ou with less labour, or else,
which will be the better for you, give up to us the Upmeads thralls who
be with you, and then turn your faces and go back to your houses, and
abide there till we come and pull you out of them, which may be some
while yet. Hah! what say ye, fools?"

Then spake Clement and said: "Ye messengers of the robbers and
oppressors, why make ye this roaring to the common people and the
sergeants? Why speak ye not with our Captain?"

Cried out the challenger, "Where then is the Captain of the Fools? is
he hidden? can he hear my word?"

Scarce was it out of his mouth ere the captains fell away to right and
left, and there, standing by himself, was Ralph, holding the ancient
lettered war-staff; his head was bare, for now he had done off his
sallet, and the sun and the wind played in his bright hair; glorious
was his face, and his grey eyes gleamed with wrath and mastery as he
spake in a clear voice, and there was silence all along the ranks to
hearken him:

"O messenger of the robbers! I am the captain of this folk. I see
that the voice hath died away within the jaws of you; but it matters
not, for I have heard thy windy talk, and this is the answer: we will
neither depart, nor come down to you, but will abide our death by your
hands here on this hill-side. Go with this answer."

The man stared wild at Ralph while he was speaking, and seemed to
stagger in his saddle; then he let his sallet fall over his face, and,
turning his horse about, rode swiftly, he and his two fellows, down the
hill and away to the battle of the Burgers. None followed or cried
after him; for now had a great longing and expectation fallen upon
Ralph's folk, and they abode what shall befall with little noise. They
noted so soon as the messenger was gotten to the main of the foemen
that there was a stir amongst them, and they were ordering their ranks
to move against the hill. And withal they saw men all armed coming
from out the High House, who went down to the Bridge and abode there.
Upmeads-water ran through the meadows betwixt the hill and the High
House, as hath been said afore; but as it winded along, one reach of it
went nigh to the House, and made wellnigh a quarter of a circle about
it before it turned to run down the meadows to the eastward; and at
this nighest point was there a wide bridge well builded of stone.

The Burg-devils heeded not the men at the Bridge, but, being all
arrayed, made but short tarr