It was but some fifteen minutes ere they were come to the foot
of the hill, and they fell to mounting it with laughter and mockery,
but Ralph's men held their peace. The horsemen were somewhat
speedier than those on foot, though they rode but at a foot's pace,
and when they were about halfway up the hill and were faltering a little
(for it was somewhat steep, though nought high), the Champions
of the Dry Tree could forbear them no longer, but set up a huge roar,
and rode at them, so that they all went down the hill together,
but the Champions were lost amidst of the huge mass of the foemen.
But Ralph was left at the very left end of his folk, and the foemen came
up the hill speedily with much noise and many foul mocks as aforesaid,
and they were many and many more than Ralph's folk, and now that the Champions
were gone, could have enfolded them at either end; but no man of the company
blenched or faltered, only here and there one spake soft to his neighbour,
and here and there one laughed the battle-laugh.
Now at the hanging of the hill, whenas either side could see the whites
of the foemen's eyes, the robbers stayed a little to gather breath;
and in that nick of time Ralph strode forth into the midst between the two
lines and up on to a little mound on the hill-side (which well he knew),
and he lifted up the ancient guisarme, and cried on high: "Home now!
Home to Upmeads!"
Then befell a marvel, for even as all eyes of the foemen were turned
on him, straightway their shouts and jeering and laughter fell dead,
and then gave place to shrieks and wailing, as all they who beheld him cast
down their weapons and fled wildly down the hill, overturning whatever
stood in their way, till the whole mass of them was broken to pieces,
and the hill was covered with nought but cravens and the light-footed
Shepherds slaughtering them in the chase.
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