The Well at the World's End: A Tale

by William Morris

  CHAPTER 32

  Ralph Happens on Evil Days

  Early on the morrow they departed, and now in the morning light and thesun the minstrel seemed glad again, and talked abundantly, even thoughat whiles Ralph answered him little.

  As they rode, the land began to get less fertile and less, till at lastthere was but tillage here and there in patches: of houses there werebut few, and the rest was but dark heathland and bog, with scraggywoods scattered about the country-side.

  Naught happened to tell of, save that once in the afternoon, as theywere riding up to the skirts of one of the woods aforesaid, weaponedmen came forth from it and drew up across the way; they were a dozen inall, and four were horsed. Ralph set his hand to his sword, but theminstrel cried out, "Nay, no weapons, no weapons! Pull out thylet-pass again and show it in thine hand, and then let us on."

  So saying he drew a white kerchief from his hand, and tied it to theend of his riding staff, and so rode trembling by Ralph's side:therewith they rode on together towards those men, whom as they drewnearer they heard laughing and jeering at them, though in a tongue thatRalph knew not.

  They came so close at last that the waylayers could see the parchmentclearly, with the seal thereon, and then they made obeisance to it, asthough it were the relic of a saint, and drew off quietly into the woodone by one. These were big men, and savage-looking, and their armourwas utterly uncouth.

  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 thythought." "Yea," said Ralph, "what is it then?" Said the minstrel:"Thou art thinking what thou shalt do when thou meetest suchlike folkon thy way back; but fear not, for with that same seal thou shalt passthrough the land again." Said Ralph: "Yea, something like that,forsooth, was my thought. But also I was pondering who should be myguide when I leave Utterbol." The minstrel looked at him askance;quoth he: "Thou mayst leave thinking of that awhile." Ralph lookedhard 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 thouart bound, and have been wondering this long while that thou hast askedme not about the way to the WELL at the WORLD'S END: since I told thyfriend the merchant that I could tell thee somewhat concerning it. ButI suppose thou hast been thinking of something else?"

  "Well," said Ralph, "tell me what thou hast to say of the Well." SaidMorfinn: "This will I tell thee first: that if thou hast any doubtthat such a place there is, thou mayst set that aside; for we ofUtterness and Utterbol are sure thereof; and of all nations and peopleswhereof we know, we deem that we are the nighest thereto. How sayestthou, is that not already something?" "Yea, verily," said Ralph.

  "Now," said Morfinn, "the next thing to be said is that we are on theroad thereto: but the third thing again is this, lord, that though fewwho seek it find it, yet we know that some have failed not of it,besides that lord of Goldburg, of whom I know that thou hast heard.Furthermore, there dwelleth a sage in the woods not right far fromUtterbol, a hermit living by himself; and folk seek to him for diverslore, to be holpen by him in one way or other, and of him men say thathe hath so much lore concerning the road to the Well (whether he hathbeen there himself they know not certainly), that if he will, he canput anyone on the road so surely that he will not fail to come there,but he be slain on the way, as I said to thee in Goldburg. True it isthat the said sage is chary of his lore, and if he think any harm ofthe seeker, he will show him naught; but, fair sir, thou art so valiantand so goodly, and as meseemeth so good a knight per amours, that Ideem it a certain thing that he will tell thee the uttermost of hisknowledge."

  Now again waxed Ralph eager concerning his quest; for true it is thatsince he had had that story of the damsel from the minstrel, she hadstood in the way before the Well at the World's End. But now he said:"And canst thou bring me to the said sage, good minstrel?" "Withoutdoubt," quoth Morfinn, "when we are once safe at Utterbol. FromUtterbol ye may wend any road."

  "Yea," said Ralph, "and there are perils yet a few on the way, is itnot so?" "So it is," said the minstrel; "but to-morrow shall try all."Said Ralph: "And is there some special peril ahead to-morrow? And if itbe so, what is it?" Said his fellow: "It would avail thee naught toknow it. What then, doth that daunt thee?" "No," said Ralph, "by thenit is nigh enough to hurt us, we shall be nigh enough to see it.""Well said!" quoth the minstrel; "but now we must mend our pace, ordark night shall overtake us amid these rough ways."

  Wild as the land was, they came at even to a place where were a fewhouses of woodmen or hunters; and they got off their horses and knockedat the door of one of these, and a great black-haired carle opened tothem, who, when he saw the knight's armour, would have clapped the doorto again, had not Ralph by the minstrel's rede held out the parchmentto him, who when he saw it became humble indeed, and gave them suchguesting as he might, which was scant indeed of victual or drink, savewild-fowl from the heath. But they had wine with them from the lastguest-house, whereof they bade the carle to drink; but he would not,and in all wise seemed to be in dread of them.

