But they were in a long line with many gaps, and here and there the mounted thanes rode to and fro, seemingly trying to make them close up.

And they sang and shouted as they went.
When we came to the steep rise of Cannington hill, some of those thanes spurred on and rode to the summit, and there waited a little, till the men joined them.

There was silence, and a closing up as they breasted the steep pitch; and then I must go through woods, and so lost sight of them for a while.

I passed close to my own hall--closed and deserted.
Every soul in all the countryside had fled into the town, though after the levy came a great mixed crowd of thralls and the like to see the fray.
Now here I thought to cross in the rear of the force that I might reach Combwich hill.

But that was not to be.
When I saw the array again it was halted, and the men were closing up.
And between the levy and that crowd of followers was a great gap, and some of these last were making for the shelter of swamp and wood.