ntenance, and then slowly drew back to
the ford under cover of their light-armed who shot at the Goths as they
rode forward, but abode not their shock.

But Otter and his folk followed after the Romans again, and again did
them some hurt, and at last drew so nigh, that once more the Romans
stormed forth, and once more smote a stroke in the air; nor even so would
the Markmen cease to meddle with them, though never would Otter suffer
his men to be mingled with them. At the last the Romans, seeing that
Otter would not walk into the open trap, and growing weary of this
bickering, began to take the water little by little, while a strong
Company kept face to the Markmen; and now Otter saw that they would not
be hindered any longer, and he had lost many men, and even now feared
lest he should be caught in the trap, and so lose all. And on the other
hand it was high noon by now, so that he had given respite to the stay-at-
homes of the Wolfings, so that they might get them into the wood. So he
drew out of bowshot and bade his men breathe their horses and rest
themselves and eat something; and they did so gladly, since they saw that
they might not fall upon the Romans to live and die for it until Thiodolf
was come, or until they knew that he was not coming. But the Romans
crossed the ford in good earnest and were soon all gathered together on
the western bank making them ready for the march to Wolfstead. And it
must be told that the Roman Captain was the more deliberate about this
because after the overthrow of his light-armed there the morning before,
he thought that the Roof was held by warriors of the kindreds, and not by
a few old men, and women, and lads. Therefore he had no fear of their
escaping him. Moreover it was this imagination of his, to wit that a
strong band of warriors was holding Wolf-stead, that made him deem there
were no more worth thinking about of the warriors of the Mark save
Otter's Company and the men in the Hall of the Wolfings.

CHAPTER XXII--OTTER FALLS ON AGAINST HIS WILL

It was with the same imagination working in him belike that the Roman
Captain set none to guard the ford on the westward side of
Mirkwood-water. The Romans tarried there but a little hour, and then
went their ways; but Otter sent a man on a swift horse to watch them, and
when they were clean gone for half an hour, he bade his folk to horse,
and they departed, all save a handful of the swains and elders, who were
l