tidings to tell thee of the champions?" said Richard.
Said Clement, "Great tidings maybe, how that there was a rumour that
they had lost their young Queen and Lady; and if that be true, it will
go nigh to break their hearts, so sore as they loved her. And that
will make them bitter and fierce, till their grief has been slaked by
the blood of men. And that the more as their old Queen abideth still,
and she herself is ever of that mind."

Ralph hearkened, and his heart was wounded that other men should speak
of his beloved: but he heard how Richard said: "Hast thou ever known
why that company of champions took the name of the Dry Tree?" "Why,
who should know that, if thou knowest it not, Richard of Swevenham?"
said Clement: "Is it not by the token of the Dry Tree that standeth in
the lands on the hither side of the Wall of the World?" Richard nodded
his head; but Ralph cried out: "O Master Clement, and hast thou seen
it, the Wall of the World?" "Yea, afar off, my son," said he; "or what
the folk with me called so; as to the Dry Tree, I have told thee at
Wulstead that I have seen it not, though I have known men who have told
me that they have seen it." "And must they who find the Well at the
World's End come by the Dry Tree?" "Yea, surely," said Clement. Quoth
Richard: "And thus have some heard, who have gone on that quest, and
they have heard of the Champions of Hampton, and have gone thither,
being deceived by that name of the Dry Tree, and whiles have been slain
by the champions, whiles have entered their company." "Yea," said
Clement, "so it is that their first error hath ended their quest. But
now, lord Ralph, I will tell thee one thing; to wit, that when I return
hither after eight days wearing, I shall be wending east, as I said
e'en now, and what will that mean save going somewhat nigher to the
Wall of the World; for my way lieth beyond the mountains that ye see
from hence, and beyond the mountains that lie the other side of those;
and I bid thee come with us, and I will be thy warrant that so far thou
shalt have no harm: but when thou hast come so far, and hast seen three
very fair cities, besides towns and castles and thorps and strange men,
and fair merchandize, God forbid that thou shouldest wend further, and
so cast away thy young life for a gay-coloured cloud. Then will be the
time to come back with me, that I may bring thee through the perils of
the way to Wulstead, and Upmeads at the last, and th