ThereforeyedobutrighttoseektotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，thatyemaythebetteraccomplishthatwhichbehovethyou，andthatyemayserveyourfellowsanddeliverthemfromthethralldomofthosethatbestrongandunwiseandunkind，ofwhomwehaveheardstrangetales。”
Ralphreddenedashespake，andUrsulalookedonhimanxiously，butthattalkdroppedforthepresent，andtheyfelltotalkingoflighterandmorefamiliarmatters。
Thereaftertheywanderedaboutthewoodswiththewardensandtheway-leaders，andtheelderbroughtthemtotheancientaltarinthewoodwhereontheSorceresshadofferedupthegoat；
andthehoweofthewomandightwiththenecklaceoftheQuestwhomtheLadyfounddeadinthesnow；andtheplacenighthehousewheretheSorceressusedtotormentherthrallthatwasafterwardstheLadyofAbundance；yea，andtheywentfurtherafieldtilltheycametotheValeofLore，andtheHeathaboveitwheretheymet，theKing’sSonandtheLady。
AlltheseandotherplaceswerenowbecomeashallowedgroundtotheInnocentPeople，andtoRalphnoless。
Inthehouse，moreover，wasafairarkwhereintheykeptmatterswhichhadbelongedtotheLady，ashershoesandhersmock，wrappedingoodlyclothamidstwell-smellingherbs；andthesethingstheyworshippedasfolkdowithrelicsofthesaints。
InanotherarkalsotheyshowedtheseekersabookwhereinwaswrittenloreconcerningtheWell，andthewaythereto。
ButofthisbookhadtheSageforewarnedRalphandhismate，andhadbiddenthemlooktoitthattheyshouldreadinit，andnootherwherethanatthatancientaltarinthewood，theytwoalone，andcladinsuch-likegearastheyworewhentheyhearkenedtohisreadingbyhishermitage。
Andsoitwasthattheyfoundthedueraimentinthearkalongwiththebook。Thereforedayafterdaybetimesinthemorningtheyborethesaidbooktothealtarandreadtherein，tilltheyhadlearnedmuchwisdom。
Thustheydidforeightdays，andontheninththeyrestedandweremerrywiththeirhosts：butonthetenthdaytheymountedtheirhorsesandsaidfarewell，anddepartedbythewaystheyhadlearnedof，theytwoalone。
Andtheyhadwiththembreadandmeal，asmuchastheymightbear，andwater-skinsmoreover，thattheymightfillthematthelastsweetwaterbeforetheycametothewaterlessdesert。
CHAPTER17
TheyComeThroughtheWoodlandtotheThirstyDesertSotheyridetheirways，andwhentheywerecomewellintothewildwoodpastthehouse，andhadspokenbutfewwordstoeachother，Ralphputforthhishand，andstayedUrsula，andtheygatofftheirhorsesunderagreat-limbedoak，anddidofftheirarmour，andsatdownonthegreenswardthere，andlovedeachotherdearly，andweptforjoyoftheirpainandtravailandlove。Andafterwards，astheysatsidebysideleaningupagainstthegreatoak-bole，Ralphspakeandsaid：
“Nowarewetwoonceagainallaloneintheuttermostpartsoftheearth，andbelikewearenotveryfarfromtheWellattheWorld’sEnd；
andnowIhavebethoughtmethatifwegainthatwhichweseekfor，andbearbackourlivestoourownpeople，thedaymaycomewhenwearegrownold，forasyoungaswemayseem，thatweshallbeaslonelythenaswearethishour，andthatthefolkroundaboutusshallbetousasmuchandnomorethanthesetreesandthewildthingsthatdwellamongstthem。”
Shelookedonhimandlaughedasoneover-happy，andsaid：
“Thourunnestforwardswiftlytomeettrouble，beloved！
ButIsaythatwellwillitbeinthosedaysifIlovethefolkthenaswellasnowIlovethesetreesandthewildthingswhosehousetheyare。”
Andsheroseuptherewithandthrewherarmsabouttheoak-boleandkisseditsruggedness，whileRalphashelaykissedthesleeknessofherfeet。
Andtherecamearobinhoppingovertheleavesanighthem，forinthatwoodmostofthecreatures，knowingnotman，weretametohim，andfearedthehorsesofthosetwainmorethantheirriders。
