Furthermore,
he bade both Hall-face and Red-coat to bring their bands back to
Wildlake's Way by the morrow at sunset, where other goodmen should be
come to take the places of their men; and then if he and his company
were back again, he would bid them further what to do; but if not, as
seemed likely, then Hall-face's band to go west toward the Shepherd
country half a day's journey, and so back, and Red-coat's east along
the Dale's lip again for the like time, and then back, so that there
might be a constant watch and ward of the Dale kept against the
Felons.
All being ordered Gold-mane led his own company north-east through
the thick wood, thinking that he might so fare as to come nigh to
Silver-dale, or at least to hear tidings thereof. This intent he
told to Stone-face, but the old man shook his head and said:
'Good is this if it may be done; but it is not for everyone to go
down to Hell in his lifetime and come back safe with a tale thereof.
However, whither thou wilt lead, thither will I follow, though
assured death waylayeth us.'
And the old carle was joyous and proud to be on this adventure, and
said, that it was good indeed that his foster-son had with him a man
well stricken in years, who had both seen many things, and learned
many, and had good rede to give to valiant men.
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