ThenClementledhimuptothemerchant，towhomhegavetheseleoftheday，andsaid：“Master，thisistheyoungknightofwhomItoldthee，whodeemeththatawomanwhoishisfriendhathbeenbroughttothismarketandsoldthere，andifhemight，hewouldransomher。”
　　ThemerchantgreetedRalphcourteously，andbadehimandClementcomeintohishouse，wheretheymightspeakmoreprivily。
　　Sodidthey，andhetreatedthemwithhonour，andsetwineandspicesbeforethem，andbadeRalphsaywhatlikethewomanwas。
　　Ralphdidso，andwonderedathimselfhowwellandcloselyhecouldtellofher，likeasapicturepainted。And，moreover，hedrewforththatpieceofhergownwhichhehadcomeonbytheMid-MountainHouseSowhenhehaddone，themerchant，whowasamansoberofaspectandsomewhatslowofspeech，said：“Sir，IbelievesurelythatIhaveseenthisdamsel，butsheisnotwithmenow，norhaveIsoldherever；buthitherwasshebroughttobesoldbyamanofthemountainfolknotverymanydaysago。
　　Andtheman’snamewasBullNosy，orthelongnosedmanofthekindredoftheBull，forinsuchwisearenamedthemenofthatunhappyfolk。
　　NowthiswasthecausewhyImightnotsellher，thatshewassoproudandstoutthatmenfearedher，whatshemightdoiftheyhadheraway。
　　Andwhensomespaketoseeherbodynaked，shedenieditutterly，sayingthatshewoulddoamischieftowhomsoevertriedit。
　　SoIspaketohimwhoownedher，andaskedhimifhethoughtitgoodtotakeherawhileandquellherwithsuchpainsaswouldspoilherbutlittle，andthenbringhertomarketwhenshewasmeeker。
　　Butheheededmywordslittle，andledheraway，sheridingonahorseandhegoingafootbesideher；forthemountain-menbenohorsemen。”
　　SaidRalph：“Dostthouknowatallwhitherhewillhaveledher？”
　　Saidthemerchant：“Bymydeeming，hewillhavegonefirstofalltothetownofWhiteness，whitherthyFellowshipwillbetakethemerelong：
　　forhewillbemindedtomeettheretheLordofUtterbol，whoisforsuchlikewares；andhewilleithergivehertohimasagift，forwhichhewillhaveagiftinreturn，orhewillsellhertomylordatapriceifhedaretochafferwithhim。Atleastsowillhedoifhebewise。
　　Nowifthesaidlordhathher，itwillbesomewhatmorethanhardfortheetogetheragain，tillhehavealtogetherdonewithher；
　　formoneyandgoodsarenaughttohimbesidethedoingofhiswill。
　　Butthereisthisforthycomfort，thatwhereassheissofairawoman，shewillbewellwithmylord。ForIwarrantmethatshewillnotdaretobeproudwithhim，asshewaswiththefolkhere。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“andwhatisthislordofUtterbolthatallfolk，menandwomen，fearhimso？”Saidthemerchant：
　　“Fairsir，thoumustpardonmeifIsaynomoreofhim。
　　Belikethoumaystfallinwithhim；andifthoudost，takeheedthatthoumakenotthyselfgreatwithhim。”
　　SoRalphthankedthemerchantanddepartedwithClement，ofwhompresentlyheaskedifheknewaughtofthislordofUtterbol。SaidClement：
　　“GodforbidthatIshouldevermeethim，savewhereIweremanyandhefew。
　　Ihaveneverseenhim；butheisdeemedbyallmenastheworstofthetyrantswhovextheselands，and，maybe，themightiest。”
　　SowasRalphsoreatheartforthedamsel，andanonhespaketoBullagainofher，whodeemedsomewhat，thathiskinsmanhadbeenmindedatthefirsttosellhertothelordofUtterbol。
　　AndRalphthinkshisgameahardone，yetdeemsthatifhecouldbutfindoutwherethedamselwas，hemightdeliverher，whatbysleight，whatbyboldness。
　　TheFellowshipComestoWhitenessTwodaysthereafterthechapmenhavingdonewiththeirmattersinCheapingKnowe，whereastheymustneedskeepsomeoftheirwaresforotherplaces，andespeciallyforGoldburg，theydightthemtobegoneandrodeouta-gatesofamid-morningwithbannersdisplayed。
　　ItwassomefiftymilesthencetoWhiteness，whichlaycloseunderneaththemountains，andwas，asitwere，thedoorofthepasseswherebymenrodetoGoldburg。Thelandwhichtheypassedthroughwasfair，bothoftillageandpasture，withmuchcattletherein。
