Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/244

 CHAPTER XLII. THEY DELIVER THE THORPE-DWELLERS FROM THE BLACK SKIMMERS.

OW they rode that fair well-peopled land, and nought befell them to tell of till the fourth day thence, and then, as they were riding a good highway with a somewhat steep bank or little hill on their left hands, as they turned about the said hill, and had all the plain to their right hands before them, they saw new tidings, and it was just about high noon. For there lay in their road, a mile and a half a-head, a thorpe so big that it was well-nigh a little town, but quite unfenced, though many of the houses were goodly and great as for such a place. But now all was going ill there, for they saw smoke and flames coming forth from the windows and roofs of many of the houses, and a confused crying and shrieking came down the wind to them, and Osberne the keen-eyed deemed he could see folk, some a-horseback, fleeing down the highway toward them. Then Sir Godrick cried out: Prick on, good men of mine! this is no case for tarrying, these be the Black Skimmers, and if we make not the more haste all will be under fire and steel. And he spurred withal, and Osberne after him. But now as they drew nigher there was no nay-saying but that folk were fleeing desperately along the highway, and some with their hands spread out to the newcomers as if