So now those who had been standing up turned their faces toward the
Altar of the Gods, and those who had been sitting down sprang to
their feet, and the confused rumour of the throng rose into a clear
shout as the chieftains went to their places, and sat them down on
the turf-seats amidst the Doom-ring facing the Speech-hill and the
Altar of the Gods. Amidmost sat the Alderman, on his right hand
Face-of-god, and out from him Hall-face, and then Stone-face and
three of the Wardens; but on his left hand sat first the two Guests,
then the Elder of the Dale-wardens, and then the other three Burg-
wardens; as for the Banner of the Burg, its staff was stuck into the
earth behind them, and the Banner raised itself in the morning wind
and flapped and rippled over their heads.
There then they sat, and folk abided, and it still lacked some
minutes of the due time, as the Alderman wotted by the shadow of the
great standing-stone betwixt him and the Altar. Therewithal came the
sound of a great horn from out of the wood on the north side, and men
knew it for the horn of the Woodland Carles, and were glad; for they
could not think why they should be belated; and now men stood up a-
tiptoe and on other's shoulders to look over the heads of the women
and children to behold their coming; but their empty place was at the
southwest corner of the ring of men.
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