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diff --git a/old/13054-h/13054-h.htm b/old/13054-h/13054-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a8cdba6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13054-h/13054-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6737 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Thane of Wessex, by Charles W. Whistler</title> +<style type="text/css"> + body {margin-top:100px; + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align:justify} + hr { width: 100%; + height: 5px; } + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + pre {font-size: 9pt;} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Thane of Wessex, by Charles W. Whistler</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: A Thane of Wessex</p> +<p>Author: Charles W. Whistler</p> +<p>Release Date: July 29, 2004 [eBook #13054]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A THANE OF WESSEX***</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><h3>E-text prepared by Martin Robb</h3></center> +<br> +<br> +<hr noshade> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<h1>A THANE OF WESSEX:</h1> +<h3>BEING A STORY OF THE GREAT VIKING RAIDS INTO SOMERSET.</h3> +<h2>By Charles W. Whistler</h2> +</center> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4><a href="#chap01">CHAPTER I.</a> OUTLAWED!</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap02">CHAPTER II.</a> THE FIGHT WITH +TWO.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap03">CHAPTER III.</a> BY BELL, BOOK, AND +CANDLE.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap04">CHAPTER IV.</a> THE SECRET +MEETING.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap05">CHAPTER V.</a> THE VIKINGS ARRIVE.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap06">CHAPTER VI.</a> IN THE WOLF'S +DEN.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap07">CHAPTER VII.</a> OSRIC THE +SHERIFF.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap08">CHAPTER VIII.</a> THE FIRES OF +STERT.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap09">CHAPTER IX.</a> IN BRIDGWATER.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap10">CHAPTER X.</a> FLIGHT THROUGH +SEDGEMOOR.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap11">CHAPTER XI.</a> EALHSTAN THE +BISHOP.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap12">CHAPTER XII.</a> THE GREAT LEVY.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap13">CHAPTER XIII.</a> A MESSAGE FROM THE +DEAD.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap14">CHAPTER XIV.</a> ELGAH THE +FISHER.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap15">CHAPTER XV.</a> THE GREAT FIGHT AT +PARRET MOUTH.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap16">CHAPTER XVI.</a> AT GLASTONBURY.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap17">CHAPTER XVII.</a> ALFRED THE +ATHELING.</h4> +<h4><a href="#chap18">CHAPTER XVIII.</a> PEACE IN THE +LAND.</h4> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap01">CHAPTER I.</a> OUTLAWED!</h2> +<p>The whole of my story seems to me to begin on the day when I +stood, closely guarded, before my judges, in the great circle of +the people at the Folk Moot of the men of Somerset gathered on the +ancient hill of Brent. All my life before that seems to have been +as nothing, so quiet and uneventful it was compared to what came +after. I had grown from boyhood to manhood in my father's great +hall, on the little hill of Cannington that looks out over the +mouth of the river Parret to the blue hills beyond. And there, when +I was but two-and-twenty and long motherless, I succeeded him as +thane, and tried to govern my people as well and wisely as he, that +I too might die loved and honoured as he died. And that life lasted +but three years.</p> +<p>Maybe, being young and headstrong, I spoke at times, when the +feasting was over and the ale cup went round, too boldly of the +things that were beyond me, and dared, in my want of experience, to +criticize the ways of the king and his ordering of matters -- +thinking at the same time no thought of disloyalty; for had anyone +disparaged the king to myself my sword would have been out to +chastise the speaker in a moment. But, as it ever is, what seems +wrong in another may be passed over in oneself.</p> +<p>However that may be, it came to pass that Matelgar, the thane of +Stert, a rich and envious man, saw his way through this conceit of +mine to his own profit. For Egbert, the wise king, was but a few +years dead, and it was likely enough that some of the houses of the +old seven kings might dare to make headway against Ethelwulf his +successor, and for a time the words of men were watched, lest an +insurrection might be made unawares. I thought nothing of this, nor +indeed dreamt that such a thing might be, nor did one ever warn +me.</p> +<p>My father and this Matelgar were never close friends, the open +nature of the one fitting ill with the close and grasping ways of +the other. Yet, when Matelgar spoke me fair at the rere-feast of my +father's funeral, and thereafter would often ride over and sup with +me, I was proud to think, in my foolishness, that I had won the +friendship that my father could not win, and so set myself even +above him from whom I had learnt all I knew of wisdom.</p> +<p>And that conceit of mine was my downfall. For Matelgar, as I was +soon to find out, encouraged my foolishness, and, moreover, brought +in friends and bought men of his, who, by flattering me, soon made +themselves my boon companions, treasuring up every word that might +tell against me when things were ripe.</p> +<p>Then at last, one day as I feasted after hunting the red deer on +the Quantocks, my steward came into my hall announcing messengers +from the king. They followed close on his heels, and I, who had +seen nothing of courts, wondered that so many armed men should be +needed in a peaceful hall, and yet watched them as one watches a +gay show, till some fifty men of the king's household lined my hall +and fifty more blocked the doorway. My people watched too, and I +saw a smile cross from one of Matelgar's men to another, but +thought no guile.</p> +<p>Then one came forward and arrested me in the king's name as a +traitor, and I drew my sword on him, telling him he lied in giving +me that name, calling too on my men to aid me. But they were +overmatched, and dared not resist, for the swords of the king's men +were out, and, moreover, I saw that Matelgar's men were weaponless. +He himself was not with me, and still I had no thought of +treachery.</p> +<p>So the end was that I was pinioned from behind and bound, and +taken away that night to where I knew not. Only, wherever it was, I +was kept in darkness and chains, maddened by the injustice of the +thing and my own helplessness, till I lost count of days, and at +last hope itself. And all that time the real reason for my arrest, +and for the accusation that caused it, never entered my mind, and +least of all did I suspect that Matelgar, my friend, was at the +bottom of it. Indeed, I hoped at first that, hearing of my trouble, +he would interfere and procure my release, till, as I say, hope was +gone.</p> +<p>It was March when I was taken to prison. It was into broad May +sunshine and greenness that I was brought out by my surly jailers +at last, set, half blind with the darkness of the prison, on a good +horse, and so, with my hands bound behind me, led off in the midst +of a strong guard to the place of my trial.</p> +<p>Then, as mind and feeling came back to me with the fresh air and +springtime warmth, I knew the place we were leaving: It was the +castle of a friend of Matelgar -- and that seemed strange to me, +for I had been hardly treated, seeing none save the men who fed me +and saw that my chains were kept secure. Then I looked in the faces +of my guards, but all were unknown to me. As I had not before been +to that castle as a guest, I was not surprised, and I said nothing +to them, for I had found the uselessness of question and entreaty +when I spoke at the first to the jailers.</p> +<p>So, silently, we rode on, and the world looked very fair to me +after the long grayness of the prison walls.</p> +<p>One who knows the west country, hunting through it as I have +hunted, grows to love and recognize the changing shapes of every +hill and coombe and spur of climbing forest on their sides, and so, +before long, I knew we were making for the great hill of Brent, but +why I could not tell. Then we crossed Parret river, and I watched a +salmon leap as we did so; and then on over the level marshes till I +could see that the wide circle on Brent top was black with swarming +people. Often enough, as the cloud shadows passed from them, arms +and bright armour sparkled in the sunlight among the crowd; and +then I could have wept, having no arms or harness left me, for +often when aforetime I rode free I would take a childish pleasure +in seeing the churls blink and shade their eyes as I flashed on +them, and would wonder, too, if my weapons shone as my father's +shone as we rode side by side on some sunny upland.</p> +<p>Then, when we came under the hill of Brent, the hum of voices +came down to us, for the day was still, and my guards straightened +themselves in the saddle and set their ranks more orderly. But I, +clad as I was in the rags of the finery I had worn at the feast +whence I was taken, shrank within myself, ashamed to meet the gazes +that must be turned on me presently, for I saw that we were going +on up the steep ascent to mix with the crowd on the summit of the +great knoll.</p> +<p>Now, by this time the long ride had brought back my senses to +me, and I began to take more thought for myself and what might be +meant by this journey. At first I had been so stunned and dazed by +the release -- as my removal from the dungeon seemed to me --that I +had been content to feel the light and air play about me once more; +but that strangeness had worn off now, and the consciousness of +being yet a prisoner took hold of me.</p> +<p>My guards had ridden silent, either in obedience to command, or +because a Saxon is not often given to talk when under some +responsibility, so that I had learnt nothing from them thus far. +But as we turned our horses' heads up the steep, a longing at last +came over me to speak, and I turned to a gray-bearded man who had +ridden silently at my right hand all the morning and asked him +plainly whither he was taking me, and for answer he pointed up the +hill, saying nothing.</p> +<p>Then I asked him why I must be taken there, and, grimly enough, +he replied in two words, "For trial", and so I knew that the Great +Moot<a name="sdendnote1anc" href="#sdendnote1sym"><sup>i</sup></a> +was summoned, and that presently I should know the whole meaning of +this thing that had befallen me. Then my spirits began to rise, +for, being conscious of no wrongdoing, I looked forward to speedy +release with full proof of innocence.</p> +<p>Then I began to look about me and to note the crowds of people +whom the Moot had gathered. So many and various were these that I +and my guards passed with little notice among those who toiled up +the hill with us, the crowd growing thicker as we neared the edge +of the first great square platform on the hilltop. And when we +reached this, my guards reined up to breathe their horses, for +Brent has from this first platform a yet steeper rise to the +ancient circle on the very summit. Men say that both platform and +circle are the work of the Welsh, whom our Saxon forefathers drove +out and enslaved, but however this may be, they were no idle +workmen who raised the great earthworks that are there.</p> +<p>All the many acres of that great platform were covered with +wagons and carts, and everywhere were set booths and tents, and in +them men and women were eating and drinking, having come from far. +There were, too, shows of every kind to beguile the hours of +waiting or to tempt the curious, for many of the people, thralls +and unfree men, had taken holiday with their masters, and had come +to see the Moot, though they had no part in the business +thereof.</p> +<p>So there were many gaily-dressed tumblers and dancers, jugglers +and gleemen, each with a crowd round them. But among these crowds +were few freemen, so that I judged that the Moot was set, and that +they were gathered on the higher circle that was yet before us to +be climbed.</p> +<p>I had been on Brent once or twice before, but then it had been +deserted, and my eyes had had time and inclination to look out over +the wide view of hill and plain and sea and distant Welsh mountains +beyond that. Now I thought nothing of these things, but looked up +to where it seemed that I must be judged. I could make out one or +two banners pitched and floating idly in the sunshine, and one +seemed to have a golden cross at its stave head; but I could make +out none of the devices on them, and so I looked idly back on the +crowd again. And then men brought us food and ale, and at last, +after some gruff talk among themselves, the guards untied my hands, +though they left my feet bound under the saddle girths, and bade me +help myself.</p> +<p>Nor was I loth to eat heartily, with the freshness of the ride +on me, and with the hope of freedom strong in my heart.</p> +<p>Then we waited for an hour or more, and the sun began to slope +westward, and my guards seemed to grow impatient. Still the crowds +did not thin, and if one group of performers ceased another set +began their antics.</p> +<p>At last a richly-clad messenger came towards us, the throng +making hasty way for him, and spoke to the leader of our party. +Then, following him, we rode to the foot of the great mound, and +there dismounted. And now they bound my hands again, and if I asked +them to forbear I cannot well remember, but I think I did so in +vain. For my mind was in a great tumult as we climbed the hill, +wondering and fearing and hoping all at once, and longing to see +who were my judges, and to have this matter ended once for all.</p> +<p>We passed, I think, two groups coming down from some judgment +given, and of these I know one contained a guarded and ironed man +with a white, set face; and the other was made up of people who +smiled and talked rapidly, leading one who had either gained a +cause or had been acquitted. There were perhaps other people who +met us or whom we passed, but these are the two I remember of them +all. Then we gained the summit and stood there waiting for orders, +as it seemed, and I could look round on all the ring.</p> +<p>And at first I seemed to be blinded by the brilliance of that +assembly, for our Saxon folk love bright array and fair jewellery +on arm and neck. Men sat four and six deep all round the great +circle, leaving only the gap where we should enter; and right +opposite that gap seemed the place of honour, for there were a +score or more of chairs set, each with a thane thereon, and in the +midst of them sat those behind whom the banners were raised. Near +us at this end of the circle were the lesser freemen, and so round +each bend of the ring to right and left in order of rank till those +thanes were reached who were highest.</p> +<p>Before those stood some disputants, as it seemed, and I could +not see the faces of the seated thanes clearly at first. But +presently I knew the banners -- they were those of Eanulf the +Ealdorman, and of Ealhstan the Bishop. And when I saw the first I +feared, for the great ealdorman was a stern and pitiless man, from +all I had ever heard; but when I knew that banner with the golden +cross above it, my heart was lighter, for all men loved and spoke +well of the bishop.</p> +<p>It seemed long before that trial was over; but at last the men +ceased speaking, and the thanes seemed to take counsel upon it; and +then Eanulf pronounced judgment, and the men sat down in their +places in the ring, for it was, as one could tell, some civil +dispute of boundary, or road, or the like which had been +toward.</p> +<p>Then there was a silence for a space, until the ealdorman rose +and spoke loudly, for all the great ring to hear.</p> +<p>"There is one more case this day that must come before this +Moot, and that is one which brings shame on this land of ours. That +one from among the men of Somerset should speak ill of Ethelwulf +the King, and plot against him, is not to be borne. But that all +men may know and fear the doom that shall be to such an one, he has +been brought for trial by the Moot, with full proof of his guilt in +this matter, that Somerset itself, as it were, should pronounce his +sentence."</p> +<p>Now, when the assembly heard that, a murmur went round, and, as +it seemed to me, of surprise mixed with wrath. And I myself felt +the same for the moment -- but then the eyes of all turned in a +flash upon me -- and I remembered the accusation that had been +brought against me, and I knew that it was I of whom Eanulf spoke. +Then shame fell on me, to give place at once to anger, and I think +I should have spoken hotly, but that at some sign from the +ealdorman, my guards laid hold of me, and led me across the open +space and set me before him and the bishop.</p> +<p>But as he with the others laid hands on me, that gray-bearded +man, who had answered me when I asked my one question, whispered +hastily in my ear, "Be silent and keep cool."</p> +<p>I would he were alive now; but that might not be. And I knew not +then why he thus spoke, unless he had known and loved my +father.</p> +<p>So I stood before those two judges and looked them in the face; +and then one moved uneasily in his seat to their left, and my eyes +were drawn to him. It was Matelgar, and, as I saw him, I smiled for +I thought him a friend at least; but he looked not at me. Then from +him I turned to seek the face of some other whom I might know. And +I saw thanes, friends of my father, whom I had not cared to seek; +and of these some frowned on me, but some looked pityingly, as I +thought, though it was but for a moment that my eyes might leave +the faces of those two judges before me.</p> +<p>Now, were it not that when I go over what followed my heart +still rises up again in a wrath and mad bitterness that I fain +would feel no more, I would tell all of that trial, if trial one +could call it, where there was none to speak for the accused, and +every word was against him.</p> +<p>And in that trial I myself took little part by word or motion, +standing there and listening as though the words spoken of me +concerned another, as indeed, they might well have done.</p> +<p>But first Eanulf spoke to me, bending his brows as he did so, +and frowning on me.</p> +<p>"Heregar, son of Herewulf the Thane, you are accused by +honourable men of speaking evil of our Lord the King, Ethelwulf. +What answer have you to make to this charge? And, moreover, you are +further charged with conspiring against him -- can you answer to +that charge?"</p> +<p>Then I was about to make loud and angry denial of these +accusations, but that old guard of mine, who yet held my shoulder, +gripped it tightly, and I remembered his words, so that in a flash +it came to me that an innocent man need but deny frankly, as one +who has no fear, and I looked Eanulf in the face and answered +him.</p> +<p>"Neither of these charges are true, noble Eanulf; nor know I why +they are brought against me, or by whom. Let them speak -- there +are those here who will answer for my loyalty."</p> +<p>Now, as I spoke thus quietly, Eanulf's brows relaxed, and I saw, +too, that the bishop looked more kindly on me. Eanulf spoke +again.</p> +<p>"Know you not by whom these charges are brought?"</p> +<p>"Truly, I know not, Lord Eanulf," I answered, "for no man may +say these things of me, save he lies."</p> +<p>"Have you enemies?" he asked.</p> +<p>"None known to me," I told him truthfully, for I had, as my +father, lived at peace with all.</p> +<p>"Then is the testimony of those against you the heavier," said +the ealdorman.</p> +<p>And with that he turned to the bishop before I could make reply; +and they spoke together for a while in Latin, which I knew not.</p> +<p>So I looked to my friend Matelgar for comfort, but he seemed to +see me not, looking away elsewhere. And I thought him plainly +troubled for me, for his face was white, and the hand on which his +chin rested was turning the ends of his beard between his teeth, so +that he bit it -- as I had seen him do before when in doubt or +perplexity.</p> +<p>As I watched him, the bishop spoke in Saxon, saying that it +would be well to call the accusers first and hear them, that I +might make such reply as was possible to me.</p> +<p>"For," said he, "it seems to me that this Heregar speaks truth +in saying that he knows not his accusers."</p> +<p>Then Eanulf bowed gravely, and all the circle was hushed, for a +little talk had murmured round as these two spoke in private.</p> +<p>And now I will forbear, lest the rage and shame of it should get +the mastery of me again, and I should again think and speak things +for which (as once before, at the bidding of the man I love best on +earth) I must do long penance, if that may avail. For, truly, I +forgave once, and I would not recall that forgiveness. Yet I must +tell somewhat.</p> +<p>Eanulf bade the accusers stand forward and give their evidence; +and slowly, and, as it were, unwillingly, rose Matelgar, my friend, +as I had deemed him, and behind him a score of those friends of his +who had kept me company for long days on moor and in forest, and +had feasted in my hall.</p> +<p>Again that warning grasp on my shoulder, and I thought that +surely either I or they had mistaken the summons, and that my +defenders had come forward.</p> +<p>Then, as in a dream, I listened to words that I will not recall, +making good those accusations. And through all that false witness +there seemed to me to run, as it were, a thread of those foolish, +boy-wise words of mine that had, and meant, no harm, but on which +were now built mountains of seeming proof. So that, when at last +all those men had spoken I was dumb, and knew that I had no +defence. For no proof of loyalty had I to give -- for proof had +never been required of me. And a man may live a quiet life, and yet +conspire most foully.</p> +<p>As my accusers went back to their seats there ran a murmur among +the folk, and then a silence fell. The level afternoon sun seemed +to blaze on me alone, while to me the air seemed thick and close, +and full of whispers.</p> +<p>Ealhstan the Bishop broke the silence.</p> +<p>"The proof is weighty, and Matelgar the Thane is an honourable +man," he said, sadly enough; "but if a man conspires, there needs +must be one other, at least, in the plot. Surely we have heard +little of this."</p> +<p>Then was added more evidence. And men proved lonely journeys of +mine, with evasion of notice thereof, and disavowal of the same. +Yet I thought that Matelgar the Thane knew of my love for Alswythe, +his daughter, whom I would meet, as lovers will meet, unobserved if +they may, in all honour.</p> +<p>Yet, as I listened, it was of these meetings they spoke, saying +only that I had been able to concord whom I met, and where, though +Matelgar must have known it. When that was finished, Eanulf bade me +call men to disprove these things. And I could not. For my accusers +were my close companions, and of Alswythe I would not speak, and I +must fain hold my peace.</p> +<p>Only, after a silence, I could forbear no longer, and cried:</p> +<p>"Will none speak for me?"</p> +<p>Then one by one my father's friends rose and told what they knew +of my boyhood and training; but of these last few years of my +manhood they, alas for my own folly could not speak. What they +might they did, and my heart turned to them in gratitude for a +little, though Matelgar's treachery had seemed to make it a stone +within me.</p> +<p>They ended, and the silence came again. It seemed long, and +weighed on me like a thunderstorm in the air, nor should I have +started had the whole assembly broken into one thunderclap of +hatred of me. But instead of that, came the calm voice of Ealhstan +the Bishop:</p> +<p>"Eanulf and freemen of Somerset, there is one who witnesses for +this Heregar more plainly than all these. That witness is himself, +in his youth and inexperience. What are the wild words a boy will +say? Who will plot against a mighty king with a boy for partner? +What weight have his words? What help can come from his following? +It seems to me that Matelgar the Thane and these friends of his +might well have laughed away all these foolishnesses, rather than +hoard them up to bring before this solemn council. This, too, I +hold for injustice, that one should be kept in ward till his trial, +unknowing of all that is against him, unhelped by the counsel of +any freeman, and unable to send word to those who should stand by +him at his trial. Indeed, this thing must be righted, I tell you, +before England is a free land."</p> +<p>At that there went a sound of assent round the Moot, and it +seems to me, looking back, that that trial of mine, hard as it was +to bear, was yet the beginning of good to all the land, by reason +of those words which it taught the bishop to say, and which found +an abiding place in the hearts of the honest men who heard; so that +in these days of Alfred, our wise king, they have borne fruit.</p> +<p>Then Eanulf signed to my guards, and they led me away and over +the brow of the hill, that the Moot might speak its mind on me. +There my guards bade me sit down, and I did so, resting head on +hands, and thinking of nought, as it seemed to me, until suddenly +rose up hate of Matelgar, and of Eanulf, and of all that great +assembly, and of all the world.</p> +<p>There was an earthquake once when I was but a boy, and never +could I forget how it was as though all things one had deemed solid +and secure had suddenly become treacherous as Severn ooze. And now +it was to me as though an earthquake had shaken my thoughts of men. +For, till that day, never had I found cause to distrust anyone who +was friend of mine. Now could I trust none.</p> +<p>Then rose up in my mind the image of Alswythe, fair, and blue +eyed, and brown haired, smiling at me as she was wont. And I deemed +her, too, false, as having tricked me to meet her that this might +come upon me.</p> +<p>Well it was that they called me back into the ring to hear my +doom, for such thoughts as these will drive a man to madness. Now +must I think for myself again, and meet what must be. Yet I would +look at no man as I went towards the place of my judges, and stood +before them with my eyes cast down. For I was beaten, and cared no +more for aught.</p> +<p>Eanulf spoke; but he had no anger in his voice and it seemed as +though he repeated the words of others.</p> +<p>"Heregar, son of Herewulf," he said, "these things have been +brought against you by honourable men, and you cannot disprove them +-- hardly can you deny them. They may not be passed over; yet for +the sake of your youth, and for the pleading of Ealhstan, our +Bishop, your doom shall be lighter than some think fit. Death it +might be; but that shall not pass now on you, or for this. But +Thane you may be no longer, and we do confirm that sentence. +Landless also you must be, as unworthy to hold it. Outlaw surely +must he be who plots against the Head of law."</p> +<p>He paused a moment, and then said:</p> +<p>"This, then, is your doom. Outlawed you are from this day +forward, but wolf's head <a name="sdendnote2anc" href= +"#sdendnote2sym"><sup>ii</sup></a> you shall not be. None in all +Wessex shalt harbour you or aid you, but none shall you harm, save +you harm them. Go hence from this place and from this land, to some +land where no man knows you; and so shall you rest again."</p> +<p>Now, had I not been blinded with rage and shame, I might have +seen that there was mercy in this sentence, and hope also. For I +had seen a man outlawed once, and given a day's start, like some +wild beast, in which to fly from the hand of every man that would +seek his life. But I was to be safe from such harm, and but that I +must go hence, I was not to be hounded forth, nor was my shame to +be published beyond Wessex. So that all the other kingdoms lay open +and safe to me.</p> +<p>None of this I heeded; I only knew that my enemies had got the +mastery, and that ruin was upon me. So I ground my teeth and was +mute.</p> +<p>Then they cut my bonds and I stood free, but cared not. Nor did +I stir from my place; and a look of surprise crossed Eanulf's face. +But Ealhstan the Bishop, knowing well, I think, what was in my +mind, rose from his seat, and came to me, laying his hands on my +shoulders. I would have shaken them off; but be kept them there +gently, and spoke to me.</p> +<p>"Heregar, my son," he said, and his words were like the cool of +a shower after heat, to my burning brain, "be not cast down in the +day of your trouble overmuch. There are yet things for you to do in +this world of ours, and the ways of men are not all alike. Foolish +you have been, Heregar, my son, but the Lord who gave wisdom to +Solomon the youth, will give to you, if you will ask Him. Go your +way in peace, and if you will heed my words, take your trouble to +some wise man of God, and so be led by his counsel. And, Heregar," +and here the bishop's voice was for me alone, "if you need +forgiveness, forgive if there is aught by you to be forgiven."</p> +<p>Then I knew that the bishop, at least, believed in my innocence, +and my hard heart bent before him, though my body would not. He +laid his hand on my head for one moment, and so left me.</p> +<p>One of my father's old friends rose up and said:</p> +<p>"Ealdorman, he is unarmed. Give him that which will keep him +from wanton attack, or from the wolves, even if it be but a +thrall's weapons."</p> +<p>Eanulf signed assent.</p> +<p>On that they gave me a woodman's billhook, and a seax,<a name= +"sdendnote3anc" href="#sdendnote3sym"><sup>iii</sup></a> such as +the churls wear, and one thrust a good ash, iron-shod quarterstaff +into my hands. Then my guards led me away from the assembly, and +set my face towards the downward path. Once again the old man spoke +to me with words of good counsel.</p> +<p>"Keep up heart, master. Make for Cornwall, and turn viking with +the next Danes who come."</p> +<p>I would not answer him, but walked down the hill a little. Then +the bitterness of my heart overcame me, and I turned, and shaking +my staff up at the hill, cursed the Moot deeply.</p> +<p>So I went -- an outlaw.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap02">CHAPTER II.</a> THE FIGHT WITH TWO.</h2> +<p>Now whither I went for the next two hours I cannot tell, for my +mind was heedless of time or place or direction -- only full of +burning hate of all men, and of Matelgar most of all. And though +that has long passed away from me, so that I may even think of him +now as the pleasant comrade in field and feast that he once was, I +wonder not at all I then felt; for this treachery had come on me so +unawares, and was so deep.</p> +<p>Wherever it was I wandered it took me away from men, and at +last, when I roused myself to a knowledge again of the land round +me, I was hard on the borders of Sedgemoor Waste; and the sun was +low down, and near setting.</p> +<p>Perhaps I had not roused even then; but it came into my mind +that I was followed, and that for some time past I had heard, as in +a dream, the noise of footsteps not far behind me. Now, since I was +in the glade of a little wood, a snapping stick broke the dream, +and I started and turned.</p> +<p>Where I stood was in the shadow, but twenty paces from me a red, +level sunbeam came past the tree trunks, and made a bright patch of +light on the new growing grass beneath the half-clad branches. And, +even as I turned, into that patch of light came two of Matelgar's +men, walking swiftly, as if here at last they would overtake me. +And, moreover, that sunlight lit on drawn swords in their hands; so +that in a moment I knew that his hate followed me yet, and that for +him the Moot had been too merciful in not slaying me then and +there, so that these were on that errand for him.</p> +<p>Then all earth and sky grew red before my eyes, for here seemed +to me the beginning of my revenge; and before these two knew that I +had turned, out of the dim shadow I leapt upon them, silent, with +that quarterstaff aloft. Dazzled they were with the sunlight, and +thinking least of all of my turning thus swiftly, if at all. And I +was as one of the Berserks of whom men spoke -- caring not for +death if only I might slay one of those who had wrought me +wrong.</p> +<p>Into the face of that one to the left flew the iron-shod end of +the heavy staff and he fell; and as the other gave back a pace, I +whirled it round to strike his head. He raised his sword to guard +the blow, and that fell in shivers as I smote it. Then a second +blow laid him across his comrade, senseless.</p> +<p>Then I stood over them and rejoiced; and part of my anger and +shame seemed to pass into the lust of revenge begun well. I knew +the men as two of Matelgar's housecarles, and that made it the +sweeter to see them lie thus helpless before me.</p> +<p>I knew not if they were dead yet, but I would make sure. So I +leaned my staff against a tree, and drew the sharp seax from my +belt.</p> +<p>Then came into my mind the words of my father, who would ever +tell me that he is basest who would slay an unarmed foe, or smite a +fallen man; and hastily I put back the seax again, lest I should be +tempted to become base as men had said I was; for I hold treachery +to be of the same nature as that of which my father warned me.</p> +<p>I took back my staff and leant on it, thinking, and looking at +those men. They were the first I had ever met in earnest, and this +was the first proof of the skill in arms my father had spent long +years in giving me. So there crept over me a pride that I had met +two and overcome them -- and I unarmed, as we count it, against +mail-clad men. Then I thought that Herewulf, my father, would be +proud of me could he see this.</p> +<p>And then, instantly, the shame of what had led to this swallowed +up all my pride; and with that thought of my father's loved and +honoured name, my hard heart was broken, and I leant my head +against a tree, and wept bitterly.</p> +<p>One of the men stirred, and I sprang round hurriedly. It was the +second man, whose sword I had broken. He had been but stunned, and +now sat up as one barely awake, and unaware of what had happened. I +might not slay him now, but quick as I could I took off my own +broad leather belt and pinioned him from behind. He was yet too +dazed to resist. And then I took his dagger from him, and bound his +feet with his own belt, dragging him away from his comrade, and +setting him against a tree. There he sat, blinking at me, but +becoming more himself quickly.</p> +<p>Then I looked at the other man. He was dead, for the end of the +quarterstaff had driven in his forehead, so madly had I struck at +him with all my weight.</p> +<p>And now, seeing that I was cooler and might think more clearly, +it seemed to me that it would be bitter to Matelgar that out of his +wish to destroy me should come help to myself. I needed arms, and +now I had but to take them from his own armoury, as it were. Well +armed were all his housecarles, and this one I had slain was their +captain, and his byrnie of linked mail was of the best Sussex +steel, and his helm was crested with a golden boar, with linked +mail tippet hanging to protect the neck. And his sword -- but as my +eyes fell on that my heart gave a great leap of joy -- for it was +my own! Mine, too, was the baldric from which it hung, and mine was +the seax that balanced it, close to the right hand in the belt.</p> +<p>As I saw that I began to know more of the plans of Matelgar -- +for it must be that my hall and all my goods had fallen into his +hands, and this was the reward his head man had asked and been +given.</p> +<p>And now I minded that this man had been one of those who gave +evidence of my lonely rides and secret meetings. So he had been +bought thus, for my sword was a good one, and the hilt curiously +wrought in ivory and silver.</p> +<p>Then I made no more delay, but stripped the man of his armour, +and also of the stout leathern jerkin he wore beneath it, for I was +clad in the rags of feasting garb, as I have said, and hated them +even as I threw them aside. The man was of my own height and build, +as it chanced, and his gear fitted me well. So I took his hide +shoes also, casting away my frayed velvet foot coverings into the +underwood.</p> +<p>Now once more I stood clad in the arms of a free man and how +good it was to feel again the well known and loved weight of mail, +and helm, and sword tugging at me I cannot say. But this I know, +that, like the strong man of old our old priest told me of, as I +shook myself, my strength and manhood came back to me.</p> +<p>But now, whereas I had been haled from my feasting a careless +boy, and had stood before my judges as an angry man, as I look +back, I see that from that arming I rose up a grim and desperate +warrior with wrongs to right, and the will and strength to right +them.</p> +<p>So I stood for a little, and the savage thoughts that went +through my mind I may not write. Then I turned to my captive and +looked at him, though I thought nothing concerning him. But what he +saw written in my face as it glowered on him from under the helmet +bade him cry aloud to me to spare him.</p> +<p>And at that I laughed. It was so good to feel that this enemy of +mine feared me. At that laugh -- and it sounded not like my own, +even to myself -- the man writhed, and besought me again for mercy. +But I had no mind to kill him, and a thought crossed me.</p> +<p>"Matelgar bade you slay me," I said, "that I know. Tell me why +he has sought my life and I will spare you."</p> +<p>"Master," said the man hastily, "I knew not whom I was to slay. +Matelgar bade me follow Gurth yonder, and smite whom he smote."</p> +<p>"It would have mattered not -- you would have slain me as well +as any other."</p> +<p>"Nay, master," the man said earnestly, "that would I not."</p> +<p>"You lie," I answered curtly enough; "like master like man. Tell +me what I bade you."</p> +<p>"Truly I lie not, Heregar," cried he, "for I love my mistress +over well to harm you."</p> +<p>Now at that mention of Alswythe the blood rushed into my face, +for I had held her false with the rest, and this seemed to say +otherwise, unless the plot had been hidden from such as this man. +But I would fain learn more of that, for the sake of the hope of a +love I had thought true.</p> +<p>"What is your mistress to me?" I asked. "Ye are all alike."</p> +<p>I think the man could see well at what I aimed, for he spoke of +the Lady Alswythe more freely than he would have dared at other +times, nor would I have let him name her lightly.</p> +<p>"Our mistress has gone sadly since the day you were taken, +master; even asking me to tell her, if I could, where you were +kept, thinking me one of those who guarded you, mayhap. But I knew +not till today what had chanced to you. Men may know well from such +tokens what is amiss."</p> +<p>Hearing that, my heart lightened within me, for I saw that the +man spoke truth. However, I would not speak more of this to such as +he, and I bade him cease his prating, and answer plainly my first +question, laying my hand on my seax as if to draw it.</p> +<p>"Gurth could have told you; master," he cried, "but he is dead. +Matelgar held no counsel with me. I can but tell you what the talk +is among the men."</p> +<p>"Tell it."</p> +<p>"Because Matelgar had taken charge, as he said, of your lands +while you were away, and knowing well that in your taking he had +had some hand, men say it is to get possession thereof; and the +women say that, while you were near, the Lady Alswythe would marry +no other, so that he had had you removed."</p> +<p>The first I had guessed by the token of the sword that I had +regained. That last was sweet to hear.</p> +<p>"Go on," I said. "How came Matelgar to have power to hold my +lands?"</p> +<p>"There came one from the king, after you were taken, giving him +papers with a great seal thereon, and these he read aloud in your +hall, showing the king's own hand at the end. So men bowed thereto, +and all your men he drove out if they would not serve him, and few +remained. The rest have taken service elsewhere if they were +free."</p> +<p>So Matelgar was in possession, and now would be confirmed in the +same. What mattered that to an outlaw? But I could have borne +anything better than to think of him sitting in my place as reward +for his treachery. This was evidence of weakness, however, in his +case, that he should have tried to have me slain.</p> +<p>Now I had learnt all I needed, and more, in the one thing next +my heart, than I hoped, if that were true -- for still I could not +but doubt the faith of all. Only one thing more I would ask, and +that was if Matelgar bided in his own or my hall. The man told me +that he kept in his own place.</p> +<p>"Now," said I, "I had a mind to leave you bound here for the +wolves, but you shall take a message to your master."</p> +<p>On that the man swore to do my bidding, or, if I would, to +follow me.</p> +<p>"Save your oaths," I said. "I have heard a many today, and I +hold them as nothing. Take these cast rags of mine, and bear them +back to your master. Give them to him, and then say to him +whatsoever you will -- either that you have slain me and these are +the tokens, but that Gurth was by me slain, and you must leave him +and his arms here because of the wolves which you feared; or else +you can tell him the truth, as it has happened, and see what he +does to you. I mind how he hung up a thrall of his by the thumbs +once for two days. He will surely take good care of one of two who +were beaten by an unarmed man. But I think the lie will come +easiest to your master's man."</p> +<p>Thus spoke I bitterly, and cut the belt which bound the man's +arms, thinking all the while that he would never go back at all if +he were wise. But he said he would go back and tell the lie, and I +laughed at him.</p> +<p>It was dusk now, and though I feared not the man, I would play +with him yet a little longer in my bitterness. So I bade him keep +still, and stir not till I gave him leave. His feet were yet bound, +and he would need an edge-tool to loose that binding. Telling him, +then, that I would not run the chance of his falling on me from +behind, I took his dagger and the seax they had given me, and stuck +them in the ground a full hundred yards away, and then bade him, +when I was out of sight, crawl thither as best he might and so +loose himself.</p> +<p>The poor wretch was too glad to be spared to do aught but repeat +that he would do my errand faithfully, and thank me; and, but for +the sort of madness that was still on me, I must have been ashamed +to torture him so. I am sorry now as I think of it, and many a man +who has well deserved punishment have I let go since that day, +fearing lest that old cruelty should be on me again, perhaps.</p> +<p>Then I turned and walked away, and even as I passed the weapons, +I heard the low howl of a wolf from the swamp to my right. Far off +it was, but at that sound the man cast himself on hands and knees +and began to crawl in all haste to free himself.</p> +<p>Then I laughed again, and plunging deeper into the wood, lost +sight of him.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap03">CHAPTER III.</a> BY BELL, BOOK, AND +CANDLE.</h2> +<p>I had never been into Sedgemoor before, and so went straight on +as I could, only turning aside from swampy places while the light +lasted. Then I must wait for the moon to rise, and I sat me down +under an old thorn tree on a little rise where I could see about +me. I had come out of the woods, and all the moor was open to the +west and south so far as I could see. I knew that the place was +haunted of evil spirits, and shunned at night time by all: but now +I was not afraid of them -- or indeed of anything, save the wolves. +The terror of the man I had left had put that fear into my head, or +I think that, desperate as I was, only the sound of a pack of them +in full cry would have warned me. Still, I had heard no more since +that one howled an hour ago.</p> +<p>Cold mists rose from the marsh, and in them I could see lights +flitting. A month or two ago I should have feared them, thinking of +Beowulf, son of Hygelac, and what befell him and his comrades from +the marsh fiends, Grendel and his dam. Now I watched them, and half +longed for a fight like Beowulf's.<a name="sdendnote4anc" href= +"#sdendnote4sym"><sup>iv</sup></a></p> +<p>At last the moon rose behind me, and I walked on. Once a vast +shape rose up in the mist and walked beside me, and I half drew my +sword on it. But that, too, drew sword, and I knew it for my own +shadow on the thick vapour. Then a sheet of water stretched out +almost under my feet, and thousands of wildfowl rose and fled +noisily, to fall again into further pools with splash and mighty +clatter. I must skirt this pool, and so came presently to a thicket +of reeds, shoulder high, and out of these rose, looking larger than +natural in the moonlight, a great wild boar that had his lair +there, and stood staring at me before he too made off, grunting as +he went.</p> +<p>So I went on aimless. The night was full of sounds, but whether +earthly; from wildfowl and bittern and curlew, from fox, and +badger, and otter; or from the evil spirits of the marsh, I knew +not nor cared. For now the long imprisonment and the day's terrible +doings, and the little food I had had since we halted on the hill +of Brent, all began to get hold of me, and I stumbled on as a man +in a bad dream.</p> +<p>But nothing harmed or offered to harm me. Only when some root or +twisted tussock of grass would catch my foot and hinder me I cursed +it for being in league with Matelgar, tearing my way fiercely over +or through it. And at last, I think, my mind wandered.</p> +<p>Then I saw a red light that glowed close under the edge of some +thick woodland, where the land rose, and that drew me. It was the +hut of a charcoal burner, and the light came from the kiln close +by, which was open, and the man himself was standing at it, even +now taking out a glowing heap of the coal to cool, before he piled +in fresh wood and closed it for the night.