Then
rang out again the terrible wolf-whoop from Wood-wise's mouth, and
both he and Bow-may loosed a shaft, for the two other foes had turned
their backs and were fleeing fast. Again Bow-may hit the clout, and
the Dusky Man fell dead at once, but Wood-wise's arrow flew over the
felon's shoulder as he ran. Then in a trice was Gold-mane bounding
after him like the hare just roused from her form; for it came into
his head that these felons had beheld them coming up out of the Vale,
and that if even this one man escaped, he would bring his company
down upon the Vale-dwellers.
Strong and light-foot as any was Face-of-god, and though he was
cumbered with his hauberk, yet was Iron-face's handiwork far lighter
than the war-coat of the Dusky Man, and the race was soon over. The
felon turned breathless to meet Gold-mane, who drave his target
against him and cast him to earth, and as he strove to rise smote off
his head at one stroke; for Dale-warden was a good sword and the
Dalesman as fierce of mood as might be. There he let the felon lie,
and, turning, walked back swiftly toward the Elders' Rocks, and found
there Wood-wise and the dead foemen, for the carle had slain the
wounded, and he was now drawing the silver arm-rings off the slain
men; for all these Dusky Felons bore silver arm-rings.
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