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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/13315-0.txt b/13315-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c200e78 --- /dev/null +++ b/13315-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12015 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13315 *** + + A PRINCE OF CORNWALL: + +A Story of Glastonbury and the West in the Days of Ina of Wessex; +by Charles W. Whistler. + + PREFACE. + + CHAPTER I. HOW OWEN OF CORNWALL WANDERED TO SUSSEX, AND WHY HE BIDED + THERE. + + CHAPTER II. HOW ALDRED THE THANE KEPT HIS FAITH, AND OWEN FLED WITH + OSWALD. + + CHAPTER III. HOW KING INA'S FEAST WAS MARRED, AND OF A VOW TAKEN BY + OSWALD. + + CHAPTER IV. HOW THE LADY ELFRIDA SPOKE WITH OSWALD, AND OF THE MEETING + WITH GERENT. + + CHAPTER V. HOW OSWALD FELL INTO BAD HANDS, AND FARED EVILLY, ON THE + QUANTOCKS. + + CHAPTER VI. HOW OSWALD HAD AN UNEASY VOYAGE AND A PERILOUS LANDING AT + ITS END. + + CHAPTER VII. HOW OSWALD CROSSED THE DYFED CLIFFS, AND MET WITH FRIENDS. + + CHAPTER VIII. HOW OSWALD LOST A HUNT, AND FOUND SOMEWHAT STRANGE IN + CAERAU WOODS. + + CHAPTER IX. WHY IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR OWEN TO SLEEP IN THE MOONLIGHT. + + CHAPTER X. HOW THE EASTDEAN MANORS AND SOMEWHAT MORE PASSED FROM + OSWALD TO ERPWALD. + + CHAPTER XI. HOW ERPWALD FELL FROM CHEDDAR CLIFFS; AND OF ANOTHER + WARNING. + + CHAPTER XII. OF THE MESSAGE BROUGHT BY JAGO, AND A MEETING IN + DARTMOOR. + + CHAPTER XIII. HOW OSWALD AND HOWEL DARED THE SECRET OF THE MENHIR, AND + MET A WIZARD. + + CHAPTER XIV. HOW OSWALD FOUND WHAT HE SOUGHT, AND RODE HOMEWARD WITH + NONA THE PRINCESS. + + CHAPTER XV. HOW ERPWALD SAW HIS FIRST FIGHT ON HIS WEDDING DAY. + + CHAPTER XVI. OF MATTERS OF RANSOM, AND OF FORGIVENESS ASKED AND + GRANTED. + + CHAPTER XVII. HOW OSWALD FOUND A HOME, AND OF THE LAST PERIL OF OWEN + THE PRINCE. + + NOTES. + + + +PREFACE. + + +A few words of preface may save footnotes to a story which deals +with the half-forgotten days when the power of a British prince had +yet to be reckoned with by the Wessex kings as they slowly and +steadily pushed their frontier westward. + +The authority for the historical basis of the story is the +Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which gives A.D. 710 as the year of the +defeat of Gerent, king of the West Welsh, by Ina of Wessex and his +kinsman Nunna. This date is therefore approximately that of the +events of the tale. + +With regard to the topography of the Wessex frontier involved, +although it practically explains itself in the course of the story, +it may be as well to remind a reader that West Wales was the last +British kingdom south of the Severn Sea, the name being, of course, +given by Wessex men to distinguish it from the Welsh principalities +in what we now call Wales, to their north. In the days of Ina it +comprised Cornwall and the present Devon and also the half of +Somerset westward of the north and south line of the river Parrett +and Quantock Hills. Practically this old British "Dyvnaint" +represented the ancient Roman province of Damnonia, shrinking as it +was under successive advances of the Saxons from the boundary which +it once had along the Mendips and Selwood Forest. Ina's victory +over Gerent set the Dyvnaint frontier yet westward, to the line of +the present county of Somerset, which represents the limit of his +conquest, the new addition to the territory of the clan of the +Sumorsaetas long being named as "Devon in Wessex" by the +chroniclers rather than as Somerset. + +The terms "Devon" or "Dyvnaint," as they are respectively used by +Saxon or Briton in the course of the story, will therefore be +understood to imply the ancient territory before its limitation by +the boundaries of the modern counties, which practically took their +rise from the wars of Ina. + +With regard to names, I have not thought it worth while to use the +archaic, if more correct, forms for those of well-known places. It +seems unnecessary to write, for instance, "Glaestingabyrig" for +Glastonbury, or "Penbroch" for Pembroke. I have treated proper +names in the same way, keeping, for example, the more familiar +latinised "Ina" rather than the Saxon "Ine," as being more nearly +the correct pronunciation than might otherwise be used without the +hint given by a footnote. + +The exact spot where Wessex and West Wales met in the battle +between Ina and Gerent is not certain, though it is known to have +been on the line of the hills to the west of the Parrett, and +possibly, according to an identification deduced from the Welsh +"Llywarch Hen," in the neighbourhood of Langport. Local tradition +and legend place a battle also at the ancient Roman fortress of +Norton Fitzwarren, which Ina certainly superseded by his own +stronghold at Taunton after the victory. As Nunna is named as +leader of the Saxons, together with the king himself, it seems most +likely that there were two columns acting against the Welsh advance +on the north and south of the Tone River, and that therefore there +were battles at each place. On the Blackdown Hills beyond Langport +a barrow was known until quite lately as "Noon's barrow," and it +would mark at least the line of flight of the Welsh; and if not the +burial place of the Saxon leader, who is supposed to have fallen, +must have been raised by him over his comrades. + +The line taken by the story will not be far wrong, therefore, as in +any case the Blackdown and Quantock strongholds must have been +taken by the Saxons to guard against flank attacks, from whichever +side of the Tone the British advance was made. + +The course of the story hangs to some extent on the influence of +the old feud between the British and Saxon Churches, which dated +from the days of Augustine and his attempt to compel the adoption +of Western customs by the followers of the Church which had its +rise from the East. There is no doubt that the death of the wise +and peacemaking Aldhelm of Sherborne let the smouldering enmity +loose afresh, with the result of setting Gerent in motion against +his powerful neighbour. Ina's victory was decisive, Gerent being +the last king of the West Welsh named in the chronicles, and we +hear of little further trouble from the West until A.D. 835, when +the Cornish joined with a new-come fleet of Danes in an +unsuccessful raid on Wessex. + +Ina's new policy with the conquered Welsh is historic and well +known. Even in the will of King Alfred, two hundred years later, +some of the best towns in west Somerset and Dorset are spoken of as +"Among the Welsh kin," and there is yet full evidence, in both +dialect and physique, of strongly marked British descent among the +population west of the Parrett. + +There is growing evidence that very early settlements of Northmen, +either Norse or Danish, or both, contemporary with the well-known +occupation of towns, and even districts, on the opposite shores of +South Wales, existed on the northern coast of Somerset and Devon. +Both races are named by the Welsh and Irish chroniclers in their +accounts of the expulsion of these settlers from Wales in A.D. 795, +and the name of the old west country port of Watchet being claimed +as of Norse origin, I have not hesitated to place the Norsemen +there. + +Owen and Oswald, Howel and Thorgils, and those others of their +friends and foes beyond the few whose names have already been +mentioned as given in the chronicles, are of course only historic +in so far as they may find their counterparts in the men of the +older records of our forefathers. If I have too early or late +introduced Govan the hermit, whose rock-hewn cell yet remains near +the old Danish landing place on the wild Pembrokeshire coast +between Tenby and the mouth of Milford Haven, perhaps I may be +forgiven. I have not been able to verify his date, but a saint is +of all time, and if Govan himself had passed thence, one would +surely have taken his place to welcome a wanderer in the way and in +the name of the man who made the refuge. + +CHAS. W. WHISTLER. + +STOCKLAND, 1904. + + + +CHAPTER I. HOW OWEN OF CORNWALL WANDERED TO SUSSEX, AND WHY HE BIDED THERE. + + +The title which stands at the head of this story is not my own. It +belongs to one whose name must come very often into that which I +have to tell, for it is through him that I am what I may be, and it +is because of him that there is anything worth telling of my doings +at all. Hereafter it will be seen, as I think, that I could do no +less than set his name in the first place in some way, if indeed +the story must be mostly concerning myself. Maybe it will seem +strange that I, a South Saxon of the line of Ella, had aught at all +to do with a West Welshman--a Cornishman, that is--of the race and +line of Arthur, in the days when the yet unforgotten hatred between +our peoples was at its highest; and so it was in truth, at first. +Not so much so was it after the beginning, however. It would be +stranger yet if I were not at the very outset to own all that is +due from me to him. Lonely was I when he first came to me, and +lonely together, in a way, have he and I been for long years that +for me, at least, have had no unhappiness in them, for we have been +all to each other. + +I have said that I was lonely when he first came to me, and I must +tell how that was. I suppose that the most lonesome place in the +world is the wide sea, and after that a bare hilltop; but next to +these in loneliness I would set the glades of a beech forest in +midwinter silence, when the snow lies deep on the ground under +boughs that are too stiff to rustle in the wind, and the birds are +dumb, and the ice has stilled the brooks. Set a lost child amid the +bare grey tree trunks of such a winter forest, in the dead silence +of a great frost, with no track near him but that which his own +random feet have made across the snow, and I think that there can +be nought lonelier than he to be thought of: and in the depth of +the forest there is peril to the lonely. + +I had no fear of the forest till that day when I was lost therein, +for the nearer glades round our village had been my playground ever +since I could remember, and before I knew that fear therein might +be. That was not so long a time, however, save that the years of a +child are long years; for at this time, when I first learned the +full wildness of the woods of the great Andredsweald and knew what +loneliness was, I was only ten years old. Since I could run alone +my old nurse had tried to fray me from wandering out of sight of +those who tended me, with tales of wolf and bear and pixy, lest I +should stray and be lost, but I had not heeded her much. Maybe I +had proved so many of her tales to be but pretence that, as I began +to think for myself, I deemed them all to be so. + +But now I was lost in the forest, and what had been a playground +was become a vast and desolate land for me, and all the things that +I had ever heard of what dangers lurked within it, came back to my +mind. I remembered that the grey wolf's skin on which I slept had +come hence, and I minded the calf that the pack had slain close to +the village a year ago, and I thought of the girl who went mazed +and useless about the place, having lost her wits through being +pixy led, as they said, long ago. The warnings seemed to me to be +true enough, now that all the old landmarks were lost to me, and +all the tracks were buried under the crisp snow. I did not know +when I had left the road from the village to the hilltop, or in +which direction it lay. + +It was very silent in the aisles of the great beech trunks, for the +herds were in shelter. There was no sound of the swineherds' horn, +though the evening was coming on, and but for the frost it was time +for their charges to be taken homeward, and the woodmen's axes were +idle. Even the scream of some hawk high overhead had been welcome +to me, and the harsh cry of a jay that I scared was like the voice +of a friend. + +It was the fault of none but myself that I was lost. I had planned +to go hunting alone in the woods while the old nurse, whose care I +was far beyond, slept after her midday meal before the fire. So, +over my warm woollen clothing I had donned the deerskin short cloak +that was made like my father's own hunting gear, and I had taken my +bow and arrows, and the little seax {i} that a thane's son may +always wear, and had crept away from the warm hall without a soul +seeing me. I had thought myself lucky in this, but by this time I +began to change my mind in all truth. Well it was for me that there +was no wind, so that I was spared the worst of the cold. + +I went up the hill to the north of the village by the track which +the timber sleds make, climbing until I was on the crest, and there +I began to wander as the tracks of rabbit and squirrel led me on. +Sometimes I was set aside from the path by deep drifts that had +gathered in its hollows with the wind of yesterday, and so I left +it altogether in time. Overhead the sky was bright and clear as the +low sun of the month after Yule, the wolf month, can make it. I +wandered on for an hour or two without meeting with anything at +which to loose an arrow, and my ardour began to cool somewhat, so +that I thought of turning homewards. But then, what was to me a +wondrous quarry crossed my way as I stood for a moment on the edge +of a wide aisle of beech trees looking down it, and wondering if I +would not go even to its end and so return. Then at once the wild +longing for the chase woke again in me, and I forgot cold and time +and place and aught else in it. + +Across the glade came slowly and lightly over the snow a great red +hare, looking against the white background bigger than any I had +ever set eyes on before. It paid no heed at all to me, even when I +raised my bow to set an arrow on the string with fingers which +trembled with eagerness and haste. Now and again it stopped and +seemed to listen for somewhat, and then loped on again and stopped, +seeming hardly to know which way it wished to go. Now it came +toward me, and then across, and yet again went from me, and all as +if I were not there. + +It was thirty paces from me when I shot, and I was a fair marksman, +for a boy, at fifty paces. However, the arrow skimmed just over its +back, and it crouched for a second as it heard the whistle of the +feathers, and then leapt aside and on again in the same way. But +now it crossed the glade and passed behind some trees before I was +ready with a second arrow, and I ran forward to recover the first, +which was in the snow where it struck, hoping thence to see the +hare again. + +When I turned with the arrow in my hand I saw what made the hare +pay no heed to me. There was a more terrible enemy than even man on +its track. Sniffing at my footprints where they had just crossed +those of the hare was a stoat, long and lithe and cruel. I knew it +would not leave its quarry until it had it fast by the throat, and +the hare knew it also by some instinct that is not to be fathomed, +for I suppose that no hare, save by the merest chance, ever escaped +that pursuer. The creature seemed puzzled by my footprint, and sat +up, turning its sharp eyes right and left until it spied me; but +when it did so it was not feared of me, but took up the trail of +the hare again. And by that time I was ready, and my hand was +steady, and the shaft sped and smote it fairly, and the hare's one +chance had come to it. I sprang forward with the whoop of the Saxon +hunter, and took up and admired my prey, not heeding its scent at +all. It was in good condition, and I would get Stuf, the +house-carle, who was a sworn ally of mine, to make me a pouch of +it, I thought. + +I mind that this was the third wild thing that I had slain. One of +the others was a squirrel who stayed motionless on a bough to stare +at me, in summer time, and the second was a rabbit which Stuf had +shown me in its seat. This was quite a different business, and I +was proud of my skill with some little reason. I should have some +real wild hunting to talk of over the fire tonight. + +Then I must follow up the hare, of course, and I thrust the long +body of the stoat through my girdle, so that its head hung one way +and its tail the other, and took up the trail of the hare where my +prey had left it. Now, I cannot tell how the mazed creature learned +that its worst foe was no longer after it, but so it must have +been, else it had circled slowly in lessening rings until the stoat +had it, and presently it would have begun to scream dolefully. But +I only saw it once again, and then it seemed to be listening at +longer spaces. Yet it took me a long way before it suddenly fled +altogether, as its footmarks told me. A forest-bred lad learns +those signs soon enough, if he is about with the woodmen in snow +time. + +Then I turned to make my way home, following my own track for a +little way. That was crooked, and I went to take a straighter path, +and after that I was fairly lost. + +Yet I held on, hoping every minute to come into some known glade or +sight, some familiar landmark, before the sun set. But I found +nought but new trees, and new views over unknown white country all +round me as I turned my steps hither and thither as one mark after +another drew me. Then the sun set and the short day was over, and +the grey twilight of snow weather came after the passing of the +warm red glow from the west, shadowless and still. + +That was about the time when I was missed at home, for my father +came back from Chichester town, and straightway asked for me. And +when I came not for calling, nor yet for the short notes of the +horn which my father had always used to bring me to him, one ran +here and another there, seeking me in wonted places about the +village, until one minded that he had seen a boy, who must have +been myself, go up the hill track forestwards. + +Then was fear enough for me, seeing that from our village more than +one child has wandered forth thus and been seen no more, and I was +the only son of the long-widowed thane, and the last of the ancient +line that went back to Ella, and beyond him even to Woden. So in +half an hour there was not a man left in the village, and all the +woods and hillsides rang with their calls to me, while in the hall +itself bided only the old nurse, who wept and wailed by the hearth, +and my father, whose tall form came and went across the doorway, +restless; for he waited here lest he should miss my coming +homeward. Up the steep street of the village the wives stood in the +doorways silent, and forgetting their ailments for once in +listening for the cries that should tell that I was found. If they +spoke at all, they said that I should not be seen again, for the +cold had driven the wolves close to the villages. + +But I was by this time far beyond the reach of friendly voices, on +the edge of the great hill that falls sheer down through many a +score feet of hanging woods and thicket to the Lavington valley far +below, and there at last I knew for certain that I was lost +utterly, for this place or its like I had never seen before. Then I +stayed my feet, bewildered, for the sun was gone, and I had nothing +to tell me in which direction I was heading, for at that time the +stars told me nought, though there were enough out now to direct +any man who was used to the night. When I stood still I found that +I was growing deadly cold, and the weariness that I had so far +staved off began to creep over me, so that I longed to sleep. + +And I suppose that I should have done so, and thereby met my death +shortly, but for a thing that roused me in an instant, and set the +warm blood coursing through me again. + +There came a rustling in the undergrowth of the hillside below me, +and that was the most homely sound that I had heard since the wild +geese flew over me seaward with swish and whistle of broad wings +and call that I knew well. The silence of the great brown owls that +circled swiftly over me now and then was uncanny. + +The rustling drew nearer, and then out into the open place under +the tall bare tree trunks where I stood trotted a grey beast that +was surely a shepherd's dog, for he stayed and looked back and +whined a little as if his master must be waited for. I thought that +I could hear the cracking of more branches once farther down the +hill. + +Then I called to the dog, knowing that he and the shepherd would +not be far apart, and at the call the dog turned quickly toward me +and leaped back a yard, cowering a little with drooping tail. So I +called him again, and more loudly. + +"Hither, lad! Hither, good dog!" + +But the beast backed yet more from me, and I saw the dull gleam of +yellow teeth and heard him snarl as he did so, and then he growled +fiercely, so that I thought him sorely ill-tempered. But I had no +fear of dogs, and I called him again cheerily, and at that he sank +on his haunches and set back his head and howled and yelled as I +had never heard any dog give tongue before. And presently from a +long way off I heard the like howls, as if all the dogs of some +village answered him, and I thought their tongue was strange also. + +Then came the shout of a man, even as I expected, and there was the +noise of one who tears his way through briers and brambles in +haste; but at that shout the dog turned and fled like a grey shadow +into the farther thickets, and was gone. + +"Who calls?" one said loudly, and from the hillside climbed hastily +into the open a tall man, bearded and strong, and with a +pleasant-looking, anxious face. He was dressed in leather like our +shepherds, and like them carried but quarterstaff and seax for +weapons. I suppose that I was in some shadow, for at first he did +not see me. + +"Surely I heard a child's voice," he said out loud--"or was it some +pixy playing with the grey beast of the wood?" + +"Here I am," I cried, running to him; "take me home, shepherd, for +I think that I am lost." + +He caught me up in haste, looking round him the while. + +"Child," he said, "how came you here--and to what were you +calling?" + +"I was calling your dog," I answered, "but he is not friendly. Does +he look for a beating? for he ran away yonder when he heard you +coming." + +"Ay, sorely beaten will that dog be if he comes near me just now," +the man said grimly. "Never mind him, but tell me how you came +here, and where you belong." + +So I told him that I was Oswald, the son of Aldred, the thane of +Eastdean, thinking, of course, that all men would know of us, and +so I bade him take me home quickly. + +"I have been hunting," I said, showing him my unsavoury prey, which +by this time was frozen stiff in my belt. "Then I followed the hare +this was after, and I cannot tell how far I have come." + +All this while the man had me in his strong arms, and he had looked +at the track of the dog in the snow, and now was walking swiftly +from it, through the beech trees, looking up at their branches as +if wondering at the way the great trunks shot up smooth and bare +from the snow at their roots before they reached the first forking, +fathoms skyward. + +"I am a stranger, Oswald, the thane's son," he said. "I do not +rightly know in which direction your home may lie." + +I know now that he was himself as lost as I, but that he did not +tell me, for my sake. It is an easy thing for a stranger to go +astray in the Andredsweald. But I could not tell him more than that +I knew that I had left the sea always behind me so long as I knew +where it lay. So he turned southwards at once when he heard that, +and went on swiftly. Then I heard the howl of his dog again, and I +laughed, for the other howls that answered him were nearer. + +"Listen, shepherd," I said. "Your dog is making his comrades howl +for him, and the beating that is to come. + +"Are you cold?" + +For he had shivered suddenly, and his pace quickened. He had heard +the howl of the single wolf that has found its quarry, and calls +the answering pack to follow. But he did not tell me of my mistake. + +"I am not cold overmuch," he answered. "Let us run and warm me." + +Then he ran until we came to the top of a hill whence the last +glimmer of the sea over Selsea was plain before him, and there I +asked him to set me down lest I tired him. + +"Nay, but you keep me warm," he said. "Tell me, are there oak trees +as one goes seaward?" + +"Ay, many and great ones in some places." + +Then he ran down the hill, and the sway of his even stride lulled +me so that I dozed a little. I roused when he stayed suddenly. + +"Sit here, Oswald, for a moment, and fear nought while I rest me," +he said in a strange voice. + +We were halfway up a long slope and among fresh trees. Then he +lifted me and set me on the curved arm of a great oak tree, some +eight feet from the ground, asking me if I was safe there. And when +I laughed and answered that I was, he set his back against the +trunk, and drew his heavy seax, putting his staff alongside him, +where he could reach it at once if it was needed. It was light +enough, with the clear frosty starlight on the snow. + +Then I heard the swift patter of feet over the crisp surface, and +the grey beast came and halted suddenly not three yards from us, +and on his haunches he sat up and howled, and I heard the answering +yells in no long space of time coming whence we had come. His eyes +glowed green with a strange light of their own as he stared at my +friend, and for a moment I looked to see him come fawning to his +master's feet. + +Suddenly he gathered himself together, and sprung silently at the +throat of the man who waited him, and there was a flash of the keen +steel, and a sound as of the cleaving of soft wood, and the beast +was in a twitching heap at the man's feet. I knew what it was at +last, yet I could say nothing. The wolf was quite dead, with its +head cleft. + +Swiftly my friend hewed the great head from the trunk and tore one +of the leather cross garterings from his leg, and so leapt at a +branch which hung above him and pulled it down. Then he bound the +head to its end with the thong and let it go, so that it dangled a +fathom and a half above him, and then he lifted me from my place +and ran as I had not thought any man could run, until he stayed at +the brow of the hill for sheer want of breath. + +Behind us at that moment rose the sound as of hungry dogs that +fight over the food in their kennels, and my friend laughed under +his breath strangely. + +"That will be a wild dance beneath the tree anon," he said, as if +to himself. + +Then he said to me, "Are you frayed, bairn?" as he ran on again. + +"No," I answered, "You can smite well, shepherd." + +"Needs must, sometime," he said. "Now, little one, have you a +mother waiting you at home?" + +"No. Only father and old nurse." + +"Nor brother or sister?" + +"None at all," I said. + +"An only child, and his father lonely," the man said. "Well, I will +chance it while the trees last. The head will stay them awhile, +maybe." + +Now he went swiftly across the rolling woodlands, and again I slept +in his arms, but uneasily and with a haunting fear in my dreaming +that I should wake to see the wild eyes of the wolf glaring across +the snow on us again. So it happens that all I know of the rest of +that flight from Woden's pack has been told me by others, so that I +can say little thereof. + +The howls of the pack as they stayed to fall on the carcass of +their fellow, after their wont, died away behind us, and before +they were heard again my friend had come across a half-frozen +brook, and for a furlong or more had crashed and waded through its +ice and water that our trail might be lost in it. Then he lit on +the path that a sounder of wild swine had made through the snow on +either side of it as they crossed it, and that he followed, in +hopes that the foe would leave us to chase the more accustomed +quarry. From that he leapt aside presently with a wondrous leap and +struck off away from it. He would leave nothing untried, though +indeed by this time he had reason to think that the pack had lost +us at the brook, for he heard no more of them. + +So at last he came within sound of some far-off shouts of those who +were seeking me, and he guessed well what those shouts meant, and +turned in their direction. Had he not heard them I do not know what +place of refuge, save the trees, he would have found that night, +for he was then passing across the valley that winds down to our +home. + +So it happened that when at last he saw the red light from the door +of our hall gleaming across the snow, for it had been left open +that perchance I might see it, he was close to the place, and he +came into the courtyard inside the stockading without meeting any +one, for he came from the side on which the village is not. + +There I woke as the house dogs barked, and at first it was with a +cry of fear lest the wolves were on us again; but the fear passed +as I saw my father come quickly into the light of the doorway, and +heard his voice as he stilled the dogs and cried to ask if the boy +was found. + +"Ay, Thane, he is here, and safe," my friend answered, and he set +me down in the midst of the court, while the dogs leapt and fawned +round me. + +Then I ran to the arms that were held out for me, forgetting for +the moment the one who had brought me back to them, and left him +standing there. + +Then the man who had saved me turned after one long look at that +meeting, and I think that he was going his way in silence, content +with that he had done, but my father saw it and called to him: + +"Friend, stay, for I have not thanked you, and I hold that there is +reward due to you for what you have brought back to me." + +"It was a chance meeting, Thane, and I am glad to have been of use. +No need to speak of reward, for it is indeed enough to have seen +the boy home safely." + +"Why, then," said my father, "I cannot have a stranger pass my hall +at this time in the evening, when it is too late to reach the town +in safety. Here you must at least lodge for the night, or Eastdean +will be shamed. Your voice tells me that you are a stranger--but +maybe you have your men waiting for you at hand? There will be room +for them also." + +For there was that in the tones of the voice of this man which told +my father that here he had no common wanderer. + +"I am alone," my friend said. "But your men seek the little one +even yet in the forest. Will you not call them in?" + +My father looked at the man for a moment, and smiled. + +"Ay, I forgot in my joy. They are well-nigh as anxious as I have +been." + +Then he took down the great horn that hung by the door, and wound +the homing call that brings all within its hearing back to the +hall, and its hoarse echoes went across the silent woods until it +was answered by the other horns that passed on the message until +the last sounds came but faintly to us. I heard men cheering also, +for they knew by the token that all was well. My father had me in +his arms all this time, standing in the door. + +"There would have been sorrow enough had he been lost indeed," my +father said. "He is the last of the old line, and the fathers of +those men whom you hear have followed his fathers since the days of +Ella. Come in, and they will thank you also. Where did you find +him?" + +Then as he turned and went into the hall the light flashed red on +my jerkin suddenly, and he cried, "Here is blood on his +clothing!