“Well，withinawhiletheWheat-wearersweregrownsofullofhopethattheybadethemenoftheDryTreeleadthemagainsttheBurgoftheFourFriths，andtheChampionswerereadythereto；becausetheywottedwell，that，Hamptonbeingdisgarnishedofmen，themenoftheBurgmightfallonit；
andeveniftheytookitnot，theywouldbesetallwaysandmakeridingahardmatterfortheirfellowship。
Sotheyfellto，wiselyanddeliberately，andledanhostofthebestofthecarleswiththem，andbadethewomenkeeptheirlandsurely，sothattheirhostwasnotagreatmany。
ButsowiselytheyledthemthattheycamebeforetheBurgwell-nighunawares；andthoughitseemedlittlelikelythattheyshouldtakesostrongaplace，yetnoughtlessbefell。
FortheBurg-dwellersbesetwithcrueltyandbitterangercriedoutthatnowatlasttheywouldmakeanendofthiscursedpeople，andthewhoresonstrong-thievestheirfriends：
sotheywentouta-gatesagreatmultitude，butinworserorderthantheirwontwas；andtherebefellthatmarvelwhichsometimesbefalletheventoveryvaliantmen，thatnowatthepinchalltheirvalourflowedfromthem，andtheyfledbeforethespearshadmet，andinsuchevilorderthatthegatescouldnotbeshut，andtheirfoemenenteredwiththemslayingandslayingevenastheywould。
Sothatinanhour’sspacetheprideandtheestateoftheBurgoftheFourFrithswasutterlyfallen。Hugewastheslaughter；
fortheWheat-wearersdeemedtheyhadmanyagriefwhereoftoavengethem；norwerethemenoftheDryTreeeithersluggardsorsaintstobecarelessoftheirfoemen，ortobemercifulinthebattle：butatlastthemurderwasstayed：
andthenthemenoftheWheat-wearerswentfromhousetohouseinthetowntofindthewomenoftheirfolkwhohadbeenmadethrallsbytheBurgers。Therethenwasmanyajoyfulmeetingbetwixtthosepoorwomenandthemenoftheirkindred：
allwasforgottennowofthedaysoftheirthralldom，theirtoilandmockingandstripes；andwithincertaindaysallthesortofthemcamebeforethehostcladingreenraiment，andgarlandedwithflowersforthejoyoftheirdeliverance；
andgreatfeastwasmadetothem。
“AsforthemoftheBurg，thebattleandchaseover，nomorewereslain，savethatcertainofthegreatonesweremadeshorterbythehead。
ButtheChampionsandtheWheat-wearersboth，saidthatnoneofthatbitterandcruelfolkshouldabideanylongerinthetown；
sothatafteradelaylongenoughforthemtoprovidestufffortheirwayfaring，theywereallthrustouta-gates，richandpoor，oldandyoung，man，womanandchild。Proudlyandwithastoutcountenancetheywent，fornowwastheirvalourcomeagaintothem。
Anditislikethatweshallhearofthemoftagain；forthoughtheyhadbutafewweaponsamongstthemwhentheyweredrivenoutoftheiroldhome，andneitherhauberknorshieldnorhelm，yetsolearnedinwarbetheyandsomarvellousgreatofpride，thattheywillsomehowgetthemweapons；andevenarmedbutwithheadlessstaves，andcudgelsofthethicket，woebetidethepeacefulfolkwhomtheyshallfirstfallon。Yea，fairsir，thedayshallcomemeseemethwhenfolkshallcallontheetoleadthehuntafterthesefamishedwolves，andwhenthoudostso，callonmetotelltheetalesoftheirdoingswhichshallmakethinehearthard，andthinehandheavyagainstthem。”
“Meantime。”saidRalph，“whathasbetidtotheFellowshipoftheDryTree？
forIseethatthouhastsomegriefonthymindbecauseofthem。”
Rogerkeptsilencealittleandthenhesaid：“IgrievebecauseHamptonisnomoreastrongplaceofwarriors；
twoorthreecarlesandadozenofwomendwellnowinthehallsandchambersoftheScaur。Hereonearth，allendeth。
Godsendustofindtheworldwithoutend！”
“Whatthen。”saidRalph，“havetheythenhadanothergreatoverthrow，worsethanthatother？”“Nay。”saidRogerdoggedly，“itisnotso。”
“ButwhereistheFellowship？”saidRalph。“Itisscatteredabroad。”
quothRoger。“ForsomeoftheDryTreehadnohearttoleavethewomenwhomtheyhadwooedintheWheat-wearer’sland：
