I writhed and struggled and at last I was free again, and Wulf helped me to get my own shield from my back as I rose, and then we stood back to back and looked for our foes.
"Morgan's people, I suppose," I said.

"We should not have left the men, for I knew that he was leagued with Quantock outlaws." "A nidring set, too," said Wulf savagely.

"Can't they show themselves ?" As if the men had heard him, they came from the cover even as he spoke.

There were more than I could count after a few moments, for they poured out in twos and threes from all along the edge of the wood, and came cautiously toward us, in such wise as to surround us.

Wild looking men they were, with never a helm or mail shirt among them, but they were all well armed enough with bow and spear and seax, and more than one had swords.
Then I looked round to see if I could see my men coming, and my heart sank.