Then Face-of-god constrained himself, and spake to the
folk, and said: 'We are now over-nigh to our foes of Rose-dale to
lie here any longer, being too few to fall upon them. We will come
hither again with a host when we have duly questioned these men who
have sought refuge with us: and let us call yonder height the Burg
of the Runaways, and it shall be a landmark for us when we are on the
road to Rose-dale.'
Then the Burgdalers bade the Runaways courteously and kindly to arise
and take the road with them; and by that time were their men all come
in; and four of them had venison with them, which was needful, if
they were to eat that night or the morrow, as the guests had eaten
them to the bone.
So they tarried no more, but set out on the homeward way; and Face-
of-god bade Dallach walk beside him, and asked him such concerning
Rose-dale and its Dusky Men. Dallach told him that these were not so
many as they were masterful, not being above eight hundreds of men,
all fighting-men. As to women, they had none of their own race, but
lay with the Daleswomen at their will, and begat children of them;
and all or most of the said children favoured the race of their
begetters.
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