But about the wain-burg was there plenteous stir of men till all was
ordered for the departure of the host, which was no long while, for there
was nothing to do but on with the war-gear and up on to the horse.

Forth then they went duly ordered in their kindreds towards the head of
the Upper-mark, riding as swiftly as they might without breaking their
array.

CHAPTER XIX--THOSE MESSENGERS COME TO THIODOLF

Of Geirbald and Viglund the tale tells that they rode the woodland paths
as speedily as they might. They had not gone far, and were winding
through a path amidst of a thicket mingled of the hornbeam and holly,
betwixt the openings of which the bracken grew exceeding tall, when
Viglund, who was very fine-eared, deemed that he heard a horse coming to
meet them: so they lay as close as they might, and drew back their horses
behind a great holly-bush lest it should be some one or more of the foes
who had fled into the wood when the Romans were scattered in that first
fight. But as the sound drew nearer, and it was clearly the footsteps of
a great horse, they deemed it would be some messenger from Thiodolf, as
indeed it turned out: for as the new-comer fared on, somewhat unwarily,
they saw a bright helm after the fashion of the Goths amidst of the
trees, and then presently they knew by his attire that he was of the
Bearings, and so at last they knew him to be Asbiorn of the said House, a
doughty man; so they came forth to meet him and he drew rein when he saw
armed men, but presently beholding their faces he knew them and laughed
on them, and said:

"Hail fellows! what tidings are toward?"

"These," said Viglund, "that thou art well met, since now shalt thou turn
back and bring us to Thiodolf as speedily as may be."

But Asbiorn laughed and said: "Nay rather turn about with me; or why are
ye so grim of countenance?"

"Our errand is no light one," said Geirbald, "but thou, why art thou so
merry?"

"I have seen the Romans fall," said he, "and belike shall soon see more
of that game: for I am on an errand to Otter from Thiodolf: the War-duke,
when he had questioned some of those whom we took on the Day of the
Ridge, began to have a deeming that the Romans had beguiled us, and will
fall on the Mark by the way of the south-east heaths: so now is he
hastening to fetch a compass and follow that road either to overtake them
or prevent them; and he biddeth Otter tarry not, but ride hard along the
water to meet t