ustice, as handless men, fettered, dragging themselves about, and folk
hung up before chapmen's booths, and whipping-cheer, and the pillar,
and such like. But whereas he might not help he would not heed, but
came right to the Castle-gate, and entered easily when he had told his
errand, for gift-bearing men are not oftenest withstood.

He was brought straightway into the great hall, where sat the King on
his throne amidst the chiefs of the Porte, and his captains and
sergeants, who were, so to say, his barons, though they were not barons
of lineage, but masterful men who were wise to do his bidding.

As he went up the hall he saw a sort of poor caytiffs, women as well as
men, led away from the high-place in chains by bailiffs and tipstaves;
and he doubted not that these were for torments or maiming and death;
and thought it were well might he do them some good.

Being come to the King, he made his obeisance to him, and craved his
good will and leave to wage men-at-arms to bring him through the
mountains.

The King was a tall man, a proper man of war; long-legged, black
bearded, and fierce-eyed. Some word he had heard of Ralph's gift,
therefore he was gracious to him; he spake and said: "Thou hast come
across the mountains a long way, fair Sir; prithee on what errand?"
Answered Ralph: "For no errand, lord, save to fare home to mine own
land." "Where is thine own land?" said the King, stretching out his
legs and lying back in his chair. "West-away, lord, many a mile," said
Ralph. "Yea," quoth the King, "and how far didst thou go beyond the
mountains? As far as Utterbol?" Said Ralph: "Yet further, but not to
Utterbol." "Hah!" said the King, "who goeth beyond Utterbol must have a
great errand; what was thine?"

Ralph thought for a moment, and deemed it best to say as little as he
might concerning Ursula; so he answered, and his voice grew loud and
bold: "I was minded to drink a draught of the WELL at the WORLD'S END,
and even so I did." As he spake, he drew himself up, and his brows
were knit a little, but his eyes sparkled from under them, and his
cheeks were bright and rosy. He half drew the sword from the scabbard,
and sent it back rattling, so that the sound of it went about the hall;
he upreared his head and looked around him on this and that one of the
warriors of the aliens, and he sniffed the air into his nostrils as he
stood alone amongst them, and set his foot down hard on the floor of
the King's hal