--Is he hurt?" + +"No," I said stoutly; "maybe it is the blood of the stoat I slew, +or else it has come off the shepherd's sleeves. He hewed off the +wolf's head and hung it on the tree." + +Then my father understood what my peril had been--even that which +he and all the village had feared for me, and his face paled, and +he held out his hand to the man, drawing in his breath sharply. + +"Woden!" he cried, "what is this, friend? Are you hurt, yourself? +For the wolf must be slain ere his head can be hefted, as we say." + +"No hurt to any but the wolf," the man said, smiling a little. "We +did but meet with one who called the pack on us. So I even hung his +head on a tree, that the pack when it came might stay to leap at +it. They were all we had to fear, and maybe that saved us." + +"I marvel that you are not even now in the tree, yourself--with the +boy." + +"Nay, but the frost is cruel, and he would have been sorely feared +with the leaping and howls of the beasts. There were always trees +at hand as we fled, if needs were to take to them. It was in my +mind that it were best to try to get him home, or near it." + +Then said my father, gripping the hand that met his: "There is more +that I would say, but I cannot set thoughts into words well. Only, +I know that I have a man before me. Tell me your name, that neither +I nor the boy may ever forget it." + +"Here, in the Saxon lands, men call me Owen the Briton," he +answered simply. + +"I thought your voice had somewhat of the Welsh tone," my father +said. "And your English is of Mercia. I have heard that there are +Britons in the fenland there." + +"I am of West Wales, Thane, but I have bided long in Mercia." + +Then came my old nurse, and there were words enough for the time. +Her eyes were red with weeping, but it was all that my father could +do to prevent her scolding me soundly then and there for the fright +I had given her. But she set a great bowl of bread and milk before +me, and the men began to come in at that time, and they stood in a +ring round me and watched me eat it as if they had never seen me +before, while my father spoke aside of the flight to Owen on the +high place. But concerning his own story my father asked the +stranger no more until he chose to open the matter himself. + +After supper there was all the tale to be told, and when that was +done the Welshman slept before the hall fire with the house-carles, +but my father had me with him in the closed chamber beyond the high +seat, for it seemed that he would not let me go beyond his sight +again yet. + +Now, that is how Owen came to me at first, and the first thing +therefore that I owe to him is nothing less than life itself. And +from that time we have been, as I have said, together in all +things. + +On the next morning my father made his guest take him back over the +ground we had crossed together, for no fresh snow had fallen, and +the footprints were plain to be followed almost from the gate of +the hall stockade. So they came at last to the tree, and on it the +head hung yet, but the body was clean gone. All round the tree the +snow was reddened and trampled by the fierce beasts who leapt to +reach the head, and the marks of their clawing was on the trunk, +where they had tried to climb it. From the footmarks it seemed that +there were eight or nine of them. Three great ones had left the +head and followed us presently as far as the brook, half a mile +away. + +After that the two men went on to the place where Owen had found +me, and there my father, judging from the dress and loneliness of +the Briton that he might be able to help him somewhat, said: + +"I do not know what your plans may be, but is there any reason why +you should not bide here and help me tend the life you have kept +for me?" + +Then answered Owen: "You know nought of me, Thane. For all you ken, +I may be but an outlaw who is fleeing from justice." + +"Do I know nought about you? I think that last night and what I +have seen today have told me much, and I have been held as a good +judge of a man. If so be that you were an outlaw, which I do not +think, what you have done is enough to inlaw you again with any +honest man--even had you taken a life, for you have saved one. Did +I know you were an outlaw I would see to your pardon. But maybe you +are on a journey that may not be hindered?" + +Now Owen was silent for a little, and there came a shadow over his +face as he answered, slowly and with his eyes on the far sea: + +"No man's man am I, and I am but drifting Westward again at random. +Yet I can say in all truth, that I am no wanderer for ill reason in +any wise. I will tell you, Thane, here and alone, that there are +foes in my home for whose passing, in one way or another, I must +needs wait. Even now I was on my way to Bosham, where they tell me +are Western monks with whom I might bide for a time, if not +altogether. I was lost in the forest last night." + +Now my father saw that some heavy sorrow of no common sort lay +beneath the quiet words of the man before him, and he forbore to +ask him more. Also, he deemed that in the Welsh land he would +surely rank as a thane, for his ways and words bespoke more than +his dress would tell. Therefore he said: + +"Wait here with us for a while at least. There will be no more +welcome guest." + +"Let me be of some use, rather," Owen answered. "If I bide with +you, Thane, and I thank you for the offer, let it be as I have +bided elsewhere from time to time--as one of the household, not as +an idle guest, if it were but to help the woodmen in the forest." + +"Why, that will be well. I need a forester, and it is plain that +you are a master of woodcraft. Let it be so. Yet I must tell you +one thing fairly, and that is, that I am what you would call a +heathen. I know that you are a good Christian man, for I saw you +sign your holy sign before you ate last night and this morning. Yet +I do not hate Christians." + +"I had heard that all Sussex was turned to the faith," Owen said. + +"If one says that all the men have gone to market, one knows that +here and there one is excepted for good reason. It is not for a +thane of the line of Woden to give up the faith of his fathers +idly. I do not know what may be in the days to come, but here in +the Andredsweald some dozen of us will not leave the old gods. It +was the bidding of Ethelwalch the king that we should do so, but +that is not a matter wherein a king may meddle, as it seems to us." + +"I do not know why I should not bide with you, Thane, if so be that +there is no hindrance to my faith." + +"That there will be none. Why, the most of my folk are Christian +enough. And if a man of the Britons did not honour his old faith it +would be as strange as if I honoured not that of my fathers. I have +no quarrel with the faith of any man, either king or thrall." + +"Then I will be your forester, Thane, for such time as I may, and I +thank you." + +"Nay, but the thanks are all on my side," answered my father. "Now +I shall know that the boy will have one with whom he may live all +day in the woods if he will, and I shall be content." + +So Owen bided with us, half as honoured guest and half as forester, +and as time went on he was well loved by all who knew him, for he +was ever the same to each man about the place. As for me, it was +the best day that could have dawned when he found me in the woods +as a lost child. And that my father said also. + + + +CHAPTER II. HOW ALDRED THE THANE KEPT HIS FAITH, AND OWEN FLED WITH OSWALD. + + +Our Sussex was the last land in all England that was heathen. I +suppose that the last heathen thanes in Sussex were those whose +manors lay in the Andredsweald, as did ours. Most of these thanes +had held aloof from the faith because at the first coming of good +Bishop Wilfrith, some twelve years ago, those who had hearkened to +him were mostly thralls and freemen of the lower ranks, and they +would not follow their lead. Yet of these there were some, like my +father, who had no hatred, to say the least, of the Christian and +his creed, and did but need the words of one who could speak +rightly to them to turn altogether from the Asir. + +Maybe the only man who was at this time really fierce against the +faith was Erpwald, the thane of Wisborough, some half-score miles +from us northwards across the forest. He had been the priest of +Woden in the old days, and indeed held himself so even now, though +secretly, for fear of Ina the Wessex king, who ruled our land well +and strongly. This Erpwald was no very good neighbour of ours, as +it happened, for he and my father had some old feud concerning +forest rights and the like which he had taken to heart more than +there was any occasion for, seeing that it was but such a matter as +most thanes have, unless they are unusually lucky, in a place where +boundaries are none. It is likely enough that but for the easy ways +of my father, who gave in to him so far as he could, this feud +would have been of trouble some time ago, for as the power of +Erpwald, as priest, waned he seemed to look more for power in other +ways. Yet in the end both the matter of the faith and the matter of +the feud seemed to work together in some way that brought trouble +enough on our house, which must be told; for it set Owen and me out +into the world together for a time, and because of it there befell +many happenings thereafter which have not all been sad in their +ending. + +Owen had been with us for a year and a half when what I am going to +tell came to pass, and in that time my father had come to look on +him rather as a brother than as a guest, and the thought that he +might leave him at any time was one which he did not like to keep +in his mind. + +That being so, it was not at all surprising that in this summer my +father had at last borne witness that he wished to become a +Christian altogether, and so it had come to pass that he and Owen +and I used to ride to Bosham, the little seacoast village beyond +Chichester town, to speak with Dicul, the good old Irish priest, +who yet bided there rather than in the new monastery which Wilfrith +built at Selsea, until we were taught all that was needful, and the +time came when we should be baptized. + +That my father would have done here at Eastdean, that all his +people, who were Christians before him, should see and rejoice. Yet +it was not an easy matter for him as it had been for them, for now +he would stand alone among his fellows, the heathen thanes; and +most of all Erpwald the priest would be wroth with him for leaving +that which he had held so long. He must meet these men often +enough, and he knew that they would have biting words to hurl at +him, but that thought did not stay him for a moment. It was more +than likely that one or two more would follow him when once the old +circle was broken. + +So on a certain day Dicul rode over from Bosham on his mule, and +early on the next morning he set up a little wooden cross by the +spring above the hall, and there my father and I and Stuf, the head +man of the house-carles, who had bided in the old faith for love of +my father, were baptized, Owen and one of the village freemen +standing sponsors for us, and that was a wondrous day to us all, as +I think. For when all was done my father gave their freedom to all +our thralls, for the sake of the freedom that had been given him, +and he promised that here, where he and they had been freed, a +church should be built of good forest oak, after the woodcutting of +the winter to come. + +Then Dicul went his way homewards, with one of our men to lead his +mule and carry some few presents for his people to Bosham, and +after he was gone we had a quiet feasting in our hall until the +light was gone. And even as our feasting ended there came in a +swineherd from the forest with word that from the northward there +came a strong band of armed men through the forest, and he held it +right that my father should be warned thereof, for he feared they +were some banded outlaws, seeing that there was peace in the land. +That was no unlikely thing at all, for our forests shelter many, +and game being plentiful they live there well enough, if not +altogether at ease. As a rule they gave little trouble to us, and +at times in the winter we would even have men who were said to be +outlaws from far off working in the woods for us. + +Yet now and then some leader would rise among them and gather them +into bands which waxed bold to harry cattle and even houses, so +that there might be truth in what the swineherd told. Nevertheless +my father thought of little danger but to the herds, and so had +them driven into the sheds from the home fields, and set the men +their watches as he had more than once done before in like alarms. + +Presently I was awakened, for I had gone to rest before the message +came, by the hoarse call of a horn and the savage barking of the +dogs. I heard the hall doors shut and open once or twice as men +passed in and out, and in the hall was the rattle of weapons as the +men took them from their places on the walls, but I heard no voices +raised more than usual. Then I got out of my bed and tried to open +the sliding doors that would let me out on the high place from my +father's chamber, where I always slept now, but I could not move +them. So I went back to my place and listened. + +What was happening I must tell, therefore, as Owen has told me, for +I saw nothing to speak of. + +As the horn was blown, one of the men who had been on guard came +into the hall hastily and spoke to my father. + +"The house is beset, Lord. Stuf blew the horn and bade me tell you. +There are men all round the stockade." + +"Outlaws?" + +The man shook his head. + +"We think not, Lord. But it is dark, and we cannot fairly see them. +We heard them call one 'Thane.' Nor are there any outland voices +among them, as there would be were they outlaws." + +Then my father armed himself in haste and went out. The night was +very dark, and it was raining a little. Stuf had shut the stockade +gates, which were strong enough, and had reared a ladder against +the timbers that he might look over. + +Close to the ladder stood Owen, armed also, for he had been out to +see that all was quiet and that the men were on guard. + +"There are men everywhere," he said. "I would we had some light." + +"Heave a torch on the straw stack," my father answered; "there will +be enough then." + +The stack was outside the stockade, and some twenty yards from its +corner. One of the men ran to the hall and brought a torch from its +socket on the wall, and handed it to Stuf, who threw it fairly on +the stack top, from the ladder. It blazed up fiercely as it went +through the air, and from the men who beset us there rose a howl as +they saw it. Several ran and tried to reach it with their spears, +but they were not in time. The first damp straws of the thatch +hissed for a moment, dried, and burst into flame, and then nought +could stop the burning. The red flames gathered brightness every +moment, lighting up two sides of the stockading, in the midst of +which the hall stood. Then an arrow clicked on Stuf's helm, and he +came down into shelter. + +"This is a strange affair, Master," he said. "I have seen three men +whom I know well among them." + +"Who are they?" + +"Wisborough men--freemen of Erpwald's." + +My father and Owen looked at one another. Words my father knew he +should have to put up with, after today, from Erpwald, but this +seemed token of more than words only. + +Then came the blast of a horn from outside, and a strange voice +shouted that the thane must come and speak with those who called +him. So my father went to the gate and answered from within it: + +"Here am I. What is all the trouble?" + +"Open the gate, and you shall know." + +"Not so, Thane," cried one of our men, who was peering through the +timbers of the stockade. "Now that I can see, I have counted full +fifty men, and they are waiting as if to rush in." + +Then said my father: + +"Maybe we will open the gate when we are sure you are friends. One +may be forgiven for doubting that when you come thus at midnight to +a peaceful house." + +"We are friends or not, as you choose, Aldred," the voice answered. +"I am Erpwald, Woden's priest, and I am here to stay wrong to the +Asir of which I have heard." + +"I will not pretend not to know what you mean, Erpwald," answered +my father. "But this, as it seems to me, is a matter that concerns +me most of all." + +"If it concerns not Woden's priest, whom shall it concern?" +answered Erpwald. "It is true, then, that you have left the Asir to +follow the way of the thralls, led aside by that Welshman you have +with you?" + +"It is true enough that I am a Christian," said my father steadily. +"As for leaving the Asir, that is not to be said of one whose line +goes back to Woden, his forefather. But I cannot worship him any +longer. Forefather of mine he may be, but not a god." + +"Ho! that is all I needed to hear. Now, I will not mince matters +with you, Aldred. Either you give up this foolishness, or I am here +to make you do so." + +Now, my father looked round at the men and saw that all the +house-carles and one or two from the village were in the courtyard, +fifteen of them altogether, besides himself and Owen. They were all +Christian men, and they stood in a sort of line behind him across +the closed gate with their faces set, listening. + +"Don't suppose that there is any help coming to you from the +village," said the hard voice from outside. "There is a guard over +every house." + +"Erpwald," said my father, "it is a new thing that any man should +be forced to quit his faith here in Sussex. Nor is it the way of a +thane to fall on a house at night in outlaw fashion. Ina the king +will have somewhat to say of this." + +"If there is one left to tell him, that is," came back the reply. +"There will not be shortly, unless I have your word that tomorrow +you come to me at Wisborough and make such atonement to the Asir as +you may, quitting your new craze." + +Then said Stuf, the leader of the house-carles, growling: + +"That is out of the question, and he knows it. He means to fall on +us, else had he spoken to you elsewhere first, Thane. It seems to +me that here we shall die." + +He looked round on his fellows, and they nodded, and one set his +helm more firmly on his head, and another tightened his belt, and +one or two signed the cross on their broad chests, but not one +paled, though they knew there was small hope for them if Erpwald +chose to storm the house. The court was light as day with the +flames of the stack by this time. + +"What think you of this, Owen," my father said. + +"That it is likely that we must seal our faith with our blood, +brother," he answered. "Yet I think that there is more in this than +heathenism, in some way." + +"There is an old feud of no account," said my father, "but I would +not think hardly of Erpwald. After all, he was Woden's priest, and +is wroth, as I myself might have been. It is good to die thus, and +but for the boy I would be glad." + +"I do not think that he will be harmed," said Owen, "even if the +worst comes to the worst." + +"Well, if I fall, try to get him hence. After that maybe Erpwald +will be satisfied. I set him in your charge, brother, for once you +have saved him already. Fail me not." + +Owen held out his hand and took his. + +"I will not fail you," he said--"if I live after you." + +Now from outside the voices began to be impatient, and Erpwald had +been crying to my father to be speedy, unheeded. But in the midst +of the growing shouts of the heathen my father turned to the men +and asked them if they were content to die with him for the faith. +And with one accord they said that they would. + +Then with a thundering crash a great timber beam was hurled against +the gate, shaking its very posts with the force of the six men who +wielded it at a run, and in the silence that fell as they drew back +Erpwald cried: + +"For the last time, Aldred, will you yield?" + +But he had no answer, and after a short space the timber crashed +against the gate again and again. And across it waited our few, +silent and ready for its falling. + +I heard all this in the closed chamber, and the red light of the +fire shone across the slit whence the light and fresh air came into +it, but it was too high for me to look out of. I got up and dressed +myself then, for no reason but that I must be doing something. I +waxed excited with the noise and flickering light, and no one came +near me. My old nurse was the only woman in the house, for the +married house-carles lived in the village, and I daresay she slept +through it all in her own loft. There was no thunderstorm that +could ever wake her. + +At this time my father sent a few of the men to the back of the +house, that they might try at least to keep off the foe from +climbing the stockade and so falling on them in the rear. But the +timbers were high, and the ditch outside them full of water, and as +it happened there was no attack thence. + +Erpwald watched the back indeed, but all his force was bent on the +gate. + +It was not long before that fell, crashing inwards, and across it +strode the heathen priest into the gap. He was fully armed, and +wore the great golden ring of the temple--all that was left him of +his old surroundings since Ethelwalch the king, who sent Wilfrith +to us, had destroyed the building that stood with the image of +Woden in it hard by his house. Men used to take oath on that ring, +as do we on the Book of the Gospels, and they held it holier than +the oaken image of the god itself. I do not think that any man had +seen it since that time until this night. + +Now Erpwald stood for a moment in the gate, with his men hard +behind him, expecting a rush at him, as it would seem. But our folk +stood firm in the line across the courtyard, shoulder to shoulder, +with my father and Owen before them. So they looked at one another. + +Then Erpwald slipped the golden ring from his arm and held it up. +There may have been some thought in his mind that my father was +hesitating yet. + +"By the holy ring I adjure you, Aldred, for the last time, to +return to the Asir," he said loudly. + +My father shook his head only, but Stuf the house-carle, who had +stood beside him at the font this morning, had another answer which +was strange enough. + +"This for the ring!" he said. + +And with that he hurled a throwing spear at it as it shone in the +firelight, with a true aim. The spear went through the ring itself +without harming the hand of the holder, and coming a little +slantwise, twitched it away from him and stuck in the timber of the +stockade whence the gatepost had been riven. The ring hung spinning +on the shaft safely enough, but to Erpwald it seemed that his +treasure had gone altogether, and he yelled with rage and sprang +forward. After him came his men, and in a moment the two parties +were hand to hand. + +Then was fighting such as the gleemen sing of, with the light of +the red fire waxing and waning across the courtyard the while. The +strange lights and shadows it cast were to the advantage of our men +for a little while, but the numbers were too great against them for +that to be of much avail. Soon they who had not fallen were borne +back to the hall door, and there stood again, but my father was not +with them. + +He fell at the first, as Owen tells me. Another has told me that +Owen stood across his body and would have fallen with him, but that +Stuf drew him away, calling on him to mind his promise concerning +me, and so he went back, still fighting, until he stood in the door +of the hall. + +There Erpwald and his men stayed their hands, like a ring of dogs +that bay a boar. There was a little porch, so that they could not +get at him sideways, and needs must that they fell on him one at a +time. It seemed that not one cared to be the first to go near the +terrible Briton as he stood, in the plain arms and with the heavy +sword my father had given him, waiting for them. Well do I know +what he was like at that time, and I do not blame them. There is no +man better able to wield weapons than he, and they had learnt it. + +Then the light of the straw stack went out suddenly, as a stack +fire will, and the darkness seemed great. Yet from the well-lit +hall a path of light came past Owen and fell on his foes, so that +he could well see any man who was bold enough to come, and they +held back the more. + +There were but six men of ours in the house behind Owen. + +Then came Erpwald, leaning, sorely wounded, on one of his men, and +Owen spoke to him. + +"You have wrought enough harm, Erpwald, for this once. Let the rest +of the household go in peace." + +"Harm?" groaned the heathen. "Whose fault is it? How could I think +that the fool would have resisted?" + +"As there are fifty men in the yard at this moment, it seems that +you were sure of it," answered Owen in a still voice. "If you knew +it not before, now at least you know that a Christian thinks his +faith worth dying for." + +Now, whether it was his wound, or whether he saw that he had gone +too far, Erpwald bethought himself, and seemed minded to make +terms. + +"I wish to slay no more," he said. "Yield yourselves quietly, and +no harm shall come to you." + +"Let them not go, Thane," said one of his men, "else will they be +off to Ina, and there will be trouble. You mind what you promised +us." + +Now, Owen heard this, and the words told him that he was right in +thinking that there was more than heathenry in the affair. It +seemed to him that the first thing was to save me, and that if he +could do that in any way nought else mattered much. It was plain +that no man was to be left to bring Ina on the priest for his ill +deeds. + +"If that is all the trouble now," he said, therefore, "as we are in +your power you can make us promise what you like. Give us terms at +least; if not, come and end us and the matter at once." + +One of the men flew at him on that, and bided where he fell, across +the doorway of the porch; none stirred to follow him. + +"Swear that you will not go to Ina for a month's time with any +tales, and you and all shall go free," Erpwald said. + +The man who had spoken before put in at once: + +"What of the blood feud, Erpwald?--There is Aldred's son yet." + +At that the priest lost temper with his follower, and turned on him +savagely: + +"Is it for men to war with children? What care I for a blood feud? +Can I not fend for myself? Hold your peace." + +Then he said to Owen: + +"They say that you are the child's foster-father now. If I give him +to you, will you swear that you or he shall cross my path no more? +You need not trouble to go to Ina, for he will not hearken to a +Briton in any case." + +Owen reddened under the last, but for my sake he did not answer, +save to the first part of the saying. + +"I will swear to take the child hence and let this matter be for us +as if it had not been," he said, seeing that it was the best he +could win for me. + +What other thoughts were in his mind will be seen hereafter, but I +will say now that it was not all so hopeless as it seemed to +Erpwald. + +"What of the other men," asked one or two of Erpwald's following. + +"They shall bide here, where we can keep an eye on them," the +priest answered. "They will not hurt us, nor we them, save only if +they try to make trouble." + +Then some of our house-caries said in a low tone to Owen: "Better +to die with the master. Let us out and fall on them." + +But he said: "This is for the boy's sake. Let me be, my brothers; I +have the thane's word to carry out." + +Then they knew that he was right, but they bade him make Erpwald +swear to keep faith with them all. + +So he spoke again with the priest, asking for honest pledges in +return for his own oath. Whereon from across the courtyard, where a +few wounded men lay--a voice weak with pain cried, with a strange +laugh: + +"Get him the holy ring, that he may be well bound. It hangs yonder +where I put it, in the gateside timbers." + +Erpwald glowered into the darkness, but he could see nothing of the +man who had spoken. But one of his men had seen the spear cast, and +knew what was meant, though the fight had set it out of his mind. +So he ran, and found the shaft easily in the darkness, and took the +ring from it, bringing it back to Erpwald. + +"It is luck," he said. "Spear and ring alike have marked the place +for Woden." + +"Hold your peace, fool," snarled Erpwald, with a sharp look at +Owen. + +And at that Stuf laughed again, unheeded. + +Then Owen swore as he had promised, on the cross hilt of his sword, +and Erpwald swore faith on the ring, and so the swords were +sheathed at last; and when they had disarmed all our men but Owen, +Erpwald's men took torches from the hall and went to tend the +wounded, who lay scattered everywhere inside the gate, and most +thickly where my father fell. + +Owen went to that place, with a little hope yet that his friend +might live, but it was not so. Therefore he knelt beside him for a +little while, none hindering him, and so bade him farewell. Then he +went to Stuf, who was sorely hurt, but not in such wise that he +might not recover. + +"What will you do with the child?" the man asked. + +"Have no fear for him. I shall take him westward, where my own +people are. He shall be my son, and I think that all will be well +with him hereafter." + +"I wit that you are not what you have seemed, Master," Stuf said. +"It will be well if you say so." + +Then Owen bade him farewell also, and went to find me and get me +hence before the ale and mead of the house was broached by the +spoilers. And, as I have said, I was already dressed, and I ran to +his arms and asked what all the trouble was, and where my father +had gone, and the like. I think that last question was the hardest +that Owen ever had put to him, and he did not try to answer it +then. He told me that he and I must go to Chichester at once, at my +father's bidding; and I, being used to obey without question, was +pleased with the thought of the unaccustomed night journey. And +then Owen bethought him, and left me for a moment, going to the +chest where my father had his store of money. It was mine now, and +he took it for me. + +It seemed strange to him that there was no ransacking of the house, +as one might have expected. Had the foe fired it he would not have +been surprised at all, but all was quiet in the hall, and the +voices of the men came mostly from the storehouses, whence he could +hear them rolling the casks into the courtyard; so he told me to +bide quietly here in the chamber for a few minutes, and went out on +the high place swiftly, closing the door after him, that I might +see nothing in the hall. + +There he found Erpwald himself close at hand, sitting in my +father's own chair while the wound that Owen himself had given him +was being dressed. At the side of the great room sat the rest of +our men, downcast and wondering, and half a dozen of the foe stood +on guard at the door. It was plain that nought in the house was to +be meddled with. + +Erpwald turned as he heard the sliding door open. + +"Get you gone as soon as you may," he said sullenly. + +"There is one thing that I must ask you, Erpwald," Owen said. "It +is what one may ask of one brave man concerning another. Let +Aldred's people bury him in all honour, as they will." + +"There you ask too much, Welshman. But I will bury him myself in +all honour in the way that I think best. He shall have the burial +of a son of Woden for all his foolishness." + +At least, there would be no dishonour to his friend in that, and +Owen thought it best to say no more, but he had one more boon, as +it were, to ask. + +"Let me take a horse from the stable for the child," he said. "We +may have far to go." + +He thought that he would have been met with rage at this, but it +was worth asking. However, Erpwald answered somewhat wearily, and +not looking at him: + +"Take them all, if you will. I am no common reiver, and they are +not mine. The farther you go the better. But let me tell you, that +it will be safer for you not to make for Winchester and the king. I +shall have you watched." + +"A plain warning not to be disregarded," answered Owen. "We shall +not need it." + +Erpwald said no more, and Owen came back to me, closing the door +after him again. There was another door, seldom used, from this +chamber to the back of the house where the servants had their +quarters, and through that he took me, wrapped in such warm furs as +he could find. Then he went to the stables, and in the dark, for he +would not attract the notice of Erpwald's men, who were round the +ale in the courtyard, he saddled my forest pony, and another good +horse which he was wont to ride with my father at times. He did not +take the thane's own horse, as it would be known, and he would risk +no questions as to how he came by it. + +Then we rode away by the back gate, and when the darkness closed on +us as we passed along the well-known road towards Chichester the +voices of the foe who revelled in our courtyard came loudly to us. +And I did but think it part of the rejoicing of that day as I +listened. + +Through the warm summer rain we came before daylight had fully +broken to Bosham, not passing through Chichester, for the gates +would be closed. And just before the sun rose, Dicul the priest +came from his house to the little church and saw us sitting in the +porch, waiting him, while the horses cropped the grass on the +little green outside the churchyard, hobbled in forest fashion. + +He bade us back to his house, and there I fell asleep straightway, +with the tiredness that comes suddenly to a child. And Owen and he +talked, and I know that he told him all that had happened and what +his own plans for me were, under the seal of secrecy. And then he +begged the good priest to tell me of my loss. + +So it came to pass that presently Dicul took me on his knee and +told me wonderful stories of the martyrs of old time, and of his +own land in times that are not so far off; and when it seemed to me +that indeed there is nought more wonderful and blessed than to give +life for the faith, he told me how my father had fallen at the +hands of heathen men, and was indeed a martyr himself. I do not +know that he could have done it more wisely or sweetly, for half +the sting was lost in the wonder of it all. + +But he did not tell me who it was had slain my father, and that I +did not know for many a long day. + +After that we ate with him, and he gave us some little store for a +journey, and so Owen and I rode on again, westward, homeless +indeed, but in no evil case. + +Now, as one may suppose, Owen's first thought was to get me beyond +the reach of Erpwald, whose mood might change again, from that in +which he let us go with what we would, to that in which he came on +us. So all that day we went on steadily, sleeping the night in a +little wayside inn, and pushing on again in the early morning, +until Owen deemed it safe for us to draw rein somewhat, and for my +sake to travel slowly. + +At this time he had no clear plan in his head for the ending of our +journey, nor was there need to make one at once. We had store of +money to last us for many a long day, what with my father's and +that which Owen had of his own, and we were well mounted, and what +few things we needed to seem but travellers indeed Owen bought in +some little town we passed through on the third day. After that we +went easily, seeing things that had nought in them but wonder and +delight for me. + +Then at last we came in sight of the ancient town of Sarum on its +hill, and there we drew up on the wayside grass to let a little +train of churchmen pass us, and though I did not know it, that +little halt ended our wandering. In the midst of the train rode a +quiet looking priest, who sang softly to himself as his mule ambled +easily along, and he turned to give us his blessing as Owen +unhelmed when he passed abreast of us. Then his hand stayed as he +raised it, and I saw his face lighten suddenly, and he pulled up +the mule in haste, crying to Owen by name, and in the Welsh tongue. +And I