But the sergeant brought them to the pass whereof the stranger knight
had spoken to Birdalone, which led into the Red Knight's country, and
without more ado they entered it when it was now about three hours
after noon. But the way was both steep and rough, so that they had
much toil, and went not very far ere night fell upon them, and the
moon was not yet up. So when they had stumbled on another two hours,
and their horses were much spent and they themselves not a little
weary, they laid them down to sleep, after they had eaten such meat
as they had with them, in a place where was a little grass for the
horses to bite; for all the road hitherto had been mere grim stones
and big rocks, walled on either side by stony screes, above which
rose steep and beetling crags.
In the dawn they arose again, and made no ado till they were in the
saddle, and rode till they came to the crest of the pass, and came
out thence after a while on to the swelling flank of a huge mountain
(as it might be the side of the mountain of Plinlimmon in Wales),
which was grassed and nought craggy, but utterly treeless.
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