“Lords，yewerebesttokeepagoodwatchto-nightbecauseitisonthissidethatwemaylookforanonfallfromthefoemeniftheybeabroadto-night；andsoothtosaythatisonecausewehavebestowedyouhere，deemingthatyewouldnotgrudgeusthesolaceofknowingthatyourvaliantbodieswerebetwixtusandthem，forwebeapoorunwalledpeople。”
　　Stephentowhomhespakelaughedathisword，andsaid：
　　“Heart-up，carle！withinthesefewdaysweshallbuildupabetterwallthanyemayhaveofstoneandlime；
　　andthatistheoverthrowofourfoemenintheopenfield。”
　　Sotherewaskindnessandgoodfellowshipbetwixtthethorp-dwellersandtheriders，andthecountryfolktoldthoseothersmanytalesoftheevildeedsoftheBurg-devils，astheycalledthem；
　　buttheycouldnottellthemforcertainwhethertheyhadgonedownintoUpmeads。
　　AstoRalphandUrsulathey，withRichardandRoger，werelodgedintheheadman’shouse，andhadgoodfeastthere，andhealsotalkedoverthewhere-aboutsoftheBurgerswiththethorp-dwellers，butmighthavenocertaintidings。
　　SoheandUrsulaandhisfellowswenttobedandsleptpeacefullyforthefirsthoursofthenight。
　　AnOldAcquaintanceComesFromtheDownCountrytoSeeRalphButanhouraftermidnightRalpharose，ashispurposewas，andcalledRichard，andtheytooktheirswordsandwentforthandaboutthethorpandarounditsoutskirts，andfoundnaughtworsethantheirownwatchanywhere；sotheycamebackagaintotheirquartersandfoundRogerstandingatthedoor，whosaidtoRalph：“Lord，hereisamanwhowouldseethee。”
　　“Whatlikeishe？”saidRalph。SaidRoger“Heisanoldman，butatoughone；however，Ihavegothisweaponsfromhim。”
　　“Bringhimin。”saidRalph，“andheshallhavehissay。”
　　Sotheyallwentintothechambertogetherandtherewaslighttherein；
　　butthemansaidtoRalph：“ArtthoutheCaptainofthemen-at-arms，lord？”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph。Saidtheman，“Iwereasliefhavetheseothersaway。”
　　“Sobeit。”saidRalph；“departforalittlewhile，friends。”
　　SotheywentbutUrsulalayinthebed，whichwasinanookinthewall；
　　themanlookedaboutthechamberandsaid：“Isthereanyoneinthebed？”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“mywife，goodfellow；shallshegoalso？”
　　“Nay。”saidthecarle，“weshalldoaswearenow。SoIwillbeginmytale。”
　　Ralphlookedonhimanddeemedhehadseenhimbefore，butcouldnotaltogethercallhisvisagetomind；soheheldhispeaceandthemanwenton。
　　“IamofthefolkoftheshepherdsoftheDowns：webenotamanybycountofnoses，buteachoneofuswhoiscometoman’syean，andmanywhobepastthem，asImyself，canhandleweaponsatapinch。
　　Nowsomedealwehavebeenharriedandhavesufferedbythesewretcheswhohaveeatenintothebowelsofthisland；thatistosay，theyhaveliftedoursheep，andslainsomeofuswhowithstoodthem：
　　butwhereasourhousesbeuncostlyandthatwemoveabouteasilyfromonehill-sidetoanother，itislikethatweshouldhavedeemeditwisesttohavebornethistrouble，likeothersofwindandweather，withoutseekingnewremedy，butthattherehavebeentokensonearthandintheheavens，whereofitistoolongtotellthee，lord，atpresent，whichhavestirredupourscatteredfolktomeettogetherinarms。
　　Moreover，thebloodofouryoungmenisup，becausetheBurg-devilshavetakensomeofourwomen，andhavemishandledthemgrievouslyandshamefully，sothatnaughtwillkeeppointandedgefromseekingthewar-clash。Furthermore，thereisanoldtalewhichhathnowcomeupagain，Thatsometimewhenourfolkshallbeingreatneed，thereshallcometoourhelpingonefromafar，whosehomeisanigh；
　　astriplingandagreatman；arunaway，andtheconquerorofmany：
　　then，saythey，shallthepointandtheedgebringtheredwaterdownonthedeardales；wherebyweunderstandthatthebloodofmenshallbeshedthere，andnaughttoourshameordishonour。