saw the face of my foster-father flush red, and he leapt from +his horse and went to the side of the priest, setting his finger on +his lip for a moment as he did so. + +Then the priest signed that his people should go on, and at once +they left him with us, and Owen bade me do reverence to Aldhelm, +the abbot of Malmesbury, before whom we stood. And after that they +talked long in Welsh, and that I could not follow, though indeed I +knew a fair smattering of it by this time, seeing that Owen would +have me learn from him, and we had used it a good deal in these few +days as we rode. + +It seemed to me that Aldhelm was overjoyed to see Owen, and I know +now that those two were old friends of the closest at one time, +when they met in Owen's own land. + +So from that meeting it came to pass that we found a home with the +good abbot at Malmesbury for a time, and there I learned much, as +one may suppose, while Owen trained me in arms, and the monks +taught me book learning, which I liked not at all, and only +suffered for love of Owen, who wished me to know all I might. + +Then one day, after two years in quiet here, came Ina the king with +all his court to see the place and the new buildings that were +rising under the hand of Aldhelm and Owen, who had skill in such +matters, and then again was a change for us. It seems that +Ethelburga the queen took a fancy to me, and asked that I might be +with her as a page in the court, and that was so good a place for +the son of any thane in the land that Owen could not refuse, though +at first it seemed that we must be parted for a time. + +But it was needful that the king should hear my story, that he +might have some surety as to who I was, and if I were worthy by +birth to be of his household, and Owen hardly knew how to tell him +without breaking his oath to Erpwald. Yet it was true that the +heathen thane had scoffed at him, rather than forbidden him to seek +Ina, though indeed it was plain that he meant to bind us from +making trouble for him in any way. But at last Owen said that if +the king would forbear to take revenge for a wrong done to me, he +might speak, and so after promise given he told all. + +Very black grew the handsome face of the king as he heard. + +"Am I often deceived thus?" he said. "I will even send some to ask +of all the ins and outs of such another case hereafter. This +Erpwald sent to me to say that Aldred and all his house had been +slain by outlaws, and that he himself had driven them off and I +believed him. After that I made over the Eastdean lands to him, and +I take it that they were what he wanted. Well, he has not lived +long to enjoy them, for he died not long ago, and now his brother +holds the lands after him, and I know that he at least is a worthy +man. + +"Let it be. The child is my ward now, as an orphan, and I should +have had to set his estate in the hands of some one to hold till he +can take them. There will be no loss to him in the end." + +Then he smiled and looked Owen in the face. + +"I know you well, Owen, though it is plain that you would not have +it so. Mind you the day when I met Gerent at the Parrett bridge? I +do not often forget a face, and I saw you then, and asked who you +were. Now there is good and, as I hope, lasting peace between our +lands, thanks to the wisdom of our good Aldhelm here, and I will +ask you somewhat, for I know that you also wrought for that peace +while you might. Come to me, and be of the nobles who guard me and +mine, and so wait in honour until the time comes when you may +return to your place. Then you will be with the boy also." + +So it came to pass that we took leave of that good friend the +abbot, and went from Malmesbury in the train of Ina of Wessex. +Thereafter for six years I served Ethelburga the queen, being +trained in all wise as her own child, and after that I was one of +the athelings of the court in one post or another, but always with +the king when there was war on the long frontier of the Wessex +land. + + + +CHAPTER III. HOW KING INA'S FEAST WAS MARRED, AND OF A VOW TAKEN BY OSWALD. + + +At this time, when I take up my story again, I was two and twenty, +not very tall indeed, but square in the shoulder, and well able to +hold my own, at the least, with the athelings who were my comrades, +at the weapon play or any of our sports. It would have been my own +fault if I were not so, for there was no better warrior in all +Ina's following than Owen, and he taught me all I knew. And that +knowledge I had tested on the field more than once, for Ina had no +less trouble with his neighbours than any other king in England, +whether in matters of raiding to be stopped or tribute to be +enforced. Since I was too old to serve the queen as page any longer +I had been of his bodyguard, and where he went was not always the +safest place on a field for us who shielded him. + +A court is always changing, as men come and go again to their own +places after some little service there, but Owen and I were of +those to whom the court was home altogether. Owen was the king's +marshal now, and I was in command of the house-carles, and had been +so for a year or more. It was no very heavy post, nor responsible +after all, for Ina's guard was the love of his people, and beyond +these warriors from the freemen who served as palace guard and +watch, were the athelings of the household, from whose number I had +been chosen for this post by right of longest service more than for +any other reason, as I think. I knew all the ins and outs of every +house where Ina went, and had nothing fresh to learn in the matter. +Still, if the men under me were few, the post had its own +privileges, and was always held to lead to somewhat higher, and I +was more than content therewith, for it kept me near Owen and the +king, whom I loved next to my foster father. + +I do not think that by this time any one knew, save the king, that +I was not Owen's own son. I was wont to call him father always, and +I cannot be blamed, for he was foster father and godfather to me, +and well did he take the father's place to the orphan whom he had +saved. And I had forgotten Eastdean, save as one keeps a memory of +the home where one was a child. I never thought of it as a place +that should have been mine, for neither the king nor Owen ever +spoke to me concerning it. Sometimes, in remembrances of my father, +I would wonder into whose hands the manors had passed, but rather +in hopes that some day those who owned them now would suffer me to +see that the grave where he lay was honoured, rather than as a +matter which at all concerned me in any closer way. + +For, since I was but a child, the court had been my home, with Owen +as my father, and Ina the king as the loved guardian for whom I +would gladly give my life in need. All my training and thoughts +were centred here, not as what one calls a courtier at all, but as +one of the household who feared the king and queen no more than +Owen himself, and yet reverenced all three as those to whom all +homage was due since he could remember. + +Thus things were with us at the end of the tenth year after we left +Aldhelm at Malmesbury, and now the court was at Glastonbury in fair +Somerset, keeping the Christmastide there in the place that is the +holiest in all England by reason of the coming thither of Joseph of +Arimathea, and the first preaching of the Gospel in our land by +him. It was not by any means the first time I had been in the +place, and here I had some good friends indeed; for Ina loved the +vale of Avalon well, and often came hither with a few of us, or +with the whole court, to the house which he had made that he might +watch the building of the wondrous church which he was raising over +the very spot where the little chapel of the saint had been in the +old days. + +Fair is the place indeed, for it lies deep among green hills, and +from the westward slope where the church stands, at their foot +stretch great meres to lesser hills toward the sunset beyond. Very +pleasant are the trees and flowers of the rich meadows of the +island valley, and the wind comes but gently here even at Yuletide, +hardly ruffling the clear waters that have given the place its +name, "Inys Vitryn," and "Avalon" men called the place before we +Saxons came, by reason of those still meres and the wondrous +orchards which fear no frost among the hills that shelter them. The +summer seems to linger here after it has fled from the uplands. + +There was a goodly company gathered in Ina's hall for the twelfth +night feasting. Truly, the hall was not so great as that in the +palace at Winchester, but it was all the brighter for that reason. +It was hard to get that great space well lighted and warmed at +times, when the wind blew cold under eaves and through narrow +windows; but here all was well lit and comfortable to look on and +to feel also, as one sat and feasted with the sweet sedges of the +mere banks deep under foot on the floor and the great fire in the +hall centre near enough to every one. I think that this hall in +Glastonbury was as pleasant as any that I know in all Wessex. + +There was a great door midway in the southern side of the hall, and +as one entered, to right and left along that wall ran the tables +for the house-carles and other men of the lower ranks, and for +strangers who might come in to share the king's hospitality and had +no right to a higher place. Then at either end of the hall were +cross tables, where the thanes and their ladies had their places in +due order, above the franklins whose cross tables were next to +those of the house-carles. And then, right over against the south +wall and across the fire on the hearth, was the longest table of +all, and in the midst of that was the high place for the king and +queen and a few others. That dais was the only place where the +guests did not sit on both sides of the tables, for the king's +board stood open to the midst of the hall on its three low steps +that he might see and be seen by all his guests, and be fitly +served from in front. + +On the hearth a great yule log burnt brightly, and all round the +wall were set torches in their sconces, so that the hall was very +bright. On the walls were the costly hangings that we took +everywhere with us, and above them shone the spare arms and helms +and shields of the house-carles, mixed with heads of boar and stag +and wolf from the Mendips and Quantocks where Ina hunted, each head +with its story. Up and down in the spaces between the tables +hurried the servants who tended the guests, so that the hall was +full of life and brightness from end to end. There was peace in all +Wessex at this time, and so here was a full gathering of guests to +the little town. + +Ina and Ethelburga the queen were on the high place, and to their +left was Herewald, the Somerset ealdorman, who lived in +Glastonbury, and was a good friend of mine, as will be seen, with +his fair daughter Elfrida, and on the right of the king was Nunna, +his cousin, and his wife. Owen was next to Herewald, at one end of +the high place, and at the other end was Sigebald, the Dorset +ealdorman, under whom I had fought not so long ago. There were many +others of high rank in the west to the right and left of these +again at the long tables. + +Indeed, there was but one whom I missed in all the gathering. My +old friend Aldhelm was gone. He died in the last year, after having +been Bishop of Sherborne for a little while. I missed him sorely, +as did every man who knew him. + +I do not think that if one searched all England through there could +have been found a more noble looking group than that at Ina's high +table. It is well known that our king and queen were beyond all +others for royalty of look and ways, and I will venture to say that +neither of the ealdormen had their equals, save in Nunna, anywhere. +But it is not my word only, for it was a common saying, that Owen +seemed most royal next to the king himself. Grave he always was, +but with a ready smile and pleasant, in the right place, and though +he was now about five-and-forty he had changed little to my eyes +from what he was twelve years ago, when he saved me from the +wolves. He was one of those men who age but slowly. + +One other on the high place I have not mentioned in this way. That +was Elfrida, the Somerset ealdorman's daughter, of whom it was said +that she was the fairest maiden in all Wessex. Certainly at this +time I for one would have agreed in that saying. She was two years +younger than I, if I dare say it, and it seemed to me that in the +last three years she had suddenly grown from the child that I used +to play with to a very stately lady, well fitted to take the place +of her mother, who used to be kind to me when I first came here as +the queen's somewhat mischievous page, and had but died a year or +so ago. I think that this feast was the first Elfrida and her +father had been present at since then, and at least, that was the +reason I heard given for her presence on the high place. + +Now I must say where my place was in the hall, for it may make more +plain what happened hereafter. The young nobles of the court who +had no relatives present sat at one of the cross tables at the +king's right hand, and at the head of these tables was my seat by +reason of my post as captain of the house-carles. So I sat with my +back to the long chief table, with its occupants just behind me, +and to my left was the open space in the centre of the hall, so +that if I was needed, or had to go out for the change of guard or +other house-carle business, all that I had to do, being at one end +of the bench, was to get up and go my way without disturbing any +one. At the same time I could see all the hall before me, and a +half turn of the head would set my eyes on the king himself. + +The door of the hall was closed when the king entered from his own +chambers and took his place, so that the cold, and the draughts, +which might eddy the smoke of fire and torches about the guests too +much, was kept out. But it was closed against weather only, for any +man might crave admittance to the king's ball at the great feast, +whether as wayfarer or messenger or suppliant, so that he had good +reason for asking hospitality. Several men had come in thus as the +feast went on, but none heeded the little bustle their coming made, +nor so much as turned to see where they were set at the lower +tables, except myself and perhaps Owen. There was merriment enough +in the hall, and room and plenty for all comers, even as Ina loved +to have it. + +Now there is no need to tell aught of that feast, until the meat +was done and the tables were cleared for the most pleasant part of +the evening, when the servants, whether men or women, sat down at +their tables also, and the harp went round, with the cups, and men +sang in turn or told tales, each as he was best able to amuse the +rest. There was a little bustle while this clearance went on, and +men changed their seats to be nearer friends and the like, for the +careful state of the beginning of the feast was over in some +degree; but at last all was ready, and the great door, which had +been open for a few minutes as the servants took out into the +courtyard the great cauldrons and spits, was closed, and then there +fell a silence, for we waited for a custom of the king's. + +Here at Ina's court we kept up the old custom of drinking the first +cup with all solemnity, and making some vows thereover. This cup +was, of course, to be drunk by the host, and after him by any whom +he would name, or would take a vow on him. In the old heathen days +this cup was called the "Bragi bowl," and the vows were made in the +names of the Asir, and mostly ended in fighting before the year was +over. We kept the old name yet, but now the vows were made in the +name of all the Saints, and if Ina or any other made one it was +sure to be of such sort that it would lead to some worthy deed +before long, wrought in all Christian wise. Maybe the last of the +old pattern of vow was made when Kentwine our king swore to clear +the Welsh from the Parrett River to the sea, and did it. + +So when the time came we sat waiting, each with his horn or cup +before him, brimming with ale or cider or mead, as he chose, and +men turned in their seats that they might see the pleasant little +ceremony at the high place the better. As for me, I just turned in +my bench end so that my feet were clear of the table, on which my +arm and cup rested, and faced right down the hall, with, of course, +no one at all between me and the steps of the high place. For now +all had taken their seats except one cup bearer, who waited at the +lowest step with the king's golden cup in one hand, and in the +other a silver flagon of good Welsh wine to fill it withal. One +would say that this was but a matter of chance, but as it happened +presently it was well that I moved. + +Now, in the hush was a little talk and laughter among those who +were nearest the king, and then I saw the queen smile and speak to +Elfrida, who blushed and looked well pleased, and then rose and +came daintily round the end of the king's board. There a thane who +sat at the table at the foot of the steps rose and handed her down +them to where the servant waited. Ina had asked her to hand him the +cup after the old fashion, she being the lady of the chief house in +Glastonbury next his own. There she took the cup from the man's +hand, and held it while he filled it heedfully. A little murmur +that was all of praise went round the hall, and her colour rose +again as she heard it, for it was not to be mistaken, and from the +lower tables the voices were outspoken enough in all honesty. + +Then she went up the steps holding the cup, and the king smiled on +her as she came, and so she stood on the dais before the table and +held out the wine, and begged the king to drink the "Bragi bowl" +from her hands in her father's town. + +The king bowed and smiled again, and rose up to take the cup from +this fair bearer, and at that moment there was a sort of scuffle, +unseemly enough, at the lower end of the hall near the door, and +gruff voices seemed to be hushed as Ina glanced up with the cup yet +untouched by his hand. + +Then a man leapt from the hands of some who tried to hold him back, +and he strode across the hall past the fire and to the very foot of +the high place--as rough and unkempt a figure as ever begged for +food at a king's table, unarmed, and a thrall to all seeming. And +as he came he cried: + +"Justice, Ina the king!--Justice!" + +At that I and my men, who had sprung to our feet to hinder him, sat +down again, for a suppliant none of us might hinder at any time. I +did not remember seeing this man come in, but that was the business +of the hall steward, unless there was trouble that needed the +house-carles. + +Ina frowned at this unmannerly coming at first, but his brow +cleared as he heard the cry of the man. He signed to Elfrida to +wait for a moment, and looked kindly at the thrall before him. + +"Justice, Lord," the man said again. + +"Justice you shall have, my poor churl," answered the king gently. +"But this is not quite the time to go into the matter. Sit you down +again, and presently you shall tell all to Owen the marshal, and +thus it will come to me, and you shall see me again in the +morning." + +"Nay, but I will have justice here and now," the man said doggedly, +and yet with some sort of appeal in his voice. + +"Is it so pressing? Well, then, speak on. Maybe the vow that I +shall make will be to see you righted." + +And so the king sat down again, and the lady Elfrida waited, +resting one hand on the table at the end of the dais farthest from +me, and holding the golden cup yet in the other. + +"What shall be done to the man who slays my brother?" the thrall +cried. + +And the king answered: + +"If he has slain him by craft, he shall die; but if in fair fight +and for what men deem reason, then he shall pay the full weregild +that is due according to my dooms." + +Then said the man, and his voice minded me of Owen's in some way: + +"But and if he slew him openly in cold blood, for no wrong done to +himself?" + +"A strange doing," said the king--"but he should die therefor." + +The king leant forward, with his elbow on the table to hear the +better, and the man was close to the lowest step to be near him. It +seemed that he was very wroth, for his right hand clutched the +front of his rough jerkin fiercely, and his voice was harsh and +shaking. + +"It is your own word, Ina of Wessex, that the man who has slain my +brother in this wise shall die. Lo, you! I am Morgan of +Dyvnaint--and thus--" + +There flashed from under the jerkin a long knife in the man's hand, +and at the king he leapt up the low steps. But two of us had seen +what was coming, and even as the brave maiden on his left dashed +the full cup of wine in the man's face, blinding him, I was on him, +so that the wine covered him and my tunic at once. I had him by the +neck, and he gripped the table, and his knife flashed back at me +wildly once, but I jerked him round and hurled him from the dais +with a mighty crash, and so followed him and held him pinioned, +while the cups and platters of the overturned table rolled and +clattered round us. + +Then rose uproar enough, and the hall was full of flashing swords. +I mind that I heard the leathern peace thongs of one snap as the +thane who tried to draw it tugged at the hilt, forgetting them. +Soon I was in the midst of a half ring of men as I held the man +close to the great fire on the hearth with his face downward and +his right arm doubled under him. He never stirred, and I thought he +waited for me to loose my hold on him. + +Then came the steady voice of Ina: + +"Let none go forth from the hall. To your seats, my friends, for +there can be no more danger; and let the house-carles see to the +man." + +Two of my men took charge of my captive, even as he lay, and I +stood up. Owen was close to me. + +"The man is dead," he said in a strange voice. + +"I doubt it," I answered, looking at him quickly, for the voice +startled me. Then I saw that my foster father's face was white and +drawn as with some trouble, and he was gazing in a still way at the +man whom the warriors yet held on the floor. + +"His foot has been in the fire since you hove him there, yet he has +not stirred," he said. + +Then I minded that I had indeed smelt the sharp smell of burning +leather, and had not heeded it. So I told the two men to draw the +thrall away and turn him over. As they did so we knew that he was +indeed dead, for the long knife was deep in his side, driven home +as he fell on it. And I saw that in the hilt of it was a wonderful +purple jewel set in gold. It was not the weapon of a thrall. + +That Ina saw also, and he came down from the high place, and stood +and looked in the face of this one who would have slain him, +fixedly for a minute. + +Then he said, speaking to Owen in a low voice: + +"Justice has been done, as it seems to me. Justice from a higher +hand than mine, moreover." + +Then he went back to his place, and standing there said in the dead +hush that was on us all: + +"It would seem that this man thought that he had somewhat against +me, indeed, but I do not know him, or who his brother may have +been. Nor have I slain any man save in open field of battle at any +time, as all men know, save and except that I may be said to have +done so by the arm of the law. Yet even so, our Wessex dooms are +not such as take life but for the most plain cause, and that seldom +as may be. Is there any one here who has knowledge of this man who +calls himself Morgan of Dyvnaint? It seems to me that I have heard +the name before." + +Now Owen had gone back to his place, and while one or two thanes +came forward and looked in the face of the man, whom they had not +yet seen plainly, he spoke to the king, and Ina seemed to wonder at +what he heard. + +Then Herewald the ealdorman said: + +"That is the name of one of the two Devon princes of the West +Welsh, cousins of Gerent the king. We have trouble with their men, +who raid our homesteads now and then." + +At that a big man with a yellow moustache and long curling hair +rose from among the franklins and said loudly, in a voice which was +neither like that of a Briton nor a Saxon at all: + +"Let me get a nearer look at him, and I will soon tell you if he is +what he claimed to be." + +And with no more ceremony he came to where I and the two +house-carles yet stood, and looked and laughed a little to himself +as he did so. + +"He is Morgan the prince, right enough," he said. "And I can tell +you all the trouble. Your sheriff hung his brother, Dewi, three +months since for cattle lifting and herdsman slaying on this side +Parrett River, somewhere by Puriton, where no Welshman should be. I +helped hunt the knaves at the time. The sheriff took him for a +common outlaw like his comrades, and it was in my mind that there +would be trouble. So I told the sheriff, and he said that if the +king himself got mixed up with outlaws and cattle thieves he must +even take his chance with the rest. And thereon I said--" + +"Thanks, friend," said Ina. "The rest shall be for tomorrow. Bide +here tonight, that you may tell all at the morning." + +The man made a courtly bow enough, and went back to his seat, and +then Ina bade Owen see to his lodgment, and after that the thralls +carried out the body. I went quietly and walked along the lower +tables, bidding my men see if more Welshmen were present, but +finding none, and then I found the hall steward wringing his hands, +with an ashy face, at the far end of the hall. + +"Master Oswald," he said, almost weeping, "how that man came in +here I do not know. I saw him not until he rose up. None seem to +have seen him enter, but men have so shifted their places that it +seemed not strange to any near him that they had not seen him +before." + +"Had you seen him you could not have turned him away," I said. "He +came as a suppliant, and the king's word is strict concerning such +at these times. Good Saxon enough he spoke, too, in the way of many +of our half Welsh border thralls. I do not think that you will be +blamed. Most likely he slipped in as the tables were cleared just +now. There was coming and going enough, and we have many strangers +here. + +"Who is the yellow-haired man?" + +"A chapman from the town. Some shipmaster whom the ealdorman +knows." + +Now, after I was back in my place and the bustle was ended, there +fell an uneasy silence, for men knew not if the feast was to go on. +Many of the ladies had gone, with the queen, and Elfrida was there +no longer. But Ina stood up with a fresh cup in his hand, and he +smiled and said, while the eyes of all were on him: + +"Friends, we have seen a strange thing, but you have also seen the +deeds of a brave maiden and a ready warrior to whom I am beholden +for my life, as is plain enough. Yet we will not let the wild ways +of our western neighbours mar the keeping of our holy tide. Maybe +there is more to be learnt of the matter, but if so that can rest. +Think now only of these two brave ones, I pray you, for I have yet +the Bragi bowl to drink, and it is not hard to say whom I should +pledge therein." + +Then he looked round for Elfrida, not having noticed that she had +gone with the queen. + +"Why," he said, "it was in my mind to pledge the lady first, but I +fear she has been fain to leave us. So I do not think that I can do +better than pledge both my helpers together, and then Oswald can +answer for the lady and himself at once." + +He rose and held the cup high, and I rose also, not quite sure if I +were myself or some one else, with all the hall looking at me. + +"Drinc hael to the lady Elfrida, bravest and fairest in all the +land of Somerset!" he cried. "Drinc hael, Oswald the king's +thane--thane by right of ready and brave service just rendered!" + +Then he drank with his eyes on me, and there went up a sort of +cheer at his words, for men love to see any service rewarded on the +spot if it may be so. Now I was at a loss what to say, and the lady +should have been here to bring the cup to me in all formality. +Maybe I should have stood there silent and somewhat foolish, but +that the ealdorman, her father, helped me out. + +"Come and do homage for the new rank, lad," he said in a low voice. + +He was at the lower table near me now, for the high table had been +broken and the king stood alone on the dais. + +So I went to the steps, and bent one knee at their top, and kissed +the hand of the king, and then held out the hilt of my sword, that +he might seem to take it and give it me again. But he bade me rise, +and so he took off his own sword, which was a wondrous one, and the +token of the submission of some chief on the Welsh border beyond +Avon, and he girt it on me with his own hands. + +"You nigh gave your life for me, my thane," he said. "That man's +knife was perilously near you." + +He touched my tunic with his hand, and I looked. Across it where my +heart beat was a long slit that I had not found out yet, where the +knife flew at me. That stroke must have been the man's bane, +because to reach me thus he had thrown his arm across his chest, +and so had fallen on his weapon. + +Then I was going, I think, though indeed I hardly know what I did +at that moment, but the king stayed me, laughing. + +"Do not think that I am going to let you off the cup, though. Now +you shall pledge me, and if you have any vow to make which is +fitting for a thane, make it and let us all hear it. But you have +also the lady to think of in your words." + +Then there was a little rustle at the door which was on the high +place, and the queen returned with some of her ladies, hearing that +all was seemly again, and she stood smiling at these last words. +But Elfrida was not with her, and I was glad, else I had been more +mazed yet. So I plucked up heart and took the cup from the hand of +the king, trying to collect my thoughts into some sort of fitting +words. + +"Drinc hael Cyning," I said, while my voice shook. "Here do I vow +before all the Saints and before this company--that I will do my +best to prove myself worthy of this honour that has been set on +me!" + +"Why, Oswald," said the queen, "that is no sort of vow such as you +should make, for we know that already, and you have proved it now +if never before. And you have forgotten Elfrida." + +Now, I thought to myself that the last thing that I was ever likely +to do was to forget that maiden, and with that a thought came into +my head, and as the queen was smiling at me, and every one was +waiting, I grew desperate, and must needs out with it. + +"Now, I cannot do better than this," I said, finding my courage all +of a sudden. "Here do I add to my vow that so long as my life shall +last I will not again forget the Lady Elfrida. Nor will I be +content until I am held worthy by her to--to guard her all the rest +of my days." + +With that I drained the cup, and while the thanes laughed and +cheered all round me, and Ina smiled as if well pleased enough, the +queen set her hand on my arm, smiling also, and said: + +"That was well said, my thane, but for one turn of the words. Why +did you not tell us plainly that you mean to win her? We all know +what you mean." + +Then I went to my place, and I glanced at Herewald, to see how he +would take all this. Somewhat seemed to have amused him mightily, +and his eyes brimmed with a jest as he looked at me. Presently, +when men forgot me in listening to the vow Ina made, that he would +add somewhat to the new Church in thankfulness for this escape, the +ealdorman came near me and whispered: + +"You are a cautious youth, Oswald, for I never heard a man turn a +hint from a lady better in my life. Nevertheless, if you are not +careful, Ethelburga will wed you to Elfrida for all your craft." + +He laughed again, and said no more. But I was looking at Owen, who +seemed to have some thoughts of his own that were troubling him +sorely. He smiled and nodded, indeed, when he caught my eye, but +then he grew grave again directly, and afterwards his horn stood +before him on the table untasted, and his look seemed far away, +though round him men sang and all was merry. + +However, as one may suppose, the merriment was not what it should +have been, and none wondered much when Ina rose and left the table +with a few pleasant parting words. He was never one to bide long at +a feast, and he knew, maybe, that the house-carles and younger men +would be more at ease when his presence was no longer felt by them. +With him went Owen and the ealdorman, and Nunna, at some sign of +his, and after they went I had to stand no little banter concerning +my vow, as may be supposed. + +I was not sorry when a page came and bade me join the king in his +own chamber, though it was all good-natured and in no sort of +unkindness. I will not say that I did not enjoy it either. So I +went as I was bidden, and found that some sort of council was being +held, and that those four were looking grave over it. I supposed +they had some errand for me at first, but in no long time I knew +that what was on hand was nought more or less than the beginning of +parting between Owen and me. + +I will make little of all that was said, though it was a long +matter, and heavy in the telling, and maybe tangled here and there +to me as I listened. I think that Ina understood that trouble fell +on me as I heard all, for he looked kindly on me from his great +chair, while Nunna sat on the table and was silent, stroking his +beard, as if thinking. But Owen drew me to the settle by him, and +bade me hearken while the king told me the tale I had to learn. + +Then I heard how Owen, my foster father, was indeed a prince of the +old Cornish