Butnowthefellowshiptooktoridingsofastdowntheslopesofthemountainsonafarbetterroad，thattalkingtogetherwasnoteasy。
Theykeptgoodwatch，bothbehindandahead，norweretheysetuponagain，thoughwhilestheysawclumpsofmenonthehill-sides。
Soafterawhile，whenitwasalittlepastnoon，theycameadowntothelowerslopesofthemountainsandthefoot-hills，whichweregreenandunstony；
andthereonweretobeseencattleandneatherdsandshepherds，andhereandtherethegarthofahomestead，andfencedacresaboutit。
Sonowthattheywerecomedownintothepeopledparts，theydisplayedthebannersoftheirfellowships，towit，theAgnes，theWhiteFleece，theChristopher，andtheShipandNicholas，whichlastwasthebanneroftheFaring-knightsofWhitwall；
butRalphwasgladtorideunderthebannerofSt。Nicholas，hisfriend，anddeemedthatluckmighttherathercometohimthereby。
Buttheydisplayedtheirbannersnow，becausetheyknewthatnomanofthepeopledpartswouldbesohardyastofallupontheChapmen，ofwhomtheylookedtohavemanymattersfortheiruseandpleasure。
Sonowthattheyfeltthemselvessafe，theystayedthem，andsatdownbyafairlittlestream，andatetheirdinnerofsuchmeatanddrinkastheyhad；andRalphdepartedhissharewithhisthrall，andthemanwashungryandatewell；sothatClementsaidmockingly：
“Thoufeedestthythralloverwell，lord，evenforaking’sson：
isitsothatthouartmindedtofattenhimandeathim？”
Thensomeoftheotherstookupthejest，andbadethecarlerefrainhimofthemeat，sothathemightnotfatten，andmightlivethelonger。
Hehearkenedtothem，andknithisbrowsandlookedfiercelyfromonetotheother。ButRalphlaughedaloud，andshookhisfingerathimandrefrainedhim，andhiswrathranoffhimandhelaughed，andshovedthevictualintohimdoughtily，andsighedforpleasurewhenhehadmadeanendanddrunkadraughtofwine。
RalphTalksWithBullShockheadWhentheyrodeonagain，RalphrodebesideBull，whowasmerryandblithenowhewasfullofmeatanddrink；
andhespakeanon：“Sothouartaking’sson，master？
Ideemedfromthefirstthatthouwertoflineage。
Forasforthesechurlsofchapmen，andthesworderswhomtheywage，theyknownotthenameoftheirmother’smother，norhaveheardonewordofthebeginneroftheirkindred；
andtheirdeedsarelikeuntotheirkinlessness。”
“Andarethydeedssogood？”saidRalph。“Aretheyill。”
saidBull，“whentheyaredoneagainstthefoemen？”SaidRalph：
“Andareallmenyourfoemenwhopassthroughthesemountains？”
“All。”saidBull，“buttheybeofthekindredortheirknownfriends。”
“Well，Bull。”saidRalph，“Ilikethydeedslittle，thatthoushouldestravishmenandwomenfromtheirgoodlife，andsellthemforapriceintotoilandwearinessandstripes。”
SaidBull：“Howmuchworsedowethanthechapmenbyhisdebtor，andthelordofthemanorbyhisvillein？”SaidRalph：
“Farworse，ifyedidbutknowit，poormen！”QuothBull：
“ButIneitherknowit，norcanknowit，nay，notwhenthousayestit；foritisnotso。Andlookyou，master，thislifeofaboughtthrallisnotsuchanexceedingevillife；
forofttheybedealtwithsoftlyandfriendly，andhaveotherthrallstoworkforthemundertheirwhips。”
Ralphlaughed：“WhichshallImakethee，friendBull，theupperortheunder？”Bullreddened，butsaidnaught。SaidRalph：
“OrwhereshallIsellthee，thatImaymakethebestpennyoutofmygoodluckandvaliancy？”Bulllookedchopfallen：
