ThemanstaredwildatRalphwhilehewasspeaking，andseemedtostaggerinhissaddle；thenhelethissalletfalloverhisface，and，turninghishorseabout，rodeswiftly，heandhistwofellows，downthehillandawaytothebattleoftheBurgers。
　　Nonefollowedorcriedafterhim；fornowhadagreatlongingandexpectationfallenuponRalph’sfolk，andtheyabodewhatshallbefallwithlittlenoise。Theynotedsosoonasthemessengerwasgottentothemainofthefoementhattherewasastiramongstthem，andtheywereorderingtheirrankstomoveagainstthehill。
　　AndwithaltheysawmenallarmedcomingfromouttheHighHouse，whowentdowntotheBridgeandabodethere。Upmeads-waterranthroughthemeadowsbetwixtthehillandtheHighHouse，ashathbeensaidafore；
　　butasitwindedalong，onereachofitwentnightotheHouse，andmadewellnighaquarterofacircleaboutitbeforeitturnedtorundownthemeadowstotheeastward；andatthisnighestpointwasthereawidebridgewellbuildedofstone。
　　TheBurg-devilsheedednotthemenattheBridge，but，beingallarrayed，madebutshorttarryingandthatbelikeonlytohearthetaleoftheirmessengereretheycameintwobattlesstraightacrossthemeadow。
　　Theyontheirrightwereallriders，andthesefacedtheChampionsoftheDryTree，butagreatbattleoffootmencameagainsttheShepherdsandtherestofRalph’sfootmen，butintheirrearwardwasacompanyofwell-horsedmen-at-arms；andallofthemwerewellarmedandwentrightorderlyandwarrior-like。
　　Itwasbutsomefifteenminuteseretheywerecometothefootofthehill，andtheyfelltomountingitwithlaughterandmockery，butRalph’smenheldtheirpeace。Thehorsemenweresomewhatspeedierthanthoseonfoot，thoughtheyrodebutatafoot’space，andwhentheywereabouthalfwayupthehillandwerefalteringalittleforitwassomewhatsteep，thoughnoughthigh，theChampionsoftheDryTreecouldforbearthemnolonger，butsetupahugeroar，androdeatthem，sothattheyallwentdownthehilltogether，buttheChampionswerelostamidstofthehugemassofthefoemen。
　　ButRalphwasleftattheveryleftendofhisfolk，andthefoemencameupthehillspeedilywithmuchnoiseandmanyfoulmocksasaforesaid，andtheyweremanyandmanymorethanRalph’sfolk，andnowthattheChampionsweregone，couldhaveenfoldedthemateitherend；butnomanofthecompanyblenchedorfaltered，onlyhereandthereonespakesofttohisneighbour，andhereandthereonelaughedthebattle-laugh。
　　Nowatthehangingofthehill，whenaseithersidecouldseethewhitesofthefoemen’seyes，therobbersstayedalittletogatherbreath；
　　andinthatnickoftimeRalphstrodeforthintothemidstbetweenthetwolinesandupontoalittlemoundonthehill-sidewhichwellheknew，andhelifteduptheancientguisarme，andcriedonhigh：“Homenow！
　　HometoUpmeads！”
　　Thenbefellamarvel，forevenasalleyesofthefoemenwereturnedonhim，straightwaytheirshoutsandjeeringandlaughterfelldead，andthengaveplacetoshrieksandwailing，asalltheywhobeheldhimcastdowntheirweaponsandfledwildlydownthehill，overturningwhateverstoodintheirway，tillthewholemassofthemwasbrokentopieces，andthehillwascoveredwithnoughtbutcravensandthelight-footedShepherdsslaughteringtheminthechase。
　　ButRalphcalledClementtohimandtheydrewastalworthbandtogether，and，heedingnoughtthechaseoftherunaways，theyfellonthosewhohadtheChampionsintheirmidst，andfelltosmitingdownmenoneitherhand；andeverymanwholookedonRalphcrouchedandcoweredbeforehim，castingdownhisweaponsandthrowinguphishands。
　　Shortlytosayit，whenthesehorsemenfeltthisnewonset，andlookingroundsawtheirmenfleeinghitherandthitheroverthegreenfieldsofUpmeads，smittenbytheShepherdsandleapingintothedeeppoolsoftheriver，theyturnedandfled，everymanwhocouldkeephissaddle，andmadefortheBridge，theDryTreethunderingattheirbacks。Butevenastheycamewithinbowshot，agreatflightofarrowscamefromthefurthersideofthewater，andthebanneroftheFruitfulTreecameforthfromthebridge-endwithNicholasandhistriedmen-at-armsbehindit；andthenindeedgreatandgrimwasthemurder，andtheproudmenoftheBurggrovelledonthegroundandprayedformercytillneithertheChampionsnorthemenofNicholascouldsmitehelplessmenanylonger。
