So half an hour from the appointed time of Hallowing rose the rumour
that the Alderman was on the road, and presently they of the women
who were on the outside of the throng, by drawing nigh to the edge of
the sheer rock, could behold the Banner of the Burg on the Portway,
and soon after could see the wain, done about with green boughs,
wherein sat the chieftains in their glittering war-gear. Speedily
they spread the tidings, and a confused shout went up into the air;
and in a little while the wain stayed on Wildlake's Way at the bottom
of the steep slope that went up to the Mote-stead, and the banner of
the Burg came on proudly up the hill. Soon all men beheld it, and
saw that the tall Hall-face bore it in front of his brother Face-of-
god, who came on gleaming in war-gear better than most men had seen;
which was indeed of his father's fashioning, and his father's gift to
him that morning.
After Face-of-god came the Alderman, and with him Folk-might leading
the Sun-beam by the hand, and then Stone-face and the Elder of the
Dale-wardens; and then the six Burg-wardens: as to the other Dale-
wardens, they were in their places on the Field.
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