Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/191

 CHAPTER XXXII. FOEMEN AMONG THE WEST DALERS.

UT when the spring was worn into April there fell new tidings: for on a morning early came Stephen the Eater hurrying into the hall at Wethermel and cried aloud: Bows, bows! Come afield all ye of this hall, and thou chiefly, Osberne the captain!

Out then tumbled the stout men of Wethermel from shut-bed and hutch, and were presently armed; and Osberne was in his byrny and steel hood straightway, his bow in his hand and his quiver at his back.

They gathered about him and Stephen amidst of the hall, and then Osberne asks what is toward. Great matter enough, says Stephen. Yet how to help therein? There is unpeace in the Dale, but it has fallen on the Westerlings. Quoth Osberne, short and sharp: Ye Otter, Simon, Longdeer, Alison, take horse and ride straightway down the Dale and round to every stead, and bid men gather to the side of the Flood with bows and sling-spears and shot-weapons of all kinds, and that they stand not in knots and clumps, but drawn out in line, and space enough betwixt each shooter. Bid them to leave not a shaft at home, we may speedily make more, but not to loose once till they have marked their man. Now hasten ye four! But ye others come