wherebythewayfarerswottedthatthishadbeendoneinhismemorybyhisbrother，thenewLordofUtterbol。
SotheycamedownoutofthemountainstoWhiteness，wheretheyhadgoodentertainment，buttarriednotsaveforonenight，ridingtheirwaysbetimestoCheapingKnowe：
andtheycamebeforethegatethereofsafeandsoundonthethirdday；andsleptinthehostelryofthechapmen。
OnthemorrowRalphwentuptotheKing’sCastlewithbutthreemenunweaponedbearingthegiftwhichhehadgotfortheKing。
Albeithesentnotawayhismen-at-armstillheshouldknowhowtheKingwasmindedtowardshim。
Ashewenthesawinthestreetssadtokensofthelord’scrueljustice，ashandlessmen，fettered，draggingthemselvesabout，andfolkhungupbeforechapmen’sbooths，andwhipping-cheer，andthepillar，andsuchlike。
Butwhereashemightnothelphewouldnotheed，butcamerighttotheCastle-gate，andenteredeasilywhenhehadtoldhiserrand，forgift-bearingmenarenotoftenestwithstood。
Hewasbroughtstraightwayintothegreathall，wheresattheKingonhisthroneamidstthechiefsofthePorte，andhiscaptainsandsergeants，whowere，sotosay，hisbarons，thoughtheywerenotbaronsoflineage，butmasterfulmenwhowerewisetodohisbidding。
Ashewentupthehallhesawasortofpoorcaytiffs，womenaswellasmen，ledawayfromthehigh-placeinchainsbybailiffsandtipstaves；
andhedoubtednotthatthesewerefortormentsormaiminganddeath；
andthoughtitwerewellmighthedothemsomegood。
BeingcometotheKing，hemadehisobeisancetohim，andcravedhisgoodwillandleavetowagemen-at-armstobringhimthroughthemountains。
TheKingwasatallman，apropermanofwar；long-legged，blackbearded，andfierce-eyed。SomewordhehadheardofRalph’sgift，thereforehewasgracioustohim；hespakeandsaid：“Thouhastcomeacrossthemountainsalongway，fairSir；pritheeonwhaterrand？”
AnsweredRalph：“Fornoerrand，lord，savetofarehometomineownland。”
“Whereisthineownland？”saidtheKing，stretchingouthislegsandlyingbackinhischair。“West-away，lord，manyamile。”saidRalph。
“Yea。”quoththeKing，“andhowfardidstthougobeyondthemountains？
AsfarasUtterbol？”SaidRalph：“Yetfurther，butnottoUtterbol。”
“Hah！”saidtheKing，“whogoethbeyondUtterbolmusthaveagreaterrand；
whatwasthine？”
Ralphthoughtforamoment，anddeemeditbesttosayaslittleashemightconcerningUrsula；soheanswered，andhisvoicegrewloudandbold：
“IwasmindedtodrinkadraughtoftheWELLattheWORLD’SEND，andevensoIdid。”Ashespake，hedrewhimselfup，andhisbrowswereknitalittle，buthiseyessparkledfromunderthem，andhischelekswerebrightandrosy。
Hehalfdrewtheswordfromthescabbard，andsentitbackrattling，sothatthesoundofitwentaboutthehall；heuprearedhisheadandlookedaroundhimonthisandthatoneofthewarriorsofthealiens，andhesniffedtheairintohisnostrilsashestoodaloneamongstthem，andsethisfootdownhardontheflooroftheKing’shall，andhisarmourrattleduponhim。
ButtheKingsatboltuprightinhischairandstaredRalph’sface；
andthewarriorsandlordsandmerchantsfellbackfromRalphandstoodinanorderedrankoneithersideofhimandbenttheirheadsbeforehim。
NonespoketilltheKingsaidinahoarsevoice，butlowlyandwheedling：
“Tellus，fairSir，whatisitthatwecandotopleasurethee？”
“King。”saidRalph，“Iamnotheretotakegiftsbuttogivethemrather：
yetsincethoubiddestmeIwillcravesomewhatofthee，thatthoumaystbethemorecontent：andmoreoverthegivingshallcosttheenothing：
IcraveoftheetogivemelifeandlimbandfreedomforthepoorfolkwhomIsawleddownthehallbythytipstaves，evennow。
Givemethatornothing。”TheKingscowled，buthespake：