</p> +<p>When I saw the hut, it suddenly came on me that I was wearied +out, and must sleep, and so went thither. The collier heard the +clank of my armour, and turned round in the crimson light of the +glowing coals to see what came. As he saw me standing he cried +aloud in terror, and, throwing up his hands, fled into the dark +beyond the kiln, calling on the saints to protect him.</p> +<p>For a moment I wondered that he should thus fly me; but I +staggered to his hut, and I remember seeing his rush-made bed, and +that is all.</p> +<p>When I woke again, at first I thought myself back in the +dungeon, and groaned, but would not open my eyes. But I turned +uneasily, and then a small voice spoke, saying:</p> +<p>"Ho, Grendel! are you awake?"</p> +<p>I sat up and looked round. Then I knew where I was -- but I had +slept a great sleep, for out of the open door I saw the Quantock +hills, blue across the moor, and the sun shone in almost level. It +was late afternoon.</p> +<p>I looked for him who had spoken, and at first could see no one, +for the sun shone in my face: but something stirred in a corner, +and I looked there.</p> +<p>It was a small sturdy boy of some ten years old, red haired, and +freckled all over where his woollen jerkin and leather hose did not +cover him. He sat on a stool and stared at me with round eyes.</p> +<p>I stared back at him for a minute, and then, from habit, for I +would always play with children, made a wry face at him, at which +he smiled, pleased enough, and said:</p> +<p>"Spit fire, good Grendel, I want to see."</p> +<p>Now I was glad to be kept off my own fierce thoughts for a +little, and so answered him back, wondering at the name he gave me, +and at his request.</p> +<p>"So -- I am Grendel, am I?"</p> +<p>"Aye," said the urchin, "Dudda Collier ran into village in the +night, saying that you had come out of the fen, all fire from head +to foot, and so he fled. But I came to see."</p> +<p>"Where is the collier then?"</p> +<p>"He dare not come back, he says, without the priest, and has +gone to get the hermit. So the other folk bided till he came +too."</p> +<p>"Were not you afraid of me?"</p> +<p>"Maybe I was feared at first -- but I would see you spit fire +before the holy man drives you away. So I looked in through a +crack, and saw you asleep. Then I feared not, and bided your waking +for a little time."</p> +<p>"What is your name, brave urchin?' I asked, for I was pleased +with the child and his fearlessness.</p> +<p>"Turkil," he said.</p> +<p>"Well, Turkil -- I am not Grendel. He fled when I came in +here."</p> +<p>"Did you beat him?" asked the boy, with a sort of +disappointment.</p> +<p>"Nay; but he disappeared when the hot coals went out," I said. +"And now I am hungry, can you find me aught to eat?" and, indeed, +rested as I was with the long sleep, I had waked sound in mind and +body again, and longed for food, and I think that finding this +strange child here to turn my thoughts into a wholesome channel, +when first they began to stir in me, was a mercy that I must ever +be thankful for.</p> +<p>Turkil got up solemnly and went to the hearth. Thence he took an +iron cauldron, and hoisted it on the great round of tree trunk that +served as table in the midst of the hut.</p> +<p>"Dudda Collier left his supper when he fled. Wherefore if we eat +it he will think Grendel got it -- and no blame to us," remarked +the boy, chuckling.</p> +<p>And when I thought how I had not a copper sceatta left me in the +world, I stopped before saying that I would pay him when he +returned, and so laughed back at the boy and fell to.</p> +<p>When we had finished, the cauldron, which had been full of roe +deer venison, was empty, and Turkil and I laughed at one another +over it.</p> +<p>"Grendel or no Grendel," said the urchin, "Dudda will ask nought +of his supper."</p> +<p>"Why not?"</p> +<p>"By reason of what it was made of."</p> +<p>Then I remembered that a thrall might by no means slay the deer, +and that he would surely be in fear when he knew that one had found +him out. So I said to the boy:</p> +<p>"Grendel ate it, doubtless. Nor you nor I know what was in the +honest man's pot."</p> +<p>Turkil was ready to meet me in this matter, and looking +roguishly at me, gathered up the bones and put them into the +kilns.</p> +<p>"Now must I go home," he said, when this was done, "or I shall +be beaten. But I would I had seen Grendel -- though I love warriors +armed like you."</p> +<p>"Verily, Turkil, my friend," said I, "a stout warrior will you +be if you go on as you have begun."</p> +<p>Thereupon something stirred within me, as it were, and I took +the urchin and kissed him, for I had never thought to call one +"friend" again.</p> +<p>Then I feared to let him go from me, lest the thoughts of +yesterday should come back, as I knew they would, did I give way to +them. So I told him to bide here with me till the village people +came to drive away Grendel, and that I would make all right for +him.</p> +<p>Then we went out of the little hut, and sat on the logs of +timber, and he told me tales of the wood and stream and meres to +which I must answer now and then, while I pondered over what I must +do and where betake myself.</p> +<p>My outlawry would not be known till the people had got home from +Brent, and then but by hearsay, till the sheriff's men had +proclaimed me in the townships.</p> +<p>This place, too, where a man could slay roe deer fearless of +discovery, must be far from notice, and I would bide here this next +night, and so make my plans well, and grow fully rested. But +always, whatever I thought, was revenge on Matelgar uppermost.</p> +<p>Now Turkil would see my sword, and then my seax, and try my helm +on his head, laughing when it covered his eyes, and I had almost +bade him come to my hall at Cannington and there try the little +weapons I had when I was his size, so much his ways took from me +the thought of my trouble. But that slip brought it all back again, +and for a time I waxed moody, so that the child was silent, finding +no answer to his prattle, and at last leant against me and slept. +Presently, I leaned back and slept too, in the warm sun.</p> +<p>I woke with the sound of chanting in my ears, and the ringing of +a little bell somewhere in the wood; but Turkil slept on, and I +would not stir to wake him, sitting still and wondering.</p> +<p>Then out of the wood came towards the hut a little procession, +and when I saw it I knew that I, as Grendel, was to be exorcised. +But though I thought not of it, exorcism there had been already, +and that of my evil spirit of yesterday, by the fearless hand of -- +a little child.</p> +<p>There came first an old priest, fully vested, bearing a great +service book in one hand, and in the other a crucifix, and reading +as he went, but in Latin, so that I could not know what he read. +And on either side of him were two youths, also vested, one bearing +a great candle that flared and guttered in the wind, and the other +a bell, which now and then he rang when the old priest ceased +reading between the verses.</p> +<p>After these came the villagers. I saw the collier among the +first, and his knees shook as he walked. Then some of the men were +armed with bills and short swords, and a few with bows. All, I +think, had staves. After them came some women, and I saw one who +wept, looking about her eagerly.</p> +<p>They did not see me, for the timber pile was next the kiln and a +little behind it; so that before they got near I was shut out from +view for a time.</p> +<p>While they were thus hidden from me, they stopped and began to +chant again, priest and people in turn. After that had gone on for +a little time, Turkil woke and sat up, but I bade him in a whisper +to be silent, and putting his finger in his mouth he obeyed, wide +eyed.</p> +<p>Then the little bell gave a note or two, and the reading began, +so near that I could hear the words, or seem to remember them as I +know now what they were.</p> +<p>"Adjuro te maleficum Grendel vocatum diabolum --"</p> +<p>So far had the priest got when they turned the corner of the +house, and I stood up. There came a shout from the men, and the +exorcism went no further, for the old priest saw at once, as it +seemed, that I was but a mortal. Not so some of his train, for +several turned to fly, sorely fearing that the wrestle between the +powers spiritual had begun, and, as one might think, lacking faith +in their own side, for they showed little.</p> +<p>But Grendel or no Grendel, there was one who thought not of her +own safety. That woman whom I had seen weeping gave a great cry and +rushed at me, seizing my little comrade from my arms, for I had +lifted him as I stood, and covering him with kisses, chided him and +petted at the same time.</p> +<p>It was his mother, who hearing that her darling had wandered +away from his playmates with the intention of "seeing Grendel" as +he avowed, had dared to join the rest to learn what had been his +end.</p> +<p>The old priest looked on this with something of a smile, and +then turned to his people saying:</p> +<p>"Doubtless the fiend has fled, or this warrior and the child had +not been here. Search, my children, and see if there be traces left +of his presence, and I will speak to the stranger."</p> +<p>They scattered about the place in groups, for they yet feared to +be alone, and the priest came up to me, scanning my arms as he did +so, to guess my rank. My handsome sword and belt seemed to decide +him, for though the armour and helm were plain, they were good +enough for any thane who meant them for hard wear and not for +show.</p> +<p>"Sir," he said, very courteously but without any servility, "I +see you are a stranger, and you meet me on a strange errand. I am +the priest whom they call the hermit, Leofwine -- should I name you +thane?"</p> +<p>I was going to answer him as I would have replied but yesterday +morning -- so hesitated a little, and then answered shortly.</p> +<p>"No thane, Father, but the next thing to it -- a masterless +man."</p> +<p>"As you will, sir," he replied, thinking that I doubtless had my +own reason for withholding whatever rank I had. "We meet few +strangers in this wild."</p> +<p>"I lost my way, Father," I said, "and wandered here in the +night, and, being sorely weary, slept in this empty hut till two +hours ago, waking to find yon child here."</p> +<p>Now little Turkil, seeing that I looked towards him, got free +from his mother and ran to me, saying that he must go home, and +that I must speak for him, as his mother was wroth with him for +playing truant.</p> +<p>The woman, who seemed to be the wife of some well-to-do freeman, +followed him, and I spoke to her, begging her to forgive the boy, +as he had been a pleasant comrade to me, and that, indeed, I had +kept him, as he said some folk were coming from the village.</p> +<p>Whereon she thanked me for tending him, saying that she had +feared the foul fiend whom the collier had seen would surely have +devoured him. So I pleased her by saying that a boy who would face +such a monster now would surely grow up a valiant man. Then Turkil +must kiss me in going, bidding me come and see him again, and I +knew not how to escape promising that, though it was a poor promise +that could not be kept, seeing that I must fly the kingdom of +Wessex as soon as I might. Then his mother took him away, he +looking back often at me. With them went the most of the people, +some wondering, but the greater part laughing at Dudda Collier's +fright.</p> +<p>I asked the old priest where the village might be, and he told +me that it lay in a clearing full two miles off, and that the +father of Turkil was the chief franklin there, though of little +account elsewhere. He had not yet come back from the great Moot at +Brent, and that was good hearing for me, for though he must return +next day, I should be far by that time.</p> +<p>While we talked, the collier and two or three men came to us, +telling excitedly how that the kiln was raked out, and that the +cauldron was empty -- doubtless the work of the fiend.</p> +<p>"Saw you aught of any fiend, good sir?" asked the priest of +me.</p> +<p>Now I remembered the roe deer in time, and answered, "I saw +nought worse than myself" -- but I think that, had the collier +known my thoughts, he would have fled me as he fled that he took me +for. But that he was sore terrified I have no doubt, for it seemed +that he neither recognized me, nor remembered what he was doing at +the kiln when I came. Maybe, as often happens, he had told some +wild story to so many that he believed it himself.</p> +<p>"Then, my sons," said the hermit, "the fiend finding Dudda no +prey of his, departed straightway, and he need fear no more."</p> +<p>However, they would have him sprinkle all the place with holy +water, repeating the proper prayers the while, which he did +willingly, knowing the fears of his people, and gladly trying to +put them to rest.</p> +<p>Then the collier begged one after another to bide with him that +night, but all refused, having other things to be done which they +said might not he foregone. It was plain that they dared not stay; +but this seemed to be my chance.</p> +<p>The men had many times looked hard at me, but as I was speaking +with the priest, dared not question me as they would. So having +seen this, I said:</p> +<p>"I am a stranger from beyond the Mendips, and lost my way last +night coming back from Brent. Glad should I be of lodging here +tonight, and guidance on the morrow, for it is over late for me to +be on my way now."</p> +<p>That pleased the collier well enough, and he said he would take +me in, and guide me where I would go next day. The other men wanted +to ask me news of the Moot, but I put them off, saying that I had +not sat thereon, but had passed there on my way from Sherborne. So +they were content, and asking the hermit for his blessing, they +went their way.</p> +<p>Then the old priest took off the vestments which were over his +brown hermit garb, and giving them to the youths who had acted as +his acolytes bade them depart also, having given them some +directions, and so we three, the hermit, collier, and myself, were +left alone by the hut.</p> +<p>The hermit bade the collier leave us, and he, evidently holding +the old man in high veneration, bowed awkwardly, and went to fill +and relight his kiln fires.</p> +<p>And then the old priest spoke to me.</p> +<p>"Sir, I was brought here, as you see, to drive away an evil +spirit, which this poor thrall said had appeared to him last night, +and from which he fled. Now all men know that these fens are +haunted by fiends, even as holy Guthlac found in the land of the +Gyrwa's,<a name="sdendnote5anc" href= +"#sdendnote5sym"><sup>v</sup></a> being sorely troubled by them. +But I have seen none, though I dwell in this fen much as he dwelt, +though none so worthy, or maybe worth troubling as he. Know you +what he saw? for I seem to see that your coming has to do with this +--" and the old man smiled a little.</p> +<p>Then I told him how I had come unexpectedly into the firelight, +and that the man had fled, adding that I was nigh worn out, and so, +finding a resting place, slept without heeding him; and then how +little Turkil had called me "Grendel", bidding me "spit fire for +him to see".</p> +<p>At that the old man laughed a hearty laugh, looking sidewise to +see that Dudda was at work and unheeding.</p> +<p>"Verily," he said, "it is as I deemed, but with more reason for +the collier to fly than I had thought -- for truly mail-clad men +are never seen here, and thy face, my son, is of the grimmest, for +all you are so young. I marvel Turkil feared you not -- but +children see below the outward mask of a man's face."</p> +<p>Now as he said that, the old man looked kindly, but searchingly, +at me, and I rebelled against it: but he was so saintly looking +that I might not be angry, so tried to turn it off.</p> +<p>"Turkil the Valiant called me Grendel, Father. Also I think you +came out to exorcise the same by name, for I heard it in the Latin. +But that was a heathen fiend."</p> +<p>The hermit sighed a little and answered me.</p> +<p>"They sing the song of Beowulf and love it, heathen though it +be, better than aught else, and will till one rises up who will +turn Holy Writ into their mother tongue, as Caedmon did for +Northumbria. Howbeit, doubtless those who were fiends in the days +of the false gods are fiends yet, and if Grendel then, so also +Grendel now, though he may have many other names. And knowing that +name from their songs, small wonder that the terror that came from +the marsh must needs be he. And, no doubt," went on the good +priest, though with a little twinkle in his eye, "he knew well +enough whom I came to exorcise, even if the name were wrong, had he +indeed been visibly here."</p> +<p>So he spoke: but my mind was wandering away to my own trouble; +and when I spoke of Sherborne just now, the thought of Bishop +Ealhstan and his words had come to me, and I wondered if I would +tell my troubles to this old man as he bade me. But, though to +think of it showed that I was again more myself, something of +yesterday's bitterness rose up again as the scene at the Moot came +back, and I would not.</p> +<p>The priest was silent for a while, and must have watched my face +as these thoughts hardened it again.</p> +<p>"Be not wroth with an old man, my son," he said, very gently; +"but there is some trouble on your mind, as one who has watched the +faces of men as long as I may well see. And it is bitter trouble, I +fear. Sometimes these troubles pass a little, by being told."</p> +<p>The kind words softened me somewhat, and I answered him +quietly:</p> +<p>"Aye, Father -- there is trouble, but not to be told. I will +take myself and it away in the morning, and so bear it by +myself."</p> +<p>He looked wistfully at me as one who fain would help another, +saying:</p> +<p>"Other men's troubles press lightly on such as I, my son, save +that they add to my prayers."</p> +<p>And I was half-minded to tell him all and seek his counsel: but +I would not. Still, I would answer him, and so feigning +cheerfulness, said:</p> +<p>"One trouble, Father, I fear you cannot help me in. I have +nought wherewith to reward this honest man for lodging and guidance +-- nor for playing Grendel on him, and eating his food to +boot."</p> +<p>"Surely you have honest hands by whom to send him somewhat? or +he will lead you to friends who will willingly lend to you?"</p> +<p>And I had neither. I, who but a few weeks ago could have +commanded both by scores -- and now none might aid me. None might +call me friend -- I was alone. These words brought it home to me +more clearly than before, and the loneliness of it sank into my +heart, and my pride fled, and I told the good man all, looking to +see him shrink from me.</p> +<p>But he did not, hearing me patiently to the end. I think if he +had shrunk from me, the telling had left me worse than when I kept +it hid from him.</p> +<p>When I ended, he laid his hand on my shoulder -- even as the +bishop had laid his, and said:</p> +<p>"Vengeance is mine. I will repay, saith the Lord."</p> +<p>And I, who had never heard those words before, thought them a +promise sent by the mouth of this prophet, as it were, to me, and +wondered. Then he went on:</p> +<p>"Surely, my son, I believe you to be true, and that you suffer +wrongfully, for never one who would lie told the evil of himself as +you have told me. Foolish you have been, indeed, as is the way of +youth, but disloyal you were not."</p> +<p>I was silent, and waited for him to speak such words again. And +he, too, was silent for a little, looking out over the marsh, and +rocking himself to and fro as he sat on the tree trunk beside +me.</p> +<p>"Watching and praying and fasting alone, there has been given me +some little gift of prophecy, my son; now and then it comes, but +never with light cause. And now I will say what is given me to say. +Cast out you are from the Wessex land, but before long Wessex shall +be beholden to you. Not long shall Matelgar, the treacherous, hold +your place -- but you shall be in honour again of all men. Only +must you forego your vengeance and leave that to the hand of the +Lord, who repays."</p> +<p>"What must I do now, Father?" I asked, in a low voice.</p> +<p>"Go your own way, my son, and, as you were bidden, depart from +this kingdom as you will and whither; and what shall be, shall be. +Fighting there is for you, both within and without: but the battle +within will be the sorest: for I know that the longing for revenge +will abide with you, and that is hard to overcome. Yet remember the +message of forbearance."</p> +<p>Then I cried out that I must surely be revenged and the good man +strove with me with many and sweet words, till he had quieted the +thought within me again. Yet I longed for it.</p> +<p>So we talked till the sun sank, and he must go ere darkness +fell. But at last he bade me kneel, and I knelt, who had thought in +my pride never to humble myself before mortal man again, till one +dealt me my death blow and I needs must fall before him.</p> +<p>So he blessed me and departed, bidding me remember that at +sunrise and midday and sunset, Leofwine, the priest, and Turkil, +the child, should remember me in their prayers. And, for he was +very thoughtful, he told me that he would take such order with the +collier that he would ask nought from me, nor must I offer him +anything, save thanks. And he spoke to him in going.</p> +<p>I watched him go till I could see him no more, and then, calling +my host, supped with him, and slept peacefully till the first +morning light.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap04">CHAPTER IV.</a> THE SECRET MEETING.</h2> +<p>I woke before the collier, who slept across the doorway on some +skins, and lay in his sleeping place for half an hour, thinking of +what should be before me, and whither I would go this day.</p> +<p>And, thinking quietly enough now, I made the resolve to leave at +all events my revenge that I had so longed for to sleep for a while +-- for the words of the good priest had bided with me, and +moreover, I had some hope from his words of prophecy. So I would +see how that turned out, and then, if nought came of it, I would +turn to my revenge again.</p> +<p>So having got thus far, the advice of the gray-haired warrior +seemed as good as any, for it was easy to me to get into West +Wales, and then take service with the under-king until such time as +Danish or Norse vikings put in thither, as they would at times for +provender, or to buy copper and tin from the miners.</p> +<p>But then a great longing came over me to see Alswythe once more, +and learn the truth of her faith or falseness. The man I had bound +seemed to speak truth, though she was the daughter of Matelgar. Yet +if she were child of that false man, I had known her mother well, +and loved her until she died a year ago. And she was a noble lady, +and full of honesty.</p> +<p>Now as safe a way as any into the Westland would be over the +Quantocks, and so into the wilds of Dartmoor and beyond, where no +man would know or care for my outlawry -- if, indeed, I found not +more proscribed men there than anywhere, who had fled, as I must +fly, but with a price on them. And if I fled that way, it was but a +step aside to pass close to Matelgar's hall.</p> +<p>It was the least safe path for me, it is true -- for I had had a +taste of what sort of reception I should meet with at his hands did +he catch me or meet with me. But love drew me, and I would venture +and see at least the place where the one I loved dwelt.</p> +<p>Having made up my mind to that, I was all impatience to be +going, and woke the collier, saying that I must be afoot. He, poor +man, started up in affright, dreaming doubtless that the fiend had +returned, but recovered himself, making a low obeisance to me, +quickly.</p> +<p>Then he brought out bread of the coarsest and cheese of the +best, grumbling that the fiend had devoured his better cheer. And +I, being light hearted, having made up my mind, and being young +enough not to look trouble in the face too long, asked him if he +had none of the roe deer left over?</p> +<p>Whereat he started, and looked terrified at me. Then I laughed, +and said that Grendel had told me what was in the pot, and the man, +seeing that I was not angry, began to grin also, wondering. Then +the meaning of the whole business seemed to come to him, and he sat +down and began to laugh, looking at me from under his brows now and +then, lest I should be wroth with him for the freedom. But I +laughed also, and so in the end we two sat and laughed till the +tears came, opposite one another, and that was a thing that I had +never thought to do again. At last I stopped, and then he made +haste to compose himself.</p> +<p>"Master," he said, "forgive me. But if you were Grendel, as I +think now, there is a great fear off my mind."</p> +<p>"I was Grendel, Dudda," said I; "but you must have a sorely evil +conscience to be so easily frighted."</p> +<p>"Nay, master; but from week to week I see none, least of all at +midnight, and mail-clad men never at all. I think I am the only man +who fears not this marsh and what may haunt it."</p> +<p>"That you may never boast again," said I; "for scared you were, +and that badly!"</p> +<p>"It is between you and me, master," said he, with much cunning +in his look; "as I pray the matter of what was in the cauldron may +be also --"</p> +<p>"Well, as for that," I answered, "I ate it, and was glad of it, +so I will not inquire how it came there."</p> +<p>But I was glad to have this secret as a sort of hold over this +man, for thralls are not to be trusted far, nor was I in a mood to +put much faith in any.</p> +<p>After that we ate in silence, and when we had finished, he put a +loaf and a half cheese into a wallet, and took a staff, and asked +me to command him. I knew not what the hermit had told him, so +asked how much he had learned of my errand.</p> +<p>"That you are on king's business, master, and in haste. Moreover +that your errand is secret, so that you would not be seen in town +or village on your way."</p> +<p>"That is right," I said, thanking in my mind the good hermit, +whose ready wit had made things so easy for me; moreover it was +truthful enough, for outlawry is king's business in all earnest, +though not the honour this poor thrall doubtless thought was put on +me.</p> +<p>Then I told him that I need ask him but to guide me beyond +Parret river, on this side of Bridgwater, for after that the long +line of the Quantocks would guide me well enough. It was all I +needed, for once out of this fenland I knew the country well -- +aye, every furlong of it -- but I was willing enough to let him +guide me through land I knew, that if ever he were questioned -- as +he might well be when my outlawry was known -- his tale of my +little knowledge of the country would make men think me some +stranger, and so no blame would come on him for harbouring me.</p> +<p>So we started in the bright early morning, and he guided me +well. There is little to say of that journey, but finding from the +man's talk that the Moot rose not until the next day, I thought, +with a lifting of my heart, how Matelgar would likely enough be yet +there, and that I might almost in safety, unless he had sent word +back concerning me to his men, go and try to gain speech of +Alswythe.</p> +<p>Now it chanced presently that, looking about me, I seemed to +know the lie of a woodland through which we passed, and in a little +was sure we were in that glade where I fought my fight. And next, I +saw my quarterstaff still resting against the tree where I had left +it. The collier saw it too, and said that some forester was +doubtless resting close by, seeming uneasy about the same. But I +said that no question should be made of his presence in the wood, +if it were so, and we came up to it. Then he started, and cried to +me to look around.</p> +<p>My billhook, covered with new rust from the dew, lay where I had +thrown it in stripping off my own garments to arm myself; but of +the man I had slain only scattered bones were left. The wolves had +devoured him.</p> +<p>When I saw that, I thought that this dead man might as well pass +for myself -- Heregar, the outlaw. So I examined billhook and +quarterstaff, and at last said I knew them. They had been given to +one Heregar, who had been outlawed and driven from the Moot even as +I stood to watch the gathering as I passed by.</p> +<p>"Then his outlawry has ended here," said the collier. "The +wolves have devoured him."</p> +<p>"Just as well," I said carelessly. "Shall you take his staff and +bill? They are good enough."</p> +<p>"Not I," said the man. "It is ill meddling with strange men's +weapons, most of all an outlaw's."</p> +<p>"Mayhap you are wise," I said, and, casting down the things +alongside the bones, went on.</p> +<p>Now I had looked all round, and saw that my old garments were +gone, so that the man I had let go had at all events started away +with them. But now I knew that the news of my death would soon +spread, hard on the publishing of the sentence of outlawry, for the +doings of an outlaw are of the first interest to those among whom +he may wander. As it was, indeed, to my guide, who spoke so much +thereof that I knew he would be full of it, and tell it to all whom +he met. And when he told me he should go back through the town I +was glad, for so Matelgar would have news of the same, confirming +the tale of his man, though not accounting for his captain. Whereby +he would be puzzled, and his life would be none the easier, for I +knew he would dread my vengeance, though it might be hard for me to +compass.</p> +<p>At last we crossed the river, and went a little way together +into the woods beyond, till we came to the road which should lead +the collier back to Bridgwater town. And there I made him give me +directions for crossing the Quantocks, as though I would go by +Triscombe -- which I feigned to know not, save by name given for my +guidance on my way.</p> +<p>I looked for him to ask reward, but he did not, and what the +hermit had told him I could not say, unless he had promised him +reward on his return. He made a low salutation before me, cap in +hand, and I thanked him for his pains, saying that I would not +forget him, as I was sure he would not forget "Grendel". And so we +laughed, and he went away pleased enough, giving me the wallet of +food.</p> +<p>Then was I left alone in the woodlands that had been mine to +hunt through, for, holding our land from the king himself, I had +many rights that stretched far and wide, which doubtless that +Matelgar coveted for himself, and would now enjoy. And hard it was, +and bitter exceedingly, not to turn my steps straight through the +town, where men had saluted me reverently, to my own hall where it +nestles under the great rock that looks out over my low meadows, +and away towards Brent across the wide river. But that might not +be. So I tried to stay myself with the thought of the hermit's +prophecy, and plunging deep into the woods, crossed far back of my +own place, until I could circle round towards Matelgar's hall.</p> +<p>And there I must go carefully, lest I should be seen and known +by any; but the woods were thick, and none knew them better than I. +These things come by nature to a man, and so I should not be proud +that the very woodmen would own that I was their master in all the +craft of the forest, as my father had been before me.</p> +<p>Now Matelgar's hall, smaller than mine, though as well built, or +better, lay in that glen which runs down towards the level meadows +of Stert point between Severn and Parret, north of the little hills +of Combwich and Stockland, and almost under that last. And there +the forest came down the valley -- for it is not enough for me to +call a combe -- almost to the rear of the hall and the quickset +inclosure around it.</p> +<p>It was afternoon and towards evening when I came here, and I +bided in the woods a mile from the hall, in a safe place where none +ever came, until I heard the horn which called all men in to sup. +Then, when I judged that they had gathered, I struck towards the +path that leads down to the hall, keeping yet under cover. One ran +in haste towards his supper as I neared it, so I knew that perhaps +he was the last to take his place, and that for an hour or two I +was secure.</p> +<p>Now in this wood, and not so far from where I was, is a little +nook with a fallen tree, and here Alswythe and her mother were wont +to come in the warm evenings, and sit while the feeding in hall +went on, so soon as they could leave the board. And there, too, I +had met Alswythe often lately, sitting and taking pleasure in her +company, till she knew that I would want no better companion for +all my life.</p> +<p>This was just such an evening as might tempt her there, and I +would at least have the sorrow of biding there alone for the last +time. So I crept to that place very softly, and sat me down to +think.</p> +<p>Maybe I had sat there a quarter of an hour when I heard a step +coming, and that step set my heart beating fast, for it was the one +I longed for. Then I feared to frighten her with sight of an armed +man in her retreat, but before I could move, she came round the +bend of the path that made the place private, and saw me.</p> +<p>She gave a little scream, and half turned to fly, for she was +alarmed, not knowing me in my arms. And all I could do was to take +off my helm and hold out my hands to her, for I could not speak her +name in my joy.</p> +<p>Then she laid her hand to her heart, and paused and looked; and +before I could step towards her, she was in my arms of her own +will; so I was content.</p> +<p>Now how we two found ourselves sitting side by side presently, +in the old place, I may hardly say, but so it was. And I forgot all +about her father and the evil he had wrought, knowing that she had +no part in it, or indeed knowledge thereof.</p> +<p>For when we came to talk quietly, I found that she had thought +me dead, and mourned for me: for Matelgar had told her that he knew +nought of me. And I would not tell her of his treachery, for he was +her father, and so for her sake I made such a tale as I knew he was +like to tell her, though maybe the truth would come sooner or +later: how that secret enemies had trapped me, and had brought +false charges against me, which none of my friends could combat, so +skilfully were they wrought, and then how that I was outlawed, and +must fly.</p> +<p>And hearing this she wept bitterly, fearing, and with reason, +that I should not return.</p> +<p>Then I comforted her with the hermit's prophecy, saying nought +of her father. And she, sweet soul, promised that Matelgar should +tend my lands and hall well till the words of the holy man came +true, and I might take them back from him. And then she added that +sorely cast down and troubled had her father seemed when he rode +back from the Moot that day, and doubtless it was from this. But +how glad would he be to know me living, and even now would take me +in and set me on my way, notwithstanding the order of the +ealdorman!</p> +<p>Now when I heard that Matelgar was indeed returned, and so close +to me, I knew not what to do or say: for all my plans that he +should think me dead were like to be overthrown by the talk of this +innocent daughter of his.</p> +<p>And she, seeing me troubled, would have me say what it was, and +I found it hard to answer her.</p> +<p>At last I told her how even Matelgar dared not harbour or assist +me, and cried out on my folly in bringing blame even on her, were +my presence known. But she stopped my mouth, telling me most +lovingly that the risk was worth the running, so that she knew me +living again.</p> +<p>Then I said that, lest harm should come to her father, it were +better to keep secret that I had been here. And that, moreover, +those enemies of mine would doubtless track me till they knew me +gone from the kingdom, so that were a whisper to go abroad that I +had been seen here, it might be death for me.</p> +<p>"And for this," I added, "it is likely that Matelgar, your +father, will have it spread abroad that I am dead, in his care for +my safety. For so will question about me and where I am cease."</p> +<p>This I said lest she should deny when the news came, as it must, +that this was so.</p> +<p>Yet she longed to tell her father that I was here; but at last I +overpersuaded her, and she promised to tell none, not even him, +that she had seen me, and for my sake to feign to believe that I +was dead.</p> +<p>Then we must part. I told her my plans for going still westward +to make myself a name, if that might be; and promised to let her +have news of me, if and when I might, and in all to be true to +her.</p> +<p>And she, brave girl, would try not to weep as I kissed her for +the last time; and gave me the little silver cross from her neck to +keep for her sake, telling me that she would pray for me night and +day, and that surely her prayers, and those of the holy man and the +innocent child would be heard for me, so that the prophecy would +come true. And more she said, which I may not write. Then footsteps +came up the main path, and I must go.</p> +<p>I heard her singing as she went back to the hail in the evening +light, and knew that that was for my sake, and not for lightness of +heart; and so, when her voice died away, I plunged again into the +woods, making westward while light lasted.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap05">CHAPTER V.</a> THE VIKINGS ARRIVE.</h2> +<p>Now after I had parted from Alswythe, my true love, I could not +forbear a little heaviness at first, because I knew not when I +should see her again. But there is a wonderful magic in youth, and +good health, and strength, and yet more in true love requited, +which will charm a man from any long heaviness. So before long, as +I went through the twilight woodlands towards the mighty Quantock +hills, my heart grew light within me; and I even dared to weave +histories in my mind of how I would make a name for myself, and so +return in high honour by very force of brave deeds done, deeds that +should be spoken of through all the land. It is a strange heart in +a youth that cannot, or will not, do the like for his future, and +surely want of such thoughts will lead him to nothing great, even +if it does not bid him sink to the level of his own thralls, as I +have known men fall.</p> +<p>However, my heart was full of brave dreamings, always with the +thought of Alswythe as my reward at the end; so that I began to +long to start my new life, and went on swiftly that I might the +sooner leave behind the land that was to be closed to me.</p> +<p>Night fell as I came to the mouth of the long combe that runs up +under Triscombe where the road crosses, and to south of it, and I +began to wonder how I should lodge for the night. Then I remembered +a woodman's hut, deep in the combe, that would serve for shelter, +keeping the wolves from me, as it kept them from the woodmen, who +made it for the purpose -- the place being far from any village, so +that at times they would bide there for nights when much work was +on hand. None would be there in Maytime, for the season for felling +was long past.</p> +<p>So I found my way to the hut, and there built a fire, and then +must, in the dark, grope for a flint wherewith to strike light on +steel, but could not find one among the thick herbage. So I sat in +the dark, eating my bread and cheese, and thinking how that I was +like to make a poor wanderer if I thought not of things such as +this. However, I thought my wanderings would last no long time, and +as the moon rose soon I was content enough, dreaming of her from +whom I had parted so lately.</p> +<p>I will not say that the wish for revenge on Matelgar had clean +gone, for him I hated sorely. But for me to strike the blow that I +had longed for would be to lose Alswythe, and so I must long for +the words of sooth to come true, that I might see revenge by other +hands than mine. Then again must I think of hurt to Matelgar as of +hurt to Alswythe, so that I dared not ponder much on the matter; +but at last was fain to be minded to wait and let the hermit's +words work themselves out, and again fall to my dreaming of great +deeds to come.</p> +<p>Out of those dreams I had a rough waking, that told me that I +was not all a cool warrior yet.</p> +<p>Something brushed by the door of the hut with clatter of dry +chips, and snarl, as it went, and my heart stopped, and then beat +furiously, while a cold chill went over me with the start, and I +sprang up and back, drawing my sword. And it was but a gray badger +pattering past the hut, which he feared not, it having been +deserted for so long, on his search for food.</p> +<p>Then I was angry with myself, for I could not have been more +feared had it been a full pack of wolves; but at last I laughed at +my fears, and began to look round the hut in the moonlight. Soon I +had shut and barred the heavy door, and laid myself down to sleep, +with a log for pillow.</p> +<p>Though sleep seemed long in coming, it came at last, and it was +heavy and dreamless, until the sun shone through the chinks between +the logs whereof the hut was built, and I woke.</p> +<p>Then I rose up, opened the door, and looked out on the morning. +The level sunbeams crept through the trees and made everything very +fresh and fair, and a little light frost hung over twigs and young +fern fronds everywhere, so that I seemed in the land of fairy +instead of the Quantocks. The birds were singing loudly, and a +squirrel came and chattered at me, and then, running up a bough, +sat up, still as if carved from the wood it was resting on, and +watched me seemingly without fear. Then I went down the combe and +sought a pool, and bathed, and ate the last of the food the collier +had given me. Where I should get more I knew not, nor cared just +then, for it was enough to carry me on for the next day and night, +if need be, seeing that I had been bred to a hunter's life in the +open, and a Saxon should need but one full meal in the day, whether +first or last.</p> +<p>Now while I ate and thought, it seemed harder to me to leave +these hills and combes that I loved than it had seemed overnight; +and at last I thought I would traverse them once again, and so make +to the headland, above Watchet and Quantoxhead on either side, and +then down along the shore, always deserted there, to the hills +above Minehead, by skirting round Watchet, and so on into the great +and lonely moors beyond, where I could go into house or hamlet +without fear of being known.</p> +<p>Then I remembered that to seek help in the villages must be to +ask charity. That would be freely given, doubtless, but would lead +to questions, and, moreover, my pride forbade me to ask in that +way. Then, again, for a man so subsisting it might be hard to win a +way to a great man's favour, though, indeed, a stout warrior was +always sure to find welcome with him who had lands to protect, but +not so certainly with the other housecarles among whom he would +come.</p> +<p>So I began to see that my plight was worse than I thought, and +sat there, with my back to an ash tree, while the birds sang round +me, and was downcast for a while.</p> +<p>Then suddenly, as I traced the course that I had laid out in my +mind, going over the hunts of the old days, when I rode beside my +father and since, I bethought me of one day when the stag, a great +one of twelve points, took to the sea just this side of Watchet +town, swimming out bravely into Severn tide, so that we might +hardly see him from the strand. There went out three men in a +little skiff to take him, having with them the young son of the +owner of the boat. And in some way the boat was overturned, as they +came back towing the stag after them, when some hundred or more +yards from shore, and in deep water where a swift current ran. Two +men clung to the upturned boat; but the other must swim, holding up +his son, who, though a big boy of fourteen, was helpless in the +water. And I saw that it was like to go hard with both of them, for +the current bore them away from shore and boat alike.</p> +<p>So I rode in, and my horse swam well, and we reached them in +time, so that I took the boy by his long hair and raised him above +the water, while the man, his father, swam beside us, and we got +safely back to the beach, they exhausted enough but safe, and I +pleased that my good horse did so well.</p> +<p>But the man would have it that I and not the horse saved his +son, and was most grateful, bidding me command him in anything all +his life long, even to life itself, saying that he owed me both his +own and the boy's. And that made me fain to laugh it away, being +uneasy at his praise, which seemed overmuch. However, as we rode +home, my father said I had made a friend for life, and that one +never knew when such would be wanted.</p> +<p>Now this man was a franklin, and by no means a poor one, so now +at last I remembered my father's words, and knew that I was glad to +have one friend whom I knew well enough would not turn away from +me, for I had seen him many times since, and liked him well.</p> +<p>I would go to him, tell him all -- if he had not yet heard it, +which was possible -- and so ask him to lend me a few silver pieces +in my need. I knew he would welcome the chance of showing the +honesty of his words, and might well afford it. Thus would I go, +after dark lest I should be seen and he blamed, and so make onward +with a lighter heart and freer hand.</p> +<p>So I waited a little longer in the safe recesses of the deep +combe until a great gray cloud covered all the tops of the hills +above me, and I thought it well to cross the open under its shelter +to Holford Coombe, which I did.</p> +<p>There I loitered again, hearing the stags belling at times +across the hollows to one another, but hardly wishful to meet with +them in their anger. I saw no man, for once I had crossed the +highroad none was likely to seek the heights in Maytime. And I +think that no one would have known me. For in my captivity my beard +had grown, and my hair was longer than its wont; and when I had +seen my face in the little pool that morning, I myself had started +back from the older, bearded, and stern face that met me, instead +of the fine, smooth, young looks that had been mine on the night of +my last feast. But there were many at the Moot, which was even now +dispersing, who had seen only this new face of mine, and I could +not trust to remaining long unrecognized. None might harm me, that +was true; but to be driven on, like a stray dog, from place to +place, man to man, for fear of what should be done to him who aided +me in word or deed, was worse, to my thought, than open enmity.