all； then shall they do the like with all of you。〃
Said Walter： 〃Is that sure？〃
〃Dead sure；〃 said the carle。
〃How knowest thou this？〃 said Walter。
〃I have been there myself；〃 said the carle。
〃Yea；〃 said Walter； 〃but thou camest away whole。〃
〃Art thou sure thereof？〃 said the carle。
〃Thou art alive yet； old man；〃 said Walter； 〃for I have seen thee
eat thy meat； which ghosts use not to do。〃 And he laughed。
But the old man answered soberly： 〃If I escaped； it was by this；
that another woman saved me； and not often shall that befall。 Nor
wholly was I saved； my body escaped forsooth。 But where is my soul？
Where is my heart； and my life？ Young man； I rede thee； try no such
adventure； but go home to thy kindred if thou canst。 Moreover；
wouldst thou fare alone？ The others shall hinder thee。〃
Said Walter： 〃I am the master； they shall do as I bid them：
besides； they will be well pleased to share my goods amongst them if
I give them a writing to clear them of all charges which might be
brought against them。〃
〃My son！ my son！〃 said the carle； 〃I pray thee go not to thy death！〃
Walter heard him silently； but as if he were persuaded to refrain；
and then the old man fell to； and told him much concerning this
Bear…folk and their customs； speaking very freely of them； but
Walter's ears were scarce open to this talk： whereas he deemed that
he should have nought to do with those wild men； and he durst not
ask again concerning the country whereto led the pass on the
northward。
CHAPTER VII： WALTER COMES TO THE SHARD IN THE ROCK…WALL
As they were in converse thus； they heard the hunters blowing on
their horns all together； whereon the old man arose； and said： 〃I
deem by the blowing that the hunt will be over and done； and that
they be blowing on their fellows who have gone scatter…meal about
the wood。 It is now some five hours after noon； and thy men will be
getting back with their venison； and will be fainest of the victuals
they have caught； therefore will I hasten on before； and get ready
fire and water and other matters for the cooking。 Wilt thou come
with me； young master； or abide thy men here？〃
Walter said lightly： 〃I will rest and abide them here； since I
cannot fail to see them hence as they go on their ways to thine
house。 And it may be well that I be at hand to command them and
forbid； and put some order amongst them； for rough playmates they
be； some of them； and now all heated with the hunting and the joy of
the green earth。〃 Thus he spoke； as if nought were toward save
supper and bed； but inwardly hope and fear were contending in him；
and again his heart beat so hard； that he deemed that the carle must
surely hear it。 But the old man took him but according to his
outward seeming； and nodded his head； and went away quietly toward
his house。
When he had been gone a little； Walter rose up heedfully； he had
with him a scrip wherein was some cheese and hard…fish； and a little
flasket of wine； a short bow he had with him； and a quiver of
arrows； and he was girt with a strong and good sword； and a wood…
knife withal。 He looked to all this gear that it was nought amiss；
and then speedily went down off the mound； and when he was come
down； he found that it covered him from men coming out of the wood；
if he went straight thence to that shard of the rock…wall where was
the pass that led southward。
Now it is no nay that thitherward he turned； and went wisely； lest
the carle should make a backward cast； and see him； or lest any
straggler of his own folk might happen upon him。
For to say sooth； he deemed that did they wind him； they would be
like to let him of his journey。 He had noted the bearings of the
cliffs nigh the shard； and whereas he could see their heads
everywhere except from the depths of the thicket； he was not like to
go astray。
He had made no great way ere he heard the horns blowing all together
again in one place； and looking thitherward through the leafy boughs
（for he was now amidst of a thicket） he saw his men thronging the
mound； and had no doubt therefore that they were blowing on him； but
being well under cover he heeded it nought； and lying still a
little； saw them go down off the mound and go all of them toward the
carle's house； still blowing as they went； but not faring scatter…
meal。 Wherefore it was clear that they were nought troubled about
him。
So he went on his way to the shard； and there is nothing to say of
his journey till he got before it with the last of the clear day；
and entered it straightway。 It was in sooth a downright breach or
cleft in the rock…wall； and there was no hill or bent leading up to
it； nothing but a tumble of stones before it； which was somewhat
uneasy going； yet needed nought but labour to overcome it； and when
he had got over this； and was in the very pass itself； he found it
no ill going： forsooth at first it was little worse than a rough
road betwixt two great stony slopes； though a little trickle of
water ran down amidst of it。 So； though it was so nigh nightfall；
yet Walter pressed on； yea； and long after the very night was come。
