For especially the women of the Dale, of whom many were very goodly,
hankered after the fair-faced tall Burgdalers, and were as kind to
them as might be. Forsooth not a few, both carles and queens, of the
old thrall-folk prayed them of Burgdale to take them home thither,
that they might see new things and forget their old torments once for
all, yea, even in dreams. The Burgdalers would not gainsay them, and
there was no one else to hinder; so that there went with the Burgdale
men at their departure hard on five score of the Silver-dale folk who
were not of the kindreds.
And now was a great Folk-mote holden in Silver-dale, whereto the
Burgdale men and the Shepherds were bidden; and thereat the War-
leader gave out the morrow of the morrow for the day of the departure
of the Host. There also were the matters of Silver-dale duly
ordered: the Men of the Wolf would have had the Woodlanders dwell
with them in the fair-builded stead, and take to them of the goodly
stone houses there what they would; but this they naysaid, choosing
rather to dwell in scattered houses, which they built for themselves
at the utmost limit of the tillage.
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