Amid these wild mountains were here and there level glades enclosed with trees, and on one of these the battle soon raged with such vehemence, that, in the confusion, aided by the gloom of approaching night, it was scarcely possible to distinguish friend from foe. But still these flaming javelins flew at intervals over the squadrons, and, by their uncertain gleams, betrayed to the astonished Christians that the front-ranks of the enemy were assisted by strange figures, such as they had never till now beheld; and though they might have despised all attacks of sword and lance against body and limbs, yet they could not deny that such frightful shapes were insupportable and distracting to the spirit. From a distance, too, among the rocky cliffs, forms yet more hideous emerged, and stood towering over the pagan hordes. One knew not whether these were gigantic demons, or only lifeless standards borne by the Finlanders. In spite of all this, however, the Christians repeated their battle-cries, and rushed forward with courage so resistless, that their spectral foes, whatever they might in reality be, were forced back, lost their footing on the level glade, and retired into a deep valley. Thither Sir Otto and the sea-monarch intended to pursue them; but waited in the first place to arrange their troops after this skirmish, and to consult whether they should not station a party both of horse and foot to protect the level ground in their absence; but, in the confusion which now followed, all such thoughts were soon lost. After the flight of the Finlanders, Night threw her dark mantle over them so densely and heavily, that there was no longer visible a single ray of light; nor were they now aided by the meteor-gleams of their enemies’ fiery spears. The golden armour of the sea-monarch, and eagle-visor of Sir Otto von Trautwangen, were alike unobserved and indistinguishable in the multitude; nay more, their commanding voices, and the notes of their battle-horns, were overpowered by the howling cries of the flying foe, by the noise of the wind which had risen along with the dark clouds, and by the shouts which their own soldiers raised in triumph at their victory. The leaders found themselves indeed strangely perplexed. Unless they wished to be rode down by the horsemen of their own squadrons, they were obliged to move onward, to give the reins up to their horses, and proceed blindly through the rayless unfriendly darkness of the night.