an, who had been one of the watch much further off, and had
spoken with the furthest of all, which one had seen the faring of the
Roman Host, and that it was very great, and no mere band of pillagers or
of scouts. And, said this fleer (who was indeed half wild with fear),
that while they were talking together, came the Romans upon them, and saw
them; and a band of Romans beat the wood for them when they fled, and
she, the fleer, was at point to be taken, and saw two taken indeed, and
haled off by the Roman scourers of the wood. But she escaped and so came
to the others on the skirts of the thicket, having left of her skin and
blood on many a thornbush and rock by the way.

"Now when I heard this, I bade this fleer get her home to the Bearings as
swiftly as she might, and tell her tale; and she went away trembling, and
scarce knowing whether her feet were on earth or on water or on fire; but
belike failed not to come there, as no Romans were before her.

"But for the others, I sent one to go straight to Wolf-stead on the heels
of the first messenger, to tell the Hall-Sun what had befallen, and other
five I set to lurk in the thicket, whereas none could lightly lay hands
on them, and when they had new tidings, to flee to Wolf-stead as occasion
might serve them; and for myself I tarried not, but rode on the spur to
tell thee hereof.

"But my last word to thee, Otter, is that by the Hall-sun's bidding the
Bearings will not abide fire and steel at their own stead, but when they
hear true tidings of the Romans being hard at hand, will take with them
all that is not too hot or too heavy to carry, and go their ways unto
Wolf-stead: and the tidings will go up and down the Mark on both sides of
the water, so that whatever is of avail for defence will gather there at
our dwelling, and if we fall, goodly shall be the howe heaped over us,
even if ye come not in time.

"Now have I told thee what I needs must and there is no need to question
me more, for thou hast it all--do thou what thou hast to do!"

With that word she cast herself down on the grass by the mound-side, and
was presently asleep, for she was very weary.

But all the time she had been telling her tale had the horn been
sounding, and there were now a many warriors gathered and more coming in
every moment: so Otter stood up on the mound after he had bidden a man of
his House to bring him his horse and war-gear, and abided a little, till,
as might be said, the whol