“Nay。”saidheinawheedlingvoice，“thouwiltnotsellme，thou？
ForIdeemthatthouwiltbeagoodmastertome：and。”hebrokeintosuddenheathereat，“ifIhaveanothermasterIshallsurelyslayhimwhate’erbetide。”
Ralphlaughedagain，andsaid：“Seestthouwhatanevilcraftyefollow，whenthoudeemestitbettertobeslainwithbittertormentsasthoushouldestbeifthouslewestthymasterthantobesoldtoanymastersaveoneexceedinggood？”
Bullheldhispeacehereat，butpresentlyhesaid：
“Well，beourcraftgoodorevil，itisgainful；andwhilesthereispreytakenrightgood，which，formypart，Iwouldnotsell，onceIhadmyhandthereon。”“Yea，women？”saidRalph。
“Evenso。”saidBull，“suchanonewastakenbymykinsmanBullNosybutalittlewhileagone，whomhetookdowntothemarketatCheapingKnowe，asIhadnotdoneifIhadoncemyarmsabouther。
Forshewasasfairasaflower；andyetsowellbuilt，thatshecouldbearasmuchasastrongmaninsomeways；and，saithNosy，whenshewastaken，therewasnoweepingorscreechinginher，butpatienceratherandquietness，andintenttobearallandlive……Master，mayIasktheeaquestion？”“Askon。”saidRalph。
SaidBull：“Thepairofbeadsaboutthyneck，whencecamethey？”
“Theywerethegiftofadearfriend。”saidRalph。“Awoman？”
quothBull。“Yea。”saidRalph。
“Nowisthisstrange。”saidBull，“andIwotnotwhatitmaybetoken，butthissamewomanhadaboutherneckapairofbeadsasliketothineasiftheyhadbeentheverysame：didthiswomangivetheethebeads？
ForIwillsaythisofthee，master，thatthouartwellnighaslikelyamanassheisawoman。”
Ralphsighed，forthistalkofthewomanandthebeadsbroughtallthestoryintohismind，sothatitwasasifhesawitadoingagain：
theLadyoftheWildwoodledalongtodeathbeforehedeliveredher，andtheirflighttogetherfromtheWateroftheOak，andthatmurderofherinthedesert。Andbetwixtthediversedeedsofthedaythishadoflatebecomesomewhatdimtohim。Yetafterhisgriefcamejoythatthismanalsohadseenthedamsel，whomhisdreamofthenighthadcalledDorothea，andthatheknewofhercaptors；
whereforebyhismeanshemightcomeonheranddeliverher。
Nowhespakealoud：“Nay，itwasnotshethatgavethemtome，butyetwereIfaintofindthiswomanthatthousawest；
forIlooktomeetafriendwhenasImeether。Sotellme，dostthouthinkthatImaycheapenherofthykinsman？”
Bullshookhishead，andsaid：“Itmaybe：oritmaybethathehathalreadysoldhertoonewhoheedethnottreasuresomuchasfairflesh；
andfairishersbeyondmost。But，lord，Iwilldomybesttofindherforthee；asthouartaking’ssonandnoillmaster，Ideem。”
“Dothat。”quothRalph，“andIinturnwilldowhatmoreImayfortheebesidesmakingtheefree。”Andtherewithherodeforwardthathemightgetoutofearshot，forBull’stongueseemedliketobelong。
Andpresentlyheheardlaughterbehindhim，asthecarlebeganjestingandtalkingwiththechapmanlads。
OftheTownofCheapingKnoweNowwhenitwaseveningtheypitchedtheircampdownintheplainfieldsamidsttallelmtrees，andhadtheirbannersstillflyingoverthetentstowarnallcomersofwhattheywere。
Butthenextmorningthechapmenandtheirfolkwereupbetimestorummagetheirloads，andtoarraytheirwaresforthemarket；
andtheygatnottotheroadbeforemid-morning。MeantimeoftheirridingRalphhadmoretalkwithBull，whosaidtohim：