andsome，andagreatmany，havetakentheirdearstodwellintheBurgoftheFourFriths，whereasamanyoftheWheat-wearershavegonetobegetchildrenontheoldbondwomenoftheBurgers；
ofwhomthereweresometwothousandaliveaftertheBurgwastaken；
besidesthatmanywomenalsocamewiththecarlesfromtheirownland。
“SothatnowamixedfolkaredwellingintheBurg，partlyofthosewomen-thralls，partlyofcarlesandqueanscomenewlyfromtheWheat-wearers，partlyofmenofourFellowshipthemorepartofwhomareweddedtoqueansoftheWheat-wearers，andpartlyofmen，chapmenandcraftsmenandotherswhohavedriftedintothetown，havingheardthatthereisnolackofwealththere，andmanyfairwomenunmated。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“andisallthissoill？”SaidRoger，“Meseemsitisillenoughthatthereisnolonger，rightlysaid，aFellowshipoftheDryTree，thoughthemenbealivewhowereonceofthatfellowship。”
“Nay。”saidRalph，“andwhyshouldtheynotmakeanewfellowshipintheBurg，whereastheymaywellbepeaceful，sincetheyhavecometotheiraboveoftheirfoemen？”
“Yea。”saidRogerslowly，“thatissooth；andsoisthis，thatthereintheBurgtheyareastrongband，withacaptainoftheirown，andmuchworshippedofthepeacefulfolk；
andmoreover，thoughtheybenotcrueltotormenthelplessfolk，orhardtomakeanendofalljoyto-day，lesttheylosetheirjoyto-morrow，theynowarrayallmeningoodorderwithintheBurg，sothatitshallbenoeasierforafoemantowinthaterstitwas。”
“What，man！”saidRalph，“thenbeofbettercheer，andcomethouwithus，andmaybetheoldsteelofthechampionsmaylookonthesundowninUpmeads。
Comethouwithme，Isay，andshowmeandmylucktosomeofthyfellowswhoaredwellingintheBurg，anditmaybewhenthouhasttoldmytaletothem，thatsomeofthemshallbecontenttoleavetheirbedscoldforawhile，thattheymaycomehelpaFriendoftheWellinhisneed。”
Rogersatsilentasifhewereponderingthematter，whileRichardandtheSage，bothofthem，tookupthewordoneaftertheother，andurgedhimtoit。
Atlasthesaid：“Well，sobeitforthisadventure。OnlyIsaynotthatIshallgiveupthishermitageandmyholinessforever。
Comethouaside，wisemanofSwevenham，andIshalltelltheewherefore。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，laughing，“andwhenhehathtoldthee，tellmenotagain；
forsureIamthatheisrighttogowithus，andbelikeshallbewronginhisreasontherefore。”
Rogerlookedalittleaskanceathim，andhewentwithoutdoorswiththeSage，andwhentheywereoutofearshot，hesaidtohim：
“Hearken，Iwouldhavegonewithmylordatthefirstword，andhavebeenfainthereof；butthereisthiswomanthatfollowethhim。
AteveryturnsheshallmindmeofourLadythatwas；andIshallloathher，andherfairnessandtheallurementsofherbody，becauseIseeofher，thatsheitisthathathgottenmyLady’sluck，andthatbutforhermyLadymightyethavebeenalive。”
SaidtheSage：“Wellquothmylordthatthouwouldstgivemeafool’sreason！What！dostnotthouknow，thouthatknowestsomuchoftheLadyofAbundance，thatsheitwaswhoordainedthisUrsulatobeRalph’sbedmate，whensheherselfshouldbegonefromhim，wereshedeadoralive，andthatshealsoshouldbeaFriendoftheWell，sothathemightnotlackafellowhislifelong？
Butthisthousayest，notknowingthemindofourLady，andhowshelovedhiminherinmostheart。”
Rogerhunghisheadandspakenotforawhile，andthenhesaid：
“Well，wiseman，IhavesaidthatIwillgoonthisadventure，andIwillsmoothmytongueforthiswhileatleast，andforwhatmaycomehereafter，letitbe。Andnowwewerebestgettohorse；
forwhatwithmeatandminstrelsy，wehavewornawaythedaytillitwantsbutalittleofnoon。GotellthylordthatIamready。
Farewellpeace，andwelcomewarandgrudging！”
SotheSagewentwithin，andcameoutwiththeothers，andtheymountedtheirhorsesanon，andRogerwentaheadonfoot，andledthemthroughthethicket-wayswithoutfumbling；andtheylaydownthatnightonthefarthersideoftheSwellingFlood。
