But before it is told whereto Wildlake's Way led, it must be
said that on the east side of the ghyll, where it first began just
over the Portway, the hill's brow was clear of wood for a certain
space, and there, overlooking all the Dale, was the Mote-stead of the
Dalesmen, marked out by a great ring of stones, amidst of which was
the mound for the Judges and the Altar of the Gods before it. And
this was the holy place of the men of the Dale and of other folk
whereof the tale shall now tell.
For when Wildlake's Way had gone some three miles from the Mote-
stead, the trees began to thin, and presently afterwards was a
clearing and the dwellings of men, built of timber as may well be
thought. These houses were neither rich nor great, nor was the folk
a mighty folk, because they were but a few, albeit body by body they
were stout carles enough. They had not affinity with the Dalesmen,
and did not wed with them, yet it is to be deemed that they were
somewhat akin to them. To be short, though they were freemen, yet as
regards the Dalesmen were they well-nigh their servants; for they
were but poor in goods, and had to lean upon them somewhat.
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