</p> +<p>Now as night fell the clouds thickened up overhead, but it was +still and clear below, if dark; and by the time the night fairly +closed in, I stood on the heights above Watchet, and, looking down +over the broad channel and to my left, saw the glimmering lights of +the little town.</p> +<p>There I waited a little, pondering the safest way and time for +reaching the franklin's house, for I would not bring trouble on him +by being seen. All the while I looked out over the sea, and then I +saw something else that I could not at first make out.</p> +<p>Somewhere on the sea, right off the mouth of the Watchet haven, +and seemingly close under me, there flashed brightly a light for a +moment and instantly, far out in the open water another such flash +answered it -- seen and gone in an instant. Then came four more +such flashes, each a little nearer than the second, and from +different places. Then I found that the first and one other near it +were not quite vanished, but that I could see a spark of them still +glowing.</p> +<p>Now while I wondered what this might mean, those two nearer +lights began to creep in towards the haven, closer and closer, and +as they did so, flashed up again, and answering flashes came from +the other places.</p> +<p>The night was still, and I sat down to see more or this, knowing +that they who made these signals must be in ships or boats; but not +knowing why they were made, or why so many ships should be gathered +off the haven. Anyway there would be many people about to meet them +if they came in, and that would not suit me.</p> +<p>Then all of a sudden the light from the nearest ship flamed up, +bright and strong, and moved very fast towards the haven, and the +others followed, for first one light and then another came into +sight like the first two as they drew near. I knew not much about +ships, but it seemed to me as if lanterns were on deck, and hidden +from the shore by the bulwarks, perhaps, but that being so high +above, I could look down on them.</p> +<p>"If they be honest vessels," thought I, all of a sudden, "why do +they hide their lights?" for often had I seen the trading busses +pass up our Parret river at night with bright torches burning on +deck.</p> +<p>What was that?</p> +<p>Very faint and far away there came up to me in the still air, +for what breeze there was set from the sea to me, a chant sung by +many rough voices -- a chant that set my blood spinning through me, +and that started me to my feet, running with all the speed I could +make in the darkness to warn Watchet town that the vikings were on +them! For now I knew. I had heard the "Heysaa", the war song of the +Danes.</p> +<p>But before I could cover in the dark more than two miles I +stopped, for I was too late. There shot up a tongue of flame from +Watchet town, and then another and another, and the ringing of the +church bell came to me for a little, and then that stopped, and up +on Minehead height burnt out a war beacon that soon paled to +nothing in the glare of the burning houses in the town. I could +fancy I heard yells and shrieks from thence, but maybe that was +fancy, though I know they were there for me to hear truly +enough.</p> +<p>But I could do nothing. The town was too evidently in the hands +of the enemy, and I could only climb up the hill again, and watch +where the ships went, perhaps, as I had seen them come.</p> +<p>As I clomb the hill the heavy smell of the smoke caught me up +and bided with me, making me wild with fury against the plunderers, +and against Matelgar, in that now I might not call out my own men +and ride to the sheriff's levy with them, and fight for Wessex as +was my right.</p> +<p>And these Danes, or Northmen, whichever they might be -- but we +called them all Danes without much distinction -- were the very men +with whom I had thought to join when I won down to Cornwall.</p> +<p>One thing I could do, I could fire the beacon on the Quantocks. +That was a good thought; and I hurried to the point where I knew it +was ever piled, ready, since the day of Charnmouth fight two years +agone.</p> +<p>I found it, and, hammering with the flint I had found in case of +such a necessity as last night's, I kindled the dry fern at its +foot to windward, and up it blazed. Then in a quarter hour's time +it was answered from Brent, and from a score of hills around.</p> +<p>Now, as I stood by the fire, I heard the sound of running +footsteps, far off yet, and knew they were the messengers who were +bidden to fire the beacon. So I slipped aside into cover of its +smoke, and lay down in a little hollow under some bushes, where I +could both see and hear them when they came.</p> +<p>They were four in all, and were panting from their run.</p> +<p>"Who fired the beacon?" said one, looking round.</p> +<p>"Never mind," said another; "we shall have credit for mighty +diligence in doing it."</p> +<p>"But," said the first, "he should be here."</p> +<p>Then they forgot that in the greater interest they had left, or +escaped from, and began to talk of the vikings.</p> +<p>The men from two ships had landed, I learned, and had surprised +the place; scarce had any time to flee; none to save goods. They +mentioned certain names of the slain whom they had seen fall, and +of these one was the franklin whom I was going to seek. There was +no help for me thence now.</p> +<p>One man said he had heard there were more ships lying off; but +they did not know how many, and I could see they had been in too +great haste to care to learn.</p> +<p>Soon fugitives -- men, women, and children -- began to straggle +in wretched little groups up the hill, weeping and groaning, and I +knew there would soon be too many there for my liking. So I crept +away, easily enough, and went out to the headland.</p> +<p>But I could see nothing on the sea now; and so, very sad at +heart, I sought a bushy hollow and laid me down and slept, while +the smoke of Watchet hung round me, and now and then a brighter +glare flashed over the low clouds, as the roof of some building +fell in and fed the flames afresh.</p> +<p>I woke in the light of the gray dawn, and the smell of burning +was gone, and the sea I looked out on was clear again, for a fresh +breeze from the eastward was sweeping the smoke, as I could see, +away to the other hills, westward. But the town was gone -- only a +smoke was left for all there was for me to look down on, instead of +the red-tiled and gray-thatched roofs that I had so often seen +before from that place or near it.</p> +<p>Next I saw the ships of the vikings. They lay out in the channel +at anchor, for the tide was failing. I suppose they had gone into +the little haven as soon as there was water enough, and that those +lights I saw were signs made from one to the other when that was +so. There were specks near them -- moving -- their boats, no doubt, +from the shore, bringing off plunder. The long ships themselves +looked like barley corns from so high above, or so I thought them +to look, if they were larger to sight than that, for that was their +shape.</p> +<p>Now I had not thought that they would have bided when the +beacons were lit; but would have gone out westward with this tide. +And therefore I wondered what their next move would be, but +expected to see them up anchor and go soon.</p> +<p>Waiting so, I waxed hungry, for nought had I tasted, save a few +birds' eggs that I had found in Holford Coombe, since that time +yesterday. Birds' eggs, thought I, were better than nought, so I +wandered among the bushes seeking more. As I did so, by and by, I +came in sight of the beacon on the hilltop, and looking up at it, +rather blaming my carelessness, saw that but two men were there, +tending it, and from their silver collars I knew that they were +thralls. They were putting on green bushes to make a smother and +black smoke that would warn men that the enemy were yet at +hand.</p> +<p>When I saw that both the men were strange to me, I went up to +them, as though come to find out news of the business. And they +saluted me, evidently not knowing me. I talked with them awhile, +and then shared their breakfast with them, glad enough of it. They +had, however, no more to tell me than I had already learnt, beyond +tales of horror brought by the fugitives of last night, which I +will not write.</p> +<p>Those people had soon passed on, fearing, as each new group came +up, that the enemy was on their heels. They had doubtless scattered +into the villages beyond.</p> +<p>So the time went idly, and the sun rose, while yet the tide fell +and the ships lay beneath us. Smoke, as of cooking fires, rose from +their decks, and they were evidently in no hurry. Nor need they be. +In those days we had no warships such as our wise king has made us +since then, and none could harm them on the open water.</p> +<p>In an hour's time, however, there came a change over the sea. +Little waves began to curl over it, and when the sun broke out it +flashed bright where the wind came over in flaws here and there. +Then from each ship were unfurled great sails, striped in bright +colours, and one by one they got under way, and headed over towards +the Welsh coast, beyond channel. The tide had turned.</p> +<p>"They are going," said I, with much gladness.</p> +<p>One of the men shook his head.</p> +<p>"They do but slant across the wind, master. Presently they will +go about and so fetch the Wessex shore again, and so on till they +reach where they will up channel."</p> +<p>We watched them, and while we watched, a man came up from the +west, heated and tired out, and limping with long running as it +seemed. And when he saw me he ran straight to me, and thrusting a +splinter of wood into my hand, cried in a panting voice:</p> +<p>"I can no more -- In the king's name to Matelgar of Stert -- the +levy is at Bridgwater Cross. In all haste."</p> +<p>It was the war arrow. <a name="sdendnote6anc" href= +"#sdendnote6sym"><sup>vi</sup></a>No man might refuse to bear that +onward. Yet -- to Matelgar -- and by an outlaw! But the man was +beat, and the thralls might not bear it.</p> +<p>"Look at me; know you who I am?" I said to the man, who had cast +himself down on the grass, panting again.</p> +<p>"No -- nor care," he said, glancing at me sharply. "On, and +tarry not."</p> +<p>"I am an outlaw," I said simply.</p> +<p>"Armed?" he said, with a laugh. "Outlaw in truth you will be, an +you speed not."</p> +<p>"I am Heregar," I said again.</p> +<p>"Curse you!" said the man; "go on, and prate not. If you were +Ealhstan himself, with his forked hat on, you must go."</p> +<p>"Heregar -- my master's friend," cried one of the two thralls, +"if it be true you are outlawed, as I heard yesterday, go and win +yourself inlawed again by this."</p> +<p>Then I turned, and wasted no more time, running swiftly down the +hill and away towards the spot where my enemy lay at Stert, and +that honest thrall of my friend, the slain franklin's, shouted +after me for good speed.</p> +<p>"Well," I thought, as I went on at a loping pace, "I can prove +my loyalty maybe -- but I have to bear this into the wolf's den -- +and much the proof will serve me!"</p> +<p>Then I thought that presently I would feign lameness, and send +on some other. And so I ran on.</p> +<p>I struck a path soon, and kept it, knowing that, if one met and +recognized me, the token I bore was pass enough -- moreover, none +might harm me, if they would, so that I was doing no wrong in being +turned back, as it were, by emergency, from leaving the kingdom. +Now, as I trotted swiftly along the track, there lay in my way what +I thought was a stone till I neared it. Then I saw that it was a +bag, and so picked it up, hardly pausing, shaking it as I did +so.</p> +<p>It was full of money! Doubtless some one of the fugitives +dropped it last night as they went in haste, hardly knowing they +had it, perhaps. Well, better with me than with the Danes, I +thought, and so bestowed the bag inside my mail shirt, and thanked +the man who sent me on this errand. For now I felt as if free once +more; for with sword and mail and money what more does man +need?</p> +<p>When next I came to a place that looked out over sea, I could no +more spy the ships. They must have stretched far across to the +Welsh coast. Only the two holms broke the line of water to the +north and east up channel.</p> +<p>Then the thought came to me that the Danes were gone, and what +use going further with this errand? But that was not my business; +the war arrow must go round, and the bearer must not fail, or else +"nidring"<sup><a name="sdendnote7anc" href= +"#sdendnote7sym"><sup>vii</sup></a></sup> should he be from +henceforward. So I went on.</p> +<p>Now, at last, was I but a mile or two from Stert, and began to +wish to meet one to whom to give the arrow -- but saw no man. I +turned aside to a little cluster of thralls' and churls' huts I +knew. There were no people there, and one hut was burnt down. +Afterwards I heard that they had been deserted by reason of some +pestilence that had been there; but now it seemed like a warning to +do the duty that had been thrust on me.</p> +<p>Then at last I remembered the prophecy of the old hermit -- and +my heart bounded within me -- for, indeed, unlooked for as this +was, surely it was like the beginning of its working out.</p> +<p>Now would I go through with it, and on the head of Matelgar be +the blame were I slain. Known was I by name to the messenger who +gave me the arrow, and to those thralls, and known therefore would +my going to Matelgar be.</p> +<p>Nevertheless, when I went down that path that I have spoken of, +toward the hall, looking to meet with one at every turn, my heart +beat thick enough for a time, till a great coolness came over me +and I feared nought.</p> +<p>Yet must I turn aside one moment to lock into that nook where +Alswythe and I had met, but it was empty. I knew that it must be so +at that hour, but I was of my love constrained to go there.</p> +<p>Then I ran boldly round the outer palisade and came to the great +gate.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap06">CHAPTER VI.</a> IN THE WOLF'S DEN.</h2> +<p>There was only one man near it, and he sat on the settle inside, +so that he could see out and in as he wished. Him I knew at once, +and was glad, for it was that old warrior who had showed some +liking for me at Brent.</p> +<p>He got up slowly as he saw a stranger stand in the gateway and +came out towards me. Then he started a little and frowned.</p> +<p>"Rash -- master, rash," he said, but not loudly. "This is no +safe place for you," and he motioned me to fly.</p> +<p>Then I beckoned him out a little further and showed him what I +bore in my hand. And he was fairly amazed and knew not what to say, +that I, an outlaw, should have been sent on this errand, and more, +that I should have come.</p> +<p>I told him, speaking quickly and shortly, how it had come about, +and he understood that the man who gave me the arrow neither knew +nor believed me.</p> +<p>"Master," he said, when I had done, "verily I believe that you +are true, and wronged by him I have served this past two months. +But of this I know not for certain, being a stranger here and +little knowing of place or people. But this I know, from the man +you sent back, that our thane sought your life against the word of +the ealdorman, and, moreover, believes that you are dead. But by +the arms you wear I can learn how that matter really went. Now, +give me the arrow, and I will see to this -- do you fly."</p> +<p>But I was bent on ending the errand, and said I would carry out +the task, as was my duty, to the end. I would put the arrow with +its message into Matelgar's hand, and bide what might come.</p> +<p>He tried to dissuade me, but at last said that he would not +stand by and see me harmed, and for that I thanked him.</p> +<p>"Well then," he told me, "you have come in a good hour. Most of +the men have gone out here and there to spy what they may of the +Danes and their plans -- if gone or not. Others are in the stables, +and but one man sits at the door of the great hall, and he is of no +account."</p> +<p>"Where is Matelgar?" I asked.</p> +<p>"I know not exactly; but do as I say and all will be well."</p> +<p>Then I said that his advice had saved me, I thought, when before +the Moot, and I would follow it here.</p> +<p>"Then," he went on, "come you to the hall door and bide there +while I go in and call the thane thither. He will stay by his great +chair to hear your message, and I will stand by the man who keeps +the door. Then, when you have given up the arrow, tarry not, but +come out at once, and get out of this gate, lest he should raise +some alarm. Then must you take to the woods quickly."</p> +<p>So he turned and went in before me. There were some twenty yards +of courtyard to be crossed before we came to the great timber-built +hall, round which the other buildings clustered inside the +palisades. But there were no men about, though I could hear them +whistling at their morning's work in the stables, for the idle time +of the day was yet to come. Only a boy crossed from one side to the +other on some errand, behind us, and paid no attention beyond +pausing a little to stare, as I could judge by his footsteps. At +any other time I should not have noticed even that, but now that I +was in the very jaws of the wolf, as it were, I saw and heard +everything. And all the while my heart beat fast -- but that was +not from fear, but for thinking I might by chance see Alswythe.</p> +<p>Yet I will say it truly, that thought of her had no share in +bringing me on this mad errand, which might have ending in such +fashion as would break her heart.</p> +<p>One man, as my guide had said, sat just inside the hall, but I +knew him not. Since he had my hall and his own to tend, Matelgar +must have hired more and new housecarles. This man was trimming a +bow at the hearth, and did not rise, seeing that, whoever I might +be, I was brought in by his comrade. The great hall looked wide and +empty, for the long tables were cleared away, and only the settle +by the hearth in the centre remained, beside the thane's own carved +seat on the dais at the far end.</p> +<p>"Bide by the fire till he comes," said my guide, seeing that the +man did not know me, and leaving me there, he went through a door +beyond the thane's chair to seek him.</p> +<p>So I stood where the smoke rose between me and that door, +waiting and warming my hands quietly, and as unconcernedly to all +seeing as I could.</p> +<p>"Ho, friend," said the man, so suddenly that he made me start; +"look at your sword hilt before the thane comes," and he pointed +and grinned.</p> +<p>Sure enough, my sword hilt was not fastened to the sheath as it +should be in a peaceful hall, but the thong hung loose, as if ready +for me to thrust wrist through before drawing the blade. So I +grinned back, without a word, lest Matelgar should hear my voice +and know it, and began to pretend to knot the thong round the +scabbard. All the same, I was not going to fasten it so that I +could not draw if need were, and only kept on plaiting and +twisting.</p> +<p>Then I heard Matelgar's voice and footstep, and I desisted, and, +taking the arrow from my belt, stood up and ready.</p> +<p>He came in, looking round, but not seeing me at first through +the blue smoke, for as I knew he would, he entered by the door +through which my guide had gone just now. So I waited till he stood +with his hand on his chair, while the old warrior came down towards +me.</p> +<p>Then I strode forward boldly up to the foot of the dais, and +looking steadily a Matelgar, cast the arrow at his feet, +saying:</p> +<p>"In the king's name. The levy is at Bridgwater Cross. In all +haste."</p> +<p>He threw up his hands as one too terrified to draw sword -- who +would ward off some sudden terror -- giving back a pace or two, and +staring at me with wild eyes. His face grew white as milk, and +drawn, and his breath went in between his teeth with a long hissing +sound. But he spoke no word, and as he stood there, I turned and +walked out into the courtyard and to the gate, going steadily and +without looking round, like a man who has nothing either to keep or +hurry him.</p> +<p>Three grooms, whom I knew, stood with an unbridled horse on one +side, but they were busy and minded me not till I was just at the +gate.</p> +<p>Then one said to the other, "Yonder goes Heregar, as I +live!"</p> +<p>Then there came a cry like a howl of rage from the hall, but no +word of command as yet, nor did either housecarle come out that I +could hear.</p> +<p>Then I was at the gate, and as I passed it, turning sharp to the +right, for that was the nearest way to the woods, I heard one +running across the court.</p> +<p>When I heard that, instead of keeping straight on, I doubled +quickly round the angle of the palisade. By the time I had turned +it the man may have been at the gate, and would think me vanished. +But now I ran and got to cover in a thicket close to the rear of +the house. A bad place enough, but I must chance it.</p> +<p>I could hear shouts now from the courtyard. I looked round for a +way to escape, but to reach the woods I had now a long bit of open +ground to cover, and was puzzled. Then overhead I heard a bird +rustle, and I looked up, and at once a thought came to me. The tree +was an old, gnarled ash, and the leaves on it were thick for the +time of year. Moreover, the branches were so large that surely in +the fork I could find a hiding place. And being so close to the +hall, search would be with little, if any, care.</p> +<p>So with a little difficulty I climbed up, and there, sure +enough, found the tree hollow in the fork, so that if I crouched +down none could see me from below, while, lying flat against a +great branch, I could safely see something of what might be on +hand.</p> +<p>I was hardly sure of this when men began to spread here and +there about the place, but mostly going in the direction of the +woods. I heard Matelgar's voice, harsh and loud, promising reward +to him who should bring in the outlaw, dead or alive, and presently +saw him stand clear of the palisading, about a bowshot from me.</p> +<p>He was red enough now, but his hand played nervously with his +sword hilt, and once when men shouted in the wood, he clutched it. +Clearly I had terrified him, and if he deemed me, as it seemed, a +ghost at first sight, the token of the arrow had undeceived him, +and little rest would he have now, night or day, while I was yet at +large.</p> +<p>So I laughed to myself, and watched him till he went back.</p> +<p>Presently the men straggled in, too. One party, having made a +circle, came close by me, and they were laughing and saying that +the thane had seen a ghost.</p> +<p>"Moreover," said another, "we saw him cross the court slowly +enough, and when we got to the gate -- lo! he was gone."</p> +<p>Then one said that he had heard the like before, and their +voices died away as he told the story.</p> +<p>Soon after this the horns were blown to recall all the men, and +I knew that Matelgar must needs, even were it a ghost who brought +the war arrow, lead his following to the sheriff's levy.</p> +<p>Aye, and the following that should be mine as well. The message +I had brought should have been to me as a king's thane, and I +myself should have sent one to Matelgar to bid him come to the +levy, even as he would now send to the other lesser thanes and the +franklins round about, in my place. The men were running out even +now, north and west and east, as I thought of this in my +bitterness, and I watched them, knowing well to whom this one and +that must go in each quarter.</p> +<p>This was hard to think of. Yet I had stood in Matelgar's +presence, and had him in my power for a minute, while I might have +struck him down, and had not done so. And all that long night in +Sedgemoor I had promised myself just such a moment, and had +pictured him falling at my feet, my revenge taken.</p> +<p>But how long ago that seemed. Truly I was like another man then. +And since that night there had been the wise counsel of the hermit, +the prattle of the child, the touch and voice of my loved one, the +thought of a true friend, and now the sore need of the country I +loved. And, for the sake of all those things, I do not wonder that, +as I saw Matelgar pale and tremble before me, the thought of +slaying him never entered my head.</p> +<p>I will not say that I was much conscious of all these things +moulding my conduct; but I know that since I took this message on +me, and it seemed to me that the prophecy was on its way to +fulfilment, I had, as it were, stood by to see another avenger then +myself at work in a way that should unfold itself presently -- so +sure was I that all would come out as the hermit foretold. So it +was with a sort of confidence, and a boy's love of adventure, too, +that I had run into danger thus, while now that I had come off so +well, my confidence was yet stronger. However, it would not make me +foolhardy, for my father was wont to tell me that one may only +trust to luck after all care taken to be well off without it.</p> +<p>Men came trooping in from the nearer houses and farms very soon, +armed and excited. Often some passed under me, not ten paces off, +and then I shrank down into the hollow. All spoke of the Danes as +gone, but at last one said he thought he could see them, away by +Steepholme Island, half an hour agone. Though it might be fancy, he +added, for their ships were very low, and hard to see if no sail +were spread.</p> +<p>But from all I gathered, the Danes were over on the other coast, +and out of our way for the time at least.</p> +<p>Then I grew very stiff in the tree: but so many were about that +I dared not come down. They were, however, mostly gathered in the +open in front of the great gate, and only passers by came near me. +It was some three hours after noon before they gathered into ranks +at last, and the roll was called over by Matelgar himself, as he +rode along the line fully armed.</p> +<p>When that was done, he put himself at the head, and they filed +off up the road towards Bridgwater. I remembered that, when I was +quite little, my father once had to call out a levy against the +West Welsh, and then there was great cheering as the men started. +There was none now -- only the loud voice of the thane as he chided +loiterers and those who seemed to straggle.</p> +<p>I began to think of coming down when the last had gone, but a +few men from far off came running past to catch them up, and I kept +still yet. Then a great longing came upon me to join the levy and +fight the Danes, if fight there should be, and I began to plan to +do it in some way, yet could not see how to disguise myself, or +think to whose company to pretend to belong.</p> +<p>The place seemed very quiet after all the loud talk and shouting +that had been going on. My father's levy had had ale in casks, and +food brought out to them while they waited. But I had seen none of +that here. Maybe, however, it was in the courtyard, I thought, and +this I might see, if I climbed higher, above the palisading.</p> +<p>So I left my sword in the hollow, lest it should hamper me, and +went up a big branch until I could see over just enough to look +across to the great gate, which still stood open. Then I forgot all +about that which had made me curious, for I saw two figures in the +gateway.</p> +<p>Alswythe stood there, talking with my friend, as I will call him +ever, the old housecarle, and no one else was near them.</p> +<p>My first thought was to come down and run to her; but I +remembered that I could but see one corner of the court, and that +many more housecarles might be at hand, and waited, not daring to +take my eyes from Alswythe lest I should lose her.</p> +<p>They were too far off for me to hear their voices, nor did they +make sign or movement that would let me guess that which they spoke +of; but presently the old man saluted, and Alswythe went out of the +gate.</p> +<p>Then my heart leaped within me, for I thought, and rightly, that +she sought her bower in the wood. And so she passed close by me in +going there, and I must not speak or move for fear of terrifying +her.</p> +<p>But when she had gone up the path, I looked round carefully once +or twice, and came down, and then, buckling on my sword again, +looked warily out of the thicket, and seeing that none was near, +crossed the open and followed her.</p> +<p>There I found her in her place as she had found me the other +day, and soon once more we were side by side on the old seat; and +she was blaming me, tenderly, for my rashness. Yet she knew not +that it was I who had brought the arrow, and her one fear was that +I had joined those Danes. And when I looked at her, I saw that she +had been sorely troubled, and this was the cause, for she said:</p> +<p>"I knew that you, my Heregar, would not fight against your own +land, and so they would surely slay you."</p> +<p>So will a woman see the truth of things often more clearly than +a man. For that the vikings might call on me to fight my Saxon kin +had, till last night, never crossed my mind, yet after Charnmouth +fight it was like enough.</p> +<p>Then she asked what brought me here, and I told her that, seeing +the burning of Watchet, I had a mind to join the levy, if I could, +and so fight both for country and for her. That was true enough as +my thoughts ran now -- and surely I was not wrong in leaving out +the story of the errand with the war arrow, for that would have +told her of her father's lust for my destruction.</p> +<p>Then she wept lest I should fall, but being brave and thoughtful +for my honour, and for my winning back name and lands, bade me do +so if I could, cheering me with many fond and noble words, so that +I wondered that such a man as I could have won the love of such a +woman as she.</p> +<p>Now the time was all too short for me to tarry long: but before +I went, Alswythe would bring me out food and drink that I might go +well strengthened and provided. And as I let her go back to the +hall, I asked her the name of that old warrior to whom she spoke, +for it was he, I told her, who had tried to help me before the +Moot.</p> +<p>And then I was sorry I had told her that, for she might ask him +of the matter and hear more than was good for her peace of mind; +but it was done, and nothing could recall it.</p> +<p>Yet she did not notice it then, but said his name was Wulfhere, +and that he was a stranger from Glastonbury, as she thought, lately +come into her father's service. She was going then, and I asked her +to let me have speech with him, as I thought it safe, if he were to +be trusted, for I needed his advice in some things.</p> +<p>She said she would sound him first, not knowing how he had seen +me already, of course, and so went quickly away towards the +hall.</p> +<p>What I needed the old man for was but to try to repair my slip +of the tongue, and warn him of my love's ignorance of her father's +unfaith to me; but as it fell out, it was well I asked to see +him.</p> +<p>Presently he came to me. I had to slip into the bushes and lie +quiet till I knew who it was, and when I came out he smiled gravely +at me, shaking his head, yet as one not displeased altogether.</p> +<p>"Well managed, master," he said, still smiling, "but I knew not +that you had so strong a rope to draw you hither."</p> +<p>Then I told him the trouble I was like to bring on Alswythe if +he told her all that passed at Brent; letting him have his own +thoughts about my reason for coming to Matelgar's hall, which were +wrong enough, though natural at first sight, maybe.</p> +<p>He promised to be most wary, and I was content. Then I asked him +how I should join the levy.</p> +<p>"Master," he said, very gravely, "this is like to be a matter of +which we have not seen the end. Yon Danes are up channel, and, as I +believe, lying at anchor by the Holms. It will not be their way, +if, having gone so far up, they sack not every town on their way +back - unless they are beaten off on their first landing. Now the +country is raised against them, sure enough; but our levy is a weak +crowd when it is first raised, and they are tried warriors, every +one. Now they may go on up tide to the higher towns, or else they +will be back here, like a kite on a chicken, before men think, and +Bridgwater town will see a great fight, and maybe a burning, before +tomorrow."</p> +<p>Then I said that the levy would beat them off easily enough; but +the old warrior shook his head.</p> +<p>"I was at Charnmouth," he said, "when King Ethelwulf himself led +the charge. And our men fought well; but it was like charging a +wall bristling with spears. Again and again our men charged, but +the Danes stood in a great ring which never broke, although it +wavered once or twice, until we were wearied out, and then they +swung into line and swept us off the field. Until we learn to fight +as they fight, we are weaker."</p> +<p>Then I began to fear for Alswythe, and asked him what guard was +left for the hall, and again he shook his head.</p> +<p>"Myself, and five others -- not the strongest -- and a dozen +women, and three boys, thralls."</p> +<p>I knew not what to say to this; but the wise old man had already +thought of a plan in case of danger. And in this, he said, I could +advise him, for he was a stranger.</p> +<p>"Horses enough are left," he told me, "and if the Danes come to +Bridgwater, and are not beaten off, I shall mount the Lady Alswythe +and the women, and take them to a safer place. But whither?"</p> +<p>I told him at once of the house of a great thane beyond the +Quantocks, easily reached by safe roads through the forest land, +where Danes would not care to follow, and he thanked me.</p> +<p>Then he said that I might well try to join the levy; but that it +was possible that it would be hard for me. And I told him that if I +could not manage it I would join in the fight when no man would +question me, and that seemed possible to both of us. But if the +Danes yet kept away I knew I could wait in hiding, having money +now, safely enough till they had gone and the levy dispersed.</p> +<p>Then came Alswythe back, bearing with her the things I needed. +And Wulfhere begged her not to bide alone in the wood now, since +robbers might be overbold now that the men were drawn off to the +levy. That was good advice in itself; but I knew that he would have +her near the hall, lest there should be sudden need for fleeing. +She promised him, thanking him for the warning, and he left us.</p> +<p>Then she tended me as I ate, carefully, and never had there been +for me so sweet a meal as that, outlawed and homeless though I was +to the world. For her word was my law now, and my home was all in +her love for me.</p> +<p>I think no man can rightly be held an outlaw who has kept law +and has home such as that. For while he has, and loves those, wrong +will he do to none.</p> +<p>It was Alswythe who bade me go at last, not for her own sake, +but for mine, that I might go on my way to win my fair name back +again.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap07">CHAPTER VII.</a> OSRIC THE SHERIFF.</h2> +<p>Through the woods I reached Bridgwater town before the sun set, +and looking down from the steep hill that overhangs the houses, I +could see the market square full of men, shining in arms and +armour, and noisy enough, as I could hear. But every one of the +townsfolk knew me, and by this time also knew what had befallen me, +so that as I stood there it seemed not quite so easy to win a way +to the levy as before. The highways were yet full of men coming in, +for from where I stood on the edge of the cover I could see the +bend of one road, and straight down another. If I went on them I +must walk like a leper, alone and shunned by all, with maybe hard +words to hear as well.</p> +<p>While I thought of all this, there crept out from among the +woods an old crone, doubled up under the weight of a faggot of dry +sticks, who stayed to stare at me. I did not mind her, but of a +sudden she dropped her bundle of wood, and I saw that it was like +to be a heavy task for her to raise it again. So I turned and laid +hold of it, for she was but six paces from me, saying:</p> +<p>"Let me help you, Mother, to get it hoisted again. Truly would I +carry it for you for a while, but I must bide here."</p> +<p>"That must you, Heregar the outlaw," said the old woman coolly, +without a word of thanks, and I thought my story and face were +better known than I deemed. Therefore I must make the best of +it.</p> +<p>"Well, Mother," said I, "you know me, and if you know me, so +also must many others. But I want to join the levy, and fight if +need be."</p> +<p>"Thereby knew I you to be Heregar," said she; "for none but he +must stand here with the light of battle in his eyes and his hand +clutched on his sword hilt and not go down to the Cross yonder, as +the summons is."</p> +<p>Then I marvelled at the old dame's wisdom, though maybe it was +but a guess, and asked her what I should do, seeing that she was +wise, and the words of such as she are often to be hearkened +to.</p> +<p>"It is a wise man," she answered, "who will take advice; but +never a word should you have had from old Gundred, save you had +helped her, as a true man should."</p> +<p>"Truly, Mother Gundred," I said, "I have no rede of my own, and +am minded to take yours."</p> +<p>"Then, fool," she said curtly, "link up that tippet of mail +across your face, go down to Osric the Sheriff himself, beg to be +allowed to fight, and see what he will tell you."</p> +<p>I had forgotten that I could hook the hanging chain mail of my +helmet across, in such manner that little but my eyes could be +seen; but then that was never done but in battle -- and I had never +seen that yet.</p> +<p>"Thanks, Mother," said I, with truth, for I saw that I might do +this. "This is help indeed."</p> +<p>"Not so fast, young sir," answered the crone; "Osric will not +have you."</p> +<p>"How know you that?"</p> +<p>"How does an old woman of ninety years know many things? When +you tell me that, I will say how I know that Osric will send you +about your business; and that will be the best day's work he ever +did."</p> +<p>Now I was nearly angry at that, for it seemed to set light store +on my valour; but there seemed something more in the old woman's +tone than her taunting words would convey, so I said plainly:</p> +<p>"Then shall I go to him?"</p> +<p>"Aye, fool, did I not tell you so?"</p> +<p>"But if it is no good?"</p> +<p>"Is it no good for a man who is accused of disloyalty to have +witness that he wished, at least, to spend his life for his +country? Moreover, there is work for you to do which fighting will +hinder for this turn -- go to, Heregar, I will tell you no more. +Now do my bidding and go, and never will you forget that you helped +an old witch with her burden."</p> +<p>"Well, then, Mother," I said, hooking up the mail tippet across +my face, "if I must go down into the town, surely I will carry that +bundle."</p> +<p>"That shall you not," she answered, dropping it again, and +sitting down on it. "Heregar the king's thane -- the standard +bearer -- shall bend to no humbler burden than the Dragon of +Wessex. Go; and Thor and Odin strike with you."</p> +<p>And then she covered up her face, and would look no more at me. +I thought her crazed, maybe, but a sort of chill came over me as I +heard her name the old heathen gods, and I thought of the Valas of +old time, and knew how here and there some of the old worship +lingered yet.</p> +<p>However, good advice had she given, showing me the way to try my +fortune in the way I wished, and after that heathenish blessing I +had no mind to stay longer, for such like are apt to prove unlucky; +so I bid her good even, and went my way towards the town. After +all, I thought, king's thane I was once, and may be again; and to +bear the standard must be won by valour, so that, too, may come to +pass. Whereupon I remembered the badger that scared me in the +moonlight, and was less confident in myself.</p> +<p>Many were the questions put me as I passed into the marketplace +of Bridgwater, but I answered none, pushing on to where I saw Osric +the Sheriff's banner over a great house. Mostly the men scoffed at +me for thinking that I should win more renown in disguise; but some +thought me a messenger, and clustered after me, to hear what they +might.</p> +<p>When I came to the house door, where Osric lay, it was guarded, +and the guards asked me my business. I said I would see the sheriff +and then they demanded name and errand. Now, I could give neither, +and was at a loss for a moment. Then I said that I was one of the +bearers of the war arrow, and though that was but a chance shot, as +it were, it passed me in at once, for often a bearer would return +to give account of some thane ill, or absent, or the like.</p> +<p>They took me to a great oaken-walled hall where sat many thanes +along great tables, eating and drinking, and at the highest seat +was Osric, and next him, Matelgar. This assembly, and most of all +that my enemy should be present, was against me in making my plea; +but as the old crone had said, I should be no loser by witness.</p> +<p>I waited till a thrall had told Osric that one of his messengers +was here, and then they beckoned me to go to him. He shifted round +in his chair to speak to me, but I was watching Matelgar, and saw +his glance light on my sword hilt. Recognizing it, he grew pale, +and then red, half-rising from his seat to speak to Osric, but +thinking better thereof.</p> +<p>"Well; what news and whence?" said the sheriff, who was a small, +wiry man, with a sour look, as I thought. Men spoke well of him +though.</p> +<p>"The Danes lie off the Holms, sir," I said, for I would gain +time.</p> +<p>"I know that," he answered testily; "pull that mail off your +face, man; they are not here yet, and your voice is muffled behind +it."</p> +<p>I suppose that the coming and going of messengers was constant, +and indeed there came another even then, so the other thanes paid +little attention after they heard my stale news, except Matelgar; +who went on watching me closely.</p> +<p>I was just about to ask the sheriff to hear me privately, when +Matelgar plucked him by the sleeve, having made up his mind at +last, and drawing him down a little, spoke to him a few words, +among which I caught my own name.</p> +<p>The sheriff looked sharply at me, twitching his sleeve away, and +I saw that there was to be no more concealment; so I dropped the +tippet and let him see who I was, saying at the same time:</p> +<p>"Safe conduct I crave, Osric the Sheriff."</p> +<p>Then a silence came over the thanes who saw and knew me, looking +up to see what this new freak of mine was. And Osric frowned at me, +but said nothing, so I spoke first.</p> +<p>"Outlaw I am, Osric, but I can fight; today I bore the war arrow +--that one who neither knew nor believed me gave me -- faithfully +to Matelgar the Thane, who is here in obedience to that summons. +And when I took it I was on my way out of the kingdom as I was +bidden, but I turned back because of the need for a trusty +messenger. Now I ask only to be allowed to fight alongside your men +in this levy, and after that it is over -- if I live -- I will go +my way again."</p> +<p>That was all I had to say, and when I ceased a talk buzzed up +among the thanes. But Matelgar looked black, and Osric made no +answer, frowning, indeed, but more I think at the doubt he was in +than with anger at me.</p> +<p>I saw that Matelgar longed to speak, but dared not as yet, and +then he cast his eye down the hall, and seemed to make some +sign.</p> +<p>Presently Osric said in a doubtful way, "Never heard I the like. +Now I myself know not why an outlaw should not fight if he wills to +do so.</p> +<p>"What say you, thanes?" he cried loudly, turning to those down +the hall.</p> +<p>Instantly one rose up and shouted, "We will have no traitors in +our ranks."</p> +<p>Then I knew what Matelgar's sign meant, for this was a close +friend of his. On that, too, several others said the same, and one +cried that I should be hounded out of the hall and town. Osric +frowned when he heard that, and looked at me; but I stood with my +arms folded, lest I should be tempted to lay hand on sword, and so +give my enemies a hold on me. Matelgar himself said nothing, as +keeping up his part of friend bound by loyalty to accuse me against +his will.</p> +<p>As for the other thanes, they talked, but all the outcry was +against my being allowed to join, and at last Osric seemed to be +overborne by them, for voices in my favour were few heard, if many +thought little harm of my request. But then the offer of the help +of one man was, anyway, a little thing, and if he were doubted it +would be ill. And I could see, as Osric would also see, that the +matter would be spread through the levy by those against me.</p> +<p>Now as I thought of the likelihood of one of Matelgar's men +spearing me during the heat of fight, I wondered if he feared the +same of me, for I have often heard tales of the like.</p> +<p>Then Osric answered me, kindly enough, but decidedly:</p> +<p>"Nay, Heregar, you hear that this must not be. Outlaw is outlaw, +and must count for naught. I may not go against the word of the +Moot, and inlaw you again by giving you a place. Go hence in peace, +and take your way; yet we thank you for bearing the message to +Matelgar. Link up your mail again, and tell any man that you bear +messages from me; the watchword is 'Wessex' for the guards are set +by now, and you will need it."</p> +<p>As he spoke thus kindly Matelgar's face grew black as night; but +he dared say no word. So I bowed to the sheriff and, linking up my +mail, went sadly enough down the hall. It was crowded at one place, +and there some friendly hand patted me softly on the shoulder, +though most shrank from me; but yet I would not turn to see who it +was, that helped me.</p> +<p>Now I have often wondered that no inquiry was made about my +arms, and how I came by them; but what I believe is, that even then +men began to know that Matelgar and his friends had played me +false, but that they would not, and Matelgar's people dared not, +say much. As for Osric, his mind was full of greater troubles, and +I suppose he never thought thereof.