line that came from Arthur, and how his cousins, Morgan +and Dewi, had plotted to oust him from his place at the right hand +of Gerent the king, and had succeeded only too well, so that he had +had to fly. It matters not what their lies concerning him had been, +nor do I think that Owen knew all that had been said against him, +but Gerent had banished him, and so he had wandered to Mercia, and +thence after a year or two to Sussex, having heard of the Irish +monks of the old Western Church at Bosham. So he had met with me, +and thus he and I had come to Ina's court together. + +And as I heard all, I knew that it had been for my sake that he was +content to serve as a simple forester at Eastdean, for Ina told me +that across the Severn among the other princes of the old Welsh +lands he would have been more than welcome. I could say nothing, +but I set my hand on his and left it there, and he smiled at me, +and grasped it. + +"And now," said Ina, "your hand has in some sort avenged the old +wrong, for you have brought about the end of Morgan, who was Owen's +foe. But this is a matter we need to hear more concerning. Do you +bring us that stranger that he may tell us what he knows." + +I went to the hall again, and found him easily enough, for all men +were looking at him. He was in the midst of the hall, juggling in +marvellous wise with a heavy woodman's axe, which he played with as +if it were a straw for lightness. Even as I entered from the door +on the high place he was whirling it for a mighty stroke which +seemed meant to cleave a horn cup which he had set on a stool +before him, and I wondered. But he stayed the stroke as suddenly as +if his great arms had been turned to steel, so that the axe edge +rested on the rim of the vessel without so much as notching it, and +at that all the onlookers cheered him. + +"Now it may be known," said he, smiling broadly, "why men call me +Thorgils the axeman." + +Then he threw the unhandy weapon into the air whirling, and caught +it as it came to hand again, so that it balanced on his palm, and +so he held it as I went to him, and told him the king would speak +with him. + +Whereon he threw the axe at the doorpost, so that it stuck there, +and laughed at the new shout of applause, and so turned down his +sleeves and bade me lead him where I would. + +He made a stiff, outlandish salute as he stood before Ina, and the +king returned it. + +"I have sent for you now, friend, rather than wait for morning," he +said, "for it seems to me that we have business that must be seen +to with the first light. Will you tell us what you know of this man +who has been slain? I think you are no Welshman of Cornwall." + +"I am Thorgils the Norseman of Watchet, king," he answered. +"Thorgils the axeman, men call me, by reason, of some skill with +that weapon which your folk seem to hold in no repute, which is a +pity. Shipmaster am I by trade, and I am here to seek for cargo, +that I may make one more voyage this winter with the more profit, +having to cross to Dyfed, beyond the narrow sea, though it is late +in the year." + +"I thought you might be a Dane from Tenby." + +"The Welsh folk know the difference between us by this time," +Thorgils said, with a little laugh. "They call them 'black heathen' +and us 'white heathen,' though I don't know that they love us +better than they do them. By grace of Gerent the king, to be +politic, or by grace of axe play, to speak the truth, we have a +little port of our own here on this side the water, at the end of +the Quantocks, where we seek to bide peaceably with all men as +traders." + +"Ay! I have heard of your town," said Ina. "Now, can tell us how +Morgan and his brother came to be in company with outlaws?" + +"He fell out with Gerent over us, to begin with. I went with our +chiefs to Exeter when we first came seeking a home, to promise +tribute if we were left in peace in the place we had chosen. Gerent +was willing enough, but Morgan, who claims some sort of right over +the Devon end of the kingdom, was against our biding at all, and +there were words. However, Gerent and we had our way, and so we +thought to hear no more of the matter. But the next thing was that +Morgan gathered a force and tried to turn us out on his own +account, and had the worst of the affair. That angered Gerent, for +he lost some good men outside our stockades. And then other things +cropped up between them. I have heard that the old king found out +old lies told by Morgan concerning Owen the prince, whom men hope +to see again, but I know little of that. Anyway, Morgan and his +brother fled, and this is the end thereof. We heard too that he +plotted to take the throne, and it is likely." + +"Thanks, friend," Ina said. "That is a plain tale, and all we need +to know. But what say men of Owen, whom you spoke of? Is it known +that he lives?" + +"Oh ay. They say that you know more of him than any one. Men have +seen him here at Glastonbury. Moreover, Gerent came to Norton, just +across the Quantocks, yesterday, and it is thought that he wants to +send a message to you asking after him. There will be joy in West +Wales if he goes back to the right hand of the king, for one would +think that he was a fairy prince by the way he is spoken of." + +Thereat Ina smiled at Owen, and Thorgils saw it, and knew what was +meant in a moment. He turned to Owen with a quick look, and said +frankly: + +"True enough, Prince, but I did not know that I spoke of a +listener. On my word, if you do go back, you will have hard work to +live up to what is expected of you. Maybe what is more to the point +is this, that Morgan has more friends than enough, and it is likely +that they will stick at little to avenge him. + +"Howbeit," he added with a quaint smile, "it shall not be said that +Thorgils missed a chance. Prince, if you do go back to Gerent you +will be his right hand, as they say. Therefore I will ask you at +once to have us Norsemen in favour, so far as we need any. Somewhat +is due to the bearer of tidings, by all custom." + +Ina laughed, and even Owen smiled at the ready Norseman, but +Herewald the ealdorman and I wondered at him, for he spoke as to +equals, with no sort of fear of the king on him, which was not +altogether the way of men who stood before Ina. + +Then said Owen quietly: + +"Friend, I think there is a favour I may ask you, rather. I have +bided away from my uncle, King Gerent, because I would not return +to him unasked, being somewhat proud, maybe. But now it seems to +King Ina and myself that needs must I go to him to take the news of +this death of Morgan myself. It is a matter that might easily turn +to a cause of war between Wessex and West Wales, for if the man +tried to slay our king in his own court, it may also be told that +here was slain a prince of Dyvnaint. There is full need that the +truth should reach the king before rumour makes the matter over +great. You have seen all, and are known to the Welsh court as a +friend. Come with me, therefore, tomorrow and tell the tale." + +"That I will, Prince," Thorgils said. "You will be welcome; but as +I warn you, there will be need for care." + +"You know somewhat of the ways of the Welsh court," said Ina. + +"Needs must, Lord King. I am a shipmaster, and every trader I carry +across the sea, sometimes to South Wales, and sometimes to Bristol, +and betimes so far as to Ireland, tells me all he has learned. It +were churlish not to listen, and then we need warning against such +attacks as that of Morgan. Moreover, one likes somewhat to talk +of." + +"That is plain enough," said Nunna, laughing. + +"Maybe I do talk too much," answered the Norseman. "It is a failing +in my family. But my sister is worse than I." + +Then the king laughed again, and so dismissed the shipman, and +presently Owen bade me make all preparation for riding to Norton on +the morrow early. Ina would have us take a strong guard, and I +should bring them back, either with or without Owen, as things +went. + +But little sleep had I that night, for I knew too well that from +henceforth my life and that of my foster father must lie apart, and +how far sundered we might be I could not tell. There was no love of +the Saxon in West Wales, nor of the Welshman in Wessex. + + + +CHAPTER IV. HOW THE LADY ELFRIDA SPOKE WITH OSWALD, AND OF THE MEETING WITH +GERENT. + + +Gerent, the king of the West Welsh, as we called him, ruled over +all the land of Devon and Cornwall, from the fens of the Tone and +Parrett Rivers to the Land's End. Only those wide fens, across +which he could not go, had kept our great King Kenwalch from +pushing Wessex yet westward, and along their line had been our +frontier since his days until, not long before Ina came to the +throne, Kentwine crossed them to the north and cleared the +marauding Welsh of the Quantock hills and forests from the river to +the sea, setting honest Saxon franklins here and there in the +new-won land, to keep it for him. It was out of those deep wooded +hills that Morgan had come on the raid that ended so badly for his +brother and himself, for the wasted country was yet a sort of +no-man's land, where outlaws found easy harbourage, coming mostly +from the Welsh side. It would not need much to set the tide of war +moving westward again, now that our men knew the fenland as well as +ever the British learned the secrets of the paths. + +Now that the time seemed to have come for him to leave Ina, Owen +feared most of all that the long peace would end, for that would +mean the rending of old friendships and certain parting from me. +How much longer the peace would last was very doubtful, and men +said that it was only the wisdom of Aldhelm that had kept it so +well, and now he was dead. It was not so long since that a west +Welshman would not so much as eat with a Saxon, so great was the +hatred they had for us, though that had worn off more or less. +Maybe it would have passed altogether but that there were the +differences between the ways of the two Churches which were always +cropping up and making things bitter again, and those were the +troubles that Aldhelm, whom Gerent honoured, had most tried to +smooth away with some sort of success. Yet it was well known that +many of the Welsh priests and people were sorely against peace with +the men who followed the way of Austin of Canterbury. + +As for me, I almost wondered that Ina seemed so ready to part with +Owen, but presently I saw that if Gerent owned him again, my foster +father would be a link between the two kingdoms, which would make +for peace in every way. But for all that, in my own heart was a +sort of half hope that in spite of what the Norseman had heard, +Owen would not be welcomed back to the west, else I should lose him +altogether. There was no intercourse between our courts, now that +Aldhelm was gone. + +But in the morning, when I came to say some of this to Owen, he +smiled at me, and said: + +"Wait, Oswald. Time enough for trouble when it comes. Maybe you and +I will be back here this evening, and if not, I hope that my +staying with my uncle will mean peace between our lands. Let it be +so till we have seen what may be our fortune at Norton." + +So I tried to let the trouble pass, and indeed at the morning meal +I had my new rank to think of, for my comrades would not forget it, +nor would they let me do so. The first man to greet me as thane was +Thorgils the Norseman, too, and he went with me to see to choosing +men and horses for our journey, and I was glad of his gossip, for +it kept me from thinking overmuch of the heavier things that had +kept me waking. + +He would guide us across the hills to Norton, where Gerent was; for +though we knew somewhat of the Quantocks, beyond them we did not +go. The palace where the king lay was an ancient Roman stronghold, +and had belonged to Morgan, who was dead; and though Thorgils had +heard that Gerent was there to seek Owen, it was more likely that +he had come to see that the outlawed brothers did not gather any +force against him in their own place. It was many a year since he +had been so near our border. + +Presently Thorgils would go down the town to the inn where he had +bestowed his horse, and I went with him, having an hour left before +we started, rather than face any more banter concerning my +thanedom. It was almost in my mind to go to the ealdorman's house +to ask after Elfrida, but I forbore, being shy, I suppose, and so +left the Norseman to join us presently, and went back to the king's +hall by a short cut from the village, whereby I had a meeting which +was unlooked for altogether. + +That way was a sort of stolen short cut across the king's orchard, +which some of us used at times in coming from village to hall, for +it lay between the two on the south side of the hall where the +ground sloped sunwards. And as I leapt over the fence I was aware +of a lady who was gathering some of the ruddy crab apples from the +ground under their bare tree, for the hot ale of the wassail bowl, +doubtless, for we leave them out to mellow with the frost thus. She +did not heed me as I came over the soft snow, and when she did at +last look up I saw that she was Elfrida. Just for a moment I wished +that I had gone round by the road, but there was no escape for me +now, for she had seen me. So I unbonneted and went to meet her. + +There was a little flush on her face when she saw me, but it was +not altogether one of pleasure, for when I wished her good morrow, +all that I had in return was a cold little bow and the few words +that needs must be spoken in answer. Whereat I felt somewhat +foolish; but it did not seem to me that I had done aught to deserve +quite so much coldness, not being a stranger by any means. So I +would even try to find the way to a better understanding, and I +thought that maybe the sight of me had brought back some of the +terror of last night. + +"Now, I hope that the rough doings of the feast have not been +troublous to you, Lady Elfrida," I said, trying with as good a +grace as I could not to see her cold looks. + +I saw that she did indeed shrink a little from them as I spoke, +even in the passing thought. + +But she answered: + +"Such things are best forgotten as soon as may be. I do not wish to +hear more of them." + +"Nevertheless," I answered, "there are some who will not forget +them, and I fear that you must needs be ready to hear of your part +in them pretty often." + +"Ay," she said somewhat bitterly, "I suppose that I am the talk of +the whole place now." + +"If so, there would be many who would be glad to be spoken of as +you must needs be. There is nought but praise for you." + +Then she turned on me, and the trouble was plain enough in a +moment. + +"But for yourself, Thane, there would have been nought that I could +not have put up with. But little thought for me was there when you +made me the jest of your idle comrades over that foolish cup of the +king's." + +That was a new way of looking at the matter, in all truth. I +supposed that a vow of fealty to any lady would have been taken by +her as somewhat on which to pride herself maybe, from whomsoever it +came. Which seemed to be foolishness in this fresh light. Still, it +came to me that her anger was not altogether fair, for I was the +one who had to stand the jesting, and not one of my honest comrades +so much as mentioned her name lightly in any wise. + +"That was no jest of mine, Elfrida," I said gravely enough. "If +there is any jest at all that will come from my oath, it will be +that I have been foolish enough to vow fealty to one who despises +me. The last thing that I would do is anything that might hurt you. +And my vow stands fast, whether you scorn me or not, for if it was +made in a moment, it is not as if I had not had long years to think +on in which we have been good friends enough." + +"Ay," she said, turning from me and reaching some apples that yet +hung on a sheltered bough, "I have heard the terms of that vow from +my father, more than once. You can keep it without trouble." + +"Have I your leave to try to keep it?" + +"You have had full leave to be a good friend of ours all these +years, as you say, and I do not see that the vow binds you to more. +No one thinks that you are likely to forget last night, or any one +who took part in that cruel business. And if a friend will not help +to guard a lady--well, he would be just nidring, no more or less." + +Then she took up her basket, which was pretty full and no burden +for a lady, for she had picked fast and heedlessly as she spoke to +me, and so turned away. + +"Nay, but surely you know that there was more than that meant," I +said lamely. + +"No need to have haled my name into the matter at all," she said. + +And then, seeing that my eyes went to the basket, she smiled a +little, and held it to me with both hands. + +"Well, if you meant some new sort of service, you can begin by +carrying this for me. I am going to the queen's bower." + +I took it without a word, and we went silently together to the door +that led to the queen's end of the hall. There she stayed for a +moment with her hand on the latch. + +But she had only a question to ask me: + +"Do you go with your father to the Welsh king's court, as it is +said that he will go shortly?" + +"We start together in an hour's time or thereabout," I answered, +wondering. + +"Well then, take this to mind you of your vow," she said, and threw +a little bronze brooch, gilt and set with bright enamel, into the +basket, and so fled into the house, leaving me on the doorstep with +the apples. + +I set them down there, and had a mind to leave the brooch also. +However, on second thoughts I took it, and went my way in a puzzled +state of mind. It certainly seemed that Elfrida was desperately +angry with me for reasons which were not easy to fathom, and yet +she had given me this--that is, if to have a thing thrown at one is +to have it given. But I was not going to quarrel with the manner of +a gift from Elfrida, and so I went on with it in my hand, and as I +turned the corner into a fresh path I also ran into the abbot of +the new minster, who was on his way to speak with Owen before he +set out. He had been a great friend of Bishop Aldhelm's, and I had +known him well since the old days of Malmesbury. + +"So Oswald," he cried, "I have been looking for you, that I might +wish you all good in your thaneship. Why, some of us are proud of +you. And I, having known you since you were a child, feel as if I +had some sort of a share in your honours. But what is amiss? One +would look to see you the gayest of the gay, and it seems as if the +world had gone awry with you." + +Now, the abbot was just the friend to whom I could tell my present +trouble without fear of being mocked, for he was wont to stand to +us boys of the court as the good friend who would help us out of a +scrape if he could, and make us feel ashamed thereof in private +afterward, in all kindliness. So I told him what was on my mind, +for he was at the feast last night. + +"It is all that vow of mine," I said. "I have just met Elfrida, and +she is angry with me for naming her at all." + +"Unfair," said the abbot. "You could not have helped it, seeing +that you were bidden to do so." + +I had forgotten that, and it was possible that Elfrida did not know +it. So I said that I did not look for quite the scorn I had met +with, at all events. Whereon the abbot stayed in his walk and asked +more, trying to look grave as he heard me, and soon he had all the +story. + +"So you carried the basket like any thrall, and had my Yuletide +gift to her in payment," he said, with his eyes twinkling; "I will +ask if she has lost it presently, and you will be avenged." + +He laughed again, and then said more gravely, but with a smile not +far off: + +"Go to, Oswald, don't ask me to make the ways of a damsel plain to +you, for that was more than Solomon himself could compass. But I +think I know what is wrong. Her father has been making a jest to +her of the way you worded your vow, laughing mightily after his +manner, and she is revenging herself on you. Never mind. Wait till +you come back from this journey, and then see how things are with +her. Now let us talk of your errand, for it is important." + +Then we went slowly together, and he told me how that he had +foreseen for a long time that Owen would return to his uncle and +take his right place again. Also he told me that Morgan had a +strong party on his side, and that we might have trouble with them +if Owen was taken into favour again. + +"As I hope he may be," he added with a sigh; "for I have seen the +war cloud drifting nearer every year under the guidance of Morgan +and his fellows." + +Then we turned into the courtyard, and he went to speak to Owen in +the hall, turning with a last smile to bid me hide the brooch, lest +Elfrida should hear some jesting about that next. So I pinned it +under my cloak, and then went and donned my arms, and saw to all +things for the journey, both for Owen and myself; and so at last +the hour came when I led the men round to the great door of the +hall, and sent one to say that all was ready. + +Now the king came forth, and with him was Owen. Ina wore his +everyday dress, but my foster father was fully armed, and as those +two stood there I thought that I had never seen a more kingly +looking pair, silent and thoughtful both, and with lines of care on +their foreheads, and both in their prime of life. + +Behind me I heard Thorgils say to Godred, the chief house-carle: +"If there were choice, I would take the king that wears the war +gear. That is the only dress that to my mind fits a man who shall +lead warriors." + +Now the king came and spoke with me, bidding me be on my guard +against any attack while we were at Norton, telling me plainly also +that he deemed that there was danger to both of us at the first, +somewhat in the way in which the abbot had already spoken to me. I +daresay the words were his, for he had been counselling Owen. + +Then the queen came forth with her ladies, and there was an honour +for us, for she herself brought the stirrup cup to Owen, bidding +him farewell, at the same time that the king must needs send +Elfrida with another cup to me, saying that it was my due for last +night's omission. But there was no smile as she set it in my hand, +and she waited with head turned away until I gave it back to her, +as if she looked at Owen rather than any one else. Then it was only +a short word of farewell that she said to me, and yet it did seem +that her eyes were less grave than she would seem in face as she +turned back to the other ladies on the hall steps. + +Then Owen unhelmed and turned his horse to the gates, and after him +we went clattering down the street. In a minute or two Thorgils +came alongside me. + +"So that was the lady of the vow, surely. Well, you may be excused +for making it, though indeed it is rash to bind oneself--nay, but +it seems that this is one of those matters whereon I must hold my +tongue!" + +For I had spurred my horse a little impatiently, and he understood +well enough. I did not altogether care that this stranger should +talk of my affairs--more particularly as they did not seem to be +going at all rightly. So he said no more of them, but began to talk +of himself gaily, while Owen rode alone at our head, as he would +sometimes if his thoughts were busy. + +Presently he reined up and came alongside us, taking his part in +our talk in all cheerfulness. And from that time I had little +thought but of the pleasantness of the ride in the sharp winter air +and under the bright sun with him toward the new court which I had +often longed to see, with its strange ways, in the ancient +British-Roman palace that he had so often told me of. + +So we rode along the ancient and grass-grown Roman road that lies +on the Polden ridge, hardly travelled save by a few chapmen, since +the old town they called Uxella was lost in the days of my +forefathers. The road had no ending now, as one may say, for beyond +the turning to the bridge across the Parrett for which we were +making it passed to nought but fen and mere where once had been the +city. All the wide waters on either side of the hills were hard +frozen, and southward, across to where we could see the blue hill +of ancient Camelot, the ice flashed black and steely under the red +low sun of midwinter. Before us the Quantocks lay purple and +deepest brown where the woods hid the snow that covered them. Over +us, too, went the long strings of wild geese, clanging in their +flight in search of open water--and it was the wolf month again, +and even so had they fled on that day when Owen found me in the +snow. + +And therewith we fell into talk of Eastdean, and dimly enough I +recalled it all. I knew that an Erpwald held the place even yet, +but I cared not. It was but a pleasant memory by reason of the +coming of Owen, and I had no thought even to see the place again. +Only, as we talked it did seem to me that I would that I knew that +the grave of my father was honoured. + +Then we left the old road, and crossed the ancient Parrett bridge, +where the Roman earthworks yet stood frowning as if they would stay +us. They were last held against Kenwalch, and now we were in that +no-man's land which he had won and wasted. Then we climbed the long +slope of the Quantocks, whence we might look back over the land we +had left, to see the Tor at Glastonbury shouldering higher and +higher above the lower Poldens, until the height was reached and +the swift descent toward Norton began. There we could see all the +wild Exmoor hills before us, with the sea away to our right, and +Thorgils shewed us where lay, under the very headlands of the hills +we were crossing, the place where his folk had their haven. He said +that he could see the very smoke from the hearths, but maybe that +was only because he knew where it ought to be, and we laughed at +him. + +So we came to the outskirts of Norton, and all the way we had seen +no man. The hills were deserted, save by wild things, and of them +there was plenty. And now for the first time I saw men living in +houses built of stone from ground to roof, and that was strange to +me. We Saxons cannot abide aught but good timber. Here none of us +had ever come, and still some of the houses built after the Roman +fashion remained, surrounded, it is true, by mud hovels of +yesterday, as one might say, but yet very wonderful to me. Many a +time I had seen the ruined foundations of the like before, but one +does not care to go near them. The wastes our forefathers made of +the old towns they found here, and had no use for, lie deserted, +for they are haunted by all things uncanny, as any one knows. Maybe +that is because the old Roman gods have come back to their old +places, now that the churches are no longer standing. + +Through the village we went, and then came to the walls of the +ancient stronghold, and they seemed as if they were but lately +raised, so strong were they and high. The gates were in their +places, and at them was a guard, and through them, for they stood +open, I could see the white walls and flat roof of the house, or +rather palace, which was either that of the Roman governor of the +place, or else had been rebuilt or restored from time to time in +exactly the same wise, so that it stood fair and lordly and fit for +a king's dwelling even yet. Maybe the wattled hovels of the thralls +that clustered round it inside the great earthworks were not what +would have been suffered in the days of those terrible men who made +the fortress, but I doubt not that they stood on the foundations of +the quarters of the soldiers who had held it for Rome. + +The guard turned out in orderly wise as we came to the gates, and +they wore the Roman helm and corselet, and bore the heavy Roman +spear and short heavy sword. But that war gear I had seen before on +the other Welsh border, and I had a scar, moreover, that would tell +that I had been within reach of one weapon or the other. I knew +their tongue, too, almost as well as my own, for Owen had taught it +me, saying that I might need it at some time. It had already been +of use to the king in the frontier troubles, for I could interpret +for him, but I think that Owen had in his mind the coming of some +such day as this. + +Now, Owen would have me speak to the guard and tell them our +errand, and I rode forward and did so. The short day was almost +over by this time; and the captain who came to meet me did not seem +to notice my Saxon arms in the shadow of the high rampart. Hearing +that we bore a message for the king, he sent a man to ask for +directions, and meanwhile we waited. I asked him if there was any +news, thinking it well to know for certain if aught had been heard +yet of the end of Morgan. News of that sort flies fast. + +"No news at all," he answered. "What did you expect?" + +"I had heard of the death of a prince, and do not know the rights +thereof." + +"Why, where have you been? That is old news. It was only Dewi, and +he is no loss. The Saxon sheriff hung him, even as the king said he +would do to him an he caught him, so maybe it is the same in the +end. I have not heard that any one is sorry to lose him." + +He laughed, and if it was plain that Morgan's brother was not +loved, it was also plain that nought was known of the end of the +other prince yet. We were first with the tidings here, and that +might be as well. + +Now a message came to bid us enter, and the steward who brought it +told us that we were to be lodged in some great guest chamber, and +that we should speak with the king shortly. + +The men bided outside the walls, the captain leading them to a long +row of timber-built stables which stood close at hand by the gate. +Presently, when the horses were bestowed, they would be brought to +the guest hall; so Thorgils went with them, while the steward led +Owen and myself through the gate and to the palace, which stood +squarely in the midst of the fortress, with a space between it and +the other buildings which filled the area. + +By daylight I knew afterwards that it was uncared for, and somewhat +dilapidated without, but in the falling dusk it looked all that it +should. We entered through a wide door, and passed a guardroom +where many men lounged, armed and unarmed, and then were in a +courtyard formed by the four sides of the building, wonderfully +paved, and with a frozen fountain in its midst. There were windows +all round the walls which bounded this court, and the light shone +red from them, very cheerfully, and already there was bustle of men +who crossed and passed through the palace making ready for our +reception. The steward led us to the northern wing of the house +across this court, and so took us into an antechamber, as it +seemed, warm and bright, with hanging lamps, and with painted walls +and many-patterned tiled floor, but for all its warmth with no fire +to be seen, which was strange enough to me. + +And so soon as the bright light shone on Owen I saw the steward +start and gaze at him fixedly, and then as Owen smiled a little at +him he fell on his knees and cried softly some words of welcome, +with tears starting in his eyes. + +"Oh my Lord," he said, "is it indeed you? This is a good day.--A +thousand welcomes!" + +Owen raised him kindly, and set his finger on his lip. + +"It is well that you have been the first to know me, friend," he +said. "Now hold your peace for a little while till we see what says +my uncle. I must have word with him at once, if it can be managed, +before others know me. It will be best." + +"He waits you, Lord. It was his word that he would see the Saxon +alone." + +Then he led us into another room like to that we left, but larger, +and with rich carpets on the tiled floor, and there sat Gerent +alone to wait us. I thought him a wonderful looking old man, and +most kingly, as he rose and bowed in return when we greeted him. +His hair was white, and his long beard even whiter, but his eyes +were bright. Purple and gold he wore, and those robes and the +golden circlet on his head shewed that he had put on the kingly +dress to meet with the messenger of a king. + +Almost had Owen sprung toward him, but he forbore, and when the +king had taken his seat he went slowly to him, holding out a letter +which Ina had written for him, saying nothing. And Gerent took it +without a word or so much as a glance at the bearer from under his +heavy brows, and opened it. + +Owen stood back by me, and we watched the face of the king as he +read. We saw his brows knit themselves fiercely at first, and then +as he went on they cleared until he seemed as calm as when he first +met us. But the flush that had come with the frown had not faded +when at last he looked keenly at us. + +"Come nearer," he said in a harsh voice, speaking in fair Saxon. +"Know you what is written herein?" + +"I know it," Owen said. + +"Here Ina says that this is borne by one whom I know. Is it you or +this young warrior?" + +Then Owen went forward and fell on one knee before the king, and +said in his own tongue--the tongue of Cornwall and of Devon: + +"I am that one of whom Ina has spoken. Yet it is for Gerent to say +whether he will own that he knows me even yet." + +I saw the king start as the voice of Owen came to him in the +familiar language, and he knitted his brows as one who tries to +recall somewhat forgotten, and he looked searchingly in the face of +the man who knelt before him, scanning every feature. + +And at last he said in a hushed voice, not like the harsh tones of +but now: + +"Can it be Owen?