"It is well," Gurth said, "that in the absence of Griffith they have many
leaders, and will therefore fight without any general plan. Did their whole
force fall upon one or other of our columns it might go very hard with it;
but we may be sure that each chief will desire to keep his followers by
him, in order to defend his own valleys. Nevertheless, they have shown
to-night that they can gather rapidly and in considerable force, and we
shall have to root them out piecemeal, and shall not be able to scatter our
force too widely. I am told that the valley at whose mouth we now are
contains a large number of villages, and to this we must confine ourselves
until we have done the work there. I trust that they will oppose us
stoutly. In that case we shall have the less trouble with them when we
come to undertake the more difficult task of pursuing them among their
hills."
The next morning the advance began, and they had proceeded but a short
distance when the Welsh again poured down upon them. This time the force
was prepared for the attack, and although the Welsh fought obstinately,
they were driven back without much difficulty. As soon as the attack ceased
Gurth gave the order for pursuit, and the housecarls held their course
straight up the valley at full speed, while the levies swarmed up the
hillsides to prevent the Welsh from rallying and attacking in flank. The
troops now felt the benefit of the abandonment of their heavy armour and
weapons, and pressed so hotly upon the flying Welsh that they entered the
first village with them.
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