But now the men of Utterbol spurred to meet the foe,
and as Redhead cast his spear into the rest, he said to Ralph:
"Glad am I that thy Lady is anear to see me, for now I worship her."
Therewith the two bands met, and whereas on neither side was the armour
very stout, some men of either band were hurt or slain at once
with spearthrust; though, save for Ralph, they did not run straight
on each other; but fenced and foined with their spears deftly enough.
As for Ralph, he smote a tall man full on the breast and pierced him
through and through, and then pulled out the Upmeads blade and smote
on the right hand and the left, so that none came anigh him willingly.
Shortly to say it, in five minutes' time the Black Riders
were fleeing all over the field with them of Utterbol at
their heels, and the bowmen ran back again into the wood.
But one of the foemen as he fled cast a javelin at a venture,
and who should be before it save Ursula, so that she reeled
in her saddle, and would have fallen downright but for one of the
Utterbol fellows who stayed her, and got her gently off her horse.
This Ralph saw not, for he followed far in the chase, and was
coming back somewhat slowly along with Redhead, who was hurt,
but not sorely. So when he came up, and saw Ursula sitting on
the grass with four or five men about her, he sickened for fear;
but she rose up and came slowly and pale-faced to meet him,
and said: "Fear not, beloved, for steel kept out steel:
I have no scratch or point or edge on me.
Pages:
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588