Withal Gold-mane is a
wilful man, and of late days hath been wilful beyond his wont; let us
now find the elks.'
So they went on their ways hoping to fall in with him again. No long
story need be made of their hunting, for not very far from where they
had taken shelter they came upon the elks, many of them, impounded in
the drifts, pretty much where the deft hunters looked to find them.
There then was battle between the elks and the men, till the beasts
were all slain and only one man hurt: then they made them sleighs
from wood which they found in the hollows thereby, and they laid the
carcasses thereon, and so turned their faces homeward, dragging their
prey with them. But they met not Face-of-god either there or on the
way home; and Hall-face said: 'Maybe Gold-mane will lie on the fell
to-night; and I would I were with him; for adventures oft befall such
folk when they abide in the wilds.'
Now it was late at night by then they reached Burgstead, so laden as
they were with the dead beasts; but they heeded the night little, for
the moon was well-nigh as bright as day for them. But when they came
to the gate of the Thorp, there were assembled the goodmen and swains
to meet them with torches and wine in their honour.
Pages:
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134