of that assembly, wandering in and out, and
sometimes looking hard on some one whom they knew best, if he cried out
aloud.

But the men-folk gave all their ears to hearkening, and stood as close as
they might.

Then Egil clomb the Speech-Hill, and said.

CHAPTER XV--THEY HEAR TELL OF THE BATTLE ON THE RIDGE

"Ye have heard how the Daylings were appointed to go to help Thiodolf in
driving the folk-spear home to the heart of the Roman host. So they
went; but six hours thereafter comes one to Otter bidding him send a
great part of the kindreds to him; for that he had had tidings that a
great host of Romans were drawing near the wood-edge, but were not
entered therein, and that fain would he meet them in the open field.

"So the kindreds drew lots, and the lot fell first to the Elkings, who
are a great company, as ye know; and then to the Hartings, the Beamings,
the Alftings, the Vallings (also a great company), the Galtings, (and
they no lesser) each in their turn; and last of all to the Laxings; and
the Oselings prayed to go with the Elkings, and this Otter deemed good,
whereas a many of them be bowmen.

"All these then to the number of a thousand or more entered the wood; and
I was with them, for in sooth I was the messenger.

"No delay made we in the wood, nor went we over warily, trusting to the
warding of the wood by Thiodolf; and there were men with us who knew the
paths well, whereof I was one; so we speedily came through into the open
country.

"Shortly we came upon our folk and the War-duke lying at the foot of a
little hill that went up as a buttress to a long ridge high above us,
whereon we set a watch; and a little brook came down the dale for our
drink.

"Night fell as we came thither; so we slept for a while, but abode not
the morning, and we were afoot (for we had no horses with us) before the
moon grew white. We took the road in good order, albeit our folk-banners
we had left behind in the burg; so each kindred raised aloft a shield of
its token to be for a banner. So we went forth, and some swift footmen,
with Fox, who hath seen the Roman war-garth, had been sent on before to
spy out the ways of the foemen.

"Two hours after sunrise cometh one of these, and telleth how he hath
seen the Romans, and how that they are but a short mile hence breaking
their fast, not looking for any onslaught; 'but,' saith he, 'they are on
a high ridge whence they can see wide about, and be in no danger o