and was not so sure but that this new lord
was not Bull Shockhead, his wartaken thrall; natheless he held his
peace; but Ursula said: "I marvel not much at the tale, for sure I am,
that had Gandolf of the Bear been slain when I was at Utterbol, neither
man nor woman had stirred a finger to avenge him. But all feared him,
I scarce know why; and, moreover, there was none to be master if he
were gone."

Thereafter she told more tales of the miseries of Utterbol than Ralph
had yet heard, as though this tale of the end of that evil rule had set
her free to utter them; and they fell to talking of others matters.

CHAPTER 3

They Winter With the Sage; and Thereafter Come Again to Vale Turris

Thus with no peril and little pain they came to the Sage's hermitage;
and whereas the autumn was now wearing, and it was not to be looked for
that they should cross even the mountains west of Goldburg, let alone
those to the west of Cheaping Knowe, when winter had once set in, Ralph
and Ursula took the Sage's bidding to abide the winter through with
him, and set forth on their journey again when spring should be fairly
come and the mountain ways be clear of snow.

So they dwelt there happily enough; for they helped the Sage in his
husbandry, and he enforced him to make them cheer, and read in the
ancient book to them, and learned them as much as it behoved them to
hearken; and told them tales of past time.

Thereafter when May was at hand they set out on their road, and whereas
the Sage knew the wood well, he made a long story short by bringing
them to Vale Turris in four days' time. But when they rode down into
the dale, they saw the plain meads below the Tower all bright with
tents and booths, and much folk moving about amidst them; here and
there amidst the roofs of cloth withal was showing the half finished
frame of a timber house a-building. But now as they looked and wondered
what might be toward, a half score of weaponed men rode up to them and
bade them, but courteously, to come with them to see their Lord. The
Sage drew forth his let-pass thereat; but the leader of the riders
said, as he shook his head: "That is good for thee, father; but these
two knights must needs give an account of themselves: for my lord is
minded to put down all lifting throughout his lands; therefore hath he
made the meshes of his net small. But if these be thy friends it will
be well. Therefore thou art free to come with them and bear