But presently he
turned to Face-of-god and said:
'Now I see so many men and weapons I deem that ye have no need to
skulk in caves to-night, though I know of good ones: yet shall ye do
well not to light a fire till moon-setting; for the flame ye may
lightly hide, but the smoke may be seen from far aloof.'
But they bade him to meat, and he needed no second bidding but ate
lustily, and they gave him wine, and he drank a great draught and
sighed as for joy. Then he said in a trembling voice, as though he
feared a naysay:
'If ye are from Burgdale ye shall be faring back again presently; and
I pray you to take me with you.'
Said Face-of-god: 'Yea surely, friend, that will we do, and rejoice
in thee.'
Then he drank another cup which Warcliff held out to him, and spake
again: 'Yet if ye would abide here till about noon to-morrow, or
mayhappen a little later, I would bring other runaways to see you;
and them also might ye take with you: ye may think when ye see them
that ye shall have small gain of their company; for poor wretched
folk they be, like to myself. Yet since ye seek for tidings, herein
might they do you more service than I; for amongst them are some who
came out of the hapless Dale within this moon; and it is six months
since I escaped.
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