Chapter 5, Spring Summary

As Bink's journey continues, he approaches a magical tree to cut a new walking stick. The tree screams that he should carve one of his own, like the wounded soldier nearby, sending Bink off to find the soldier. He does so, but the soldier's stab wounds require medicines Bink does not have. Acting on the advice of a wood nymph, he locates the Spring of Life, whose waters restore health. The nymph warns him that the Spring is cursed but Bink decides to risk the curse. At the Spring, a finger he lost during an accident fifteen years ago is healed, as is his cold, but he learns that the Spring requires a promise that anyone it heals cannot ever act in any way that will harm it.

The Spring's waters heal the soldier's wounds and Bink learns that the man's...