AChangeofDaysintheBurgoftheFourFrithsThereisnaughttotelloftheirwaystilltheycameoutofthethicketintothefieldsabouttheBurgoftheFourFriths；andeventherewasalookofabetteringofmen’slives；thoughforsooththehusbandmenthereweremuchthesameashadabidedinthefieldsaforetime，whereastheywerenotforthemostpartfreemenoftheBurg，butalienswhodidserviceinwarandotherwisethereto。But，itbeingeventide，thereweremenandwomenandchildren，whohadcomeoutofgates，walkingaboutanddisportingthemselvesinthelovelinessofearlysummer，andthatinfarmerrierguisethantheyhaddurstdointhebygonedays。
Moreover，therewasscarceaswordorspeartobeseenamongstthem，whereatRogergrudgedsomewhat，andRichardsaid：“MeseemsthisfolktruststhepeaceoftheBurgovermuchsince，whenallistold，unpeaceisnotsofarfromtheirborders。”
ButastheydrewalittlenigherRalphpointedouttohisfellowsthegleamofhelmsandweaponsonthewalls，andtheysawawatchmanoneachofthehightowersofthesouthgate；andthenquothRoger：
“Nay，theBurgwillnotbewonsoeasily；andifafewfoolsgetthemselvesslainoutsideitisnogreatmatter。”
Folknowiseletthemcomeuptothegateunheeded，butgatheredaboutthemtolookatthenewcomers，butnotsoastohinderthem，andtheycouldseethatthesesummerersweregoodlyfolkenough，anddemeanedthemasthoughtheyhadbutfewtroublesweighingonthem。Butthewayfarerswerenotunchallengedatthegate，forastoutman-at-armsstayedthemandsaid：
“Yeridesomewhatlate，friends。Whatareye？”QuothRalph：
“Webepeacefulwayfarerssavetothemthatwouldfallonus，andweseektowardUpmeads。”“Yea？”saidtheman，“belikeyeshallfindsomethinglessthanpeacebetwixthereandUpmeads，forrumourgoesthattherearealienriderscomeintothelandsofHigham，andforaughtIknowthesaidunpeacemayspreadfurtheron。
WellifyewillgototheFlowerdeLuceandabidetherethisnight，yeshallhavealet-passto-mornbetimes。”
ThenRalphspakeawordinRoger’sear，andRogernoddedhishead，and，throwinghiscowlaback，wentuptotheman-at-armsandsaid：
“Stephena-Hurst，hastthoutimeforawordwithanoldfriend？”
“Yea，Roger。”saidtheman“isitverilythou？Ideemedthatthouhadstfledawayfromallofustoliveinthewilds。”
“Soitwas，lad。”saidRoger，“buttimeschangefromgoodtobadandbackagain；andnowamIofthisgoodlord’scompany；andIshalltellthee，Stephen，thatthoughheridethbutfewto-day，yetmerryshallhebethatridethwithhimto-morrowifunpeacebeintheland。
Loyou，Stephen，thisistheChildofUpmeads，whombelikethouhastheardof；andifthouwilttakemeintothechamberofthytower，Iwilltelltheethingsofhimthatthouwottestnot。”
StephenturnedtoRalphandmadeobeisancetohimandsaid：
“FairSir，therearetalesgoingaboutconcerningthee，somewhereofarestrangeenow，butnoneofthemill；andIdeembythelookoftheethatthoushaltbebothastarkchampionandagoodlord；
andIdeemthatitshallbemygoodluck，ifIseemoreofthee，andmuchmore。Nowifthouwilt，passonwiththineotherfellowstotheFlowerdeLuce，andleavethismyoldfellow-in-armswithme，andheshalltellmeofthymind；forIseethatthouwouldesthavesomewhatofus；andsince，Idoubtnotbythelooksofthee，thatthouwiltnotbidusaughtunknightly，whenweknowthywill，weshalltrytopleasurethee。”
“Yea，LordRalph。”saidRoger，“thoumayestleaveallthebusinesswithme，andIwillcometotheenotlaterthanbetimesto-morrow，andlettheewothowmattershavesped。
Andmethinksyemayhopetowendout-a-gatesthistimeotherwisethanthoudidestbefore。”
SoRalphgavehimyeasayandthankedtheman-at-armsandrodehiswayswiththeotherstowardtheFlowerdeLuce，andwhereasthesunwasbutnewlyset，Ralphnotedthattheboothsweregayerandthehousesbrighterandmorefairlyadornedthanaforetimes。