did our horns blow up, though some half-dozen of the billmen had leapt
into the road when the bows first shot. But presently came a great
blare of trumpets and horns from the other side, and therewith as it
were a river of steel and bright coats poured into the field before
us, and still their horns blew as they spread out toward the left of
our line; the cattle in the pasture-field, heretofore feeding quietly,
seemed frightened silly by the sudden noise, and ran about tail in air
and lowing loudly; the old bull with his head a little lowered, and
his stubborn legs planted firmly, growling threateningly; while the
geese about the brook waddled away gobbling and squeaking; all which
seemed so strange to us along with the threat of sudden death that
rang out from the bright array over against us, that we laughed
outright, the most of us, and Will Green put down his head in mockery
of the bull and grunted like him, whereat we laughed yet more. He
turned round to me as he nocked his arrow, and said:

"I would they were just fifty paces nigher, and they move not. Ho!
Jack Straw, shall we shoot?"

For the latter-named was nigh us now; he shook his head and said
nothing as he stood looking at the enemy's line.

"Fear not but they are the right folk, Jack," quoth Will Green.

"Yea, yea," said he, "but abide awhile; they could make nought of the
highway, and two of their sergeants had a message from the grey-goose
feather. Abide, for they have not crossed the road to our right hand,
and belike have not seen our fellows on the other side, who are now
for a bushment to them."