　　Everywheretheysawmenandwomenworkingafield，butnohousesofworthyyeomenorvavassors，orcotsofgoodhusbandmen。
　　Hereandtherewasacastleorstrong-house，andhereandtherelongrowsofuglyhovels，orwhileshouses，bigtallandlong，butexceedingfoulandill-favoured，suchasRalphhadnotyetseenthelikeof。AndwhenheaskedofClementconcerningallthis，hesaid：“ItisasIhavetoldthee，thatherebenofreemenwhoworkafield，nay，norvilleinseither。AllthosewhomyehaveseenworkinghavebeenboughtandsoldliketothosewhomwesawstandingontheStoneinthemarketofCheapingKnowe，orelsewerebornofsuchcattle，andeachoneofthemcanbeboughtandsoldagain，andtheyworknotsaveunderthewhip。
　　Andasforthosehovelsandthelongandfoulhouses，theyarethestableswhereinthiskindofcattleisharboured。”
　　ThenRalph’sheartsank，andhesaid：“MasterClement，Ipritheetellme；wereitpossiblethatthedamselwhomIseekmaybecometosuchapassasoneofthese？”
　　“Nay。”quothClement，“thatislittleliketobe；suchgoodlywaresarekeptfortheadornmentofgreatmen’shouses。
　　Trueitisthatwhilesthehouse-thrallsbesentintothefieldsfortheirpunishment；yetnotsuchasshe，unlessthemasterbewhollyweariedofthem，oriftheirwrathoutruntheirwits；
　　foritismoretothemaster’sprofittochastisethemathome；
　　sokeepagoodheartIbidthee，andmaybeweshallhavetidingsatWhiteness。”
　　SoRalphrefrainedhisanxiousheart，thoughforsoothhisthoughtwasmuchuponthedamselandofhowshewasfaring。
　　ItwasnottillthethirddayatsunsetthattheycametoWhiteness；
　　foronthelastdayoftheirridingtheycameamongsttheconfusedhillsthatlaybeforethegreatmountains，whichwerenowoftenhiddenfromtheirsight；butwhenevertheyappearedthroughtheopeningsofthenearhills，theyseemedverygreatandterrible；
　　darkandbareandstony；andClementsaidthattheywerelittlebetterthantheylookedfromafar。AstoWhiteness，theysawitalongwayoff，asitlayonalongridgeattheendofavalley：
　　andsolongwastheridge，thatbehinditwasnothinggreen；
　　naughtbutthehugeandbaremountains。Thewesteringsunfelluponitswallsanditshouses，sothatitlookedwhiteindeedagainstthosegreatcliffsandcrags；though，saidClement，thatthesewereyetagoodwayoff。Nowwhen，afteralongridefromthehitherendofthevalley，theydrewnightothetown，Ralphsawthatthewallsandtowerswerenotveryhighorstrong，forsosteepwasthehillwhereonthetownstood，thatitneedednot。
　　HerealsowasnogreatcastlewithinthetownasatCheapingKnowe，andthetownitselfnothingsobig，butlongandstragglingalongthetopoftheridge。CheapingKnowewasallbuildedofstone；
　　butthehousesherewereoftimberforthemostpart，doneoverwithpargetingandwhitenedwell。YetwasthetownmorecheerfulofaspectthanCheapingKnowe，andthefolkwhocamethrongingaboutthechapmenatthegatesnotsowoe-begone，andgoodlyenough。
　　OfthelordofWhiteness，ClementtoldthathepaidtributetohimofCheapingKnowe，ratherforloveofpeacethanforfearofhim；
　　forhewasnoilllord，andfreemenlivedwellunderhim。
　　Sothechapmenlodgedinthemarket-place；andintwodaystimeRalphgotspeechoftheDeaconoftheChapmenoftheTown；
　　whotoldhimtwomatters；firstthatthelordofUtterbolhadnotbeeninWhitenessthesesixmonths；andnextthatthewildmanhadverilybroughtthedamselintothemarket；buthehadturnedawaythencesuddenlywithher，withoutbringinghertothestone，andthatitwasmostlikethathewouldhavethelordofUtterbolbuyher；who，sincehewouldbedeemingthathemighteasilybendhertohiswill，wouldgivehimthebetterpennyforher。
　　“Atthelast。”quoththeDeacon，“thewildmanledherawaytowardthemountainpassthatgoethtoGoldburg，thedamselandhealone，andshewithherhandsunboundandridingalittlehorse。”
　　OfthesetidingsRalphdeemeditgoodthatalltracesofherwerenotlost；buthisheartmisgavehimwhenhethoughtthatbythistimeshemustsurelybeinthehandsofthelordofUtterbol。
