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 drink 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 dropped something, pouch or clout, or what not, in his haste and hurry.  He