　　NowhadRalphheldhishandfromthechase，andhewassittingonamoundamidstofthemeadowunderanancientthorn，andbesidehimsattheSageofSwevenhamandUrsula。
　　Andshewasgrownpalenowandlookedsomewhatscared，andshespakeinatremblingvoicetoRalph，andsaid：
　　“Alasfriend！thatthisshouldbesogrim！Whenweheartheowlsa-nighttimeabouttheHighHouse，shallwenotdeematwhilesthatitistheghostsofthisdreadfulbattleandslaughterwanderingaboutourfairfields？”
　　ButRalphspakesternlyandwrathfullyashesattherebareheadedandallunarmedsavefortheancientglaive：
　　“Whydidtheynotslaymethen？Bettertheghostsofrobbersinourfieldsbynight，thantheover-burdenedhaplessthrallbyday，andthescourgedwoman，andruinedchild。
　　Thesethingstheysoughtforusandhavefounddeathontheway——
　　letitbe！”
　　Helaughedashespake；butthenthegriefoftheendofbattlecameuponhimandhetrembledandshook，andgreattearsburstfromhiseyesandrolleddownhischeeks，andhebecamestarkandhard-faced。
　　ThenUrsulatookhishandsandcaressedthem，andkissedhisface，andfella-talkingtohimofhowtheyrodethepasstotheValleyofSweetChestnuts；andinawhilehisheartandhismindcamebacktohimasitdidthatothertimeofwhichshespake，andhekissedherinturn，andbegantotellherofhisoldchamberintheturretoftheHighHouse。
　　Andnowtherecomeridingacrossthefieldtwowarriors。
　　Theydrawreinbythemound，andonelightsdown，andlo！itisLongNicholas；andhetookRalphinhisarms，andkissedhimandweptoverhimforallhisgrizzledbeardandhisgauntlimbs；
　　butfewwordshehadforhim，savethis：“MylittleLord，wasitthouthatwasthewisecaptainto-day，orthisstoutlifterandreiver！”
　　ButtheothermanwasStephena-Hurst，wholaughedandsaid：
　　“Nay，Nicholas，Iwasthefool，andthisstriplingthewisewarrior。
　　But，LordRalph，thouwiltpardonme，Ihope，butwecouldnotkillthemall，fortheywouldnotfightinanywise；whatshallwedowiththem？”Ralphknithisbrowsandthoughtalittle；thenhesaid：
　　“Howmanyhastthoutaken？”SaidStephen：“Sometwohundredalive。”
　　“Well。”quothRalph；“stripthemofallarmourandweapons，andletascoreofthyridersdrivethembackthewaytheycameintotheDebateableWood。Butgivethemthislastwordfromme，thatorlongIshallclearthesaidwoodofallstrong-thieves。”
　　Stephendepartedonthaterrand；andpresentlycomesGilesandanotheroftheShepherdswithaliketale，andhadalikeanswer。
　　Nowamidstallthesedeedsityetlackedanhourofnoon。SopresentlyRalpharoseandtookRichardapartforawhileandspokewithhimalittle，andthencamebacktoUrsulaandtookherbythehand，andsaid：
　　“Beloved，Richardshalltaketheenowtoapleasantabodethissidethewater；forIgrudgethatthoushouldstentertheHighHousewithoutme；andasformeImustneedsridebacktoWulsteadtobringhithermyfatherandmother，asIpromisedtodoafterthebattle。
　　Ingoodsooth，Ideemeditwouldhavelastedlonger。”SaidUrsula：
　　“Dearfriend，thisisevenwhatIshouldhavebiddentheemyself。
　　Departspeedily，thatthoumaystbebackthesooner；forsorelydoIlongtoenterthinehouse，beloved。”ThenRalphturnedtoNicholas，andsaid：
　　“Ourhostisnotsogreatbutthatthoumaystvictualitwell；yetI
　　deemitislittlelessthanwhenweleftWulsteadearlythismorning。”
　　“Trueisthat，littlelord。”saidNicholas。“Hearawonderamongstbattles：
　　ofthyShepherdsandtheotherfootmenisnotoneslain，andbutsomefivehurt。TheChampionshavelostthreemenslainoutright，andsomefifteenhurt；ofwhomisthybrotherHugh，butnotsorely。”
　　“Betterthanwellisthystorythen。”saidRalph。“Nowletthembringmeahorse。”Sowhenhewashorsed，hekissedUrsulaandwenthisways。
　　AndsheabodehiscomingbackatRichard’shouseanighthewater。
