The Burgdalers must needs turn and
fight with those pursuers, and at last they drave them aback so that
they might go on their ways home. They let not the grass grow
beneath their feet thereafter, till they were assured by meeting a
band of the Woodlanders, who had gone forth to help them, and with
whom they rested a little. But neither so were they quite done with
the foemen, who came upon them next day a very many: these however
they and the Woodlanders, who were all fresh and unwounded and very
valiant, speedily put to the worse; and so they came on to Burgstead,
leaving those of them who were sorest hurt to be tended by the
Woodlanders at Carlstead, who, as might be looked for, deal with them
very lovingly.
It was in the first fight that they suffered that loss of slain and
wounded; and therein the newly delivered thralls fought valiantly
against their masters: as for Dallach, it was no marvel, said Hall-
face, that he was hurt; but rather a marvel that he was not slain, so
little he recked of point and edge, if he might but slay the foemen.
Such was Hall-face's-tale; and Face-of-god deemed that he had done
unwisely to let him go that journey; for the slaying of a few Dusky
Men was but a light gain to set against the loss of so many
Burgdalers; yet was he glad of the deliverance of those Runaways, and
deemed it a gain indeed.
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