Lily, and Red Harald led his men forward, but slowly: on they came,
spear and mail glittering in the sunlight; and I turned and looked at
that good land, and a shuddering delight seized my soul.

But I felt my brother's hand leave mine, and saw him turn his horse's
head and ride swiftly toward the pass; that was a strange pass now.

And at the edge he stopped, turned round and called out aloud, "I pray
thee, Harald, forgive mel now farewell all!"

Then the horse gave one bound forward, and we heard the poor
creature's scream when he felt that he must die, and we heard
afterwards (for we were near enough for that even) a clang and a
crash.

So I turned me about to Hugh, and he understood me though I could not
speak.

We shouted all together, "Mary rings," then laid our bridles on the
necks of our horses, spurred forward, and in five minutes they were
all slain, and I was down among the horse-hoofs.

Not slain though, not wounded. Red Harald smiled grimly when he saw me
rise and lash out again; he and some ten others dismounted, and
holding their long spears out, I went back -- back, back, I saw what
it meant, and sheathed my sword, and their laughter rolled all about
me, and I too smiled.

Presently they all stopped, and I felt the last foot of turf giving
under my feet; I looked down and saw the crack there widening; then in