For a fortnight they vainly assailed each other, hurling clouds of arrows and javelins across the stream, which generally fell harmless upon brazen helmet and buckler.

But few were wounded, and still fewer slain.

Yet neither party dared venture the passage of the stream in the presence of the other.

At length, weary of the unavailing conflict, Sviatoslaf, the insurgent chief, sent a challenge to Vsevelod, the sovereign.
"Let God," said he, "decide the dispute between us.

Let us enter into the open field with our two armies, and submit the question to the arbitrament of battle.