</p> +<p>I passed out into the street, but now it was falling dark, and +few noticed me. The men sat about along the house walls on settles, +eating and drinking and singing. And I, coming to a dark place, sat +down among a few and ate and drank as well for half an hour, and +then passing the guards at the entrance to the town on the road to +Cannington, struck out for Stert, that I might be near Alswythe, +and wait for the possible coming of the Danes, and the battle in +which I might join.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap08">CHAPTER VIII.</a> THE FIRES OF +STERT.</h2> +<p>I went along the highroad now, for it was dark, and few were +about. Only now and then I met a little party of men hurrying to +the gathering place, and mostly they spoke to me, asking for news. +And from them I learned, too, that nothing had been seen, while +daylight served, of the Danes. Once, I had to say I was on Osric's +errand, as he bade me, being questioned as to why I was heading +away from the town.</p> +<p>I could not see my hall as I passed close by its place, for the +lights that ever shone thence in the old days, so lately, yet +seeming so long, gone, were quenched. But I thought of a safe place +whence to watch if the Danes came, where were trees in which I +might hide if need were, as I had hidden this morning. This was on +the little spur of hill men call by the name of the fisher's +village below it, Combwich. It looked on all the windings of Parret +river, and there would I soon know if landing was to be made for +attack on Bridgwater. But I thought it likely that there would be +an outpost of our men there for the same reason, and going thither +went carefully.</p> +<p>Sure enough there was a little watchfire and half a dozen men +round it on the best outlook, and so I passed on still further, +following round the spur of hill till I came to where the land +overlooks the whole long tongue of Stert Point. That would do as +well for me, I thought, and choosing, as best I could in the dark, +a tree into which I knew by remembrance that I might easily get, I +sat down at its foot, looking seaward.</p> +<p>Now by this time the tide, which runs very strong and swiftly, +must be flowing again, and I thought that most likely the Danes, +having anchored during the ebb, would go on up channel with it, and +that therefore I might have to hang about here for days before they +landed, even were they to land at all. And this I had heard said +many times by the men of the levy, some, indeed, saying that they +might as well go home again.</p> +<p>But I should do as well here as anywhere, or better, since, +while Matelgar was away, I might yet see Alswythe again; though +that, after my repulse by the sheriff, or perhaps I should rather +say by his advisers, I thought not of trying yet. It would but be +another parting. Still, I might find old Wulfhere, and send her +messages by him before setting out westward again.</p> +<p>Almost was I dozing, for the day had been very long, when from +close to Stert came that which roused me completely, setting my +heart beating.</p> +<p>It was a bright flash of light from close inshore, on the Severn +side of the tongue, followed by answering flashes, just as I had +seen them at Watchet. But now the flashes came and went out +instantly, for I was no longer looking down on the ship's decks as +then.</p> +<p>Well was it that I had seen this before from Quantock heights; +for I knew that once again the Danes were landing, and that the +peril was close at hand.</p> +<p>Then at once I knew the terrible danger of Alswythe, for +Matelgar's was the first hall that would be burnt.</p> +<p>My first thought was to hasten thither and alarm Wulfhere, and +then to hurry back to that outpost I had passed half a mile away, +for the country danger must be thought of too.</p> +<p>Then a better thought than either came to me. If it was, as it +must be, barely half tide, the Danes would find mud between them +and shore, too deep to cross, and must wait till the ships could +come up to land, or until there was water enough to float their +boats. I had an hour or more yet before they set foot on shore.</p> +<p>Moreover, I would find out if landing was indeed meant, or if +these were but signals for keeping channel on the outward +course.</p> +<p>So across the level meadows of Stert I ran my best, right +towards the place where I had seen the light, which was at the top, +as it were, of the wedge that Stert makes between the waters of +Parret and the greater Severn Sea. There are high banks along the +shore to keep out the spring tides, and under these I could watch +in safety, unseen. Three fishers' huts were there only; but these I +knew would be deserted for fear of the Danes.</p> +<p>So I found them, and then, creeping up the bank, I stood still +and peered out into the darkness. Yet it was not so dark on the +water (which gleamed a little in the tide swirls here and there +beyond half a mile of mud, black as pitch in contrast) but that I +could make out at last six long black ships, lying as it seemed on +the edge of the ooze. And I could hear, too, hoarse voices crying +out on board of them, and now and then the rattle of anchor chains +or the like, when the wind blew from them to me.</p> +<p>And ever those ships crept nearer to me, so that I knew they +were edging up to the land as the tide rose.</p> +<p>That learnt, I knew what to do. I ran to the nearest fishers' +hut, and pulled handfuls of the thatch from under the eaves, piling +it to windward against the wooden walls. Then I fired the heap, and +it blazed up bright and strong, and at once came a great howl of +rage from the ships, plain to be heard, for they knew that now they +might not land unknown.</p> +<p>So had I warned Osric the Sheriff, and that matter was out of my +hands. And, moreover, Wulfhere, being an old and tried warrior, +would be warned as well. That, however, I would see to myself, and, +if I could, I would aid him in getting Alswythe into a place of +safety. So I ran back, bending my steps now towards her father's +hall, up the roadway, if one might so call the track through the +marshland that led thither.</p> +<p>Just at the foot of the hill I met three men of the outpost, who +were hurrying down to see what my fire meant. They challenged me, +halting with levelled spears across the track. Then was I glad of +the password, and answered by giving it.</p> +<p>"Right!" said the man who seemed to be the leader. "What +news?"</p> +<p>I told him quickly, bidding him waste no time, but hurry back +and tell the sheriff that the Danes would be ashore in half an +hour. I spoke as I was wont to speak when I was a thane, forgetting +in the dire need of the moment that I was an outlaw now, and the +man was offended thereat.</p> +<p>"Who are you to command me thus?" he said shortly.</p> +<p>"Heregar, the thane of Cannington." said I, still only anxious +that he should go quickly.</p> +<p>"Heard one ever the like!" said the man, and then I +remembered.</p> +<p>I looked round at my fire. Two huts were burning now, very +brightly, for the wind fanned the flames.</p> +<p>"Saw you ever the like?" I said, and pointed. "Now, will you +go?"</p> +<p>The bright light shone on a row of flashing, gilded dragon heads +on the ships' stems -- on lines of starlike specks beyond them, +which were helms and mail coats -- and on lines again of smaller +stars above, which were spear points.</p> +<p>"Holy saints!" cried the man, adding a greater oath yet; "be you +Heregar the outlaw or no, truth you tell, and well have you done. +Let us begone, men!"</p> +<p>And with that those three leapt away into the darkness up the +hill, leaving me to follow if I listed.</p> +<p>That was not my way, however, and I ran on to Matelgar's +hall.</p> +<p>One stood at the gate. It was Wulfhere. Inside I heard the +trampling of horses, and knew that they would be ready in time. +Wulfhere laid hand on sword as I came up, doubting if I were not a +Dane, but I cried to him who I was, and he came out a step or two +to me, asking for news.</p> +<p>And when I told him what I had seen and done, he, too, said I +had done well, and that I had saved Alswythe, if not many more. +Also, that he had sent a man to tell Matelgar of his plans. Then he +told me that even now the horses were ready, and that he was about +to abandon the place, going to the house of that thane of whom I +had told him. And I said that I would go some way with him, and +then return to join the levy, making known my ill-luck with +Osric.</p> +<p>"Ho!" said he; "it was well he sent you away, as it seems to +me."</p> +<p>That was the word of the old crone, I remembered, that it should +be so.</p> +<p>Then came a soft touch on my arm, and on turning I saw Alswythe +standing by me, wrapped in a long cloak, and ready. And neither I +nor she thought shame that I should lay my arm round her, and kiss +her there, with the grim old housecarle standing by and pretending +to look out over Stert, where the light of my fires shone above the +trees.</p> +<p>"Heregar, my loved one, what does it all mean?" she said, +trembling a little. "Have they come?"</p> +<p>I folded my arm more closely round her, and would have answered, +but that Wulfhere did so for me.</p> +<p>"Aye, lady, and it is to Heregar that we owe our safety, for he +has been down to Stert and warned us all."</p> +<p>At that my love crept closer to me, as it were to thank me. Then +she said:</p> +<p>"Will there be fighting? And will my father have to fight?"</p> +<p>"Aye, lady," said Wulfhere again, "as a good Saxon should."</p> +<p>"Must I go from here?" she asked again; and I told her that the +house would be burnt, maybe, in an hour or so.</p> +<p>At that she shivered, and tried not to weep, being very +brave.</p> +<p>"Where must we go?" she said, with a little tremble in her +voice.</p> +<p>I told her where we would take her, and then she cried out that +she must bide near at hand lest her father should be hurt, and none +to tend him.</p> +<p>And Wulfhere and I tried a little to overpersuade her, but then +a groom came to say that all was ready.</p> +<p>And, truly, no time must be lost, if we would get off +safely.</p> +<p>Then I said that it would be safe to go to Bridgwater, for then +we should be behind the levy, and that the Danes must cut through +that before reaching us. And to that Wulfhere agreed, for I knew he +would rather be swinging his sword against the Danes at Stert than +flying through the woods of the Quantocks.</p> +<p>Alswythe thanked me, without words indeed, and then in a few +minutes she was mounted, and we were going up towards the high road +to Bridgwater. We had twelve horses, and on them were the women of +the house, bearing what valuables they might, as Wulfhere had bade +them. One horse carried two women, but they were a light burden, +and we had no such terrible haste to make, seeing that every moment +brought us nearer the levy. There were the men and boys as well, +but they led the beasts.</p> +<p>Now when we reached the high road, some half mile away, suddenly +Alswythe reined up her horse, by which I walked, giving a little +cry, and I asked what it was.</p> +<p>Then she said, sobbing a little, that she would her cows were +driven out into the forest where they were wont to feed, lest the +cruel Danes should get them. And to please her I think I should +myself have gone back, but that Wulfhere called one of the men, +who, it seemed, was the cowherd, bidding him return and do this, if +the Danes were not coming yet. Glad enough was I to hear the man +say that he had done it already -- "for no Dane should grow fat on +beasts of his tending, and they were a mile off by now."</p> +<p>So we went on, and every minute I looked to meet our levy +advancing. But the moon rose, and shone on no line of glancing +armour that I longed for, and Wulfhere growled to himself as he +went. I would have asked him many questions, but would not leave +Alswythe, lest she should be alarmed. And all the way, as we went, +I told her of what had befallen me with Osric, saying only that her +father was there, but had not been able to speak for me. And I told +her of the old crone's words, which she thought would surely come +true, all of them, as they had begun to do so.</p> +<p>It is a long five miles from Matelgar's place to the town, and +we could only travel at a foot's pace. But still we met no force. +Indeed, until we were just a half mile thence, we saw no one. Then +we met a picket, who, seeing we were fugitives, let us go on +unchallenged.</p> +<p>But Wulfhere stopped and questioned the men, and got no pleasant +answer as it seemed, for he caught us up growling, coming alongside +of me, and saying -- for Alswythe could not know the ways of war -- +that they would attack with morning light. But I felt only too +keenly, though I knew so little, that to fight the Danes when they +had their foot firmly ashore, was a harder matter than to meet them +but just landed.</p> +<p>We were so close to the town now that I asked Alswythe where she +would be taken. Already we were passing groups of fugitives from +the nearer country, and the town would be full of them, to say +nothing of the men of the levy.</p> +<p>She thought a little, and then asked me if she might not go to +her father, wherever he was. But I told her that he was but a guest +of Osric, as it seemed. Then she said that she would go to her +aunt, who was the prioress of the White Nuns, and bide in the +nunnery walls till all was safe. And that seemed a good plan, both +to me and Wulfhere, for it would -- though this we said not to +Alswythe -- set us free to fight, as there we might not come, and +she would be safe without us.</p> +<p>Then I told Wulfhere how we could reach that house without going +through the crowded town, and so turned to the right, skirting +round in the quiet lanes.</p> +<p>The gray dawn began to break as we saw the nunnery before us, +and it was very cold. But Alswythe pointed to a crimson glow behind +us, as we topped the last rise, saying that the sun would be up +soon.</p> +<p>Wulfhere and I looked at each other. That glow was not in the +east, but shone from Matelgar's hall -- in flames.</p> +<p>And then we feigned cheerfulness, and said that it would be so; +and Alswythe smiled on me, though she was pale and overwrought with +the terror she would not show, and the long, dark, and cold +journey.</p> +<p>We came to the nunnery gate and knocked; and the old portress +looked out of the wicket and asked our business, frightened at the +glint of mail she saw. But Alswythe's voice she knew well, as she +answered, begging lodging for herself and her maidens, till this +trouble was over.</p> +<p>It was no new thing for a lady of rank to come into that quiet +retreat with her train when on a journey; and after a little time, +while the portress told the prioress, the doors were thrown open, +and we rode into the great courtyard, where torches burnt in the +dim gray morning light.</p> +<p>Then came the prioress, mother's sister to Alswythe, a tall and +noble-looking lady, greeting her and us kindly, and so promising +safe tending to her niece so long as she needed.</p> +<p>Here Alswythe must part from me, giving me but her hand to kiss, +as also to Wulfhere, but there was a warm pressure on my hand for +myself alone that bided with me. And the prioress thanked us for +our care, not knowing me in the half light, and in mail, and so +were we left in the courtyard, where an old lay brother, brought +from the near monastery, showed us the stabling and provender for +our horses, and the loft where the men should sleep, outside the +walls of the inclosed building.</p> +<p>Here Wulfhere bade the men and boys remain, tending their horses +until he should return, or until orders came from their master +himself or from the lady Alswythe; for they were thralls, and not +men who should be with the levy.</p> +<p>Then he and I went out into the roadway and walked away until we +were alone.</p> +<p>"What now?" I asked.</p> +<p>"I must join my master, telling him what I have done, and that +the lady is safe. So shall I march with the rest most likely. What +shall I say of your part in this?"</p> +<p>"Nought," I answered.</p> +<p>"Maybe that is best -- just now," he agreed.</p> +<p>We had come to the town streets now, and they seemed empty. The +light was strong enough by this time, and there came a sound of +shouting from the place of the market cross, and then we heard the +bray of war horns, and Wulfhere quickened his pace, saying that the +men were mustering, or maybe on the march.</p> +<p>Then I longed to go with him, but that might not be. So I left +him at last, saying that I should surely join in the fight.</p> +<p>I had not gone six paces from him when he called me, and I could +see that he looked anxious.</p> +<p>"Master," he said, "this is going to be a doubtful fight as it +seems to me. Yon Danes know that the country is raised, but yet +they have come back, and they mean to fight. Now our levy is raw, +and has no discipline, and I doubt it will be as it was at +Charnmouth. If that is so, Bridgwater will be no safe place for the +lady Alswythe. She must be got hence with all speed."</p> +<p>"Shall you not return and hide with her?" I asked.</p> +<p>"That is as the master bids," said he, and then he added, +looking at me doubtfully, "I would you were not so bent on this +fight."</p> +<p>Then was I torn two ways -- by my longing to strike a blow for +Wessex, and by my love for my Alswythe and care for her safety. And +I knew not what to say. Wulfhere understood my silence, and then +decided for me.</p> +<p>"You have hearkened to me before, master, and now I will speak +again. Get you to your place of last night on Combwich Hill, and +there look on the fight; or, if it be nearer this, find such a +place as you know. Then, if there is victory for us, all is well: +but if not, you could not aid with your one strength to regain it. +Then will Alswythe need you."</p> +<p>"I would fain fight," I said, still doubting.</p> +<p>"Aye, master; but already have you done well, and deserved well +of the sheriff, and of all. He bade you fight not today -- let it +be so. There is loyalty also in obedience, and ever must some bide +with the things one holds dear."</p> +<p>"I will do as you say," said I shortly, and so I turned and +went.</p> +<p>He stood and looked after me for a little, and then he too +hurried away towards the cross. Then I skirted round the town, and +waited at that place where I had met with the old woman, until I +saw the van of our forces marching down the road towards +Cannington. These I kept up with by hurrying from point to point +alongside the road, as best I might.</p> +<p>They were a gallant show to look on, gay with banners and bright +armour. Yet I had heard of the ways of armies, and thought to see +them marching in close order and in silence. But they were in a +long line with many gaps, and here and there the mounted thanes +rode to and fro, seemingly trying to make them close up. And they +sang and shouted as they went.</p> +<p>When we came to the steep rise of Cannington hill, some of those +thanes spurred on and rode to the summit, and there waited a +little, till the men joined them. There was silence, and a closing +up as they breasted the steep pitch; and then I must go through +woods, and so lost sight of them for a while. I passed close to my +own hall -- closed and deserted. Every soul in all the countryside +had fled into the town, though after the levy came a great mixed +crowd of thralls and the like to see the fray.</p> +<p>Now here I thought to cross in the rear of the force that I +might reach Combwich hill. But that was not to be.</p> +<p>When I saw the array again it was halted, and the men were +closing up. And between the levy and that crowd of followers was a +great gap, and some of these last were making for the shelter of +swamp and wood. I myself was on a little rise of heathy land and +could see plainly before me the road going up over the neck of +Combwich hill in the steep-sided notch there is there, where the +ascent is easiest.</p> +<p>And that road was barred halfway up the hillside by a +close-ranked company, on which the sun shone brightly, showing +scarlet cloaks and gilded helms not only on the roadway, but +flanking the hills on either side. These were the Danes, and behind +them, over the hill, rose the smoke from Matelgar's burnt home.</p> +<p>Even as I looked, a great roar of defiance came from our men; +but the Danes made no answer, standing still and silent. And that +seemed terrible to me. So for a moment they stood, and then, as at +some signal, from them broke out that deep chant with its terrible +swinging melody, that had come faintly to me from Watchet +haven.</p> +<p>Then our men rushed forward, and even where I stood I could hear +the crash of arms on shields as the lines met -- the ringing of the +chime of war -- and our men fought uphill.</p> +<p>And now it needed all my force to keep myself, for Alswythe's +sake, from joining in that fray, and presently, when I would take +my hand from my sword hilt, it was stiff and cramped from clutching +hard upon it, as I watched those two lines swaying, and heard the +yells of the fighters.</p> +<p>And indeed I should surely have joined, but there came a voice +to me:</p> +<p>"Bide here in patience, Heregar, the king's thane! There is work +for you yet that fighting will hinder."</p> +<p>And the old crone, Gundred, who had come I know not how, laid +her hand on my arm.</p> +<p>"Look at the tide, Heregar, look at the tide!" she said, +pointing to Parret river, where the mud banks lay bare and +glistening with the falling water. "Let them drive these Danes back +to their stranded ships, and how many will go home again to +Denmark, think you?"</p> +<p>And I prayed that this might be so: for I knew she spoke truth. +If they might not reach their ships, and became penned in on Stert, +they were lost -- every one, for none might cross the deep +ooze.</p> +<p>"Not this time, Heregar. Remember, when the time comes," she +said.</p> +<p>And I paid no heed to her. For now horses were galloping +riderless along the road and into the fields. And men were crawling +back from the fight, to fall exhausted in the rear, and then -- +then the steadfast line of the scarlet-cloaked Danes charged down +the hill, driving our men like sheep before them.</p> +<p>"Up and to your work!" said the crone, pointing towards +Bridgwater; and I, who had already made two steps, with drawn +sword, towards that broken, flying rabble, remembered Alswythe, and +turned away, groaning, to hasten to her rescue. For it was, as +Wulfhere had said, all that I could do.</p> +<p>Swiftly I went, turning neither to right nor left along the +road, hearing always behind me the cries of those who fled, and the +savage shouts of the pursuing vikings. I was in the midst of that +crowd of thralls once, but they thinned, taking to the woods whence +I had come; while I kept on.</p> +<p>Then I saw one of those horses, a great white steed, standing, +snorting, by the wayside where he had stopped, and I spoke to him, +and he let me catch and mount him, and so I rode on.</p> +<p>Yet when I came to the top of Cannington Hill I looked back. All +the road was full of our men, flying; and a thought came into my +head, and I dared to draw rein and wait for them, linking my mail +again across my face.</p> +<p>They came up, panting, and wild with panic, and there with voice +and hand I bade them stand on that vantage ground and block the way +against the Danes; bidding them remember the helpless ones in the +town, who must have time to fly, and how the Danes must needs +shrink from a second fight after hot pursuit.</p> +<p>And there is that in a Saxon's stubborn heart which bade them +heed me, and there they formed up again, wild with rage and +desperate, and the line grew thicker and firmer as more came up, +with the sheriff himself, till the foremost pursuing Danes +recoiled, and some were slain, and I knew that the flight was +over.</p> +<p>Then I slipped from my horse and made my way on foot, lest men +should notice my going, but the horse followed me, and soon I +mounted him again and galloped on.</p> +<p>Then I found that though I had not noticed it, my mail had +fallen apart: but I knew not if any had known me, or even had noted +who I might be.</p> +<p>So I came to Bridgwater, bringing terror with me, as men +gathered what had befallen from my haste. Yet I stayed for none; +but went on to the nunnery.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap09">CHAPTER IX.</a> IN BRIDGWATER.</h2> +<p>Two of Wulfhere's men were by the gate, lounging against the +sunny wall; but they roused into life as they heard the clatter of +my horse's hoofs, and came to meet me and take the bridle, as was +their duty. They knew who I was well enough; but thralls may not +question the ways of a thane, as I was yet in their eyes, though +outlawed. Yet they asked me for news of the fight, and I told them +-- lest they should raise a panic, or maybe leave us themselves -- +only that our men stood against the Danes on Cannington Hill, and +that beyond them the invaders could not come. And that satisfied +them.</p> +<p>I was doubtful whether to go in at once and seek audience with +the prioress, or wait until some fresh news came in; for now I +began to have a hope that our men would sweep down the hill on the +Danes and scatter them in turn, even as they had themselves been +overborne. So for half an hour I waited, pacing the road before the +nunnery, while I bade the men see to my horse; but the place was +very quiet, being on that side the town away from the fight, so +that any coming thence would stay their flight when the shelter of +the houses was reached.</p> +<p>At last came one, running at a steady pace, and I sprang to meet +him, for it was Wulfhere. His face was hard and set, his armour was +covered with blood, and he had a bandage round his head instead of +helmet; but he was not hurt much, as one might see by the way he +came.</p> +<p>He grasped my hand without a word, and threw himself on the bank +by the road side to get breath, and I stood by him, silent for a +while.</p> +<p>"Heregar," he said at last, "it is well for Bridgwater town, and +these here in this nunnery, that you obeyed and fought not."</p> +<p>"Wherefore?" I said. "Must we fly?"</p> +<p>"I saw you rally the men on Cannington Hill, and that was the +best thing done in all this evil day."</p> +<p>"Then," I asked, "do they yet stand?"</p> +<p>"Aye; for the Danes have drawn off, and our men bar the way +here."</p> +<p>I told him what I had hoped from a charge of our levy; but he +shook his head and told me that, even had our men the skill to see +their advantage, the Danes had formed up again on seeing that this +might be, and had gone back in good order to their first post at +Combwich.</p> +<p>"But our levy will not bide a second fight," he said sadly. +"Already the men are making off home, in twos and threes, saying +that the Danes will depart, and the like. Tomorrow the way here +will be open, for there will be no force left to Osric by the +morning. I have seen such things before."</p> +<p>"Then must the Lady Alswythe fly," I said: "but where is +Matelgar?"</p> +<p>"Struck down as he fled," said Wulfhere grimly. "I saw Osric and +twenty of his men close round him and beat back the Danes for a +moment: but I could not win to them, and so came back to you as you +rallied us. That was well done," he said again.</p> +<p>"I left when Osric came up. Matelgar I saw not," I said.</p> +<p>"Osric saw you, though," answered Wulfhere, "and, moreover, knew +you. And I heard him cry out when he saw the white horse riderless; +for the arrows were still flying, and he thought you slain, I +think."</p> +<p>Now I wondered if Osric would be wroth with me, thinking I had +fought against his orders; but I had little time to think of +myself, all my care being for Alswythe, who had lost home and +father in one day; being left to Wulfhere, and me -- an outlaw.</p> +<p>Then Wulfhere and I took counsel about flight, being troubled +also about the holy women in this place; for the heathen would not +respect the walls of a nunnery. But for them we thought Osric would +surely care.</p> +<p>Now there came to us as we stood and talked, a housecarle in a +green cloak, and asked us if we had seen a warrior, wounded maybe, +riding a great white horse, which, he added, had been Edred the +Thane's, who was killed.</p> +<p>"Aye, that have I," said Wulfhere, "what of him?"</p> +<p>"Osric the Sheriff seeks him. Tell me quickly where I may find +him."</p> +<p>"Is Osric back in the town?" asked Wulfhere in surprise.</p> +<p>"Aye, man, and half the levy with him. The Danes will go away +now. Enough are left to mind them."</p> +<p>Then Wulfhere stamped on the ground in rage, cursing the folly +of every man of the levy. And the housecarle stared at him as at +one gone suddenly mad; but I knew only too well that his worst +fears were on the way to be realized, and that soon there would be +no force left on Cannington Hill.</p> +<p>Suddenly he turned on the messenger and asked if he knew the +name of the man he sought.</p> +<p>"No; but men say that it was one Heregar -- an outlawed thane. +And some say that it was one of the saints."</p> +<p>"Will Osric string him up, think you, if he can catch him, and +it be Heregar only, and no saint?"</p> +<p>The man stared again.</p> +<p>"Surely not," he said, "for he was sore cast down once, on the +hill, thinking him slain. But men had seen him remount and ride on, +And Osric bid me, and all of us who seek him, pray Heregar -- if +Heregar it be -- to come to him in all honour. Let me go and seek +him."</p> +<p>Then Wulfhere turned to me and asked if I would go. And at that +the man made reverence to me, giving his message again.</p> +<p>Then I said "Is Matelgar the Thane with him?" and he answered +that Matelgar was slain before the stand was made.</p> +<p>Then I said I would go, if only to ask Osric for a guard to keep +the Lady Alswythe safe in her flight. And Wulfhere agreed, but +doubtfully, saying that nevertheless he would make ready the horses +and provisions for a journey, biding till I came back, or sent a +messenger.</p> +<p>So I went with the housecarle, who led me again through the +marketplace to that same great house whence I had been sent forth +overnight. All the square was full of men, drinking deeply, some +boasting of their deeds, and some of deeds to be done yet. But many +sat silent and gloomy, and more cried out with pain as their wounds +were dressed by the leeches or the womenfolk. All was confusion, +and, indeed, one might not know if this turmoil was after victory +or defeat.</p> +<p>None noticed me or my guide, but, indeed, I saw few men I knew +in all the crowd, for the men of Bridgwater and those of Matelgar's +following had fought most fiercely on their own land, and even now +stayed to guard what they might on the hill.</p> +<p>Osric again sat in the great chair in the hall, as I could see +through the open door, and round him were the thanes; but far fewer +than last night. And presently a housecarle spoke to him, and he +rose up and left the hall. Then they led me to a smaller chamber, +and there he was alone, and waiting for me.</p> +<p>Now I knew not what his wish to see me might mean, but from him +I looked for no harm, remembering how he had seemed to favour me +even in refusing my request. But, least of all did I look for him +to come forward to meet me, taking both my hands, and grasping +them, while he thanked me for the day's work.</p> +<p>"Lightly I let you go last night, Heregar," he said, "setting +little store on the matter among all the trouble of the gathering. +But when I sent you away and forgot you, surely the saints guided +me. For I have heard how you dared to go down to Stert and warn us +all, and I saw you stay the flight, even now. Much praise, and more +than that, is due to you. Were you in the fight?"</p> +<p>Then I could answer him to a plain question; for all this +praise, though it was good to hear, abashed me.</p> +<p>"Nay, Sheriff," I answered. "Fain would I have been there, but a +wiser head than mine advised me, and bade me do your bidding, and +forbear. Else should I surely have fought."</p> +<p>"Loyalty has brought good to us all, Heregar," he said, looking +squarely at me. "Yet should I have hardly blamed you had you +disobeyed me."</p> +<p>Then I flushed red, thinking shame not to have done so, and went +to excuse myself for obedience.</p> +<p>"Yet had I the safety of a lady who must die, if the battle went +wrongly for us, laid on me in a way," I said.</p> +<p>"Matelgar's fair daughter?" he asked.</p> +<p>"Aye, Sheriff," And I told him of the flight from the hall, and +where she was now, wondering how he guessed this. But I had come +from Stert, and therefore the guess was no wonder. He looked at me +gravely, and then sat down, motioning me to be seated also. He +treated me not as an outlaw, I thought.</p> +<p>"Matelgar is dead," he said. "I saw him fall, and tried to bring +him off. He was not yet sped when we beat off the Danes. And he had +time to speak to me."</p> +<p>I bowed in silence, not knowing what to say. Strange that, now +my enemy was dead, I had no joy in it; but I thought of Alswythe +only.</p> +<p>The sheriff went on, looking at me closely.</p> +<p>"He bade me find Heregar, the outlawed thane who spoke last +night to me, and bid him forgive. Then he died, and I must needs +leave him, for the Danes came on in force."</p> +<p>Still I was silent, for many thoughts came up in my heart and +choked me. How I had hated him, and yet how he had wronged me -- +even to seeking my life. Yet was I beginning to think of him but as +a bad father to my Alswythe, but a man to be held in some regard, +for the sake of her love to him. And it seems to me that shaping my +words to this end so often had gradually turned my utter bitterness +away: for one has to make one's thoughts go the way one speaks, if +one would seem to speak true.</p> +<p>"I may not make out all this, Heregar, my friend," said the +sheriff; "but that you were disloyal ever, no man may say in my +hearing after this day's work. And I know that Matelgar was the +foremost in accusing you. Wherefore it seems to me that there was +work there to be forgiven by you. Is that so?"</p> +<p>The thing was so plain that I could but bow my head in +assent.</p> +<p>"Now," he went on, "I have heard private talk of this sort +before now; but never mind. I cannot inlaw you again, Heregar; for +that must needs be done in full Moot, as was the outlawry. Yet +shall all my power be bent to help you back to your own, if only +for the sake of today."</p> +<p>Then would I thank him, but he stopped me.</p> +<p>"To the man who lit the fire of Stert, who checked the panic on +Cannington Hill, thanks are due, not gratitude from him. And to him +justice and reward."</p> +<p>Now I knew not what to say; but at that moment came a hurried +rapping on the door and the sound of voices, speaking together. +Then the door was thrown open and a man entered, heated and +breathless, crying:</p> +<p>"The Danes -- they are on our men again!"</p> +<p>Then Osric flushed red, and his eyes sparkled, and he bid the +thanes who crowded after the messenger get to horse and sound the +assembly at once to go to the assistance of those who were yet on +the hill.</p> +<p>And yet he turned to me when this was said, and took my hand +again.</p> +<p>"Get your lady in safety to Glastonbury, where Ealhstan the +Bishop is. I will care for the nuns if need be. Take this ring of +mine and show it to him, and then ride with it to Eanulf the +Ealdorman and tell him of our straits. The words I leave to you, +who have done better than all of us today."</p> +<p>Then he took helm and sword from one who brought them in haste, +and armed himself, while I, putting the ring he had given me on my +finger, yet stood beside him. When he was armed he turned sharply +to me.</p> +<p>"You want to fight again," he said. "Well, I will not blame you; +but believe me, you will do more for us in going to Eanulf than in +spending your life here for nought."</p> +<p>Then he saw he had said too much, perhaps, and motioning his man +out of the room, so that we were alone, he went on quickly: "I say +for nought, because all I can do is to hold back the Danes for a +little; you have seen how it is. We are evenly matched in numbers, +or thereabout; but they are trained and hardened warriors, and our +poor men are all unused to war. Moreover, Heregar, these Danes come +to fight, and our men do but fight because they must. Now I will +send one after you to Glastonbury to let you know how this matter +goes; but it will be, I fear, no pleasant message."</p> +<p>Then would I not ask him for men as I had been minded to do, +knowing what a strait he was in, and that his words were only too +true. Those two differences between Dane and Saxon in those days of +the first fighting left the victory too plainly on the side of the +newcomers. And they sum up all the reasons for the headway they +made against us till Alfred, our wise king, taught us to meet them +in their own way.</p> +<p>So once more I felt the grip of Osric's hand on mine, and I left +him, with a heavy heart indeed, but with a new hope for myself and +for Alswythe, in the end.</p> +<p>I stood for a moment before I turned out of the marketplace, +eating a loaf I had taken from the table as I passed, and watching +the men gather, spiritless, for this new fight. On many, too, the +strong ale had told, and it was a sorry force that Osric could take +with him.</p> +<p>But I might not stay, and was turning to go, when I saw one +standing like myself and watching, close by. It was my host of +Sedgemoor, Dudda the Collier. And never was face more welcome than +his grimy countenance, for now I knew that I had found one who, in +an hour, would take Alswythe into paths where none might follow, +and that, too, on the nearest road to Glastonbury. There is no +safer place for those who would fly, than the wastes of Sedgemoor +to those who know, or have guide to them, and there no Danes would +ever come.</p> +<p>So I stepped up to him and touched him, and he grinned at seeing +a known face, muttering to himself, "Grendel, the king's +messenger."</p> +<p>And as I beckoned he willingly followed me towards my +destination, asking me of the fight, and what was on hand now so +suddenly.</p> +<p>I told him shortly, finding that he had been drawn from his own +neighbourhood by curiosity, which must be satisfied before he went +back. And I told him that now the Danes were close on Bridgwater, +and that I must bear messages to Eanulf the Ealdorman. Would he +earn a good reward by getting me and some others across Sedgemoor +by the paths along which he had led me?</p> +<p>And at that he grinned, delighted, saying, "Aye, that will I, +master," seeming to forget all else in prospect of gain.</p> +<p>So I bade him follow me closely, and soon we were back at the +nunnery gates.</p> +<p>They were open, and inside I could see the horses standing. +Wulfhere was waiting for me, looking anxious; but his brow cleared +as he saw me, and he asked for the news, saying that he feared I +had fallen into the wrong hands.</p> +<p>Then I told him I had, as I thought, no more to fear, showing +him the sheriff's ring and telling him of my errand.</p> +<p>"That is nigh as good as inlawed again," he said gladly. +"Anyway, you ride as the sheriff's man now."</p> +<p>Then his face clouded a little, and he added, "But Glastonbury +is a far cry, master, for the roads are none so direct."</p> +<p>Then I called the collier, and Wulfhere questioned him, and soon +was glad as I that I had met with him, saying that in an hour we +should be in safety. But he would that the prioress and her ladies +would come also, for he knew that Osric's fears would be only too +true. Then must we go and tell Alswythe of the journey she must +make; and how to tell of her father's death I knew not, nor did +Wulfhere. And there we two men were helpless, looking at one +another in the courtyard, and burning with impatience to get +off.</p> +<p>"Let us go first, and tell her on the way" said he.</p> +<p>But I reminded him that we were here even now, and not on the +far side of the Quantocks, because she would by no means leave her +father.</p> +<p>Now while we debated this, the old sister who was portress, +opened the wicket and asked us through it why these horses stood in +the yard, and what we armed men did there. And that decided me. I +would ask for speech with the prioress, and tell her the +trouble.</p> +<p>That pleased Wulfhere: and I did so. Then the portress asked who +I might be, and lest my name should but prove a bar to speech with +the lady, I showed her Osric's ring, which she knew as one he was +wont to give to men as surety that they came from him on his +errand. And that was enough, for in a few minutes she came back, +taking me to the guest chamber.</p> +<p>There I unhelmed and waited, while those minutes seemed very +long, though they were but few before the lady came in.</p> +<p>She started a little when she saw who I was, for she had known +me well, and knew now in what case I had been. But Alswythe had +told her also of what I had been able to do for her last night, if +she had heard no more, for news gets inside even closed walls, in +one way or another, from the lay people who serve the place.</p> +<p>I bent my knee to her, and she looked at me very sadly, saying: +"I knew and loved your mother, Heregar, my son, and sorely have I +grieved for you -- not believing all the things brought against +you. How come you here now?"</p> +<p>Then I held out my hand and showed her Osric's ring, only saying +that as the good sheriff trusted me I would ask her to do so. And +at that she looked glad, and said that she would hold Osric's trust +as against any word she had heard of me in dispraise.</p> +<p>So I bowed, and then, thinking it foolish to waste time, begged +her to forgive bluntness, and told her of the death of Matelgar and +of the sore danger of the town, and of how Osric had hidden me take +Alswythe to Glastonbury to the bishop, and how he would himself +care for her own safety.</p> +<p>She was a brave lady, and worthy of the race of Offa from which +she sprung. And she heard me to the end, only growing very pale, +while her hand that rested on the table grew yet whiter as she +clenched it.</p> +<p>"Can we not recover the body of the thane?" she asked, speaking +very low.</p> +<p>I could but shake my head, for I knew that where he lay was now +in the hands of the Danes. True, if Osric could beat them off again +he might gain truce for such recovery on both sides; but that +seemed hopeless to me. Then I was bold to add:</p> +<p>"Now, lady, this matter is pressing, and in your hands I must +leave it. Trust the Lady Alswythe to me and her faithful servant, +Wulfhere, and I will be answerable for her with my life. But of her +father's death I dare not tell her."</p> +<p>Then she bowed her head a little, and, I think, was praying. For +when she looked at me again her face was very calm though so +pale.</p> +<p>"Alswythe has told me of you, Heregar, my son," she said, "and +to you will I trust her. Moreover I will bid her go at once, and I +will tell her that heavy news you bring. You will not have long to +wait, for in truth we are ready, fearing such as this."</p> +<p>Then I kissed her hand, and she blessed me, and went from the +room. And, taught by her example, I prayed that I might not fail in +this trust, but find safety for her I loved.</p> +<p>Now came the sister who had charge of such things, and set +before me a good meal with wine, saying no word, but signing the +cross over all in token that I might eat, and glad enough was I to +do so, though in haste. Yet before I would begin I asked that +sister to let Wulfhere know that all was going right, and to bid +him be ready. She said no word, as must have been their rule, but +went out, and I knew afterwards that she sent one to tell him.</p> +<p>In a quarter hour or so, and when I, refreshed with the good +food I so needed, was waxing restless and impatient, the prioress +came back, and signed me to follow her, and taking my helm, I did +so, till we came to the great door leading to the courtyard. There +stood Alswythe, very pale, and trying to stop her weeping very +bravely, and she gave me her hand for a moment, without a word, and +it was cold as ice, and shook a little; yet it had a lingering +grasp on mine, as though it would fain rest with me for a little +help.</p> +<p>There were but two of her maidens with her, and the prioress saw +that I was surprised, and said: "The rest bide with us, Heregar, +and here they will surely be safe. Alswythe will take no more than +these, lest you are hindered on the journey."</p> +<p>And I was glad of that, though I should have loved to see her +better attended, as befitted her; yet need was pressing, and this +was best. Then the prioress kissed Alswythe and the maidens, and +Wulfhere set them on their horses, for though I would fain help +Alswythe myself, the lady had more to say to me, and kept me.</p> +<p>She told me to take my charge to the abbess of her own order at +Glastonbury, where they would be tended in all honour as here with +herself, and she gave me a letter also to the abbess to tell her +what was needed and why they came, and then she gave me a bag with +gold in it, knowing that I might have to buy help on the way. For +all this I thanked her; but she said that rather it was I who +should be thanked, and from henceforward, if her word should in any +way have weight, it should go with that of Osric the Sheriff for my +welfare.</p> +<p>And this seemed to me to be much said before my task was done, +but afterwards I knew that she had talked with Wulfhere, who had +told her all -- even to the treachery of Matelgar. That would I +have prevented, had I known, but so it was to be, and I had no +knowledge of it till long after. Wulfhere had been called in to +give her news while I was with Osric, yet he had not dared to tell +her of the thane's death.</p> +<p>All being ready, I mounted that white steed that had been the +dead thane's, knowing that in war and haste these things must be +taken as they come, and that he was better in Saxon hands than +Danish. Then I gave the word, and we started, Dudda the Collier +going by my side, and staring at the prioress and all things round +him.