y Tree either sluggards or
saints to be careless of their foemen, or to be merciful in the battle:
but at last the murder was stayed: and then the men of the
Wheat-wearers went from house to house in the town to find the women of
their folk who had been made thralls by the Burgers. There then was
many a joyful meeting betwixt those poor women and the men of their
kindred: all was forgotten now of the days of their thralldom, their
toil and mocking and stripes; and within certain days all the sort of
them came before the host clad in green raiment, and garlanded with
flowers for the joy of their deliverance; and great feast was made to
them.

"As for them of the Burg, the battle and chase over, no more were
slain, save that certain of the great ones were made shorter by the
head. But the Champions and the Wheat-wearers both, said that none of
that bitter and cruel folk should abide any longer in the town; so that
after a delay long enough for them to provide stuff for their
wayfaring, they were all thrust out a-gates, rich and poor, old and
young, man, woman and child. Proudly and with a stout countenance they
went, for now was their valour come again to them. And it is like that
we shall hear of them oft again; for though they had but a few weapons
amongst them when they were driven out of their old home, and neither
hauberk nor shield nor helm, yet so learned in war be they and so
marvellous great of pride, that they will somehow get them weapons; and
even armed but with headless staves, and cudgels of the thicket, woe
betide the peaceful folk whom they shall first fall on. Yea, fair sir,
the day shall come meseemeth when folk shall call on thee to lead the
hunt after these famished wolves, and when thou dost so, call on me to
tell thee tales of their doings which shall make thine heart hard, and
thine hand heavy against them."

"Meantime," said Ralph, "what has betid to the Fellowship of the Dry
Tree? for I see that thou hast some grief on thy mind because of them."

Roger kept silence a little and then he said: "I grieve because
Hampton is no more a strong place of warriors; two or three carles and
a dozen of women dwell now in the halls and chambers of the Scaur.
Here on earth, all endeth. God send us to find the world without end!"

"What then," said Ralph, "have they then had another great overthrow,
worse than that other?" "Nay," said Roger doggedly, "it is not so."
"But where is the Fellowship?" sai