeycameonitsomewhatsuddenlyfromoutofthebushesofthevalley；andthereindeednotonlytheSageandRichard，butUrsulaalso，werestayedbythesightasfolkcompelled；
　　forallthreeknewwhathadbefallenthere。ButRalph，thoughhelookedoverhisshoulderatitall，yetrodeonsteadily，andwhenhesawthattheotherslingered，hewavedhishandandcriedoutasherode：
　　“On，friends，on！fortheroadshortenstowardsmyFathers’House。”
　　Thenweretheyashamed，andshooktheirreinstohastenafterhim。
　　Butinthatverynickoftimetherecameforthonefromamidstthebushesthatedgedthepoolofthestreamandstrodedrippingontotheshallow；
　　amanbrownandhairy，andnaked，saveforagreenwreathabouthismiddle。
　　Tallhewasabovethestatureofmostmen；awfulofaspect，andhiseyesglitteredfromhisdarkbrownfaceamidstofhisshockheadofthecolourofrain-spoilthay。Hestoodandlookedwhileonemightcountfive，andthenwithoutawordorcryrushedupfromthewater，straightonUrsula，whowasridingfirstofthethreelingerers，andinthetwinklingofaneyetoreherfromoffherhorse；
　　andshewasinhisgraspasthecushatintheclawsofthekite。
　　Thenhecasthertoearth，andstoodoverher，shakingagreatclub，butoreverhebroughtitdownheturnedhisheadoverhisshouldertowardthecliffandthecavetherein，andinthatsamemomentfirstonebladeandthenanotherflashedabouthim，andhefellcrashingdownuponhisback，smitteninthebreastandthesidebyRichardandRalph；
　　andthewoundsweredeepanddeadly。
　　Ralphheededhimnomore，butdrewUrsulaawayfromhim，andraisedherupandlaidherheaduponhisknee；andshehadnotquiteswoonedaway，andforsoothhadtakenbutlittlehurt；
　　onlyshewasdizzywithterrorandtheheavingupandcastingdown。
　　ShelookedupintoRalph’sface，andsmiledonhimandsaid：
　　“Whathathbeendonetome，andwhydidhedoit？”
　　Hiseyeswerestillwildwithfearandwrath，asheanswered：“OBeloved，Deathandthefoemanofoldcameforthfromthecavernofthecliff。
　　Whatdidtheythere，LordGod？andhecaughttheetoslaythee；
　　buthimhaveIslain。Nevertheless，itisaterribleandevilplace：
　　letusgohence。”
　　“Yea。”shesaid，“letusgospeedily！”Thenshestoodup，weakandtotteringstill，andRalpharoseandputhisleftarmabouthertostayher；andlo，therebeforethemwasRichardkneelingoverthewild-man，andtheSagewascomingbackfromtheriverwithhisheadpiecefullofwater；
　　soRalphcriedout：“Tohorse，Richard，tohorse！
　　Hastthounotdoneslayingthewoodman？”
　　Buttherewithcameaweakandhoarsevoicefromtheearth，andthewild-manspake。“ChildofUpmeads，drivenotonsohard：
　　itwillnotbelong。ForthouandRichardtheRedarenaughtlighthanded。”
　　Ralphmarvelledthatthewild-manknewhimandRichard，butthewild-manspakeagain：“Hearken，thoulover，thouyoungman！”
　　ButtherewithwastheSagecometohimandkneelingbesidehimwiththewater，andhedrankthereof，whileRalphsaidtohim：
　　“Whatisthiswoodman？andcanstthouspeakmyLatin？
　　Whatartthou？”
　　Thenthewild-manwhenhehaddrunkraisedhimupalittle，andsaid：
　　“Youngman，thouandRichardaredeftleeches；yehaveletmebloodtoapurpose，andhavebroughtbacktomemywits，whichwerewanderingwide。
　　YetamIindeedwheremyfool’sbrainstoldmeIwas。”
