He gazed on it, and said aloud to
himself as his wont was:
'Marvellous! here is a dwelling of man, scarce a day's journey from
Burgstead; yet have I never heard tell of it: may happen some of the
Woodland-Carles have built it, and are on some errand of hunting
peltries up in the mountains, or maybe are seeking copper and tin
among the rocks. Well, at least let us go see what manner of men
dwell there, and if they are minded for a guest to-night; for fain
were I of a bed beneath a roof, and of a board with strong meat and
drink on it.'
Therewith he set forward, not heeding much that the wood he had
passed through was hard on his left hand; but he had gone but twenty
paces when he saw a red thing at the edge of the wood, and then a
glitter, and a spear came whistling forth, and smote his own spear so
hard close to the steel that it flew out of his hand; then came a
great shout, and a man clad in a scarlet kirtle ran forth on him.
Face-of-god had his axe in his hand in a twinkling, and ran at once
to meet his foe; but the man had the hill on his side as he rushed on
with a short-sword in his hand.
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