any of them well
able to pay for what they lack, if not in money, then in kind, which in
a way is better. Yea, it is a goodly land for merchants."

"But I am no merchant," said Ralph.

"So it is," said Clement, "yet thou desireth something; and whither we
are wending thou mayst hear tidings that shall please thee, or tidings
that shall please me. To say sooth, these two may well be adverse to
each other, for I would not have thee hear so much of tidings as shall
lead thee on, but rather I would have thee return with me, and not
throw thy young life away: for indeed I have an inkling of what thou
seekest, and meseems that Death and the Devil shall be thy
faring-fellows."

Ralph held his peace, and Clement said in a cheerfuller voice:
"Moreover, there shall be strange and goodly things to see; and the men
of these parts be mostly goodly of body, and the women goodlier yet, as
we carles deem."

Ralph sighed, and answered not at once, but presently he said: "Master
Clement, canst thou give me the order of our goings for these next
days?" "Yea, certes," said Clement. "In three days' time we shall
come to the entry of the mountains: two days thence we shall go without
coming under any roof save the naked heavens; the day thereafter shall
we come to the Mid-Mountain House, which is as it were an hostelry; but
it was built and is upheld by the folks that dwell anigh, amongst whom
be the folk of Cheaping Knowe; and that house is hallowed unto truce,
and no man smiteth another therein; so that we oft come on the mountain
strong-thieves there, and there we be blithe together and feast
together in good fellowship. But when there be foemen in that house
together, each man or each fellowship departing, hath grace of an hour
before his foeman follow. Such are the customs of that house, and no
man breaketh them ever. But when we depart thence we shall ride all
day and sleep amidst the mountains, and if we be not beset that night
or the morrow's morn thereof, safe and unfoughten shall we come to
Cheaping Knowe. Doth that suffice thee as at this time?" "Yea master,"
quoth Ralph.

So therewith their talk dropped, for the moment; but Clement talked
much with Ralph that day, and honoured him much, as did all that
company.

CHAPTER 20

They Come to the Mid-Mountain Guest-House

On that night they slept in their tents which they had pitched on the
field of a little thorp beside a water; and there they had meat and
dr