ill she spake
nought, and held hand in hand.

But Jack of the Tofts spake and said: "By St. Hubert! the deed may be
little, though there be men who would think no little of overcoming the
biggest man and the fellest fighter of Oakenrealm, but at least great
things shall come thereof. King, thy strokes of this day have won thee
Oakenrealm, or no man I know in field, and many a mother's son have they
saved from death. For look thou yonder over the river, Goldilind, my
Lady, and tell me what thou seest." She turned to him and said: "Lord
Earl, I see warriors a many."

"Yea," said Jack, "and stout fellows be they for the more part; and hard
had been the hand-play had we met, ere they had turned their backs; but
now, see thou, we shall wend side by side toward Oakenrealm, for our
Lord there hath won them to his friends; and doubt thou not that when
they see him and thee anigh, they shall be friends indeed. What! dost
thou weep for this? Or is it because he hath done the deed and not thou?
or rather, because thine heart is full for the love of him?"

She smiled kindly on Jack, but even therewith she felt two hands laid on
her shoulders, and Christopher kissed her without any word.

CHAPTER XXXIII. A COUNCIL OF CAPTAINS: THE HOST COMES TO BROADLEES, AND
MAKES FOR WOODWALL.

That night, though there was some little coming and going between the
Tofters and the Brimsiders, yet either flock slept on their own side of
the river. Moreover, before the midst of the night, cometh David to
the wood-side, and had with him all men defensible of the Tofts and the
houses thereabout, and most of the women also many of whom bore spear or
bow, so that now by the wood-side, what with them of the Tofts and the
folk who joined them thereto from the country-side about Hazeldale,
there were well-nigh ten hundreds of folk under weapons; and yet more
came in the night through; for the tidings of the allegiance of Brimside
was spreading full fast.

Betimes on the morrow was King Christopher afoot, and he and Jack and
David and Gilbert, and they twelve in company, went down to the banner
by the water-side; and to them presently came Oliver Marson and ten
other of the captains of Brimside, and did them to wit that the Baron
were fain if they would come to his pavilion and hold counsel therein,
for that he was not so sick but he might well speak his mind from where
he lay. So thither they went all, with good will, and the Baron greeted
the