The hedge in front of us was of quick. It had been strongly plashed
in the past February, and was stiff and stout. It stood on a low
bank; moreover, the level of the orchard was some thirty inches higher
than that of the field and the ditch some two foot deeper than the
face of the field. The field went winding round to beyond the church,
making a quarter of a circle about the village, and at the western end
of it were the butts whence the folk were coming from shooting when I
first came into the village street.
Altogether, to me who knew nothing of war the place seemed defensible
enough. I have said that the road down which Long Gregory came with
his tidings went north; and that was its general direction; but its
first reach was nearly east, so that the low sun was not in the eyes
of any of us, and where Will Green took his stand, and I with him, it
was nearly at our backs.
CHAPTER VI
THE BATTLE AT THE TOWNSHIP'S END
Our men had got into their places leisurely and coolly enough, and
with no lack of jesting and laughter. As we went along the hedge by
the road, the leaders tore off leafy twigs from the low oak bushes
therein, and set them for a rallying sign in their hats and
headpieces, and two or three of them had horns for blowing.
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