　　AgainImindmeofarhymeconcerningthiswhichsayeth：
　　TheDryTreeshallbeseenOnthegreenearth，andgreenTheWell-springshallariseForthehopeofthewise。
　　Theyareonewhichweretwain，TheTreebloomethagain，AndtheWell-springhathcomeFromthewastetothehome。
　　Well，lord，thoushalttellmepresentlyifthishathaughttodowiththee：
　　forindeedIsawtheDryTree，whichhathscaredussomanyatime，beatenonthysergeants’coats；butnowIwillgoonandmakeanendofmystory。”
　　Ralphnoddedtohimkindly，fornowherememberedthecarle，thoughhehadseenhimbutthatoncewhenherodetheGreenwayacrossthedownstoHigham。
　　TheoldmanlookedupathimasifhetoohadaninklingofoldacquaintancewithRalph，butwentonpresently：
　　“Thereisawomanwhodwellsalonewithnonetohelpher，anightoSaintAnn’sChapel；awomannotveryold；forsheisofmineownage，andtimewaswehavehadmanyafairplayintheinglesofthedownsintheJulyweather——notveryold，Isay，butwondrouswise，asIknowbetterthanmostmen；
　　foroft，evenwhenshewasyoung，wouldsheforetellthingstocometome，andeveritfelloutaccordingtoherspaedom。
　　TothesaidwomanIsoughtto-dayinthemorning，nottowinanywisdomofher，buttotalkoverremembrancesofolddays；
　　butwhenIcameintoherhouse，lo，therewasmycarlinewalkingupanddownthefloor，andsheturnedrounduponmeliketheyoungwomanofpastdays，andstampedherfootandcriedout：
　　’Whatdoesthesluggarddallyingaboutwomen’schamberswhenthetimeiscomeforthedeliverance？’
　　“Ilethertalk，andspakenowordlestIshouldspoilherstory，andshewenton：
　　“’Takethystaff，lad，forthouartstoutaswellasmerry，andgoadowntothethorpsatthefeetofthedownstowardHigham；
　　keeptheewellfromtheBurg-devils，andgofromsteadtosteadtillthoucomestonacaptainofmen-at-armswhoislordoveracompanyofgreen-coats，green-coatsoftheDryTree——ayounglord，fair-faced，andkind-faced，andmighty，andnottobeconquered，andtheblessingofthefolkandtheleaderoftheShepherds，andthefoeoftheirfoemanandthewell-belovedofBear-father。
　　Gonightandday，sitnotdowntoeat，standnottodrink；
　　heednonethatcriethaftertheefordeliverance，butgo，go，gotillthouhastfoundhim。MeseemsIseehimridingtowardHigham，butthosedastardswillnotopengatetohim，ofthatbesure。
　　Heshallpassonandlieto-night，itmaybeatMileham，itmaybeatMilton，itmaybeatGarton；atoneofthosethorpsshallyefindhim。
　　Andwhenyehavefoundhimthusbespeakhim：ObrightFriendoftheWell，turnnotasidetofallontheBurgersinthisland，eitheratFoxworthCastle，ortheLongford，ortheNinewaysGarth：
　　allthatthoumayestdohereafter，thouorthychampions。
　　TherebeBurgersotherwhere，housedinnostrongcastle，butwendingtheroadtowardthefairgreenswardofUpmeads。
　　Ifthoudelaytogolookonthem，thenshallthyworkbetobeginagainamidsorrowofheartandlossthatmaynotberemedied。’
　　Hastthouheardme，lord？”
　　“Yea，verily。”saidRalph，“andatsunriseshallwebeinthesaddletoridestraighttoUpmeads。ForIknowthee，friend。”
　　“Holdawhile。”saidthecarle，“formeseemethIknowtheealso。
　　Butthiswithalshesaid：’Buthearken，Giles，hearkenawhile，forIseehimclearly，andthementhatheridethwith，andthementhatarefollowingtohisaid，fierceandfellarethey；butsowithalarethefoementhatawaitthem，andhisarefew，howsoeverfierce。
　　Thereforebidhimthisalso。Haste，haste，haste！Buthastenotovermuch，lestthouspeedtheworse：inBearCastleIseeamoteofourfolk，andtheeamidstofitwiththychampions，andIseethestavesoftheShepherdsrisingroundtheelikeawood。InWulsteadIseeavaliantmanwithswordbysideandsalletonhead，andwithhimsittethatallman-at-armsgrizzle-headedandred-bearded，big-bonedandmighty；
