They were watching to see what the lake people would do, and to report what they saw to their chief.
On the fourth day, when everything seemed quiet, the chief of the Dormorants ordered the drawbridge to be put in place, and stationed a man at the end to watch for the enemy. Then he sent a messenger to the chief of a Lake-Dweller village near by.
The messenger was to ask the chief to be ready at any time to help the Dormorants, if the Bear tribe should attack them.
Then the chief ordered his men to be prepared for battle at any moment, because he was afraid that the enemy would soon try again to reach the village.
He ordered them to sharpen their swords, lances and axes, and get ready their bows and arrows.
Lodrix was so excited that he could not keep still, and almost hoped that the enemy would come back, so that he might have a chance to fight.
The chief’s son had never been in a battle, and he was anxious to take part in one.
He begged his father to let him take the sword which hung in the bronze scabbard on the wall.
