ThenClementledhimuptothemerchant，towhomhegavetheseleoftheday，andsaid：“Master，thisistheyoungknightofwhomItoldthee，whodeemeththatawomanwhoishisfriendhathbeenbroughttothismarketandsoldthere，andifhemight，hewouldransomher。”
ThemerchantgreetedRalphcourteously，andbadehimandClementcomeintohishouse，wheretheymightspeakmoreprivily。
Sodidthey，andhetreatedthemwithhonour，andsetwineandspicesbeforethem，andbadeRalphsaywhatlikethewomanwas。
Ralphdidso，andwonderedathimselfhowwellandcloselyhecouldtellofher，likeasapicturepainted。And，moreover，hedrewforththatpieceofhergownwhichhehadcomeonbytheMid-MountainHouseSowhenhehaddone，themerchant，whowasamansoberofaspectandsomewhatslowofspeech，said：“Sir，IbelievesurelythatIhaveseenthisdamsel，butsheisnotwithmenow，norhaveIsoldherever；buthitherwasshebroughttobesoldbyamanofthemountainfolknotverymanydaysago。
Andtheman’snamewasBullNosy，orthelongnosedmanofthekindredoftheBull，forinsuchwisearenamedthemenofthatunhappyfolk。
NowthiswasthecausewhyImightnotsellher，thatshewassoproudandstoutthatmenfearedher，whatshemightdoiftheyhadheraway。
Andwhensomespaketoseeherbodynaked，shedenieditutterly，sayingthatshewoulddoamischieftowhomsoevertriedit。
SoIspaketohimwhoownedher，andaskedhimifhethoughtitgoodtotakeherawhileandquellherwithsuchpainsaswouldspoilherbutlittle，andthenbringhertomarketwhenshewasmeeker。
Butheheededmywordslittle，andledheraway，sheridingonahorseandhegoingafootbesideher；forthemountain-menbenohorsemen。”
SaidRalph：“Dostthouknowatallwhitherhewillhaveledher？”
Saidthemerchant：“Bymydeeming，hewillhavegonefirstofalltothetownofWhiteness，whitherthyFellowshipwillbetakethemerelong：
forhewillbemindedtomeettheretheLordofUtterbol，whoisforsuchlikewares；andhewilleithergivehertohimasagift，forwhichhewillhaveagiftinreturn，orhewillsellhertomylordatapriceifhedaretochafferwithhim。Atleastsowillhedoifhebewise。
Nowifthesaidlordhathher，itwillbesomewhatmorethanhardfortheetogetheragain，tillhehavealtogetherdonewithher；
formoneyandgoodsarenaughttohimbesidethedoingofhiswill。
Butthereisthisforthycomfort，thatwhereassheissofairawoman，shewillbewellwithmylord。ForIwarrantmethatshewillnotdaretobeproudwithhim，asshewaswiththefolkhere。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“andwhatisthislordofUtterbolthatallfolk，menandwomen，fearhimso？”Saidthemerchant：
“Fairsir，thoumustpardonmeifIsaynomoreofhim。
Belikethoumaystfallinwithhim；andifthoudost，takeheedthatthoumakenotthyselfgreatwithhim。”
SoRalphthankedthemerchantanddepartedwithClement，ofwhompresentlyheaskedifheknewaughtofthislordofUtterbol。SaidClement：
“GodforbidthatIshouldevermeethim，savewhereIweremanyandhefew。
Ihaveneverseenhim；butheisdeemedbyallmenastheworstofthetyrantswhovextheselands，and，maybe，themightiest。”
SowasRalphsoreatheartforthedamsel，andanonhespaketoBullagainofher，whodeemedsomewhat，thathiskinsmanhadbeenmindedatthefirsttosellhertothelordofUtterbol。
AndRalphthinkshisgameahardone，yetdeemsthatifhecouldbutfindoutwherethedamselwas，hemightdeliverher，whatbysleight，whatbyboldness。
TheFellowshipComestoWhitenessTwodaysthereafterthechapmenhavingdonewiththeirmattersinCheapingKnowe，whereastheymustneedskeepsomeoftheirwaresforotherplaces，andespeciallyforGoldburg，theydightthemtobegoneandrodeouta-gatesofamid-morningwithbannersdisplayed。
ItwassomefiftymilesthencetoWhiteness，whichlaycloseunderneaththemountains，andwas，asitwere，thedoorofthepasseswherebymenrodetoGoldburg。Thelandwhichtheypassedthroughwasfair，bothoftillageandpasture，withmuchcattletherein。
