The minstrel was loud in his mirth when they were well past these men;
but Ralph rode on silently, and was somewhat soberly.
"Fair sir," quoth the minstrel, "I would wager that I know
thy thought." "Yea," said Ralph, "what is it then?"
Said the minstrel: "Thou art thinking what thou shalt do
when thou meetest suchlike folk on thy way back; but fear not,
for with that same seal thou shalt pass through the land again."
Said Ralph: "Yea, something like that, forsooth, was my thought.
But also I was pondering who should be my guide when I
leave Utterbol." The minstrel looked at him askance; quoth he:
"Thou mayst leave thinking of that awhile." Ralph looked
hard at him, but could make naught of the look of his face;
so he said: "Why dost thou say that?" Said Morfinn:
"Because I know whither thou art bound, and have been wondering
this long while that thou hast asked me not about the way
to the WELL at the WORLD'S END: since I told thy friend
the merchant that I could tell thee somewhat concerning it.
But I suppose thou hast been thinking of something else?"
"Well," said Ralph, "tell me what thou hast to say of the Well."
Said Morfinn: "This will I tell thee first: that if thou hast
any doubt that such a place there is, thou mayst set that aside;
for we of Utterness and Utterbol are sure thereof; and of all
nations and peoples whereof we know, we deem that we are the
nighest thereto. How sayest thou, is that not already something?"
"Yea, verily," said Ralph.
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