There is no saying which way to look for them. I think
we had better go on as before. In the morning we shall be able to see the
nature of the country, but to look for people who may be miles and miles
away, when one cannot see one's own hand, would be but lost time and
labour, and methinks we shall have need to husband all our strength before
we get out of the scrape into which we have fallen. If the two thanes had
obeyed orders and kept closer this would not have happened. They have lost
us by their own carelessness, and must manage as they can. We shall have
all our work to do to look out for ourselves. Seventy men lost in the heart
of these savage hills, which by to-morrow morning will swarm with Welsh,
have but a poor chance of ever seeing the English border again."
"It is not so bad as that, Beorn. I do not say that we are not in an
unpleasant position, but at any rate we are a great deal better off than we
were when we were driving headlong on to the coast of Normandy, or when
there were but three of us in the midst of the Bretons. They have to find
us in the first place, and it will need a good many of them to overcome us
when they do. I fancy that we are very near the head of this valley, the
ground is rising rapidly. I propose that we push on now till the trees
cease, and lie down there till morning breaks, and then cross the next hill
so as to find shelter in some other valley before the sun is fairly up.
Pages:
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205