He stared without hope at the two mounted riders.

Spearmen are no use to me if a few hundred mounted riders can brush them aside.

The two riders pulled up, smiling pityingly, just as well- mounted riders invariably smile upon stalled automobilists.

In his youth, he'd seen shorter, single-handed versions used by Lord Dartmouth's mounted riders to disperse crowds.

Ms Oona Mahony said she saw the stag, pursued by up to 30 hounds, followed by mounted riders running down a hill.

"A few more mounted riders won't save the city," Trella said, "but they may make the difference between Hathor's success or failure."