“Thisisindeedalittlegiftoftheetotake；yettononeelsesavetheehadIgivenit。”
Therewithhespaketoamanbesidehimandsaid：“Gothou，setthemfree，andifanyhurthathbefallenthemthylifeshallanswerforit。Isitenough，fairSir，andhavewethygoodwill？”
Ralphlaughedforjoyofhislifeandhismight，andheanswered：
“King，thisisthetokenofmygoodwill；fearnaughtofme。”
Andheturnedtohismen，andbadethembrightforththegiftofGoldburgandopenitbeforetheKing；andtheydidso。
ButwhentheKingcasteyesonthewareshisfacewasgladdened，forhewasagreedywolf，andwhosohadbeenclosetohismouthwouldhaveheardhimmutter：“Somighty！yetsowealthy！”
ButhethankedRalphaloudandinsmoothwords。AndRalphmadeobeisancetohimagain，andthenturnedandwenthiswaysdownthehall，andwasgladatheartthathehadbecomesomightyaman，forallfellbackbeforehimandlookedonhimwithworship。
HowbeithehadlookedontheKingcloselyandwisely，anddeemedthathewasbothcruelandguileful，sothatherejoicedthathehadspokennaughtofUrsula，andhewasmindedtokeepherwithingatesallthewhiletheyabodeatCheaping-Knowe。
Whenhecametothehostelhecalledhismen-at-armstogetherandaskedthemhowfartheywouldfollowhim，andwithonevoicetheysaidallthattheywouldgowithhimwheresohewould，sothatitwerenotbeyondreason。
Sotheyarrayedthemfordepartureonthemorrow，andweretorideoutofgatesaboutmid-morning。Soworethedaytoevening；
buterethenightwasoldcameamanaskingforRalph，asonewhowouldhaveaspecialalmsofhim，apoormanbyseeming，andevillyclad。
ButwhenRalphwasalonewithhim，thepoormandidhimtowitthatforallhisseemingwretchednesshewasbutdisguised，andwasinsoothamanofworship，andoneofthePorte。Quothhe：
“IamoftheKing’sCouncil，andImustneedstelltheeathingoftheKing：
thatthoughhewasatthefirstoverawedandcowedbythemajestyofthee，aFriendoftheWell，hepresentlycametohimself，whichwasbutill；
sothatwhatforgreed，whatforfeareven，heismindedtosendmentowaylaythee，somethreeleaguesfromthetown，onyourwaytothemountains，butyeshalleasilyescapehisginnowIhavehadspeechofthee；
foryemaytakeaby-roadandfetchacompassofsometwelvemiles，andgetabackofthewaylayers。Yetifyeescapethisfirstambush，unlessyearetimelyinridingearlytomorrowitisnotunlikethatheshallsendswiftriderstocatchupwithyouereyecometothemountains。
NowIamcometowarntheehereof，partlybecauseIwouldnothavesofairalifespilt，whichshouldyetdosowellforthesonsofAdam，andpartlyalsobecauseIwouldhavearewardoftheeformywarningandmywayleading，forIshallshowtheethewayandtheroad。”
SaidRalph：“Askandfearnot；forifImaytrusttheeIalreadyowetheeareward。”“MynameisMichael-a-dale。”saidtheman，“andfromSwevenhamIcamehither，andfainwouldIgothither，andlittlehopeIhavethereofsaveIgoprivilyinsomesuchbandasthine，whereasthetyrantholdethmeonpain，aswellIknow，ofanevildeath。”
“Igrantthineasking，friend。”saidRalph；“andnowthouwertbestgotothinehouseandtrusswhatstuffthoumaysthavewiththeeandcomebackhitherinthegreyofthemorning。”
Themanshookhisheadandsaid：“Nay；heremustIbidenight-long，andgooutofgatesamongstthymen-at-arms，andcladlikeoneofthemwithironenoughaboutmetohidethefashionofme；
itwerenowisesafeformetogobackintothetown；forthistyrantwagesmanyaspy：yea，forsooth，IfearmebycertaintokensthatitisnotallsocertainthatIhavenotbeenspieduponalready，andthatitisknownthatIhavecometothee。
AndIwilltelltheethatbyhookorbycrooktheKingalreadyknowethsomewhatoftheeandofthewomanwhoisinthycompany。”
