So on a time a great company of them had
ado with the Burgers somewhat recklessly and came to the worse;
wherefore some drew back into their fastness of the Scaur and
the others still rode on, and further west than their wont had been;
but warily when they had the Wood Perilous behind them, for they
had learned wisdom again. Thus riding they had tidings of an host
of the Burg of the Four Friths who were resting in a valley hard
by with a great train of captives and beasts and other spoil:
for they had been raising the fray against the Wheat-wearers,
and had slain many carles there, and were bringing home to the Burg
many young women and women-children, after their custom.
So they of the Dry Tree advised them of these tidings, and deemed
that it would ease the sorrow of their hearts for their Lady if they
could deal with these sons of whores and make a mark upon the Burg:
so they lay hid while the daylight lasted, and by night and cloud
fell upon these faineants of the Burg, and won them good cheap,
as was like to be, though the Burg-dwellers were many the more.
Whereof a many were slain, but many escaped and gat home to the Burg,
even as will lightly happen even in the worst of overthrows,
that not all, or even the more part be slain.
"Well, there were the champions and their prey, which was very great,
and especially of women, of whom the more part were young and fair:
for the women of the Wheat-wearers be goodly, and these had been picked
out by the rutters of the Burg for their youth and strength and beauty.
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