But while this driving back process was taking place, Harry’s side was not losing a man, while the field was soon strewn with the dead and wounded of the enemy.
The latter began to stop short and waver, the arrows poured in upon them in clouds, and for a time victory appeared to be inclining towards the side of the island king.
Soon, however, Kara-Kara himself was seen running along behind his lines and shouting wild words of command to his men.
Their charge was now redoubled in fury as well as in speed, and it became at once evident to Harry that the cross-bows would in a few minutes more become useless in line, and his ranks be broken by the enemy through force of numbers.
He quickly, therefore, formed up into two English squares with the Scottish triangle in the centre, both he and the king being inside the latter.
Hardly had he done so, ere the impis of the savage foe closed on them, those on the outsides of each phalanx receiving the shock at spear’s point, while archers from the interior poured in a steady fire from their murderous cross-bows.
The Karaites fell back after a time, defeated and foiled, and Harry’s triangle then charged into their very midst, delivering by far and away the most furious and successful charge of the day.
For a time now it seemed to be a drawn battle.
It might have been well, now for Harry had he retreated farther, and probably gained the eastern hills, for, excited by fighting, Kara’s army would undoubtedly have followed them.
He did not, however, and in less than an hour he lost all opportunity of fever being able to do so.