, that they might take heed where our folk came out from
the wood and give signal to them by the horn, and lead them to where the
battle should be.

"So we stood awhile and breathed us, and handled our weapons some half a
furlong from the alien host. They had no earth rampart around them, for
that ridge is waterless, and they could not abide there long, but they
had pitched sharp pales in front of them and they stood in very good
order, as if abiding an onslaught, and moved not when they saw us; for
that band of shooters had joined themselves to them already. Taken one
with another we deemed them to be more than we were; but their hauberked
footmen with the heavy cast-spears not so many as we by a good deal.

"Now we were of mind to fall on them ere they should fall on us; so all
such of us as had shot-weapons spread out from our company and went forth
a little; and of the others Heriulf stood foremost along with the leaders
of the Beamings and the Elkings; but as yet Thiodolf held aback and led
the midmost company, as his wont was, and the more part of the Wolfings
were with him.

"Thus we ordered ourselves, and awaited a little while yet what the
aliens should do; and presently a war-horn blew amongst them, and from
each flank of their mailed footmen came forth a many bowmen and slingers
and a band of horsemen; and drew within bowshot, the shooters in open
array yet wisely, and so fell to on us, and the horsemen hung aback a
little as yet.

"Their arrow-shot was of little avail, their bowmen fell fast before
ours; but deadly was their sling-shot, and hurt and slew many and some
even in our main battle; for they slung round leaden balls and not
stones, and they aimed true and shot quick; and the men withal were so
light and lithe, never still, but crouching and creeping and bounding
here and there, that they were no easier to hit than coneys amidst of the
fern, unless they were very nigh.

"Howbeit when this storm had endured a while, and we moved but little,
and not an inch aback, and gave them shot for shot, then was another horn
winded from amongst the aliens; and thereat the bowmen cast down their
bows, and the slingers wound their slings about their heads, and they all
came on with swords and short spears and feathered darts, running and
leaping lustily, making for our flanks, and the horsemen set spurs to
their horses and fell on in the very front of our folk like good and
valiant men-at-arms.

"That saw