“Fairlord，IredetheewhenthouartinthemarketofCheapingKnowe，bidmasterClementbringtheetothethrall-merchant，andtrustmethatifsuchafairimageasthatwewerespeakingofhathpassedthroughhishandswithinthesethreemonths，hewillrememberit；
andthenthoushalthaveatleastsometaleofwhathathbefallenherbutalittlewhileago。”
ThatseemedgoodredetoRalph，andwhentheywentontheirwayherodebesideClement，andaskedhimmanythingsconcerningCheapingKnowe；andatlastaboutthethrall-markettherein。
AndClementsaidthat，thoughhedealtnotinsuchwares，hehadoftenseenthemsold，andknewthemasterofthatmarket。
AndwhenRalphaskedifthesaidmasterwouldanswerquestionsconcerningthesellingofmenandofwomen，Clementsmiledandsaid：
“Yea，yea，hewillanswer；forashelivesbysellingthralls，andeverytimeathrallissoldbyhimhemakethsomegainbyit，itistohisprofitthattheychangemastersasoftenasmaybe；
andwhenthouaskestofthewomanwhomthouartseeking，hewillbedeemingthattherewillbesomenewchafferahead。
Iwillbringtheetohim，andthoushaltaskhimofwhatthouwilt，andbelikehewilltelltheequietlyoverthewine-cup。”
TherewithwasRalphwellcontent，andhegreweagertoenterintothetown。
Theycametothegatesalittlebeforesunset，aftertheyhadpassedthroughmuchfaircountry；butnightothewallsitwasbareoftreesandthickets，whereas，saidClement，theyhadbeencutdownlesttheyshouldserveascovertostrong-thievesorfolkassailingthetown。
Thewallswerestrongandtall，andagreatcastlestoodhighuponahill，aboutwhichthetownwasbuilded；sothatifthetownweretakentherewouldyetbeanothertownwithinittobetakenalso。
Butthetownwithin，saveforthesaidcastle，wasscarcesofairlybuildedastheworstofthetownswhichRalphhadseenerst，thoughtherewereamanyhousestherein。
Muchpeoplewasgatheredaboutthegatetoseethemerchantsenterwithbannersdisplayed；andRalphdeemedmanyofthefolkfair，suchasweregoodlyclad；formanyhadbutfoulcloutstocovertheirnakedness，andseemedneedyandhunger-pinched。Withalthereweremanywarriorsamongstthethrong，andmostoftheseboreatokenontheirsleeves，towit，aswordreddenedwithblood。
AndClement，speakingsoftlyinRalph’sear，didhimtowitthatthiswasthetokenofthelordwhohadgottenthecastleinthosedays，andwastyrantofthetown；andhowthathehadsomanymen-at-armsreadytodohisbiddingthatnoneinthetownwassafefromhimifhedeemeditmoreforhispleasureandprofittorobormaim，ortormentorslay，thantosufferthemtolivepeaceably。
“Butwithuschapmen。”saidClement，“hewillnotmeddle，lesttherebeanendofchafferinthetown；andverilythemarketisgood。”
Thustheyrodethroughthestreetsintothemarketplace，whichwaswideandgreat，andthebesthousesofthetownweretherein，andsocametothehosteloftheMerchants，calledtheFleece，whichwasabighouse，andgoodlyenough。
ThenextmorningClementandtheotherchapmenwentupintotheCastle，bearingwiththemgiftsoutoftheirwaresforthelord，andClementbadeRalphkeepclosetillhecameback，andespeciallytokeephiswar-caughtthrall，BullShockhead，safeathome，lesthebetakenfromhim，andtoclothehimintheguiseofthechapmanlads，andtodockhishair；
andevensoRalphdid，thoughBullwereloaththereto。
