andtheyfailednevertofindthetokensthatledthemontheway，evenastheyhadlearnedoftheSage，sothattheywerenotbeguiledintoanystraying。
AndnowtheyhadwornawaythirtydayssincetheyhadpartedfromtheSage，andthedaysbegantoshortenandthenightstolengthenapace；
whenontheforenoonofaday，aftertheyhadriddenaveryruggedmountain-neck，theycamedownanddownintoamuchwidervalleyintowhichagreatreefofrocksthrustoutfromthehighmountain，sothatthenorthernhalfofthesaidvalewasnighcleftatwainbyit；
wellgrassedwasthevale，andafairriverranthroughit，andtherewereoneithersidethewatergreatgrovesoftallandgreatsweet-chestnutsandwalnuttrees，whereonthenutswerenowripe。
Theyrejoicedastheyrodeintoit；fortheyrememberedhowtheSagehadtoldthemthereof，thattheirtravelandtoilshouldbestayedthereawhile，andthattheretheyshouldwinter，becauseofthebreadwhichtheycouldmakethemofthechestnuts，andtheplentyofwalnuts，andthatwithaltherewasfoisonofvenison。
Sotheyfoundafordoftheriverandcrossedit，andwentstraighttotheheadoftherockyness，beingshownthitherbytheloreoftheSage，andtheyfoundinthefaceoftherockthemouthofacavern，andbesideitthetokenoftheswordandthebranch。Thereforetheyknewthattheyhadcometotheirwinterhouse，andtheyrejoicedthereat，andwithoutmoreadotheygotofftheirhorsesandwentintothecavern。
Theentrythereofwaslow，sothattheymustneedscreepintoit，butwithinitwasarock-hall，high，cleanandsweet-smelling。
Therethentheydighttheirdwelling，doingalltheymighttobedonewiththeirworkbeforethewinterwasuponthem。
Thedayaftertheyhadcometheretheyfelltoonthein-gatheringoftheirchestnutharvest，andtheydriedthem，andmadethemintomeal；
andthewalnutstheygatheredalso。Withaltheyhuntedthedeer，bothgreatandsmall；amongstwhichRalph，notwithoutsomeperil，slewtwogreatbears，ofwhichbeasts，indeed，therewassomewhatmorethanenough，astheycameintothedaletofeeduponthenutsandtheberry-trees。Sotheysoonhadgoodstoreofpeltriesfortheirbedsandtheirwinterraiment，whichUrsulafelltoworkondeftly，forsheknewallthecraftofneedlework；and，shortlytotellit，theyhadenoughandtospareofvictualandraiment。
CHAPTER12
WinterAmidstoftheMountainsInallthistheyhadenoughtobebusywith，sothattimehungnotheavyontheirhands，andtheshadowoftheQuestwasnowiseburdensometothem，sincetheywottedthattheyhadtoabidethewearingofthedaystillspringwascomewithfreshtidings。
Theirlabourwasnowiseirksometothem，sinceRalphwasdeftinallmannerofsportsandcrafts，suchasup-countryfolkfollow，andthoughhewereaking’sson，hehadmadeadoughtyyeoman：
andasforUrsula，shealsowascountry-bred，ofalineageoffield-folk，andknewallthemannersofthefields。
Withalinwhatsoeverwayitwere，theylovedeachotherdearly，andallkindofspeechflowedfreelybetwixtthem。
Soothtosay，Ralph，takingheedofUrsula，deemedthatshewerefaintolovehimbodily，andhewottedwellbynow，that，whateverhadbefallen，helovedher，bodyandsoul。
Yetstillwasthatfearofhernaysaylurkinginhisheart，ifheshouldkissher，orcaressher，asamanwithamaid。
Thereforeheforbore，thoughdesireofhertormentedhimgrievouslyatwhiles。
Theyworetheirarmourbutlittlenow，savewhentheywereaboutsomejourneywhereinwasperilofwildbeasts。Ursulahaddighthersomeduewoman’sraimentbetwixtherknight’ssurcoatanddoe-skinswhichtheyhadgotten，sothatitwasnotunseemlyoffashion。Asfortheirhorses，theybutseldombackedthem，butusedthemtodrawstufftotheirrock-houseonsledges，whichtheymadeoftree-boughs；sothatthebeastsgrewfat，feedingonthegrassofthevalleyandthewild-oatswithal，whichgrewattheupperendofthebightofthevalley，towardthenorthernmountains，wherethegroundwassandy。
Nomantheysaw，noranysignsofman，norhadtheyseenanysavetheSage，sincethoseridersofUtterbolhadvanishedbeforethemintothenight。
