TheyCometotheDryTreePresentlyastheyrodetheyhadbeforethemoneofthegreatestofthoseland-waves，andtheyclimbeditslowly，goingafootandleadingtheirhorses；butwhentheywerebutalittlewayfromthebrowtheysaw，overagapthereof，something，asitwerehugehornsrisingupintotheairbeyondthecrestoftheridge。
Sotheymarvelled，anddrewtheirswords，andheldthemstillawhile，misdoubtingifthiswereperchancesometerriblemonsterofthewaste；
butwhereasthethingmovednotatall，theypluckedupheartandfaredon。
Socametheytothebrowandlookedoveritintoavalley，aboutwhichonallsideswenttheridge，savewhereitwasbrokendownintoanarrowpassonthefurtherside，sothatthesaidvalleywasliketooneofthosetheatresoftheancientRomanFolk，whereofaresometobeseenincertainlands。
Neitherdidthosedesertbencheslacktheirsitters；
foralldownthesidesofthevalleysatorlaychildrenofmen；
somewomen，butmostmen-folk，ofwhomthemorepartwereweaponed，andsomewiththeirdrawnswordsintheirhands。
Whateversemblanceofmovingwasinthemwaswhentheeddyingwindofthevalleystirredtheragsoftheirraiment，orthelonghairofthewomen。Butaverymidmostofthisdrearytheatreroseupahugeandmonstroustree，whosetopmostbrancheswereeventhehornswhichtheyhadseenfrombelowthehill’sbrow。Leaflesswasthattreeandlackingoftwigs，anditsboleupheldbutsomefiftyofgreatlimbs，andastheylookedonit，theydoubtedwhetheritwerenotmadebymen’shandsratherthangrownupoutoftheearth。
Allroundabouttherootsofitwasapoolofclearwater，thatcastbacktheimageofthevalley-sideandthebrightskyofthedesert，asthoughithadbeenamirrorofburnishedsteel。
Thelimbsofthattreewereallbehungwithblazonedshieldsandknight’shelms，andswords，andspears，andaxes，andhawberks；
anditroseupintotheairsomehundredfeetabovetheflatofthevalley。
ForawhiletheylookeddownsilentlyontothismarvelthenfromboththeirlipsatoncecamethecryTHEDRYTREE。
ThenRalphthrusthisswordbackintohissheathandsaid：
“MeseemsImustneedsgodownamongstthem；thereisnaughttodousharmhere；forallthesearedeadliketheothersthatwesaw。”
Ursulaturnedtohimwithburningcheeksandsparklingeyes，andsaideagerly：“Yea，yea，letusgodown，elsemightwechancetomisssomethingthatweoughttowotof。”
Therewithshealsosheathedhersword，andtheywentbothofthemdowntogether，andthateasily；forasaforesaidtheslopewasasifithadbeencutintostepsfortheirfeet。
Andastheypassedbythedeadfolk，forwhomtheyhadoftentoturnaside，theynotedthateachofthedeadleatheryfaceswasdrawnupinagrinasthoughtheyhaddiedinpain，andyetbeguiled，sothatallthosevisageslookedsomewhatalike，asthoughtheyhadcomefromtheworkshopofonecraftsman。
AtlastRalphandUrsulastoodonthelevelgroundunderneaththeTree，andtheylookedupatthebranches，anddowntothewaterattheirfeet；
andnowitseemedtothemasthoughtheTreehadverilygrowthinit，fortheybehelditsroots，thattheywentoutfromthemoundorisletofearthintothewater，andspreadabroadtherein，andseemedtowaverabout。
SotheywalkedaroundtheTree，andlookedupattheshieldsthathungonitsbranches，butsawnoblazonthattheyknew，thoughtheyweremanyanddiverse；andthearmouralsoandweaponswereverydiverseoffashion。
Nowwhentheywerecomebackagaintotheplacewheretheyhadfirststayed，Ralphsaid：“Ithirst，andsobelikedostthou；
andhereiswatergoodandclear；letusdrinkthen，andsospareourwater-skins，forbelikethedrydesertisyetlong。”Andtherewithhekneltdownthathemighttakeofthewaterinthehollowofhishand。
ButUrsuladrewhimback，andcriedoutinterror：“ORalph，doitnot！
Seestthounotthiswater，thatalthoughitbebrightandclear，sothatwemayseeallthepebblesatthebottom，yetneverthelesswhenthewindeddiesabout，andliftstheskirtsofourraiment，itmakesnorippleonthefaceofthepool，anddoubtlessitisheavywithvenom；andmoreoverthereisnosignofthewayhereabout，asatotherwatering-steads；Oforbear，Ralph！”
