Now when the men of the Host looked from the high place whereon they
stood toward the green plain by the river, they saw on the top of
that rock-wall a red pennon waving on a spear, and beside it three or
four weaponed men gleaming bright in the evening sun; and they waved
their swords to the Host, and made lightning of the sunbeams, and the
men of the Host waved swords to them in turn. For these were the
outguards of the Host; and the place whereon they were was at whiles
dwelt in by those who would drive the spoil in Silver-dale, and
midmost of the green-sward was a booth builded of rough stones and
turf, a refuge for a score of men in rough weather.
So the men of the vanward gat them down the hill, and made the best
of their way toward the grassy plain through that rocky maze which
had once been as a lake of molten glass; and as short as the way
looked from above, it was two hours or ever they came out of it on to
the smooth turf, and it was moonlight and night ere the House of the
Face had gotten on to the green-sward.
There then the Host abode for that night, and after they had eaten
lay down on the green grass and slept as they might.
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