omen, as mothers and
daughters and wives and she-friends, and the little ones they have borne
us? For, see ye! this warfare we are faring, maybe it shall not last
long, and yet maybe it shall; and then may the foeman go about us and
fall on this stead if we leave them behind here with none to guard them;
and if, on the other hand, we leave them men enough for their warding,
then we minish our host overmuch. What do we then?"

Then spake Jack of the Tofts: "This is well thought of by Haward of
Whiteacre, and we must look to it. And, by my rede, we shall have our
women and little ones with us; and why not? For we shall then but be
moving Toftstead as we move; and ever to some of us hath it been as a
camp rather than an house. Moreover, ye know it, that our women be no
useless and soft queans, who durst not lie under the oak boughs for a
night or two, or wade a water over their ankles, but valiant they be,
and kind, and helpful; and many of them are there who can draw a bow
with the best, and, it may be, push a spear if need were. How say ye,
lads?"

Now this also they yea-said gladly; forsooth they had scarce been fain
of leaving the women behind, at least the younger ones, even had they
been safe at the Tofts; for there is no time when a man would gladlier
have a fair woman in his arms than when battle and life-peril are
toward.

Thereafter the Mote sundered, when the Captain had bidden his men this
and that matter that each should look to; and said that he, for his
part, with King Christopher and a chosen band, would set off for
Hazeldale on the morrow morn, whereas some deal of the gathering would
of a certainty be come thither by then; and that there was enough left
of that day to see to matters at the Tofts.

So all men went about their business, which was, for the most part,
seeing to the victualling of the host.

CHAPTER XXVIII. OF THE HOSTING IN HAZELDALE.

On the morrow early was Jack of the Tofts dight for departure, with
Christopher and David and Gilbert and five score of his best men. But
when they went out of the porch into the sweet morning, lo! there was
Goldilind before them, clad in her green gown, and as fresh and dear
as the early day itself. And Jack looked on her and said: "And thou, my
Lady and Queen, thou art dight as thou wouldst wend with us?"

"Yea," she said, "and why not?"

"What sayest thou, King Christopher?" said the Captain.

"Nay," said King Christopher, reddening, "it i