Thenheroseupanddrewbackwithherbutslowlyandunwillinglyasshedeemed；andtheystoodtogetherawhilegazingonthesemarvels。
Butloamidstofthiswhile，therecameacrowwheelingoverthevalleyofthedead，andhecroakedovertheDryTree，andlethimselfdropdowntotheedgeofthepool，wherebyhestalkedaboutalittleafterthemannerofhiskind。Thenhethrusthisnebintothewateranddrank，andthereaftertookwingagain；
buterehewasmanyfeetoffthegroundhegaveagrievouscroak，andturningoverintheairfelldownstarkdeadclosetothefeetofthosetwain；andRalphcriedoutbutspakenowordwithmeaningtherein；
thensaidUrsula：“Yea，thusarewesavedfrompresentdeath。”
ThenshelookedinRalph’sface，andturnedpaleandsaidhastily：
“Omyfriendhowisitwiththee？”Butshewaitednotforananswer，butturnedherfacetothebentwherebytheyhadcomedown，andcriedoutinaloud，shrillvoice：“ORalph，Ralph！lookupyondertotheridgewherebyweleftourhorses；look，look！thereglittersaspearandstirreth！andloahelmunderneaththespear：
tarrynot，letussaveourhorses！”
ThenRalphletacryoutfromhismouth，andsetoffrunningtothesideoftheslope，andfelltoclimbingitwithgreatstrides，notheedingUrsula；butshefollowedcloseafter，andscrambledupwithfootandhandandknee，tillshestoodbesidehimonthetop，andhelookedaroundwildlyandcriedout：
“Where！wherearethey？”
“Nowhere。”shesaid，“itwasnaughtbutmywordtodrawtheefromdeath；
butpraisetothesaintsthatthouarecomealiveoutoftheaccursedvalley。”
Heseemednottohearken，butturnedaboutonce，andbeattheairwithhishands，andthenfelldownonhisbackandwithagreatwailshecastherselfuponhim，forshedeemedatfirstthathewasdead。
Butshetookalittlewaterfromoneoftheirskins，andcastitintohisface，andtookaflaskofcordialfromherpouch，andsetittohislips，andmadehimdrinksomewhatthereof。
Soinawhilehecametohimselfandopenedhiseyesandsmileduponher，andshetookhisheadinherhandsandkissedhischeek，andhesatupandsaidfeebly：“Shallwenotgodownintothevalley？
thereisnaughttheretoharmus。”
“Wehavebeendowntherealready。”shesaid，“andwellitisthatwearenotbothlyingtherenow。”
Thenhegottohisfeet，andstretchedhimself，andyawnedlikeonejustawakenedfromlongsleep。Butshesaid：
“Letustohorseandbegone；itisearlyhourstoslumber，forthosethatareseekingtheWellattheWorld’sEnd。”
Hesmiledonheragainandtookherhand，andsheledhimtohishorse，andhelpedhimtillhewasinthesaddleandlightlyshegata-horseback，andtheyrodeawayswiftlyfromthatevilplace；
andafterawhileRalphwashimselfagain，andrememberedallthathadhappenedtillhefelldownonthebrowoftheridge。
ThenhepraisedUrsula’swisdomandvaliancytillshebadehimforbearlesthewearyher。Albeitshedrewupclosetohimandkissedhisfacesweetly。
CHAPTER19
TheyComeOutoftheThirstyDesertPasttheValleyoftheDryTreetheysawbutfewdeadmenlyingabout，andsoontheysawneveranother：
and，thoughthelandwasstillutterlybarren，andallcastupintoridgesasbefore，yetthesaltslimegrewlessandless，andbeforenightfallofthatdaytheyhaddonewithit：
andthenextdaythosestonywaveswerelower；andthenextagainthewastewasbutaswellingplain，andhereandtheretheycameonpatchesofdwarfwillow，andotherharshandscantyherbage，whereofthehorsesmighthaveabait，whichtheysoreneeded，fornowwastheirfodderdone：
butbothmenandhorsesweresoreathirst；for，ascarefullyastheyhadhoardedtheirwater，therewasnowbutlittleleft，whichtheydurstnotdrinktilltheyweredrivenperforce，lesttheyshouldyetdieofdrought。