--Owen, the son of my sister? They said that one +like him served the Saxon, but I did not believe it. That is no +service for one of our line." + +"What shall an exile do but serve whom he may, if the service be an +honoured one? Yet I will say that I wandered long, seeing and +learning, before there came to me a reason that I should serve Ina. +To you I might not return." + +But the king was silent, and I thought that he was wroth, while +Owen bided yet there on his knee before him, waiting his word. And +when that came at last, it was not as I feared. + +Slowly the king set forth his hand, and it shook as he did so. He +laid it on Owen's head, while the letter that was on his knees +fluttered unheeded to the floor as he bent forward and spoke +softly: + +"Owen, Owen," he said, "I have forgotten nought. Forgive the old +blindness, and come and take your place again beside me." + +And as Owen took the hand that would have raised him and kissed it, +the old king added in the voice of one from whom tears are not so +far: + +"I have wearied for you, Owen, my nephew. Sorely did I wrong you in +my haste in the old days, and bitterly have I been punished. I pray +you forgive." + +Then Owen rose, and it seemed to me that on the king the weight of +years had fallen suddenly, so that he had grown weak and needful of +the strong arm of the steadfast prince who stood before him, and I +took the arm of the steward and pulled him unresisting through the +doorway, so that what greeting those two might have for one another +should be their own. + +Then said the steward to me as we looked at one another: + +"This is the best day for us all that has been since the prince who +has come back left us. There will be joy through all Cornwall." + +But I knew that what I dreaded had come to pass, and that from +henceforth the way of the prince of Cornwall and of the house-carle +captain of Ina's court must lie apart, and I had no answer for him. + + + +CHAPTER V. HOW OSWALD FELL INTO BAD HANDS, AND FARED EVILLY, ON THE +QUANTOCKS. + + +It would be long for me to tell how presently Owen called me in to +speak with the king, and how he owned me as his foster son in such +wise that Gerent smiled on him, and spoke most kindly to me as +though I had indeed been a kinsman of his own. And then, after we +had spoken long together, Thorgils was sent for, and he told the +tale of the end of Morgan plainly and in few words, yet in such +skilful wise that as he spoke I could seem to see once more our +hall and myself and Elfrida at the dais, even as though I were an +onlooker. + +"You are a skilful tale teller," the king said when he ended. "You +are one of the Norsemen from Watchet, as I am told." + +"I am Thorgils the shipmaster, who came to speak with you two years +ago, when we first came here. Men say that I am no bad sagaman." + +"This is a good day for me," Gerent said, "and I will reward you +for your tale. Free shall the ship of Thorgils be from toil or +harbourage in all ports of our land from henceforward. I will see +that it is known." + +"That is a good gift, Lord King," said the Norseman, and he thanked +Gerent well and heartily, and so went his way back to the guest +chambers with a glad heart. + +Then Gerent said gravely: + +"I suppose that there are men who would call all these things the +work of chance or fate. But it is fitting that vengeance on him who +wronged you should come from the hand of one whom you have cared +for. That has not come by chance; but I think it will be well that +it is not known here just at first whose was the hand that slew +Morgan." + +"For fear of his friends?" asked Owen thoughtfully. + +"Ay, for that reason. Overbearing and proud was he, but for all +that there are some who thought him the more princely because he +was so. And there are few who know that he did indeed try to end my +life, for I would not spread abroad the full shame of a prince of +our line. Men have thought that I would surely take him into favour +again, but that was not possible. Only, I would that he had met a +better ending." + +The old king sighed, and was silent. Presently Owen said that I +must see to the men and horses, and I rose up to leave the chamber, +and then the king said: + +"We shall see you again at the feast I am making for you all. Then +tomorrow you must take back as kingly a letter to Ina as he wrote +to me, and so return to Owen for as long as your king will suffer +you to bide with us." + +So I went to the stables first of all, and there was Thorgils +bidding a Welsh groom to get out his horse while he took off the +arms that had been lent him from our armoury, for he was but half +armed when he came. + +"There is no need to do that," I said; "for if Ina arms a man, it +is as a gift for service done, if he is not too proud to take it. +But are you not biding for the feast?" + +"First of all," he said, laughing, "none ever knew a Norseman too +proud to accept good arms from a king. Thank Ina for me in all +form. And as to my going, seeing that tide waits for no man, if I +do not get home shortly I shall lose the tide I want for a bit of a +winter voyage I have on hand; wherefore I must go. Farewell, and +good luck to you. This business has turned out well, after all, and +a great man you will be in this land before long. Don't forget us +Norsemen when that comes about, and if ever you need a man at your +back, send for me. You might have a worse fence than my axe, and I +have a liking for you; farewell again." + +I laughed and shook hands with him, and he swung himself into the +saddle and rode away. + +There was high feasting that night in the guest hall of Norton, as +may be supposed. I sat on the left of the king, and Owen on his +right, while all the great men who could be summoned in the time +were present, and it was plain enough that the homecoming of their +lost prince was welcome to every one in all the hall. Not one dark +look was there as I scanned the bright company, and presently not +one refused to join in the great shout of welcome that rose when +Owen pledged them all. + +It was a good welcome, and the face of the old king grew bright as +he heard it. + +Then the harpers sang; I did not think their ways here so pleasant +as our own, where the harp goes round the hall, and every man takes +his turn to sing, or if he has no turn for song, tells tale or asks +riddle that shall please the guests. Certainly, these Welsh folk +were readier to talk than we, and maybe the meats were more dainty +and the wines finer than ours, and in truth the Welsh mead was good +and the Welsh ale mighty, but men seemed to care little for the +sport that should come after the meal was over. Yet these harpers +sang well, and from them I learnt more about my foster father than +he had ever cared to tell me, for they sang of old deeds of his. +Doubtless they made the most of them, for it would seem from their +songs that he had fought with Cornish giants as an everyday thing, +and that he had been the bane of more than one dragon. But one +knows how to sift the words of the gleeman's song, and they told me +at least that Owen had been a great champion ere he left his home. + +Still, I missed the bright fire on the hearth, and the ways of the +court were too stately for me here. Men seemed not to like the +cheerful noise of my honest house-carles, who jested and laughed as +they would have done in the hall of Ina, who loved to see and hear +that his men were merry. We should have thought that there was +something wrong if there had not been plenty of noise at the end of +the long tables below the salt. + +Now, I will not say that there was not something very pleasant in +sitting here at the side of the king as the most honoured guest +next to my foster father, but there was a sadness at the back of it +all in the knowledge that it was likely that from henceforth our +ways must needs go apart more or less, and that I might see him +only from time to time. For I was Ina's man, and a Saxon, and it +could not be supposed that I should be welcome here. I knew that I +must go back to my place, and he must bide in his that he had found +again, and so there was the sorrow of parting to spoil what might +else have made me a trifle over proud. + +Gerent did not stay long at the feast, nor did the ladies who were +present, and Owen and I stayed for but a little while after they +had gone. Then we were taken in all state to the room where we +should sleep, and so for the first time I was housed within stone +walls. There were a sort of wide benches along the walls covered +with skins and bright rugs for us to sleep on, but after I had +helped Owen to his night gear I took the coverings that were meant +for me and set them across the door on the floor and so slept. For +I had a fear of treachery and the friends of Morgan. + +It was in my mind to talk for a while before rest came, but Owen +would not suffer me to do so, saying that it was best to sleep on +all the many things that happened before we thought much of what +was to be done next. So I wrapt myself in my rugs on the strangely +warm floor and went to sleep at once, being, as may be supposed, +fairly tired out with the long day and its doings. More than that +little space of time it seemed since we left Glastonbury, and even +my meeting with Elfrida was like a matter of long ago to me. + +There was a bronze lamp burning with some scented oil, hanging from +the ceiling, which seemed so low after our open roofs, and we had +left it alight, as I thought it better to have even its glimmer +than darkness, here in this strange house. And presently I woke +with a feeling that this lamp had flared up in some way, shining +across my eyes, so that I sat up with a great start, grasping my +sword hastily. But the lamp burned quietly, and all that woke me +was the light of a square patch of bright moonlight from a high +window that was creeping across the broad chest of Owen as he +slept, and had come within range of my eyelids, for my face was +turned to him. The room was bright with it, and for a little I +watched the quiet sleeper, and then I too slept, and woke not again +until Owen roused me with the daylight from the same window falling +on his face. + +"That is where I should have slept," I said, "for it is my place to +wake you, father." + +He laughed, and said that it was his place in the old days, and +there was a sigh at the back of the laugh as he thought of those +times, and then we forgot the whole thing. Yet though it seems a +little matter in the telling, in no long time I was to mind that +waking in a strange way enough, and then I remembered. + +We must part presently, as I found, at least for a little while. +There was no question but that Owen would stay at the court here, +and so Gerent had ready for me a letter which I should carry back +to Ina at once. He spoke very kindly to me at that time, giving me +a great golden bracelet from his own arm, that I might remember to +come back to bide for a time with him ere long. And then we broke +our fast, and my men were ready, and I parted from my foster father +in the bright morning light that made the white walls of the old +palace seem more wonderful to me than ever. + +"Farewell, then, for a while," he said to me; "come back as soon as +Ina will spare you. There will be peace between him and Gerent now, +as I think." + +Then came a man in haste from out of the gateway where we stood +yet, and he bore a last gift from Gerent to me. It was a beautiful +wide-winged falcon from the cliffs of Tintagel in the far west, +hooded and with the golden jesses that a king's bird may wear on +her talons. + +"It is the word of the king," said the falconer, "that a thane +should ride with hawk on wrist if he bears a peaceful message. +Moreover, there will be full time on the homeward way for a flight +or two. Well trained she is, Master, and there is no better passage +hawk between here and Land's End." + +That was a gift such as any man might be proud of, and I asked Owen +to thank the king for me. And so we parted with little sorrow after +all, for it was quite likely that I should be back here in a day or +two for yet a little while longer with him. + +So I and my men were blithe as we rode in the still frosty air +across the Quantocks by the way we had come, and by and by, when we +gained the wilder crests, I began to look about me for some chance +of proving the good hawk that sat waiting my will on my wrist. + +Soon I saw that the rattle and noise of men and horses spoiled a +good chance or two for me, for the black game fled to cover, and +once a roe sprang from its resting in the bushes by the side of the +track and was gone before I could unhood the bird. + +"Ho, Wulf!" I cried to one of the men who was wont to act as +forester when Ina hunted, "let us ride aside for a space, and then +we will see what sort of training a Welshman can give a hawk." + +So we put spurs to our horses and went on until they were a mile +behind us, and then we were on a ridge of hill whence a long wooded +combe sank northward to the dense forest land at the foot of the +hills, and there we rode slowly, questing for what might give us a +fair flight. Bustard there were on these hills, and herons also, +for below me I could see the bare branches of the tree tops on +which the broad-winged birds light at nesting time, twigless and +skeleton-like. For a while we saw nothing, however, and so rode +wide of the track, across the heather, until we found the woodland +before us, and had to make our way back to the road, which passed +through it. But before we came in sight of the road, from almost +under my feet, a hare bolted from a clump of long grass, and made +for the coverts. I cast off the hawk and shouted, but we were too +near the underwood, and it seemed that the hare would win to cover +in time to save herself. + +Yet in a moment the hare was back again out of the cover, and +running along its edge in the open as though she had met with +somewhat that she feared even more than the winged terror which she +had so nearly baffled. And that was strange, for it is hard to get +a hare to stir from her seat if there is a hawk overhead, so that +sometimes men have even picked up the timid beast from her place. + +"There is a fox in the underwood, and she has seen him," I cried, +and then forgot all about the strangeness of the matter in watching +the stoop of the ready hawk, who waited only for one more chance. + +Not far did the hare win this time. The hawk swooped and took her +close to the edge of the wood, and I rode quickly to take the bird +again and give her her share of the quarry. And then, while my eyes +were fixed on her, and I was just about to dismount, I was aware of +something like a streak of light that flew from the underwood +toward me, and suddenly my horse reared wildly, and fell back on +me, pinning me to the ground. + +At the same moment I heard Wulf roaring somewhat, and then he was +between me and the cover, and I saw him, through the dazedness of +my eyes with the fall, dismount and unsling his shield from his +back, with his eyes ever on the wood. Then an arrow struck the +ground close to me, and I heard another smite Wulf's shield with +the clap that no warrior can mistake. At that his steed took fright +and left us. + +"Get my horn and wind it," I said, struggling to get free from the +horse. It was no mean bowman who had sent that first arrow, for the +poor beast never moved after it fell, and had spent its last +strength in rearing. + +"That is crushed flat, Master," Wulf said between his teeth, and he +tried to lift the weight that was on me. + +Then the arrows came thickly again, and he crouched over me with +the shield, behind the horse. It was lucky that I was almost +covered by it as I lay, for it was between me and the wood. I +writhed and struggled and at last I was free again, and Wulf helped +me to get my own shield from my back as I rose, and then we stood +back to back and looked for our foes. + +"Morgan's people, I suppose," I said. "We should not have left the +men, for I knew that he was leagued with Quantock outlaws." + +"A nidring set, too," said Wulf savagely. "Can't they show +themselves?" + +As if the men had heard him, they came from the cover even as he +spoke. There were more than I could count after a few moments, for +they poured out in twos and threes from all along the edge of the +wood, and came cautiously toward us, in such wise as to surround +us. Wild looking men they were, with never a helm or mail shirt +among them, but they were all well armed enough with bow and spear +and seax, and more than one had swords. + +Then I looked round to see if I could see my men coming, and my +heart sank. We were hidden from the road by the crest of the hill, +and I knew that the flight of the hawk had led us some way from it. +We could not be less than a full mile from them at the rate we had +ridden, and I did not think it likely that they had hurried after +us, for they would not spoil sport. + +Now the men were round us in a ring that was closing quickly, and +Wulf and I had our swords out and were back to back facing them. +Not a word had been said on either side, and I was not going to +begin to talk to outlaws. If they had anything to say they might +say it. But they had not, and I knew that they would make a rush on +us directly. + +One who seemed to be the leader whistled sharply, and the rush came +with a wild howl and flight of ill-aimed spears that were of no +harm. The circle was too close for a fair throw at us, lest the +weapon should go too far. I had time to catch one as it passed me, +and send it back with the Wessex war shout, and there was one man +less against us. + +I think that I cut down one or two after that, and then I felt Wulf +reel and prop himself against me. Then I had a score of men +crowding on me, and they clogged my sword arm and gripped my shield +and tore it aside, and then from behind or at the side one smote me +on the head with a club or a stone hammer, and I went down. I heard +one cry that I was not to be slain, as I fell. + +Then Wulf stood over me for a little while and fought all that +crowd, until he was on his knees at my side, and my senses were +coming back to me. Then he fell over me, and the men threw +themselves on me and pinioned me and thrust something into my mouth +and then bound me. + +I knew that Wulf was slain at that time, and that he had given his +life for me. That was what he would have wished to do, but in my +heart there grew a wild rage with these men and with myself for my +carelessness that had led us into their hands. + +Now they dragged me into the cover, and thither also they brought +Wulf and the fallen men, and for a little while all sat silent, and +soon I knew what they were waiting for. I heard the voices of my +men and the very click and rattle of their arms as they trotted +slowly through the wood along the road, and I tried to shout to +them, but the gag would not let me. So their sounds died away +beyond the hill, and after them crept some of the foe, to see that +they did not halt or turn back, as one may suppose. I thought how +that they had at least three miles to ride before they could come +to any place whence they could see that I and Wulf were not before +them, and then, when they missed us, how were they to begin to seek +us? + +I suppose that my wits were sharpened with my danger, for I saw one +thing that might help them even while I was thinking this. My hawk +had gorged herself with her prey when the fight had turned aside +from her, and so she was sitting sleepily and contented on the high +bough of one of the trees that stood at the wood's edge. And she +still had her jesses on, so that my men would know her if they +caught sight of her by any chance. + +Now the men who had me, being sure that all fear was past, began to +talk of what was to be done next, and they spoke in Welsh, plainly +thinking that I could not understand them. There were three or four +who seemed to take the lead under the one who had given the signal +for attack, and the rest gathered round them. + +At first they were for killing me offhand as it seemed, but the +leader would not hear of that. + +"Search him first, and let us see who he is," he said. "We may have +caught the wrong man, after all." + +So they came to me and searched my pouch and thrust their grimy +hands into the front of my byrnie, and there they found the king's +letter, which they seized with a shout of delight. Then they took +my arms, wondering at the sword with its wondrous hilt. Only my +ring mail byrnie they could not take from me, as they feared to +untie my arms. + +"Not much would I give for your life if this warrior got loose," +said one of them to that one who had the letter. "See how he glares +at you." + +And true enough that was, moreover. I should surely have gone +berserk, like the men Thorgils told me of as we rode yesterday, had +I been able to get free for a moment. + +They took my belongings to the leaders, and they asked for some one +who could read the letter, and there was none, even as I had +expected, so that I was glad. + +"It does not matter much," the leader said; "doubtless it has a +deal of talk in it which would mean nought to us. We will have it +read the next time one of us goes to the church," and with that he +grinned, and the others laughed as at a good jest. "Let me look at +the sword he wore." + +He looked and his eyes grew wide, and then he whistled a little to +himself. The others asked him what was amiss. + +"If we have got Owen's son, we have taken Ina's own sword as well," +he said. "Many a time have I seen the king wear it before the law +got the best of me. It is not to be mistaken. Now, if we are not +careful we have a hornets' nest on us in good truth. Ina does not +give swords like this to men he cares nought for, and there will be +hue and cry enough after him, and that from Saxon and Welsh alike." + +"Kill him and have done. That is what we meant to do when we laid +up for him." + +So said many growling voices, and I certainly thought that the end +was very near. + +"Ay, and have ourselves hung in a row that will reach from here to +the bridge," the leader said coolly. "Mind you this, that with the +Welsh up against us we cannot get to Exmoor, and with the Saxons +out also we cannot win to the Mendips, as we have done before now." + +"There is the fen." + +"And all the fenmen Owen's own men. Little safety is there in +that." + +"But he slew Morgan, as they say." + +"Worse luck for Morgan therefore. What is that to you and me, when +one comes to think of it?" + +Now I began to understand the matter more or less. It seemed to me +that these were Morgan's outlaws, and that somehow they had heard +all the story. No doubt that was easy enough, for it would be all +over Norton before the night was very old after our coming. And +these outlaws have friends everywhere. So they had laid up for me, +and now the leader was frightened, as it would seem, or else he had +some other plan in his head. It did not seem that he had wished me +to be slain, from the first, if it could be helped. Maybe the +others had forced him to waylay me. A leader of outlaws has little +hold on his men. + +"Let him swear to say nought of us, and let him go then," one of +the other leaders said in a surly way. + +Then the chief got up and laughed at them all. + +"There are six of us slain and a dozen with wounds, and we will +make him pay for that and for Morgan as well before we have done +with him. Now we must not bide here, or we shall have his men back +on us, seeking him. Let us get away, and I will think of somewhat +as we go. There is profit to be made out of this business, if I am +not mistaken." + +Then they brought my man's horse, which they had caught, and set me +on it, making my feet fast under the girth. The men who had fallen +they hid in the bushes, and it troubled me more than aught to think +that Wulf should lie among them. My horse they dragged into a +hollow, and piled snow over him. Then they went swiftly down the +hillside into the deep combe, leaving only the trampled and +reddened snow to tell that there had been a fight. + +I had a hope for a little while that the track they left would be +enough for my men to follow if they hit on it, but there was little +snow lying in the sheltered woodlands, and there the track was +lost. And these men scattered presently in all directions, so that +trace of them was none. Only the leader and some dozen men stayed +with me. + +So they took me for many a long mile, always going seaward, until +we were in a deep valley that bent round among the hills until its +head was lost in their folds, and there was some sort of a camp of +these outlaws sheltered from any wind that ever blew, and with a +clear brook close at hand. All round on the hillsides was the +forest, but there was one landmark that I knew. + +High over the valley's head rose a great hill, and on that was an +ancient camp. It was what they call the "Dinas," the refuge camp of +the Quantock side, which one can see from Glastonbury and all the +Mendips. + +Here they took me from the horse and bound my feet afresh, and took +the gag from my mouth and set me against a tree, and so waited +until the band had gathered once more, lighting a great fire +meanwhile. Glad enough was I of its warmth, for it is cold work +riding bound through the frost. + +When that was done the leader bade some of those with him fetch the +goods to this place, and catch some ponies ready against the +journey. I could not tell what this might mean, but I thought that +they had no intention of biding here, and I was sorry in a dull +way. It had yet been a hope that they might be tracked by my men +from the place of the fight. + +After these men had gone hillward into the forest, others kept +coming in from one way or another until almost all seemed to have +returned. + +One by one as these gathered, they came and looked at me, and +laughed, making rough jests at me, which I heeded not at all, if +they made my blood boil now and then. Once, indeed, their leader +shouted roughly to them to forbear, when some evil words came with +a hoarse gust of laughter to his ears, and they said under their +breath, chuckling as at a new jest: + +"Evan has a mind to tell Tregoz that he treated the Saxon well," +and so left me. It seemed to me that I had heard that name at +Norton. + +When the best part of the band had gathered again they lit another +fire fifty yards from me, and round it they talked and wrangled for +a good half hour. It was plain that they were speaking about me and +my fate, but I could hear little of what they said. + +The leader took not much part in the talk at first, but let the +rest have their say. And when they had talked themselves out, as it +were, he told them his plans. I could not hear them, but the rest +listened attentively enough, and at the end of his speech seemed to +agree, for they laughed and shouted and made not much comment. + +Then the leaders got up and came and looked at me. + +"Tell him what we are going to do with him, Evan," one said to the +chief. + +So Evan spoke in the worst Saxon I had ever heard, and I thought +that it fitted his face well. + +"No good glaring in that wise," he said; "if you are quiet no harm +will come to you. We are going to hold you as a hostage until your +Saxon master or your British father pay ransom for you, and inlaw +us again. That last is a notion of my own, for I am by way of being +an honest man. The rest do not care for anything but the money we +shall get for you from one side or the other, or maybe from both. +By and by, when we have you in a safe place, you shall write a +letter for us to use, and I will have you speak well of me in it, +so that it shall be plain that you owe your life to me, and then I +shall be safe. That is a matter between you and me, however. None +of these knaves ken a word of Saxon." + +I suppose that I showed pretty plainly what I thought of this sort +of treachery to his comrades, for one of the others laughed at me, +and said: + +"Speak him fair, Evan, speak him fair, else we shall have trouble +with him." + +"I am just threatening him now," the villain said in Welsh--"after +that is time to give him a chance to behave himself," and then he +went on to me in Saxon: "Now, if you will give your word to keep +quiet and go with me as a friend I will trust you, but if +not--well, we must take you as we can. How do you prefer to go?" + +He waited for an answer, but I gave him none. I would not even seem +to treat with them. + +"Don't say that I did not give you a chance," he said; "but if you +will go as a captive, that is your own fault." + +And as I said nothing he turned away, and said to the rest: + +"We shall have to bind him. He will not go quietly." + +"How shall we get him on board as a captive?" one asked. + +"That would be foolishness," Evan said; "the next thing would be +that every one would know who the captive that was taken out of +Watchet was. I have a better plan than that. We will tie him up +like a sorely wounded man, and so get him shipped carefully and +quietly with no questions asked." + +"Well, then, there is no time to lose. We must be at the harbour in +four hours' time at the latest. Tide will serve shortly after +that," one of the others said. "What about the sword?--shall we +sell it to the Norsemen?" + +"What! and so tell all the countryside what we have been doing?