</p> +<p>Alswythe turned and looked hard at her aunt as we passed the +gates, and I also. She stood very still on the steps before the +great door, with the portress beside her. There was only the old +lay brother in the court beside, and so we left her. And what my +fears were for her and hers I could not tell Alswythe. For, as we +left the gates, something in the sky over towards the battleground +caught my eyes, and I turned cold with dread. It was the smoke from +burning houses at Cannington.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap10">CHAPTER X.</a> FLIGHT THROUGH +SEDGEMOOR.</h2> +<p>I was glad we had not to go through the town, for the sights +there were such as Alswythe could not bear to look on. And if that +smoke meant aught, it meant that our men were beaten back, and +would even now be flying into the place with perhaps the Danes at +their heels.</p> +<p>I rode alongside Wulfhere, and motioned to him to look, and as +he did so he groaned. Then he spoke quite cheerfully to his lady, +saying that we had better push on and make a good start; and so we +broke into a steady trot and covered the ground rapidly enough, +ever away from danger.</p> +<p>I rode next Alswythe, but I would not dare speak to her as vet. +She had her veil down, and was quite silent, and I felt that it +would be best for me to wait for her wish.</p> +<p>Beside me trotted the collier, Wulfhere was leading, and next to +Alswythe and me came the two maidens. After them came the three men +and two boys, all mounted, and leading with them the other three +horses of the twelve we had brought from Stert. They were laden +with things for the journey given by the prioress, and with what +they had saved from Matelgar's hall, though that was little +enough.</p> +<p>Wulfhere would fain have made the collier ride one of these +spare horses; but the strange man had refused, saying that his own +legs he could trust, but not those of a four-footed beast.</p> +<p>It was seven in the bright May morning when Dane and Saxon met +on Combwich Hill. It was midday when I met Wulfhere at the nunnery, +and now it was three hours and more past. But I thought there was +yet light enough left for us to find our way across Sedgemoor, and +lodge that night in safety in the village near the collier's hut; +and so, too, thought Wulfhere when I, thinking that perhaps +Alswythe's grief might find its own solace in tears when I was not +by her, rode on beside him for a while.</p> +<p>"Once set me on Polden hills, master," said Wulfhere, "I can do +well enough, knowing that country from my youth. But this is a good +chance that has sent you your friend the collier."</p> +<p>So he spoke, and then I fell to wondering, if it was all chance, +as we say, that led my feet in that night of wandering to Dudda's +hut, that now I might find help in sorer need than that. For few +there are who could serve as guide over that waste of fen and +swamp, and but for him we must needs have kept the main roads, far +longer in their way to Glastonbury, as skirting Sedgemoor, and now +to be choked with flying people.</p> +<p>Presently Wulfhere asked me if in that village we might find one +good house where to lodge the Lady Alswythe. And I told him that +there I had not been, but at least knew of one substantial +franklin, for my playfellow, Turkil, had been the son of such an +one, as I was told. The collier, who ran, holding my stirrup +leather, tireless on his lean limbs as a deerhound, heard this, and +told me that the man's house was good and strong -- not like those +in Bridgwater -- but a great house for these parts. So I was +satisfied enough.</p> +<p>Then this man Dudda, finding I listened to him in that matter, +began to talk, asking me questions of the fighting, and presently +"if I had seen the saint?"</p> +<p>I asked him what he meant; and as I did so I heard Wulfhere +chuckle to himself. Then he told me a wild story that was going +round the town. How that, when all seemed lost, there came suddenly +a wondrous vision, rising up before the men, of a saint clad in +armour and riding a white horse, having his face covered lest men +should be blinded by the light thereof, who, standing with drawn +sword on Cannington Hill, so bade the men take courage that they +turned and beat the Danes back. Whereupon he vanished, though the +white horse yet remained for a little, before it, too, was +gone.</p> +<p>Well, thought I, Grendel the fiend was I but the other day, and +now I am to be a saint. And with that I could not restrain myself, +but laughed as once before I had laughed at this same man, for the +very foolishness of the thing. Yet I might not let Alswythe know +that I laughed, and so could not let it go as I would, and I saw +that Wulfhere was laughing likewise, silently.</p> +<p>Now this is not to be wondered at, though it was but a little +thing maybe. For we had been like a long-bent bow, overstrained +with doubt and anxiety, and, now that we were in safety with the +lady, it needed but like this to slacken the tension, and bid our +minds relieve themselves. So that laugh did us both good, and +moreover took away some of the downcast look from our faces when +next we spoke to our charge.</p> +<p>When he could speak again, Wulfhere answered the man, still +smiling.</p> +<p>"Aye, man, I saw him. And he was wondrous like Heregar, our +master, here."</p> +<p>And at that the collier stared at me, and then said: "There be +painted saints in our church. But they be not like mortal men, +being no wise so well-favoured as the master."</p> +<p>And that set Wulfhere laughing again, for the good monks who +paint these things are seldom good limners, but make up for bad +drawing by bright colour. So that one may only know saint from +fiend by the gold, or the want of it, round his head.</p> +<p>Then fell I to thinking again about myself, and what it takes to +make man a saint or a fiend. And that thought was a long +thought.</p> +<p>Now were we come across Parret, and began our journey into the +fens. And presently we must ride in single file along a narrow +pathway which I could barely trace, and indeed in places could not +make out at all. And here the collier led, going warily, then came +Wulfhere, and then Alswythe, with myself next behind her to help if +need were. After us the maidens, and then the rest.</p> +<p>So we were in safety, for half a mile of this ground was safer +than a wall behind us. We went silently for a little while, save +for a few words of caution here and there. But at last Alswythe +turned to me, and lifted her veil, smiling a little to me at last, +and asking why we left the good roads for this wild place, for +though we men were used to the like in hunting, she knew not that +such places and paths could be, brought up as she was in the wooded +uplands of our own corner of the country.</p> +<p>I told her how I was to make all speed to Glastonbury, and that +this was the nearest road: and she was content, being very trustful +in both her protectors. But then she asked if that place should be +reached before dark, having little knowledge of places or +distances.</p> +<p>Then I must needs tell how we were bound for that village where +the hermit was, and Turkil of whom I had told her, seeing that it +was over late to reach the town, but that there we hoped to come +next day. And she said she would fain see those two, "and maybe +Grendel also," smiling again a little to please me. And I knew how +much that little jest cost her to make, and loved her the more for +her thought for me. Then she was silent for a while.</p> +<p>Presently one of the men in the rear shouted, and there was a +great splashing and snorting of horses, and we looked round. One of +the led horses had gone off the path and was in a bog, and that had +set the rest rearing with fright.</p> +<p>So we had to halt, and Wulfhere gave his horse to Dudda to hold +while he went back. And that kept us for a while waiting, and then +I could stand beside Alswythe for a little.</p> +<p>"I have seen the last of my outlaw, they tell me," she said, +wanting to learn how things were with me.</p> +<p>Yet I was still that, if only for loss of lands and place. +Though as Osric's chosen messenger I had that last again for a +little, because of his need.</p> +<p>So I told her that that matter must be settled by the Moot, but +that Osric was my friend, and that while I bore his ring at least +none might call me "outlaw". And at that she was glad, and told me +that if she saw Leofwine the hermit she would tell him that his +words were coming true. Then she looked hard at me, and said that +she had heard from her aunt why Osric so trusted me, and that she +was proud of Heregar. And I said that I had but done the things +that someone had to do, and which came in my way, as it seemed to +me, wherein I was fortunate.</p> +<p>At that she smiled at me, seeming to think more of the matter +than that, and so talked of other things. Yet she must needs at +last come to that which lay nearest her heart, and so asked me if I +had seen her father fall.</p> +<p>And I was glad to say that I had not; adding that it was near +Combwich Hill, as I had heard, and close to where Osric the Sheriff +fought.</p> +<p>So I think that all her life long she believed him to have +fallen fighting in the first line, where Osric was, with his face +to the enemy; for all men spoke well of the sheriff's valour that +day, and none would say more than I told her. Yet it may have been +that the thane fought well, unobserved, in that press, and there is +perhaps little blame to many who fly in a panic.</p> +<p>Now, that spoken of and passed over, she became more like her +brave self, and from that time on would speak cheerfully both to +Wulfhere and myself, as, the horses set in order again, we once +more went on our winding way, following our guide.</p> +<p>Glad was I when, just before sunset, we saw the woodland under +which his hut was set, and heard the vesper bell ringing far off +from the village church. Soon we were on hard ground again, and +then I could show Alswythe where I had played Grendel unwittingly, +and point the way I had wandered from Brent.</p> +<p>There we rested the horses, for we had yet two miles to go, and +they were weary with the long and heavy travelling of the fens. And +Alswythe would go into the hut, and there her maidens brought her +food and wine, and we stayed for half an hour.</p> +<p>Wulfhere and I looked out towards Bridgwater town, now seeming +under the very hills, in the last sunlight. Smoke rose from behind +it, but that was doubtless from Cannington; yet there were other +clouds of smoke rising against the sun, and as he looked at these +the old warrior said that he feared the worst, for surely the Danes +were spreading over the country and that need for them to keep +together was gone.</p> +<p>"If we see not Bridgwater on fire by tomorrow," he said, "it +will be a wonder."</p> +<p>But we knew that we could bide here for this night safe as if no +Danes were nearer than the Scaw.</p> +<p>After that rest we rode on through the woodland path, down which +they had come to exorcise me, till we saw before us in the gray +twilight the church and houses of the village, pleasant with light +from door and window, and noise of barking dogs, as we crossed the +open mark.<a name="sdendnote8anc" href= +"#sdendnote8sym"><sup>viii</sup></a></p> +<p>Dudda the Collier led us to the largest house which stood on the +little central green round which the buildings clustered, and there +the door stood open, and a tall man with a small boy beside him +looked out to see what was disturbing the dogs. Behind them the +firelight shone red on a pleasant and large room where we could see +men at supper.</p> +<p>And the light shone out on me, for the boy sprang out from his +father's side, shouting that it was "Grendel come back again", and +running to me to greet me.</p> +<p>So we found a welcome in that quiet place, and soon the good +franklin's wife came out, bustling and pitiful in her care for +Alswythe and sorrow for her need to fly from her lost home, for it +took but few words to explain what had befallen.</p> +<p>They brought us in, and the thralls left supper to tend our +horses, though Wulfhere would go with them to see that done before +he joined us in the wide oak-built room that made all the lower +floor of the house. Overhead was the place where Alswythe and her +maidens should be, and built against the walls outside were the +thralls' quarters, save for a few who slept in the lower room round +the great fire.</p> +<p>Now, how they treated us it needs not to be told, for it was in +the way of a good Somerset franklin, and that is saying much. But +that night he would talk little, seeing that I and Wulfhere were +overdone with want of sleep. Indeed it was but the need of caution +that had kept me from falling asleep on my horse more than once on +the road. So very soon they brought us skins and cloaks, and we +stretched ourselves before the fire, and warmed, and cleansed, and +well refreshed with food and drink, fell to sleep on the +instant.</p> +<p>Yet not so soundly could I sleep at first, but that I woke once, +thinking I heard the yells of the Danes close on us: but it was +some farmyard sound from without, and peaceful.</p> +<p>Then I slept again until, towards dawning I think, I awoke, +shivering, and with a great untellable fear on me, and saw a tall, +gray figure standing by my couch. And I looked, and lo it was +Matelgar the Thane.</p> +<p>Then I went to rouse Wulfhere, but my hand would not be +stretched out, and the other men slept heavily, so that I lay still +and looked in the dead thane's face and grew calmer.</p> +<p>For his face was set with a look of sorrow such as I had never +seen there, and he gazed steadfastly at me and I at him, and the +grief in his face did but deepen. And at last he spoke, and the +voice was his own, and yet not his own.</p> +<p>"Heregar, sorely have I wronged you," he said, "and my rest is +troubled therefor. Yet, when I heard what you had done for mine +last night, my heart was sore within me, and I repented of all, and +would surely have made amends. And now it is too late, and my body +lies dishonoured on Parret side while I am here. Yet do you +forgive, and mayhap I shall rest."</p> +<p>Then I strove to speak, bidding him know that I forgave, but I +could not, and he seemed to grow more sad, watching me yet. And +when I saw that, I made a great effort, and stretching my hand +towards him signed the blessed sign in token that that should bid +me forgive him, so leaving my hand outstretched towards him.</p> +<p>And then his face changed and grew brighter, and he took my hand +in his, as I might see, though I could feel nought but a chill pass +on it, as it were, and spoke again, saying:</p> +<p>"It is well, and shall be, both with you and me. And when you +need me I shall stand by you once again and make amends."</p> +<p>Then he was gone, and my hand fell from where his had been, and +straightway I slept again in a dreamless sleep till Wulfhere roused +me in the full morning light.</p> +<p>And in that light this matter seemed to me but a dream that had +come to me. Yet even as I should have wished to speak to Alswythe's +father, had I done, and I would not have had it otherwise. Then the +dream in a way comforted me, being good to think on, for I would +not willingly be at enmity with any man, or living or dead. But +that it was only a dream seemed more sure, because in it Matelgar +had said he knew of my saving Alswythe. And Wulfhere and I had +agreed not to tell him that. Also I had little need of Matelgar +living, in good truth, and surely less need of him now that he was +gone past making amends.</p> +<p>Down into the great chamber to break her fast with us came +Alswythe, bright and fresh, and with her grief put on one side, for +our sakes who served her. And Turkil talked gaily with both +Alswythe and me and Wulfhere, and would fain tell all the story of +how he sought the fire-spitting fiend and was disappointed.</p> +<p>Then I missed the collier, and asked where he was. He had gone +to bring the good hermit the franklin told me, and would be back +shortly.</p> +<p>Now, when we had broken our fast it was yet very early, and the +villagers must needs hear all the news of the great fight and +terror beyond the fens, and as they heard, a growl of wrath went +round, and the men grasped spade and staff and fork fiercely, +bidding the franklin lead them at once to join the levy.</p> +<p>But Wulfhere told them that they needs must now wait a second +raising, and that I was even now on my way to Eanulf the Ealdorman +to tell him of the need. Then the franklin asked that he and his +might go with me, but I, seeing that for an outlaw to take a +following with him was not to be thought of, bade them wait for +word and sure tidings of the gathering place.</p> +<p>While we talked thus the little bell in the church turret began +to ring, and we knew that the hermit, Leofwine the priest, had +come, and would say mass for us. Then, perhaps, was such a +gathering to pray for relief for their land, as had not been since +those days, far off now, when the British prayed, in that same +place, the like prayers for deliverance from my own forbears. And +as I prayed, looking on the calm face of the old man who had bidden +me take heart and forgive, I knew that last night's dream was true +in this, that I had forgiven.</p> +<p>So when the mass was over, and Wulfhere had begged Alswythe to +take order at once for our going on our journey, I found the old +man, and could greet him with a light heart. And he, looking on me, +could read, as he had read the trouble, how that that had passed, +and asked me if all was well, as my face seemed to say.</p> +<p>I told him how I had fared, and how my outlawry, though still in +force, was now light on me as the sheriff's messenger -- though +this I thought was but because, flying with Alswythe, I might as +well take the message as one who could be less easily spared.</p> +<p>Then he said that already he deemed the prophecy that had been +given him was coming true, and spoke many good and loving words to +me to strengthen my thoughts of peace withal.</p> +<p>Presently he looked at our horses, now standing ready at the +franklin's door, and would have me go back with him into his own +chamber in the little timber-walled church. And there he found +writing things in a chest, and wrote on a slip of parchment a +letter which he bade me give to the bishop when I came to him, +signing it with his name at the end, as he told me, though I could +not read it, for one who has been bred a hunter and warrior has no +need for the arts of the clerk. Indeed, I had seen but two men +write before, and one was our old priest at Cannington, and the +other was Matelgar, and I ever wondered that this latter should be +able to do so, and why of late he was often sending men with +letters. Yet it seems to me now that surely they had to do with his +schemes that had so come to nought.</p> +<p>Then the old man blessed me, telling me again that I should +surely prosper unless that I failed by my own fault, and that it +seemed to him that there was yet work for me to do that should set +me again in my place, and maybe higher.</p> +<p>So talking with him, Wulfhere called me, and I must needs say +farewell to Turkil and his father, and they bade us return, when +the time came, by this way back to our own place. And Turkil wept, +and would fain have gone with us, but I promised to see him again, +and waved hand to him before the broad meadows of the mark were +passed, and the woods hid the village from us.</p> +<p>Then did Alswythe, in her kindness, fall into a like mistake as +that I had made with the boy; for she turned to me, smiling, and +said that she would surely take him into her service at Stert, and +see to his training hereafter, but then remembered that she had no +longer home, and her smile faded into tears.</p> +<p>My heart ached for her, knowing I could give her no comfort. +After that we rode in silence, and quickly, for the track was +good.</p> +<p>Now there is little to tell of that ride till we reached the +hilltop that Wulfhere knew, and where we could look down on the +land we were to cross, and fancy we could see Glastonbury far away. +Here Dudda the Collier's task was ended, and I called him to me, +pulling out the purse the good prioress had given me, that I might +give him a gold piece for his faithful service.</p> +<p>He stood before me, cap in hand, and I gave him a bright new +coin, and he took it, turning it over curiously.</p> +<p>"Take it, Dudda," I said, "you have earned it well."</p> +<p>Then he grinned in his way, and answered: "It is no good to me, +master. I pray you give me silver instead. Like were I to starve if +life lay in the changing of this among our poor folk."</p> +<p>So I turned over the money to find silver, but there was not +enough, and so I took out that bag which I had found in the +roadway, and had not opened since, having almost forgotten it. +There was silver and copper only in that, and I began to give him +his reward.</p> +<p>But still the man hesitated, and seemed anxious to ask me +something, and, while I counted out the money, he spoke: "Master, +the men call you Heregar, and that is an outlaw's name."</p> +<p>"Well." said I, fearing no reproach from that just now, and +being sure that by this time the man knew all about me from our +thralls with us. "Heregar, the outlawed thane I was, and am, except +that the sheriff has bid me ride on his business."</p> +<p>"Then, master," said he, "give me no reward but to serve you. No +man's man am I, either free or unfree, but son of escaped thralls +who are dead long ago. Therefore am I outlaw also by all rights, +and would fain follow you. And it seems to me that you will need +one to mind your steed."</p> +<p>Now this was a long speech for the collier, who, as I had +learnt, could hold his tongue: and we were short-handed also, with +all these horses. Therefore I told him that it should be as he +would, for service offered freely in this way was like to be +faithful, seeing that there had been trial on both sides. But I +gave him four silver pennies, which he would have refused, but that +I bade him think of them as fasten pennies, which contented him +well.</p> +<p>This, too, pleased both Alswythe and Wulfhere, who were glad of +the addition to our party. So we rode on. But many were the far-off +columns of smoke we looked back on beyond Parret, before the hills +rose behind us and hid them.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap11">CHAPTER XI.</a> EALHSTAN THE BISHOP.</h2> +<p>It was in the late afternoon when we rode into Glastonbury town, +past the palisadings of the outer works, and then among cottages, +and here and there a timber house of the better sort, till we came +to the great abbey. It was not so great then as now, nor is it now +as it will be, for ever have pious hands built so that those who +come after may have room to add if they will. But it was the +greatest building that I had ever seen, and, moreover, of stone +throughout, which seemed wonderful to me. And there, too, Wulfhere +showed me the thorn tree which sprang from the staff of the blessed +Joseph of Arimathea, which flowers on Christmas Day, ever.</p> +<p>Then we came to the nunnery where we should leave Alswythe, and +I, for my part, was sorry that the journey was over, sad though it +had been in many ways, for when I must leave her I knew not how +long it should be, if ever, before I saw her again.</p> +<p>And I think the same thought was in her heart, for, when +Wulfhere showed her the great house, she sighed, looking at me a +little, and I could say nothing. But she began to thank us two for +our care of her, as though we could have borne to take less than we +had. And her words were so sweet and gracious that even the old +warrior could not find wherewith to answer her, and we both bowed +our heads in thanks, and rode, one on each side of her, in +silence.</p> +<p>Then she must ask Wulfhere what he would do when she was safely +bestowed. And that was a plain question he could answer well.</p> +<p>"Truly, lady, if you will give me leave, I would see Heregar, +our master, through whatever comes of his messages."</p> +<p>Then was I very glad, and the more that, though I might not +think myself such, the old warrior would call me his master, for +that told me that he had full belief in me.</p> +<p>Yet I could but say: "Friend should you call me, Wulfhere, my +good counsellor, not master."</p> +<p>And I reached out my hand to him, bowing to Alswythe, whose +horse's neck I must cross. And Wulfhere took it, and on our two +rough hands Alswythe laid her white fingers, pressing them, and, +looking from one to the other, said:</p> +<p>"Two such friends I think no woman ever had, or wiser, or +braver. Go on together as you will, and yet forget not me here in +Glastonbury."</p> +<p>Then we loosed our hands, looking, maybe, a little askance, for +our Saxon nature will oft be ashamed, if one may call it so, of a +good impulse acted on, and Wulfhere said that we must think of +those things hereafter.</p> +<p>When we came to the gate there was a little crowd following us, +for word had gone round in some way that we were fugitives from +Parret side. But Wulfhere had bade the men answer no questions till +we had seen the bishop, lest false reports should go about the +place. So the crowd melted away soon, and we knocked, asking +admission, and showing the letter from the prioress of +Bridgwater.</p> +<p>Now here there was much state, as it seemed, and we must wait +for a little, but then the gates were thrown open, and we rode +through them into the courtyard, which was large and open. Then +opened a great door on the left, and there was the abbess with many +sisters, and one asked me for the letter we bore. So I gave it, +and, standing there, the abbess read it while we waited.</p> +<p>As she read she grew pale, and then flushed again, and at last, +after twice reading, came down the steps, all her state forgotten, +and with tears embraced Alswythe, giving thanks for her safety. And +then, leaving her, she came to me where I sat, unhelmed, and gave +me her hand, thanking me for all I had done, and, as she said, +perhaps for the safety of the Bridgwater sisters also.</p> +<p>Then all of a sudden she went back up the steps, where the +sisters were whispering together, and became cold and stately +again, so that I wondered if I had offended her in not speaking, +which I dared not.</p> +<p>When she was back again in her place, she bade Alswythe and her +maidens welcome, and added that all her sister prioress asked her +she would do. Also, that one would come and show us lodging for men +and horses, which should be at the expense of the nunnery.</p> +<p>So Alswythe must needs part from us coldly, even as she had +joined us at Bridgwater, as a noble lady from her attendants, +giving us her hand to kiss only. But I went back to my horse well +content, knowing that her love and thoughts went out to me.</p> +<p>She went through the great door, but it closed not so fast but +that I might see the abbess put her arm around her very tenderly, +her state forgotten again, and I knew that she was in good +hands.</p> +<p>Now when the horses were stabled, and our men knew where they +should bide in the strangers' lodgings -- set apart for the trains +of guests to the nunnery, which were very spacious -- Wulfhere and +I must needs find the way to get audience of the bishop. As far as +the doors of the abbey where he abode was easy enough, but there, +waiting for alms and broken meats, were crowds of beggars, sitting +and lying about in the sun, with their eyes ever on the latch to be +first when it was lifted for the daily dole. And again, round the +gate were many men of all sorts, suitors, as we deemed for some +favour at the hands of bishop or abbot -- for the Abbot of +Glastonbury was nigh as powerful as Ealhstan himself, in his own +town at least.</p> +<p>When we came among these we were told that we must bide our +time, for audience was not given but at stated hours. And one man, +grumbling, said that that was not Ealhstan's way in his own place +at Sherborne, for there the doors were open ever.</p> +<p>But I knew that my business might not wait, and so, after a +little of this talk, went up to the gate and thundered thereon in +such sort that the wicket opened, and the porter's face looked +through it angrily enough, and he would have bidden us begone, for +war and travel had stained us both, so that doubtless we were in no +better case, as to looks, than the crowd that pressed after us -- +very quietly, indeed -- to hear the parley.</p> +<p>One difference in our looks there was, however, which made the +porter silent -- we wore mail and swords, and at that he seemed to +stare in wonder.</p> +<p>Then I held up the ring and said, "Messages from Osric the +Sheriff."</p> +<p>Whereupon the wicket closed suddenly, and there was a sound of +unbarring, and the door opened and we were let in, the rest, who +must wait, grumbling loudly at the preference shown to us, while +the beggars, who had roused at the sound of the hinges creaking, +went back whining in their disappointment.</p> +<p>Then one came and bade us follow him, and we were led into the +abbey hall and there waited for a little. There were a few monks +about, passing and repassing, but they paid no attention to us, and +we, too, were silent in that quiet place. Only a great fire +crackled at one end of the hall, else there would have been no +noise at all. It was, I thought, a strangely peaceful place into +which to bring news of war and tumult.</p> +<p>Then I thought of Ealhstan the Bishop, as he had seemed to me +when he judged me, and that seemed years ago, nor could I think of +myself as the same who had stood a prisoner before him. So I +wondered if I should seem the same to him.</p> +<p>Now it is strange that of Eanulf, the mighty ealdorman who had +pronounced my doom, I thought little at all, but as of one who was +by the bishop. All that day's doings seemed to have been as a +dream, wherein I and Wulfhere had living part with this bishop, +while the rest, Eanulf and Matelgar and the others, were but +phantoms standing by.</p> +<p>Maybe this is not so wonderful, for the doom was the doom of the +Moot, and spoken by Eanulf as its mouthpiece, and that passed on my +body only. And Matelgar had found a new place in my thoughts, but +Wulfhere was my friend, and the bishop had spoken to my heart, so +that his words and looks abode there.</p> +<p>Then the servant cut short my thoughts, and led us to the +bishop, bidding me unhelm first.</p> +<p>He sat in a wide chamber, with another most venerable-looking +man at the same table. And all the walls were covered with books, +and on the table, too, lay one or two great ones, open, and bright +with gold and crimson borderings, and great litters on the pages. +But those things I saw presently, only the bishop first of all, +sitting quietly and very upright in his great chair, dressed in a +long purple robe, and with a golden cross hanging on his +breast.</p> +<p>And for a moment as I looked at him, I remembered the day of the +Moot, and my heart rose up, and I was ready to hide my face for +minding the shame thereof.</p> +<p>But he looked at me curiously, and then all of a sudden smiled +very kindly and said:</p> +<p>"Heregar, my son, are you the messenger?"</p> +<p>And I knelt before him on one knee, and held out the ring for +him to take, and he did so, laying it on the table before him -- +for my errand was in hand yet.</p> +<p>"Then," he said, "things are none so ill with you, my son," and +he smiled gravely; "but do your errand first, and afterwards we +will speak of that."</p> +<p>So I rose up, and standing before him, told him plainly all that +had befallen, though there was no need for me to say aught of +myself in the matter, except that, flying with the lady, Osric had +chosen me to bear the message of defeat and danger.</p> +<p>And the while I spoke the bishop's face grew very grave, but he +said nothing till I ended by saying that Wulfhere could tell him of +the fight.</p> +<p>Then he bade Wulfhere speak, being anxious to know the worst, as +it seemed to me. But the old man with him was weeping, and his +hands shook sorely.</p> +<p>Now into what Wulfhere told, my name seemed to come often, for +he began with the first landing at Watchet, and my bearing the war +arrow, and so forward to the firing of the huts at Stert, to the +rallying on Cannington Hill, and our flight, and how Osric sent for +me.</p> +<p>Then said the bishop, "Is that the worst?"</p> +<p>And Wulfhere was fain to answer that he feared not, telling of +the smoke clouds we had seen, and what he judged therefrom.</p> +<p>"Aye," said the bishop, as it were to himself and looking before +him as one who sees that which he is told of, "we saw the like +after Charnmouth, and let them have their way. Now must we wait, +trembling, for Osric's next messenger."</p> +<p>But as for me, though the old man was sorely terrified, as one +might see, I thought there was little trembling on the bishop's +part, though he spoke of it. Rather did he seem to speak in scorn +of such as would so wait.</p> +<p>"Tell me now," he went on presently, "how the men rallied, and +with what spirit, on the hill where Heregar stayed them?"</p> +<p>"Well and bravely," answered Wulfhere, "so that the Danes drew +back, forming up hastily lest there should be an attack on them; +but none was made."</p> +<p>Then the bishop's eyes flashed, and I thought to myself that I +would he had been there. Surely he would have swept the Danes back +to their ships, and I think that was in Wulfhere's mind also, for +he said:</p> +<p>"We want a leader who can see these things. No blame to Osric +therein, for it was his first fight."</p> +<p>Then the bishop laughed softly in a strange way, though his eyes +still flashed, and he seemed to put the matter by.</p> +<p>"Truly," said he, "with you, Wulfhere, to advise, and myself to +ask questions, and Heregar to prevent our running away, I think we +might do great things. Well, there is Eanulf, who fought at +Charnmouth."</p> +<p>So saying he rose up, and clapped his hands loudly. The old man +had fallen to telling his beads, and paid no attention to him or us +any longer, doubtless dreaming of the burning of his abbey over his +head, unless some stronger help was at hand than that of the three +men before him.</p> +<p>A lay brother came in to answer the bishop's summons.</p> +<p>"Take these thanes to the refectory," he said, "and care for +them with all honour. In two hours I will speak with them again, or +sooner, if Osric's messenger comes."</p> +<p>"I am no thane," said Wulfhere, not willing to be mistaken.</p> +<p>"I am Bishop of Sherborne," said he, smiling in an absent way, +and waving his hand for us to go.</p> +<p>So we went, and thereafter were splendidly treated as most +honoured guests, even to the replacing of the broad hat which +Wulfhere had gotten from the franklin by a plain steel helm, with +other changes of garment, for which we were most glad.</p> +<p>Now as we bathed and changed, I found that letter which Leofwine +the hermit priest had given me, and I prayed the brother to give it +to the bishop at some proper moment, and he took it away with him. +I had forgotten it in the greater business.</p> +<p>While we ate and drank, and talked of how to reach Eanulf the +Ealdorman, the brother came back and brought us a message, +saying:</p> +<p>"The bishop bids you rest here in peace. He has sent messengers +to Eanulf, bidding him come here in all haste to speak with him and +you."</p> +<p>So I asked where he was, and the brother said that he lay at +Wells, which pleased Wulfhere, who said that he would be here +shortly, and that we were in luck, seeing that he wanted another +good night's rest; and indeed so did I, sorely, though that I might +yet stay near Alswythe was better still.</p> +<p>Before the two hours the bishop had set, there was a clamour in +the great yard, and we thought the messenger from Osric had surely +come. And so it was, for almost directly the bishop sent for us, +and we were taken back to the same chamber. But he was alone now, +and motioned us to seats beside him to one side.</p> +<p>Then they brought in a thane whom I did not know, and he said he +was a messenger from Osric, laying a letter on the table at the +same time. I saw that his armour was battle stained, and that he +looked sorely downcast.</p> +<p>Not so the bishop as he read, for that which was written he had +already expected, and he never changed his set look. Once he read +the letter through, and then again aloud for us to hear. Thus it +ran after fit greeting:</p> +<p>"Now what befell in the first fight you know or shall know +shortly from our trusty messenger Heregar, by whom the flight was +stayed from that field, on the Hill of Cannington. And this was +well done. So, seeing that the Danes had drawn off, I myself, +foolishly deeming the matter at an end, left three hundred men on +that hill to watch the Danes back to their ships, and returned to +the town, there to muster again the men who were sound, and, if it +were possible, to lead them on the Danes as they went on board +again to depart. For the men, save those of Bridgwater, would not +bide on the hill, but came back, saving the Danes would surely +depart. And, indeed, I also thought so; but wrongly. For even as I +talked with Heregar of his own affairs, news came of a fresh +attack, whereon I sent him to you, fearing the worst, for the men +on the hill were few, and those in the town seeming of little +spirit.</p> +<p>"Now when I came three parts of the way to Cannington, our men +there were sped and driven back on us. Whereupon I could no longer +hold together any force, and whither the men are scattered I know +not. Scarcely could I save the holy women and the monks, for even +as they fled under guard into the Quantock woods, and so to go +beyond the hills, the houses of Bridgwater next the Danes were +burning.</p> +<p>"Now am I with two hundred men on Brent, and wait either for the +Danes to depart, or for orders from yourself or the Ealdorman +Eanulf, to whom I pray you let this letter be sent in haste after +that you have read it."</p> +<p>So it ended with salutations, and when he had read it, the +bishop folded it slowly and looked at the thane, who shrugged his +broad shoulders and said:</p> +<p>"True words, Lord Bishop, and all told."</p> +<p>"It is what I expected," said Ealhstan, "these two thanes told +me it was like to be thus."</p> +<p>"Surely," answered the thane. "What else?"</p> +<p>The bishop looked at him and asked him his name.</p> +<p>"Wislac, the Thane of Gatehampton by the Thames, am I," he said. +"A stranger here, having come on my own affairs to Bridgwater, and +so joining in the fight. Also, Osric's thanes having trouble enough +on hand, I rode with this letter."</p> +<p>"Thanks therefor," said the bishop. "I see that you fought also +in a place where blows were thick."</p> +<p>"Aye, in the first fight," said Wislac. "As for the second, +being with Osric, I never saw that."</p> +<p>"Did you stay on the hill where men rallied?"</p> +<p>"That did I, as any man would when the saints came to stay us. +Otherwise I had surely halted at Bridgwater, or this side thereof," +answered the strange thane, with a smile that was bitter +enough.</p> +<p>Now the bishop had not heard that tale of the saint on a white +horse; but he was quick enough, and glanced aside at me. Whereupon +Wislac the Thane looked also, and straightway his mouth opened, and +he stared at me. Then, being nowise afraid of the bishop, or, as it +seemed, of saints, he said aloud, seemingly to himself:</p> +<p>"Never saw I bishop before. Still, I knew that they were blessed +with visions; but that live saints should sit below their seat, I +dreamt not!" and so he went on staring at me.</p> +<p>So the bishop, for all his trouble, could but smile, and asked +him if he saw a vision.</p> +<p>"Surely," he said, "this is the saint who stayed us on yonder +hill."</p> +<p>"Nay, that is Heregar the Thane, messenger of Osric."</p> +<p>"Then," said Wislac, "let me tell you, Heregar the Thane, that +one of the saints, and I think a valiant one, is mightily like you. +Whereby you are the more fortunate."</p> +<p>Now for all the mistake I could not find a word to say, and was +fain to thank him for the good word on my looks. Yet he went on +looking at me now and then in a puzzled sort of way. And the bishop +seemed to enjoy his wonderment, but was in no mind to enlighten +him.</p> +<p>Presently the bishop bade Wislac sit down, and then he took up +Osric's ring that I had given him, and also another which lay +beside it on the table -- silver also, with some device on it, like +that I had worn.</p> +<p>"See, thanes," he said, "have you three a mind to stay with me +for a while and be my council in this matter? For I am here without +a fighting man of my own to speak with."</p> +<p>Now this was what I would most wish, and I said so, eagerly and +with thanks.</p> +<p>And Wislac said that he was surely in good company, and having +nought to call him home would gladly stay also.</p> +<p>Then said the bishop, "Stranger you are, friend Wislac, and +therefore wear this ring of Osric's, that men may pay heed to you +as his friend and mine; and do you, Heregar, wear this of mine that +men may know you for bishop's man, and so respect your word."</p> +<p>So was I put under the bishop's protection, and he would answer +for my presence in Wessex to all and any. That was good, and I felt +a free man again in truth, for here was no errand that would end, +as Osric's was ended, when I had seen Eanulf.</p> +<p>Now Wulfhere had not spoken, and the bishop asked him if he too +would not stay.</p> +<p>"Ay, lord," answered Wulfhere, "gladly; but you spoke of thanes +only."</p> +<p>"When the Bishop of Sherborne names one as a thane," said +Ealhstan, smiling, "men are apt to hold him as such. But only to +the worthy are such words spoken. Now, friend Wulfhere, I have +heard of you at Charnmouth fight, and also there is more in Osric's +letter than I have read to you. So if you will be but a bishop's +landless thane, surely you shall be one"</p> +<p>Then Wulfhere grew red with pleasure, and rising up, did +obeisance to the bishop for the honour, and the bishop called us +two others to witness that the same was given.</p> +<p>"Now is my council set," he said, "I to ask questions, and you +to advise."</p> +<p>So for a long two hours we sat and told him all we knew of those +Danes, I of the ships, and Wulfhere and Wislac of numbers, and +Wulfhere of their ways in raiding a country, for this he had seen +before, in Dorset, and also in Ireland, as he told us, in years +gone by.</p> +<p>That night we were treated as most honoured guests of the +bishop's own following, and early in the morning the bishop sent +for me, before mass. Once again I found him alone in that room of +his, and all he said to me I cannot write down. But I found that +Leofwine the hermit had told him of how I had taken counsel of him +and abided by it, even as Ealhstan himself had bidden me; and, +moreover, that Osric had written in his letter of what I had been +able to do against the Danes, and of Matelgar's last words +concerning me. And for that remembrance of me, according to his +promise, even when writing of far greater matters, I am ever +grateful to the good sheriff.</p> +<p>So, because of these things known, Ealhstan spoke to me as a +most loving father, praising me where it seemed that praise was +due, and reproving me for the many things of deed and thought that +were evil. And I told him freely and fully all that had passed from +the time I left the hill of Brent till when I had seen the signals +of the vikings from above Watchet, and bore the war arrow to +Matelgar. The rest he knew in a way; but I opened all my heart to +him, he drawing all from me most gently, till at last I came to my +dream of Matelgar, and my wish that for me he might rest in +peace.</p> +<p>"It is not all forgiveness, Heregar, my son," he said presently. +"There is love for Alsywthe, and pride in yourself, and thought of +Matelgar's failure, which have at least brought you to a beginning +of it. But true forgiveness comes slowly, and many a long day shall +it be before that has truly come."</p> +<p>And I knew that maybe he was right, and asked his help; +whereupon that was freely given, and in such sort that all my life +long I must mind the words he said, and love him in the memory.</p> +<p>When all that was said he would have me hear mass with him, as +though I needed urging. And there, too, were Wulfhere and Wislac; +and that mass in the great abbey was the most wonderful I ever +heard.</p> +<p>After that we three went out into the town, and Wislac and I +marvelled at everything. Then we went to the nunnery gates and +asked how our charges fared, and then saw to our steeds. There was +the collier, working as a groom with the other men, and he told me +that he was learning his new trade fast, but would fain walk ever, +rather than ride, having fallen many times from the abbess' mule, +which he had bestridden in anxiety to learn. Whether the mule was +the better for this lesson I doubt.</p> +<p>When we went back to the abbey Eanulf had come, and with him +many thanes. And I feared to meet these somewhat, for they might +have been among the Moot, and would know me. Yet Ealhstan had +foreseen this, and one was posted at the door to meet me, bidding +me aside privately, since the bishop needed me.</p> +<p>Wulfhere and Wislac went into the hall and left me, therefore, +and I was taken to a chamber where were six or seven lay brethren, +who asked me many things about the fight, and specially at last +about the saint who had appeared. And that was likely to be a +troublesome question for me, as I could not claim to have been the +one so mistaken; but another struck in, saying that there were many +strange portents about, for that a fiend had appeared bodily from +the marsh and had devoured a child, in Sedgemoor. Now it seems that +fiends are rarer than saints among these holy men, and they forgot +the first wonder and ran on about the second, not thinking that I +could have told them of that also. And at last one fetched a great +book, as I thought in some secrecy, and made thereout nothing more +nor less than parts of the song of Beowulf itself, and all about +Grendel, which pleased us all well, and so we were quiet enough, +listening.</p> +<p>And it happened that while we were all intent on this reading +(and I never heard one read as brother Guthlac read to us) the +sub-prior came in to call me, and pulling back the hangings of the +doorway, stood listening, where I could see him.