Now spake Wood-wise to those about him: 'It is sure that Folk-might
would have us give these poor thralls a chance, and that we must
loose upon the felons who would hew them down; and if we are to come
back again, we can go no nigher. What sayest thou, Bow-may? Is it
nigh enough? Can aught be done?'
'Yea, yea,' she said, 'nigh enough it is; but let Gold-ring be with
me and half a score of the very best, whether they be of our folk or
the Woodlanders, men who cannot miss such a mark; and when we have
loosed, then let all loose, and stay not till our shot be spent.
Haste, now haste! time presseth; for if the Host showeth on the brow
of the hill, these felons will hew down their slaughter-beasts before
they turn on their foemen. Let the grey-goose wing speed trouble and
confusion amongst them.'
But ere she had done her words Wood-wise had got to speaking quietly
with the Woodlanders; and Bears-bane, who was amidst them, chose out
eight of the best of his folk, men who doubted nothing of hitting
whatever they could see in the Market-place; and they took their
stand for shooting, and with them besides Bow-may were two women and
four men of the Wolf, and Gold-ring withal, a carle of fifty winters,
long, lean, and wiry, a fell shooter if ever anyone were.
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