So they found a ford of the river and crossed it, and went straight
to the head of the rocky ness, being shown thither by the lore of
the Sage, and they found in the face of the rock the mouth of a cavern,
and beside it the token of the sword and the branch. Therefore they knew
that they had come to their winter house, and they rejoiced thereat,
and without more ado they got off their horses and went into the cavern.
The entry thereof was low, so that they must needs creep into it,
but within it was a rock-hall, high, clean and sweet-smelling.
There then they dight their dwelling, doing all they might
to be done with their work before the winter was upon them.
The day after they had come there they fell to on the in-gathering
of their chestnut harvest, and they dried them, and made them into meal;
and the walnuts they gathered also. Withal they hunted the deer,
both great and small; amongst which Ralph, not without some peril,
slew two great bears, of which beasts, indeed, there was somewhat
more than enough, as they came into the dale to feed upon the nuts
and the berry-trees. So they soon had good store of peltries for their
beds and their winter raiment, which Ursula fell to work on deftly,
for she knew all the craft of needlework; and, shortly to tell it,
they had enough and to spare of victual and raiment.
CHAPTER 12
Winter Amidst of the Mountains
In all this they had enough to be busy with, so that time hung
not heavy on their hands, and the shadow of the Quest was nowise
burdensome to them, since they wotted that they had to abide
the wearing of the days till spring was come with fresh tidings.
Pages:
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506