midday
Seldom indeed hath battle been joined where men of our blood are , but that cry is given forth . Come now , to the road ! ' So they went their ways and the road worsened upon them , and toilsome was the climbing up steep bents and the scaling of doubtful paths in the cliff-sides , so that the journey , though the distance of it were not so long to the fowl flying , was much eked out for them , and it was not till near nightfall that they came on the ghyll of the Weltering Water some six miles above Burgstead . Forsooth Wood-wise said that the way might be made less toilsome though far longer by turning back eastward a little past the vale where they had rested at midday ; and that seemed good to Gold-mane , in case they should be wending hereafter in a great company between Burgdale and Shadowy Vale . But now those two went with Face-of-god down a path in the side of the cliff whereby him-seemed he had gone before ; and they came down into the ghyll and sat down together on a stone by the water-side , and Face-of-god spake to them kindly , for he deemed them good and trusty faring-fellows . ` Bow-may , ' said he , ` thou saidst a while ago that thou wouldst be fain to look on Burgdale ; and indeed it is fair and lovely , and ye may soon be in it if ye will . Ye shall both be more than welcome to the house of my father , and heartily I bid you thither .