</p> +<p>First of all he looked pleased to find his people so employed. +Then when the crash of the fighting verses came to his ears he +started a little, and looked round. The good brothers were like to +forget their frocks, for their fists were clenched and their eyes +sparkled, and their teeth were set, and verily I believe each man +of them thought himself one of Beowulf's comrades, if not the hero +himself.</p> +<p>Whereupon the sub-prior and I were presently grinning at one +another.</p> +<p>"Ho!" said he, all of a sudden. "Now were I Swithun, where would +you heathens spend tonight? Surely in the cells!"</p> +<p>Then for a moment they thought Grendel had indeed come, such +power has verse like this in the mouth of a good reader, and they +started up, one and all.</p> +<p>And the reader saw who it was, and that there was no hiding the +book from him, so they stood agape and terrified, for by this time +the good man had managed to look mighty stern.</p> +<p>"Good Father," said I, seeing that someone must needs speak, "I +am but a fighting man, and the brothers were considering my +weakness."</p> +<p>"H'm," said the sub-prior, seeming in great wrath. "Is there no +fighting to be read from Holy Writ that you must take these pagan +vanities from where you ought not? Go to! Yet, by reason of your +care for the bishop's thane, your penance shall be light now and +not heavy hereafter. Brother Guthlac shall read aloud in refectory +today the story of David and Goliath, and you brother," pointing to +one, "that of Ahab at Ramoth, and you, of Joshua at Jericho," and +so he went on till each had a chapter of war assigned him, and I +thought it an easy penance.</p> +<p>"But," he added, "and until all these are read, your meals shall +be untasted before you."</p> +<p>Then the brothers looked at one another, for it was certain that +all this reading would last till the meal must be left for +vespers.</p> +<p>Then the sub-prior bade the reader take back the book and go to +his own cell, and beckoning me, we passed out and left the brothers +in much dismay, not knowing what should befall them from the abbot +when he heard.</p> +<p>So I ventured to tell the sub-prior how this came about, and he +smiled, saying that he should not tell Tatwine the Abbot, for the +brothers were seldom in much fault, and that maybe it was laudable +to search even pagan books for the manners of fiends, seeing that +forewarned was forearmed.</p> +<p>Then he said that surely he wished (but this I need tell none +else) that he had been there in my place to hear Guthlac read it. +Also that he was minded to make the old rhyme more Christian-like, +if he could, writing parts of it afresh. And this he has done +since, so that any man may read it; but it is not so good as the +old one.<a name="sdendnote9anc" href= +"#sdendnote9sym"><sup>ix</sup></a></p> +<p>Now we came to the bishop's chamber, and he went in, calling me +after him in a minute or so. I could hear Ealhstan's voice and that +of another as I waited outside.</p> +<p>The other was Eanulf the Ealdorman, and as I entered he rose up +and faced me.</p> +<p>"So, Heregar," he said, "you are bishop's man now, and out of my +power. I am glad of it," and so saying he reached me out his hand +and wrung mine, and looked very friendly as he did so.</p> +<p>"I have heard of your doings," he said, "and thank you for them. +And I will see this matter of yours looked into, for I think, as +the bishop believes, that there has been a plot against you for +plain reasons enough. However, that must stand over as yet. But +come with me to the hall and I will right you with the thanes +there."</p> +<p>At that I thanked him, knowing that things were going right with +me, and the bishop smiled, as well pleased, but said nothing, as +Eanulf took me by the arm, and we went together to the great hall, +where the thanes, some twenty of them, were talking together. At +once I saw several whose faces had burnt themselves, as it were, +into my mind at the Moot; but none of Matelgar's friends among +them.</p> +<p>They were quiet when their leader went in, and he wasted no +time, but spoke in his own direct way.</p> +<p>"See here, thanes; here is Heregar, whom we outlawed but the +other day. Take my word and Ealhstan's and Osric's for it that +there was a mistake. We know now that there is no truer man, for he +has proved it, as some of you know - he being the man who lit the +huts at Stert in face of the Danes, and being likewise the Saint of +Cannington --"</p> +<p>"Aye, it is so," said several voices, and others laughed. Then, +like honest Saxons as they were, they came crowding and laughing to +shake hands with an outlawed saint, as one said; so that I was +overdone almost with their kindness, and knew not what to say or +do.</p> +<p>But Eanulf pushed me forward among them, saying that I, being +bishop's man, was no more concern of his, outlaw or no outlaw, and +that saints were beyond him. So he too laughed, and went back to +the bishop; and I found Wulfhere and Wislac, and soon I was one of +my own sort again, and the bad past seemed very far away.</p> +<p>But Wislac looked at me and said: "You have spoilt a fine tale I +had to take home with me; but maybe I need not tell the ending. +Howbeit, I always did hold that there was none so much difference +between a fighting saint and one of ourselves."</p> +<p>And that seemed to satisfy him.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap12">CHAPTER XII.</a> THE GREAT LEVY.</h2> +<p>It was not long before Eanulf made up his mind to action, and he +was closeted with the bishop all that morning. Then, after the +midday meal, he called a council of all who were there, and we sat +in the great hall to hear his plans.</p> +<p>Ealhstan came with him, and these two sat at the upper end of +the hall, and we on the benches round the walls, for the long +tables had been cleared.</p> +<p>When all was ready, Eanulf stood up and told the thanes, for +some were men who had had no part in Osric's levy, all about the +fighting, and how it had ended. And having done that, he asked for +the advice of such as would have aught to say.</p> +<p>Very soon an old thane rose up and said that he thought all +would be well if forces were so posted as to prevent the Danes +coming beyond the land they then held.</p> +<p>And several growled assent to that; and one said that Danes +bided in one place no long time, but would take ship again and go +elsewhere.</p> +<p>That, too, seemed to please most, and I saw Eanulf bite his lip, +for he was a man who loved action. And Wulfhere, too, shifted in +his seat, as if impatient.</p> +<p>Then they went back to the first proposal, and began to name +places where men might be posted to keep the Danes in Parret valley +at least, till they went away.</p> +<p>Then at last Wulfhere grew angry, and rose up, looking very +red.</p> +<p>"And what think you will Parret valley be like when they have +done their will therein? Does no man remember the going back to his +place when these strangers had bided in it for a while, after they +beat us in Dorset?"</p> +<p>There were two thanes who had lands in that part, and they +flushed, so that one might easily know they remembered; but they +said naught.</p> +<p>Then Eanulf spake, very plainly:</p> +<p>"I am for raising the levy of Somerset again, and stronger, and +driving them out; but I cannot do it without your help."</p> +<p>Then there was silence, and the thanes looked at one another for +so long that I waxed impatient, and being headstrong, maybe, got up +and spoke:</p> +<p>"Landless I am, and maybe not to be hearkened to, but +nevertheless I will say what it seems to me that a man should say. +Into this land of peace these men from over seas have come +wantonly, slaying our friends, burning our houses, driving our +cattle, making such as escape them take to the woods like hunted +wild beasts. Where is Edred the Thane? Where is Matelgar? Where +twenty others you called friends? Dead by Combwich, and none to +bury them. The Danes have their arms, the wolves their bodies. Is +no vengeance to be taken for this? Or shall the Danes sail away +laughing, saying that the hearts of the Saxons are as water?"</p> +<p>Then there rose an angry growl at that, and I was glad to hear +it. So was Eanulf, as it seemed. And Wulfhere got up and stood +beside me and spoke.</p> +<p>"This is good talk, and now I will add a word. Why came back the +Danes here? Because after we were beaten before, we let them do +their worst, and hindered them not; therefore come they back even +now -- aye, and if we drive them not from us, hither will they come +yet again, till we may not call the land our own from year to year. +I say with the ealdorman, let us up and drive them out, showing +them what Saxons are made of. What? Are we done fighting after they +have scattered one hastily gathered levy? Shame there is none to us +in being so beaten once, but I hold it shame to let them so easily +have the mastery."</p> +<p>Then there was a murmur, but not all of assent; though I could +see that many would side with us. Whereon Wislac rose up slowly, +and looking round, said:</p> +<p>"I am a stranger, but having been present at the beating the +other day, yonder, am minded to see if I may yet go home on the +winning side. And it would be shame, even as these two thanes have +said, not to give a guest a chance to have his pleasure. I pray +you, thanes, pluck up spirit, and follow the ealdorman."</p> +<p>Now, though Wislac's words seemed idle at the beginning, there +was that in his last words which brought several of the younger +thanes to their feet, looking angrily at him, and one asked if he +meant to call that assembly "nidring".</p> +<p>"Not I," said Wislac, smiling peacefully, "seeing that you have +done naught to deserve that foul name; but being a beaten man, as I +said, I need a chance to prove that I am not 'nidring' myself, so +please you."</p> +<p>And they could not take offence at his tone, yet they saw well +what he meant; and this in the end touched them very closely, for +they were in the same case as he, but with more right, being of +Somerset, to wipe out their defeat. But maybe there would have been +a quarrel if Eanulf had not spoken.</p> +<p>"Peace, thanes," he said. "Heregar is right, and we must avenge +our dead. Wulfhere is right, and for the land's sake we must give +these Danes a lesson to bide at home. Wislac is right, and this +defeat must be wiped out. Now say if you will help me to raise the +levy afresh?"</p> +<p>"Aye, we will," said the thanes, but there was not that +heartiness in their tones that one might have looked for.</p> +<p>In truth, though, it was no want of courage, but the thought of +the easier plan of waiting, that held them back.</p> +<p>Then Ealhstan the Bishop rose up and faced us all, with his eyes +shining, and his right hand gripping his crosier so tightly that +his knuckles shone white.</p> +<p>"What, my sons, shall it be said of you, as it is said of us +Dorset folk, that you let the Danes bide in your land and work +their worst on you and yours? I tell you that since we went back +and saw, as we still see, their track over our homes, our folk burn +to take revenge on them; and I, being what I am, think no wrong of +counselling revenge on heathen folk. Listen, for ye are men."</p> +<p>And then he told us in burning words such a tale of what must be +were these heathen to have their way, such things that he himself +had seen and known after Charnmouth fight, that we would fain at +last be up and drive them away without waiting for the levy.</p> +<p>And at last he said:</p> +<p>"Eanulf, this will I do. I will gather the Dorset levy and lead +them to your help, and so will we make short work of these +heathen."</p> +<p>Then all the thanes shouted that they would not be behind in the +matter; and so their cool Saxon blood was fired to that white rage +which is quenched but in victory or death.</p> +<p>Now after that there was talk of nothing but of making the levy +as soon as might be, and Eanulf, thanking everyone, and most of all +the bishop, straightway gave his orders; and before that night the +war arrow was speeding through all Somerset and Dorset likewise, +and word was sent to Osric and the other sheriffs that the +gathering place named was at the hill of Brent.</p> +<p>Now of those days that followed there is little to say. The +other thanes left, each to gather his own men, vowing vengeance on +the Danes; but before they went there was hardly one who did not +seek out Wulfhere, Wislac, and myself, and in some way or another +tell us that we had spoken right. One fiery young thane, indeed, +was minded to fight Wislac, but the Mercian turned the quarrel very +skilfully, and in the end agreed with the thane that the matter +should be settled by the number of Danes each should slay, "which," +said Wislac, "will be as good sport and more profitable than +pounding one another, and quite as good proof that neither of us +may be held nidring."</p> +<p>So that ended very well.</p> +<p>But every day came in reports, brought by fugitives, of the +Danes and their doings, which made our blood boil. At last came one +who brought a message for myself, could I be found. It was from the +aunt of Alswythe, the Prioress of Bridgwater, telling of her safety +and that of her nuns, at Taunton. And I begged the bishop to let me +tell this good news to Alswythe, and so gained speech with her once +more. Yet would the abbess be present, reading the while; but I +might tell my love all that had befallen me, and she rejoiced, +bidding me go fight and win myself renown in the good cause of my +own country.</p> +<p>And when I left her I felt that I must indeed be strong for the +sake of her, and by reason of her words, which would be in my mind +ever.</p> +<p>Now one day when I went to see the horses and ride out with +Wulfhere and Wislac, the collier came and hung about, seeming to +wish to ask somewhat. And when I noticed this and bade him speak, +he prayed me that I would give him arms, and let him follow me to +the coming fighting. Arms, save those I wore, I had none, but I +promised him such as I could buy him with what remained of the +money I had found, which might be enough, seeing that we lived at +free quarters with the bishop, and had little expense. As for the +other money, I left that with the abbess after I had seen Alswythe, +for it was less mine than hers.</p> +<p>But I asked Dudda if he were able to use a sword. Whereupon he +grinned, and said that Brother Guthlac tended the abbot's mule, and +had taught him much when he came to the stables daily. He also +showed me a bruised arm and broken head in token of hard play with +the ash plant between them.</p> +<p>"Here is the said Guthlac," said Wulfhere; and there was the +reader of Beowulf coming, with frock and sleeves tucked up, from +out the stables. So I called him, and asked him to try a bout with +the collier, telling him why.</p> +<p>At first he denied all knowledge of carnal warfare, but I +reminded him of his reading of Beowulf, saying that, if he knew +naught of fighting, the verses would have had none of that fire in +them. So, in the end, they went to it, and I saw that Guthlac was +well used to sword play, and was satisfied also with his pupil.</p> +<p>Then I asked Guthlac whence he got his skill in arms, and why he +was shut up thus inside four walls.</p> +<p>"Laziness, Thane," he answered, telling me nothing of the first +matter at all. Nor would he. But I found afterwards that he had +been lamed once, and tended by the monks, and so had bided in the +abbey, liking the life, though he had been a stout housecarle to +some thane or other.</p> +<p>Then Wislac must ask him if there were any more of his sort in +the abbey, and seeing that we meant no harm, and looking on me as +an ally in that matter of the reading, he said there were five +more, "whom Heregar the Thane knew, if he would remember, reading +certain Scriptures at supper time."</p> +<p>And I found that these six kindred spirits had managed to get +themselves told off to amuse me while I waited that day, so that +they might hear of the fighting.</p> +<p>So we laughed and rode out, and I thought no more of Guthlac and +his brethren till the time came when I remembered them gladly.</p> +<p>All day long during that week came pouring in the Dorset levies +in answer to the bishop's summons. Hard and wiry men they were, and +as I could well see, a very much harder set than Osric's first +levy, for these were veterans. Ealhstan's word had gone out that +all men who would wipe out the defeat of Charnmouth should gather +to him, and these were the men who had fought there, and only +longed to try their strength again against their conquerors of that +disastrous day.</p> +<p>Day by day, also, would Ealhstan go out into the marketplace, +and there speak burning words to them, bidding them remember the +days gone by, and the valour of their fathers who won the land for +them, and to have ever in mind that this war was not of Christian +against Christian, but against heathen men who were profaning the +houses of God wherever they came.</p> +<p>Many more things did he say, ever finding something fresh +wherewith to stir their courage, but ever, also, did he bid them +remember how the Danes had won by discipline more than courage, and +to pay heed to that as their leaders bade them.</p> +<p>Also, day by day, he bade the thanes who had seen fighting, +train their men as well as they might, and they worked well at +that. Moreover, he could teach them much, reading to us at times +from a great Latin book of the wars of Caesar such things as seemed +like to be useful, putting it into good Saxon as he went on.</p> +<p>Then, as the week drew to an end, there began to be questions as +to who should be leader of the Dorset men. And many said that Osric +should be the man, for he was an Ealdorman of Dorset. But when the +bishop sent to Brent for him, and asked him to lead his men, Osric +doubted; and what he said to the other thanes, and to us three, +made them send us to the bishop with somewhat to ask.</p> +<p>So we, finding him ever ready to hear what was wanted, put the +question to him plainly as they had bidden us. And that was, that +he himself should lead the levy of Dorset.</p> +<p>Now Tatwine, the old abbot, sat with him and heard this, and +straightway he began to tremble, and cry out that such work was +unfit for a bishop.</p> +<p>So the bishop said to me, very quietly, but with a look in his +eyes which seemed to show that this was what he longed for:</p> +<p>"Heregar, my son, go and tell the thanes what the abbot says, +and ask if they will go without me."</p> +<p>All the thanes were waiting to hear the bishop's answer to our +request, and I told them this, and they knew at once what answer to +give, for they said, or Osric said for them, while all +applauded:</p> +<p>"We will not go against these heathens unless the bishop leads +us. Else must Somerset fight her own battles."</p> +<p>So with that word I went back to the bishop, and told him.</p> +<p>"So, Tatwine, my brother, you see how it is. Needs must that I +go, else were it shame to us that heathen men should have freedom +in a Christian land."</p> +<p>But Tatwine groaned, and, maybe knowing the bishop well, said no +more.</p> +<p>Then Ealhstan bade him remember all the saints who had warred +against the heathen, and were held blameless -- nay, rather, the +holier.</p> +<p>"Therefore," said he, "I am in good company, and will surely +go."</p> +<p>Whereupon Tatwine rose up and went out, saying that he should go +to the abbey and seek protection for the bishop, and men say he +bided there almost night and day, praying until all was past. +Certainly I saw him no more in his accustomed places, save at +mass.</p> +<p>When he had gone the bishop smiled a little, looking after him, +and then spoke to us.</p> +<p>"I may tell my council that this is what I should love. +Nevertheless, it will not be I who lead, but you three. For the +counsel must be Wulfhere's, and the coolness Wislac's, and the rest +Heregar's, who will by no means bide that we run away. Now, I think +that you three will make a good leader of me."</p> +<p>On that we thanked him for his words, and we followed him out to +the hall. And there the thanes shouted and cheered as he came, and +still more when he prayed them to follow him to victory or a +warrior's death. And that they swore to do, not loudly, but in such +sort that none could mistake that they would surely do so.</p> +<p>Then he bade them muster their men by the first light in the +morning, and so he would lead them first of all to Brent, to join +the ealdorman. And Osric should be his second in command.</p> +<p>That pleased all, and soon we were left alone with him again, +but we could hear outside the cheering of men now and then, as some +thane gathered his following and told them the name of their +leader.</p> +<p>So we three went out presently and saw to our horses, and then I +was wondering about arms for Dudda, for I had left the matter too +long, and it seemed there were few weapons remaining for sale in +the town by reason of men of the levy buying or borrowing what they +lacked in equipment. And the poor fellow hung about sadly, thinking +he should find none in the end, and swearing he would follow me +even had he naught but a quarterstaff in his hand.</p> +<p>But when we went back to the abbey, the bishop sent for us, and +we were taken into a room we had not seen before, and there on the +table were laid out three suits of mail, helmets, and arms.</p> +<p>"Now," said Ealhstan, as he saw our eyes go, as a man's eyes +will, straight to these things, "if you thanes are not too proud to +accept such as I can give, let me arm you, and tell you where you +shall bear these arms."</p> +<p>And that was what we longed for, for as yet we had no post in +the levy, and we told him as much.</p> +<p>"That is well," he answered. "See, Wislac, here is bright steel +armour and helm and shield for you. Sword also, if you need it, for +maybe you will scarce part from your own tried weapon?"</p> +<p>But Wislac smiled at that, and took hold of his sword hilt, +loosening the strings which bound it to the sheath. There were but +eight inches of blade left, and these were sorely notched.</p> +<p>"Aha!" quoth the bishop, "now know I why Wislac thought well to +stop fighting the other day," which pleased the Mercian well +enough.</p> +<p>"Then, Wulfhere," went on Ealhstan, "here is this black armour +and helm and shield for you, and sword or axe as you will."</p> +<p>And Wulfhere thanked him, taking the axe, as his own sword was +good.</p> +<p>"Now, Heregar, my son, this is yours," said the bishop, looking +kindly at me.</p> +<p>And as I looked I thought I had never seen more beautiful arms. +No better were they than the other two suits, for all three were of +good Sussex ring mail as to the byrnies,<a name="sdendnote10anc" +href="#sdendnote10sym"><sup>x</sup></a> while the boar-crested +helms were of hammered steel.</p> +<p>But mine was silver white, with gold collar and gold circles +round the arms. Gold, too, was the boar-crest of the helm, and gold +the circle round the head, and to me it seemed as I looked that +this was too good. And Ealhstan knew my thoughts and answered +them.</p> +<p>"Black for the man of dark counsel, bright steel for the +warrior, and silver-bright armour for the man who brings back hope +when all seems lost."</p> +<p>"That is good," said Wislac. "Now read us the meaning of the +gold thereon also," for he seemed to see that the bishop had some +meaning in that, whereat the bishop smiled.</p> +<p>"Gold for trust," he said, "and for the man who shall be +honoured."</p> +<p>"That is well also," said Wulfhere, and Wislac nodded +gravely.</p> +<p>"Now," said the bishop, "I will put Heregar out of my council +for a minute, so that he may not speak nor hear. Tell me, Thanes +both, if it will be well to give Heregar the place whereto men +shall rally in need?"</p> +<p>"Aye, surely," they said. "We know he can fill that place."</p> +<p>"Then shall he bear my standard," said the bishop, "and none +will gainsay it," and so he turned to me.</p> +<p>"Now, Heregar, may you hear this decision. Standard bearer to me +shall you be, and I know you will bear it well and bravely. And +these two, your friends and mine, shall stand to right and left of +you, and six stout carles may you choose from the levy to stand +before and behind you. And whom you choose I will arm alike, that +all may know them."</p> +<p>Now knew I not what to say or do, but I knelt before the bishop +and kissed his hand, and so he laid it on my head and blessed me, +bidding me speak no words of thanks, but only deserve them from +him.</p> +<p>Now there was a little silence after this, and Wislac, being +ever ready, broke it for us,</p> +<p>"Much do I marvel," he said, "that these suits of armour should +be so exactly fitting to each of us. Surely there is some magic in +it."</p> +<p>"Only the magic of a wearied man's sleep, and of a good weapon +smith," said the bishop, laughing. "One measured your mail, byrnie +and helm both, as you slept. We have lay brethren apt for every +craft."</p> +<p>And that reminded me of Brother Guthlac, and a thought came to +me.</p> +<p>"Father," I said, "six men have you bidden me choose, and I know +none of the Dorset men. Yet there are six lay brethren here who +have been warriors, of whom brother Guthlac is one, and if they may +march against heathen men, I pray you let me have them."</p> +<p>Now that the Bishop seemed to find pleasant, as though he knew +something of those lovers of war songs, and answered that he wot +not if Tatwine would let them go. But, in any case, he would choose +men for me of the best, and that we all thought well, knowing in +what spirit he would put those men whom he should choose.</p> +<p>So he bade us go, taking our arms with us, and we, thanking him, +went out. But I found my collier, and showed him the arms I had +been wearing, saying they should be his, and then took him, +rejoicing, into the town. There I bought him, after some search, a +plain, good sword and target, which he bore to his lodgings to +scour and gaze at for the rest of the day.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap13">CHAPTER XIII.</a> A MESSAGE FROM THE +DEAD.</h2> +<p>How shall I tell what it was like when the bishop, standing +aloft at the head of the abbey steps with all the monks round him, +gave into my hands, as I knelt, his standard to bear at the head of +his men?</p> +<p>Very early in the morning it was, and all the roofs were golden +in bright sunlight, and the men, drawn up in a hollow square +fronting the abbey, were silent and attentive as mass was sung in +the great church, so that the sound of the chanting came out to +them through the open doors. And when the sacring <a name= +"sdendnote11anc" href="#sdendnote11sym"><sup>xi</sup></a> bell +rang, as though a wave went along the ranks, all knelt, and there +was a clash and ring of steel, and then silence for a space, very +wonderful.</p> +<p>Then came out, when mass was said, bishop, and thanes, and +monks, and there gave me the banner, Wulfhere and Wislac kneeling +on either side of me, and behind us those six stout housecarles +whom the bishop had chosen and armed for me. So the banner was +given and blessed, and I rose up, grasping the golden-hafted cross +from which it hung, and lifted it that all might see.</p> +<p>Then was a great shout from all the men, and swords were drawn +and brandished on every side, and, without need of command, all the +Dorset host swore to follow it even to the death. And that was good +to hear.</p> +<p>But as for me, my thoughts were more than I may write, but it +seems to me that they were as those of Saint George when he rode +out to slay the dragon in the old days, so great were they.</p> +<p>After that a little wait, and then the horses; and the bishop +mounted a great bay charger, managing him as a master. And to me +was brought my white horse by the collier, looking a grim fighting +man enough in his arms, and to Wulfhere and Wislac black and gray +steeds given by Ealhstan himself.</p> +<p>Now the bishop rode, followed by us, to the centre of the levy, +and again a great shout rose up even mightier than that first, and +when it ended he spoke to the men as he was wont to speak but even +yet more freely, and then put himself at their head, and so began +the march to Brent. And all the town was out to see us go, never +doubting of our victory, nor thinking of how few might return of +all that long line of sturdy and valiant fighting men.</p> +<p>When we were clear of the town at last, and went, the men +singing as they marched, down the ancient green lanes that had seen +our forefathers' levies and the Roman legions alike, I had time to +look around me at my own following, being conscious in some way +that, mixed up as it were with the war song, there had been the +sound of the droning of a chant as by monks close by me. And I +could see no monks near. The thanes were riding round and after the +bishop, who came next me as I led the way with the standard, and +Ealhstan indeed had on his robes; but there was a stiffness about +him, and a glint of steel also, when a breeze shifted the loose +fold of his garments, that seemed to say that his was not all +peaceful gear.</p> +<p>Just behind me, as I rode with Wulfhere and Wislac to right and +left, came my six men, big powerful housecarles, all in black +armour and carrying red and black shields, and with a red cross on +their helms' fronts. And the squarest of these six, he who seemed +to be their leader, looked up at me, when I turned again, with a +grin that I seemed to know. So I took closer notice of him, and lo! +it was Guthlac, the reader of Beowulf, and the other five were his +brethren. Small wonder that I had not recognized the holy men in +their war gear, so little looked they like the peaceful brethren +who had walked in the abbey cloisters.</p> +<p>With them was my collier, keeping step and holding himself with +the best of them, and I thought that they would be seven hardy +Danes who should overmatch my standard guard. So I was well content +with the bishop's choice for me.</p> +<p>Now of that march to Brent, and the meeting there with the +Somerset levy, there is no need to tell. But by the time we marched +from thence against the Danes, there were five hundred men of +Dorset, and near nine hundred of Somerset. Of the Danes some judged +that there would be eight hundred or more, but if that was so, they +were tried men, and our numbers were none too great. Moreover, we +must separate, so as to drive them down to their ships, for they +were spread over the country, burning and destroying on every +side.</p> +<p>We lay but one night on Brent, while the leaders held counsel, +and even as we sat gathered, we could see plainly the fires the +Danes had lit, of burning hamlet and homestead, far and wide across +the marshes of Parret. And the end of that council was that Eanulf +should take his Somerset men up Parret valley, and so drive down +the Danes, while Ealhstan should fall on them by Bridgwater as they +came down, and so scatter them.</p> +<p>Therefore would the Somerset levy march very early, before +light; while we should wait till the next night, unless word should +come beforehand.</p> +<p>So we went to sleep. And as I slept in my place, with the +standard flapping above me, and my comrades on either side and +behind, it seemed to me that one came and waked me. And when I sat +up and looked, thinking it was a messenger from the bishop, I saw +that it was Matelgar.</p> +<p>Now this time I had no fear of him, and I waited for him to +speak, just as though he had been before me in the flesh, for there +seemed naught uncanny about the matter to me. And yet even at the +moment that seemed strange, though it was so.</p> +<p>But for a while he looked not at me, but out over the low lands +towards Parret mouth and Stert, shading his eyes with his hand as +though it were broad noonday. And then he turned back to me and +spoke.</p> +<p>"Heregar; I promised to stand by you again when the time came. +Now I bid you go to Combwich hill, there to wait what betides. So, +if you will do the bidding of the dead who has wronged you, but +would now make amends, shall you thank me for this hereafter -- +aye, and not you only."</p> +<p>Then out over Parret he gazed again and faded from beside me, so +that I could ask him nothing. Then knew I that I was awake, and +that this had been no dream; for a great fear came on me for a +little, knowing what I had seen to be not of this world. Yet all +around me my comrades slept, and only round the rim of the trenched +hill went the wakeful sentries, too far for speech -- for we +leaders were in the centre of the camp.</p> +<p>But presently I began to think less of the vision, and more of +the words. And at first they seemed vain, for Combwich hill was +over near to Stert; nor did I see how I could reach the place +without cutting through the Danes (who would doubtless leave a +strong guard with the ships, and were also in and about +Bridgwater), seeing that the river must be crossed.</p> +<p>Then as I turned over the matter, not doubting but that a +message so given was sooth, and by no means lightly to be +disregarded, I seemed to wake to a resolve concerning the meaning +of the whole thing. What if I could win there under cover of +darkness, and so fall on the Danish host as Eanulf drove them back +and the bishop and Osric chased them to the ships?</p> +<p>That seemed possible, if only I could cross Parret with men +enough, and unseen. I would ask Wulfhere and Wislac, when morning +came, and so, if they could help, lay the matter before the bishop +himself. So thinking I fell asleep again, peacefully enough, nor +dreamt I aught.</p> +<p>With morning light that vision and the bidding to Combwich, and +what I had thought thereon, seemed yet stronger. Very early the +Somerset men went with Eanulf, and we of the bishop's levy only +remained on Brent after the morning meal.</p> +<p>Then as we three stood on the edge of the hill, and looked out +where Matelgar had looked, I told my two friends of his coming and +of his words.</p> +<p>"Three things there are," said Wislac, "that hinder this ghost's +business; namely, want of wings, uncertainty of darkness, and +ignorance of the time when the Danes shall come."</p> +<p>"There are also three things that make for it, brother," said +Wulfhere. "Namely: that men can swim, that there is no moon, and +that the Danes are careless in their watch of the waste they leave +behind them."</p> +<p>"Think you that the hill will be unguarded?" asked I, glad that +Wulfhere did not put away the plan at once.</p> +<p>"Why should they guard it? There are Danes at the ships -- +though few, I expect, for we have been well beaten. And more in +plenty from Parret to Quantocks, and no Saxon left between the two +forces."</p> +<p>"Why not burn the ships then?" asked Wislac.</p> +<p>"Doubtless that could we, once over Parret," answered Wulfhere, +"but what then? Away go the Danes through Somerset, burning and +plundering even to Cornwall, and there bide till ships come, and +then can be gone in safety. That is not what we need. We have to +trap them and beat them here."</p> +<p>"So then, Wulfhere," I said, "think you that the plan is +good?"</p> +<p>"Aye," he answered, "good enough; but not easy. Moreover, I +doubt if the bishop would let his standard bearer part from +him."</p> +<p>That was likely enough to stop all the plan; but yet I would lay +it before Ealhstan, for it seemed to us that such a message might +by no means go untold at least.</p> +<p>So we sought him, and asked for speech with him; and at that he +laughed, saying that surely his council had the best right to that. +Osric was with him, and the bishop told him how that we three had +been his first advisers in this matter.</p> +<p>Then we sat down and I told Ealhstan all, asking nothing.</p> +<p>When I had ended, Osric looked at me, and said that the plan was +venturesome; but no doubt possible to be carried out, and if so, by +none better than myself, who knew every inch of that country. Then, +thinking over it, as it were, he added that the woods beyond +Matelgar's hall would shelter any force that must needs seek cover, +so that, even were Combwich hill unsafe, there was yet a refuge +whence attack could again be made.</p> +<p>Then Ealhstan, who had listened quietly, said that such messages +were rare, but all the less to be despised. Therefore would he +think thereof more fully.</p> +<p>"What," he asked, "is the main difficulty?"</p> +<p>I said that the crossing of Parret was like to be hard in any +case; but at night and unobserved yet more so. But that, could we +reach the farther bank, I could find places where we might lie in +wait for a day, if need were, with many men.</p> +<p>Thereupon the bishop took that great book of Caesar's wars, and +looked into it. But he seemed long in finding aught to meet that +case, while we talked of one thing or another concerning it among +ourselves.</p> +<p>At last he shut the book and said, very gravely: "I would that I +could swim."</p> +<p>"I also, Father," said Wislac, "and why I cannot, save for sheer +cowardice, I know not, having been brought up on Thames side, and +never daring to go out of depth."</p> +<p>At that we were fain to laugh, so dismally did the +broad-shouldered Mercian blame himself. But the bishop said that if +I went, needs must that he came also. But he did not dissuade me in +any way.</p> +<p>"Wulfhere the Counsellor," he said then, "have you no plan?"</p> +<p>"To cross the river?" answered the veteran. "Aye, many, if they +may be managed. Rafts for those who cannot swim, surely."</p> +<p>Now I bethought me of the many boats that ever lay in the creek +under Combwich, and wondered if any were yet whole. For if they +were, surely one might swim over and bring one back. And that I +said.</p> +<p>Then of a sudden, the bishop rose up, and seemed to have come to +a decision, saying:</p> +<p>"See here, thanes; ever as we march to Bridgwater, we draw +nearer Parret. Now by this evening, we shall be close over against +this place Combwich, so that one may go thither and spy what there +is to be done, and come back in good time and tell us if crossing +may be made by raft or boat. Let this rest till then. But if it may +be so, then I, and Heregar and his following, and two hundred men +will surely cross, and wait for what may betide. For I think this +plan is good."</p> +<p>So he would say no more of it then. And presently all his men +were mustered, and we marched from Brent slowly along the way to +Bridgwater.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap14">CHAPTER XIV.</a> ELGAH THE FISHER.</h2> +<p>Now men have said that this plan of mine needed no ghost to set +it forth, but is such that would enter the mind of any good leader. +That might be so had there been one there who knew the country as I +knew it, but there was not. And I was no general as was Eanulf. +However that might be, I tell what happened to me in the matter, +and sure am I that but for Matelgar's bidding I had never thought +of this place or plan.</p> +<p>But once Ealhstan had heard thereof, the thought of it seemed +ever better to him. And when we were fairly marching along the +level towards Bridgwater he called me, and began to talk of that +business of spying out the crossing place.</p> +<p>Now I too had been thinking of that same, and asked him to let +me go at once, taking one man with me. Then would I rejoin him as +best I might, and close to the place where I might fix on means of +getting over.</p> +<p>Now there seemed little danger in the matter, for our spies had +reported no Danes on this side of Parret, for they kept the water +between us and them, doubtless knowing that Osric had gone to Brent +at first, and thinking it likely that another levy might be made. +So the bishop, not very willingly, as it seemed to me, let me go, +as there was none else who could go direct to the point as I could +without loss of time, even as Osric told him.</p> +<p>Then I gave the standard into Wulfhere's hand, and must seek one +to go with me. First I thought of Wislac, but he was a stranger, +and then my eyes lit on my collier, and I knew that I need go no +further. So I called him, and taking him aside -- while the men +streamed past us, looking at my silver arms and speaking thereof to +one another -- told him what we had to do.</p> +<p>Whereat his eyes sparkled, and he said that it was good +hearing.</p> +<p>"But, master," he went on, "take off those bright arms of yours +and let us go as marshmen. Then will be no suspicion if the Danes +see us from across the water."</p> +<p>That was wise counsel, and we left our arms in a baggage wagon, +borrowing frocks from the churls who followed us, and only keeping +our seaxes in our belts.</p> +<p>Then Dudda found a horse that was led with the wagons, and I +bade the man whose it was lend it to him, promising good hire for +its use. And so we two rode off together across the marshland, away +by Burnham, while the levy held on steadily by the main road.</p> +<p>Then was I glad that I had brought the collier, for the marsh +was treacherous and hard to pass in places. But he knew the firm +ground, as it were, by nature, and we went on quickly enough. Now +and then we passed huts, but they were empty; for away across the +wide river mouth at Burnham, though we rode not into that village, +we could see the six long black ships as they lay at Stert, and the +smoke of the fires their guard had made on shore.</p> +<p>But on this side of the river they had been, for Burnham was but +a heap of ashes. They had crossed in their small boats, doubtless, +and found the place empty.</p> +<p>Then at last we came to a hut some two miles off in the marshes +from Combwich, and in that we left our horses, giving them hay from +the little rick that stood thereby. To that poor place, at least, +the Danes had not come, for the remains of food left on the table +showed that the owners had fled hastily, but in panic, and that +none had been near the place since.</p> +<p>Now Dudda would have us take poles and a net we found left, on +our shoulders, that we might seem fishers daring to return, or +maybe driven by hunger to our work. For we must go unhidden soon, +where the marshland lay open and bare down to the river, the alder +and willow holts ceasing when their roots felt the salt water of +the spring tides. But we had been able to keep under their cover as +far as the hut.</p> +<p>So we went towards the river, as I had many a time seen the +fishers go in the quiet days that were past; and we said little, +but kept our eyes strained both up and down the river for sign of +the Danes.</p> +<p>But all we saw was once, far off on Stert, the flash of bright +arms or helm; and there we knew before that men must be.</p> +<p>On Combwich hill was no smoke wreath of the outpost fires I had +feared, nor could I see aught moving among the trees. Then at last +we stood on the river bank and looked across at the little haven. +All the huts were burnt and silent. There were many crows and +ravens among the trees above where they had stood, and a great +osprey wheeled over our heads as we looked.</p> +<p>"No men here," said my comrade, "else would not yon birds be so +quiet."</p> +<p>But I could see no boat, and my heart sank somewhat; for nothing +was there on this bank wherewith to make the raft of which Wulfhere +spake.</p> +<p>Then said I: "Let us swim over and see what we can find."</p> +<p>Now it was three hours after noon, or thereabouts, and the tide +was running out very swiftly, and it was a long passage over. +Nevertheless we agreed to try it, and so, going higher up the +stream, we cast ourselves in, and swam quartering across the +tide.</p> +<p>A long and heavy swim it was, but no more than two strong men +could well manage. All the time, however, I looked to see some +red-cloaked Dane come out from the trees and spy us; but there was +none.</p> +<p>Then we reached the other bank, and stood to gain breath, for +now we were in the enemy's country, and tired as we were, we threw +ourselves down in the shelter of a broad-stemmed willow tree, on +the side away from the hill and village.</p> +<p>In a moment the collier touched my arm and pointed. On the crest +of the hill stood a man, looking down towards us, but he was +unarmed, as well as I could see, and, moreover, his figure seemed +familiar. We watched him closely, for he began to come down towards +us, and as he came nearer I knew him. It was one of the Combwich +villeins -- a fisher of the name of Elgar.</p> +<p>Now I would speak with him, for he could tell me all I needed; +yet I knew not if he had made friends with the Danes, being here +and seeming careless.</p> +<p>We lost sight of him among the trees, and the birds flew up, +croaking, from them, marking his path as yet towards us; and at +last he came from behind a half-burnt hut close to us. Then I +called him by name.</p> +<p>He started, and whipped out a long knife, and in a moment was +behind the hut wall again. So I knew that he was not in league with +the enemy, but feared them. Therefore I rose up and called him +again, adding that I was Heregar, and needed him.</p> +<p>Then he came out, staring at me with his knife yet ready. But +when he saw that it was really myself he ran to meet me with a cry +of joy and knelt before me, kissing my hands and weeping; so that +it was a while before I could ask him anything. Very starved and +wretched he looked, and I judged rightly that he had taken to the +woods from the first.</p> +<p>Presently he was quiet enough to answer my questions, and he +told me that at first the Danes had had a strong post on the hill +above us; but that, growing confident, they had left it these two +days. But there were many passing and repassing along the road, +bringing plunder back to the ships. He had watched them from the +woods, he said.</p> +<p>Also he told me that even now mounted men had ridden past +swiftly, going to the ships, and from that I guessed that Eanulf's +force had been seen at least, and tidings sent thereof.</p> +<p>Then I asked him if any boats were left unburnt, and at that a +cunning look came into his thin face, and he answered:</p> +<p>"Aye, master. Three of us were minded to save ours, and we sank +them with stones in the creek before we fled. But the other two are +slain, and I only am left to recover them."