　　Thenhelaybackagain，andturnedhisheadaswellashecouldtowardthecaverninthecliff。ButRalphdeemedhehadheardhisvoicebefore，andhisheartwassoftenedtowardhim，heknewnotwhy；buthesaid：
　　“Yea，butwhereforedidstthoufallupontheLady？”Thewild-manstrovewithhisweakness，andsaidangrily：“Whatdidanotherwomanthere？”
　　Thenhesaidinacalmerbutweakervoice：“Nay，mywitsshallwandernomorefromme；wewillmakethejourneytogether，Iandmywits。But0，youngman，thisIwillsayifIcan。Thoufleddestfromherandforgattesther。
　　Icametoherandforgatallbuther；yea，myverylifeIforgat。”
　　Againhespoke，andhisvoicewasweakeryet：“Kneeldownbyme，orImaynottelltheewhatIwould；myvoicediethbeforeme。”
　　ThenRalphkneltdownbyhim，forhebegantohaveadeemingofwhathewas，andheputhisfaceclosetothedyingman’s，andsaidtohim；“Iamhere，whatwouldstthou？”
　　Saidthewild-manveryfeebly：“Ididnotmuchfortheetimewas；
　　howmightI，whenIlovedhersosorely？ButIdidalittle。
　　Believeit，anddosomuchformethatImayliebyhersidewhenIamdead，whoneverlaybyherliving。ForintothecaveIdurstgonever。”
　　ThenRalphknewhim，thathewasthetallchampionwhomhehadmetfirstatthechurchyardgateofNetherton；sohesaid：
　　“Iknowtheenow，andIwillpromisetodothywillherein。
　　IamsorrythatIhaveslainthee；forgiveitme。”
　　Amockingsmilecameintothedyingman’seyes，andhespakewhispering：
　　“Richarditwas；notthou。”
　　Thesmilespreadoverhisface，hestrovetoturnmoretowardRalph，andsaidinaveryfaintwhisper：“Thelasttime！”
　　Nomorehesaid，butgaveuptheghostpresently。TheSageroseupfromhissideandsaid：“Yemaynowburythismanashecravedofthee，forheisdead。Thushaththywishbeenaccomplished；
　　forthiswasthegreatchampionanddukeofthemenoftheDryTree。
　　Indeeditisapityofhimthatheisdead，forasterribleashewastohisfoes，hewasnoillman。”
　　SpakeRichard：“Nowistheriddlearededofthewild-manandthemightygiantthathauntedthesepasses。Wehaveplayedtogetherornow，indayslongpast，heandI；andeverhecametohisabove。
　　Hewasawisemanandaprudentthatheshouldhavebecomeawild-man。
　　Itisgreatpityofhim。”
　　ButRalphtookhisknight’scloakofredscarlet，andtheylappedthewild-mantherein，whohadoncebeenachampionbeworshipped。
　　ButfirstUrsulashearedhishairandhisbeard，tillthefaceofhimcamebackagain，grave，andsomewhatmocking，asRalphrememberedit，timewas。Thentheyborehiminthefourcornersacrossthestream，andupontothelawnbeforethecliff；
　　andRichardandtheSageborehimintothecave，andlaidhimdowntherebesidethehowewhichRalphhaderewhileheapedovertheLady；
　　andnowoverhimalsotheyheapedstones。
　　MeanwhileUrsulakneltatthemouthofthecaveandwept；
　　butRalphturnedhimaboutandstoodontheedgeofthebank，andlookedovertherippleofthestreamontothevalley，wherethemoonwasnowbeginningtocastshadows，tillthosetwocameoutofthecaveforthelasttime。
　　ThenRalphturnedtoUrsulaandraisedherupandkissedher，andtheywentdownallofthemfromthatplaceofdeathandill-hap，andgattohorseontheothersideofthestream，androdethreemilesfurtheronbytheglimmerofthemoon，andlaydowntorestamongstthebushesofthewaste，withfewwordsspokenbetweenthem。
