snowy peaks beyond them。
Then for very surprise of joy his spirit wavered； and he felt faint
and dizzy； so that he was fain to sit down a while and cover his
face with his hands。 Presently he came to his sober mind again； and
stood up and looked forth keenly； and saw no sign of any dwelling of
man。 But he said to himself that that might well be because the
good and well…grassed land was still so far off； and that he might
yet look to find men and their dwellings when he had left the
mountain wilderness quite behind him： So therewith he fell to going
his ways down the mountain； and lost little time therein； whereas he
now had his livelihood to look to。
CHAPTER IX： WALTER HAPPENETH ON THE FIRST OF THOSE THREE CREATURES
What with one thing； what with another； as his having to turn out of
his way for sheer rocks； or for slopes so steep that he might not
try the peril of them； and again for bogs impassable； he was fully
three days more before he had quite come out of the stony waste； and
by that time； though he had never lacked water； his scanty victual
was quite done； for all his careful husbandry thereof。 But this
troubled him little； whereas he looked to find wild fruits here and
there and to shoot some small deer； as hare or coney； and make a
shift to cook the same； since he had with him flint and fire…steel。
Moreover the further he went； the surer he was that he should soon
come across a dwelling； so smooth and fair as everything looked
before him。 And he had scant fear； save that he might happen on men
who should enthrall him。
But when he was come down past the first green slopes； he was so
worn； that he said to himself that rest was better than meat； so
little as he had slept for the last three days； so he laid him down
under an ash…tree by a stream…side； nor asked what was o'clock； but
had his fill of sleep； and even when he awoke in the fresh morning
was little fain of rising； but lay betwixt sleeping and waking for
some three hours more； then he arose； and went further down the next
green bent； yet somewhat slowly because of his hunger…weakness。 And
the scent of that fair land came up to him like the odour of one
great nosegay。
So he came to where the land was level； and there were many trees；
as oak and ash； and sweet…chestnut and wych…elm； and hornbeam and
quicken…tree； not growing in a close wood or tangled thicket； but
set as though in order on the flowery greensward； even as it might
be in a great king's park。
So came he to a big bird…cherry； whereof many boughs hung low down
laden with fruit： his belly rejoiced at the sight； and he caught
hold of a bough； and fell to plucking and eating。 But whiles he was
amidst of this； he heard suddenly； close anigh him； a strange noise
of roaring and braying； not very great； but exceeding fierce and
terrible； and not like to the voice of any beast that he knew。 As
has been aforesaid； Walter was no faint…heart； but what with the
weakness of his travail and hunger； what with the strangeness of his
adventure and his loneliness； his spirit failed him； he turned round
towards the noise； his knees shook and he trembled： this way and
that he looked； and then gave a great cry and tumbled down in a
swoon； for close before him； at his very feet； was the dwarf whose
image he had seen before； clad in his yellow coat； and grinning up
at him from his hideous hairy countenance。
How long he lay there as one dead； he knew not； but when he woke
again there was the dwarf sitting on his hams close by him。 And
when he lifted up his head； the dwarf sent out that fearful harsh
voice again； but this time Walter could make out words therein； and
knew that the creature spoke and said：
〃How now！ What art thou？ Whence comest？ What wantest？〃
Walter sat up and said： 〃I am a man； I hight Golden Walter； I come
from Langton； I want victual。〃
Said the dwarf； writhing his face grievously； and laughing forsooth：
〃I know it all： I asked thee to see what wise thou wouldst lie。 I
was sent forth to look for thee； and I have brought thee loathsome
bread with me； such as ye aliens must needs eat： take it！〃
Therewith he drew a loaf from a satchel which he bore； and thrust it
towards Walter； who took it somewhat doubtfully for all his hunger。
The dwarf yelled at him： 〃Art thou dainty； alien？ Wouldst thou
have flesh？ Well； give me thy bow and an arrow or two； since thou
art lazy…sick； and I will get thee a coney or a hare； or a quail
maybe。 Ah； I forgot； thou art dainty； and wilt not eat flesh as I
do； blood and all together； but must needs half burn it in the fire；
or mar it with hot water； as they say my Lady does： or as the
Wretch； the Thing does； I know that； for I have seen It eating。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Walter； 〃this sufficeth；〃 and he fell to eating the
bread； which was sweet between his teeth。 Then when he had eaten a
while； for hunger compelled him； he said to the dwarf： 〃But what
meanest thou by the Wretch and the Thing？ And what Lady is thy
Lady？〃
The creature let out another wordless roar as of furious anger； and
