Agnes for the Mercers!" and set spurs to his horse.
So did they all, and came clattering and shouting down the steep
road like a stone out of a sling, and drave right into
the valley one and all, the would-be laggards following after;
for they were afraid to be left behind.
The wild men, who, save for wide shields which they bore,
were but evilly armed, mostly in skins of beasts, made no
countenance of defence, but fled all they might towards the steep
slopes of the valley, and then turned and fell to shooting;
for the companions durst not pursue in haste lest they should
be scattered, and overwhelmed by the multitude of foemen;
but they drew up along the south side of the valley,
and had the mastery of the road, so that this first bout
was without blood-shedding. Albeit the thieves still shot
in their weak bows from the hill-side, but scarce hurt a man.
Then the bowmen of the fellowship fell to shooting at
the wild men, while the men-at-arms breathed their horses,
and the sumpter-beasts were gathered together behind them;
for they had no dread of abiding there a while, whereas behind
them the ground was broken into a steep shaly cliff, bushed here
and there with tough bushes, so that no man could come up it
save by climbing with hand and knee, and that not easily.
Now when the archers had shot a good while, and some of the thieves had
fallen before them, and men were in good heart because of the flight of the
wild men, Ralph, seeing that these still hung about the slopes, cried out:
"Master Clement, and thou Captain, sure it will be ill-done to leave these
men unbroken behind us, lest they follow us and hang about our hindermost,
slaying us both men and horses.
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