ink and all things as they needed them. And in likewise it befell
them the next day; but the third evening they set up their tents on a
little hillside by a road which led into a deep pass, even the entry of
the mountains, a road which went betwixt exceeding high walls of rock.
For the mountain sides went up steep from the plain. There they kept
good watch and ward, and naught befell them to tell of.

The next morning they entered the pass, and rode through it up to the
heaths, and rode all day by wild and stony ways and came at even to a
grassy valley watered by a little stream, where they guested, watching
their camp well; and again none meddled with them.

As they were departing the next morn Ralph asked of Clement if he yet
looked for onset from the waylayers. Said Clement: "It is most like,
lord; for we be a rich prey, and it is but seldom that such a company
rideth this road. And albeit that the wild men know not to a day when
we shall pass through their country, yet they know the time within a
four and twenty hours or so. For we may not hide our journey from all
men's hearing; and when the ear heareth, the tongue waggeth. But art
thou yet anxious concerning this matter, son?" "Yea," said Ralph, "for
I would fain look on these miscreants."

"It is like that ye shall see them," said Clement; "but I shall look on
it as a token that they are about waylaying us if we come on none of
them in the Mountain House. For they will be fearful lest their
purpose leak out from unwary lips." Ralph wondered how it would be, and
what might come of it, and rode on, pondering much.

The road was rough that day, and they went not above a foot-pace the
more part of the time; and daylong they were going up and up, and it
grew cold as the sun got low; though it was yet summer. At last at the
top of a long stony ridge, which lay beneath a great spreading
mountain, on the crest whereof the snow lay in plenty, Ralph saw a
house, long and low, builded of great stones, both walls and roof: at
sight thereof the men of the fellowship shouted for joy, and hastened
on, and Clement spurred up the stony slopes all he might. But Ralph
rode slowly, since he had naught to see to, save himself, so that he
was presently left alone. Now he looks aside, and sees something
bright-hued lying under a big stone where the last rays of the sun just
caught some corner of it. So he goes thither, deeming that mayhappen
one of the company had droppe