  When it was morning early they rode their ways, and the carle seemedglad to be rid of them. After they had ridden a few miles the landbettered somewhat; there were islands of deep green pasture amidst theblackness of the heath, with cattle grazing on them, and here and therewas a little tillage: the land was little better than level, only itswelled a little this way and that. It was a bright sunny day and theair very clear, and as they rode Ralph said: "Quite clear is the sky,and yet one cloud there is in the offing; but this is strange about it,though I have been watching it this half hour, and looking to see therack come up from that quarter, yet it changes not at all. I never sawthe like of this cloud."

  Said the minstrel: "Yea, fair sir, and of this cloud I must tell theethat it will change no more till the bones of the earth are tumbledtogether. Forsooth this is no cloud, but the topmost head of themountain ridge which men call the Wall of the World: and if ever thoucome close up to the said Wall, that shall fear thee, I deem, howeverfearless thou be." "Is it nigh to Utterness?" said Ralph. "Nay," saidthe minstrel, "not so nigh; for as huge as it seemeth thence."

  Said Ralph: "Do folk tell that the Well at the World's End liethbeyond it?" "Surely," said the minstrel.

  Said Ralph, his face flushing: "Forsooth, that ancient lord ofGoldburg came through those mountains, and why not I?" "Yea," said theminstrel, "why not?" And therewith he looked uneasily on Ralph, whoheeded his looks naught, for his mind was set on high matters.

  On then they rode, and when trees or some dip in the land hid thatmountain top from them, the way seemed long to Ralph.

  Naught befell to tell of for some while; but at last, when it wasdrawing towards evening again, they had been riding through a thickpine-wood for a long while, and coming out of it they beheld beforethem a plain country fairly well grassed, but lo! on the field not farfrom the roadside a pavilion pitched and a banner on the top thereof,but the banner hung down about the staff, so that the bearing was notseen: and about this pavilion, which was great and rich of fashion,were many tents great and small, and there were horses tethered in thefield, and men moving about the gleam of armour.

  At this sight the minstrel drew rein and stared about him wildly; butRalph said: "What is this, is it the peril aforesaid?" "Yea," quoththe minstrel, shivering with fear. "What aileth thee?" said Ralph;"have we not the let-pass, what then can befall us? If this be otherthan the Lord of Utterbol, he will see our let-pass and let us alone;or if it be he indeed, what harm shall he do to the bearers of his ownpass? Come on then, or else (and therewith he half drew his sword) isthis Lord of Utterbol but another name for the Devil in Hell?"

  But the minstrel still stared wild and trembled; then he stammered out:"I thought I should bring thee to Utterness first, and that some othershould lead thee thence, I did not look to see him. I dare not, I darenot! O look, look!"


  As he spake the wind arose and ran along the wood-side, and beat backfrom it and stirred the canvas of the tents and raised the folds of thebanner, and blew it out, so that the bearing was clear to see; yetRalph deemed it naught dreadful, but an armoury fit for a baron, towit, a black bear on a castle-wall on a field of gold.

  But as Ralph sat on his horse gazing, himseemed that men were lookingtowards him, and a great horn was sounded hard by the pavilion; thenRalph looked toward the minstrel fiercely, and laughed and said: "Isee now that thou art another traitor: so get thee gone; I have more todo than the slaying of thee." And therewith he turned his horse's head,and smote the spurs into the sides of him, and went a great gallop overthe field on the right side of the road, away from the gay pavilion;but even therewith came a half-score of horsemen from the camp, as ifthey were awaiting him, and they spurred after him straightway.

  The race was no long one, for Ralph's beast was wearied, and the otherhorses were fresh, and Ralph knew naught of the country before him,whereas those riders knew it well. Therefore it was but a few minutestill they came up with him, and he made no show of defence, butsuffered them to lead him away, and he crossed the highway, where hesaw no token of the minstrel.

  So they brought him to the pavilion, and made him dismount and led himin. The dusk had fallen by now, but within it was all bright withcandles. The pavilion was hung with rich silken cloth, and at thefurther end, on a carpet of the hunting, was an ivory chair, whereonsat a man, who was the only one sitting. He was clad in a gown of bluesilk, broidered with roundels beaten with the Bear upon the Castle-wall.

  Ralph deemed that this must be no other than the Lord of Utterbol, yetafter all the tales he had heard of that lord, he seemed no suchterrible man: he was short of stature, but broad across the shoulders,his hair long, strait, and dark brown of hue, and his beard scanty: hewas straight-featured and smooth-faced, and had been no ill-lookingman, save that his skin was sallow and for his eyes, which were brown,small, and somewhat bloodshot.

