She bore a quiver at her back
and a shining yew bow in her hand, and went amongst the bowmen, for
she was a very deft archer.
So fared they into the pass, leaving peace behind them, with all
their banners displayed, and the banner of the Red-mouthed Wolf went
with the Wolf and the Sun-burst in the forefront of their battle next
after the two captains.
As for their road, the grassy space between the rock-wall and the
water was wide and smooth at first, and the cliffs rose up like
bundles of spear-shafts high and clear from the green grass with no
confused litter of fallen stones; so that the men strode on briskly,
their hearts high-raised and full of hope. And as they went, the
sweetness of song stirred in their souls, and at last Bow-may fell to
singing in a loud clear voice, and her cousin Wood-wise answered her,
and all the warriors of the Wolf who were in their band fell into the
song at the ending, and the sound of their melody went down the water
and reached the ears of those that were entering the pass, and of
those who were abiding till the way should be clear of them: and
this is some of what they sang:
Bow-may singeth:
Hear ye never a voice come crying
Out from the waste where the winds fare wide?
'Sons of the Wolf, the days are dying,
And where in the clefts of the rocks do ye hide?
'Into your hands hath the Sword been given,
Hard are the palms with the kiss of the hilt;
Through the trackless waste hath the road been riven
For the blade to seek to the heart of the guilt.
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