way or other, and of him men say that he hath so much lore concerning the road to the Well (whether he hath been there himself they know not certainly), that if he will, he can put anyone on the road so surely that he will not fail to come there, but he be slain on the way, as I said to thee in Goldburg.  True it is that the said sage is chary of his lore, and if he think any harm of the seeker, he will show him naught; but, fair sir, thou art so valiant and so goodly, and as meseemeth so good a knight per amours, that I deem it a certain thing that he will tell thee the uttermost of his knowledge.”

Now again waxed Ralph eager concerning his quest; for true it is that since he had had that story of the damsel from the minstrel, she had stood in the way before the Well at the World’s End.  But now he said:  “And canst thou bring me to the said sage, good minstrel?” “Without doubt,” quoth Morfinn, “when we are once safe at Utterbol.  From Utterbol ye may wend any road.”

“Yea,” said Ralph, “and there are perils yet a few on the way, is it not so?” “So it is,” said the minstrel; “but to-morrow shall try all.”  Said Ralph:  “And is there some special peril ahead to-morrow?  And if it be so, what is it?” Said his fellow:  “It would avail thee naught to know it.  What then, doth that daunt thee?” “No,” said Ralph, “by then it is nigh enough to hurt us, we shall be nigh enough to see it.”  “Well said!” quoth the minstrel; “but now we must mend our pace, or dark night shall overtake us amid these rough ways.”

Wild as the land was, they came at even to a place where were a few houses of woodmen or hunters; and they got off their horses and knocked at the door of one of these, and a great black-haired carle opened to them, who, when he saw the knight’s armour, would have clapped the door to again, had not Ralph by the minstrel’s rede held out the parchment to him, who when he saw it became humble indeed, and gave them such guesting as he might, which was scant indeed of victual or drink, save wild-fowl from the heath.  But they had wine with them from the last guest-house, whereof they bade the carle to drink; but he would not, and in all wise seemed to be in dread of them.

When it was morning early they rode their ways, and the carle seemed glad to be rid of them.  After they had ridden a few miles the land bettered somewhat; there were islands of deep green pasture amidst the blackness of the heath, with cattle grazing on them, and here and there was a little tillage:  the land was little better than level, only it swelled a little this way and that.  It was a bright sunny day and the air very clear, and as they rode Ralph said:  “Quite clear is the sky, and yet one cloud there is in the offing; but this is strange about it, though I have been watching it this half hour, and looking to see the rack come up from that quarter, yet it changes not at all.  I never saw the like of this cloud.”