Soworeautumnintowinter，andthefrostcame，andthesnow，withprodigiouswindsfromoutofthemountains：
yetwasnottheweathersohardbutthattheymightgoforthmostdays，andcometonohurtiftheywerewaryofthedrifts；
andforsoothneedsmusttheygoabroadtotakevenisonfortheirlivelihood。
Sothewinterworealsoamidstsweetspeechandfriendlinessbetwixtthetwo，andtheylivedstillasdearfriends，andnotaslovers。
SeldomtheyspokeoftheQuest，foritseemedtothemnowamatterovergreatforspeech。ButnowtheyweregrownsofamiliareachtoeachthatUrsulatookhearttotellRalphmoreofthetidingsofUtterbol，fornowtheshameandgriefofherbondagetherewasbutasastorytoldofanother，sofarawayseemedthattimefromthis。
ButsogrievouswashertalethatRalphgrewgrimthereover，andhesaid：
“BySt。Nicholas！itwereagooddeed，oncewearepastthemountainsagain，toridetoUtterbolanddragthatswineandwittolfromhishallandslayhim，andgivehisfolkagoodday。Butthenthereisthou，myfriend，andhowshallIdrawtheeintodeadlystrife？”
“Nay。”shesaid，“wheresothouridestthitherwillI，andonefateshalllieonusboth。WewillthinkthereofandasktheSageofitwhenwereturn。
Whoknowswhatshallhavebefallenthen？RememberthelightingofthecandleofUtterbolthatwesawfromtheRock-sea，andthebodingthereof。”
SoRalphwasappeasedforthattime。
Oftalsotheyspakeofthelittlelandswhencetheycame，andonatimeamidstofsuchtalkUrsulasaid：“Butalas，friend，whydoIspeakofallthis，whennowsaveformybrother，wholovethmebutafterafashion，towitthatImustinallwisedohisbidding，ladasheis，Ihavenolongerkithnorkinthere，saveagainasallthefolkofonesteadaresomewhatakin。
Ithink，mydear，thatIhavenocountry，noranyhousetowelcomeme。”
SaidRalph：“Alllands，anylandthatthoumaystcometo，shallwelcomethee，andIshalllooktoitthatsoitshallbe。”
AndinhishearthethoughtofthewelcomeofUpmeads，andofUrsulasittingonthedaisofthehalloftheHigh-House。
SoworethedaystillCandlemass，whenthefrostbrokeandthesnowsbegantomelt，andthewaterscamedownfromthemountains，sothattheriverroseoveritsbanksanditswaterscoveredtheplainpartsofthevalley，andthosetwocouldgodryshodbutalittlewayoutoftheircavern；
nofurtherthanthegreenmoundortoftwhichlayatthemouththereof：
butthewaterswerethrongedwithfowl，asmallardandtealandcoots，andofthesetheytookwhattheywould。Whilesalsotheywadedtheshallowsoftheflood，andwhilespoledaraftaboutit，andsohadpleasureofthewatersasbeforetheyhadhadofthesnow。
Butwhenatlasttheveryspringwascome，andthegrassbegantogrowaftertheshowershadwashedtheplainofthewaterbornemud，andthesnowdrophadthrustupandblossomed，andthecelandinehadcome，andthenwhentheblackthornbloomedandtheLent-lilieshidthegrassbetwixtthegreatchestnut-boles，whenthesunshonebetwixttheshowersandthewestwindblew，andthethrostlesandblackbirdsceasednottheirsongbetwixtdawnanddusk，thenbeganRalphtosaytohimself，thateveniftheWellattheWorld’sEndwerenot，andallthattheSagehadtoldthemwasbutataleofSwevenham，yetwereallbetterthanwellifUrsulawerebuttohimawomanbelovedratherthanafriend。
Andwhileshewaspensiveandsilent，evenwhenshewasbyhim，andshenoteditandforboresomewhatthesweetnessofherglances，andthecaressingofhersoftspeech：thoughoftwhenhelookedonherfondly，thebloodwouldrisetohercheeks，andherbosomwouldheavewiththethoughtofhisdesire，whichquickenedherssosorely，thatitbecameapainandgrieftoher。
CHAPTER13
OfUrsulaandtheBearItbefellonafairsunnymorningofspring，thatRalphsataloneonthetoftbytherock-house，forUrsulahadgonedownthemeadowtodisportherandtobatheintheriver。Ralphwasfittingthebladeofadaggertoalongashenshaft，tomakehimastrongspear；
forwiththewaxingspringthebearswereofteninthemeadowsagain；
