So then the stead was ransacked, and those wolves took away what they
would, and went their ways through the fierce storm, and none could
tell whether they had lived or died in it; but at least neither the
men nor their prey were seen again; nor did they leave any slot, for
next morning the snow lay deep over everything.
No doubt had Gold-mane but that these ransackers were his friends of
the Mountain; but he held his peace, abiding till the winter should
be over.
CHAPTER XI. MEN MAKE OATH AT BURGSTEAD ON THE HOLY BOAR
A week after the ransacking at Greentofts the snow and the winter
came on in earnest, and all the Dale lay in snow, and men went on
skids when they fared up and down the Dale or on the Mountain.
All was now tidingless till Yule over, and in Burgstead was there
feasting and joyance enough; and especially at the House of the Face
was high-tide holden, and the Alderman and his sons and Stone-face
and all the kindred and all their men sat in glorious attire within
the hall; and many others were there of the best of the kindreds of
Burgstead who had been bidden.
Face-of-god sat between his father and Stone-face; and he looked up
and down the tables and the hall and saw not the Bride, and his heart
misgave him because she was not there, and he wondered what had
befallen and if she were sick of sorrow.
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