urned Otter to his folk and made them a sign, which they knew well,
that they should get down from their horses; and when they were afoot the
leaders of tens and hundreds arrayed them, into the wedge-array, with the
bowmen on either flank: and Otter smiled as he beheld this adoing and
that the Romans meddled not with them, belike because they looked to have
them good cheap, since they were but a few wild men.

But when they were all arrayed he sat still on his horse and spake to
them short and sharply, saying:

"Men of the Goths, will ye mount your horses again and ride into the wood
and let it cover you, or will ye fight these Romans?" They answered him
with a great shout and the clashing of their weapons on their shields.
"That is well," quoth Otter, "since we have come so far; for I perceive
that the foe will come to meet us, so that we must either abide their
shock or turn our backs. Yet must we fight wisely or we are undone, and
Thiodolf in risk of undoing; this have we to do if we may, to thrust in
between them and the ford, and if we may do that, there let us fight it
out, till we fall one over another. But if we may not do it, then will
we not throw our lives away but do the foemen what hurt we may without
mingling ourselves amongst them, and so abide the coming of Thiodolf; for
if we get not betwixt them and the ford we may in no case hinder them
from crossing. And all this I tell you that ye may follow me wisely, and
refrain your wrath that ye may live yet to give it the rein when the time
comes."

So he spake and got down from his horse and drew his sword and went to
the head of the wedge-array and began slowly to lead forth; but the
thralls and swains had heed of the horses, and they drew aback with them
towards the wood which was but a little way from them.

But for Otter he led his men down towards the ford, and when the Romans
saw that, their main body began to move forward, faring slant-wise, as a
crab, down toward the ford; then Otter hastened somewhat, as he well
might, since his men were well learned in war and did not break their
array; but now by this time were those burners of the Romans come up with
the main battle, and the Roman captain sent them at once against the
Goths, and they advanced boldly enough, a great cloud of men in loose
array who fell to with arrows and slings on the wedge-array and slew and
hurt many: yet did not Otter stay his folk; but it was ill going for
them, for their