quoth Clement, "for I fell in with their Bailiff, and paid him due scot
for the passage of the Wood; he knoweth me withal, and we talked together."
"And had he any 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