"
In vain the Welshmen, with wild yells, strove to beat back the Saxon line.
Their very numbers were a hindrance to them. Those in front pressed
forward, so that those behind were unable to use their javelins or arrows.
Many creeping between the legs of the fighters of the front rank leapt with
a cat-like spring upon the Saxons, and strove to rip them with their
knives, but the light wicker-work shields covered with leather, which had
taken the place of the solid and heavy ones generally carried by the
housecarls, stood Wulf's followers in good stead; and although many of the
shields were penetrated by the knives of the Welsh, they in most cases
effectually screened the bodies of the soldiers.
The lightly-armed Welsh, on the other hand, were hewn down by the long
swords of the Saxons in the front rank, while the javelins of those behind
them flew with terrible effect among their assailants. There was, however,
no pause in the fury of the attacks of the Welsh, until, with a great
shout, the main body of the Saxons came up, and pressed forward in line
with the little body who had hitherto borne the brunt of the battle, while
on their flank the thane's levies poured in volley after volley of darts
and arrows. The fight ceased as suddenly as it began. The sound of a
deep-toned horn rose in the air, whereupon the Welsh instantly abandoned
the struggle, and before the Saxons had time to realize that the fighting
was over, they had disappeared in the forest.
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