Theyjourneyedlongthatday，andwhereasthemoonwasupatnight-tidetheylaynotdowntillshewasset；andtheirrestingplacewasbysomelowbushes，whereaboutwasroughgrassmingledwithwillow-herb，wherebyRalphjudgedthattheydrewnightowater，soorevertheyslept，theyandthehorsesallbutemptiedthewater-skins。Theyheardsomesortofbeastsroaringinthenight，buttheyweretoowearytowatch，andmightnotmakeafire。
WhenRalphawokeinthemorninghecriedoutthathecouldseethewoodland；
andUrsulaaroseathiscryandlookedwherehepointed，andsureenoughthereweretreesonarisinggroundsometwomilesahead，andbeyondthem，notveryfarbyseeming，theybeheldthetopsofgreatdarkmountains。
Oneitherhandmoreover，nighontheirrighthand，faroffontheirleft，ranareefofrocks，sothattheirwayseemedtobeasbetweentwowalls。
Andthesesaidreefswerenowiselikethosethattheyhadseenoflate，butblackand，astotheirmatter，liketothegreatmountainsbytherockoftheFightingMan：butasthereefsraneastwardtheyseemedtogrowhigher。
Nowtheymountedtheirhorsesatonceandrodeon；andthebeastswereaseagerastheywere，andbelikesmeltthewater。
Sowhentheyhadriddenbutthreemiles，theysawafairlittleriverbeforethemwindingaboutexceedingly，butflowingeastwardonthewhole。Sotheyspurredonwithlightheartsandpresentlywereonthebanksofthesaidriver，anditswaterswerecrystal-clear，thoughitssandswereblack：
andthepink-blossomedwillow-herbwasgrowingabundantlyonthesandyshores。Closetothewaterwasablackrock，asbigasaman，whereonwasgraventhesignoftheway，sotheyknewthattherewasnoevilinthewater，whereforetheydranktheirfillandwateredtheirhorsesabundantly，andonthefurtherbankwasthereabundanceofgoodgrass。
Sowhentheyhaddrunktheirfill，forthepleasureofthecoolwatertheywadedthefordbarefoot，anditwasscarceaboveUrsula’sknee。
Thentheyhadgreatjoytolieonthesoftgrassandeattheirmeat，whilethehorsestoreeagerlyattheherbageclosetothem。
Sowhentheyhadeaten，theyrestedawhile，butbeforetheywentfurthertheydespoiledthem，oneafterother，andbathedinapooloftherivertowashthefoulwildernessoffthem。
Thenagaintheyrestedandletthehorsesyetbitethegrass，anddepartednotfromthatpleasantplacetillitwastwohoursafternoon。AstheywerelyingthereRalphsaidhecouldhearagreatroarlikethesoundofmanywaters，butveryfaroff：
buttoUrsulaitseemednaughtbutthewindwaxingintheboughsofthewoodlandanighthem。
CHAPTER20
TheyCometotheOceanSeaBeingcometothewoodtheywentnotveryfarintoitthatday，fortheyweremindedtorestthemafterthewearinessofthewilderness：
theyfeastedonaharewhichRalphshot，andmadeabigfiretokeepoffevilbeasts，butnonecamenighthem，thoughtheyheardthevoicesofcertainbeastsasthenightgrewstill。
Tobeshort，theysleptfarintothemorrow’smorn，andthen，beingrefreshed，andtheirhorsesalso，theyrodestronglyallday，andfoundthewoodtobenotverygreat；forbeforesunsettheywerecometoitsoutskirts，andthemountainslaybeforethem。
ThesewerebutlittleliketothathugewalltheyhadpassedthroughontheirwaytoChestnut-dale，beingrathergreathillsthanmountains，grass-grown，andattheirfeetsomewhatwooded，andbyseemingnotoverhardtopassover。
Thenextdaytheyenteredthembyapassmarkedwiththetoken，whichledthemaboutbyawindingwaytilltheywereonthesideofthebiggestfellofall；sotheretheyrestedthatnightinafairlittlehollowordellinthemountain-side。ThereinthestillnessofthenightbothUrsula，aswellasRalph，heardthatroaringofagreatwater，andtheysaidtoeachotherthatitmustbethevoiceoftheSea，andtheyrejoicedthereat，fortheyhadlearnedbytheSageandhisbooksthattheymustneedscometothevergeoftheOcean-Sea，whichgirdlestheearthabout。
Sotheyarosebetimesonthemorrow，andsettoworktoclimbthemountain，goingmostlya-foot；andthewaywaslong，butnotcraggyorexceedingsteep，sothatinfivehours’