two
hours after noon
Merry then was the road to Broadlees , and they came there before night-fall ; and it was a little cheaping town and unwalled , and if the folk had had any will to ward them , they lacked might . But when they found they were not to be robbed , and that it was but the proclaiming of King Christopher in the market-place , and finding victual and house-room for the host , and the Mayor taking a paper in payment thereof , none stirred against them , and a many joined the host to fight for the fair young King . Now nought as yet had they heard at Broadlees of any force stirring against them . But in the morning when they went on their ways again , and were bound for Cheaping Woodwall , which was a fenced town , they sent out well-horsed riders to espy the road , who came back on the spur two hours after noon , and did them to wit that there was a host abiding them beneath the walls of Woodwall under the banner of Walter the White , an old warrior and fell fighter ; but what comfort he might have from them of Woodwall they wotted not ; but they said that the tidings of their coming had gone abroad , and many folk were abiding the issue of this battle ere they joined them to either host . Now on these tidings the captains were of one mind , to wit , to fare on softly till they came to a defensible place not far from the foemen , since they could scarce come to Woodwall in good order before nightfall , and if they were unfoughten before , to push forward to battle in the morning . Even so did they , and made a halt at sunset on a pleasant hill above a river some three miles from Woodwall , and there they passed the night unmeddled with . When morning was , the captains came to King Christopher to council : but while they were amidst of their talk came the word that the foe was anigh and come close to the river-bank ; whereat was none abashed ; but to all it seemed wisdom to abide them on the vantage-ground .