The Woodlanders met them, shouting out: 'The Greenwood and the Wolf,
the Greenwood and the Wolf!' But not a few of them fell there,
though they gave not back a foot; for so fierce now were the Dusky
Men, that hewing and thrusting at them availed nought, unless they
were slain outright or stunned; and even if they fell they rolled
themselves up against their tall foe-men, heeding not death or wounds
if they might but slay or wound. There then fell War-grove and ten
others of the Woodlanders, and four men of the Wolf, but none before
he had slain his foeman; and as each man fell or was hurt grievously,
another took his place.
Now a felon leapt up and caught Gold-ring by the neck and drew him
down, while another strove to smite his head off; but the stout carle
drave a wood-knife into the side of the first felon, and drew it out
speedily and smote the other, the smiter, in the face with the same
knife, and therewith they all three rolled together on the earth
amongst the feet of men. Even so did another felon by Bow-may, and
dragged her down to the ground, and smote her with a long knife as
she tumbled down; and this was a feat of theirs, for they were long-
armed like apes.
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