"
"And that is but the sooth," said Ralph. "Well then," quoth Redhead,
"there is the greater cause for thy fleeing at the time and in the manner I
have bidden thee. For there is a certain sage who dwelleth in the wildwood
betwixt that place and the Great Mountains, and he hath so much lore
concerning the Mountains, yea, and the Well itself, that if he will tell
thee what he can tell, thou art in a fair way to end thy quest happily.
What sayest thou then?"
Said Ralph, "I say that the Sage is good if I may find him.
But there is another cause why I have come hither from Goldburg."
"What is that?" said Redhead. "This," said Ralph, "to come to Utterbol."
"Heaven help us!" quoth Redhead, "and wherefore?"
Ralph said: "Belike it is neither prudent nor wise to tell thee,
but I do verily trust thee; so hearken! I go to Utterbol to deliver
a friend from Utterbol; and this friend is a woman--hold a minute--
and this woman, as I believe, hath been of late brought to Utterbol,
having been taken out of the hands of one of the men of the mountains
that lie beyond Cheaping Knowe."
Redhead stared astonished, and kept silence awhile;
then he said: "Now all the more I say, flee! flee! flee!
Doubtless the woman is there, whom thou seekest; for it would
take none less fair and noble than that new-come thrall to draw
to her one so fair and noble as thou art. But what availeth it?
If thou go to Utterbol thou wilt destroy both her and thee.
Pages:
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429