　　RalphBringsHisFatherandMothertoUpmeadsShortwastheroadbackagaintoWulstead，andwhereasthedaywasnotveryoldwhenRalphcamethere，hefailednottostopatClement’shouse，andcameintothechamberwheresatDameKatherineinpensivewisenightothewindow，withheropenhandsinherlap。
　　QuothRalph：“Rejoice，gossip！forneitherisClementhurt，norI，andallisdonethatshouldbedone。”Shemovedherbutlittle，butthetearscameintohereyesandrolleddownhercheeks。
　　“What，gossip？”quothRalph；“thesebescarcetearsofjoy；
　　whataileththee？”“Nay。”saidKatherine，“indeedIamjoyfulofthytidings，thoughsoothtosayIlookedfornoneother。
　　But，dearlordandgossip，forgivememytearsonthedayofthytriumph；
　　foriftheybenotwhollyofjoy，soalsoaretheynotwhollyofsorrow。
　　Butloveandthepassingofthedaysarebittersweetwithinmyheartto-day。LateronthoushaltseefewfacesmorecheerfulandmerryinthehallatUpmeadsthanthisofthygossip’s。Sobemerrynow，andgofetchthyfatherandthymother，andrejoicetheirheartsthatthouhastbeenevenbetterthanthywordtothem。
　　Farewell，gossip；butlooktoseemeatUpmeadsbeforemanydaysarepast；forIknowtheewhatthouart；andthatthedayswillpresentlyfinddeedsforthee，andthouwiltberidingintoperil，andcomingsafefromoutofit。Farewell！”
　　SohedepartedandrodetotheHouseofSt。Austin，andthefolkgatheredsoabouthiminthestreetthatatthegateofthePrioryhehadtoturnaboutandspeaktothem；andhesaid：“Goodpeople，rejoice！therearenomorefoemenofWulsteadanighyounow；
　　andtakethiswordofme，thatIwillseetoitintimetocomethatyeliveinpeaceandquiethere。”
　　Folkshoutedforjoy，andthefatherswhowerestandingwithinthegateheardhiswordandrejoiced，andsomeofthemranofftotellKingPeterthathissonwascomebackvictoriousalready；
　　sothatbythenhehaddismountedattheGuest-housedoor，lo！therewastheKingandhiswifewithhim，andboththeyalbounfordeparture。AndwhentheysawhimKingPetercriedout：
　　“Thereisnoneedtosayaword，myson；unlessthouwouldsttellthetaletotheholyfatherPrior，who，asyesee，hase’ennowcomeouttous。”
　　SaidRalph：“Fatherandmother，Iprayyourblessing，andalsotheblessingofthefatherPriorhere；andthetaleisshortenough：
　　thatwehaveoverthrownthemandslainthemorepart，andtheothersarenowbeingdrivenlikeaherdofswineintotheirstrongholdoftheWoodDebateable，where，forsooth，Ishallbeeretheworldisonemontholder。Andinthedoingofallthishavebutthreeofourmenbeenslainandafewhurt，amongstwhomisthysonHugh，butnotsorely。”
　　“Oyea，son。”saidhismother，“heshalldowellenough。
　　Butnowwiththyleave，holyPrior，wewilldepart，sothatwemaysleepintheHighHouseto-night，andfeelthatmydearson’shandisoverustowardus。”
　　ThenRalphkneltbeforethem，andKingPeterandhiswifeblessedtheirsonwhentheyhadkissedandembracedeachother，andtheyweptforjoyofhim。ThePrioralso，whowasold，andaworthyprelate，andanancientfriendofKingPeter，mightnotrefrainhistearsatthejoyofhisfriendsashegaveRalphhisblessing。Andthen，whenRalphhadrisenupandthehorseswerecome，hesaidtohim：
　　“Onethingthouartnottoforget，youngconqueror，towit，thatthouarttocomehereearlyoneday，andtellmeallthytaleatfulllength。”
　　“Yea，Prior。”saidRalph，“orthereistheHighHouseofUpmeadsfortheetouseasthineown，andarestfortheeofthreeorfourdayswhilethouhearkenestthetale；foritmayneedthat。”
　　“Hearken。”saidKingPetersoftlytotheDame，“howhereckonsitallhisown；mydayisdone，mydear。”Hespakesmiling，andshesaid：
　　“Soothlyheiswaxenmasterful，andwellitbecomeththedearyoungling。”
　　Nowtheygettohorseandridetheirways，whileallfolkblessedthem。
　　ThetwooldfolkrodefastandpressedtheirnagswhateverRalphmightdotogivethempastimeofwords；sotheycameintotheplainfieldofUpmeadstwohoursbeforesunset；andKingPetersaid：
　　“NowIaccountitthatIhavehadonedaymoreofmylifethanwasmydue，andthou，son，hastaddedittotheotherswhereasthoudidstnotpromisetobringmehithertillmorrow。”