　　CHAPTER16
　　TheyCometotheCastleofAbundanceOnceMoreWhentheyrodeonnextmorningRalphwasfew-spoken，andseemedtoheedlittlesolongastheymadegoodspeedontheway：
　　mostofthetalkwasbetwixtRichardandtheSage，Ralphbutputtinginawordwhenitwouldhaveseemedchurlishtoforbear。
　　SotheywenttheirwaysthroughthewoodtillbythenthesunwaswellwesteringtheycameoutattheWateroftheOak，andRicharddrewreinthere，andspake：“Hereisafairplaceforasummernight’slodging，andIwouldwarrantbothgoodknightandfairladyhavelainhereaforetime，andwishedthedarklonger：
　　shallwenotresthere？”
　　Ralphstaredathimastonished，andthenangergrewinhisfaceforalittle，because，forsooth，asRichardandtheSagebothwottedoftheplaceoftheslayingoftheLady，andhehimselfhadeveryyardofthewayinhismindastheywent，itseemedbutduethattheyshouldhaveknownofthisplacealso，whatbetidthere：
　　butitwasnotso，andtheplacewastoRichardlikeanyotherlawnofthewoodland。
　　ButthoughtcamebacktoRalphinamoment，andhesmiledathisownfolly，howbeithecouldnotdotolieanothernightonthatlawnwithotherfolkthanerst。Sohesaidquietly：
　　“Nay，friend，werewenotbettertomakethemostofthisdaylight？
　　Seestthouitwantsyetanhourofsunset？”
　　Richardnoddedayeasay，andtheSagesaidnowordmore；butUrsulacastheranxiouslookonRalphasthoughsheunderstoodwhatwasmovinginhim；
　　andtherewiththoseothersrodeawaylightly，butRalphturnedslowlyfromtheoak-tree，andmightnotforbearlookingontotheshortswardroundabout，asifhehopedtoseesometokenleftbehind。
　　Thenhelifteduphisfaceasoneawaking，shookhisrein，androdeaftertheothersdownthelongwater。
　　Sotheyturnedfromthewateranon，androdethewoodlandways，andlaythatnightbyastreamthatranwest。
　　Theyarosebetimesonthemorrow，andwhereastheSageknewthewoodlandwayswell，theymadebutashortjourneyofittotheCastleofAbundance，andcameintothelittleplainbuttwohoursafternoon，wheresavingthatthescythehadnotyetwendedthetallmowinggrassinthecroftswhichthebeastsandsheepwerenotpasturing，allwasasonthatothertide。
　　Thefolkwereatworkintheirgardens，orherdingtheircattleinthemeads，andasaforetimetheyweremerryofcountenanceandwell-clad，fairandgentletolookon。
　　Thereweretheirpleasantcots，andthelittlewhitechurch，andthefairwallsofthecastleonitslowmound，andthedaybrightandsunny，allasaforetime，andRalphlookedonitall，andmadenocountenanceofbeingmovedbeyondhiswont。
　　Sotheycameoutofthewood，androdetothefordoftheriver，andthecarlesandqueanscamestreamingfromtheirgarthsandmeadstomeetthem，andstoodroundwonderingatthem；butanoldcarlecamefromoutthethrongandwentuptoRalph，andhailedhim，andsaid：
　　“Oh，Knight！andhastthoucomebacktous？andhasthoubroughtustidingsofourLady？Whoisthisfairwomanthatridethwiththee？
　　Isitshe？”
　　SpakeRalph：“Nay；golookonherclosely，andtellmethydeemingofher。”
　　SothecarlewentuptoUrsula，andpeeredcloselyintoherface，andtookherhandandlookedonit，andkneltdownandtookherfootoutofthestirrup，andkissedit，andthencamebacktoRalph，andsaid：“FairSir，Iwotnotbutitmaybehersister；