CHAPTER 1
Ralph and Ursula Come Back Again Through the Great Mountains
On the morrow morning they armed them and took to their horses anddeparted from that pleasant place and climbed the mountain withoutweariness, and made provision of meat and drink for the Dry Desert, andso entered it, and journeyed happily with naught evil befalling themtill they came back to the House of the Sorceress; and of the Desertthey made little, and the wood was pleasant to them after the droughtof the Desert.
But at the said House they saw those kind people, and they saw in theireager eyes as in a glass how they had been bettered by their drinkingof the Well, and the Elder said to them: "Dear friends, there is noneed to ask you whether ye have achieved your quest; for ye, who beforewere lovely, are now become as the very Gods who rule the world. Andnow methinks we have to pray you but one thing, to wit that ye will notbe overmuch of Gods, but will be kind and lowly with them that needsmust worship you."
They laughed on him for kindness' sake, and kissed and embraced the oldman, and they thanked them all for their helping, and they abode withthem for a whole day in good-will and love, and thereafter the carle,who was the son of the Elder, with his wife, bade farewell to hiskinsmen, and led Ralph and Ursula back through the wood and over thedesert to the town of the Innocent Folk. The said Folk received themin all joy and triumph, and would have them abide there the winterover. But they prayed leave to depart, because their hearts were sorefor their own land and their kindred. So they abode there but twodays, and on the third day were led away by a half score of men gailyapparelled after their manner, and having with them many sumpter-beastswith provision for the road. With this fellowship they came safely andwith little pain unto Chestnut Vale, where they abode but one night,though to Ralph and Ursula the place was sweet for the memory of theirloving sojourn there.
They would have taken leave of the Innocent Folk in the said vale, butthose others must needs go with them a little further, and would notleave them till they were come to the jaws of the pass which led to theRock of the Fighting Man. Further than that indeed they would not, ordurst not go; and those huge mountains they called the Wall of Strife,even as they on the other side called them the Wall of the World.
So the twain took leave of their friends there, and howbeit that theyhad drunk of the Well at the World's End, yet were their hearts grievedat the parting. The kind folk left with them abundant provision forthe remnant of the road, and a sumpter-ox to bear it; so they were inno doubt of their livelihood. Moreover, though the turn of autumn wascome again and winter was at hand, yet the weather was fair and calm,and their journey through the dreary pass was as light as it might beto any men.