Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/201

 CHAPTER XXXIV. OSBERNE SORROWS FOR THE LOSS OF ELFHILD.

OW some while before men were boun to depart to their own homes, the sound of fresh battle was borne to them on the south-west; so, saving those who must needs go tend the hurt on their way home, they might not tear themselves away from that field of deed; and in special Osberne, who had been busy enough in kenning the dead and wounded of his folk while need was, came back to the verge of the Flood, where so oft he had stood in love and joy, and stood there a long while, scarce moving, with a shaft in his fingers and his bended bow in his fist, his brows knit, and his eyes staring out over the western field. It was two hours after noon when the West Dalers turned to stir up the battle again. And then was an hour ere the clamour of the fight came down thither, and two hours yet it endured and was in all men's ears; and then it died away, and the East men began to wander off from the watching-place, wending this way and that, and the autumn day fell to wane, and soon there were none left save Osberne and a half dozen of the men of Wethermel. And one or another of them plucked him by the sleeve, and bade him come home with them, since the day was done, and the battle would not quicken again, and the West Dalers had overmuch on their hands to bear them any tidings till the morrow