Everywheretheysawmenandwomenworkingafield，butnohousesofworthyyeomenorvavassors，orcotsofgoodhusbandmen。
Hereandtherewasacastleorstrong-house，andhereandtherelongrowsofuglyhovels，orwhileshouses，bigtallandlong，butexceedingfoulandill-favoured，suchasRalphhadnotyetseenthelikeof。AndwhenheaskedofClementconcerningallthis，hesaid：“ItisasIhavetoldthee，thatherebenofreemenwhoworkafield，nay，norvilleinseither。AllthosewhomyehaveseenworkinghavebeenboughtandsoldliketothosewhomwesawstandingontheStoneinthemarketofCheapingKnowe，orelsewerebornofsuchcattle，andeachoneofthemcanbeboughtandsoldagain，andtheyworknotsaveunderthewhip。
Andasforthosehovelsandthelongandfoulhouses，theyarethestableswhereinthiskindofcattleisharboured。”
ThenRalph’sheartsank，andhesaid：“MasterClement，Ipritheetellme；wereitpossiblethatthedamselwhomIseekmaybecometosuchapassasoneofthese？”
“Nay。”quothClement，“thatislittleliketobe；suchgoodlywaresarekeptfortheadornmentofgreatmen’shouses。
Trueitisthatwhilesthehouse-thrallsbesentintothefieldsfortheirpunishment；yetnotsuchasshe，unlessthemasterbewhollyweariedofthem，oriftheirwrathoutruntheirwits；
foritismoretothemaster’sprofittochastisethemathome；
sokeepagoodheartIbidthee，andmaybeweshallhavetidingsatWhiteness。”
SoRalphrefrainedhisanxiousheart，thoughforsoothhisthoughtwasmuchuponthedamselandofhowshewasfaring。
ItwasnottillthethirddayatsunsetthattheycametoWhiteness；
foronthelastdayoftheirridingtheycameamongsttheconfusedhillsthatlaybeforethegreatmountains，whichwerenowoftenhiddenfromtheirsight；butwhenevertheyappearedthroughtheopeningsofthenearhills，theyseemedverygreatandterrible；
darkandbareandstony；andClementsaidthattheywerelittlebetterthantheylookedfromafar。AstoWhiteness，theysawitalongwayoff，asitlayonalongridgeattheendofavalley：
andsolongwastheridge，thatbehinditwasnothinggreen；
naughtbutthehugeandbaremountains。Thewesteringsunfelluponitswallsanditshouses，sothatitlookedwhiteindeedagainstthosegreatcliffsandcrags；though，saidClement，thatthesewereyetagoodwayoff。Nowwhen，afteralongridefromthehitherendofthevalley，theydrewnightothetown，Ralphsawthatthewallsandtowerswerenotveryhighorstrong，forsosteepwasthehillwhereonthetownstood，thatitneedednot。
HerealsowasnogreatcastlewithinthetownasatCheapingKnowe，andthetownitselfnothingsobig，butlongandstragglingalongthetopoftheridge。CheapingKnowewasallbuildedofstone；
butthehousesherewereoftimberforthemostpart，doneoverwithpargetingandwhitenedwell。YetwasthetownmorecheerfulofaspectthanCheapingKnowe，andthefolkwhocamethrongingaboutthechapmenatthegatesnotsowoe-begone，andgoodlyenough。
OfthelordofWhiteness，ClementtoldthathepaidtributetohimofCheapingKnowe，ratherforloveofpeacethanforfearofhim；
forhewasnoilllord，andfreemenlivedwellunderhim。
Sothechapmenlodgedinthemarket-place；andintwodaystimeRalphgotspeechoftheDeaconoftheChapmenoftheTown；
whotoldhimtwomatters；firstthatthelordofUtterbolhadnotbeeninWhitenessthesesixmonths；andnextthatthewildmanhadverilybroughtthedamselintothemarket；buthehadturnedawaythencesuddenlywithher，withoutbringinghertothestone，andthatitwasmostlikethathewouldhavethelordofUtterbolbuyher；who，sincehewouldbedeemingthathemighteasilybendhertohiswill，wouldgivehimthebetterpennyforher。
“Atthelast。”quoththeDeacon，“thewildmanledherawaytowardthemountainpassthatgoethtoGoldburg，thedamselandhealone，andshewithherhandsunboundandridingalittlehorse。”
OfthesetidingsRalphdeemeditgoodthatalltracesofherwerenotlost；buthisheartmisgavehimwhenhethoughtthatbythistimeshemustsurelybeinthehandsofthelordofUtterbol。
