noon
So they stood awhile making grim countenance , and then slowly drew back to the ford under cover of their light-armed who shot at the Goths as they rode forward , but abode not their shock . But Otter and his folk followed after the Romans again , and again did them some hurt , and at last drew so nigh , that once more the Romans stormed forth , and once more smote a stroke in the air ; nor even so would the Markmen cease to meddle with them , though never would Otter suffer his men to be mingled with them . At the last the Romans , seeing that Otter would not walk into the open trap , and growing weary of this bickering , began to take the water little by little , while a strong Company kept face to the Markmen ; and now Otter saw that they would not be hindered any longer , and he had lost many men , and even now feared lest he should be caught in the trap , and so lose all . And on the other hand it was high noon by now , so that he had given respite to the stay-at - homes of the Wolfings , so that they might get them into the wood . So he drew out of bowshot and bade his men breathe their horses and rest themselves and eat something ; and they did so gladly , since they saw that they might not fall upon the Romans to live and die for it until Thiodolf was come , or until they knew that he was not coming . But the Romans crossed the ford in good earnest and were soon all gathered together on the western bank making them ready for the march to Wolfstead . And it must be told that the Roman Captain was the more deliberate about this because after the overthrow of his light-armed there the morning before , he thought that the Roof was held by warriors of the kindreds , and not by a few old men , and women , and lads .