He was perfectly hidden from them; and, listening as they passed him, he heard one say to another,-- "The night covers all things; why attack them by day ?" And he who seemed the chief of the band, answered,-- "Right.

To-night, when they sleep in their city, we will upon them.

Lo! they will be drenched in wine, and fall like sheep into our hands." "But where, O chief," said a third of the band, "shall our men hide during the day?
for there are many hunters among the youth of the Oestrich tribe, and they might see us in the forest unawares, and arm their race against our coming." "I have prepared for that," answered the chief.

"Is not the dark cavern of Oderlin at hand?
Will it not shelter us from the eyes of the victims ?" Then the men laughed, and, shouting, they went their way adown the forest.
When they were gone, Morven cautiously descended, and, striking into a broad path, hastened to a vale that lay between the forest and the river in which was the city where the chief of his country dwelt.

As he passed by the warlike men, giants in that day, who thronged the streets (if streets they might be called), their half garments parting from their huge limbs, the quiver at their backs, and the hunting spear in their hand, they laughed and shouted out, and, pointing to him, cried, "Morven the woman! Morven the cripple! what dost thou among men ?" For the son of Osslah was small in stature and of slender strength, and his step had halted from his birth; but he passed through the warriors unheedingly.