"
"You are always too full of arguments for me, Wulf," Beorn laughed; "and if
you have made up your mind to go on, it is not of the least use my saying
anything against it; so have your own way."
At last the forest became less dense, and when they reached its edge they
lay down. Wulf slept for two or three hours, and then roused himself and
waited for the first sign of dawn. It was a heavy responsibility, for
though Beorn was of equal rank with himself he always gave way to his
opinion. He thought over whether it would not be better that Beorn should
march with all speed with the force to the east, and that he himself with
Osgod and perhaps two other men should make their way to Porthwyn; already
the Welsh might be out all over the mountains, and it was the larger body
that would be likely to be discovered and attacked. The Welsh would know
that on such a dark night, and in a strange country, they could not have
got a very long distance from the bog where the guide had escaped from
them, and the valley at whose head he now was would be the first place to
be searched. However, he did not like severing himself from the men who had
marched under his banner from Steyning, and he finally determined that the
whole should stay together. It was about half-past two when he roused the
band, and they at once started up the bare hillside.
"As it gets lighter," he said, "scatter and proceed singly. We shall be
far less likely to be noticed by anyone at a distance than if we march
together in a solid body.
Pages:
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207