Ralphflushedredatthatword，andfelthisheartbound：
buteventherewithcameintothemtheSage；andstraightwayRalphtookhimapartandtoldhimonwhaterrandthemanwascome，andaskhimifhedeemedhimtrusty。ThentheSagewentuptoMichaelandlookedhimhardinthefaceawhile，andthensaid：
“Yea，honestheisunlessthekindredofMichaeloftheHatchofSwevenhamhaveturnedthievesinthethirdgeneration。”
“Yea。”saidMichael，“anddostthouknowtheHatch？”
“AsIknowmineownfingers。”saidtheSage；“andevensoIknewityearsandyearsbeforethouwertborn。”Therewithhetoldthenew-comerwhathewas，andthetwomenofSwevenhammadejoyofeachother。
AndRalphwasfainofthem，andwentintothechamberwhereinsatUrsula，andtoldherhowallthingsweregoing，andshesaidthatshewouldbenaughtbutgladtoleavethattown，whichseemedtoherliketoUtterboloveragain。
AnAdventureontheWaytotheMountainsOnthemorrowRalphgothismentogetherbetimesandrodeouta-gates，andwaslittleafraidthatanyshouldmeddlewithhimwithinthetownoranighit，andevensoitturnedout。
ButMichaelrodeinthecompanynewclad，andwithhisheadandfaceallhiddeninawidesallet。AsforRalphandUrsula，theywereexceedingglad，andnowthattheirheadswereturnedtothelastgreatmountains，itseemedtothemthattheywereverilygoinghome，andtheylongedforthenight，thattheymightbealonetogether，andtalkofallthesemattersineachothers’arms。
Whentheywereouta-gates，theyrodefortwomilesalongthehighway，heedlesslyenoughbyseeming，andthen，asMichaelbade，turnedsuddenlyintoadeepandnarrowlane，andforthon，asitledbetwixthazelledbanksandcoppicesofsmallwood，skirtingthesideofthehills，sothatitwaslateintheafternoonbeforetheycameintotheHighwayagain，whichwastheonlyroadleadingintothepassesofthemountains。
ThensaidMichaelthatnowbyalllikelihoodtheyhadbeguiledthewaylayersforthattime；sotheywentonmerrilytillhalfthenightwasworn，whentheyshiftedforlodginginalittleoak-woodbythewayside。
Theretheylaynotlong，butwereafootbetimesinthemorning，androdeswiftlydaylong，andlaydownatnightonthewaysidewiththelessdreadbecausetheywerecomesofarwithouthurt。
Butonthethirdday，somewhatafternoon，whentheywerecomeupabovethetilleduplandandthelandwasroughandthewayssteep，therelaybeforethemadarkwoodswallowinguptheroad。
ThereaboutRalphdeemedthathesawweaponsglitteringahead，butwasnotsure，forasclear-sightedashewas。
Sohestayedhisband，andhadUrsulaintotherearward，andbadeallmenlooktotheirweapons，andthentheywentforwardheedfullyandingoodorder，andpresentlynotonlyRalph，butallofthemcouldseemenstandinginthejawsofthepasswiththewoodoneithersideofthem，andthoughatfirsttheydoubtedifthesewereaughtbutmerestrong-thieves，suchasanywayfarersmightcomeon，theyhadgonebutalittlefurtherwhenMichaelknewthemfortheridersofCheapingKnowe。
“Yea。”saidtheSageofSwevenham，“itisclearhowithasbeen：
whentheyfoundthatwecamenotthatfirstmorning，theyhadaninklingofwhathadbefallen，andwentforwardtowardthemountains，andnotbacktoCheapingKnowe，andthusoutwentuswhilewewerefetchingthatcompasstogivethemthego-by：whereforeIdeemthatsomegreatmaniswiththem，elsehadtheygonebacktotownforneworders。”
“Well。”saidRalph，“thenwilltheybetoomanyforus；
sonowwillIrideaheadandseeifwemayhavepeace。”
SaidtheSage，“Yea，butbewary，forthouhasttodowiththeguileful。”
ThenRalphrodeonalonetillhewascomewithinhailofthosewaylayers。
Thenhethrusthisswordintothesheath，andcriedout：
“Willanyofthewarriorsinthewoodspeakwithme；forIamthecaptainofthewayfarers？”