, for she deemed at first that he was dead. But
she took a little water from one of their skins, and cast it into his
face, and took a flask of cordial from her pouch, and set it to his
lips, and made him drink somewhat thereof. So in a while he came to
himself and opened his eyes and smiled upon her, and she took his head
in her hands and kissed his cheek, and he sat up and said feebly:
"Shall we not go down into the valley? there is naught there to harm
us."

"We have been down there already," she said, "and well it is that we
are not both lying there now."

Then he got to his feet, and stretched himself, and yawned like one
just awakened from long sleep. But she said: "Let us to horse and
begone; it is early hours to slumber, for those that are seeking the
Well at the World's End."

He smiled on her again and took her hand, and she led him to his horse,
and helped him till he was in the saddle and lightly she gat
a-horseback, and they rode away swiftly from that evil place; and after
a while Ralph was himself again, and remembered all that had happened
till he fell down on the brow of the ridge. Then he praised Ursula's
wisdom and valiancy till she bade him forbear lest he weary her.
Albeit she drew up close to him and kissed his face sweetly.

CHAPTER 19

They Come Out of the Thirsty Desert

Past the Valley of the Dry Tree they saw but few dead men lying about,
and soon they saw never another: and, though the land was still utterly
barren, and all cast up into ridges as before, yet the salt slime grew
less and less, and before nightfall of that day they had done with it:
and the next day those stony waves were lower; and the next again the
waste was but a swelling plain, and here and there they came on patches
of dwarf willow, and other harsh and scanty herbage, whereof the horses
might have a bait, which they sore needed, for now was their fodder
done: but both men and horses were sore athirst; for, as carefully as
they had hoarded their water, there was now but little left, which they
durst not drink till they were driven perforce, lest they should yet
die of drought.

They journeyed long that day, and whereas the moon was up at night-tide
they lay not down till she was set; and their resting place was by some
low bushes, whereabout was rough grass mingled with willow-herb,
whereby Ralph judged that they drew nigh to water, so or ever they
slept, they and the horses all but emptied the water-sk