</p> +<p>Now that was good hearing, and I bade the men show me where they +lay, and going with him found that now the water was low, we could +see them and reach them easily. There were two small boats that +might hold three men each, and one larger.</p> +<p>Then I told Elgar how I needed them for this night's work, and +at first he was terrified, fearing nothing more than that his boats +should be lost to him after all. But I promised him full amends if +harm came to them, and that in the name of Osric, which he knew +well. And with that he was satisfied.</p> +<p>So with a little labour we got the two small boats afloat, and +then cast about where to hide them; for though Elgar said that the +Danes came not nigh the place, it was likely that patrols would be +sent out after the alarm of Eanulf's approach, and might come on +them.</p> +<p>At last Elgar said that there was a creek half a mile or less up +the river, and on the far side, where they might lie unseen +perhaps. And that would suit us well if we could get them there. +And the time was drawing on, so that we could make no delay.</p> +<p>Then out of a hollow tree Elgar drew oars for both boats, and we +got them out into the river, and Dudda rowing one, and Elgar the +other, in which I sat, we went to the place where they should be, +keeping under the bank next the Danes. And it was well for us that +the tide was so low, for else we should surely have been spied.</p> +<p>Yet we got them into the creek, Elgar making them fast so that +they would rise as the water rose. Then he said he would swim back, +and if he could manage it would raise the large boat and bring that +also.</p> +<p>So without climbing out from under the high banks of the creek +he splashed out into the tideway, and started back.</p> +<p>Now Dudda and I must make our way along to the horses, and so we +began to get out of the creek, which was very deep, at this low ebb +of the water, below the level of the meadows. Dudda was up the bank +first, and looked towards Combwich. Then he dropped back suddenly, +and bade me creep up warily and look also, through the grass.</p> +<p>So I did, and then knew how near an escape we had had, for there +was a party of Danes, idlers as it seemed, among the burnt huts, +turning over the ashes with their spears and throwing stones into +the water.</p> +<p>Then I saw Elgar's head halfway across the river, and knew he +could not see the Danes over the high bank. He was swimming +straight for them, and unless he caught sight of one who stood +nearest, surely he was lost. It was all that I could do to keep +myself from crying out to him; but that would have betrayed us +also, and, with us, the hope of our ambush. So we must set our +teeth and watch him go.</p> +<p>Then a Dane came to the edge of the high bank and saw him, and +at the same moment was himself seen. The Dane shouted, and Elgar +stopped paddling with his hands and keeping his head above +water.</p> +<p>Now we looked to see him swim back to this bank, and began to +wonder if the enemy would follow him and so find us. And for one +moment I believe he meant to do so, and then, brave man as he was, +gave himself away to save us; for he stretched himself out once +more and began to swim leisurely downstream, never looking at the +Danes again; for now half a dozen were there and watching him, +calling, too, that he should come ashore, as one might guess. But +Elgar paid no heed to them, and swam on.</p> +<p>They began to throw stones, and one cast a spear at him, but +that fell short. Then the bank hid him from us; but we saw a Dane +fixing arrow to bowstring, and saw him shoot; but he missed, +surely, for he took another arrow and ran on down the bank.</p> +<p>Then Dudda pulled me by the arm, and motioned me to follow him, +and I saw no more.</p> +<p>Now the creek wherein we were ran inland for a quarter mile that +we could see, ever bending round so that our boats were hidden from +the side where the Danes were. Up that creek we ran, or rather +paddled, therefore, knee deep in mud, but quite unseen by any but +the great erne that fled over us crying.</p> +<p>Hard work it was, but before the creek ended we had covered half +a mile away from danger, and looking back through the grass along +the bank could see the Danes no longer. Yet we had no surety that +they could not see us, and therefore crawled yet among grass and +thistles, along such hollows as we could find.</p> +<p>At last we dared stand up, and still we could see no Danes as we +looked back. And then we grew bolder and walked leisurely, as +fishers might, not daring to run, across to that hut where the +horses were. And reaching that our adventure was ended, for we were +safe, and believed ourselves unnoticed if not unseen, for there was +no reason why the Danes should think aught of two thralls, as we +seemed, crossing the marsh a mile away, and quietly, even if they +spied us.</p> +<p>After we reached our horses, there is nothing to tell of our +ride back to the bishop. We overtook him before dark, where his men +were halted two miles from Bridgwater, on the road, waiting for +word from Eanulf.</p> +<p>Much praise gave he to me and the collier for what we had done, +as also did Osric. And we, getting our arms again, went back to our +own places well content; eager also was I to tell Wulfhere and +Wislac of all that had befallen, and how I had boats for the +crossing.</p> +<p>And when they heard how Elgar the fisher had swam on, rather +than draw attention to the place where we two lay, Wulfhere nodded +and said: "That was well done," and Wislac said: "Truly I would I +could do the like of that. Much courage is there in the man who +will face a host with comrades beside him against odds; but more is +there in the man who will go alone to certain death because thereby +he will save others."</p> +<p>Even as we talked there came riding a man from Bridgwater, going +fast, yet in no great hurry as it seemed. He rode up to us, for +there was the standard, and asked for the bishop, having word from +Eanulf for him; and Guthlac told Ealhstan, who came up to speak to +him, bidding us bide and listen.</p> +<p>What the man had to tell was this. That the Danes had, in some +way, had word of the march of our levies, and had straightway +gathered together, or were yet gathering from their raidings here +and there, on the steep hill above Bridgwater, having passed +through the town, or such as was left thereof after many burnings. +And it was Eanulf's plan to attack them there with the first light, +if the bishop would join him with his levy.</p> +<p>Then the bishop asked if there had been any fighting. And the +man said that there had been some between the van of our force, and +the rear of the Danish host; but that neither side had lost many +men, nor had there been any advantage gained except to clear the +town of the heathen.</p> +<p>Having heard that, Ealhstan bade me go aside with him, and +called Osric and some more of the thanes to hold a council. And in +the end it was decided that Osric should take on the bulk of the +levy to join the ealdorman, while the bishop and I, and two hundred +of the men, should try that crossing at Combwich.</p> +<p>"For thus," said Ealhstan, "we can fall on the Danes from behind +if they stand or in flank if they retreat."</p> +<p>And except that the bishop would go with me, this pleased them +well enough; but they tried to dissuade him from leaving the levy. +But he laughed and said that indeed he was only going on before it, +for to reach him they would have to go clear through the Danes +where they stood thickest, and when they reached the standard, +victory would be theirs.</p> +<p>Then they cried that they would surely not fail to reach him, +and so the matter was settled, and the thanes told this to their +men, who shouted and cheered, so that this seemed to be a good plan +after all.</p> +<p>Now the bishop rode among the men, calling out those whom he +knew well, and bidding the thanes give him their best, or if they +had no best, such as could swim, and very shortly we had full two +hundred men ranged on one side of the road, waiting with us, while +the rest went off towards Bridgwater, the bishop blessing them ere +they started. And as they went they shouted that we should meet +again across the ranks of Danes.</p> +<p>When they were gone the bishop bade us rest. And while we lay +along the roadside he went up and down, sorting out men who could +swim well, and there were more than half who could do so, and more +yet who said they were swimmers though poor at it.</p> +<p>Then he told me his plan. How that the men who could not swim +must go over first in the boats, and then the arms of the rest +should be ferried over while they swam, and so little time would be +lost: but all must be done in silence and without lights. So we ate +and slept a little, and then, when it grew dark, started off across +the meadows. And there the collier guided us well, having taken +note of all the ground we had crossed in the morning, as a marshman +can.</p> +<p>It was dark, and a white creeping mist was over the open land +when we reached it. But over the mists to our left we could see the +twinkle of Danish watchfires, where they kept the height over +Bridgwater; and again to the right we could see lights of fires at +Stert, where the ships lay. But at Combwich were no lights at all, +and that was well.</p> +<p>Presently we reached a winding stretch of deep water, and though +it was far different when I saw it last, I knew it was the creek in +which our boats lay, and up which Dudda and I had fled, full now +with the rising tide.</p> +<p>We held on down its course until Dudda told me in a low voice +that we were but a bowshot from the boats, and that now it were +well for the men to lie down that they might be less easily +noticed.</p> +<p>So the word was passed in a whisper down the line, and +immediately it seemed as if the force had vanished, as the white +mist crept over where they had stood.</p> +<p>Now Dudda and I went down to the boats and there found, not the +two we had left only, but a third and larger one beside them. And +at first this frightened us, and we stood looking at them, almost +expecting armed men to rise from the dark hollows of the boats and +fall on us.</p> +<p>Then I would see if such were there, and stepped softly into the +nearest. It was empty, and so was the next, and these were our two. +Dudda came after me, and he hissed to me under his breath. The oars +had been muffled with sacking.</p> +<p>Now none but a friend would have done this, unless it was a most +crafty trap to take us withal; and yet to leave the boats as they +were had been surer than to meddle with them, if such was +meant.</p> +<p>Now Dudda, perplexed as I, though in my heart was a thought that +after all Elgar had escaped, stepped into the large boat, and there +he started back so suddenly as almost to overturn it, smothering a +cry. Then was silence for a moment, while I for my part drew my +dagger. Then I saw him stoop down, and again he hissed to me. The +boats were afloat, and I drew that I was in up to the big boat.</p> +<p>"Oh, master," said Dudda, whispering, "surely this is Elgar the +fisher!"</p> +<p>And I, peering into the dark bottom of the boat could see a dark +still form, lying doubled over a thwart, that seemed to me to bear +likeness to him.</p> +<p>"Is he dead?" I asked.</p> +<p>"Aye, master, but not long," answered the collier; feeling +about.</p> +<p>"Ah!" he said, with a sort of groan, "here is a broken arrow in +his shoulder, and in his hand somewhat to muffle the oars withal. +Well done, brave Elgar -- well done!"</p> +<p>Then I climbed softly over the gunwale, and so it was. Wounded +to death as he had been by the arrow shot, he had yet in some way +contrived to get this boat here, and afterwards to use his last +strength in muffling the oars, and so died, spent, before he could +end his task!</p> +<p>And for him I was not ashamed of weeping, thinking there in the +darkness, as we bore him hastily to the bank and laid him beyond +the reach of hurrying feet to come, of how he must have been shot, +and so at once feigning death have floated, or perhaps stranded on +the mud, till the Danes were gone, and then returned in spite of +pain and growing weakness to do what he had set himself for the +sake of his country.</p> +<p>But there was no time for more than thought, and now that we +knew the boats safe, I went back to the bishop, and told him that +all was ready. And he, ever thoughtful, had told off skilful men to +row the boats over, and though now we must have enough for three, +he had found six or eight oarsmen, and there was no delay, though +they must work with less change, and the tide was still making, so +that the pull to Combwich creek would be hard.</p> +<p>Then ten men went softly to the boats, and at the last I bade +them pull across to where they might, not making for the creek, and +in a minute or two they were gone into the mist and darkness.</p> +<p>Then came crawling to the river bank some six or eight men, +strong swimmers, and would have tried to cross; but I bade them +wait till the next boatloads went over, so that they might cross +beside them, and cling to the gunwale if the stream was too strong. +However, though most knew that was good counsel, two must needs try +it, and one got across, nearly spent, and the other came back, +clinging to the first boat to return, else had he been drowned, and +it was a lucky chance that the boat met him.</p> +<p>Now the man who rowed this first boat reported that there was +silence, and no sign of Danes, on the other side, and so also did +the rest as they came. After that the crossing went on quickly, men +swimming beside the boats, and in an hour and a half all were +over.</p> +<p>When we found that all was safe, the bishop bade me cross with +the standard, and so keep the men together. He himself came last of +all.</p> +<p>When Wulfhere came, swimming beside the boat in which sat +Wislac, he took three men and went quietly to Combwich, which was +nearly half a mile from where we landed, and was back presently, +reporting all quiet.</p> +<p>Then Dudda and the other rowers sank the boats, lest they should +be seen by chance, and so betray us and our crossing.</p> +<p>Now we went -- I leading through this place I knew so well -- +round the head of the little creek, and so on up the hill, walking +in single file almost, and very silently. And when we topped the +hill -- there before us, among the tree trunks, glowed a little +fire, and round that sat six Danes, wrapped in their red cloaks, +and, as I could see, all or most of them asleep.</p> +<p>At that I stopped, and the line behind me stopped also, making a +clatter of arms as men ran against one another in the dark.</p> +<p>One of the Danes stirred at that, and looked up and round; but +he could see nothing, and so folded himself up again. Then I saw +that they had an ale cask.</p> +<p>Now I knew that this post must be surrounded and taken, and +whispered to Wulfhere, who was next me, what to do. And he answered +that he would manage it, bidding me stand still. Then he went down +the line, whispering in each man's ear, till he had told off twenty +men, and them he sent off right and left into the darkness and I +was left with Wislac standing alone, watching the Danes.</p> +<p>I kept my eyes fixed on them till they seemed to waver and grow +dim, so intently did I watch them; and then all of a sudden there +was the sound of a raven's croak, and into the firelight and on +those careless watchers leapt Wulfhere and his men from all +around.</p> +<p>There was one choked cry, and that was all, and Wulfhere +beckoned to me. I advanced, and the line closed up and +followed.</p> +<p>Now we stood on Combwich hill, and all was well so far. Ealhstan +came up to me, unknowing of what had caused the halt, being over +the brow of the hill, and when he knew, said it was well done, and +that now we might rest safely for a time.</p> +<p>So we bade the men sit down, and those who were wet made up the +fire afresh: for there was no need to put it out, but rather reason +for allowing the Danes to see it burning, as if in safety.</p> +<p>When we three sat by the bishop, Wislac asked what we were to +wait for, and, indeed, that must be the next thought.</p> +<p>Then said the bishop that after a while he would take the force +to the woods that overhung the roadway, and so wait for the Danes +as Eanulf and Osric drove them back; but that it was not more than +midnight yet.</p> +<p>Then came a little silence, and in that I seemed to hear the +sound of footsteps coming up the hill from Combwich, and bade the +others listen. And at the same time some of the men heard the +sound, and started up to see who came. But they were the steps of +one man only, walking carelessly.</p> +<p>Into the light of the fire stepped one, at the sight of whom the +men stared, though Wislac laughed quietly. It was that young thane +who had wanted to fight my friend Wislac on the day of the council. +He was very wet, and tired, throwing himself down beside us when he +saw where we sat.</p> +<p>Ealhstan asked him who bade him come, and how he had followed +us.</p> +<p>"Nearly had I forgotten a dispute I have with Wislac the Thane +here. Wherefore I asked no man's leave, but followed you just too +late for the crossing. So needs must swim. And here am I to see +that Wislac counts fairly, and that he may have the same surety of +me."</p> +<p>Whereat we were obliged to laugh, and most of all the bishop, +because he would fain have been angry, and could not. Then the +thane, whose name was Aldhelm, asked who was the slain man over +whose body he had well-nigh fallen on the other side of the river. +So I told them of Elgar the fisher and of his brave deeds, and they +were silent, thinking of what his worth was; too great indeed for +praise. Only the bishop said he should surely have a mound raised +over him as over a warrior, charging us three, or whichever lived +after this fight, to see to that.</p> +<p>Now we slept a little, posting sentries at many points, and +giving those next the Danes on either side the red cloaks of the +picket we had slain, lest daylight should betray them. It was in +all our minds that at daybreak our men would attack from +Bridgwater, driving the Danes back on us, and so we should fall on +them while they were retreating, and complete the victory. So we +had men on the hill overlooking the road to Bridgwater through +Cannington that they might give us the first warning.</p> +<p>Therefore I slept quietly, and all with me. And as I slept I +dreamed.</p> +<p>It seemed that I was standing alone on Brent Hill and from that +I could look all over the land of Somerset, as an eagle might look, +but being close to everything that I would see. And I saw all that +I had done since I stood there as a prisoner, watching myself +curiously in all that I did, and yet knowing all the thoughts that +drove me to deed after deed.</p> +<p>And so through the mirk wood till I turned and slew, and armed +myself, and tormented my prisoner; then to the collier's hut, and +my talking with the child; then on till I saw the lights of the +viking ships and so thereafter bore the war arrow -- everything, +till at last I saw myself sleeping under the trees, on the top of +this hill of Combwich, and there I thought my dream would surely +end; but it did not.</p> +<p>For now out of the shadows came Matelgar and stood beside me and +waked me, and he told me that when the tide was out I must be up +and doing. And so he passed. And the old crone, Gundred, came out +of the shadows, and sat on her bundle of sticks and looked at me, +and she too bade me be up and doing when the tide was low. And she +looked at the standard that lay beside me, and said, "Aye, a +standard; but not yet the Dragon of Wessex"; and so she, too, faded +away.</p> +<p>And then came Alswythe, and as she came, it seemed, as I looked, +that I stretched my arms to her; but she smiled and said, "Love, +when the tide is out, I shall be praying in the abbey for you and +your men."</p> +<p>And then from beside her came Turkil, the little child, smiling +also, but hanging to Alswythe's dress as he said, "Warrior, when +the water falls low, my father will call me from the hill, and I +will pray for you and for him."</p> +<p>So these two were gone. And at that I seemed to see our men lie +in Bridgwater, and there was Turkil's father, the franklin, +sleeping with the rest. But up and down among them went Eanulf the +Ealdorman, watching ever.</p> +<p>Then fled I, as it were, to that hill where lay the Danes, and +on the road thither I saw Osric and twenty men, looking up at the +fires that burnt where the enemy lay.</p> +<p>And then I looked on those fires, and there were no men round +them.</p> +<p>One shook me by the shoulder, and my dream went.</p> +<p>It was Dudda, and his eyes were bright in the firelight.</p> +<p>And over Brent the first streaks of dawn were broadening, and +the mists were gone.</p> +<p>"Master, master," he said, "come with me to the roadway. +Something is afoot."</p> +<p>Then I woke Wulfhere, asking him to wait for me, guarding the +standard, and followed my man swiftly to the place where the road +cuts the hill. And there was a knot of the men, standing and +listening.</p> +<p>I listened also, and far off towards Cannington I could hear the +sound of the tread of many feet, for the morning was still and +quiet; and the men said that this was growing nearer.</p> +<p>Then knew I that the Danes were falling back to the ships +without risking battle, and my dream came back to me, with its +vision of unguarded watch fires, and it seemed to me that surely, +unless we could stay them, they would depart with the tide as it +fell.</p> +<p>"How is the tide?" asked I of the men round me.</p> +<p>"Failing now," said one who knew, "but not fast."</p> +<p>Then I remembered things I had hardly noted in years gone by. +How the tide hung around Stert Point, as though Severn and Parret +warred for a while, before the mighty Severn ebb sucked Parret dry, +and how the ebb at last came swift and sudden.</p> +<p>"When the tide is low," said they whom I had seen in my +dream.</p> +<p>And in a moment I recalled the first fight, and the words of +Gundred, and I knew that we had the Danes in a trap.</p> +<p>They were marching now in time to gain their ships and be off as +the last man stepped on board, with the full draft of the ebb to +set them out to sea beyond Lundy Isle, into open water. Nor had +they left their post till the last moment, lest our levy should be +on their heels, or else some more distant marauding party had not +come in till late.</p> +<p>I went back to Wulfhere and told him this, and in it all he +agreed.</p> +<p>And, as we whispered together, Ealhstan sat up, asking quickly, +"Who spoke to me?" and looking round for one near him, as it +seemed.</p> +<p>"None spoke, Father," said I, "or none but Wulfhere to me, +whispering."</p> +<p>"What said Wulfhere?"</p> +<p>"That the tide was failing," I answered.</p> +<p>The bishop was silent for a moment, and then he said:</p> +<p>"I heard a voice, plainly, that cried to me, 'Up! for the Lord +has delivered these heathen into your hands'."</p> +<p>"We heard no such voice, Father," I said, "but I think it spoke +true."</p> +<p>Now the light was broadening, making all things cold and gray as +it came. And quickly I told Ealhstan what I had heard, and what +both I and Wulfhere thought of the matter.</p> +<p>"Can we let them pass us, and so fall on them as they gain the +level land of Stert?" asked Ealhstan, saying nothing more.</p> +<p>"That can we," I answered. "They will keep to the road, and we +can draw back to the edge of the hill, so taking them in flank as +they leave it."</p> +<p>For the hills bend round a little beyond the place where the +road falls into the level below Matelgar's hall.</p> +<p>"So be it," said the bishop. "Go you, Wulfhere, and see how near +the host is, and come back quickly."</p> +<p>When he was gone the bishop bade me wake the men. And at first I +was for going round, but by this thane Wislac had waked, and had +been listening to us: and he said that if I would let him wake the +men he could do it without alarm or undue noise. Only I must raise +the standard and bid them be silent. At that the bishop smiled and +nodded, and I raised the standard, and waited.</p> +<p>Then Wislac stood up and crowed like a cock, and instantly the +men began to turn and sit up, and as their eyes lit on the standard +raised in their midst, became broad awake, each man rousing the +next sleeper if one lay near him. And there was the bishop, finger +on lip, and they were silent.</p> +<p>"Verily I thought on the hard chapel stones," muttered Guthlac, +the lay brother, behind me.</p> +<p>"It is the war chime, not the matin bell, you shall hear this +morning," said one of his brethren.</p> +<p>"That is better -- mea culpa," said Guthlac, clapping his hand +on his mouth to stop his own warlike ejaculation.</p> +<p>Then came Wulfhere back, swiftly. Barely a mile were they from +the hill, he said, and coming on quickly in loose order. Moreover, +a horseman had passed, riding hard to the ships, doubtless to bid +them be ready. But that would take little time, for these vikings +are ever ready for flight, keeping their ships prepared from day to +day.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap15">CHAPTER XV.</a> THE GREAT FIGHT AT PARRET +MOUTH.</h2> +<p>Now very silently we drew off from that place to the edge of the +hill which looks across the road to Stert. And there the bishop +drew us up in line, four deep, and told the men what we must do, +bidding them be silent till we charged, though that could not +prevent a hum of stern approval going down the line.</p> +<p>One man the bishop called out by name, and when he stood before +him, bade him, as a swift runner, hasten back to Eanulf or Osric, +and bid them on here with all speed. And, when the man's face fell, +the bishop bade him cheer up and go, for the swifter he went the +sooner would he be back at the sword play. Whereat the man bowed, +and, leaving his mail at a tree foot, started at a steady run over +the ground we had covered already, and was lost in the trees.</p> +<p>Then we waited, and the light grew stronger every moment. As we +lay in line among the bushes we could see without much fear of +being ourselves seen, and by and by we could make out the ships. +They had their masts raised, and the sails were plain to be seen, +ready for hoisting. The men were busy about their decks, and on +shore as well, while the vessels were yet close up to the land.</p> +<p>They must haul off soon, little by little, or they would be +aground, as doubtless they had been with every tide till this, for +rocks are none, only soft mud on which a ship may lie safely, but +through which no man may go, save on such a "horse" as the fishers +use to reach their nets withal, sledge-like contrivances of flat +boards which sink not.</p> +<p>The wait seemed long, but at last we heard the hum of voices, +and the tramp of feet, and our hearts beat fast and thick, for the +time was coming.</p> +<p>Over the hill and down it they streamed in a long, loose line, +laughing and shouting as the ships came in sight. A long breath +came from us, and there was a little stir among the men; but the +time was not yet, and we crouched low, waiting to make our +spring.</p> +<p>Then ran up a long red forked flag, with a black raven on it, +from the largest ship, and that seemed to be a signal for haste, +for the tide was failing, so that some of the foremost men began to +stream away from their comrades. And then I saw that many carried +packs full of plunder, and also that the last of them were on the +level.</p> +<p>So also saw the bishop, and he rose to his feet, pointing with +the great mace he bore (for he might not wield sword) to the Danes, +and saying:</p> +<p>"For the honour of Dorset -- for the holy cross -- charge!"</p> +<p>With a mighty shout we rose up, each in his place, and down the +hill we rushed sword and axe aloft, on that straggling line.</p> +<p>Then from the Danes came a howl of wrath and terror, and, for a +moment, dropping their burdens, they fled in a panic towards the +ships.</p> +<p>Yet that was not the way of Danish men and vikings, and that +flight stayed almost before it had gone fifty yards. Up rose amidst +the throng a mighty double axe, and a great voice was heard +shouting, and round their chief began to form a great ring of tried +warriors, shoulder to shoulder as well as might be. But that ring +might not be perfect all at once -- too close were we upon them, +having already cut down many of the last to fly.</p> +<p>And then the battle began in earnest, and I will tell what I saw +of it. For I was in the centre of our line, as befitted, and on +either side of me were Wulfhere and Wislac, and on either side of +them again, my collier next to Wulfhere, and next to Wislac his +young thane. Before me were Guthlac and two brethren, and the other +three behind me. That was the standard's shield wall. Behind that +came Ealhstan the Bishop, hemmed in by twelve of his own best +men.</p> +<p>So, with voice, and gesture of arm and mace the bishop swung our +line in a half circle round the face of that grim ring of vikings, +and as they closed up we closed, and faced them. Then saw I that we +were outnumbered by three to one, but we were fresh, and they tired +with a long march, quickly made, and under burdens.</p> +<p>Now began the spears to fly from one side to the other, and men +began to fall. And yet there was no great attack made on either +side. Then grew I impatient, for it seemed to me that as we were +the weaker side the first charge might do all for us. So I spoke to +Wulfhere, saying:</p> +<p>"We must charge before they. Let us break into that circle."</p> +<p>"Aye!" said the veteran, and "Aye!" shouted Wislac; and so I +pointed the banner forward and shouted for my shield men to +charge.</p> +<p>And that, with a great roar, they did; and down before the +brawny arms of those foremost three lay brethren went three of the +heathen, and we were pressing into the circle. Then a brother fell, +dragging a Dane with him, and Wislac took his place, and three more +Danes fell. Then went Aldhelm to Wislac's side, and Lo! the circle +was broken, and our standard stood in the midst.</p> +<p>Yet was not that ring destroyed, and in a moment it closed after +us, and now were we ten in the midst of a crowd of foes, while +again outside them raged Ealhstan and his men, striving to break +through to us.</p> +<p>Then knew I that our case was hard, and I struck the spear that +held the standard into the ground, and round it we stood, back to +back, Wulfhere and Wislac once more to right and left of me. And it +would seem that so grim looked we in our desperation, that they +feared us a little, or, at least, that each feared to be the first +to fall on us, for the Danes drew back and let us stand for a +breathing space, until that great chief who rallied the men -- +leaving the care of the outer ring for a moment -- came and faced +me, speaking in fair Saxon enough, and bidding us surrender.</p> +<p>And for answer I threw my seax at him, and as he raised shield +to stop it, for it flew straight and hard as a forester can throw, +I leapt at him, going in under his shield, and he fell heavily, +moving not, for my blow went home. Well it was that Wulfhere came +after me, for he warded blow of axe that would have slain me. And +then the Danes howled and fell on us.</p> +<p>Hard fighting it was, but round us grew a ring of dead, and no +man had laid hands on the standard. Guthlac was down, and Aldhelm, +two lay brethren also, and we were all but sped when I was ware of +a Saxon shout, and the crash of a great mace on a helmet before me, +and then, "Well done, my sons!" cried Ealhstan the Bishop, as he +came and ringed us round with his own men, and we might breathe +again.</p> +<p>Now was the ring of Danes parted, and the ring was of our men; +yet round it raged the vikings, as we had raged round their ring +but a short space before. Yet, every man of us knew that we had +won, for, even if each one of us fell before Eanulf came, the ships +would not sail that tide. For the tall masts were listing over as +two ships took the ground unheeded, and four were hauling out as +the tide fell.</p> +<p>And I thought of my vision last night, and of those I had seen, +and of what they had bid me think of them; and the roar of battle +went on unheeded by me as I leant against the standard staff while +I might, and found my strength again.</p> +<p>"See," cried Wislac, pointing. And I looked over to the hill +where the road came down. It was full of horsemen, charging with +levelled spears, and surely that was Osric at their head! Then near +me a voice cried thrice "Victory!" but it seemed not as one of our +men's rough voices, but very strange.</p> +<p>Over the level the spearmen swept, and a cry broke from the +Danes as they saw the fresh foe upon them, and again they fell back +from us quickly, and, spite of our charge on them, and the spears +of the leading horsemen, once more closed up into their iron ring. +But now it was not motionless, but moved ever towards the ships, +going backward steadily.</p> +<p>Round it went Osric and his men: but into it they could not +break. For the Danes hewed the ash shafts of the spears, and near +them no horse might live, for their axes would shear through man +and horse alike.</p> +<p>Then Ealhstan shouted to Osric, bidding us stand. And right glad +were we to do this, while ever the Danes shrank away from us.</p> +<p>"Trapped they are, Sheriff," said Ealhstan, when Osric rode up +to him, bearing still a headless spear. "Let them bide till Eanulf +comes. None can reach the ships."</p> +<p>"He is hard behind me with all the levy," said Osric. "Let us +finish this without him."</p> +<p>But Ealhstan shook his head, pointing to our men. And when he +looked more coolly, he saw that barely half of us were left, and +those worn out. So must we stand and wait; but we had done what we +went to do, and had trapped the heathen when the tide was low. Yet +the Danes went steadily back towards their ships, having yet half a +mile to cover, but they left a line of wounded men to mark where +they had gone, as one after another dropped.</p> +<p>Now were we who were left safe, and knew we had done a deed +which would he told and sung till other tales of victory blotted +out its remembrance if they might.</p> +<p>Then Ealhstan bade us sit down, for our horsemen were between us +and the foe, and thereon he raised his voice, and with one accord +his lay brethren and his own housecarles joined in singing a psalm +of victory. And it was just at the matin time -- yet that psalm +ended not as it was wont, for ere the last verses were sung, it was +drowned in a great and thundering war song of Wessex, old as the +days of Ceawlin or beyond him. And if I mistake not, in that song +bishop and lay brethren joined, leaving the chant for their own +native and well-loved tongue, else would they have been the only +men of all the host unstirred thereby and silent.</p> +<p>Now, from that war song came a strange thing. It caused two +great Danes to go berserk in their rage, and back they flew on us, +their shields cast aside, and their broad axes overhead, howling +and foaming as they came.</p> +<p>One of Osric's men tried to stop them. But he and his horse +fell, for (I say truth) one leapt high above the horse, smiting +downwards with his axe, so that the man was swept in twain under +that blow, and the berserk Dane came on unhindered, straight for +the standard, for his comrade had hewed off the horse's head.</p> +<p>Now I rested, by the standard, a long spear's length in front of +our line. But by this I had leapt to my feet; and it was time, for +he was almost on me. Spear had I none; so I dragged out the +standard shaft from the ground where I had struck it, and levelled +that sharp butt end full at his chest. Overhead was his axe again, +and I had no shield to stop the blow; but I must leap aside from +it.</p> +<p>He paid no heed to the spear-ended shaft, but rushed straight on +it, spitting himself through and through, while his axe fell; but I +had wrenched myself and the shaft at once to one side, and he fell +over, burying the axe head in the ground but an inch from the +collier's foot. Yet had he not done with me, for, leaving the axe, +he clawed the ashen shaft and dragged himself up along it, howling, +not with the pain, but with madness, and I must needs smite him +with my sword, for his dagger was already at my throat.</p> +<p>Then looked I round for the other, but at first could not see +him, for he was dead also, pinned to the ground by another of the +horsemen, from behind. And all our men were on their feet, and the +ring of Danes were shouting, and cheering their two mad men, yet +keeping close order.</p> +<p>This seems long in telling; but it was all done in a flash, as +it were, for the first I knew of the coming of these men was by the +wheeling of the horse and the leaping of the berserk above it.</p> +<p>Then my men came and rid the standard of its burden, not easily, +while Ealhstan stood with his arm on my shoulder, looking white and +scared: for that had been the greatest danger he had seen that day, +as he told me, which, indeed, it must have been, for else he had +never changed countenance.</p> +<p>"Gratias Domino," he said, "verily into these heathen evil +spirits enter, driving them to death. Now have you fought the evil +one, both spiritually and bodily, my son, and have won the +victory!"</p> +<p>Even as he spoke, the men, being sure of no more of such +comings, began to crowd round me, shouting and cheering as though I +had done some great deed. Which, if it were such, it seems to me +that great deeds are forced on men at times; for what else I could +have done I know not, unless, as Wislac says, I had run away, even +as he was minded to do. But I had no time for that, nor do I +believe his saying concerning himself.</p> +<p>When the Danes were nigh their ships Ealhstan bade us tend our +wounded. And the first man tended was myself, for Wulfhere came to +me, looking me over, and at last binding a wound on my left +shoulder, of which I knew not, saying that my good mail had surely +saved me. He himself had a gash across his face, and Wislac one on +the leg, but none of us was much hurt.</p> +<p>Then Wislac sought Aldhelm, whom he found sitting up, dazed, +from a blow across the helm that had stunned him, but he was soon +able to walk, though dizzy and sick. But Guthlac was slain +outright, and two others of the brethren.</p> +<p>Well, so might I go on, for of all our two hundred men there +were left but ninety fit to go on with the fight, the rest being +slain or sore wounded by the Danish axes. Ealhstan was unhurt; for, +save that once when he had broken the ring to reach us when we were +hemmed in, his men had kept before him.</p> +<p>Now what befell after that will not bear telling; for it was not +long before Eanulf and all the Somerset and the rest of the Dorset +levy came down and fell on the Danes as they fought their last +fight as brave men should, with a quarter mile of deep mud between +them and their ships.</p> +<p>Into that fight none of us bishop's men went, for we had done +our part. But we lay and saw the Danes charge again and again +against odds, their line growing thinner each time, until our men +swept the last of them from the bank into the ooze, and there was +an end.</p> +<p>Yet a few managed, I know not how, to reach the ships, and there +they were safe; but thence they constantly shot their arrows into +our men, harmless enough, but yet showing their mettle.</p> +<p>So was a full end made of that host, for none but those few were +left alive from Stert field, and Somerset and Dorset had taken +their fill of vengeance.</p> +<p>But, for all the victory, down sat Ealhstan the Bishop, and +hiding his face in his hands wept that such things could be, and +must be till war is no more.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap16">CHAPTER XVI.</a> AT GLASTONBURY.</h2> +<p>On that hard-won field we lay all that day, for we knew not if +more Danes were left up country, or if by chance the ships might +fall into our hands with the rising tide. And I think we might have +taken them had not our men, in their fury, broken the boats which +lay along the bank; so that we could not put off to them. +Therefore, as the tide rose again and they floated, the men on +board hauled out, and setting sail with much labour, for there were +very few in each ship, stood off into mid channel. Out of Severn +they could not get, for the wind was westerly, and the tide setting +eastward, so at last they brought up in the lee of the two holms, +and there furled sail and lay at anchor.</p> +<p>Very stiff and sore were we when we had rested for a little, and +there fell a sadness on the levy, now that the joy of battle had +gone, and the cost of victory must be counted. And that was heavy, +for so manfully and steadily had the vikings fought that they had +accounted for man to man as nearly as one might count, either slain +or maimed.</p> +<p>Now on this matter I heard Wislac speak to Aldhelm, who sat +facing him, and holding his aching head with both hands.</p> +<p>"So, friend," quoth Wislac, "as touching that matter of dispute +we had. How stands the account?"</p> +<p>"I know not, nor care," said Aldhelm. "All I wot is that my head +is like to split."</p> +<p>"Nay, that will it not, having stood such a stout blow," said +Wislac, laughing. "Cheer up, and count our score of heads."</p> +<p>"I can count but one head, and that my own. Let it bide."</p> +<p>"So, that is better," said Wislac. "I should surely have been +slain five times by my own count, but it seems I am wrong. +Wherefore I must have escaped somehow. And that is all I know about +it."</p> +<p>Then he turned to me, and asked if I had noted any doings at +all.</p> +<p>And when I thought, all I could remember plainly were the fall +of the tall chief I slew, and the coming of Ealhstan, and the +attack of the berserk, and no more; all the rest was confused, and +like a dream. So I said that it seemed to me that we had had no +time to do more than mind ourselves, but that withal my shield wall +had kept the standard. And that kept, there need be no question as +to who had done best.</p> +<p>Then Wislac nodded, after his wont, and said that if Aldhelm was +content so was he.</p> +<p>Whereupon Aldhelm held out his hand, and said that Wislac was +wise and he foolish. And Wislac, grasping it, answered that it was +a lucky foolishness that had brought so stout a comrade to his +side, for had it not been for Aldhelm putting his thick head +betwixt him and an axe, slain he would have been.</p> +<p>"Aye, brother," he said, "deny it not, for I saw you thrust +yourself forward and save me by yourself, which doubtless is your +way of settling a grudge, brother, and a good one."</p> +<p>So those two were sworn friends from that day forward, as were +many another couple who met on that field for the first time, +fighting side by side for Wessex.</p> +<p>Thus wore away the day and the next night, and with the morning +those ships were yet under the holms, swinging at their anchors, +for the westerly breeze held.</p> +<p>Then said Eanulf: "Let them be; harm can they do none, being so +few. They will go with the shift of wind."</p> +<p>But the shift of wind came not for days and days, and there they +lay, never putting out from shelter. And they are out of my story, +so that I will say what befell them.</p> +<p>One night it freshened up to a gale, and in the morning there +were five ships where six had been. One had sunk at her moorings. +Then men said that the Danes had made a hut on the flat holm, plain +to be seen from the nearest shore. And at last a shift of wind +came, and they put not out.</p> +<p>So certain fishers dared to sail across and spy what was amiss, +and finding no man in the ships, nor seeing any about the hut, went +ashore, none hindering them.</p> +<p>Ships and hut and shore were but the resting place of the dead, +for after a while they had no food left, and were too few and weak +even to man one ship and go.</p> +<p>Many a long year it was before the king of their land, Norse or +Dane, whichever he was, learned what had befallen his host, and how +their bones lay on the Wessex shore and islands, for not one of all +that had sailed that spring returned to give the news, or to tell +how his comrades died on Stert fighting to the last, and on the +island wishing they had fallen with the slain.</p> +<p>Now must I tell how we went back to Glastonbury town, marching +proudly as became conquerors, while on every side was shouting of +men, and at the same time weeping of women for those who had +fallen.</p> +<p>When we came to the great square there stood Tatwine the Abbot +and all his monks; but I had no eyes for them. For there, with +abbess and nuns, stood Alswythe, smiling on me through tears of +joy, and though her cheeks were thinner and paler by reason of +fasting and prayer for us all, looking most beautiful, and to me +like a vision of some saint.</p> +<p>That was all I could see of her then, for we must kneel, while a +great Te Deum was sung, and then crowd into the abbey to hear mass +once more.</p> +<p>Then after that was over, there was a great feast in the wide +hall of the abbey, where Ealhstan and Eanulf sat side by side in +the high seats, and on their right, Osric and myself, and on the +left, Wulfhere and Wislac, none grudging those chief places to the +men who had kept the standard and broken the Danish ring.</p> +<p>When the feasting was done, then came the telling of great deeds +over the ale cup, and that lasted long, and many were the brave men +praised; nor were the deeds of the vikings, as brave foes, +forgotten, for men praised them also. Moreover, the gleemen sang of +the fight, and in those songs my name came so often, as needs it +must, seeing that I bore the standard, that I will not set them +down. Nor is there need, for the housecarles sing them even +yet.</p> +<p>Now before we went to rest, Eanulf bade me wait on him early in +the morning, and so, being refreshed by a long, quiet night, I went +to him as he had bidden me.