For the moon rose wide and bright a little after nightfall。 But at
last he had gone so long； and was so wearied； that he deemed it
nought but wisdom to rest him； and so lay down on a piece of
greensward betwixt the stones； when he had eaten a morsel out of his
satchel； and drunk of the water out of the stream。 There as he lay；
if he had any doubt of peril； his weariness soon made it all one to
him； for presently he was sleeping as soundly as any man in Langton
on Holm。
CHAPTER VIII： WALTER WENDS THE WASTE
Day was yet young when he awoke： he leapt to his feet； and went
down to the stream and drank of its waters； and washed the night off
him in a pool thereof； and then set forth on his way again。 When he
had gone some three hours； the road； which had been going up all the
way； but somewhat gently； grew steeper； and the bent on either side
lowered； and lowered； till it sank at last altogether； and then was
he on a rough mountain…neck with little grass； and no water； save
that now and again was a soft place with a flow amidst of it； and
such places he must needs fetch a compass about； lest he be mired。
He gave himself but little rest； eating what he needs must as he
went。 The day was bright and calm； so that the sun was never
hidden； and he steered by it due south。 All that day he went； and
found no more change in that huge neck； save that whiles it was more
and whiles less steep。 A little before nightfall he happened on a
shallow pool some twenty yards over； and he deemed it good to rest
there； since there was water for his avail； though he might have
made somewhat more out of the tail end of the day。
When dawn came again he awoke and arose； nor spent much time over
his breakfast； but pressed on all he might； and now he said to
himself； that whatsoever other peril were athwart his way； he was
out of the danger of the chase of his own folk。
All this while he had seen no four…footed beast； save now and again
a hill…fox； and once some outlandish kind of hare； and of fowl but
very few： a crow or two； a long…winged hawk； and twice an eagle
high up aloft。
Again； the third night； he slept in the stony wilderness； which
still led him up and up。 Only toward the end of the day； himseemed
that it had been less steep for a long while： otherwise nought was
changed； on all sides it was nought but the endless neck； wherefrom
nought could be seen； but some other part of itself。 This fourth
night withal he found no water whereby he might rest； so that he
awoke parched； and longing to drink just when the dawn was at its
coldest。
But on the fifth morrow the ground rose but little； and at last；
when he had been going wearily a long while； and now； hard on
noontide； his thirst grieved him sorely； he came on a spring welling
out from under a high rock； the water wherefrom trickled feebly
away。 So eager was he to drink； that at first he heeded nought
else； but when his thirst was fully quenched his eyes caught sight
of the stream which flowed from the well； and he gave a shout； for
lo！ it was running south。 Wherefore it was with a merry heart that
he went on； and as he went； came on more streams； all running south
or thereabouts。 He hastened on all he might； but in despite of all
the speed he made； and that he felt the land now going down
southward； night overtook him in that same wilderness。 Yet when he
stayed at last for sheer weariness； he lay down in what he deemed by
the moonlight to be a shallow valley； with a ridge at the southern
end thereof。
He slept long； and when he awoke the sun was high in the heavens；
and never was brighter or clearer morning on the earth than was
that。 He arose and ate of what little was yet left him； and drank
of the water of a stream which he had followed the evening before；
and beside which he had laid him down； and then set forth again with
no great hope to come on new tidings that day。 But yet when he was
fairly afoot； himseemed that there was something new in the air
which he breathed； that was soft and bore sweet scents home to him；
whereas heretofore； and that especially for the last three or four
days； it had been harsh and void； like the face of the desert
itself。
So on he went； and presently was mounting the ridge aforesaid； and；
as oft happens when one climbs a steep place； he kept his eyes on
the ground； till he felt he was on the top of the ridge。 Then he
stopped to take breath； and raised his head and looked； and lo！ he
was verily on the brow of the great mountain…neck； and down below
him was the hanging of the great hill…slopes； which fell down； not
slowly； as those he had been those days a…mounting； but speedily
enough； though with little of broken places or sheer cliffs。 But
beyond this last of the desert there was before him a lovely land of
wooded hills； green plains； and little valleys； stretching out far
and wide； till it ended at last in great blue mountains and white
snowy peaks beyond them。
Then for very surprise of joy his spirit wavered； and he felt faint
and dizzy； so th