Then once again the men of Face-of-god gave
forth the whoop of victory, and pressed forward again, hewing their
way through the throng of fleers, but turning not to chase to the
right or the left; while at their backs came on the Shepherd-folk,
who had swept down all that withstood them; for now indeed was the
Market-stead getting thinner of living men.
So led the War-leader his ordered ranks, till at last over the
tangled crowd of runaways he saw the banners of the Burg and the Face
flashing against the sun, and heard the roar of the kindreds as they
drave the chase towards them. Then he lifted up his sword, and stood
still, and all the host behind him stayed and cast a huge shout up to
the heavens, and there they abode the coming of the other Dalesmen.
But the War-leader sent a message to Hound-under-Greenbury, bidding
him lead the Shepherds to the chase of the Dusky Men, who were now
all fleeing toward the northern outgate of the Market. Howbeit he
called to mind the throng he had seen on the northern road before
they were come into the Market-stead, and deemed that way also death
awaited the foemen, even if the men of the kindreds forbore them.
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