</p> +<p>There he thanked me as man to man for that crossing of Parret, +and for staying the going of the Danes, saying that a greater man +than he should add to the thanks. For needs must that one took word +of all that had befallen to Ethelwulf the King, and that to be such +a messenger was most honourable. Therefore should I myself bear the +news, taking with me my two friends and such men as I chose, and +should bear, written down, the reports of both Osric and Ealhstan, +besides his own.</p> +<p>"Else," said he, "there are perhaps some to whom credit is due +whose names may pass unmentioned."</p> +<p>And thanking him, I said that that was likely, for I knew few in +the levy, which came from far and wide.</p> +<p>Whereat he laughed, saying that I was either very modest or very +simple. So I knew that he spoke of myself, and thanked him +again.</p> +<p>"Nay," he said, "small thanks to me, for if I did you not +justice the men would."</p> +<p>Then all of a sudden he asked me about the business of my trial, +and what I thought of it, bidding me tell him as a friend, thinking +naught of the judge.</p> +<p>And that I was able to do now without passion, so far off and +small a thing it seemed after all these stirring doings. And I knew +that but for it I had been only a foolish thane, and slain maybe +over my feasting in my own hall, or on Combwich hill, with my back +to the foe, beside Matelgar.</p> +<p>Now when I had ended my tale and my thoughts concerning it, he +told me that he had found out much of late, as he and the thanes +spoke together here while waiting for the levy, and that word +should go to the king of the whole matter, so that without waiting +for the Moot, he should inlaw me again.</p> +<p>Then I knew not enough to say; but he clapped me on the +shoulder, saying that he had been an unjust judge for once, and +that I must be heedful if ever I sat in his place, and so bid me go +and find my friends -- and get ready to ride to Salisbury, where +the king lay, having moved from Winchester nearer to us.</p> +<p>That went I to do with a light heart, and only sorry that I +might not see Alswythe before I went.</p> +<p>And this I told Wislac, who looked oddly at me, and then +laughed, saying that he believed I feared an old nun more than a +wild berserk. And true it was that I was afraid of that stately +abbess, though not in the same way as one fears a raging madman +flying on one.</p> +<p>"Pluck up courage," said he, "and go and ask the old dame to let +you have speech with your lady; and if she grants it not, I am +mistaken, for the lady is not one of her nuns, and there is a guest +chamber for such folk as bishop's right-hand men, surely!"</p> +<p>That was good counsel, and so I went to the nunnery, trembling +first because I was afraid, and next lest I might not see +Alswythe.</p> +<p>Now that wondrous silver mail of mine was too easily known, and +so soon as I got out into the street, the beggar men began to shout +and crawl towards me. And then others looked, and ran, and then +more, till there was a crowd of men of the levy pressing round me, +stretching hands to pat me and the like.</p> +<p>Then one stood in front of me, hands on hips, and stared at me, +and all at once he shouted: "Ho, comrades, this is the saint of +Cannington hill! I saw him there, and soundly did he rate me for +running, even as I deserved."</p> +<p>And at that there was a mighty shouting and crowding, so that I +could in no wise go on my way, and I began to wax wroth.</p> +<p>My back was to the abbey gates, which were closed after me by +the porter, and just then I saw some of the men look up over my +head and point, and laugh; so I turned round, and there were Eanulf +and Osric on the gateway battlements, looking on, as drawn thither +by the noise. And just then Eanulf, laughing, made some sign or +speech which I could not hear, to the men, who cheered; and soon +they brought a great shield and on that set me, in spite of myself, +raising me up shoulder high and saluting me as the man who had +gained all the honour and victory. There must I lie still, lest I +should fall and be made to look more foolish yet, and when I sat +up, crosslegged thereon, they stopped shouting and stared at +me.</p> +<p>"Let me down, ye pigs!" said I, very cross, and unmindful of the +honour they would do me.</p> +<p>"Speak to us, Thane; speak to us," they cried; and one -- he who +knew me at Cannington after the first fight -- added:</p> +<p>"Aye, Thane, you made us strong again on the hill the other day +-- blaming us rightly. Praise us now if that may be."</p> +<p>Then I cast about for what to say, not being a great hand at +speaking, though maybe, when real occasion is, the words have come +fast enough. Howbeit, this was in coolness. But I knew that they +were worthy of praise, so I said:</p> +<p>"Well have ye done, every man of you, even as I knew ye would +when once ye turned to bay. And if the Danes come again, as I think +they will not speedily, fight as ye fought at Stert, and there will +be victory again."</p> +<p>Then they cheered and shouted again, louder than before; and I +made to leap down, but they would not suffer me.</p> +<p>Then said I: "Let me go, for I have an errand."</p> +<p>Whereupon the men who held the shield, and could hear me amid +the slackening uproar, asked where I would go, and being dazed by +the noise and tumult, like an owl in daylight, I must needs answer, +without thinking; "To the great nunnery."</p> +<p>And the end of that foolishness was that they bore me thither, +for it was not far, with a great crowd of all sorts following and +shouting. And there must I stand with all that tail after me while +they beat on the gates in such sort that the poor nuns must have +thought the Danes at their doorstep.</p> +<p>But I held up my hand for silence, not thinking it would come; +but as it were by nature longing for it. And instantly all the +crowd was hushed, and that surprised me, though when I told +Wulfhere thereof he said it was no wonder.</p> +<p>Seeing which I begged them all to go away and not scare the holy +women, who were used to quiet in the place. And then I remembered +the honour the honest warriors had meant this for, and thanked +them, bidding them make allowances for my being put out at +first.</p> +<p>Then took they off their helms and shouted thrice; and then fled +rapidly, for the gates opened behind me, and there was the abbess +herself, with her cheeks red, and her eyes burning bright in anger, +as I thought, while behind her peeped all her nuns at the crowded +street, and at myself standing shamefaced on the steps, doffing my +helm as I saw her.</p> +<p>But instead of being angry, she held out both her hands, and +spoke kindly, saying; "Never has our quiet place heard such clamour +before; but we women will not be behind the men in welcoming +Heregar;" and so she bade the nuns come forward, laying her hands +on my shoulder, and adding; "See, daughters, this is he who dared +to warn the land of its danger, saving the lives of our sisters of +Bridgwater, and many others, and who has even now led the host and +conquered, giving us safety and peaceful rest again."</p> +<p>But I knelt and kissed her hand, while there went a little +murmur among the nuns.</p> +<p>Then the lady abbess touched gently my bound shoulder, and said +that the hurt was but rudely tended and that she must bind it +afresh; so should she show her gratitude to one who had bled for +the land. And they led me into the courtyard; and thence to the +guest chamber, and there waited Alswythe.</p> +<p>Now when I looked to see her greet me formally, as in the +presence of the abbess, she ran into my arms, and I found that we +were alone.</p> +<p>Then must she hear and I tell all that had happened to me since +we parted; but that was too long for the telling then, for very +soon the abbess came with clatter of vessels along the passage, +bringing warm water and salves to bind my small wound afresh.</p> +<p>And in that Alswythe helped her, with many pitying words and +soft touches, so that I thought it good to be hurt if such tendance +might ever be had. And many things they asked, as of Wulfhere's +safety, and the collier's, and of how I got that wound, and the +like. And that last I could not tell them, marvelling myself when +it came, and more that it was the only one; but I know I smote +flatwise once or twice myself in the heat of fight, so doubtless it +was so with others, else would Aldhelm have been in halves or +thereabouts.</p> +<p>Then I told them of my message to the king, and at that Alswythe +rejoiced. And the abbess said that doubtless the king would reward +the messenger, and what reward would I ask an he did so?</p> +<p>Now there was only one reward to me in all the world, and for +answer I took Alswythe's hand, all wet with the water she bathed my +hurt with, and kissed it. On which the maiden blushed, and looked +down, but the abbess laughed softly, saying, "Verily, I thought +so," and then seemed to choke a little, turning away from us. And +Alswythe did not draw away her hand from mine, but let her cheek +rest for a moment against my head, and so there was a little +silence.</p> +<p>Then the abbess turned round again, and her eyes were bright, +but the shine was of tears in them, and she spoke briskly.</p> +<p>"Now must you get hence, Heregar, my son, and go your way to the +king with all haste, so shall you be back the sooner. Give him a +scarf to bind that wound, Alswythe; so shall it seem an honour and +not a scar."</p> +<p>So there was a little leave taking, but not much, though enough, +and I went from the nunnery with Alswythe's white and red and gold +scarf over my shoulder; gay enough to look at, but no gayer than +the heart beneath it.</p> +<p>And there, waiting for me in the street, was my tail, armed and +drawn up in line of fours to see me back to the abbey. So I went +there at the head of them, with more shouting of people.</p> +<p>There was Wulfhere sitting on the doorsteps of the great door, +having a bag in his hand, and when I got up to him, he thrust it +out to me, saying "largess", and that I was glad enough to +understand.</p> +<p>So I put my hand into the bag, and crying, "Here is withal to +drink to Somerset and Dorset shoulder to shoulder," scattered the +silver pennies among them, and so left them without any order among +them at all, though shoulder to shoulder certainly.</p> +<p>"Ho, master!" said Wulfhere, "you looked mighty angry when you +were carried aloft an hour ago."</p> +<p>"Aye," said I, "'tis pity a thane cannot walk abroad quietly on +his own business."</p> +<p>"Well, well, they thought that you were their business, +doubtless."</p> +<p>"Whence came all those pennies?" I asked, for we had no store at +all to cast away.</p> +<p>"From Eanulf and Ealhstan," said Wulfhere, laughing. "They came +to me, and saying that they were sore jealous, and minded to have +good cause therefor, gave me this that you might carry off all well +to the end."</p> +<p>And that was good of them, for else I know not how I should have +left the men without more speech making.</p> +<p>Just then came the ealdorman into the hall where we were, and +laughing, asked me if I meant to take all that following to +Salisbury. But I only wanted the standard guards who were left, and +Aldhelm, as one who had fought as such. This I had told Wulfhere +before, so that I was not surprised when I heard that all were +ready, and but waiting for me to set off.</p> +<p>Then Eanulf and Osric took me to the bishop, and there gave me +writings to deliver to the king, and also bade me tell all that he +asked, in my own way.</p> +<p>And those three saw us set forth, all well mounted, and a goodly +company to look at, the bishop blessing us before we went, and the +people and warriors following and cheering us on our way through +the town, and even some way beyond the walls.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap17">CHAPTER XVII.</a> ALFRED THE +ATHELING.</h2> +<p>Of our long ride to the king's place there is little to tell. +Only that everywhere the news seemed to have flown before us, and +men knew who we were and what our errand, crowding round us to hear +all about the fighting, and to be assured that the Danes had truly +gone. And great cheer made they for us everywhere, so that we were +treated as princes almost.</p> +<p>Therefore, that was a merry ride and a pleasant in the early +June weather, and we were ever cheerful, for it so happened, as may +have been already seen, that no one of us had lost close friend or +kin in the battles, but had the rather gained much. Yet maybe we +were the only ones of whom that might be said; for mixed with the +joy was mourning over all the land. And of all my company, I had +the most cause to be lighthearted; so that for all I had gained I +thought the hard things I had gone through were well worth the +bearing. Ever, therefore, have I judged him the happiest who out of +hardship gains rest; for he best knows its worth.</p> +<p>So at last we came to Salisbury town, and that was full of a +brilliant company: the courtiers of the king, and their following +again. Yet, for all their magnificence, thanks to our good bishop's +gifts, we showed well as we rode into the streets, and I think were +envied by many because the marks of honourable war were yet on us; +so that the men spoke of Aldhelm's crushed headpiece, or Wulfhere's +gashed shield that bore the mark of the axe that he stopped from +me, or my riven mail that Alswythe's scarf would scarcely hide, and +Wislac's broken crest.</p> +<p>And if they looked from us to our men, there was yet more of the +like to speak about; for not one of the standard guard had been +scatheless from heavy weapon play.</p> +<p>Being thus marked we were easy to be known, and hardly had we +drawn rein at the great hostelry where we should wait till the king +summoned us, when a thane came to me, asking if we were from bishop +or ealdorman. And when I said we were so, bearing letters from +them, he bade us to the king's presence at once, tarrying for +nothing, as we were waited for.</p> +<p>Fain would we have washed away the stains of travel; but he was +urgent, saying that the king's word brooked no delay. Therefore, +leaving our horses with the people of the inn, we followed him, +marching in order, to the great house where Ethelwulf was.</p> +<p>Here were guards and many thanes, and I must show the tokens +given me, before we might enter, while our thane stood by, +impatient at the formalities.</p> +<p>Those over, we came to a greet hall high-ceiled with oak, and +carved everywhere, and strewn with sweet sedges, and on the high +place sat the king and queen and one of the athelings.</p> +<p>Now I had never seen the king before, but I thought him like all +that I had heard of in stories. For he sat in his purple robes, +ermine-trimmed, having on a little gold crown over his long, +curling hair, and his gloves and shoes were of cloth of gold, +curiously wrought with pearls, while at his feet sat a page, +holding a cushion whereon lay sceptre and orb.</p> +<p>But I looked to see the face of a warrior under the gold circle +of the king, and therein was disappointed; for his face was kind +and gentle, as many a good warrior's has been in time of peace, but +lacked those lines which a man might know would harden into +grimness and strength in time of need. And I thought that Ealhstan +was like a king, and Ethelwulf like a bishop rather.</p> +<p>Yet by the king's side, leaning on his chair, was one whom I +then noted not, having eyes only for his father -- Alfred the +Atheling, who, to my mind, is both warrior and saint, as though +Ethelwulf, his father, and Ealhstan, his teacher, had each taught +him the properties of the other, making a perfect king.</p> +<p>Now, while I looked, our guide went and made obeisance before +the king, telling him of our coming, and at that the face of +Ethelwulf lighted up, and he called to us to come near and give our +message. And I saw the queen clasp her hands, as preparing to hear +things all too heavy for a lady's ear, while the atheling stood up +and gazed eagerly at us. Then, too, over all the court was deep +silence, as they made a lane through which we must pass to reach +the throne, and our feet seemed to make all the sound there +was.</p> +<p>So we tramped up, and bowed low before the king, who ran his +eyes over us, though not as a captain: but as one who knows men of +all sorts well, and is accustomed to judge their faces.</p> +<p>Then he said to me; "You are Heregar, the bishop's standard +bearer. We have heard of you as such, and welcome you, knowing you +must bring good news, as your face tells me."</p> +<p>"I am Heregar, Lord King," I answered, "and I bring good news -- +written in these which I am to give into your own hand."</p> +<p>Then the king smiled a little, and signed the atheling to take +the letters, and give them him.</p> +<p>But I, not knowing court ways, must needs think this beside my +duty, and said quickly, not knowing to whom I spoke; "Pardon me, +Thane, I am to give these into the king's own hand," and so stepped +past him, holding out the letters to Ethelwulf.</p> +<p>And at that the atheling laughed outright, which was strange to +me in the king's presence, saying, "Not so far wrong, standard +bearer, if not very polite;" and so stepped back to his place, +still laughing.</p> +<p>But Ethelwulf did not notice this, having taken the letters +eagerly from me, and broken open the first that came.</p> +<p>Now when he had read the first few lines, he looked up, and +reading from the letter, which doubtless told him the names of the +bearers -- "Heregar I know," he said; "which is Wulfhere?"</p> +<p>Then Wulfhere bowed, and the king asked for Wislac and Aldhelm, +and then for each of the men in turn. And when each had answered, +he looked hard at us, still holding the letter open, but saying +nothing, and then fell to reading again. So we must stand still +till all those letters were read.</p> +<p>Presently he took one, and reading the outside, gave it to the +atheling, saying it was to him, and went on reading. That the +atheling took, and as he read, looked at us, and it seemed +particularly at me, though I thought nothing of that.</p> +<p>At last the king finished, and turned to a tall, noble-looking +warrior who stood very near the dais, bidding him treat us with all +honour, and see to our lodging near him while we were at court. +Shortly, he said, he would speak to us of all we could tell +him.</p> +<p>Then he held out his ungloved hand to us, which the atheling +made a smiling sign for me to kiss, and that we all did, and then +he looked pleasantly at us, and went his way from the hall, +followed by his close attendants, with the queen and the +atheling.</p> +<p>So soon as the king was gone, the talk began all over the hall, +and most of all they crowded round us to learn what we could tell +them; but that tall thane, whose name was Ceorle, came and took us +away, telling the rest jestingly that they should have the second +telling of the news, but that the king must have the first. And so +he took us to guest chambers in his own house, and there left us in +charge of his steward, treating us four thanes with all honour, and +our men, as became their standing, among his own best men.</p> +<p>At least, this last was but for a short time, for the lay +brethren came to me, looking oddly at me, and saying that they were +in a strait; for, being lay brethren first, and warriors after, +they knew not how to join in the talk and idle jests of the +servants and housecarles. Moreover, they said that their vows +obliged them to certain duties of prayer. And this I thought was +honest of them, for many a lay brother would, when he found that I +noted not their state, have broken out of bounds gladly, for the +time.</p> +<p>So I sent for the steward, and asked him where they might be +bestowed, and after a little thought, he said that the abbot, who +had a following of honest housecarles, would take them in; and that +he managed for us, and afterwards told me that Ealhstan's men had +gained great praise, both for themselves and the bishop, by their +ways in the abbey.</p> +<p>This is a little thing: but I tell it because it shows what sort +of man Bishop Ealhstan was. For even over these rough warriors he +had gained such a power for good that he had made of them all he +wished -- sturdy champions of the faith, both bodily and +spiritually.</p> +<p>So when those three were gone elsewhere our only serving man was +my collier, and well was he treated in Ceorle's house.</p> +<p>We bided quietly there all the rest of that day and that night, +and then in the morning were bidden to speak with the king, Ceorle +taking us four himself and sending one to find the lay brethren and +Dudda.</p> +<p>The king sat with Alfred the Atheling in a private chamber, no +other but Ceorle being beside him while we were there. And I was a +little frightened about my putting aside the young prince now, for +I knew who he was from Ceorle. But he had a pleasant look and +greeting for us as we came in. So also had Ethelwulf himself, who +seemed less stately than yesterday when he sat in his royal attire +in full court.</p> +<p>Richly dressed he was now, with a gold circlet on his head and +great gold bracelets on his arms; but he was in no high place, only +sitting easily in a carved and cushioned chair, while the atheling +sat on a settle by the window.</p> +<p>The letters I had brought lay open on the table at the king's +elbow, and his hand was on them, and there were other writings +scattered about; great ones with red seals hanging thereto -- made +no doubt by the gold signet which stood close by in its open +casket.</p> +<p>"Come near, Thanes," the king said in his deep, quiet voice. +"Let us talk together of this matter as friends, for a useless king +were I but for such as you who keep my throne from the blows of +enemies."</p> +<p>"Stay, Father," said Alfred the Atheling, starting up. "Let me +write while the thanes speak," and he gathered up pens and such, +and a roll of parchment, sitting down at the table and then holding +pen ready, and looking at us.</p> +<p>The king smiled at him and his haste, and said, "Verily, Thanes, +you must mind your words if Alfred writes them down, for he will +ever keep records of tales such as yours, saying that they are for +men to read hereafter."</p> +<p>But that had no terrors for us, seeing that we had a plain tale +to tell, truth and nothing more. So, as Ceorle bid us, we four sat +down by the window, and the king asked me to tell my story from the +first.</p> +<p>So I began by saying that I had seen the landing of the Danes at +Stert, and warned the watchmen of the levy.</p> +<p>There Alfred stopped me, holding up his pen suddenly.</p> +<p>"Tell us, Thane, of the Watchet landing," he said.</p> +<p>And when I began to tell of that he looked up again, with his +eyes dancing, and asked me how I came on Quantock hill.</p> +<p>Thereat the king laughed a little, saying that Alfred should +have been a lawman, and the atheling said that, with his father's +help, he meant to be such, and a good one.</p> +<p>And that he has become, for the laws he has given us will last, +as it seems to me, till the name of Saxon has departed.</p> +<p>Then I was a little in doubt what to say, and the king saw this. +So he told me kindly that he had had very full accounts written by +the bishop and ealdormen; but now both he and the atheling would +fain hear about myself; that is, if my friends already knew all, +and if I would not heed Ceorle.</p> +<p>Now I saw that I must speak more of myself than I wished, and +would fain have been excused, saying something of that sort. But +the atheling asked me to think of them as friends who would feel +for me, saying, too, that of my own history he would not write, and +so kindly did he urge me, drawing me on, that at last I had told +him all from the beginning of my troubles, even to the time when I +rode with Alswythe into Glastonbury and sought the bishop.</p> +<p>"That is well told," said Alfred, when I had finished so far, +and the king sighed a little, but left all the speaking to his +son.</p> +<p>"Now, Wulfhere," he went on, "it is your turn," and so made the +old warrior take up the tale; but he bade him begin at the first +fight.</p> +<p>However, Wulfhere must needs go back to the war arrow business, +and then to the staying of the flight at Cannington, and in this +Alfred did not stop him, though I thought it more than needed.</p> +<p>So he told all his tale, even to the slaying of the berserk, and +things like that. And as he told of the breaking of the ring, and +our stand inside of it, Alfred the Atheling wrote fast, and +presently he bade Wulfhere cease, and going to a corner took down a +harp, while his father smiled on him, and tuning it, broke out into +a wondrous war song that made our hearts beat fast, for we seemed +to feel that it was full of the very shout and ring of battle +inside our circle of foes, and we were as men who looked on and saw +our own deeds over again, only made more glorious by the hand of +the poet and the voice of the singer.</p> +<p>So that when he ended the king's eyes flashed, and Ceorle's face +was red and good to look at with a war light on it, and Wislac +shouted, as I had nearly done.</p> +<p>But at that sound, strange in the king's presence, we all +started, and Wislac seemed abashed.</p> +<p>"Truly, Lord King," he said humbly, "I could not help it."</p> +<p>"Almost had I done as you did," said the kindly king. "Alfred +must bear the blame. Now shall you tell your story."</p> +<p>But Wislac said he had nought to add to Wulfhere's tale, save +that Aldhelm here had saved him at his own cost, and that he had +had, moreover, as much fighting as he was like ever to want.</p> +<p>But even from him Alfred gained many things about the fighting, +and from Aldhelm also, and these he wrote down.</p> +<p>Thus we all told our tales, and they were long in the telling, +so that when Aldhelm had finished, the king rose up, blaming Alfred +gently for the long sitting, saying, however, that he had feared +somewhat of the sort, but that doubtless the thanes were more +wearied than either of the other three who had listened.</p> +<p>"Now," he said, "well have you four thanes deserved of me and of +all, and you shall not say that the king is ungrateful. And I think +that each of you has said less of your own selves than might be +said, or, indeed, than is said in these letters. Now have Ceorle +and I and my council spoken of this matter, and we have thought of +rewards fitting for the shield wall of the standard."</p> +<p>Then would we thank the king; but he bade us wait for a little, +putting his hand on those great parchments with the seals. One of +these he took and gave to Aldhelm.</p> +<p>"This is to your father, confirming his rights of the land he +holds of me to him and his heirs for ever, by reason of your good +service. Yet is there a little blame to you from the way in which +you found a foremost place, though much praise for the holding +thereof and in your manner of ending that quarrel."</p> +<p>So Aldhelm took the deed and kissed the king's hand in token of +homage, going to his place very glad, for this was what his father +desired most of all.</p> +<p>Then the king beckoned Wislac and gave him also a deed like +Aldhelm's, granting him the lordship of the manor of Goring on the +Thames, and that was a good reward to the stout Mercian, who +thanked the king, saying that he wotted not how his majesty knew +what he would have most wished. Whereupon the king laughed, saying +that kings knew more than men gave them credit for, and so Wislac +did homage, and sat down.</p> +<p>Then Ethelwulf looked at Wulfhere, and said; "Wulfhere, my old +warrior, I know not rightly what to do with you, for you are a +lonely man, and I think that a place in my court would not suit +you. Nor would you care to hold a manor in a strange place. Wait a +little, and we will think it over."</p> +<p>Now at that Wulfhere looked glad, for I think he feared rather +than desired reward.</p> +<p>Now came my turn, and my face flushed, and I was a little +frightened, for there was but one thing I wanted, and I feared that +that might not be.</p> +<p>But the king made a step towards me and took me by the hand, +looking hard at me.</p> +<p>"Heregar," he said, "yours has been a strange story, and from +beginning to end you have been first in this victory that will gain +us peace for many years to come. Moreover you have suffered wrong, +being punished for evil falsely laid to your charge on my account. +And that I must show all men to be untrue, and that I, the king, +hold it so. Now shall you choose your own reward."</p> +<p>Then was I sorely abashed, not knowing how to say what I longed +for, and the king stood waiting a little. And maybe I should never +have got it out, but the atheling looked up, and said:</p> +<p>"May I speak for you, Heregar?"</p> +<p>And so plainly did I see that he knew all, that I asked him to +do so, and he came beside me and said; "Heregar needs but one +thing, my father, and that is the hand of the maiden he loves -- +Alswythe the daughter of Matelgar, and your ward since her father +was slain."</p> +<p>"Are you so foolish as to ask no more than that?" said the king, +smiling.</p> +<p>And on that my tongue was loosed, and I answered; "Aye my Lord +the King. If foolish it be to long for the one whom a man loves, +and who loves him, so that he holds her beyond all other +reward."</p> +<p>"Then is your request granted," said the king very kindly. "Yet +must you have withal to keep so great a treasure rightly."</p> +<p>Now I had forgotten that I was landless, and well it was for me +that the king went on quickly; "So I give you the lands that were +Matelgar's, and your own lands again; and my men, and at my cost, +shall build your halls afresh that the Danes have burnt. And +whatever rights were Matelgar's or your father's shall be confirmed +to you and yours for ever. Yet these things are but justice, and no +reward."</p> +<p>So he paused a little, and I found courage to speak.</p> +<p>"My Lord the King, I need no more than you have given, for love +and honour and lands have come back to me, and withal friendship of +these three here, and of Ealhstan the Bishop, and of the noble +ealdormen; while but for what has befallen I might have been still +a careless thane, living at ease and for naught; but now, having +heard Your good words, it is enough, and reward fit for any +man."</p> +<p>And this I meant from my heart, for no more could I see that any +man should need than this: honour of his fellows and of the king, +and love and lands, and friends. Surely is a man rich in these +things.</p> +<p>Yet must Alfred the Atheling add a word.</p> +<p>"Call me your friend also, Heregar, if you will, for fain would +I be so," and he held out his strong white hand to take mine.</p> +<p>And it is good to think that, as it were, the grasp of his has +never slackened from that day to this, but that he is my friend +still.</p> +<p>Then Ceorle must say likewise, and last of all the king said; +"Friend to all my people would I be, and to none more than to those +who have risked life for the land. Therefore, to you and yours am I +friend always, so that you shall ever think of me as friend first +and king after. Nor is it to everyone that I dare say that, +Heregar, my friend."</p> +<p>And he took my hand also, as the atheling and Ceorle had taken +it.</p> +<p>So was I fain to weep for very joy at all this that had come to +me, and must turn away for a little lest it should be seen.</p> +<p>Then the king spoke cheerfully, as on business.</p> +<p>"Now, Heregar, I have work for you to do in your home; for I +would have no man idle. Here is Watchet town burnt up, and no man +left -- for its lord is slain -- to see that it is built aright, +and that each man, or family, has his own again. Now, you knew that +place well, nor is it very far from you. Therefore shall you see to +all that, and you shall have writings from me to back you. But men +must know that you yourself have power there, and, therefore, I +make you lord of all Quantock side, from Watchet stream to Parret, +and from the borders of your own land at Cannington to Severn shore +between those two. And this shall you render in return for those +rights: that you shall be ready at all times to bear the standard +of Wessex, against all comers from over seas, at my bidding."</p> +<p>Now that was the Dragon of Wessex of which the old witch spoke. +And lo! those things that had been foretold of me were sooth, and I +knelt before the king, and swore to bear him this service +faithfully.</p> +<p>So the rest bore witness of that oath gladly, rejoicing in the +honour, which was in truth to them as well as to me, for I could +not have gone through aught without them, and if mine was the grip +on Ealhstan's banner shaft, theirs were the hands that had kept it +there.</p> +<p>Then said Ethelwulf; "Choose now one who shall have charge under +you of the watchings and beacons on your shore."</p> +<p>And straightway I turned to Wulfhere, and begged him to do this +for me, and it was good to see the warrior's face light up with +gladness as he promised to give me his help. Doubtless that was +what the king had in store for him, for at once he gave him the +manor of the Watchet thane who had been slain, for as it chanced he +had no heirs, and the land came back to the king.</p> +<p>That was the end of a long morning's work, and very kindly did +Ethelwulf take his leave of us, saying that we must have these +matters confirmed when the Witan<a name="sdendnote12anc" href= +"#sdendnote12sym"><sup>xii</sup></a> met in two days' time.</p> +<p>So we went out, landed men and noble, and with us went the +atheling, who took us to his own lodgings at the abbey, where he +would see and speak to our men that he might write yet more from +their lips, for he said that often it was good to hear what the +common sort thought.</p> +<p>And my collier must needs tell him -- for he was very pleasant, +so that none need fear his rank -- of Grendel, and also of the +saint, which mightily pleased the atheling. So that often would he +call me "Grendel" in sport thereafter, for we grew close friends in +the time we bided at Salisbury.</p> +<p>And that seemed long to me, for now would I fain be back at +Glastonbury with Alswythe.</p> +<p>Soon Wislac, also, grew tired of the court, and said that he +longed for the deep meadows and lofty trees, and green downs along +the clear river in this June time, and must seek his own home +again. But it seemed that Alfred over-persuaded him, for reasons +which he told me not, and he stayed.</p> +<p>We went to the great meeting of the Witan, taking our seats +there when our rights were confirmed to us. And into my hands was +put the standard of Wessex by the king himself, and I bore it to +the great church, there to be blessed in the bearing thereof.</p> +<p>And there stood Ealhstan himself in his robes, having come even +that morning for this very purpose. And that was pleasant, and even +as I should have most wished. Moreover, my friends, and Alfred, and +Ceorle stood by me as if for shield wall at that time, and I was +well attended.</p> +<p>Now betimes, in the afternoon, came Alfred the Atheling to me as +I sat with Ceorle, talking of the arms of the vikings, and asked me +to come and speak with friends of his, who would not see him save +he brought me.</p> +<p>And at that Ceorle laughed, saying that they must be of +importance if they would deny the prince an audience, making +conditions. And Alfred said very gravely that they were so, and +maybe the only people, save the king and queen, who might delay +seeing him.</p> +<p>So I was curious to know who these were. But we left Ceorle +still laughing. Then Alfred took me to the abbey, and sent one of +his men to say we had come, who, when he returned, bade us into the +presence of these people.</p> +<p>When we came to a great door, in a part of the abbey where I had +not before been, he took my arm, and pushed me in first, saying +that he would ensure himself a good reception; and there sat +Ealhstan, and beside him stood Alswythe, smiling at me, and with a +little colour in her face.</p> +<br><br><br><h2><a name="chap18">CHAPTER XVIII.</a> PEACE IN THE +LAND.</h2> +<p>Now of the wedding in the great church I knew very little, save +that I had Alswythe beside me, and that Ealhstan married us. And +that was all I cared for, heeding naught of the rest.</p> +<p>But the king and the queen were there, and many thanes, while +the atheling must needs be a groomsman with my friends, and Ceorle +gave away the bride on the king's behalf. There, too, was Eanulf, +looking very noble in his court array, beside the king. And the +little page in blue and silver who held Alswythe's dress was none +other than Turkil, "Grendel's friend" as Alfred called him, whom +Alswythe had begged the bishop to bring with him.</p> +<p>There also was Dudda the Collier, clad beyond knowledge by +Wislac, holding my helm and sword, and the lay brethren, mail clad +for the last time, with the white cross painted on their shields +and helms. Lustily did they join in the chanting.</p> +<p>Osric only was not there, but on Alswythe's neck and arms shone +presently wonderfully-wrought collar and bracelets of gold that he +had sent, having had them made from the spoils of that tall viking +chief that I had slain.</p> +<p>Then was there feasting, and songs of gleemen, and, better +still, that song of Stert fight sung by Alfred the Atheling himself +in full hall. And then had Wislac full excuse for what he did in +the king's presence, for at the end all the hall joined in a mighty +Wessex war shout. And that, said the atheling, was a poet's +greatest praise, to have stirred the hearts of men to forgetfulness +of aught but the song.</p> +<p>Now, when we must needs ride away westward, with Wulfhere and +Aldhelm for attendants, and the collier and my lay brethren again +for guards, the king gave Alswythe a ring, praying her to spare me +to him if need should be; and she, half weeping, yet proudly, told +him that she would be the first to arm me for his service. And the +queen kissed her, but the atheling said that soon he should see us +again, for he would ride with me over the battle-ground, and learn +it all, when our hall was ready for a guest.</p> +<p>Then Wislac took leave of us last of all, even as we started, +for he said he would have no long leave taking. Nor did he know if +he must not come with Alfred to fight the battle over again. And we +prayed him to do so, for I loved the quaint sayings and cool valour +of the broad-shouldered thane.</p> +<p>But Eanulf and Ceorle rode with many of the thanes a mile or +more with us on our way from the town, and there, having set us +fairly off, left us with hearty good-speeds. But they left one +behind, who joined himself to our little company. And that was +Turkil, clad like myself in silver mail, and on a white pony, but +with flame-coloured cloak and scarf. For that was the atheling's +doing, when he knew that "Grendel's friend" was to be brought up in +our hall, to grow into the stout warrior I had boded him to be.</p> +<p>Now should my story be ended were it a fairy tale, but it is not +that. Well I knew that, happy as I was, the day must come when I +must bear forward to battle the golden dragon banner of Wessex, and +I cannot rightly tell if I dreaded or longed for that day. Maybe +there was a mixture of both dread and longing in my thoughts +thereof.</p> +<p>But when we came over Brent Knoll, on our way back to my place +and Alswythe's at Cannington, there lay the black ships under the +holms yet, and there, too, were the burnt walls of our houses, +though these were rising up again as the king's men wrought at +them. And all the land lay waste and neglected, and, as we rode +over Cannington hill, a broken helm rolled from my horse's hoof +from among the grass of the roadside. Those things brought back to +us the memory of war and trouble even in our new happiness; and +there, over the river, was the new-made mound over Elgar, the man +who had died for his land, and not in vain.</p> +<p>It was many days since we started from Salisbury town, however, +before we came to Cannington, and in that time we had sought the +house of Turkil's father, the franklin, lodging with him for a day +and night, that we might seek Leofwine the hermit. But him we might +not find, for he was dead, and that grieved me sorely, for I would +fain have seen him again, aye, and if it might be, taken him to +live with us.</p> +<p>But he died as the tide went out on the day of Stert fight, and +those who stood by him say that he had visions of all that befell +there.</p> +<p>For many times he called to me as exhorting me; and once, after +long silence, in the gray of early dawn, he rose up, crying, "Up, +Ealhstan, up, for the Lord has delivered these heathen into your +hands!"</p> +<p>And that was at the time when the bishop had heard those words +spoken to him. And again, once more he roused, even at the time +when the Danes drew off from us at the coming of Osric. He lifted +his hands, crying "Victory!" thrice, and then saying very softly, +"Heregar, my son," was silent thereafter till he died at the time +of the lowest ebb, only his lips moving as if in prayer. And I +remembered the strange voice I had heard crying round me, and I +wept, for I thought how much more was wrought by the prayers of +feeble ones than men wot of.</p> +<p>But his prophecy had indeed come true, and though I might not +see him more, the memory of Leofwine is with me always, with his +words of wise counsel that he had spoken to me.</p> +<p>Now of that other one who prophesied in her strange way to me I +know no more, nor did I ever see her again. Gundred the witch, men +called her, knowing her well, and fearing her. But she was never +seen after the Danes swept over our land, and how she ended none +ever knew. I sought her carefully that I might give her shelter and +ease for the rest of her days, but without avail.</p> +<p>All his life long has Dudda the Collier bided with me, serving +well and roughly, but in all most faithfully, as is his wont. And +not many days after we came homewards he brought me the berserk's +axe to hang in hall, for he had taken it and hidden it when we left +the battlefield on the day after the fight. So there it is now, and +beside it hangs the raven flag of the largest ship, for he must +needs go with the fishers across to the holms, and bring me back +the tale of how the last of the Danes had perished.</p> +<p>And now what am I to say of the years since our hall was built +again? Long have they been, and not all happy, for many a time have +I had to bear the standard of Wessex against the Danes. Yet Stert +fight won us six years of peace, and after that the Earl Ceorle and +I led our levies and conquered at Wenbury. But that was Wulfhere's +last fight, for of his wounds he might not recover, though we bore +him back and tended him carefully for a month or more. So he lies +in God's Acre at Cannington, and is at rest.</p> +<p>Then came long years of fighting, and ever I bore the banner, +and ever Alswythe set me forth most lovingly, with brave words that +should bide with me till I came back to her. And all the time our +hall was safe, for beyond Parret the Danes came not again.</p> +<p>And to tell of all those fights were too long, or of how Wislac +and Aldhelm would ever fight beside me as of old, and at last +Turkil in Aldhelm's place, when that brave thane fell at Wilton, +fighting for Alfred the King.</p> +<p>Then were we in Athelney with Alfred, and it was the collier who +found us that place of safety. And thence we went at last to +victory again, and now once more the land has rest.</p> +<p>Yet Wislac is with us in Wulfhere's place, for his own land is +in Danish hands, and we know not what wars may be yet with them, +though we have stood by the king's side when the greatest victory +of all was won, and Guthrum the heathen became Athelstan the +Christian, and peaceful division of the land was made.</p> +<p>So I and Alswythe grow old here in Cannington, seeing our +children grow up around us. And Alfred the king has our eldest in +his court, there training him in all things well and wisely. And +Turkil is thane of Watchet, and our son-in-law, much loved by all, +well and faithfully tending all my shore as Wulfhere tended it in +his time.</p> +<p>So to me and mine after storm has come peace, and with us and +the land all is well.</p> +<p>THE END.</p> +<p><a name="sdendnote1sym" href="#sdendnote1anc">i</a>A +representative assembly or court of judgment.</p> +<p><a name="sdendnote2sym" href="#sdendnote2anc">ii</a>An outlaw +for whose slaying there was a reward, or at least no penalty.</p> +<p><a name="sdendnote3sym" href="#sdendnote3anc">iii</a>A curved, +one-edged sword or war knife.</p> +<p><a name="sdendnote4sym" href="#sdendnote4anc">iv</a>The "Saga of +Beowulf" was the great popular poem of the Saxon races, and as well +known to them as the legends of Robin Hood to us. The principal +episode is the hero's victory over the marsh fiend Grendel.</p> +<p><a name="sdendnote5sym" href="#sdendnote5anc">v</a>Crowland in +Lincolnshire, where the saint founded his monastery.</p> +<p><a name="sdendnote6sym" href="#sdendnote6anc">vi</a>Like the +Highland "fiery cross", the signal for rising in arms.</p> +<p><a name="sdendnote7sym" href="#sdendnote7anc">vii</a>The most +contemptuous term that could be applied to a Saxon. Its exact force +is lost, but may be expressed by "worth nothing."</p> +<p><a name="sdendnote8sym" href="#sdendnote8anc">viii</a>The border +of cleared land round a forest settlement, across which in times of +war none might come without sound of horn in warning.</p> +<p><a name="sdendnote9sym" href="#sdendnote9anc">ix</a>The "Saga of +Beowulf" as we have it is the work of a Christian editor of King +Alfred's time.</p> +<p><a name="sdendnote10sym" href="#sdendnote10anc">x</a>A corselet +or coat of mail.</p> +<p><a name="sdendnote11sym" href="#sdendnote11anc">xi</a>The bell +which is rung during mass.</p> +<p><a name="sdendnote12sym" href="#sdendnote12anc">xii</a>The great +national council, or parliament.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr noshade> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A THANE OF WESSEX***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 13054-h.txt or 13054-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/0/5/13054">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/0/5/13054</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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