She would have gone even into the battle with Havelok, but that neither
he nor we would suffer. She was to bide here in the town until we came
back in triumph or defeat; and as men looked on her, they grew strong,
that no tears might be for those bright eyes.

Now I left them before the march began, for I and the courtmen were to
go forward and see where the foe was posted, and so bring word again.
And we went some five miles before we saw the first sign of them. Then
on a rise in the wild heath waited a few horsemen, who watched us for a
little while, and then rode away from us and beyond it. We followed
them, and when we came to where they had been, we saw that they had
fallen back on a company of about the same strength as ours, save that
there were more horsemen. I was the only mounted man of my little force,
and that rather to save my strength than because I liked riding. I
should certainly fight on foot, as would Havelok himself, in the old
way. It is not good to trust to the four feet of a horse when one means
business.

We bided where we were, waiting to see what these men did, and soon
beyond them grew the long cloud of dust starred with shifting sparks
that told us that the host of Hodulf was on foot and advancing. It
seemed to me that here we had a good place to meet it, for the land went
down in a long slope that was in our favour, and therefore I set a man
on my horse, and sent him back with all speed to Havelok to bid him
hasten. Our host was not so far behind me, and I could see both from
this hill. We had full time to take position here before Hodulf's army
was in reach.

Now it seemed that the foemen would see what they could also, and they
began to move toward us. It was plain that we should have a small fight