the place where they stood, right up
against the cliff, was builded by man's hand of huge stones a garth of
pound, the wall whereof was some seven feet high, and the pound within
the wall of forty feet space endlong and overthwart; and the said pound
was filled with the waters of a spring that came forth from the face of
the cliff as they deemed, though from above they might not see the
issue thereof; but the water ran seaward from the pound by some way
unseen, and made a wide stream through the black sand of the foreshore:
but ever the great basin filled somewhat faster than it voided, so that
it ran over the lip on all sides, making a thin veil over the huge
ashlar-stones of the garth. The day was bright and fair with no wind,
save light airs playing about from the westward ort, and all things
gleamed and glittered in the sun.

Ralph stood still a moment, and then stretched abroad his arms, and
with a great sob cast them round about the body of his beloved, and
strained her to his bosom as he murmured about her, THE WELL AT THE
WORLD'S END. But she wept for joy as she fawned upon him, and let her
hands beat upon his body.

But when they were somewhat calmed of their ecstasy of joy, they made
ready to go down by that rocky stair. And first they did off their
armour and other gear, and when they were naked they did on the
hallowed raiment which they had out of the ark in the House of the
Sorceress; and so clad gat them down the rock-hewn stair, Ralph going
first, lest there should be any broken place; but naught was amiss with
those hard black stones, and they came safely to a level place of the
rock, whence they could see the face of the cliff, and how the waters
of the Well came gushing forth from a hollow therein in a great
swelling wave as clear as glass; and the sun glistened in it and made a
foam-bow about its edges. But above the issue of the waters the black
rock had been smoothed by man's art, and thereon was graven the Sword
and the Bough, and above it these words, to wit:

YE WHO HAVE COME A LONG WAY TO LOOK UPON ME, DRINK OF ME, IF YE DEEM
THAT YE BE STRONG ENOUGH IN DESIRE TO BEAR LENGTH OF DAYS: OR ELSE
DRINK NOT; BUT TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND THE KINDREDS OF THE EARTH HOW YE
HAVE SEEN A GREAT MARVEL.

So they looked long and wondered; and Ursula said: "Deemest thou, my
friend, that any have come thus far and forborne to drink?"

Said Ralph: "Surely not even the exceeding wise might remember the
bi