andthedaybeforetheyhadcomeacrossafamilyofthebeastsinthesandybightunderthemountains；towitacarle，andaqueanwithhercubs；thebeastshadseenthembutafaroff，andwhereasthemenweretwoandthesunshonebackfromtheirweapons，theyhadforbornethem；althoughtheywerefierceandproudinthosewastes，andcouldnotawaywithcreaturesthatwerenotoftheirkind。
SobecauseofthisRalphhadbiddenUrsulanottofareabroadwithouthersword，whichwassharpandstrong，andshenoweaklingwithal。
Hebethoughthimofthisjustashehadmadeanendofhisspear-shaping，sotherewithhelookedasideandsawthesaidswordhangingtoaboughofalittlequicken-tree，whichgrewhardbythedoor。
Fearcameintohishearttherewith，sohearoseandstrodedownoverthemeadowhastilybearinghisnewspear，andgirtwithhissword。
Nowtherewasagroveofchestnutsbetwixthimandtheriver，butontheothersideofthemnaughtbutthegreengrassdowntothewater’sedge。
Sureenoughashecameunderthetreesheheardashrillcry，andknewthatitcouldbenaughtsaveUrsula；soheranthitherwardwhencecamethecry，shoutingasheran，andwasscarcecomeoutofthetreeserehesawUrsulaindeed，mother-naked，heldinchasebyahugebearasbigasabullock：heshoutedagainandranthefaster；buteventherewith，whethersheheardandsawhim，andhopedfortimelyhelp，orwhethershefeltherlegsfailingher，sheturnedonthebear，andRalphsawthatshehadalittleaxeinherhandwherewithshesmotehardilyatthebeast；
buthe，afterthefashionofhiskind，havingrisentohishindlegs，fencedwithhisgreatpawslikeaboxer，andsmotetheaxeoutofherhand，andshecriedoutbitterlyandswervedfromhimandfellarunningagain；
butthebeartarriednot，andwouldhavecaughtherinafewturns；
buteventherewithwasRalphcomeup，whothrustthebeastintothesidewithhislong-headedspear，andnotwaitingtopullitoutagain，drewswordinatwinkling，andsmoteafore-pawoffhimandthendravetheswordinovertheshouldersohappilythatitreachedhisheart，andhefelloverdeadwithamightythump。
ThenRalphlookedaroundforUrsula；butshehadalreadyrunbacktotheriver-sideandwascastingherraimentonher；
soheawaitedherbesidetheslainbear，butwithdrawnsword，lesttheotherbearshouldcomeuponthem；forthiswasthehe-bear。HowbeithesawnaughtsavepresentlyUrsulaallcladandcomingtowardshimspeedily；soheturnedtowardher，andwhentheymethecasthimselfuponherwithoutaword，andkissedhergreedily；andsheforborenotatall，butkissedandcaressedhimasifshecouldneverbesatisfied。
Soatlasttheydrewapartalittle，andwalkedquietlytowardtherock-househandinhand。Andonthewayshetoldhimthatevenasshecameupontothebankfromthewatershesawthebearcomingdownonherasfastashecoulddrive，andsoshebutcaughtupheraxe，andranforit：“YetIhadlittlehope，dearfriend。”
shesaid，“butthatthoushouldstbeleftaloneinthewilderness。”
Andtherewithsheturnedonhimandcastherarmsabouthimagain，allweepingforjoyoftheirtwolives。
Thusslowlytheycamebeforethedooroftheirrock-houseandRalphsaid：
“Letussitdownhereonthegrass，andifthouartnotoverweariedwiththeflightandthebattle，Iwillasktheeaquestion。”
Shelaidherselfdownonthegrasswithasigh，yetitwasasofonewhosighsforpleasureandrest，andsaid，ashesatdownbesideher：
“Iamfaintorestmylimbsandmybody，butmyheartisatrest；
soaskon，dearfriend。”
Thesongofbirdswasallaroundthem，andthescentofmanyblossomswentpastonthewingsofthewestwind，andRalphwassilentalittleashelookedatthelovelinessofhisfriend；
thenhesaid：“Thisisthequestion；ofwhatkindarethykissesthismorning，aretheythekissesofafriendoralover？
Wiltthounotcalledmebelovedandnotfriend？Shallnotwetwolieonthebridalbedthissamenight？”
Shelookedonhimsteadily，smiling，butforloveandsweetness，notforshameandfolly；thenshesaid：“O，dearfriendanddearestlover，threequestionsaretheseandnotone；