Let us stay where we are. We are
just in the centre of the line now."
"There are certainly sounds, my lord. I thought it was fancy before, but I
am sure now."
"I hear something," Wulf said. "It comes from the front. Run round to the
right and bring the sentries from that flank and post them in the intervals
of those in front, while I do the same on the left."
They had but just returned, when they heard a sharp sound like the cracking
of a stick a short distance in front. A dozen of the sentries at once
challenged. In an instant a number of figures sprang to their feet at a
distance of some fifty yards in front of them. Then a wild yell was raised,
and swarms of men came rushing towards them, while a volley of arrows and
javelins whizzed through the air.
"Fall back on the others, men!" Wulf shouted at the top of his voice, and
the line of sentries rushed back to Beorn's party, who leapt to their feet
at the sound of the Welsh war-cry. They had scarce formed in line when the
enemy were upon them. They received them with a volley of javelins, and
then shield to shield they withstood the attack They were fighting in their
own way now, and numerous as the Welsh were, they were unable, as they ran
up in scattered order, to break through the line.
"Steady, men, steady!" Wulf shouted out from his post in the middle of the
line. "Our friends will soon be up. Show a stout front. Do not give way a
foot.
Pages:
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195