The Well at the World's End: A Tale

  CHAPTER 10

  An Adventure on the Way to the Mountains

  On the morrow Ralph got his men together betimes and rode out a-gates,and was little afraid that any should meddle with him within the townor anigh it, and even so it turned out. But Michael rode in thecompany new clad, and with his head and face all hidden in a widesallet. As for Ralph and Ursula, they were exceeding glad, and nowthat their heads were turned to the last great mountains, it seemed tothem that they were verily going home, and they longed for the night,that they might be alone together, and talk of all these matters ineach others' arms.

  When they were out a-gates, they rode for two miles along the highway,heedlessly enough by seeming, and then, as Michael bade, turnedsuddenly into a deep and narrow lane, and forth on, as it led betwixthazelled banks and coppices of small wood, skirting the side of thehills, so that it was late in the afternoon before they came into theHighway again, which was the only road leading into the passes of themountains. Then said Michael that now by all likelihood they hadbeguiled the waylayers for that time; so they went on merrily till halfthe night was worn, when they shifted for lodging in a little oak-woodby the wayside. There they lay not long, but were afoot betimes in themorning, and rode swiftly daylong, and lay down at night on the waysidewith the less dread because they were come so far without hurt.

  But on the third day, somewhat after noon, when they were come up abovethe tilled upland and the land was rough and the ways steep, there laybefore them a dark wood swallowing up the road. Thereabout Ralphdeemed that he saw weapons glittering ahead, but was not sure, for asclear-sighted as he was. So he stayed his band, and had Ursula intothe rearward, and bade all men look to their weapons, and then theywent forward heedfully and in good order, and presently not only Ralph,but all of them could see men standing in the jaws of the pass with thewood on either side of them, and though at first they doubted if thesewere aught but mere strong-thieves, such as any wayfarers might comeon, they had gone but a little further when Michael knew them for theriders of Cheaping Knowe. "Yea," said the Sage of Swevenham, "it isclear how it has been: when they found that we came not that firstmorning, they had an inkling of what had befallen, and went forwardtoward the mountains, and not back to Cheaping Knowe, and thus outwentus while we were fetching that compass to give them the go-by:wherefore I deem that some great man is with them, else had they goneback to town for new orders."

  "Well," said Ralph, "then will they be too many for us; so now will Iride ahead and see if we may have peace." Said the Sage, "Yea, but bewary, for thou hast to do with the guileful."

  Then Ralph rode on alone till he was come within hail of thosewaylayers. Then he thrust his sword into the sheath, and cried out:"Will any of the warriors in the wood speak with me; for I am thecaptain of the wayfarers?"

  Then rode out from those men a very tall man, and two with him, one oneither side, and he threw back the sallet from his face, and said:"Wayfarer, all we have weapons in our hands, and we so many that thouand thine will be in regard of us as the pips to the apple. Wherefore,yield ye!" Quoth Ralph: "Unto whom then shall I yield me?" Said theother: "To the men of the King of Cheaping Knowe." Then spake Ralph:"What will ye do with us when we are yolden? Shall we not pay ransomand go our ways?" "Yea," said the tall man, "and this is the ransom:that ye give up into my hands my dastard who hath bewrayed me, and thewoman who wendeth in your company."

  Ralph laughed; for by this time he knew the voice of the King, yea, andthe face of him under his sallet. So he cried back in answer, and insuch wise as if the words came rather from his luck than from hisyouth: "Ho, Sir King! beware beware! lest thou tremble when thouseest the bare blade of the Friend of the Well more than thoutrembledst erst, when the blade was hidden in the sheath before thethrone of thine hall."

  But the King cried out in a loud harsh voice. "Thou, young man, bewarethou! and try not thy luck overmuch. We are as many as these trees,and thou canst not prevail over us. Go thy ways free, and leave mewhat thou canst not help leaving."

  "Yea, fool," cried Ralph, "and what wilt thou do with these two?"

  Said the King: "The traitor I will flay, and the woman I will bed."

  Scarce were the words out of his mouth ere Ralph gave forth a great cryand drew his sword, set spurs to his horse, and gallopped on up theroad with all his band at his back for they had drawn anigh amidst thistalk. But or ever they came on the foemen, they heard a great confusedcry of onset mingled with affright, and lo! the King threw up his arms,and fell forward on his horse's neck with a great arrow through histhroat.

