en-at-arms.

Presently they were come close to the place where the way went down
into the valley, cleaving through a clayey bent, so that the slippery
sides of the cleft went up high to right and left; wherefore by goodhap
there were no big stones anigh to roll down upon them. Moreover the
way was short, and they rode six abreast down the pass and were soon
through the hollow way. As he rode Ralph saw a few of the
Strong-thieves at the nether end where the pass widened out, and they
let fly some arrows at the chapmen which did no hurt, though some of
the shafts rattled on the armour of the companions. But when Clement
saw that folk, and heard the noise of their shouting he lifted up a
great axe that he bore and cried, "St. Agnes for the Mercers!" and set
spurs to his horse. So did they all, and came clattering and shouting
down the steep road like a stone out of a sling, and drave right into
the valley one and all, the would-be laggards following after; for they
were afraid to be left behind.

The wild men, who, save for wide shields which they bore, were but
evilly armed, mostly in skins of beasts, made no countenance of
defence, but fled all they might towards the steep slopes of the
valley, and then turned and fell to shooting; for the companions durst
not pursue in haste lest they should be scattered, and overwhelmed by
the multitude of foemen; but they drew up along the south side of the
valley, and had the mastery of the road, so that this first bout was
without blood-shedding. Albeit the thieves still shot in their weak
bows from the hill-side, but scarce hurt a man. Then the bowmen of the
fellowship fell to shooting at the wild men, while the men-at-arms
breathed their horses, and the sumpter-beasts were gathered together
behind them; for they had no dread of abiding there a while, whereas
behind them the ground was broken into a steep shaly cliff, bushed here
and there with tough bushes, so that no man could come up it save by
climbing with hand and knee, and that not easily.

Now when the archers had shot a good while, and some of the thieves had
fallen before them, and men were in good heart because of the flight of
the wild men, Ralph, seeing that these still hung about the slopes,
cried out: "Master Clement, and thou Captain, sure it will be ill-done
to leave these men unbroken behind us, lest they follow us and hang
about our hindermost, slaying us both men and horses."

"Even so," quoth the capta