Aboutnoonthechapmencamebackagainwellpleased；andClementgaveRalphaparchmentfromthelord，whichbadeallmenhelpandletpassRalphofUpmeads，asasergeantofthechapmen’sguard，andsaidwithalthatnowhewasfreetogoaboutthetownifhelisted，sothathewerebackatthehosteloftheFleecebynightfall。
SoRalphwentincompanywithsomeofthesergeantsandothers，andlookedatthisandthataboutthetownwithouthindrance，savethattheguardwouldnotsufferthemtopassfurtherthanthebaileyoftheCastle。
Andforthesaidbailey，forsooth，theyhadbutlittlestomach；fortheysawthence，ontheslopesoftheCastle-hill，tokensofthecrueljusticeofthesaidlord；forthereweremenandwomenthere，yea，andbabesalso，hangingongibbetsandthrustthroughwithsharppales，andwhentheyaskedoffolkwhythesehadsuffered，theybutlookedatthemasifastonished，andpassedonwithoutaword。
Sotheywentthence，andfoundthemaster-church，anddeemeditnotmuchfairerthanitwasgreat；anditwasnowisegreat，albeititwasstrangeanduncouthoffashion。
Thentheycametogreatgardenswithinthetown，andtheywereexceedinggoodly，andhadtreesandflowersandfruitsinthemwhichRalphhadnotseenhitherto，aslemons，andoranges，andpomegranates；andthewaterswererunningthroughtheminrunnelsofashlar；andtheweatherwasfairandhot；
sotheyrestedinthosegardenstillitwasevening，andthengatthemhometoFleece，wheretheyhadgoodentertainment。
RalphHearethMoreTidingsoftheDamselThesecondday，whilethemerchantssawtotheirchaffer，mostofthemen-at-arms，andRalphwiththem，spenttheirtimeagaininthosegoodlygardens；where，indeed，someofthemmadefriendsoffairwomenoftheplace；inwhichtherewaslessriskthanhadbeenforaliensinsometowns，whereasatCheapingKnowesuchwomenaswereweddedaccordingtolaw，ordamselsinthecareoftheirkindred，orslaveswhowereconcubines，hadnotdaredsomuchastolookonaman。
ThethirddaytimehungsomewhatheavyonRalph’shands，notbutthattheCompanionswerewellatease，butratherbecausehimseemedthathewasnotstirringinthequest。
ButthenextdayClementbadehimcomeseethatthrall-merchantaforesaid，andbroughthimtoacornerofthemarket-place，wherewasathronglookingonatthecheaping。Theywentthroughthethrong，andbesideastonelikealeaping-onstonesawatallman，goodlyofpresence，blackbearded，cladinscarlet；andthiswasthemerchant；andbyhimweretwoofhisknavesandcertainweaponedmenwhohadbroughttheirwarestothecheaping。
Andsomeofthesewerearrayedlikethosefoemenofthemountains。
Therewasahalfscoreandthreeofthesechattelstobesold，whostooduponeafterotheronthestone，thatfolkmightcheapenthem。Thecheapingwaslongabout，becausetheythathadamindtobuywerecarefultoknowwhattheywerebuying，likeasiftheyhadbeencheapeningahorse，andmostofthembeforetheybidtheirhighesthadthechattelsawayintothemerchant’sboothtostripthem，lesttheyshouldbuydamagedorunhandsomebodies；andthismoreespeciallyifitwereawoman，forthemenwerealreadywellnighnaked。
Ofwomenfourofthemwereyoungandgoodly，andRalphlookedatthemclosely；
buttheywerenaughtliketothewomanofhisquest。
NowthischeapingirkedRalphsorely，aswasliketobe，whereas，ashathbeentold，hecamefromalandwherewerenothralls，nonebutvavassorsandgoodyeomen：yetheabodetillallwasdone，hanselpaid，andthethrallsledoffbytheirnewmasters。