So sang they: and much were all men moved at their singing, and
there was none but called to mind the old days of the Fathers, and
the years when their banner went wide in the world.
But the Woodlanders feasted them of Burgstead what they might, and
then went the Dalesmen back to their houses; but on the morrow's
morrow they fared thither again, and Wood-grey was laid in mound
amidst a great assemblage of the Folk.
Many men said that there was no doubt that those two felons were of
the company of those who had ransacked the steads of Penny-thumb and
Harts-bane; and so at first deemed Bristler the son of Brightling:
but after a while, when he had had time to think of it, he changed
his mind; for he said that such men as these would have slain first
and ransacked afterwards: and some who loved neither Penny-thumb nor
Harts-bane said that they would not have been at the pains to choose
for ransacking the two worst men about the Dale, whose loss was no
loss to any but themselves.
As for Gold-mane he knew not what to think, except that his friends
of the Mountain had had nought to do with it.
So wore the days awhile.
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