--it +is too well known a weapon. No, put it into one of the bales of +goods, and I can sell it safely to some prince on the other side. +No man dare wear it on this, but they will not know it there, or +will not care if they do. Now get a litter made, and bring me some +bandages." + +It seemed to me to be plain that they would try to get me across +the channel into Wales, or maybe Ireland, and my heart sank. But +after all, Owen would gladly pay ransom for me, and that was the +one hope I had. And then I wondered what vessel they had ready, and +all of a sudden I minded that Thorgils had spoken of a winter +voyage that he was going to take on this tide, and my heart leapt. +It was likely that these men were going to sail with him, so I +might have a chance of swift rescue. + +Now Evan went to work on me with the help of one of his men, who +seemed to know something of leech craft. + +"This," said Evan, "is a poor friend of mine who has met with a bad +fall from his horse. His thigh is broken and his shoulder is out. +Also his jaw is broken, because the horse kicked him as he lay. For +the same reason he is stunned, and cannot move much. It is a bad +case altogether," and he grinned with glee at his own pleasantry. + +Then they fitted a long splint to my right leg from hip to ankle, +so that I was helpless as a babe in its swaddlings, and made fast +the other leg to that. They did not do more than loosen the cords +that bound me just enough to suffer them to pass the bandages round +until the splint was on, and the other men stood in a ring and +gibed at me all the time. After that they bandaged my right arm +across my chest as if for a slipped shoulder, but under the +bandages were cords that pinioned my elbows to one another across +my back, so that I could only move my left forearm. Evan said that +he would tie that also if need was, but it might pass now. I could +not reach my mouth with this free hand, if I did try to take out a +gag. + +Next they bandaged my head and chin carefully, so that only my eyes +were to be seen. I suppose that I might be thankful that they left +my mouth uncovered more or less. And Evan said that he would gag me +by and by. + +"No need to discomfort him more than this now," he added. "Maybe he +will be ready to promise silence when he has gone some time in this +rig." + +By this time some had caught half a dozen hill ponies, and on them +they loaded several bales of goods, which I thought looked like +those of some robbed chapman, and I have reason to think that they +were such. They opened one of these, and in it they stowed my sword +and helm and the great gold ring that Gerent gave me. There was +some argument about this, but the leader said that it was better to +sell it for silver coin which they could use anywhere. + +Now Evan and two others dressed themselves afresh, and washed in +the brook. One would have taken them for decent traders when that +was done, for they were soberly clad in good blue cloth jerkins, +with clean white hose, and red garterings not too new. Good cloaks +they had also, and short seaxes in their belts. Only Evan had a +short Welsh sword, and the peace strings of that were tied round +the hilt. I wondered where the bodies of the honest men they had +taken these things from were hidden in the wild hills. + +Half a dozen of the best clad of the other men took boar spears, +and so they were ready for a start, for all the world like the +chapmen they pretended to be. They put me into the litter they had +ready then, and four of the men were told off to bear me, +grumbling. It was only a length of sacking made fast to two stout +poles, and when they had hoisted me to their shoulders a blanket +was thrown over me, and a roll of cloth from one of the bales set +under my head, so that I might seem to be in comfort at least. + +Then the band set out, and we went across the hills seaward and to +the west until we saw Watchet below us. There was a road somewhere +close at hand, as I gathered, for we stopped, and some of the +rabble crept onward to the crest of the hill and spied to see if it +was clear. It was so, and here all the band left us, and only Evan +and the other two seeming merchants went on with their followers, +who bore me and led the laden ponies. The road had no travellers on +it, as far as I could see, nor did we meet with a soul until we +were close into the little town that the Norsemen had made for +themselves at the mouth of a small river that runs between hills to +the sea. + +Maybe there were two score houses in the place, wooden like ours, +but with strange carvings on the gable ends. And for fear, no +doubt, of the British, they had set a strong stockade all round the +place in a half circle from the stream to the harbour. There were +several long sheds for their ships at the edge of the water, and a +row of boats were lying on a sort of green round which the houses +stood with their ends and backs and fronts giving on it, as each +man had chosen to set his place. + + + +CHAPTER VI. HOW OSWALD HAD AN UNEASY VOYAGE AND A PERILOUS LANDING AT ITS +END. + + +I thought that Evan had forgotten to gag me, but before we went to +the gate of the stockade he came and did it well. I could not see a +soul near but my captors, and it would have been little or no good +to shout. So I bore it as well as I might, being helpless. Then, +within arrow shot of the gate, one of the men blew a harsh horn, +and we waited for a moment until a man, armed with an axe and +sword, lounged through the stockade and looked at us, and so made a +gesture that bid us enter, and went his way within. I hope that I +may never feel so helpless again as I did at the time when I passed +this man, who stared at me in silence, unable to call to him for +help. + +Then we crossed the green without any one paying much heed to us, +though I saw the women at the doors pitying me, and so we came to +the wharf, alongside which a ship was lying. There were several men +at work on her decks, and it was plain that she was to sail on this +tide, for her red-and-brown striped sail was ready for hoisting, +and there was nothing left alongside to be stowed. She was not yet +afloat however, though the tide was fast rising. + +Evan hailed one of the men, and he came ashore to him. The bearers +set down my litter and waited. + +"Where is the shipmaster?" Evan asked. + +The man jerked his thumb over his shoulder, and lifted his voice +and shouted "Ho Thorgils, here is the Welsh chapman." + +I saw the head of my friend rise from under the gunwale amidships, +and when he saw who was waiting he also came ashore. Evan met him +at the gangway. + +"I thought you were not coming, master chapman," he said. "A little +later and you had lost your voyage. Tide waits for no man, and +Thorgils sails with the tide he waits. Therefore Thorgils waits for +no man." + +Just for a moment a thought came to me that Thorgils was in league +with the outlaws, and that was hard. But Evan's next words told me +that in this I was wrong. It would seem that the taking of his +ill-gotten goods across the channel had been planned by Evan before +he fell in with me, and maybe that already made plan was the saving +of my life, by putting the thought of an easy way to dispose of me +to some profit into the outlaw's head. + +"I had been here earlier," he said, "but for a mischance to my +friend here. I want to take him with me, if you will suffer it." + +He pointed to me as he spoke, and Thorgils turned and looked at me +idly. I was some twenty yards from him as I lay, and I tried to cry +out to him as his eyes fell on me, but I could only fetch a sort of +groan, and I could not move at all. + +"He seems pretty bad," said Thorgils, when he heard me. "What is +amiss with him? I can have no fevers or aught of that sort aboard, +with the young lady as passenger, moreover." + +"There is nothing of that," Evan answered hastily. "It is but the +doing of a fall from his horse. The beast rolled on him, and he has +a broken thigh, slipped shoulder, and broken jaw, so that it will +be long before he is fit for aught again, as I fear. Now he wants +to get back to his wife and children at Lanphey, hard by Pembroke, +and our leech said that he would take no harm from the voyage. It +is calm enough, and not so cold but that we may hap him up against +it. If I may take him, I will pay well for his passage." + +Thorgils looked at me again for a moment. + +"Well," he said, "if that is all, I do not mind. It would be better +if the after cabin was empty, but of course the princess has that. +There is room for him to be stowed comfortably enough under the +fore deck with your bales, however, and it will be warm there. Ay, +we will take the poor soul home, for his mind will be easier, and +that will help his healing. It is ill to be laid up in a strange +land. Get him on board as soon as you can, for there is but an hour +to wait for tide. I will ask no pay for his passage, for he is but +another bale of goods, as it were, swaddled up in that wise, and I +told you that I would take all you liked to bring for what we +agreed on." + +Evan thanked him, and Thorgils laughed, turning away to go up the +town, and saying that he would be back anon. I groaned again as he +passed me, and he looked straight in my eyes, which were all that +he could see of me. + +"Better on board than in that litter, poor fellow," he said kindly; +"it is a smooth sea, and we shall see Tenby in no long time if this +breeze holds." + +He passed on with a nod and smile, and I could almost have wept in +my rage and despair. I could not have thought of anything more +cruel than this, and there was a sour grin on Evan's face, as if he +knew what was passing in my mind. + +Now they lifted me once more and carried me to the ship, setting me +down amidships while they got the bales of goods on board. She was +a stout trading vessel, built for burden more than speed, but she +seemed light in the water, as though she had little cargo for this +voyage. She had raised decks fore and aft, and there were low doors +in the bulkheads below them that seemed to lead to some sort of +cabins. Under the forward of these decks the outlaws began to stow +their bales, the man who had called Thorgils ashore directing them. + +I lay just at the gangway, and a little on one side so as not to +block it, and I watched all that went on, helplessly. There was no +one near me, or I think that I should have made some desperate +effort to call a Norseman to my help. Maybe Evan thought me safer +here than nearer the place where all were busy, as yet, but +presently I heard voices on the wharf as if some newcomers were +drawing near, and Evan heard them also, and left his cargo to +hasten to my side. I saw that he looked anxious, and a little hope +of some fresh chance of escape stirred in me, though, as they had +carried me on board feet foremost, I could not see who came. + +When they were close at hand their voices told me that one at least +was a lady, and that she and her companions were Welsh. I supposed +that this was the princess of whom I had heard Thorgils speak just +now. I should know in a moment, for the first footsteps were on the +long gangplank and pattering across it, while Evan began to smile +and bow profoundly. + +Then there came past my litter, stepping daintily across the +planks, a most fair and noble lady, tall and black haired and +graceful, wrapped against the sea air in the rare beaver skins of +the Teifi River, and wonderful stuffs that the traders from the +east bring to Marazion, such as we Saxons seldom see but as +priceless booty, paid for with lives of men in war with West Wales +in days not long gone by. + +She half turned as she saw me, and it gave me a little pang, as it +were, to see her draw her dress aside that it might by no means +touch me, no doubt with the same fear of fever that had been in the +mind of my friend at the first. But then she stayed and looked at +me and at Evan, who was yet cringing in some Welsh way of respect +as she passed. Her companions stopped on the gangplank, and they +were silent. + +"Why is this sick man on the ship," she said to my captor, with +some little touch of haughtiness. "And why is he swathed thus? What +is wrong with him?" + +Evan bowed again, and at once began his tale as he had told it to +Thorgils. But he did not say that I came from near Pembroke at all. +Now he named some other place whose name began with "Llan--" as my +home. + +"The good shipmaster has suffered me to take him home, Lady, +subject to your consent," he ended. "I pray you let it be so." + +Now the eyes of the princess had grown soft as she heard the tale, +and when Evan ended it there was pity in her voice as she answered. + +"Surely he may come, and if there is no fitting place for him he +shall even have the cabin to himself. I can be well content in +these warm things of mine on deck in this calm air, and he must +have all shelter." + +"Nay, Lady, but there is the fore cabin, where he will be well +bestowed," Evan said hastily, beckoning at the same time to his +comrades that they might take me from this too unsafe place at +once. + +He kept himself between me and her as much as he could all this +time, and I made no sign. It seemed to me that I could not, even in +my trouble, bring more pain to this soft-eyed princess by raising +the groan which was all that I could compass. What good would it +do? I could tell her nothing, and she could not dream of the true +reason that made me try to cry out. Maybe she would listen through +all the long hours to come to hear if the poor wretch she felt for +was yet in that dire pain that made him moan so terribly. + +"Is he well bandaged?" she said, then. "It is ill if broken bones +are not closely set and splinted, and the ship will plunge and rock +presently." + +Evan assured her with many words that all was well done, and yet +she lingered. + +"I must see him well and softly bestowed in his place," she said, +half laughing, and turning to some who stood yet beyond my range of +sight. "Else I shall have no peace at all till we come to land +again." + +Evan turned to me at that saying, to hide his face. He was growing +ashy pale, and the sweat was breaking out on his forehead. And that +made me glad to see, for he was being punished. Even yet the +princess might wish to see that my swathings were comfortable, and +if I once had my mouth freed for a moment all was lost to him. + +He signed to his comrades to lift me carefully, and then put a bold +face on the matter, and thanked the princess for her kindness. + +"Lady, I may be glad to beg a warm wrap or two from your store," he +said. "If it pleases you, we will shew you where he is to lie." + +So they went forward, I on my litter first, and the lady and her +people following. Evan knew well enough that little fault could be +found with the warm place that was ready for me among the bales +under the deck, and he was eager to get me out of sight before +Thorgils returned. They had made a place ready with some of the +softer bales for me to lie on, and there they lifted me from the +litter, very carefully indeed, that they might not have to +rearrange any of my bonds. Then the princess looked in through the +low doorway and seemed content. + +"It is as well as one can expect on board a ship, I suppose," she +said, with a little sigh. "But I will send him somewhat to cover +him well." + +And then she bade me farewell, bidding me be patient for the little +while of the voyage, and also adding that presently, when she was +at home, she would ask Govan the hermit to pray for me; and so went +her way, with the two maidens who were with her, and followed by a +couple of well-armed warriors, all of whom I could see now for the +first time. + +Then Evan drew his hand over his forehead and cursed. As for the +other Welshmen, they looked at one another, saying nothing, but I +could see that they also had been fairly terrified. One of the men +of the princess came with a warm blanket to cover me, and he stayed +to see it put over me. It was as well that he did so, for Evan had +no time to see that my arm was yet loose, unless he had forgotten +that it ever had been so. Then they all went out, shutting the door +after them, and I was left to my thoughts, which were not happy. + +I began to blame myself as a fool for not trying to let the +princess see that all was not right. But still I could not lose +hope, for Thorgils might yet wish to see me, or the princess might +send her men to look in on me. There were more chances now than a +little while ago, as I thought. + +I began to think over all that were possible, presently, and I +tried to get the gag from my mouth. I could not reach it with my +free hand, however, my elbows being too tightly fastened back even +after all the shaking of the journey. Then I thrust that free hand +and forearm well among the bandages across my chest, so that either +of my captors who thought of it might think that the other had +bound it, for I dared not try to loosen myself more yet. There +would be time for that when we were fairly at sea. + +After that I lay still, and so spied the bale in which my sword had +been put, and that gave me some sort of hope by its nearness to me, +though indeed it did not seem likely that I should ever get it. + +I heard Thorgils come on board before very long, and I could hear +also the voice of the princess as she talked to him, though with +the length of the vessel between us, and the wash of the ripples +alongside in my ears, I did not make out if they spoke of me. Evan +spoke with them also, and it is likely that they did so. + +Presently I could tell by the sway of the ship that she was afloat, +and the men began to bustle about the deck overhead, while Thorgils +shouted some orders now and then. Soon the sides of the ship grated +along the wharf as she was hauled out, and then the shore warps +were hove on board with a thud above me. I felt the lift of a +little wave and heard the rattle of the halliards as the sail was +hoisted and the ship heeled a little, and then began the cheerful +wash and bubble of the wave at her bows as she went to sea. The men +hailed friends on shore with last jests and farewells, and then +fell to clearing up the shore litter from the decks. + +Then Evan came and looked at me. Through the door I could see the +hills and the harbour beyond the high stern, and on that Thorgils +was steering, with his eyes on the vane at the masthead. His men +were coiling down ropes, and Evan's two men were sitting under the +weather gunwale aft, talking with the guards of the princess. She +was in the after cabin, I suppose, out of the way of the wind, with +her maidens. I could not see her. + +"Art all well, friend?" said Evan, loudly enough for the nearest +Norseman to hear. "Well, that is good." + +Then he sunk his voice to a whisper, and said: "That gag bides in +your mouth, let me tell you. I will risk no more calling to the +shipmaster." + +He cast his eyes over me and grunted, and went out, leaving the low +door open so that he could see me at any time. It was plain that he +thought his men had fastened my arm. + +Now I tried to get rid of the gag again, and I will say that the +outlaw knew how to manage that business. It filled my mouth, and +the bandage round the jaw held it firmly. In no way could I get it +out, or so much as loosen it enough to speak. And then I was worn +out, and the little heave of the ship lulled me, and I forgot my +troubles in sleep that came suddenly. + +I was waked by the clapping to of the cabin door and the thunder of +the wind in the great square sail as the ship went on the other +tack. We had a fair breeze from the southwest over our quarter as +the tide set up channel, but now it had turned and Thorgils was +wearing ship. The new list of the deck flung the door to, and none +noticed it, for it was dark now except for the light of the rising +moon, and I suppose that the other noises of the ship prevented +Evan hearing that the door had closed. + +I felt rested with the short sleep, and now seemed the time to try +to get free if ever. I got my left hand out of the bandages where I +had hidden it, and began to claw at my chin to try to free it from +the swathings that kept my mouth closed, but I could hardly get at +them, so tightly were my elbows lashed behind my back, and it +became plain that I must get them loose first if I could. It was +easy to get the bandages loose, but the knotted cord was a +different matter, for the men who tied it knew something of the +work, and the cord was not a new one and would not stretch. + +Then I heard two of the Norseman talking close to the cabin +bulkhead. + +"This is as good a passage as we shall ever make in the old keel," +one said; "but we shall not fetch Tenby on this tide. Will Thorgils +put in elsewhere, I wonder?" + +"We could make the old landing place in an hour," was the answer, +"and we had better wait for tide there than box about in the open +channel in this cold. There is snow coming, I think." + +I heard the man flap his arms across his chest, and the other said: + +"Where do these merchants want to get ashore? I expect that +Thorgils will do as they think best. He is pretty good natured." + +They went away, and it seemed that I might have an hour before me. +I was sure that if he had a chance Evan would land as soon as he +could, and at some other place than at the Danes' town if possible, +so that he might get me away without questions that might be hard +to answer. + +So I strained at the cords which bound my elbows with all my might, +but I only hurt myself as the lashings drew tighter. I twisted from +side to side as I did this, and presently hit my elbow hard against +some metal fitting of the ship that seemed very sharp. Just at +first I did not heed this, but by and by, when I had fairly tired +myself with struggling, I minded it again, and so turned on my side +and set my free hand to work to find out what it was. + +There was a stout post which came from beneath and through the +rough flooring of the cabin on which I lay, and went upward to the +deck. I daresay it was to make the cable fast to, but I could not +see that, nor did it matter to me what it might be for. But what I +had felt was a heavy angle iron that was bolted by one arm to the +post and by the other to a thick beam that crossed the ship from +side to side, so as to bind the two together. It had a sharp edge +on the part which crossed the floor, and it seemed to me as if it +had been set there on purpose, for if I could manage to reach it +rightly I might chafe through the cords at my back. Of course, +there was the chance of Evan coming in and seeing what I was at, +but I could keep my covering on me, maybe, and if Thorgils came, so +much the better. He would see that something was amiss. + +It was no easy task to get myself in such wise that the cord was +fairly on the edge of the iron, but I did it at last, and, +moreover, I got the thick blanket that was over me to cover me +afresh. Then I started to try to chafe the cord through, and of +course I could only move a little at a time, and I could not be +sure that I was always rubbing it on the same place. And the great +post was sorely in my way, over my shoulder more or less, so that I +must needs hurt myself now and then against it. But as this seemed +my one chance I would not give up until I must. + +Every now and then I stayed my sawing and had a great tug at the +cords, in hopes that they would give way, but at last I knew I must +saw them through almost to the last strand. It would have been easy +if I could keep at work on the same spot, but that was impossible, +for I could not see behind me, and the post kept shifting me as I +struck it. + +I wondered now that I had seen nothing of Evan for so long. Maybe +if I had not been so busy the wonder would have passed, for I +should have been seasick as he was. There was some sea over on this +coast, and quite enough to upset a landsman. However, I was content +that he did not come, without caring to know why. + +Then I became aware that the movement of the ship had changed in +some way. There was less of it, and the roll was longer. Soon I +heard Thorgils calling to his men, and then the creak of the blocks +and the thud of folds of canvas on deck told me that the sail was +lowered. After that the long oars rattled as they were run out, and +their even roll and click in the rowlocks seemed to say that they +were making up to some anchorage or wharf. The end of the voyage +was at hand, and I worked harder than ever at my bonds. I began to +fear that the cords would never chafe through enough for me to snap +them, and my heart fell terribly. + +Now there was a shout from Thorgils, and his men stopped rowing. I +heard another shout from on shore, as it seemed, and the sound of +breakers on rocks was not so very distant as we slipped into smooth +water. The men trampled across the deck over my head and cast the +mooring ropes ashore, and then the ship scraped along a landing +stage of some sort and came to rest. I worked wildly at the rope. + +Judging from the voices I heard, there seemed to be a number of +people on shore, and soon I heard steps coming along the deck +towards the cabin door. Hastily I straightened myself, and got a +fold of my blanket over my free forearm just as it opened, and Evan +peered in. Past his shoulder I could see that it was bright +moonlight, and I had a glimpse of tall snow-covered cliffs that +towered over us. + +"How goes it, friend?" he cried in a loud voice. "Hast slept well? +We are in your own land, and will be ashore soon." + +That was for others to hear. Then he stood aside to let a little +more light into the cabin, and it seemed that he had no suspicions +that all was not as he would have it. He came inside and felt me +carelessly enough. + +"Well," he said. "You are warm in here, and no mistake. If I +mistake not, you have been trying to wriggle out of these bonds." + +He set his hand under some of the lashings and pulled them without +uncovering me much, though it would not have mattered if he had +done so, as it was very dark in here. + +As I knew only too well, they were fast as ever, and he said: + +"Well, we can tie a knot fairly. Presently we will loosen you a +bit--in the morning maybe." + +He went and closed the door, and I fell to work again. He would +leave me now for a while. + +There was a long talk from ship to shore before the gangplank was +run out, and presently Thorgils spoke to Evan, seemingly close to +the cabin door: + +"Here's a bit of luck for your princess," he said. "Her father is +up in the camp yonder, with his guards behind him. Maybe there is +trouble with the Tenby Danefolk, or going to be some. It is as well +that we put in here. Now he bids us take the lady up to him and +bide to feast with him, Will you come with me?" + +"I stay by my goods," answered Evan, with a laugh. "If there is a +levy in the camp there will be men who will need watching among +them." + +"Why, then, we six Norsemen can go, and leave you to tend the +ship." + +"That will be all right," said Evan, somewhat gladly, as I thought; +"so long as we are here you need have no fear. Every one knows that +a chapman will fight for his goods if need be. But a Welshman will +not meddle with a Welshman's goods." + +"So long as he is there to mind them," laughed Thorgils. "Then we +can go. I do not know how soon we can be back, though." + +"That is no matter. We are used to keeping watch." + +"Ay. How is that hurt friend of yours after the voyage?" + +"Well as one could expect," answered Evan, "He says he has slept +almost all the way. He is comfortable where he is." + +They went aft, and soon I heard the princess speaking with them. +Then the well-known click and clash of armed men marching in order +came to me, as the chief sent a guard for his daughter. It was +terrible to hear the voices of honest men so close to me and to be +helpless, and I worked at the rope feverishly. + +I heard the princess and her party leave the ship, and almost as +the last footstep left the deck one strand of the cord went. I +worked harder yet, with a great hope on me. + +"Presently the Norsemen will be full of Howel's mead," I heard Evan +say to one of his men. "Then we will get ashore and leave swiftly. +I think we need not stay to pay Thorgils for the voyage." + +"Let us tell some of the shore men to bide here to help us," said +the other--"we have the Saxon to carry." + +"That is a good thought." + +They clattered over the plank ashore, and another strand of the +rope went at that time. I thought it was but one of another turn of +the line, however. Five minutes more of painful sawing and +straining and I felt another strand give way. That made three, and +now one of the two turns of line that held my arms could have but +one strand left, and that ought to be no more than I could break by +force. Then I wrestled with it with little care if my struggles as +I bent and strove made noise that might call attention to me, for +it was my last chance. The lines bruised and cut me sorely, even +through my mail, but I heeded that no more than I did the hardness +of the timbers against which I rolled; and at last it did snap, +with a suddenness that let my elbow fly against the iron that had +been my saving, almost forcing a cry from me. + +I was yet bound to my splints, but with my arms free it was but the +work of a few seconds to cast off the last of my bonds, and within +five minutes after the strand had parted I was on my feet, and +rubbing and stretching my bruised and cramped limbs into life +again. Then I felt in the darkness for the bale that held my gear, +and found it and tore it open. + +How good it was to gird the sword on me again, and to feel the cold +rim of the good helm round my hot forehead! I was myself again, and +as I slipped Gerent's gold ring on my arm I thought that it was +almost worth the bondage to know what pleasure can be in the +winning of freedom. I forgot that I was troubled with thirst and +hunger, having touched nothing since I broke my fast with Owen; +though, indeed, there was little matter in that, for I had done +well at that meal with the long ride before me, and one ought to be +able to go for a day and a night without food if need be, as a +warrior. + +Still, I was not yet out of the trouble. Thorgils had gone to some +place that I knew nothing of, and I had yet to learn if there was +any hope from Evan's shore going, which might make things easier or +might not. I could hear no one moving about the ship, so I pushed +the door open for an inch or two, and looked out into the +moonlight, with my drawn sword ready in my hand. + +We were in a strange place. The ship's bows were landward, so that +as I looked aft I could see that we lay just inside the mouth of a +little cove, whose guarding cliffs towered on either side of the +water for not less than ten-score feet above the fringe of +breakers, falling sheer to the water with hardly so much as a +jutting rock at their feet. There was no sign of house or man at +the hilltop, so that it was plain that we were not at Tenby. + +Then I was able to see that we were alongside a sort of landing +place that was partly natural and partly hewn and smoothed from the +living rock into a sort of wharf at the foot of the cliff. From +this landing place a steep road, hewn with untold labour at some +ancient day, slanted sharply upward and toward the head of the cove +along the face of the rocks, which were somewhat less steep on this +side than across the water. I could not see the top of this road, +but no doubt it was that along which Thorgils and the princess had +gone, and no doubt also Evan thought to carry me up it before long. + +I had a hope that my friend would return too soon for that, but it +was a slender one. It was plain that he had gone too far for me to +call to him. Yet could I win clear of the ship I might find or +fight my way up after him, and that seemed easy with only these +three Welshmen against me, and they expecting no attack. + +I looked for the two who were left if I slew Evan. One sat under +the weather gunwale, wrapped in a great cloak, and seemed to be +sleeping. The other was not far off on the landing place, watching +Evan, who was speaking with a dozen men at the foot of the +rock-hewn road. I suppose that the coming in of the ship had drawn +idlers from the camp I had heard of to see her, for they all had +arms of some sort. + +This was bad, for it seemed certain that the whole crowd would join +with Evan in falling on me if he called on them. If I came forth +now I had full twenty yards to cover before I reached them from the +ship's side after I had settled with the men on watch. In that +space all would be ready for me, and they were too many for me to +cut through to the roadway. I thought too that I heard the voices +of more who came downward toward the ship, though I could not see +them whence I was. + +Then it came into my mind that if there was any place where I could +hide myself on deck I would try to creep to it while none had their +eyes on the ship. Then Evan, as he went to the cabin to seek me, +would have to deal with me from the rear. But that I soon saw was +hopeless. The deck was clear of lumber big enough to shelter me, +and the moonlight was almost as bright as day on everything, and +all the clearer for the snow that covered all the land. So I began +to turn over many other plans in my mind, and at last it seemed +that the only thing was to wait in the cabin for the best chance +that offered. Most likely Evan would do even as he had said, and +try and get away at once, with all he could lay hands on. If so, I +thought it would be certain that in his hurry he would bring all +these men on board in order to get his goods, and maybe those +belonging to Thorgils also, out and away with all haste, and so I +could cut through them with a rush that must take them unawares, +and so win to the camp with none to hinder me. There might be +sentries who would stay me, but I should be within calling distance +of my friend. Moreover, a sentry would see that I was some sort of +a leader of men, and might help me. So I began to wish for Evan to +act, for my fingers itched to get one downward blow at him. + +I had not long to wait. He finished his talk with the men, and they +all came to the ship, even as I had hoped. But only half of them +came on board, leaving the rest alongside on the rock so that they +might help the goods over the side. That was not all that I could +have wished, but I thought that I might get through them in the +surprise that was waiting for them. So I drew my sword, and for +want of shield wrapped the blanket from the floor round my left +arm, and stood by for the rush. + +Evan walked in a leisurely way toward the door, talking to one of +the newcomers as he came. The rest straggled behind him. + +"I wonder how my sick man fares now," he said, and set his hand to +the latch. + +Then he opened the door and I shouted and sprung forth, aiming a +blow at him as I came. But I was not clear of the low deck, and my +sword smote the beam overhead so that I missed him, and he threw +himself on the deck out of reach of a second blow, howling. I was +sorry, but I could not stop, for I had to win to the shore and to +the road yet. + +The other men shrank from me, and I went through them easily, and +so reached the shoreward gunwale. There I was stayed, for Evan had +never ceased to cry to his fellows to stop me, and there was a row +of ready swords waiting for me. And there were more men coming down +the path, Welshmen as I could see by their arms, and by their white +tunics which glimmered in the moonlight. So that was closed to me, +and it seemed that here I must fight my last fight. + +Then as I could not go over the side I went to the high stern and +leapt on it, half hoping that the men on shore might not be quick +enough to stay me from a leap thence, but they were there alongside +before me. Evan was up now, and cheering on the men on deck to +attack me, but not seeming to care to lead them. They gathered +together and came aft to me slowly, planning, as it would seem, how +best to attack me, for the steering deck on which I was raised me +four feet or so above them. The men on shore could not reach me at +all unless I got too near the gunwale, when some of them who had +spears might easily end me. + +Something alongside the ship caught my eyes, and I glanced at it +with a thought that here might be fresh foes. But it was only the +little boat that belonged to the ship. The wind had caught her, and +was drifting her at the length of her painter as if she wanted to +cross the cove to its far side. Perhaps the men saw that my eyes +were not on them for that moment, for they made a rush from the +deck to climb the steering platform. + +Then I had a good fight for a few minutes, until I swept them back +to their place. Two had won to the deck beside me, and there they +stayed. Now I had a hope that the men on shore would come round to +the ship and leave the way clear for me, but Evan called to them to +bide where they were. He had not faced me yet, and I bade him do +so, telling him that this was his affair, and that it was nidring +to risk other men's lives to save his own skin. But even that would +not bring him on me. + +Now the men whom I had seen coming down from the cliffs' top had +hurried to see what all the shouting meant, and I saw that they +were well-armed warriors and mostly spearsmen. Evan cried to them +to come and help, and they ranged up alongside. He told them that I +was a Norseman who had gone berserk, and must needs be slain. + +"That is easily managed," said the leader. "Get to your bows, men." + +I saw half a dozen unslinging them, and I knew that without shield +I was done, and in that moment a thought came to me. I suppose that +danger sharpens one's wits, for I saw that in the little boat was +my last chance. I had not time to draw her to the side, and so I +cut her painter, which was fast to a cleat close to me, and as I +did so the first arrow missed my head. + +Then I shouted and leapt from the high stern straight among the +crowd at Evan, felling one of his outlaw comrades as I lit on the +deck. But I could not reach him, and in a few seconds I should have +been surrounded. So I cleared a way to the seaward side and