after nought was good to
him save an occasion to die for her.

As for Christopher, he spake to many, and said to them that wheresoever
his banner was, he at least should be at the forefront whenso they came
upon unpeace; and so soon as they gat to the road, he went from company
to company, speaking to many, and that so sweetly and friendly that all
praised him, and said that here forsooth was a king who was all good and
nothing bad, whereas hitherto men had deemed them lucky indeed if their
king were half good and half bad.

Merry then was the road to Broadlees, and they came there before
night-fall; and it was a little cheaping town and unwalled, and if the
folk had had any will to ward them, they lacked might. But when they
found they were not to be robbed, and that it was but the proclaiming of
King Christopher in the market-place, and finding victual and house-room
for the host, and the Mayor taking a paper in payment thereof, none
stirred against them, and a many joined the host to fight for the fair
young King. Now nought as yet had they heard at Broadlees of any force
stirring against them.

But in the morning when they went on their ways again, and were
bound for Cheaping Woodwall, which was a fenced town, they sent out
well-horsed riders to espy the road, who came back on the spur two
hours after noon, and did them to wit that there was a host abiding them
beneath the walls of Woodwall under the banner of Walter the White, an
old warrior and fell fighter; but what comfort he might have from them
of Woodwall they wotted not; but they said that the tidings of their
coming had gone abroad, and many folk were abiding the issue of this
battle ere they joined them to either host. Now on these tidings the
captains were of one mind, to wit, to fare on softly till they came to
a defensible place not far from the foemen, since they could scarce come
to Woodwall in good order before nightfall, and if they were unfoughten
before, to push forward to battle in the morning.

Even so did they, and made a halt at sunset on a pleasant hill above a
river some three miles from Woodwall, and there they passed the night
unmeddled with.

CHAPTER XXXIV. BATTLE BEFORE WOODWALL.

When morning was, the captains came to King Christopher to council:
but while they were amidst of their talk came the word that the foe was
anigh and come close to the river-bank; whereat was none abashed; but to
all it seemed wisdom to abide the