e
flame flashed in the sun; and he cried out: "For the Dale! For the
Dale! Hasten, fellows, and follow on, for Boardcleaver crieth for a
life." And therewith he entered among the Deepdale folk and smote
right and left, and with each stroke hewed a man, and they fell back
before him; and then the Dalesmen were by his side instead of the
foes, and still he went forward and men fell before him, and still
came on the spears of the Dalesmen; and now all they of Deepdale,
whether a-foot or on horseback, turn and flee away toward the place of
the first slaughter.

Then Osberne cried to his men: "Off the causeway now, all ye Dalesmen;
these ye shall not chase, they shall fall in with chasing enough anon;
and now must the causeway be clear of all but foemen if I know aught
of Sir Medard's mind. Ye have done well." Therewith he gat him quietly
from off the causeway, and all they followed; they went but a little
way, and then about on the tussocks around the alder bushes, and
turned toward the causeway and awaited new tidings.

Speedily they befel; for anon they heard a confused noise of crying
and shouting and thundering of horse-hoofs, and clattering of weapons
and war-gear, and then burst out from a corner of the causeway all the
throng of fleers, spurring all they might, weaponless, many of them
jostling and shoving each other, so that every now and then man and
horse fell over into the marsh and wallowed there, till the Dalesmen
came up and gave them choice of death or rendering. And came great
cries of Eastcheaping! For the Porte! and A Medard, a Medard! and the
riders of Eastcheaping came thrusting amongst the fleers, and with the
first of the chasers was Medard himself bareheaded, so that all might
know him, and after him his banner of a Tower and an Eagle sitting
therein; and then came the banner of the good town, to wit, three
Wool-packs on a red ground; and then the rest of the riders. And all
that went by in a minute or two, and thereafter came the bowmen, all
bemired with the marish waters, but talking high and singing for joy.
Said Osberne: "Come we now, fellows, and join ourselves to these, for
they will not run away like to the horses. Now belike has Sir Medard
done the business, so we may follow him fair and softly." "He may have
yet somewhat to do," quoth a man who was of that country; "for in a
while this marish ends and the causeway comes out on to fair and soft
meadows, and there we may look yet again to com