e on the Baron and
his." "Sooth is that," quote the sergeant from amongst the bowmen on
the causeway; "yet is not the good Knight so harebrained as not to
abide ere he falls on, save he see no defence in what is left of the
Baron's array. Ye shall see; but come thou up, Master Osberne, with
thy Dalesmen, and let us get on to the said sunny meads out of this
frog-city."

So Osberne and his Dalesmen scrambled up, and they all went on
together at a pretty pace; and Osberne had not yet sheathed
Boardcleaver, but bore him on his shoulder all bloody as he was.

So in an half hour they saw the hard meads before them, and then they
set up a shout and ran all together, for they heard the noise of
battle, and saw some confused running and riding, and knew not what it
might mean. So on they ran till they had come up on to the crown of a
long but low ridge whence they might see the whole plain, and
straightway they set up the whoop of victory. Forsooth what they
beheld was the two banners of Sir Medard and the Porte following on
the last of the fleers, and beyond them the whole host of the Baron
flowing away as men discomfited; so they rested to catch their breath
on the top of the ridge, and of all of them that went out from
Eastcheaping the night before there was not one man lacking. Then they
set off again toward the battle, their weapons on their shoulders and
their horns blowing; and they went speedily, and presently they saw
that Sir Medard and his had slacked in the chase and were standing
together about the banners with their faces to the foe. Wherefore they
also went slower, and they met together with many glad cries; and then
Osberne came to Sir Medard and hailed him joyfully, and therewith
thrust Boardcleaver back into the sheath and said: "Meseemeth,
Captain, that the battle is done. But [how] came their whole host to
flee away?" Said Sir Medard: "We drave the rout along the causeway,
and they, when they came on to the hard meadow, might not stay them;
and the rest, who saw them coming on the spur and our banners in the
chase, knew not how many or how few were following on them, and they
turned also, deeming they were safest at home. And so now we will
gather the spoil together and wend fair and softly back to
Eastcheaping."

Even so they did, and great spoil they gathered, and all the footmen
gat them horses and rode with the others; so that they all came back
safe to the good town before sunset. Thus ended the fir