　　TheyRidetheMountainsTowardGoldburgFivedaystheFellowshipabodeatWhiteness，andorevertheydepartedClementwagedmen-at-armsofthelordofthetown，besidesservantstolooktothebeastsamongstthemountains，sothatwhatwithone，whatwithanother，theyenteredthegatesofthemountainsagoodlycompanyoffourscoreandten。
　　RalphaskedofBullifanyofthosewhomhemightmeetinthesemountainswereofhiskindred；andheanswered，nay，unlessperchancetheremightbesomeoneortwogoingtheirpeacefulerrandstherelikeBullNosy。
　　SoRalpharmedhimwithagoodswordandashield，andwouldhavegivenhimasteelhoodalso，buthewouldnotbearit，sayingthatifswordandshieldcouldnotkeephisheadhehadwellearnedasplitskull。
　　Sevendaystheyrodethemountains，andthewaywastoilsomeandwearyenough，foritwasnaughtbutastonymazeoftherockswherenothinglivingdwelt，andnothinggrew，savenowandagainalittledwarfwillow。Yetwastherenaughtworsetomeetsavetoil，becausetheywereoverstrongforthewildmentomeddlewiththem，whereasthekindredsthereaboutwerebutfeeble。
　　ButasitdrewtowardseveningontheseventhdayRalphhadriddenalittleaheadwithBullalone，ifhemightperchancehaveasightoftheendingofthisgrievouswilderness，asClementsaidmightbe，sincenowthewaywasdown-hill，andallwatersraneast。
　　Soastheyrode，anditwasaboutsunset，theysawsomethinglyingbyabigstoneunderacliff；sotheydrewnigh，andsawamanlyingonhisback，andtheydeemedhewasdead。
　　SoBullwentuptohim，andleaptoffhishorseclosebyhimandbentoverhim，butstraightwaycastuphisarmsandsetupalongwailingwhoop，andthenanotherandanother，sothattheythatwerebehindhearditandcameupuponthespur。
　　ButRalphleaptfromhishorse，andranuptoBullandsaid：
　　“Whataileththeetowhoopandwail？Whoisit？”ButBullturnedaboutandshookhisheadathim，andsaid：“Itisamanofmykindred，evenhethatwasleadingawaythyshe-friend；
　　andbelikesheitwasthatslewhim，orwhyisshenothere：
　　Ochone！ahoo！ahoo！”TherewithfireranthroughRalph’sheart，andhebethoughthimofthatothermurderinthewilderness，andhefelltowringinghishands，andcriedout：“Ah，andwhereisshe，whereisshe？Isshealsotakenawayfrommeforever？
　　Omeunhappy！”
　　Andhedrewhisswordtherewith，andranaboutamongsttherocksandthebushesseekingherbody。
　　AndtherewithcameupClement，andothersofthecompany，andwonderedtoseeBullkneelingdownbythecorpse，andtohearhimcryingoutandwailing，andRalphrunningaboutlikeonemad，andcryingoutnow：
　　“Oh！thatImightfindher！Mayhappensheisaliveyet，andanighhereinsomecleftoftherocksinthismiserablewilderness。Omylovethathastlaininminearms，wouldstthounothavemefindheralive？
　　Butifshebedead，thenwillIslaymyself，forasyoungasIam，thatImayfindtheeandheroutoftheworld，sincefromtheworldbothyearegone。”
　　ThenClementwentuptoRalph，andwouldhaveatruetaleoutofhim，andaskedhimwhatwasamiss；butRalphstaredwildathimandanswerednot。
　　ButBullcriedoutfromwhereheknelt：“Heisseekingthewoman，andIwouldthathecouldfindher；forthenwouldIslayheronthehoweofmykinsman：
　　forshehathslainhim；shehathslainhim。”
　　ThatwordheardRalph，andheranatBullwithupliftedswordtoslayhim；
　　butClementtrippedhimandhefell，andhisswordflewoutofhishand。
　　ThenClementandtwooftheothersboundhishandswiththeirgirdles，tilltheymightknowwhathadbefallen；fortheydeemedthatadevilhadenteredintohim，andfearedthathewoulddoamischieftohimselforsomeother。
　　AndnowwasthewholeFellowshipassembled，andstoodinaringroundaboutRalphandBull，andthedeadman；
　　asforhim，hehadbeendeadsometime，manydaysbelike；
　　butinthathighandclearcoldair，hiscarcase，whistledbythewind，haddriedratherthanrotted，andhisfacewascleartobeseenwithitsgreathookednoseandlongblackhair：
　　andhisskullwascloven。