MasterClementTellsRalphConcerningtheLandsWhereuntoTheyWereRidingWhentheyweregottenamileortwofromWhitwall，andallwasgoingsmoothly，ClementcameuptoRalphandrodeathislefthand，andfelltospeechwithhim，andsaid：
“Now，lord，willItelltheemoreconcerningourjourney，andthefolkthatweareliketomeetupontheroad。
Andoftheperils，whatsotheymaybe，Itoldtheenotbefore，becauseIknewtheedesirousofseekingadventureseast-away，andknewthatmytaleswouldnothinderthee。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“andhadnotthisgoodlyfellowshipbeen，Ihadgonealone，orwithanycarlethatIcouldhavelightlyhired。”
Clementlaughedandsaid：“Fairsir，thouwouldsthavefailedofhiringanyonemantogowiththeeeast-wardamanymiles。
Forwithlessthanascoreofmenwell-armedthedangerofdeathorcaptivityisovergreat，ifyeridethemountainwaysuntoCheapingKnowe。Yea，andevenifapoormanwhohathnothing，wendthatwayalone，hemaywellfallamongthieves，andbestolenhimselfbodyandbones，forlackofanythingbettertosteal。”
HereatRalphfelthisheartrise，whenhethoughtofbattleandstrife，andhemadehishorsetospringsomewhat，andthenhesaid：
“Itlikethmewell，dearfriend，thatIridenotwiththeefornaught，butthatImayearnmydailybreadlikeanother。”
“Yea。”saidClement，lookingonhimkindly，“IdeemofallthybrethrenthouhastthebiggestshareofthebloodofRedRobert，whofirstwonUpmeads。AndnowthoushaltknowthatthisgoodtownofWhitwallthatliethbehindusisthelastofthelandsweshallcometowhereinfolkcananycourtesy，orareruledbythecustomsofthemanor，orbyduelawfulEarlsandKings，orthelawsoftheLineageorthePort，orhaveanyGuildsfortheirguiding，andhelping。
Andthoughthesefolkswhereuntoweshallcome，are，someofthem，Christianmenbyname，andhaveamongstthempriestsandreligious；
yetaretheywildmenofmanners，andmanyheathencustomsabideamongstthem；asswearingonthealtarsofdevils，andeatinghorse-fleshattheHigh-tides，andspell-raisingmorethanenough，andsuchlikethings，eventothereddeningofthedoom-ringswiththebloodofmenandofwomen，yea，andofbabes：fromsuchthingstheirpriestscannotwithholdthem。Asfortheirtownsthatweshallcometo，Isaynotbutweshallfindcraftsamongstthem，andworthygoodmentherein，buttheyhavelittlemightagainstthetyrantswhoreignoverthetowns，andwhoareofnogreatkindred，norofbloodbetterthanotherfolk，butmerelymasterfulandwisemenwhohavegainedtheirplacebycunningandthehighhand。
Thoushaltseecastlesandfairstrong-housesaboutthecountry-side，butthegreatmenwhodwellthereinarenotthenaturalkindlylordsofthelandyieldingservicetoEarls，Dukes，andKings，andhavingunderthemvavassorsandvilleins，menofthemanor；
buttheirtillersandshepherdsandworkmenandservantsbemerethralls，whomtheymaysellatanymarket，liketheirhorsesoroxen。
Forsooththesegreatmenhavewiththemforthemorepartfreemenwagedfortheirservice，whowillnotholdtheirhandsfromaughtthattheirmasterbiddeth，notstayingtoaskifitbelawfulorunlawful。
Andthatthemorebecausewhosoisafreemanthere，houseandheadmustheholdonthetenureofbowandsword，andhislifeisliketobeshortifhehathnotswornhimselftotheserviceofsometyrantofacastleoratown。”
“Yea，masterClement。”saidRalph，“thesebenopeacefullandswheretothouartbringingus，orverypleasanttodwellin。”
“Littleforpeace，butmuchforprofit。”saidClement；
“fortheselandsbefruitfulofwineandoilandwheat，andneatandsheep；withalmetalsandgemsaredugupoutofthemountains；
andontheotherhand，theymakebutlittlebycraftsmanship，whereforearetheytheeagererforchafferwithusmerchants；
whereasalsotherearemanyofthemwellabletopayforwhattheylack，ifnotinmoney，theninkind，whichinawayisbetter。
Yea，itisagoodlylandformerchants。”
“ButIamnomerchant。”saidRalph。
“Soitis。”saidClement，“yetthoudesirethsomething；
andwhitherwearewendingthoumaystheartidingsthatshallpleasethee，ortidingsthatshallpleaseme。Tosaysooth，thesetwomaywellbeadversetoeachother，forIwouldnothavetheehearsomuchoftidingsasshallleadtheeon，butratherI
