butheturnedamerryfacetoher，andcaughtherroundthemiddleandstrainedhertohisbosom，andthentookthebowandarrowsandrandowntheslopeandoverthestream，intothethicketofthevalley。
Hewentfurtherthanhehadlookedfor，erehefoundapreytohismind，andthenhesmotearoewithashaftandslewher，andbrokeupthecarcaseanddightitduly，andsowenthiswaysback。
Whenhecametothestreamhelookedupandsawalittlefireglitteringnotfarfromthecave，buthadnoclearsightoftheLady，thoughhethoughthesawhergownflutteringnighoneofthethorn-bushes。
Thenhedidoffhisraimentandenteredthatpoolofthestream，andwasgladtobathehiminthesameplacewhereherbodyhadbeenbutoflate；forhehadnotedthatthestonesofthelittleshorewerestillwetwithherfeetwhereshehadgoneupfromthewater。
Butnow，asheswamandsportedinthesun-warmedpoolhedeemedheheardthewhinnyingofahorse，butwasnotsure，soheheldhimselfstilltolisten，andheardnomore。
ThenhelaughedandbethoughthimofFalconhisownsteed，anddiveddownunderthewater；butashecameup，laughingstillandgasping，heheardanoiseoftheclatterofhorsehoofs，asifsomeonewereridingswiftlyupthefurthersideofthegrassytable，whereitwasstony，ashehadnotedwhentheypassedby。
Adeadlyfearfelluponhisheartashethoughtofhisloveleftallalone；
sohegathimatonceoutofthewaterandcasthisshirtoverhishead；
butwhilehisarmswereyetentangledinthesleevesthereof，cametohisearsagreatandawfulsoundofaman’svoiceroaringout，thoughtherewerenoshapenwordsintheroar。Thenwerehisarmsfreethroughthesleeves，andhetookupthebowandfelltobendingit，andeventherewithheheardagreatwailingofawoman’svoice，andshecriedout，piteously：“Helpme，Ohelp，lovelycreatureofGod！”
Yetmustheneedsfinishbendingthebowhowsoeverhisheartdiedwithinhim；orwhathelpwouldtherebeofanakedandunarmedman？
Atlastitwasbentandanarrownockedonthestring，asheleaptovertheriveranduptheslope。
Butevenashecameuptothatpleasantplacehesawallinamomentoftime；
thattherestoodSilverfaxanightheCave’smouth，andtheLadylyingontheearthanighthehorse；andbetwixtherandhimtheKnightoftheSunstoodupstark，hisshininghelmonhishead，thelastraysofthesettingsunflashinginthebroideredimageofhisarmouries。
HeturnedatonceuponRalph，shakinghisswordintheairandtherewasblooduponthebladeandhecriedoutinterriblevoice：“Thewitchisdead，thewhoreisdead！
Andthou，thief，whohaststolenherfromme，andlainbyherinthewilderness，nowshaltthoudie，thou！”
ScarcehadhespokenthanRalphdrewhisbowtothearrow-headandloosed；
therewasbutsometwentypacesbetwixtthem，andtheshaft，spedbythatfellarcher，smotethehugemanthroughtheeyeintothebrain，andhefelldownalongclattering，deadwithoutawordmore。
ButRalphgaveforthagreatwailofwoe，andranforwardandkneltbytheLady，wholayallhuddledupfacedownuponthegrass，andheliftedherupandlaidhergentlyonherback。
Thebloodwasflowingfastfromagreatwoundinherbreast，andhetoreoffapieceofhisshirttostaunchit，butshewithoutknowledgeofhimbreathedforthherlastbreatherehecouldtouchthehurt，andhestillkneltbyher，staringonherasifheknewnotwhatwastoward。
Shehaddightherwhatshecouldtowelcomehisreturnfromthehunting，andhadsetawreathofmeadow-sweetonherredhair，andagarlandofeglantineabouthergirdlestead，andleftherfeetnakedafterthepoolofthestream，andhadturnedthebezelsofherfinger-ringsoutward，forjoyofthatmeeting。
Afterawhileheroseupwithamostbittercry，andrandownthegreenslopeandoverthewater，andhitherandthitheramongstthebusheslikeonemad，tillhebecamesowearythathemightscarcegoorstandforweariness。ThenhecreptbackagaintothatChamberofLove，andsatdownbesidehisnew-wonmate，callingtomindallthewastedwordsofthedaygoneby；
forthesummernightwascomenow，mostfairandfragrant。
Buthewithheldthesobbingpassionofhisheartandputforthhishand，andtouchedher，andshewasstill，andhishandfeltherfleshthatitwascoldasmarble。
Andhecriedoutaloudinthenightandthewilderness，wheretherewasnonetohearhim，andaroseandwentawayfromher，passingbySilverfaxwhowasstandingnearby，stretchingouthishead，andwhinnyingatwhiles。