  Beside him stood Morfinn bowed down with fear and not daring to lookeither at the Lord or at Ralph. Wherefore he knew for certain thatwhen he had called him traitor even now, that it was no more than thevery sooth, and that he had fallen into the trap; though how or why hewotted not clearly. Well then might his heart have fallen, but so itwas, that when he looked into the face of this Lord, the terror of thelands, hatred of him so beset his heart that it swallowed up fear inhim. Albeit he held himself well in hand, for his soul was waxing, andhe deemed that he should yet do great deeds, therefore he desired tolive, whatsoever pains or shame of the passing day he might suffer.

  Now this mighty lord spake, and his voice was harsh and squeaking, sothat the sound of it was worse than the sight of his face; and he said:"Bring the man forth, that I may see him." So they brought up Ralph,till he was eye to eye with the Lord, who turned to Morfinn and said:"Is this thy catch, lucky man?" "Yea," quavered Morfinn, not liftinghis eyes; "Will he do, lord?"

  "Do?" said the lord, "How can I see him when he is all muffled up insteel? Ye fools! doff his wargear."

  Speedily then had they stripped Ralph of hauberk, and helm, and arm andleg plates, so that he stood up in his jerkin and breeches, and thelord leaned forward to look on him as if he were cheapening a horse;and then turned to a man somewhat stricken in years, clad in scarlet,who stood on his other hand, and said to him: "Well, David the Sage, isthis the sort of man? Is he goodly enough?"

  Then the elder put on a pair of spectacles and eyed Ralph curiously awhile, and then said: "There are no two words to be said about it; heis a goodly and well-fashioned a young man as was ever sold."

  "Well," said the lord, turning towards Morfinn, "the catch is good,lucky man: David will give thee gold for it, and thou mayst go backwest when thou wilt. And thou must be lucky again, moreover; becausethere are women needed for my house; and they must be goodly and meek,and not grievously marked with stripes, or branded, so that thou hadstbest take them, luckily if thou mayst, and not buy them. Now go, forthere are more than enough men under this woven roof, and we need nohalf-men to boot."

  Said David, the old man, grinning: "He will hold him well paid if hego unscathed from before thee, lord: for he looked not to meet theehere, but thought to bring the young man to Utterness, that he might bekept there till thou camest."

  The lord said, grimly: "He is not far wrong to fear me, maybe: but heshall go for this time. But if he bring me not those women withinthree months' wearing, and if there be but two uncomely ones amongstthem, let him look to it. Give him his gold, David. Now take ye thenew man, and let him rest, and give him meat and drink. And look you,David, if he be not in condition when he cometh home to Utterbol, thoushalt pay for it in one way or other, if not in thine own person, sincethou art old, and deft of service, then through those that be dear tothee. Go now!"

  David smiled on Ralph and led him out unto a tent not far off, andthere he made much of him, and bade bring meat and drink and all heneeded. Withal he bade him not to try fleeing, lest he be slain; andhe showed him how nigh the guards were and how many.

  Glad was the old man when he saw the captive put a good face onmatters, and that he was not down-hearted. In sooth that hatred of thetyrant mingled with hope sustained Ralph's heart. He had been mindedwhen he was brought before the lord to have shown the letter of theQueen of Goldburg, and to defy him if he still held him captive. Butwhen he had beheld him and his fellowship a while he thought better ofit. For though they had abundance of rich plenishing, and gay raiment,and good weapons and armour, howbeit of strange and uncouth fashion,yet he deemed when he looked on them that they would scarce have thesouls of men in their bodies, but that they were utterly vile throughand through, like the shapes of an evil dream. Therefore he thoughtshame of it to show the Queen's letter to them, even as if he had shownthem the very naked body of her, who had been so piteous kind to him.Also he had no mind to wear his heart on his sleeve, but would keep hisown counsel, and let his foemen speak and show what was in their minds.For this cause he now made himself sweet, and was of good cheer withold David, deeming him to be a great man there; as indeed he was, beingthe chief counsellor of the Lord of Utterbol; though forsooth not somuch his counsellor as that he durst counsel otherwise than as the Lorddesired to go; unless he thought that it would bring his said Lord, andtherefore himself, to very present peril and damage. In short, thoughthis man had not been bought for money, he was little better than athrall of the higher sort, as forsooth were all the Lord's men, savingthe best and trustiest of his warriors: and these were men whom theLord somewhat feared himself: though, on the other hand, he could notbut know that they understood how the dread of the Lord of Utterbol wasa shield to them, and that if it were to die out amongst men, their ownskins were not worth many days' purchase.

  So then David spake pleasantly with Ralph, and ate and drank with him,and saw that he was well bedded for the night, and left him in thefirst watch. But Ralph lay down in little more trouble than the nightbefore, when, though he were being led friendly to Utterness, yet hehad not been able to think what he should do when he came there:whereas now he thought: Who knoweth what shall betide? and for me thereis nought to do save to lay hold of the occasion that another may giveme. And at the worst I scarce deem that I am being led to theslaughter.