wouldhavetheereturnwithme，andnotthrowthyyounglifeaway：
forindeedIhaveaninklingofwhatthouseekest，andmeseemsthatDeathandtheDevilshallbethyfaring-fellows。”
Ralphheldhispeace，andClementsaidinacheerfullervoice：
“Moreover，thereshallbestrangeandgoodlythingstosee；
andthemenofthesepartsbemostlygoodlyofbody，andthewomengoodlieryet，aswecarlesdeem。”
Ralphsighed，andanswerednotatonce，butpresentlyhesaid：
“MasterClement，canstthougivemetheorderofourgoingsforthesenextdays？”“Yea，certes。”saidClement。
“Inthreedays’timeweshallcometotheentryofthemountains：
twodaysthenceweshallgowithoutcomingunderanyroofsavethenakedheavens；thedaythereaftershallwecometotheMid-MountainHouse，whichisasitwereanhostelry；
butitwasbuiltandisupheldbythefolksthatdwellanigh，amongstwhombethefolkofCheapingKnowe；andthathouseishalloweduntotruce，andnomansmitethanothertherein；
sothatweoftcomeonthemountainstrong-thievesthere，andtherewebeblithetogetherandfeasttogetheringoodfellowship。
Butwhentherebefoemeninthathousetogether，eachmanoreachfellowshipdeparting，hathgraceofanhourbeforehisfoemanfollow。
Sucharethecustomsofthathouse，andnomanbreakeththemever。
Butwhenwedepartthenceweshallridealldayandsleepamidstthemountains，andifwebenotbesetthatnightorthemorrow’smornthereof，safeandunfoughtenshallwecometoCheapingKnowe。Doththatsufficetheeasatthistime？”
“Yeamaster。”quothRalph。
Sotherewiththeirtalkdropped，forthemoment；butClementtalkedmuchwithRalphthatday，andhonouredhimmuch，asdidallthatcompany。
TheyCometotheMid-MountainGuest-HouseOnthatnighttheysleptintheirtentswhichtheyhadpitchedonthefieldofalittlethorpbesideawater；andtheretheyhadmeatanddrinkandallthingsastheyneededthem。
Andinlikewiseitbefellthemthenextday；butthethirdeveningtheysetuptheirtentsonalittlehillsidebyaroadwhichledintoadeeppass，eventheentryofthemountains，aroadwhichwentbetwixtexceedinghighwallsofrock。
Forthemountainsideswentupsteepfromtheplain。
Theretheykeptgoodwatchandward，andnaughtbefellthemtotellof。
Thenextmorningtheyenteredthepass，androdethroughituptotheheaths，androdealldaybywildandstonywaysandcameateventoagrassyvalleywateredbyalittlestream，wheretheyguested，watchingtheircampwell；
andagainnonemeddledwiththem。
AstheyweredepartingthenextmornRalphaskedofClementifheyetlookedforonsetfromthewaylayers。SaidClement：
“Itismostlike，lord；forwebearichprey，anditisbutseldomthatsuchacompanyrideththisroad。Andalbeitthatthewildmenknownottoadaywhenweshallpassthroughtheircountry，yettheyknowthetimewithinafourandtwentyhoursorso。
Forwemaynothideourjourneyfromallmen’shearing；
andwhentheearheareth，thetonguewaggeth。Butartthouyetanxiousconcerningthismatter，son？”“Yea。”saidRalph，“forIwouldfainlookonthesemiscreants。”
“Itislikethatyeshallseethem。”saidClement；“butI
shalllookonitasatokenthattheyareaboutwaylayingusifwecomeonnoneofthemintheMountainHouse。Fortheywillbefearfullesttheirpurposeleakoutfromunwarylips。”
Ralphwonderedhowitwouldbe，andwhatmightcomeofit，androdeon，ponderingmuch。
Theroadwasroughthatday，andtheywentnotaboveafoot-pacethemorepartofthetime；anddaylongtheyweregoingupandup，anditgrewcoldasthesungotlow；thoughitwasyetsummer。
Atlastatthetopofalongstonyridge，whichlaybeneathagreatspreadingmountain，onthecrestwhereofthesnowlayinplenty，Ralphsawahouse，longandlow，buildedofgreatstones，bothwallsandroof：
atsightthereofthemenofthefellowshipshoutedforjoy，andhastenedon，andClementspurredupthestonyslopesallhemight。
ButRalphrodeslowly，sincehehadnaughttoseeto，savehimself，sothathewaspresentlyleftalone。Nowhelooksaside，andseessomethingbright-huedlyingunderabigstonewherethelastraysofthesunjustcaughtsomecornerofit。Sohegoesthither，deemingthatmayhappenoneofthecompanyhaddroppedsomething，pouchorclout，orwhatnot，inhishasteandhurry。Hegotoffhishorsetopickitup，andwhenhehadlaidhandonitfoundittobeahands-breadthoffinegreenclothembroideredwithflowers。
