CHAPTER 26
They Ride the Mountains Toward Goldburg
Five days the Fellowship abode at Whiteness, and or ever they
departed Clement waged men-at-arms of the lord of the town,
besides servants to look to the beasts amongst the mountains,
so that what with one, what with another, they entered the gates
of the mountains a goodly company of four score and ten.
Ralph asked of Bull if any of those whom he might meet in these mountains
were of his kindred; and he answered, nay, unless perchance there might
be some one or two going their peaceful errands there like Bull Nosy.
So Ralph armed him with a good sword and a shield, and would have given
him a steel hood also, but he would not bear it, saying that if sword
and shield could not keep his head he had well earned a split skull.
Seven days they rode the mountains, and the way was toilsome and weary enough,
for it was naught but a stony maze of the rocks where nothing living dwelt,
and nothing grew, save now and again a little dwarf willow. Yet was there
naught worse to meet save toil, because they were over strong for the wild
men to meddle with them, whereas the kindreds thereabout were but feeble.
But as it drew towards evening on the seventh day Ralph had ridden
a little ahead with Bull alone, if he might perchance have a sight
of the ending of this grievous wilderness, as Clement said might be,
since now the way was down-hill, and all waters ran east.
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