then the words came： 〃It hath a face white and red； like to thine；
and hands white as thine； yea； but whiter； and the like it is
underneath its raiment； only whiter still： for I have seen Ityes；
I have seen It； ah yes and yes and yes。〃
And therewith his words ran into gibber and yelling； and he rolled
about and smote at the grass： but in a while he grew quiet again
and sat still； and then fell to laughing horribly again； and then
said： 〃But thou； fool； wilt think It fair if thou fallest into Its
hands； and wilt repent it thereafter； as I did。 Oh； the mocking and
gibes of It； and the tears and shrieks of It； and the knife！ What！
sayest thou of my Lady？What Lady？ O alien； what other Lady is
there？ And what shall I tell thee of her？ it is like that she made
me； as she made the Bear men。 But she made not the Wretch； the
Thing； and she hateth It sorely； as I do。 And some day to come〃
Thereat he brake off and fell to wordless yelling a long while； and
thereafter spake all panting： 〃Now I have told thee overmuch； and O
if my Lady come to hear thereof。 Now I will go。〃
And therewith he took out two more loaves from his wallet； and
tossed them to Walter； and so turned and went his ways； whiles
walking upright； as Walter had seen his image on the quay of
Langton； whiles bounding and rolling like a ball thrown by a lad；
whiles scuttling along on all…fours like an evil beast； and ever and
anon giving forth that harsh and evil cry。
Walter sat a while after he was out of sight； so stricken with
horror and loathing and a fear of he knew not what； that he might
not move。 Then he plucked up a heart； and looked to his weapons and
put the other loaves into his scrip。
Then he arose and went his ways wondering； yea and dreading； what
kind of creature he should next fall in with。 For soothly it seemed
to him that it would be worse than death if they were all such as
this one； and that if it were so； he must needs slay and be slain。
CHAPTER X： WALTER HAPPENETH ON ANOTHER CREATURE IN THE STRANGE LAND
But as he went on through the fair and sweet land so bright and sun…
litten； and he now rested and fed； the horror and fear ran off from
him； and he wandered on merrily； neither did aught befall him save
the coming of night； when he laid him down under a great spreading
oak with his drawn sword ready to hand； and fell asleep at once； and
woke not till the sun was high。
Then he arose and went on his way again； and the land was no worser
than yesterday； but even better； it might be； the greensward more
flowery； the oaks and chestnuts greater。 Deer of diverse kinds he
saw； and might easily have got his meat thereof； but he meddled not
with them since he had his bread； and was timorous of lighting a
fire。 Withal he doubted little of having some entertainment； and
that； might be； nought evil； since even that fearful dwarf had been
courteous to him after his kind； and had done him good and not harm。
But of the happening on the Wretch and the Thing； whereof the dwarf
spake； he was yet somewhat afeard。
After he had gone a while and whenas the summer morn was at its
brightest； he saw a little way ahead a grey rock rising up from
amidst of a ring of oak…trees； so he turned thither straightway； for
in this plain…land he had seen no rocks heretofore； and as he went
he saw that there was a fountain gushing out from under the rock；
which ran thence in a fair little stream。 And when he had the rock
and the fountain and the stream clear before him； lo！ a child of
Adam sitting beside the fountain under the shadow of the rock。 He
drew a little nigher； and then he saw that it was a woman； clad in
green like the sward whereon she lay。 She was playing with the
welling out of the water； and she had trussed up her sleeves to the
shoulder that she might thrust her bare arms therein。 Her shoes of
black leather lay on the grass beside her； and her feet and legs yet
shone with the brook。
Belike amidst the splashing and clatter of the water she did not
hear him drawing nigh； so that he was close to her before she lifted
up her face and saw him； and he beheld her； that it was the maiden
of the thrice…seen pageant。 She reddened when she saw him； and
hastily covered up her legs with her gown…skirt； and drew down the
sleeves over her arms； but otherwise stirred not。 As for him； he
stood still； striving to speak to her； but no word might he bring
out； and his heart beat sorely。
But the maiden spake to him in a clear sweet voice； wherein was now
no trouble： 〃Thou art an alien； art thou not？ For I have not seen
thee before。〃
〃Yea；〃 he said； 〃I am an alien； wilt thou be good to me？〃
She said： 〃And why not？ I was afraid at first； for I thought it
had been the King's Son。 I looked to see none other； for of goodly
men he has been the only one here in the land this long while； till
thy coming。〃
He said： 〃Didst thou look for my coming at about this time？〃
〃O nay；〃 she said； 〃how might I？〃
Said Walter： 〃I wot not； but the other man seemed to be looking for
me； and knew of me； and he brought me bread to eat