  Ralph drave on sword in hand, crying out, "Home, home to Upmeads!" andanon was amidst of the foe smiting on either hand. His men followed,shouting: "Ho, for the Friend of the Well!" And amongst the foemen,who were indeed very many, was huge dismay, so that they made but asorry defence before the band of the wayfarers, who knew not what tomake of it, till they noted that arrows and casting-spears were comingout of the wood on either side, which smote none of them, but many ofthe foemen. Short was the tale, for in a few minutes there were no menof the foe together save those that were fleeing down the road toCheaping Knowe.

  Ralph would not suffer his men to follow the chase, for he wotted notwith whom he might have to deal besides the King's men. He drew hismen together and looked round for Ursula, and saw that the Sage hadbrought her up anigh him, and there she sat a-horseback, pale andpanting with the fear of death and joy of deliverance.

  Now Ralph cried out from his saddle in a loud voice, and said: "Ho yeof the arrows of the wood! ye have saved me from my foemen; where beye, and what be ye?" Came a loud voice from out of the wood on theright hand: "Children, tell the warrior whose sons ye be!" Straightwaybrake out a huge bellowing on either side of the road, as though thewood were all full of great neat.

  Then cried out Ralph: "If ye be of the kindred of the Bull, ye willbelike be my friends rather than my foes. Or have ye heard tell ofRalph of Upmeads? Now let your captain come forth and speak with me."

  Scarce were the words out of his mouth ere a man came leaping forthfrom out the wood, and stood before Ralph in the twilight of theboughs, and Ralph noted of him that he was clad pretty much like toBull Shockhead of past time, save that he had a great bull's head for ahelm (which afterwards Ralph found out was of iron and leather) and agreat gold ring on his arm.

  Then Ralph thrust his sword back into the sheath, and his folk handledtheir weapons peaceably, while Ralph hailed the new-comer as Lord orDuke of the Bulls.

  "Belike," quoth the said chieftain, "thou wouldst wish to show me sometoken, whereby we may wot that thou art that Friend of the Well and ofour kinsman concerning whom he sent us a message."

  Then Ralph bethought him of the pouch with the knot of grass thereinwhich Bull Shockhead had given him at Goldburg; so he drew it out, andgave it into the hand of the chieftain, who no sooner caught a glimpsethereof than he said: "Verily our brother's hand hath met thine when hegave thee this. Yet forsooth, now that I look on thee, I may say thatscarce did I need token to tell me that thou wert the very man. For Ican see thee, that thou art of great honour and worship, and thou didstride boldly against the foemen when thou knewest not that we hadwaylaid thy waylayers. Now I wot that there is no need to ask theewhether thou wouldst get thee out of our mountains by the shortestroad, yet wilt thou make it little longer, and somewhat safer, if yewill suffer us to lead thee by way of our dwelling." So Ralph yeasaidhis bidding without more words.

  As they spake thus together the road both above and below was becomeblack with weaponed men, and some of Ralph's band looked on oneanother, as though they doubted their new friends somewhat. But theSage of Swevenham spoke to them and bade them fear nought. "For," saidhe, "so far as we go, who are now their friends, there is no guile inthese men." The Bull captain heard him and said: "Thou sayest sooth,old man; and I shall tell thee that scarce had a band like thine comesafe through the mountains, save by great good luck, without the leaveof us; for the
fool with the crown that lieth there dead had of latedays so stirred up the Folks of the Fells through his grimness andcruelty that we have been minded to stop everything bigger than acur-dog that might seek to pass by us, for at least so long as yonderrascal should live. But ye be welcome; so now let us to the road, forthe day weareth."

  So the tribesmen gat them into order, and their Duke went on the leftside of Ralph, while Ursula rode on his right hand. The Duke and allhis men were afoot, but they went easily and swiftly, as wolves trot.As for the slain of the waylayers, of whom there were some threescore,the Bull captain would do nought but let them lie on the road. "For,"said he, "there be wolves and lynxes enough in the wood, and the ravensof the uplands, and the kites shall soon scent the carrion. They shallhave burial soon enough. Neither will we meddle with it; nay, not somuch as to hang the felon King's head at thy saddle-bow, lord."

  By sunset they were out of the wood and on the side of a rough fell, sothey went no further, but lighted fires at the edge of the thicket, andmade merry round about them, singing their songs concerning the deedsof their folk, and jesting withal, but not foully; and they roastedvenison of hart and hind at the fires, and they had with them wine, themore part whereof they had found in the slain King's carriages, andthey made great feast to the wayfarers, and were exceeding fain ofthem; after their fashion, whereas if a man were their friend he couldscarce be enough their friend, and if he were their foe, they couldnever be fierce enough with him.