As for the name of the next town, it is called Higham-on-the-Way,
and is a big town plenteous of victuals, with strong walls and a castle,
and a very rich abbey of monks: and there is peace within its walls,
because the father abbot wages a many men to guard him and his,
and to uphold his rights against all comers; wherein he doth wisely,
and also well. For much folk flocketh to his town and live well therein;
and there is great recourse of chapmen thither. No better market is
there betwixt this and Babylon. Well, Sir Ralph, I rede thee if thou
comest unhurt to Higham-on-the-Way, go no further for this time,
but take service with the lord abbot, and be one of his men of war;
thou may'st then become his captain if thou shouldest live;
which would be no bad adventure for one who cometh from Upmeads."
Ralph looked no brighter for this word, and he answered nought to it:
but said presently:
"And what is to be looked for beyond Higham if one goeth further?
Dost thou know the land any further?"
The carle smiled: "Yea forsooth, and down to the Wood Perilous,
and beyond it, and the lands beyond the Wood; and far away through them.
I say not that I have been to the Dry Tree; but I have spoken to one
who hath heard of him who hath seen it; though he might not come
by a draught of the Well at the World's End."
Ralph's eyes flashed, and his cheeks reddened as he listened hereto;
but he spake quietly:
"Master Clement, how far dost thou make it to Higham-on-the-Way?"
"A matter of forty miles," said the Chapman; "because, as
thou wottest, if ye ride south from hence, ye shall presently
bring your nose up against the big downs, and must needs
climb them at once; and when ye are at the top of Bear Hill,
and look south away ye shall see nought but downs on downs
with never a road to call a road, and never a castle,
or church, or homestead: nought but some shepherd's hut;
or at the most the little house of a holy man with a little
chapel thereby in some swelly of the chalk, where the water hath
trickled into a pool; for otherwise the place is waterless.
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