went +overboard, amid a howl from my foes. I thought that I should never +stop sinking, for I had forgotten my mail; but I came to the +surface close to the ship, and looked for the boat. She was +drifting gently away from me, and I knew that I should have all +that I could do to reach her before the bowmen got to work again +from the ship's deck. Some one threw an axe at me as I swam, which +was waste of a good weapon, and I hoped that it was not Thorgils' +best. Strange what thoughts come to a man when in a strait. + +The water struck icy cold to me, and I felt that I could not stand +it long, but I gained on the boat with every stroke, though it was +hard work swimming in my mail and with a sword in my hand. I got +rid of the blanket that was hampering my left arm, and by that time +I was far enough from the ship for my foes to be puzzled by it. The +moonlight was bright on the water, but the little waves tossed it +so that it must have been hard for them to know which was I and +which the floating stuff. Certainly, the first arrows that were +shot when the bowmen got a chance at me from the ship or over her +were aimed at the blanket, for I heard them strike it. Then one +leapt from wave to wave past me. + +I won to the boat just in time, for I could not have held on much +longer. The cold was numbing me, and if I stopped swimming I must +have sunk with the weight of mail. None of our old summer tricks of +floating and the like were of any use with that weight on me. The +arrows were coming thickly by that time, and I was glad to get to +the far side of the boat and rest my hand on the gunwale, while I +managed to sheathe my sword. The men could not see plainly where I +was, and the arrows pattered on the planks of the boat and hissed +into the water still, on the chance of hitting me. So I thought it +well to get out of range before I tried to get on board, and so +held the gunwale with one hand and paddled on with the other, until +the arrows began to fall short, and at last ceased. A Welshman's +bow has no long range, so that I had not far to go thus. But all +the while I feared most of all to hear the plash of oars that would +tell me that they had put off another boat in chase of me. + +A little later and I should have been helpless, as I found when I +tried to get into the boat. The cold was terrible, and it had hold +of my limbs in spite of the swimming. It was hard work climbing +over the bows, as I must needs do unless I wanted to capsize the +light craft as I had overset a fisher's canoe more than once, by +boarding her over the side, as we sported in the Glastonbury meres +in high summer; but I managed it, and was all the better for the +struggle, which set the blood coursing in my veins again. Then I +got out the oars and began to pull away from the ship, with no care +for direction so long as I could get away from her. + +The foe had no boat, for they were all clustered in the ship or +close to her on the rock, and there was a deal of noise going on +among them. When I was fairly out of their way, and I could no +longer make out their forms, I began to plan where I had best go, +and at first I thought of a little beach that I had seen on the far +side of the cove, thinking that I could get up what seemed a gorge +to the cliff's top, and so hide inland somewhere. But when I could +see right into the gorge, I found that it was steep and higher than +I thought. My foes would be able to meet me by the time I was at +the top. + +There was no other place that I could see, for none could climb +from the foot of the cliffs elsewhere, since if he reached the +rocks he would have to stay where he leapt to them. So as there was +no help for it, I headed for the open sea. No doubt, I thought, I +should find some landing place along the coast before I had gone +far, and meanwhile I was getting a fair start of the enemy, who +would have to follow the windings of the cliffs if they cared to +come after me. + +I pulled therefore for the eastern end of the cove, opposite to the +place where the ship lay, and so rounded the point and was out in +the open and tossing on the waves in a way that tried my rowing +sorely, for I am but a fresh-water boatman. Lucky it was for me +that there was little sea on, or I should have fared badly. Then I +pulled eastward, and against the tide also, but that was a thing +that I did not know. + +The boat was wonderfully light and swift, and far less trouble to +send along than any other I had seen. There are no better +shipwrights than the Norsemen, and we Saxons have forgotten the +craft. + +The terrible numbness passed off as I worked, but now the wind grew +cold, and the clouds were working up from the southwest quickly, +with wind overhead that was not felt here yet. I knew that I must +make some haven soon, or it was likely that I should be frozen on +the sea, but the great cliffs were like walls, and at their feet +was a fringe of angry foam everywhere. I could see no hope as yet. +Far away to the east of me a great headland seemed to bar my way, +but I did not think that I should ever reach it. And all the while +I looked to see the black forms of men on the cliffs in the +moonlight, but they did not come. That was good at least. + +Then at last my heart leapt, for I saw, as a turn of the cliffs +opened out to me, another white beach with a cleft of the rocks +running up from it, and I thought it best to take the chance it +gave me, for I feared the blinding snow that would be here soon, +and I felt that the sea was rising. If my foes were after me they +would have been seen before now, as they came to the edge of the +cliffs to spy me out, and anyway I dreaded them less than the +growing cold. Moreover, I thought that Evan would hardly get many +men to follow him on a chase of what he had told them was a madman, +and a dangerous one at that. He had his goods to see to also. + +So I ran the boat into the black mouth of the gorge, and beached +her well by good chance. I had little time to lose, but I tied her +painter to a rock at the highest fringe of tide wrack, in hopes +that she might be safe. It was so dark here that I did not think +that Evan would see her from above. And then I began to climb up +the rugged path that led out of the gorge to the hilltops. + +There were bones everywhere in it. Bones and skulls of droves of +cattle on all the strand above the tide mark for many score yards. +Their ribs stuck out from the snow everywhere, and the sightless +eye sockets grinned at me as I stumbled over them. But I had no +time to wonder how they came there, for I must get to the summit +before Evan and his men reached it by their way along the cliff. I +ate handfuls of the snow and quenched my thirst that was growing on +me again, and my strength began to come back to me as I hurried +upward. I was a better man when at last I reached the top of the +gorge than when I came ashore. + + + +CHAPTER VII. HOW OSWALD CROSSED THE DYFED CLIFFS, AND MET WITH FRIENDS. + + +Now I halted before I lifted my head above the skyline, and +listened with a fear on me lest I should hear the sound of running +feet, and I was the more careful because I knew that the snow which +lay white and deep on all the open land might deaden any sounds +thereof. But I heard nothing save the wail of the wind overhead as +it rose in gusts. I wondered if Thorgils would be able to bide in +this little cove, or must needs put out to seek some other haven. +There seemed to be a swell setting into it. + +So I crept yet farther up the path, crouching behind a point of +rock, and thence I saw a dark line on the snow that seemed to +promise a road, and that must surely lead to some house or village. +I went forward to it with all caution, and with my head over my +shoulder, as they say, but I saw no man. This track led east and +west, and was well trodden by cattle, but there were few footprints +of men on it, so far as I could see. So I turned into it, going +ever away from the ship, and hurrying. I had a thought that I heard +shouts behind me, but there was more wind here on the heights than +I had felt on the sea, or it was rising, and it sung strangely +round the bare points of rock that jutted up everywhere. Maybe it +was but that. + +Inland I could see no sign of house or hut where I might find food +at least, but the cloud wrack had drifted across the moon, and I +could not see far now. It was a desolate coast, all unlike our own. + +Then I came to a place where the track crossed stony ground and was +lost in gathered snow. When I was across that I had lost the road +altogether, and had only the line of the cliffs to guide me to what +shelter I could not tell. And now a few flakes of snow fluttered +round me, and I held on hopelessly, thinking that surely I should +come to some place that would give me a lee of rock that I could +creep under. + +Then the snow swooped down on me heavily, with a whirl and rush of +wind from the sea, and I tried to hurry yet more from the chill. +Then I was sure that I heard voices calling after me, and I ran, +not rightly knowing where to go, but judging that the coastline +would lead me to some fishers' village in the end. There seemed no +hope from the land I had seen. + +Again the voices came--nay, but there was one voice only, and it +called me by my name: "Oswald, Oswald!" + +I stopped and listened, for I thought of Thorgils. But the voice +was silent, and again I pressed on in the blinding snow, and at +once it came, wailing: + +"Oswald, Oswald!" + +It was behind me now and close at hand, and I turned with my hand +on my sword hilt. But there was nothing. Only the snow whirled +round me, and the wind sung in the rocks. I called softly, but +there was no answer, and I was called no more as I stood still. + +"Oswald, Oswald!" + +I had turned to go on my way when it came this time, and now I +could have sworn that I knew the voice, though whose it was I could +not say. + +"Who calls me," I cried, facing round. + +Then a chill that was not of cold wind and snow fell on me, for +there was silence, and into my mind crept the knowledge of where I +had last heard that voice. It was long years ago--at Eastdean in +half-forgotten Sussex. + +"Father!" I cried. "Father!" + +There was no reply, and I stood there for what seemed a long time +waiting one. I called again and again in vain. + +"It is weakness," I said to myself at last, and turned. + +At once the voice was wailing, with some wild terror as it seemed, +at my very shoulder, with its cry of my name, and I must needs turn +once more sharply: + +"Oswald, Oswald!" + +My foot struck a stone as I wheeled round, and it grated on others +and seemed to stop. But as I listened for the voice I heard a +crash, and yet another, and at last a far-off rumble that was below +my very feet, and I sprang with a cry away from the sound, for I +knew that I stood on the very brink of some gulf. And then the snow +ceased for a moment and the moon shone out from the break in the +clouds, and I saw that my last footprint whence the voice had made +me turn was on the edge of an awesome rift that cleft the level +surface on the downland, clean cut as by a sword stroke, right +athwart my path. Even in clear daylight I had hardly seen that gulf +until I was on its very brink, for I could almost have leapt it, +and nought marked its edge. And in its depths I heard the crash and +thunder of prisoned waves. + +I do not know that I ever felt such terror as fell on me then. It +was the terror that comes of thinking what might have been, after +the danger is past, and that is the worst of all. I sank down on +the snow with my knees trembling, and I clutched at the grass that +I might not feel that I must even yet slip into that gulf that was +so close, though there was no slope of the ground toward it. Sheer +and sudden it gaped with sharp edges, as the mouth of some monster +that waited for prey. + +There on the snow I believe that I should have bided to sleep the +sleep of the frozen, for I hardly dared to move. The snow whirled +round me again, but I did not heed it, and with a great roar the +wind rose and swept up the rift with a sound as of mighty harps, +but it did not rouse me. Only my father's voice came to me again +and called me, and I rose up shaking and followed it as it came +from time to time, until I was once more on the track that I had +lost. + +There it left me, but the sadness that had been in its tones was +gone when it last came. And surely that was the touch of no +snowflake that lit on my hand for a moment and was gone. + +Now I grew stronger, and the fear of the unseen was no longer on +me, and I battled onward with wind and snow for a long way. Thanks +to the wind, the track was kept clear of the snow, and I did not +lose it again until it led me to help that was unlooked for. + +There came the sound of a bell to me, strange sounding indeed, but +a bell nevertheless, and I knew that somewhere close at hand was +surely some home of monks who would take me in with all kindness. +And presently the track led me nearer to the sound of the sea, and +at last bent sharply to the right and began to go downhill, while +the sound of the bell grew plainer above the roar of nearer +breakers yet. I felt that I was passing down such a gorge as that +up which I had come from the boat, but far narrower, for I had not +gone far before I could touch the rocky walls with either hand. +Then I came to steps, and they were steep, but below me still +sounded the bell, and the hoarse breakers were very near at hand. I +expected to see the lights of some little fishing village every +moment, but the wind that rushed up the narrow space between the +cliff walls and brought the salt spray with it almost blinded me. + +Suddenly the stairway turned so sharply that I almost fell, and +then I found my way downward barred by what seemed a great +rough-faced rock that was right across the gorge, if one may call a +mere cleft in the cliffs so, and barred my way, while the strange +bell sounded from beyond it. But it was sheltered under this +barrier, and I felt along it to find out where I had to climb over, +thinking that the stairway must lead up its face. But there was no +stair, and as I groped my hand came on cut stone, and when I felt +it I knew that I had come to a doorway, for I found the woodwork, +but in no way could I find how it opened. + +I kicked on it, therefore, and shouted, but it seemed that none +heard. The bell went on and then stopped, and I thought I heard +footsteps on the far side of the barrier. They came nearer, and +then were almost at the door, paused for a moment, and then the +door was opened and the red light from a fire flashed out on me, +showing the tall form of a man in monk's dress in its opening. + +"Come in, my son," said a grave voice, speaking Welsh, that had no +wonder in it, though one could hardly have expected to see an armed +and gold-bedecked Saxon here in the storm. + +I stumbled into what I had thought a rock, and found when my eyes +grew used to the light that I was in a house built of great stones, +uncemented but wonderfully fitted together, and warm and bright +with the driftwood fire, though I heard the spray rattle on the +roof of flat stones, and the wind howled strangely around the +walls. Both ends of this house were of the living rock of the sides +of the gorge, and at one end seemed to be a sort of cave with a +narrow entrance. + +The man who had bidden me in stood yet at the open door looking out +on his staircase, but he did not bide there long. With a sigh he +turned and closed the door and came in, hardly looking at me, but +turning toward the cave I had just noticed. He was an old man, very +old indeed, with a long white beard and pale face lined with +countless wrinkles, and he stooped a little as he walked. But his +face was calm and kind, though he did not smile at me, and I felt +that here I was safe with one of no common sort. + +"Come, my son," he said, "it is the hour of prime. Glad am I to +have one with me after many days." + +He waited for no answer, and I followed him for the few steps that +led to the rock cavern; and there was a tiny oratory with its altar +and cross, and wax lights already burning. + +The old man knelt in his place and I knelt with him, and as he +began the office straightway I knew how worn out I was, and of a +sudden the lights danced before me and I reeled and fell with a +clatter and clash of arms on the rocky floor. I seemed to know that +the old man turned and looked and rose up from his knees hastily, +and I tried to say that I was sorry that I had broken the peace of +this holy place; but he answered in his soft voice: + +"Why, poor lad, I should have seen that you were spent ere this. +The fault is mine." + +He raised me gently, and seemed to search me for some wound. And as +he did so I came more to myself, and begged him to go on with his +office. + +"First comes care of the afflicted, my son, and after that may be +prayer. In truth, to help the fainting is in itself a prayer, as I +think. Come to the fireside and tell me what is amiss." + +"Fasting and fighting and freezing, father," I said, trying to +laugh. + +"Are you wounded?" he asked quickly. + +"No, not at all." + +"That is well. It is a brave heart that will jest in such a case as +yours, for you are ice from head to foot. Well, I had better hear +your story, if you will tell it me, in the daylight. Now get those +wet garments off you and put on this. I will get you food, and you +shall sleep." + +This was surely the last place where my foes would think of looking +for me, and the snow would hide every trace of my path. So I made +no delay, but took off my byrnie and garments. There was a pool on +the floor where I stood, for it was true enough that I had been ice +covered. Then I put on a rough warm brown frock with a cord round +the waist, so that I looked like a lay brother at Glastonbury, and +all the while I waxed more and more sleepy with the comfort of the +place. But I wiped my arms carefully while the old priest was busy +with a cauldron over the fire, and we were ready at the same time. + +Then I had a meal of some sort of stew that seemed the best I ever +tasted, and a long draught of good mead, while the host looked on +in grave content. And then he spread a heap of dry seaweed in a +corner near the fire, and blessed me and bid me sleep. Nor did I +need a second bidding, and I do not think that I can have stirred +from the time that I lay down to the moment when I woke with a +feeling on me that it was late in the daylight. + +So it was, and I looked round for my kind host, but he was not to +be seen. Outside the wind was still strong, but not what it had +been, for the gale was sinking suddenly as it rose, and into the +one little window the sun shone brightly enough now and then as the +clouds fled across it. There was a bright fire on the hearth, and +over it hung a cauldron, whence steam rose merrily, and it was +plain that my friend of last night was not far off, so I lay still +and waited his return. + +Then my eyes fell on my clothes and arms as they hung from pegs in +the walls over against me, and it seemed as if the steel of mail +and helm and sword had been newly burnished. Then I saw also that a +rent in my tunic, made when my horse fell, had been carefully +mended, and that no speck of the dust and mire I had gathered on my +garments from collar to hose was left. All had been tended as +carefully as if I had been at home, and I saw Elfrida's little +brooch shining where I had pinned it. + +That took me back to Glastonbury in a moment, but I had to count +before I could be sure that it was but a matter of hours since I +took that gift in the orchard, rather than of months. And I +wondered if Owen knew yet that I was lost, or if my men sought me +still. Then my mind went to Evan, the chapman outlaw, and I thought +that by this time he would have given me up, and would be far away +by now, beyond the reach of Thorgils and his wrath. + +Now the seaward door opened, and a swirl of spray from the breakers +on the rocks came in with my host, who set a great armful of drift +wood on the floor, closed it, and so turned to me. + +"Good morrow, my son," he said. "How fare you after rest?" + +"Well as can be, father," I answered, sitting up. "Stiff I am, and +maybe somewhat black and blue, but that is all. I have no hurt. But +surely I have slept long?" + +"A matter of ten hours, my son, and that without stirring. You +needed it sorely, so I let you be. Now it is time for food, but +first you shall have a bath, and that will do wonders with the +soreness." + +Thankful enough was I of the great tub of hot water he had ready +for me, and after it and a good meal I was a new man. My host said +nought till I had finished, and then it was I who broke the silence +between us. + +"Father," I said, "I have much to thank you for. What may I call +you?" + +"They name me Govan the Hermit, my son." + +"I do not know how to say all I would, Father Govan," I went on, +"but I was in a sore strait last night, and but for your bell I +think I must have perished in the snow, or in some of the clefts of +these cliffs." + +"I rang the bell for you, my son, though I knew not why. It came on +me that one was listening for some sign of help in the storm." + +"How could you know?" I asked in wonder. + +Govan shook his head. + +"I cannot tell. Men who bide alone as I bide have strange bodings +in their solitude. I have known the like come over me before, and +it has ever been a true warning." + +Now it was my turn to be silent, for all this was beyond me. I had +heard of hermits before, but had never seen one. If all were like +this old man, too much has not been said of their holiness and +nearness to unseen things. + +So for a little while we sat and looked into the fire, each on a +three-legged stool, opposite one another. Then at last he asked, +almost shyly, and as if he deemed himself overbold, how it was that +I had come to be on the cliffs. That meant in the end that he heard +all my story, of course, but my Welsh halted somewhat for want of +use, and it was troublesome to tell it. However, he heard me with +something more than patience, and when I ended he said: + +"Now I know how it is that a Saxon speaks the tongue of Cornwall +here in Dyfed. You have had a noble fostering, Thane, for even here +we lamented for the loss of Owen the prince. We have seen him in +Pembroke in past years. You will be most welcome there with this +news, for Howel, our prince, loved him well. They are akin, +moreover. It will be well that you should go to him for help." + +He rose up and went to the seaward door again, and I followed him +out. The sea was but just below us, for the tide was full, and the +breakers were yet thundering at the foot of the cliffs on either +hand. But I did not note that at first, for the thing which held my +eyes at once was a ship which was wallowing and plunging past us +eastward, under close reefed sail, and I knew her for the vessel in +which I had crossed. Thorgils had left the cove, and was making for +Tenby while he might. I should have to seek him there. + +"How far is it to the Danes' town, Father Govan?" I asked. "Yonder +goes my friend's ship." + +"Half a day's ride, my son, and with peril for you all the way. Our +poor folk would take you for a Dane in those arms, and you have no +horse. Needs must that you seek Howel, and he will give you a guard +willingly." + +Then he turned toward a great rock that lay on the beach, as if it +had fallen from the cliffs that towered above us. + +"Here is the bell that you heard last night," he said. + +He took a rounded stone that lay on the rock and struck it, and I +knew that the clear bell note that it gave out was indeed that +which had been my saving. + +"Once I had a bell in the cote on the roof yonder," he said, "but +the Danes caught sight of it when they first passed this way, and +took it from me. Then as I sorrowed that the lonely shepherds and +fishers might no more hear its call, I seemed to see a vision of an +angel who bade me see what had been sent me instead. And when I +went out as the vision bade me, I could see nought but this rock +newly fallen, and was downcast. And so, from the cliff rolled a +little stone and smote it, and it rang, and I knew the gift. To my +hearing it has a sweeter voice than the bell made with hands." + +Then he showed me his well, roofed in with flat stones because the +birds would wash in it, and so close to the sea salt that it seemed +altogether wonderful that the water was fresh and sweet. And then I +saw that the cell did indeed stretch from side to side of the +narrow cleft down which I had come, so that each end of the +building was of living rock. + +"I built it with my own hands, my son," he said. "I cannot tell how +long ago that was, for time is nought to me, but it was many years. +Once I wore arms and had another name, but that also I care not to +recall." + +Then there came footsteps from above us, and looking up I saw a man +in a rough fisher's dress coming in haste down the long flight of +rock-hewn steps that led from the cliff top down the cleft to the +door that I had found last night, and soon we heard him calling to +the hermit. + +Govan left me, and went through the cell to speak with him, but was +back very shortly. + +"Howel the prince is coming hither," he said. "The man you saw has +seen him on the way, and came to warn me to be at hand for him. It +is well for you, my son, as I am sure." + +So we went together into the house, and I thought to arm myself, +but Govan smiled and asked me not to do so, saying that hither even +Howel would come without his weapons, in all likelihood. + +I understood him, and did but see that my sword was in reach before +I sat down and waited for the coming of the Welsh prince, and I +thought that all I need ask him was for help to reach Tenby, +whither Thorgils must have gone. It was quite likely that Evan +might have raised the country against me in hopes of taking me +again. And maybe I would ask for justice on the said Evan. Also I +wanted to hear what had happened after my going. + +It was not long that I had to wait. There came the tramp of horses +at the top of the gorge, and the sound of a voice or two, and then +the tread of an armed man came slowly down the stair, and Govan +went to meet him. I rose and waited for his entry. + +Now there came in, following Govan, unhelmed as he had greeted the +holy man, a handsome, middle-aged warrior, black haired and eyed +and active looking. He wore the short heavy sword of the Roman +pattern, gold hilted and scabbarded, at his side, and the helm he +carried had a high plumed crest and hanging side pieces that seemed +like those pictured on the walls of Gerent's palace. He had no body +armour on, and his dress was plain enough, of white woollen stuff +with broad crimson borders, but round his neck was a wonderful +twisted collar of gold, and heavy golden bracelets rang as his arms +moved. I saw that his first glance went to me, and that his face +changed when he saw that I was not one of his own people, but a +foreigner, as he would hold me. I saw too that he noted my arms as +they hung on the wall behind me. + +Govan saw it also, and made haste to tell him who I was. + +"This is one who should be welcome to you, Prince, for the sake of +old days, for he has come by mischance from Dyvnaint, being foster +son of one of the princes of Gerent's court, though a Saxon by +birth. Nevertheless he speaks our tongue well. He will tell you all +that presently, and I think that he needs your help." + +"I thought you one of our troublesome neighbours, the Danes," he +said, with a smile now in place of the look of doubt. "But if you +are from Dyvnaint there are many things that you can tell me. But I +have come here to see that all is well with Father Govan, for there +is talk of a mad Norseman who is roving the country, unless the +cold has ended him in the night. It is good to see that nought is +wrong here." + +Now I stood apart, and Govan and his guest spoke together for a few +moments before my turn to tell Howel of my plight should come, and +almost the next thing that the prince said made me wonder that I +had not thought who he was at once. Of course, he was the father of +the kindly princess who had crossed the sea with Thorgils, and had +so nearly been the means of my earlier rescue. + +"Nona, my daughter, is here at the cliff top, Father Govan," Howel +said. "She came home in the Norse ship last night, as we planned; +but tide failed for Tenby, and it chanced that the ship had to put +in at the old landing place. Now she wants to thank you for your +prayers for her, and also to beg them for some sick man about whom +she is troubling herself--some poor hurt knave of a trader who +crossed in the ship with her." + +"I will go out and speak with her," Govan said, smiling. "It is +ever her way to think of the troubled." + +"Tell her that I will not keep her long in the cold," Howel said. +"Bid her keep her horse walking, lest he take chill, if I may ask +as much, Father." + +Govan threw his cowl over his head, and answered: + +"I will tell her. Now, Prince, this friend of mine has come here in +a strange way, and I think he needs help that you can give him." + +He passed out of the cliffward door and went his way up the long +stairway. Then Howel asked me how he could help me. + +"Tell me about Dyvnaint also, for when I was a boy I was long at +Gerent's court. Did not Govan say that you were fostered by one of +the princes? It is likely that I knew your foster father well, if +so; was he Morgan?" + +"Not Morgan, but Owen," I answered, and at that Howel almost +started to his feet. + +"Owen!" he cried. "Does he yet live? Surely we all thought him +dead, or else he had come hither to us when he was banished. I +loved him well in the old days, and glad I am that you are not +Morgan's charge. Tell me all about Owen. Is he home again?" + +"Morgan is dead," I answered, feeling that here I had met with a +friend in all certainty. "And because of that, Owen is in his place +again, and I am here. It has all happened in this week, and to tell +you of it is to tell you all my trouble." + +Now he was all impatience to hear, and I told him all that needed +to be told, until I came to the time when Owen was back at Norton +with the old king. Then he asked me some questions about matters +there, and in the midst of my answers sprang up. + +"Why," he cried, "here I have forgotten the girl, and she ought to +be hearing all this, instead of sitting in the cold on the cliff. +She is Owen's goddaughter, moreover, and he was here only a little +time before he was banished. She can remember him well." + +"Stay, though," he said, sitting down again. "There is your own +tale yet. Let us hear it. Maybe that is not altogether so +pleasant." + +My own thought was that I was glad I might tell it without the +wondering eyes of the fair princess on me, being afraid in a sort +of way of having her think of me as the helpless sick man she had +pitied. So I hastened to tell all that story. + +And when I came to the way in which Evan brought me, Howel's eyes +flashed savagely, and a black scowl came over his handsome face, +sudden as a thunderstorm in high summer. + +"It will be a short shrift and a long rope for that Evan when I +catch him," he said. "He comes here every year, and I suppose that +the goods I have had from him at times have been plunder. I would +that you had ended him last night. Now he has got away in peace, +and is out of my reach, maybe, by this time. Well, how went it?" + +Then I told him the end of the tale, wondering how it was that +Thorgils had let him go. I asked the prince if he could explain +that for me. + +"Not altogether," he said. "Evan sent to me to ask me for men to +guard the ship presently, after we began the feast, saying that he +was going ashore with his goods, and was responsible to the +shipmaster. I told Thorgils, and he said it was well. So I sent a +guard, and presently Evan came and spoke with Thorgils for a little +while, and drank a cup of wine, and so went his way. Next morning, +before he sailed, Thorgils came and grumbled about the loss of his +boat, saying that Evan had taken some sick friend of his ashore in +her, and that she had not come back. I paid him for it too, because +I like the man, and so does my daughter. He sailed, and then I +heard of the fight for the first time." + +Howel laughed a little to himself. + +"Master Evan must have paid my rascals well to keep up the story of +the sick man to Thorgils, for he said nothing to me of any fight. +Maybe, however, he never spoke to any of them, and it is likely +that they would not say much to him. And now, by the Round Table! +if you are not the mad Norseman they prated of to me when I wanted +to know who slew the two men, and if you are not the sick man that +Nona is so anxious about! Here, she must come and see you!" + +With that he got up and went to the door before I could stay him, +and called gaily to the princess, whose horse I could hear stamping +high above us. + +"Ho, Nona, here is a friend of yours whom you will be glad to see. +Ask Father Govan to let you come hither, and bid the men take your +horse." + +So I must make the best of it, and I will say that I felt foolish +enough. It was in my mind, though, that I owed many thanks to the +princess for all her kind thought for me as sick man. I had already +said as much to Howel. So I began to try to frame some sort of +speech for her. One never remembers how such speeches always fail +at the pinch. + +The light footsteps came down the steps in no long time, and then +the princess entered, dressed much as yesterday, with a bright +colour from the wind, and looking round to see the promised friend. + +"I have kept you long, daughter," Howel said, taking her hand, "but +I have been hearing good news. Here is Oswald of Wessex, a king's +thane, but more than that to us, for he is the adopted son of your +own godfather, Owen of Cornwall, and he brings the best of tidings +of him." + +Now the maiden's face flushed with pleasure, and she held out her +hand to me in frank welcome. Yet I saw a little wondering look on +her face as she let her eyes linger on mine for a moment, and that +puzzled me. + +"You are most welcome, Thane," she said. "It is a wonderful thing +that here I should learn that my lost godfather yet lives. You will +come to Pembroke with us, and tell me of him there?" + +Then Howel laughed as if he had a jest that would not keep, and he +cried: "Why, Nona, that is a mighty pretty speech, but surely one +asks a sick man of his health first." + +She blushed a little, and glanced again at me. + +"Surely the thane is not hurt?" she said. + +"Yesterday he was, and that sorely. What was it, Thane?