'
'Yea,' said the Sun-beam, 'sooth is that; and Face-of-god is wise to
think of it and of other matters. Yet one thing we must bear in
mind, that all may not go smoothly in our day's work in Silver-dale;
so we must have force there to fall back on, in case we miss our
stroke at first. Therefore, I say, send we no man to Rose-dale, and
leave we no able man-at-arms behind in the Burg, so that we have with
us every blade that may be gathered.'
Iron-face smiled and said: 'Thou art wise, damsel; and I marvel that
so fair-fashioned a thing as thou can think so hardly of the meeting
of the fallow blades. But hearken! will not the Dusky Men hear that
we have stripped the Dale of fighting-men, and may they not then give
our host the go-by and send folk to ruin us?'
There was silence while Face-of-god looked down on the board; but
presently he lifted up his face and said:
'Folk-might was right when he said that all must be risked. Let us
leave Rose-dale till we have overcome them of Silver-dale. Moreover,
my father, thou must not deem of these felons as if they were of like
wits to us, to forecast the deeds to come, and weigh the chances
nicely, and unravel tangled clews.
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