AndnowasUrsulaknelttoembraceRalphwithonehand，sheheldouttheothertothesaidrobinwhoperchedonherwrist，andsatthereasahoodedfalconhaddone，andfelltowhistlinghissweetnotes，asifhewerea-talkingtothosenew-comers：thenUrsulagavehimasong-rewardoftheirbrokenmeat，andheflewupandperchedonhershoulder，andnestledupagainsthercheek，andshelaughedhappilyandsaid：
“Loyou，sweet，havenotthewildthingsunderstoodmywords，andsentthisfairmessengertoforetellusallgood？”
“Itisgood。”saidRalphlaughing，“yettheoak-treehathnotspokenyet，despiteofallthykissing：andlotheregoesthyfriendtherobin，nowthouhastnomoremeattogivehim。”
“HeisflyingtowardstheWellattheWorld’sEnd。”shesaid，“andbiddethusonward：letustohorseandhasten：
forifthouwilthavethewholetruthconcerningmyheart，itisthis，thatsomechance-hapmayyettaketheefrommeerethouhastdrunkofthewatersoftheWell。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“andintheinnermostofmyheartlieththefearthatmayhappenthereisnoWell，andnohealinginitifwefindit，andthatdeath，andthebackwardwaymayyetsunderus。
Thisistheworstofmyheart，andevilismycowardfear。”
Butshecastherarmsabouthimandkissedandcaressedhim，andcriedout：
“Yea，thenfairhavebeenthedaysofourjourneying，andfairthishourofthegreenoak！Andboldandtruethineheartthathathledtheethusfar，andwontheethydesireofmylove。”
Sothentheyarmedthem，andmountedtheirhorsesandsetforward。
Theylivedwellwhiletheywereinthewood，butonthethirddaytheycametowhereitthinnedandatlastdiedoutintoastonywastelikeuntothatwhichtheyhadpassedthroughbeforetheycametotheHouseoftheSorceress，savethatthislayinridgesasthewavesofagreatsea；
andthesesameridgestheywerebiddentocrossoverattheirhighest，lesttheyshouldbebewilderedinamazeoflittlehillsanddalesleadingnowhither。
Sotheyenteredonthisdesert，havingfilledtheirwater-skinsataclearbrook，whereattheyrejoicedwhentheyfoundthatthefaceofthewildernesswascoveredwithasaltscurf，andthatnaughtgrewtheresaveasprinklingofsmallsagebushes。
Nowontheseconddayoftheirridingthisuglywaste，astheycameupoverthebrowofoneofthesestonyridges，Ralphthefar-sightedcriedoutsuddenly：“Hold！forIseeamanweaponed。”
“Whereishe？”quothUrsula，“andwhatisheabout？”
SaidRalph：“Heisupyonderontheswellofthenextridge，andbyseemingisasleepleaningagainstarock。”
ThenhebenttheTurkbowandsetanarrowonthestringandtheywentonwarily。WhentheyweredownatthefootoftheridgeRalphhailedthemanwithalustycry，butgatnoanswerofhim；
sotheywentonupthebent，tillRalphsaid：“NowIcanseehisfaceunderhishelm，anditisdarkandtheeyesarehollow：
Iwilloffhorseandgouptohimafoot，butdothou，beloved，sitstillinthysaddle。”
Butwhenhehadcomenigher，heturnedandcriedouttoher：
“Themanisdead，comeanigh。”Soshewentuptohimanddismounted，andtheybothtogetherstoodovertheman，whowaslyingupagainstabigstonelikeoneatrest。HowlonghehadlaintherenoneknowsbutGod；forinthesaltnessofthedrydesertthefleshhaddriedonhisboneswithoutcorrupting，andwasashardenedleather。
Hewasinfullarmourofastrangeandancientfashion，andhisswordwasgirttohisside，neitherwasthereanysignofawoundabouthim。
Underacraganighhimtheyfoundhishorse，deadanddryliketohimself；
andalittlewayoverthebrowoftheridgeanotherhorseinlikecase；
andclosebyhimawomanwhoseraimenthadnotutterlyperished，norherhair；
thereweregoldringsonherarms，andhershoesweredonewithgold：
shehadaknifestuckinherbreast，withherhandstillclutchingthehandlethereof；sothatitseemedthatshehadherselfgivenherselfdeath。