TheyRidetheMountainsTowardGoldburgFivedaystheFellowshipabodeatWhiteness，andorevertheydepartedClementwagedmen-at-armsofthelordofthetown，besidesservantstolooktothebeastsamongstthemountains，sothatwhatwithone，whatwithanother，theyenteredthegatesofthemountainsagoodlycompanyoffourscoreandten。
RalphaskedofBullifanyofthosewhomhemightmeetinthesemountainswereofhiskindred；andheanswered，nay，unlessperchancetheremightbesomeoneortwogoingtheirpeacefulerrandstherelikeBullNosy。
SoRalpharmedhimwithagoodswordandashield，andwouldhavegivenhimasteelhoodalso，buthewouldnotbearit，sayingthatifswordandshieldcouldnotkeephisheadhehadwellearnedasplitskull。
Sevendaystheyrodethemountains，andthewaywastoilsomeandwearyenough，foritwasnaughtbutastonymazeoftherockswherenothinglivingdwelt，andnothinggrew，savenowandagainalittledwarfwillow。Yetwastherenaughtworsetomeetsavetoil，becausetheywereoverstrongforthewildmentomeddlewiththem，whereasthekindredsthereaboutwerebutfeeble。
ButasitdrewtowardseveningontheseventhdayRalphhadriddenalittleaheadwithBullalone，ifhemightperchancehaveasightoftheendingofthisgrievouswilderness，asClementsaidmightbe，sincenowthewaywasdown-hill，andallwatersraneast。
Soastheyrode，anditwasaboutsunset，theysawsomethinglyingbyabigstoneunderacliff；sotheydrewnigh，andsawamanlyingonhisback，andtheydeemedhewasdead。
SoBullwentuptohim，andleaptoffhishorseclosebyhimandbentoverhim，butstraightwaycastuphisarmsandsetupalongwailingwhoop，andthenanotherandanother，sothattheythatwerebehindhearditandcameupuponthespur。
ButRalphleaptfromhishorse，andranuptoBullandsaid：
“Whataileththeetowhoopandwail？Whoisit？”ButBullturnedaboutandshookhisheadathim，andsaid：“Itisamanofmykindred，evenhethatwasleadingawaythyshe-friend；
andbelikesheitwasthatslewhim，orwhyisshenothere：
Ochone！ahoo！ahoo！”TherewithfireranthroughRalph’sheart，andhebethoughthimofthatothermurderinthewilderness，andhefelltowringinghishands，andcriedout：“Ah，andwhereisshe，whereisshe？Isshealsotakenawayfrommeforever？
Omeunhappy！”
Andhedrewhisswordtherewith，andranaboutamongsttherocksandthebushesseekingherbody。
AndtherewithcameupClement，andothersofthecompany，andwonderedtoseeBullkneelingdownbythecorpse，andtohearhimcryingoutandwailing，andRalphrunningaboutlikeonemad，andcryingoutnow：
“Oh！thatImightfindher！Mayhappensheisaliveyet，andanighhereinsomecleftoftherocksinthismiserablewilderness。Omylovethathastlaininminearms，wouldstthounothavemefindheralive？
Butifshebedead，thenwillIslaymyself，forasyoungasIam，thatImayfindtheeandheroutoftheworld，sincefromtheworldbothyearegone。”
ThenClementwentuptoRalph，andwouldhaveatruetaleoutofhim，andaskedhimwhatwasamiss；butRalphstaredwildathimandanswerednot。
ButBullcriedoutfromwhereheknelt：“Heisseekingthewoman，andIwouldthathecouldfindher；forthenwouldIslayheronthehoweofmykinsman：
forshehathslainhim；shehathslainhim。”
ThatwordheardRalph，andheranatBullwithupliftedswordtoslayhim；
butClementtrippedhimandhefell，andhisswordflewoutofhishand。
ThenClementandtwooftheothersboundhishandswiththeirgirdles，tilltheymightknowwhathadbefallen；fortheydeemedthatadevilhadenteredintohim，andfearedthathewoulddoamischieftohimselforsomeother。
AndnowwasthewholeFellowshipassembled，andstoodinaringroundaboutRalphandBull，andthedeadman；
asforhim，hehadbeendeadsometime，manydaysbelike；
butinthathighandclearcoldair，hiscarcase，whistledbythewind，haddriedratherthanrotted，andhisfacewascleartobeseenwithitsgreathookednoseandlongblackhair：
andhisskullwascloven。
