ghing for
the joy of battle and the rage of the oppressed. On the left sat the
Champions of the Dry Tree on their horses, and they also were tossing
up their weapons and roaring like lions for the prey; and down below
the black crowd had drawn together into ordered ranks, and still the
clamour and rude roaring of the warriors arose thence, and beat against
the hill's brow.

Now so fierce and ready were the men of Ralph's company that it was a
near thing but that they, and the Shepherds in especial, did not rush
tumultuously down the hill all breathless and in ill order. But Ralph
cried out to Richard to go left, and Giles to go right, and stay the
onset for a while; and to bid the leaders come to him where he stood.
Then the tumult amidst his folk lulled, and Stephen a-Hurst and Roger
and three others of the Dry Tree came to him, and Giles brought three
of the Shepherds, and there was Clement and a fellow of his. So when
they were come and standing in a ring round Ralph, he said to them:

"Brothers in arms, ye see that our foes are all in array to meet us,
having had belike some spy in Wulstead, who hath brought them the tale
of what was toward. Albeit methinks that this irks not either you nor
me; for otherwise we might have found them straggling, and scattered
far and wide, which would have made our labour the greater. Now ye can
see with your eyes that they are many more than we be, even were
Nicholas to issue out of the High House against them, as doubtless he
will do if need be. Brethren, though they be so many, yet my heart
tells me that we shall overcome them; yet if we leave our strength and
come down to them, both our toil shall be greater, and some of us,
belike many, shall be slain; and evil should I deem it if but a score
of my friends should lose their lives on this joyous day when at last I
see Upmeads again after many troubles. Wherefore my rede is that we
abide their onset on the hillside here; and needs must they fall on us,
whereas we have Wulstead and friends behind us, and they nought but
Nicholas and the bows and bills of the High House. But if any have
aught to say against it let him speak, but be speedy; for already I see
a stir in their array, and I deem that they will send men to challenge
us to come down to them."

Then spake Stephen a-Hurst: "I, and we all meseemeth, deem that thou
art in the right, Captain; though sooth to say, when we first set eyes
on these dogs again, the blood