Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/268

 them within the North Gate, and deemed that as for them they had enough on their hands to keep them within their walls, and least of all things did they look for any on fall from without.

Thereon the Red Lad called to him his captains and host-leaders and asked them of rede, and to be short therewith. Some said one thing, some another, as to send back news hereof to Sir Godrick, or to array them in the best wise to fall on these men on the morrow; nay, some were for hanging about till they should have news of Sir Godrick.

But when they were done, spake the Red Lad: Sirs, many of these things are good to be done, and some not; for sure am I that we be not sent hither to do nothing. But now if ye will, hearken my rede: it is now well-nigh dark, and in two hours or somewhat more it will be pit-mirk, and these men outside the walls will be going to their rest with no watch and ward set outward toward the upland. Wherefore I say, let us leave our horses here and do off so much of our armour as we may go afoot lightly; for if we win we shall soon get other horses and gear, and if we lose we shall need them not. But meseemeth if we do deftly and swiftly, all these men we shall have at our will.

Now they all saw that it would do; so there was no more said, but they fell to arraying their men on foot, and in an hour they were on the way; and going wisely and with little noise, in two hours thence they were amidst the foe and