Then let the other five hundreds fare up to Rose-dale,
and fall on the Dusky Men therein about the same time, but not before
our onslaught on Silver-dale: thus shall hand help foot, so that
stumbling be not falling; and we may well hope that our rede shall
thrive.'
Then was he silent, and the Sun-beam looked upon him with gleaming
eyes and parted lips, waiting eagerly to hear what Folk-might would
say. He held his peace a while, drumming on the board with his
fingers, and none else spake a word. At last he said:
'War-leader of Burgdale, all that thou hast spoken likes me well, and
even so must it be done, saving that parting of our host and sending
one part to fall upon Rose-dale. I say, nay; let us put all our
might into that one stroke on Silver-dale, and then we are undone
indeed if we fail; but so shall we be if we fail anywise; but if we
win Silver-dale, then shall Rose-dale lie open before us.'
'My brother,' said Face-of-god, 'thou art a tried warrior, and I but
a lad: but dost thou not see this, that whatever we do, we shall not
at one onslaught slay all the Dusky Men of Silver-dale, and those
that flee before us shall betake them to Rose-dale, and tell all the
tale, and what shall hinder them then from falling on Burgdale (since
they are no great way from it) after they have murdered what they
will of the unhappy people under their hands?'
Said Folk-might: 'I say not but that there is a risk thereof, but in
war we must needs run such risks, and all should be risked rather
than that our blow on Silver-dale be light.
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