Andhesatontheedgeofthegreentable，andtherecameintohisminddespitehimselfthoughtsofthepleasantfieldsofUpmeads，andhissportsandpleasuresthere，andtheeven-songoftheHighHouse，andthefolkofhisfellowshipandhislove。
Andtherewithhisbreastaroseandhisfacewaswryed，andheweptloudandlong，andasifheshouldnevermakeanendofit。
Butsowearywashe，thatatlasthelaybackandfellasleep，andwokenottillthesunwashighintheheavens。
Andsoitwas，thathisslumberhadbeensoheavy，thatheknewnotatfirstwhathadbefallen；andonemomenthefeltglad，andthenextasifheshouldneverbegladagain，thoughwhyhewottednot。ThenheturnedaboutandsawSilverfaxcroppingthegrassnearby，andtheLadylyingtherelikeanimagethatcouldmovenowhit，thoughtheworldawokeabouther。
Thenheremembered，yetscarceall，sothatwildhopesswelledhisheart，andherosetohiskneesandturnedtoher，andcalledtomindthatheshouldneverseeheraliveagain，andsobbingandwailingbrokeoutfromhim，forhewasyoungandstrong，andsorrowdealthardlywithhim。
Butpresentlyhearosetohisfeetandwenthitherandthither，andcameuponthequenchedcoalsofthecooking-fire：shehadbakedcakesforhiseating，andhesawthemlyingthereby，andhungerconstrainedhim，sohetookandateofthemwhilethetearsrandownhisfaceandmingledwiththebreadheate。
Andwhenhehadeaten，hefeltstrongerandthereforewaslifemoregrievoustohim，andwhenhethoughtwhatheshoulddo，stillonethingseemedmoreirksomethantheother。
Hewentdowntothewatertodrink，andpassedbythebodyoftheKnightoftheSun，andwrathwasfierceinhisheartagainsthimwhohadoverthrownhishappiness。
Butwhenhehaddrunkandwashedhandsandfacehecamebackagain，andhardenedhishearttodowhathemustneedsdo。
HetookupthebodyoftheLadyandwithgriefthatmaynotbetoldof，hedrewitintothecave，andcutboughsoftreesandlaidthemoverherfaceandallherbody，andthentookgreatstonesfromthescreeatthatotherendofthelittleplain，andheapedthemuponhertillshewasutterlyhiddenbythem。
Thenhecameoutontothegreenplaceandlookedonthebodyofhisfoe，andsaidtohimselfthatallmustbedecentandinorderabouttheplacewhereaslayhislove。
Andhecameandstoodoverthebodyandsaid：
“Ihavenaughttodotohatehimnow：ifhehatedme，itwasbutforalittlewhile，andheknewnaughtofme。
Solethisbonesbecoveredupfromthewolfandthekite。
Yetshalltheynotliealongsideofher。Iwillraiseacairnabovehimhereonthisfairlittleplainwhichhespoiltofalljoy。”
Therewithhefellto，andstraightenedhisbody，andlaidhishugelimbstogetherandclosedhiseyesandfoldedhisarmsoverhisbreast；andthenhepiledthestonesabovehim，andwentoncastingthemontheheapalongwhileaftertherewasneedthereof。
Ralphhadtakenhisraimentfromthestream-sideanddonethemonbeforethis，andnowhedidonhelmandhauberk，andgirthisswordtohisside。
Thenashewasaboutleavingthesorrowfulplace，helookedonSilverfax，whohadnotstrayedfromthelittleplain，andcameuptohimanddidoffsaddleandbridle，andlaidthemwithinthecave，andbadethebeastgowhitherhewould。Heyetlingeredabouttheplace，andlookedallaroundhimandfoundnaughttohelphim，andcouldframeinhismindnointentofadeedthen，noranytaleofadeedheshoulddothereafter。
Yetbelikeinhismindweretwothoughts，andthoughneithersoftenedhisgriefsavealittle，hedidnotshrinkfromthemashedidfromallothers；
andthesetwowereofhishomeatUpmeads，whichwassofamiliartohim，andoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，whichwasbutaword。
RalphComethOutoftheWildernessLonghestoodlettingthesethoughtsrunthroughhismind，butatlastwhenitwasnowmidmorning，hestirredandgathimslowlydownthegreenslope，andforverypityofhimselfthetearsbrakeoutfromhimashecrossedthestreamandcameintothebushyvalley。Therehestayedhisfeetalittle，andsaidtohimself：“AndwhitherthenamIgoing？”
HethoughtoftheCastleofAbundanceandtheChampionsoftheDryTree，ofHigham，andthenoblewarriorswhosatattheLordAbbot’sboard，andofUpmeadsandhisownfolk：butallseemednaughttohim，andhethought：“AndhowcanIgobackandbearfolkaskingmecuriouslyofmywayfarings，andwhetherIwilldothis，that，ortheotherthing。”
