ins. They heard
some sort of beasts roaring in the night, but they were too weary to
watch, and might not make a fire.

When Ralph awoke in the morning he cried out that he could see the
woodland; and Ursula arose at his cry and looked where he pointed, and
sure enough there were trees on a rising ground some two miles ahead,
and beyond them, not very far by seeming, they beheld the tops of great
dark mountains. On either hand moreover, nigh on their right hand, far
off on their left, ran a reef of rocks, so that their way seemed to be
as between two walls. And these said reefs were nowise like those that
they had seen of late, but black and, as to their matter, like to the
great mountains by the rock of the Fighting Man: but as the reefs ran
eastward they seemed to grow higher.

Now they mounted their horses at once and rode on; and the beasts were
as eager as they were, and belike smelt the water. So when they had
ridden but three miles, they saw a fair little river before them
winding about exceedingly, but flowing eastward on the whole. So they
spurred on with light hearts and presently were on the banks of the
said river, and its waters were crystal-clear, though its sands were
black: and the pink-blossomed willow-herb was growing abundantly on the
sandy shores. Close to the water was a black rock, as big as a man,
whereon was graven the sign of the way, so they knew that there was no
evil in the water, wherefore they drank their fill and watered their
horses abundantly, and on the further bank was there abundance of good
grass. So when they had drunk their fill, for the pleasure of the cool
water they waded the ford barefoot, and it was scarce above Ursula's
knee. Then they had great joy to lie on the soft grass and eat their
meat, while the horses tore eagerly at the herbage close to them. So
when they had eaten, they rested awhile, but before they went further
they despoiled them, one after other, and bathed in a pool of the river
to wash the foul wilderness off them. Then again they rested and let
the horses yet bite the grass, and departed not from that pleasant
place till it was two hours after noon. As they were lying there Ralph
said he could hear a great roar like the sound of many waters, but very
far off: but to Ursula it seemed naught but the wind waxing in the
boughs of the woodland anigh them.

CHAPTER 20

They Come to the Ocean Sea

Being come to the wood they went not very far