　　theysitatthewineinafairchamber，andawell-lookingdameserveththem；andthereareweaponedmennofewaboutthestreets。
　　Wiltthoupassbyfriends，andoldfriends？Nowrideon，GreenCoats！
　　strideforth，Shepherds！stavesonyourshoulders，Wool-wards！andtheregoesthehostoverthehillsintoUpmeads，andtheBurg-devilswillhavecomefromtheWoodDebateabletofindgravesbythefairriver。
　　Andthendothywill，OFriendoftheWell。’“
　　Thecarletookabreath，andthenhesaid：“Lord，thisisthesayIwaschargedwith，andifthouunderstandestit，well；butifitbedarktothee，Imaymakeitclearifthouaskmeaught。”
　　Ralphponderedawhile，andthenhesaid：“IsitknownofothersthanthyspaewifethattheBurgersbeinUpmeads？”
　　“Nay，lord。”saidthecarle，“andthisalsoIsaytothee，thatIdeemwhatshesaidthattheybenotinUpmeadsyet，andbutdrawingthitherward，asIdeemfromtheWoodDebateable。”
　　Ralpharosefromhisseatandstrodeupanddownthechamberawhile；
　　thenhewenttobed，andstoodoverUrsula，wholaytwixtsleepingandwaking，forshewasweary；thenhecamebacktothecarle，andsaidtohim：“Goodfriend，Ithankthee，andthisiswhatIshalldo：
　　whendaylightisbroadandlo，thedawnbeginning！Ishallgathermymen，andridetheshortestway，whichthoushaltshowme，toBearCastle，andthereIshallgivethetokenofthefourfireswhicherewhileagoodmanoftheShepherdsbademeifIwereinneed。Anditseemstomethatthereshallthemotebehallowed，thoughitmaybenotbeforenightfall。
　　Butthemotedone，weshallwend，thewholehostofus，bewefewormany，downtoWulstead，whereweshallfallinwithmyfriendClementChapman，andheartidings。ThenceshallwewendthedearwaysIknowintothelandwhereIwasbornandthefolkamongstwhomIshalldie。
　　AndsoletSt。NicholasandAllHallowsdoastheywillwithus。
　　Deemestthou，friend，thatthisisthemeaningofthywiseshefriend？”
　　Thecarle’seyesglittered，andheroseupandstoodclosebyRalph，andsaid：“Evensoshemeant；andnowIseemtoseethatbutfewofthyridersshallbelackingwhentheyturntheirheadsawayfromUpmeadstowardsthestrong-placesoftheBurg-devilsthatarehereabouts。
　　Buttellme，Captainofthehost，isthatvictualandbreadthatIseeontheboard？”
　　Ralphlaughed：“Fallto，friend，andeatthyfill；andhereiswinewithal。
　　Thouneedestnottofearit。WertthouanytheworseofthewinethatThirlypouredintotheethatotherday？”
　　“Nay，nay，master。”saidthecarlebetweenhismouthfuls，“butmicklethebetter，asIshallbeafterthis：alllucktothee！
　　YetseeIthatIneednotwishtheeluck，sincethatisthinealready。
　　Soothtosay，IdeemedIknewtheewhenIfirstseteyesontheeagain。
　　Ilookednottoseetheemore；thoughIspoketotheewordsatthattimewhichcamefrommyheart，almostwithoutmywill。
　　Thoughitisbutalittlewhileago，thouhastchangedmuchsincethen，andhastgotanothersortoflookintheeyesthanthentheyhad。
　　Nay，nay。”saidhelaughing，“notwhenthoulookestonmesofranklyandkindly；thatislikethylookwhenwepassedThirlyabout。
　　Yea，Iseethefashionofit：onelookisforthyfriends，anotherforthyfoes。Godbepraisedforboth。AndnowIamfull，Iwillgolookonthywife。”
　　SohewentuptothebedandstoodoverUrsula，whileshe，whowasnotfullyawake，smiledupintohisface。Theoldmansmiledbackatherandbentdownandkissedhermouth，andsaid：
　　“Iaskthypardon，lady，andthine，mylord，ifIbetoofree，butsuchisourcustomoftheDowns；andsoothtosaythyfaceisonethatevenaoldmanshouldnotfailtokissifoccasionserve，sothathemaygotoparadisewiththetastethereofonhislips。”
　　“Wearenowisehurtbythylove，friend。”saidUrsula；
　　“Godmakethylatterdaysoflifesweettothee！”