But they had not done their meat, and had scarce begun upon theirdrink, ere they saw three men come riding on the spur over the crown ofthe bent before them; these made no stay for aught, but rode straightthrough the ford of the river, as men who knew well where it was, andcame on hastily toward the feasters by the wood-edge. Then would somehave run to meet them, but Jack of the Tofts bade them abide till he hadheard the tidings; whereas they needed not to run to their weapons, for, allof them, they were fully dight for war, save, it might be, the doing on oftheir sallets or basnets. But Jack and Christopher alone went forward tomeet those men; and the foremost of them cried out at once: "I know thee,Jack of the Tofts! I know thee! Up and arm! up and arm! for the foemenare upon thee; and so choose thee whether thou wilt fight or flee."
Quoth Jack, laughing: "I know thee also, Wat of Whiteend; and whenthou hast told me how many and who be the foemen, we will look either tofighting or fleeing."
Said Wat: "Thou knowest the blazon of the banner which we saw,three red wolves running on a silver field?"
"Yea, forsooth," said Jack; "'tis the Baron of Brimside that beareth thatshield ever; and the now Baron, hight the Lord Gandolf, how many washe?"
Said Wat: "Ten hundreds or more. But what say fellows?"
Quoth the other twain: "More, more they were."
Said Jack of the Tofts: "And when shall he be here, deem ye?"
"In less than an hour," said Wat, "he will be on thee with great andsmall; but his riders, some of them, in lesser space."
Then turned Jack about and cried out for David, and when he came, hesaid: "Put thy long legs over a good horse, and ride straight back to theTofts and gather whatever may bear spear and draw bow, and hither withthem, lad, by the nighest road; tarry not, speak no word, be gone!"
So David turned, and was presently riding swiftly back through the woodland paths. But Jack spake to the bearers of tidings: "Good fellows,go ye yonder and bid them give you a morsel and a cup; and tell all thetidings, and this, withal, that we have nought to flee from a goodfightstead for Gandolf of Brimside." Therewith he turned to Christopherand said: "Thy pardon, King, but these matters must be seen tostraightway. Now do thou help me array our folk, for there is heartenough in them as in thee and me; and mayhappen we may make an end tothis matter now and here. Moreover, the Baron of Brimside is a stout carle,so fight we must, meseemeth."