as he deemed, other horns answered from without; and so it was;
for soon the withoutward horns grew louder, and the folk fell back
on either side of the way, and next the gates were thrown wide open
(which before had been shut save for a wicket) and thereafter came
the first of a company of men-at-arms, foot-men, with bills some,
and some with bows, and all-armed knights and sergeants a-horseback.

So streamed in these weaponed men till Ralph saw that it was a great
host that was entering the Burg; and his heart rose within him,
so warrior-like they were of men and array, though no big men
of their bodies; and many of them bore signs of battle about them,
both in the battering of their armour and the rending of their raiment,
and the clouts tied about the wounds on their bodies.

After a while among the warriors came herds of neat and flocks of
sheep and strings of horses, of the spoil which the host had lifted;
and then wains filled, some with weapons and war gear, and some
with bales of goods and household stuff. Last came captives,
some going afoot and some for weariness borne in wains;
for all these war-taken thralls were women and women-children;
of males there was not so much as a little lad. Of the women
many seemed fair to Ralph despite their grief and travel;
and as he looked on them he deemed that they must be of the kindred
and nation of the fair white women he had seen in the streets;
though they were not clad like those, but diversely.

So Ralph gazed on this pageant till all had passed, and he was
weary with the heat and the dust and the confused clamour
of shouting and laughter and talking; and whereas most of
the folk followed after the host and their spoil, the streets