Now all the men of the Dale, both of the kindreds and of the thrall-
folk, made way for the Host and its havings, that they might go their
ways down the Dale; albeit the Woodlanders clung close to the line of
their ancient friends, and with them, as men who were sorry for the
sundering, were Wolf-stone and God-swain and Spear-fist. But the
chiefs, they drew around Folk-might a little beside the way.
Now Red-coat of Waterless, who had been hurt, and was now whole
again, cast his arms about Folk-might and kissed him, and said:
'All the way hence to Burgdale will I sow with good wishes for thee
and thine, and especially for my dear friend God-swain of the Silver
Arm; and I would wish and long that they might turn into spells to
draw thy feet to usward; for we love thee well.'
In like wise spake other of the Burgdalers; and Folk-might was kind
and blithe with them, and he said:
'Friends, forget ye not that the way is no longer from you to us than
it is from us to you. One half of this matter it is for you to deal
with.'
'True is that,' said Red-beard of the Knolls, 'but look you, Folk-
might, we be but simple husbandmen, and may not often stir from our
meadows and acres; even now I bethink me that May is amidst us, and I
am beginning to be drawn by the thought of the haysel.
Pages:
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616