Huge was the slaughter;
for the Wheat-wearers deemed they had many a grief whereof
to avenge them; nor were the men of the Dry Tree either
sluggards or saints to be careless of their foemen, or to be
merciful in the battle: but at last the murder was stayed:
and then the men of the Wheat-wearers went from house to house
in the town to find the women of their folk who had been made
thralls by the Burgers. There then was many a joyful meeting
betwixt those poor women and the men of their kindred:
all was forgotten now of the days of their thralldom,
their toil and mocking and stripes; and within certain days
all the sort of them came before the host clad in green raiment,
and garlanded with flowers for the joy of their deliverance;
and great feast was made to them.
"As for them of the Burg, the battle and chase over, no more were slain,
save that certain of the great ones were made shorter by the head.
But the Champions and the Wheat-wearers both, said that none
of that bitter and cruel folk should abide any longer in the town;
so that after a delay long enough for them to provide stuff for
their wayfaring, they were all thrust out a-gates, rich and poor,
old and young, man, woman and child. Proudly and with a stout
countenance they went, for now was their valour come again to them.
And it is like that we shall hear of them oft again; for though
they had but a few weapons amongst them when they were driven
out of their old home, and neither hauberk nor shield nor helm,
yet so learned in war be they and so marvellous great of pride,
that they will somehow get them weapons; and even armed but
with headless staves, and cudgels of the thicket, woe betide
the peaceful folk whom they shall first fall on.
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