a place as you know.
Then, if there is victory for us, all is well: but if not, you could not
aid with your one strength to regain it. Then will Alswythe need you."

"I would fain fight," I said, still doubting.

"Aye, master; but already have you done well, and deserved well of the
sheriff, and of all. He bade you fight not today--let it be so. There
is loyalty also in obedience, and ever must some bide with the things
one holds dear."

"I will do as you say," said I shortly, and so I turned and went.

He stood and looked after me for a little, and then he too hurried away
towards the cross. Then I skirted round the town, and waited at that
place where I had met with the old woman, until I saw the van of our
forces marching down the road towards Cannington. These I kept up with
by hurrying from point to point alongside the road, as best I might.

They were a gallant show to look on, gay with banners and bright armour.
Yet I had heard of the ways of armies, and thought to see them marching
in close order and in silence. But they were in a long line with many
gaps, and here and there the mounted thanes rode to and fro, seemingly
trying to make them close up. And they sang and shouted as they went.

When we came to the steep rise of Cannington hill, some of those thanes
spurred on and rode to the summit, and there waited a little, till the
men joined them. There was silence, and a closing up as they breasted
the steep pitch; and then I must go through woods, and so lost sight of
them for a while. I passed close to my own hall--closed and deserted.
Every soul in all the countryside had fled into the town, though after
the levy came a great mixed crowd of thralls and the like to see the fray.

Now here I thought to cross in the rear of the force that I might reach
Combwich hill. But that was not to be.

When I saw the array again it was halted, and the men were closing up.
And between the levy and that crowd of followers was a great gap, and
some of these last were making for the shelter of swamp and wood. I
myself was on a little rise of heathy land and could see plainly before
me the road going up over the neck of Combwich hill in the steep-sided
notch there is there, where the ascent is easiest.

And that road was barred halfway up the hillside by a close-ranked
company, on which the sun shone brightly, showing scarlet cloaks and
gilded helms not only on the roadway, but flanking the hills on either
side. These