Hehelditinhishandawhilewonderingwherehecouldhaveseensuchlikestuffbefore，thatitshouldsmiteapangintohisheart，andsuddenlycalledtomindthelittlehallatBourtonAbbaswiththeoakenbenchesandtherush-strewnfloor，andthissameflower-broideredgreenclothdancingaboutthenakedfeetofafairdamsel，asshemovednimblyhitherandthitherdightinghimhisbever。
Buthisthoughtstayednotthere，butcarriedhimintothedayswhenhewasabidingindesireofthelovethathewonatlast，andlostsospeedily。ButashestoodponderingheheardClementshoutingtohimfromthegarth-gateofthathouse。
SoheleaptonhishorseandrodeuptheslopeintothegarthandlighteddownbyClement；whofelltochidinghimfortarrying，andsaid：
“Thereisperilinloiteringoutsidethisgarthalone；forthoseSonsoftheRopeoftenlurkhardbyforwhattheymayeasilypickup，andtheybebriskandnimblelads。”“Whatailedthee？”saidRalph。
“IstayedtolookataflowerwhichcalledUpmeadstomymind。”
“Yealad，yea。”quothClement，“andartthousosoftasthat？
ButcomethouintotheHouse；itisasIdeemeditmightbe；
besidestheHouse-wardenandhiswifethereisnosoultherein。
ThoushaltyetlookonMickHangman’ssons，asthoudesirest。”
SotheywentintotheHouse，andmenhadallthattheymightneed。
Thewardenwasanoldhoarman，andhiswifewell-strickeninyears；
andaftersupperwastalkofthisandthat，anditfellmuch，aswasliketobe，onthosestrong-thieves，andClementaskedthewardenwhathehadseenofthemoflate。
Theoldcarleanswered：“Nay，masterClement，muchaccordingtowont：
afewbeevesdrivenintoourgarth；apackortwobroughtintothehall；
andwhilesoneortwoofthemcomeinhitherwithemptyhandsforasleepandabellyful；andagainacaptiveledinontheroadtothemarket。
Forsoothitisnowagoodfewdaysagothreeofthembroughtinawomanasgoodlyasmineeyeshaveeverseen；andshesatonthebenchyonder，andseemedtoheedlittlethatshewasacaptiveandhadshacklesonherfeetafterthecustomofthesemen，thoughindeedherhandswereunbound，sothatshemighteathermeat；andthecarlethieftoldmethathetookherbutalittlewayfromthegarth，andthatshemadeastoutdefencewithaswordbeforetheymighttakeher，butbeingtaken，shemadebutlittleofit。”
“Wouldhedoheranyhurt？”saidRalph。“Nay，surely。”saidthecarle；
“dothamanmakeaholeinapieceofclothwhichheistakingtomarket？
Nay，hewascourteoustoherafterhisfashion，andbadeusgiveherthebestofallwehad。”
“Whatlikewasshe？”saidRalph。Saidthecarle：
“Shewassomewhattall，ifIamtonotesuchmatters，grey-eyedandbrownhaired，andgreatabundanceofit。
Herlipsveryred；hercheekstannedwiththesun，butinsuchwisethatherownwhiteandredshonethroughthesun’spainting，sothatherfacewasassweetasthebestwheat-earinaten-acrefieldwhentheseasonhathbeengood。Herhandswerenotlikethoseofademoisellewhosittethinachambertobelookedat，butbrownasofonewhohathbornethesickleinthesun。
Butwhenshestretchedoutherhandsothatthewristofhercameforthfromhersleeveitwasaswhiteasmilk。”
“Well，myman。”saidthecarline，“thouhastagoodmemoryforanoldandoutworncarle。Whydostthounottelltheyoungknightwhatshewascladwithal；sincesavefortheirraimentallwomenofanagearemuchalike？”
“Nay，dothoudoit。”saidthecarle；“shewasevenasfairasIhavesaid；
sothattherebefewlikeher。”
Saidthedame：“Well，thereisnaughtsomuchtobesaidforherraiment：
hergownwasgreen，offineclothenough；butnotverynew：
weltsofneedle-workithadonit，andawreathofneedle-workflowersroundthehemoftheskirt；butacantlewastornofffromit；
inthescufflewhenshewastaken，Isuppose，sothatitwassomewhatraggedinoneplace。Furthermore——“
ShehadbeenlookingatRalphasshespoke，andnowshebrokeoffsuddenly，andsaid，stilllookingathimhard；
“Well，itisstrange！”“Whatisstrange？”saidClement。
“Onaught，naught。”saidthedame，“savethatfolkshouldmakesomuchtodoaboutthismatter，whentherearesomanycomingandgoingabouttheMidhouseoftheMountains。”
ButRalphnotedthatshewasstillstaringathimevenaftershehadletthetalkdrop。
