Soon after midday, a strong party of Saxons crossed the river on broad rafts, which they must have dragged down to the banks on their side during the night. They were sighted soon after they had started, but though the arrows of the Cymry inflicted severe casualties on them, a large number landed and forced their way into the outskirts of the forest.
Now man met man among the low hawthorn and brambles, and the Cymry, caught away from their horses, had to learn to fight on foot again. For a time the battle was an even one, and then Artos arranged an encircling movement, cutting them off from the river. When they saw this, many of them seemed to give up heart, and dropping their axes, tried to run the gauntlet to the water’s side. Only a few got through, for the Cymry struck rhythmically an