WithalhethoughtofthatfairdamselandhersweetmouthinthehostelryatBourtonAbbas，andgroanedwhenhethoughtofloveanditsending，andhesaidwithinhimself：“andnowsheisawandererabouttheearthasIam；“andhethoughtofherquest，andthechapletofdameKatherine，hisgossip，whichheyetboreonhisneck，andhedeemedthathehadnaughttochoosebuttogoforwardandseekthathewasdoomedto；
andnowitseemedtohimthattherewasthatonethingtodoandnoother。
Andthoughthisalsoseemedtohimbutwearinessandgrief，yetwhereashehadeverlightlyturnedhimtodoingwhatworklayreadytohand；
sonowheknewthathemustfirstofallgethimoutofthatwilderness，thathemighthearthetalkoffolkconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEnd，whichhedoubtednottohearagainwhenhecameintothepartsinhabited。
Sonow，withhiswillorwithoutit，hisfeetborehimon，andhefollowedupthestreamwhichtheLadyhadsaidranintothebroadrivercalledtheSwellingFlood；“for。”thoughthe，“whenIcomethereaboutIshallpresentlyfindsomecastleorgoodtown，anditislikethateitherIshallhavesometidingsofthefolkthereof，orelsetheywillcompelmetodosomething，andthatwillirkmelessthandoingdeedsofmineownwill。”
Hewenthiswaystillhecametowherethewoodandthetreesended，andthehillswerelowerandlonger，wellgrassedwithshortgrass，adowncountryfitforthefeedingofsheep；andindeedsomesheephesaw，andashepherdortwo，butfaroff。Atlast，afterhehadleftthestreamawhile，becauseitseemedtohimtoturnandwindroundovermuchtothenorthward，hecameuponaroadrunningathwartthedowncountry，sothathedeemedthatitmustleadonewaydowntotheSwellingFlood；
sohefolloweditup，andafterawhilebegantofallinwithfolk；
andfirsttwoCompanionsarmedandbearinglongswordsovertheirshoulders：
hestoppedastheymet，andstaredatthemintheface，butanswerednottheirgreeting；andtheyhadnowilltomeddlewithhim，seeinghisinchesandthathewaswellarmed，andlookednocraven：
sotheywenton。
Nexthecameontwowomenwhohadwiththemanassbetweentwopanniers，ladenwithcountrystuff；andtheyweresittingbythewayside，oneoldandtheotheryoung。Hemadenostayforthem，andthoughheturnedhisfacetheirway，tooknoheedofthemmorethaniftheyweretrees；
thoughthedamsel，whowaswell-likingandsomewhatgailyclad，stoodupwhenshesawhisfaceanigh，anddrewhergownskirtaboutherandmoveddaintily，andsighedandlookedafterhimashewenton，forshelongedforhim。
Yetagaincametwomena-horseback，merchantscladgoodly，withthreecarles，theirservants，ridingbehindthem；andallthesehadweaponsandgavelittlemoreheedtohimthanhetothem。
Butalittleaftertheyweregone，hestoppedandsaidwithinhimself：
“MaybeIhadbetterhavegonetheirway，andthisroaddoubtlessleadethtosomeplaceofresort。”
Buteventherewithheheardhorsehoofsbehindhim，andanoncameupamana-horseback，armedwithjackandsallet，alongspearinhishand，andbudgetsathissaddle-bow，wholookedlikesomelord’smangoingamessage。
HenoddedtoRalph，whogavehimgood-day；forseeingthesefolkandtheirwayshadbynowsomewhatamendedhismind；andnowheturnednot，butwentonasbefore。
Atlastthewayclombahilllongerandhigherthananyhehadyetcrossed，andwhenhehadcometothebrowandlookeddown，hesawthebigriverclosebelowrunningthroughthewidevalleywhichhehadcrossedwithRogeronthatotherday。
Thenhesatdownonthegreenbankabovetheway，soheavyofheartthatnotoneofthethingshesawgavehimanyjoy，andtheworldwasnaughttohim。Butwithinawhilehecamesomewhattohimself，and，lookingdowntowardtheriver，hesawthatwheretheroadmetit，itwasverywide，andshallowwithal，forthewavesrippledmerrilyandglitteredintheafternoonsun，thoughtherewasnowind；moreovertheroadwentupwhitefromthewaterontheotherside，sohesawclearlythatthiswasthefordofahighway。Thevalleywaspeopledwithal：
ontheothersideoftheriverwasalittlethorp，andtherewerecartsandshedsscatteredaboutthehitherside，andsheepandneatfeedinginthemeadows，andinshortitwasanotherworldfromthedesert。