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.