RalphandUrsulaburiedthesetwowiththeheapingofstonesandwenttheirways；butsometwomilesthencetheycameuponanotherdeadman-at-arms，andnearhimanoldmanunweaponed，andtheyheapedstonesonthem。
Thereaboutnightovertookthem，anditwasdark，sotheylaydowninthewaste，andcomfortedeachother，andslepttwoorthreehours，butarosewiththefirstglimmerofdawn，andmountedandrodeforthonward，thattheymightthesoonerbeoutofthatdeadlydesert，forfearclungtotheirhearts。
Thisday，forsooth，theyfoundsomanydeadfolk，thattheymightnotstaytoburythem，lesttheythemselvesshouldcometolietherelackingburial。
Sotheymadeallthewaytheymight，androdeonsomehoursbystarlightafterthenightwascome，foritwasclearandcold。Sothatatlasttheyweresoutterlyweariedthattheylaydownamongstthosedeadfolk，andsleptsoundly。
OnthemorrowmornRalphawokeandsawUrsulasleepingpeacefullyashedeemed，andhelookedaboutonthedrearydesertanditsdeadmenandsawnoendtoit，thoughtheylayonthetopofoneofthosestonybents；andhesaidsoftlytohimself：“Willitendatallthen？
SurelyallthispeopleofthedaysgonebywereSeekersoftheWellaswebe；andhavetheybeliketurnedbackfromsomewherefurtheron，andmightnotescapethedesertdespiteofall？Shallweturnnow：
shallweturn？surelywemightgetintothekindlywoodfromhere。”
Sohespake；butUrsulasatupforshewasnotasleepandsaid：
“Theperilsofthewastebeingabundantandexceedinghardtoface，wouldnottheSageorhisbookshavetoldusofthemostdeadly？”
SaidRalph：“Yethereareallthesedead，andwewerenottoldofthem，neverthelesswehaveseenthetokenontherocksoft-timesyesterday，soweareyetintheroad，unlessallthishathbeenbutasnareandabetrayal。”
Sheshookherhead，andwassilentalittle；thenshesaid：
“Ralph，mylad，didstthouseethistokenandshesethandtothebeadsaboutherneckonanyofthosedeadfolkyesterday？”
“Nay。”saidRalph，“thoughsoothtosayIlookedforit。”
“AndIinlikewise。”shesaid；“forindeedIhadmisgivingsasthedaygrewold；butnowIsay，letusoninthefaithofthattokenandthekindnessoftheSage，andtheloveoftheInnocentPeople；yea，andthyluck，Oladofthegreenfieldsfaraway，thathathbroughttheeunscathedsofarfromUpmeads。”
Sotheymountedandrodeforth，andsawmoreandmoreofthedeadfolk；
andeverandanontheylookedtothemtonoteiftheyworethebeadsliketothembutsawnonesodight。ThenUrsulasaid：
“Yea，whyshouldtheSageandthebookshavetoldusaughtofthesedeadbodies，thatarebutastheplenishingofthewaste；liketotheflowersthatarecastdownbeforethebierofasaintonaholy-daytobetroddenunderfootbythechurlsandthevicarsoftheclose。
Forsoothhadtheybeenalivenow，withswordstosmitewithal，andhandstodragusintocaptivity，ithadbeenanothermatter：
butagainsttheseIfeelbold。”
Ralphsighed，andsaid：“Yea，butevenifwedienotinthewaste，yetthisispiteous；somanylivespassedaway，somanyhopesslain。”
“Yea。”shesaid；“butdonotfolkdiethereintheworldbehindus？
IhaveseensightsfarworserthanthisatUtterbol，littlewhileasIwasthere。MoreoverIcannotethatthisarmyofdeadmenhasnotcomeallinonedayoroneyear，butinalong，longwhile，byoneandtwoandthree；
forhastthounotnotedthattheirraimentandwargearboth，isofmanyfashions，andsomemuchmoreperishedthanother，longasthingslastinthisDryWaste？Isaythatmendieasintheworldbeyond，buthereweseethemastheyliedead，andhavelainforsolong。”
Hesaid：“IfearneithertheWastenorthedeadmenifthoufearestnot，beloved：butIlamentforthesepoorsouls。”
“AndIalso。”saidshe；“thereforeletuson，thatwemaycometothosewhosegriefwemayheal。”