--Slipped +shoulder, broken thigh, and broken jaw? All of which a certain +maiden pitied most heartily, even to lending a blanket to the poor +man." + +Then Nona blushed red, and I made haste to get rid of some of the +thanks that were heartfelt enough if they came unreadily to my +lips, and Howel laughed at both of us. I think that the princess +found her way out of the little constraint first, for she began to +smile merrily. + +"There must be a story for me to hear about all this," she said. +"But I was sure that I had seen your eyes before. I was wondering +where it could have been." + +"Well," said Howel, "I have sat with the thane for close on an +hour, and now I do not know what colour his eyes are." + +"They were all that I could see of him, father," laughed the +princess, and then she put the matter aside. "Now we have been here +long enough, and good Govan shivers on the hilltop. Surely the +thane will ride home with us, and we can talk on the way." + +Howel added at once that this was the best plan for me, and what he +was about to ask me himself. + +"I know you will want to get home again as soon as may be," he +said. "No doubt Thorgils will take you at once. I will have word +sent to him at Tenby to stay for you." + +"Father, you have forgotten," the princess said, somewhat +doubtfully, as I thought. + +"Nay, but I have not," answered Howel grimly. "But honest Thorgils +is a white heathen, and those Tenby men are black heathen. He does +not come into our quarrels, and will heed me, if they will not." + +I minded that I had heard of trouble between the Tenby Danes and +this prince, and it seemed that he spoke of it again. However, that +I might hear by and by. So I thanked him, and said that I could +wish for nothing better than to be his guest until I could go on my +way hence. + +Now the princess went to the cliff top and called Govan, while I +armed myself. The hermit came back, and I bade him farewell, with +many thanks for his kindnesses during the hours I had been with +him; and so I went from the little cell with the blessing of Govan +the Hermit on me, and that was a bright ending to hours which had +been dark enough. Govan the Saint, men call him, now that he has +gone from among them, and rightly do they give him that name, as I +think. + +Howel dismounted one of his men, and set me on the horse in his +place, and then we rode to the camp at the landing place by the +track which had led me hither, passing the head of the rift from +which I had escaped, so that I saw its terrors in full daylight. +And they were even more awesome to me than as I hung on the brink +with the depths unknown below me. Then Howel told me how once a +hunter had come suddenly on that gulf with his horse at full +gallop, and had been forced to leap or court death by checking the +steed. He had cleared it in safety, but the terror of what he had +done bided with him, so that he died in no long time; I could well +believe it. + +Then the princess told me many things of Govan, and among others +that the poor folk held that when the Danes came and stole the bell +from him he had been hidden from them in the rock wall of the +chapel, which had gaped to take him in, closing on him and setting +him free when danger was past. Certainly there was a cleft in the +rock wall of the chapel wall that had markings as of the ribs of a +man in its sides, and was just the height and width for one to +stand in, but Govan said nought to me about it when he told of the +taking of the bell. Danes also slew all these cattle whose bones I +had passed among. + +Then we came in sight of the camp, over which the red dragon banner +of Wales floated, and Howel told me how it was that he had met us +there with his guards. + +"Men saw Thorgils' ship from the lookout, and so I came here, for +they said that she could not make Tenby on this tide and must needs +come in here. Nona has been for three months with her mother's folk +in Cornwall--ay, she is half Cornish, and kin to Gerent and Owen. I +was married over there, at Isca, and Owen was at the wedding as my +best man, though he is ten years younger than I. That is how he +came to be the girl's godfather, you see. Now I wanted her back, +for it is lonely at Pembroke without her, and I am apt to wax testy +with folk if she is not near to keep things straight. So I sent +word by Thorgils six weeks ago that she was to come back, and he +was to bring her. I have had the men watching for the ship ever +since. Good it is to see her again, and she has brought good news +also, with yourself. I have a mind to keep you with us awhile, and +let the Norseman take back word of your safety." + +But I said that, however pleasant this would be, it seemed plain +that I must get back to Owen with all speed, to warn him of this +trouble that was somewhat more than brewing. It could not be +thought that I would send word and yet never move to his side to +help. + +"If I might say what comes into my mind," said the fair princess, +"it seems almost better that none but Owen and yourself know that +the plot is found out, while you guard against it. The traitors +will be less careful if they deem that nought is known. Thorgils is +somewhat talkative, you know." + +"That is right," said Howel. "I have a good counsellor here, Thane, +as you see. However, Thorgils will not sail today, for he has just +put in, and I know that he was complaining of some sort of damage +done, as the gale set a bit of a sea into the cove, and he had some +ado to keep clear of the rocks for a time. We will even ride to +Pembroke, and I will send for Thorgils that he may speak with you." + +And then he added grimly: + +"Moreover, I will send men on the track of Evan, the chapman, +forthwith." + +So we called out the guards from the camp, where there were lines +of huts with a greater building in the midst as if it were often +used thus, and so rode across the rolling land northwards till we +came to Pembroke. And there Howel of Dyfed dwelt in state in such a +palace as that of Gerent, for here again the hand of the Saxon had +never come, and the buildings bore the stamp of Imperial Rome. + +So once again I was lodged within stone walls, and with a roof +above me that I could touch with my hand, and I need not say how I +fared in all princely wise as the son of Owen. I suppose there +could be no more frank and friendly host than Howel of Dyfed. + +Tired I was that night also, and I slept well. But once I woke with +a fear for Owen on me, for I had dreamed that I saw some man +creeping and spying along the wide ramparts of Norton stronghold. +And it seemed that the man had a bow in his hand. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. HOW OSWALD LOST A HUNT, AND FOUND SOMEWHAT STRANGE IN CAERAU +WOODS. + + +I thought Pembroke a very pleasant place when I came to see it in +the fair winter's morning. The gale had passed, but it had brought +a thaw with it, and there was a softness in the air again, and the +light covering of snow had gone when I first looked abroad. There +had been no such heavy fall here as we had in Wessex beyond the +sea. + +Maybe pleasant companionship had something to do with my thought of +the place, for none can deny that a good deal does depend on who is +with one. And, seeing that after the morning meal her father was +busy with his counsellors for a time, Nona the princess would shew +me all that was to be seen while we waited the coming of Thorgils. + +Whoever chose the place for the building of this palace stronghold +chose well, for it is set on a rocky tongue of land that divides +the waters of an inland branch of the winding Milford Haven, so +that nought but an easily defended ridge of hill gives access to +the fortress. All the tongue itself has sheer rock faces to the +water, and none might hope to scale them. They and the wall across +the one way from the mainland, as one may call it, make Howel's +home sure, and since the coming of the Danes into the land he had +strengthened what had fallen somewhat into decay in the long years +of peace that had passed. + +We had never reached Dyfed, either from land or sea. So I saw hawks +and hounds, stables and guardrooms and all else, and at last we +walked on the terraced edge of the cliffs in the southern sun, and +there a man came and said that Thorgils the Norseman had come. + +"Oh," said Nona with a little laugh, "he knows not that you are +here! Let us see his face when he meets you!" + +"The prince is busy," said the servant. "Is it your will that the +stranger should be brought here?" + +"Yes, bring him. Tell him that I would speak with him, but say +nought of any other." + +The man bowed and went his way, and the princess turned to me with +a new look of amusement on her face. + +"Pull that cloak round you, Thane, and pay no heed to him when he +comes; we may have sport." + +They had given me a long Welsh cloak of crimson, fur bordered, and +a cap to wear with it instead of my helm. And of course I had not +on my mail, though Ina's sword was at my side, and Gerent's +bracelet on my arm, setting off a strange medley of black-and-blue +bruises and red chafed places from the cords, moreover. So I +laughed, and did as she bade me, even as I saw Thorgils brought +round the palace toward us from the courtyard where they had taken +charge of his horse. There were two other men with him, tall, wiry +looking warriors, and all three were well armed, but in a fashion +which was neither Welsh nor Saxon, but more like the latter than +the former. + +"Danes from Tenby," said Nona; "I know them both, and like them. +See what wondrous mail they have, and look at the sword hilt of the +elder man. That is Eric, the chief, and I think he comes to speak +with my father." + +The two Danes hung back as they saw that Howel was not present, but +Thorgils unhelmed and came forward quickly, with the courtly bow he +knew how to make when he chose, as he saluted the princess. Then he +turned slightly to me with his stiff salute, and as I nodded to him +I saw him start and look keenly at me. Then he looked away again, +and tried to seem unheeding, but it was of no use; his eyes came +back to me. + +"You seem to have met our friend before, Shipmaster," said Nona, +whose eyes were dancing. + +"I cannot have done so, Princess," he answered. "But on my word, I +never saw so strange a likeness to one I do know." + +"I trust that is a compliment to my friend," she said. + +"Saving the presence of the one who is like the man I know, I may +say for certain that it is nought else to him." + +I turned away somewhat smartly, for I wanted to laugh, and this was +getting personal. The princess was not unwilling, I think, that it +should be more so. + +"Now you have offended the present, and I shall have to say that +the absent need not be so." + +"Nor the present either, Princess. See here, Lord, the man you are +so wondrous like in face did the bravest deed I have seen for many +a day. Moreover, he saved the life of a king thereby. Shall I tell +thereof?" + +Now this was a new tale to Nona, for, as may be supposed, I had not +said that it was myself who handled Morgan so roughly, as I told +the tale of his end. It would have seemed like boasting myself +somewhat, as I thought, so I did but say that he was dragged away +from the king in time. Nor had I spoken of Elfrida. The tale was +told hurriedly, and when it was done there had been no thought but +of Owen. It was greater news here that he lived than that Ina had +narrowly escaped. + +So she glanced round at me in some surprise, and then turned again +to Thorgils. + +"Some time you shall, for I love your songs. Not now, for we have +not time." + +"Thanks, Lady. It will be a good song, and is shaping well in my +mind. There is a brave lady therein also." + +"Well, you have not told us who the brave man is. + +"Did I not know that Oswald, son of Owen the Cornish prince, was by +this time in Glastonbury, I should have said he was here, so great +is the likeness. It is a marvel. + +"Now, Lord, you will forgive me, no doubt." + +"Ay, freely," I said, turning round sharply. "That is, if your +friend has a sword as good as this," and I shewed him the gemmed +hilt of Ina's gift from beneath the folds of my great cloak. + +He stared at it, and then at my face again, and I took off my cap +to him with a bow. + +"It is strange that a shipmaster knows not his own passenger," I +said. + +But he was dumb for a moment, and his mouth opened. Nona laughed at +him and clapped her hands with glee, and I must laugh also. + +"By Baldur," he gasped, "if it is not Oswald, in the flesh! What +witchcraft brought you here? To my certain knowledge there is no +ship but mine afloat now in the Severn Sea." + +"Why, then, I crossed with you, friend," I said. + +"That you did not--" he began, but stopped short. + +"Thorgils, Thorgils--the sick man!" cried Nona. + +"Oh!" said Thorgils, "can you have been Evan's charge?" + +"Ay. Mind you that it was your own word that there might be danger +from the friends of Morgan?" + +Then I told him all, and he heard with growls and head shakings, +which but for the presence of the lady might have been hard sayings +concerning my captors. + +But when I ended he said: + +"If ever I catch the said Evan there will be a reckoning. All the +worse it will be for him that for these five years past I have +known him, and deemed him a decent and trustworthy man, for a Welsh +trader. I have fetched him back and forth with his goods twice or +thrice a year for all that time, and now I suppose he has made me a +carrier of stolen wares! Plague on him. I mind me now that betimes +I have thought he dealt in cast-off garments somewhat, but that was +not my affair. Now one knows how that was." + +"I liked the man well, also," said the princess, with a sigh. "He +has come here every year, and betimes as he shewed me his +goods--not those you spoke of, Thorgils--it has seemed to me that +he was downcast, and as one who had sorrow in his heart. Maybe he +had, for his ill doings. He deserves to be punished, but yet I +would ask that--that if you lay hands on him you will be merciful." + +"He shewed little mercy to Oswald the thane," growled Thorgils. +"However, Princess, I think that you may be easy. He will not risk +aught, and we shall see him no more. But the knave would beguile +Loki. Never a word did I hear of any trouble, but he came and spoke +to me as I sat with your men yonder, and paid me his passage money, +and said he had asked for a guard for the ship as he wanted to be +away with the sick man. Also he said he would borrow the boat for +his easier passage ashore. I supposed she was smashed in the gale, +as she came not back, and Howel paid me for her when I grumbled." + +"I wonder he went near you," I said. + +"Therein was craft. If he had not paid passage I would have let +every shipmaster beware of him, and he would have fared ill. He +thought you done for, no doubt, and so fell back on certainty, as +one may say. It is a marvel you escaped the great rifts in yon +cliffs in the storm. Now he will hear that you are none the worse, +and he will be sorry he paid me." + +Thorgils laughed grimly, but Nona sighed at the downfall of the man +she had liked. As for myself, it mattered little what became of +him, so far as I was concerned. Howel's men were hunting him as I +knew, and I only hoped they might catch him, for then we might +learn more of the plotting that was on hand from him. He would tell +all to save his skin, no doubt. + +But now I told Thorgils how I needed to be back in Norton with all +speed, and it sent a sort of chill through me to see him shake his +head. + +"There is need, truly," he said, "and all that may be done I will +do. But yestermorn we found that we had sprung a plank or two just +above the waterline, as we were in a bad berth for shelter. I made +shift to get the ship to Tenby, but on one tack she leaks like a +basket, and she must be repaired. It will take all today, and maybe +tomorrow; but it shall be done, if we have to work double tides, or +to make a cobbler's job of it in haste. I must be off therefore to +see to it. But I hope, if wind will serve us we may sail for home +tomorrow night. Tide serves about midnight, and waits for no man. +You had better be with us betimes." + +He saw that I seemed downcast, and added thoughtfully enough: "It +is in my mind that you need have little care yet. Gerent will not +let Owen out of his sight for some time, as I think, and danger +begins when he is abroad alone, and carelessly. Maybe not till he +is at Exeter." + +Then he beckoned to the two Danes who were waiting him, and made +them known to me after they had saluted the princess. Eric the +chief was a fine old warrior, iron grey and strong, and the other +was his son, who bade fair to be like his father in time. He was a +sturdy young man, and wore his arms well. They shook hands with me +frankly, and from their words it was plain that Thorgils had told +my story at Tenby already. + +"This is the sick man I told you of," he said now. "He turns out to +be a Thane of Glastonbury, and Evan had a hand in some plot of the +friends of Morgan. Took him by craft and brought him here for +ransom, doubtless. I had not thought that man such a knave, and +shall distrust my judgment of men sorely in future." + +Then Nona asked them what they would with the prince, and Eric told +her. + +"The deer are in the valleys, Lady, and we came to tell the prince +that we have harboured the great stag of twelve points in the woods +beyond Caerau. Will it please him to join our hunt?" + +"Doubtless," she said. "Now there is no time to be lost, for the +day is high already." + +"None the worse, Princess," said Eric. "The last snow is passing +hourly." + +So we went round to the front of the palace toward the gates, and +there waited half a dozen more men and horses by a gathering of men +on foot with a pack of great hounds, the like of which I had never +seen. They were the Danish hounds, which had come hither with their +masters, and were big and strong enough for any quarry, even were +it the bear that yet lurked in the Welsh mountain wilds. + +Then Howel came, and would have me mounted well, and in less than +half an hour we were riding eastward along the ancient way they +call the Ridgeway, which crowns the long hill between the sea and +the valleys where lie the windings of Milford Haven. And so we went +till we could see Tenby itself far off on its rocky ness, and at +that point left Thorgils to go his way, while we turned northward +into the inland valleys, and sought the deep combe where they had +harboured the stag. + +The snow lay here and there yet, but it was almost gone, and the +going was somewhat heavy, but overhead the sky was soft and grey, +and the wind was pleasant if chill. North and west it was, and that +would be fair for our crossing, if only it would hold, as Thorgils +deemed that it surely would. + +Now it was good to hear the horn and the cheer of the hunters as +they drew the deep cover for the deer, and the half-dozen couple of +hounds that were held back in leash while the rest were at their +work strained and whimpered to be with them. And at last the great +stag broke from the cover, in no haste, but in a sort of disdain of +those who had disturbed him, and after him came a few scurrying +hinds who huddled to him for safely. They trotted to another cover, +and after them streamed the hounds, and then the great stag was +driven alone from his hiding, and so the pack was laid on and we +were away. + +He headed for the far waters of the haven I had seen glittering +from the hilltop, even as Howel told me was likely, and the pace +was fast at the first. So I settled myself to the work and rode as +one should ride on another man's horse, and a good one, moreover, +carefully enough. But these hills were easier than ours, for +heather was none, and the loose stones that trouble us on Mendips +and Quantocks were not to be seen. It was fair grass land mostly. +So I let my horse go, and in a little while had forgotten aught but +the sheer joy of the pace, and the cry of the great hounds, and the +full delight of such a run as one dreams of. Whereby I have little +more to tell thereof. + +For a country may seem to be open enough as one looks down on it +from a height, but as one crosses it the difference in what has +seemed easy riding is soon plain. Long swells of rolling ground +rise as it were from nothing, and deep valleys that had been unseen +cross the path, and the clustered trees are found to be deep woods +as they are neared. Then the man who knows the country has the +advantage, and it is as well to follow him. But I was well mounted, +and the pace was good where the gale had thinned the snow, and it +came about that before I had time to think what Howel and Eric and +the Danes who were on horseback were doing I rode down one side of +a little cover, past which the deer had gone with the hounds close +on him, while the rest went on the other. I heard one shout, but it +did not come into my mind that it was to me, for I thought that +they needs must follow, and did not look round. Then I had to turn +off yet more to the right as the best way seemed to take me, and +meanwhile they were off to the left. + +So when I was clear of the thicket and could see across the open +again I had lost them. Unless I could hear the hounds I had nothing +to guide me, and I drew rein and listened for them. As I heard +nothing I rode on until I had a stretch of open country before me, +but there I could see no more. Afterwards I learned that the deer +had turned and made for the hill again, but it did not seem likely +that he would do so with the waters of the haven so close at hand +as I could see them. It was more likely that he would head straight +for them, and so I spurred on once more in that direction. It was +certainly the best thing that I could do, and I had not far to go +before a mile of the open water was before me. But there was nought +on its banks but a row of patient herons, fishing or sleeping, and +the sight of them told me that no man had passed this way for many +a long hour. + +I waited in that place for a few moments, to see if the deer made +for the refuge of the water from some cover that as yet hid him +from me, but he did not come. It was plain to me then that the hunt +had doubled back and that I was fairly thrown out, and I went no +farther. By this time Eric might be miles away, and I knew nothing +of the lie of the land, save that along the crest of the Ridgeway +ran the road from Tenby to Pembroke, and that once on that road I +could make my way back in no long time. That, as it seemed to me, +was the best thing that I could do, and I headed my horse at once +for the hill, going slowly, for it was no great distance, and it +was heavy going in the places where the snow had gathered in +drifts. I thought that maybe I should cross the track of the horses +and hounds, or hear Eric's horn before I had gone far, but I +reached the foot of the hill without doing either. + +Then I came to a place where the land began to draw upward more +sharply, thickly timbered, with scattered rocks among the roots of +the trees. Fox and badger and wildcat had their hiding places here, +for I could trace them on all sides, and then I saw the track of a +wolf, and that minded me, as that track in snow ever must, of Owen +and the day when he came to my help at Eastdean. That is the +clearest memory I have of my childhood. + +Then I thought that I heard the horn, and stopped to listen, nor +was it long before what I had heard came to my ears again. It was +not the sound of the horn, however, but somewhat strange to me, and +for a while I wondered what forest bird or beast had a note like +that. + +For the third time I heard it, and now it was plainly like the +half-stifled cry of some one in pain among the trees to the right +of me, and not far distant either. So I rode toward the place +whence the cry seemed to come, and as I went I called. At that the +voice rose more often, with some sound of entreaty in its tone, and +it seemed to be trying to form words. I hastened then, crossing +more wolf tracks on the way, and then I struck the trail of many +men and a few horses; but these were not Eric's, for the hoof marks +were rather those of ponies than of his tall steeds. I followed +that track, for it seemed to lead toward the weary voice that I +heard, and so I came to a circle of great oaks with a clear space +of many paces wide between them, and there I found what I was +seeking. It was piteous enough. + +A man was tied to the greatest of the trees, with knees to chin, +and bound ankles, while round his knees his hands were clasped and +fastened so that a stout stake was thrust through, under his knees +and over his elbows, trussing him helplessly. The cords that bound +him to the tree were round his body in such wise that he could by +no means fall on his side and so work himself free from the stake, +and round his mouth was a ragged cloth tied, but not closely enough +to prevent him from calling out as I heard him. I think that he +must have gnawed it from closer binding than I saw now. Across the +snow behind him the paws of some daring wolf had left marks as if +the beast had sniffed at his very back not so long since, and +surely but for the chance of my coming that way nought but his +bones had been left in that place by the pack before morning came +again. + +It was a strange cry that this man gave when he saw me, for in no +way could I take it for a cry of joy for rescue. I could rather +think that he had raised the same when the wolf came near him. And +when I dismounted and led my horse after me toward him he seemed to +try to shrink from me, as if I also meant him harm. I thought that +the poor soul had surely gone distracted with the fear of the +forest beasts on him, so that he no longer knew friend from foe, +and I wondered how long he had been bound here in this lonely +place. I had seen no house or trace of men between here and Tenby. + +I hitched the bridle rein over a low bough, and leaving my horse +went toward him to set him loose, wondering who had left him here. +And as I drew my seax and went to cut the lashings he writhed +afresh and cried piteously for mercy in what sounded like bad Saxon +from behind the cloth across his face, as though he deemed that I +came to slay him. I did not notice the strangeness of his using my +own tongue here in the heart of a Welsh land at the time, but +thought he took me for one of those who had bound him. + +"Fear not," I said, speaking in Welsh to comfort him. + +And if anything, that seemed to terrify him yet more. + +"Mercy, good Thane--mercy!" he mumbled from his half-stifled lips. + +Then it seemed to me that it was strange that he knew what I was, +and before I cut the bonds I took the cloth from his face, and lo! +the man was Evan the outlaw, my enemy! + +That told me why he feared me in good truth, for he had need to do +so, and I stood back and looked at him with the bright weapon still +in my hand, and he cried and begged for mercy unceasingly. It +seemed but right that he should be bound helplessly as he had bound +me, yet he had not the bitterness of seeing a friend look on him +without knowing him as had I. It was a foe whom he saw, and that a +righteous one. + +Then I was minded to turn away and leave him where he was, until +the foe from the forest looked on him for the last time, for it was +all that he deserved, and I set my seax back in my belt and turned +away to my horse with a great loathing of the man in my mind; and +seeing that, he begged for mercy again most pitiably. + +That is a hard thing to hear unmoved, and I stayed and looked at +him again. My first wrath was leaving me as I saw the fullness of +the end of his plans, and I do not think that it is in me to be +utterly revengeful. + +"What mercy can you hope from me!" I said coldly. + +"None, Thane--none. But let me go hence with you. Better the rope +than these wild beasts. Or slay me now, and swiftly." + +"Who, of all your friends, tied you here?" I asked him. + +"Howel's men," he answered. "They took my goods at the ford of +Caerau yonder, and so brought me here and left me. That was early +this morning." + +"I marvel that you bided in reach of any who might speak with me," +I said. + +"My comrades left me, for fear of that same. I must hire ponies to +get the goods away. I thought you had died on the wild sea that +night." + +"It seems to me that this is but justice on you. The goods you have +lost were stolen from honest men. And it were just if I left you +bound as you bound me." + +Then the man said slowly: "Ay, it is justice. But will you treat me +even as I treated you, Thane?" + +I looked at him in some wonder. The man's face had grown calm, +though it was yet grey and drawn, and this seemed as if he would +own his fault without excuse. I minded that Nona the princess and +her father, ay, and Thorgils, had said that they thought well of +Evan the merchant up till this time. + +"Supposing I let you go--What then?" I said. + +"First of all, I would tell you somewhat for which you will thank +me, Thane." + +"Tell me that first," I said, not altogether believing that he had +anything which could be worth my hearing, but with a full mind now +to let him go. + +Plainly, he had some sort of faith in me, or in the worth of what +he had to say, for he began eagerly: + +"Thane, when we took you, it was Owen of Cornwall for whom we +waited. We were not minding you at all until we saw that we might +hurt him through you." + +"That I suppose. I know that you laid wait for Owen the prince." + +"Ay, for you know the Welsh and heard all that we said. But listen, +Thane, this is it. Eight of the friends of Morgan had sworn the +death of Owen that morning, and it was the leader of them who set +us on. He was not there, for he waited on another road." + +"Were you one of the eight?" + +"That I am not," he said. "I and my men were but hired, as Morgan +was wont to hire us now and then. When we took you methought that +it was well for me, for through you I might be inlawed again, even +as I told you." + +"Who was this leader?" I asked, heeding this last speech not at +all. + +"Tregoz of the Dart, men call him, for he holds lands thereon. Also +there are these of the great men of Cornwall and Dyvnaint." + +He called over the names of the other seven, and I repeated them +that I should not forget. The only one that I had heard before was +that of Tregoz. The outlaws had spoken of him, and now I remembered +him as one of those who had seemed loudest in welcome to Owen when +he came to Norton. So I told Evan, and he nodded. + +"I heard him boast of the same," he said, and I believed him for +the way in which he said it. + +"How do they think to slay Owen, and wherefore?" I asked, and my +blood ran cold at the thought of the treachery that was round him. + +Doubtless this Tregoz was back at court. + +"In any way that they may compass, and if in such a way as to stir +up war with Ina of Wessex so much the better, as they say. It is +revenge for the death of Morgan, and hatred of the Saxon, mixed." + +"Is there any more that I should know?" + +"None, Thane. But I have broken no oath in telling you this, as you +might think. We outlaws were not bound, for there seemed no need." + +It was strange that he should care to tell me this, being what he +was. Once more I minded words of Thorgils--that the knave would +beguile Loki himself with fair words. Yet there was somewhat very +strange in all the looks and words of the man at this time. But I +would not talk longer with him, and I cut his bonds and freed him. + +He tried to rise and stretch his cramped limbs, groaning with the +pain of them as he did so. And that grew on him so that of a sudden +he swooned and fell all his length at my feet, and then I found +myself kneeling and chafing the hands of this one who had bound me, +so that he should come round the sooner. At last he opened his +eyes, and I fetched the horn of strong mead that Howel had bidden +his folk hang on my saddle bow when we rode out, and that brought +him to himself again. He sat up on the snow and thanked me humbly. + +"Now, what will you do?" I said. "Let me tell you that Thorgils is +after you, and that Howel has set a price on your head, or was +going to do so. And it is better that you cross the sea no more, +for if ever any one of the men of Gerent or Ina catch you your life +will be forfeit." + +"I will get me to North Wales or Mercia, Thane, and there will I +live honestly, and that I will swear. Only, I will pray you not to +tell Howel that I am free." + +"I am like to tell no man," I answered grimly. "For I should but be +called a soft-hearted fool for my pains." + +"Yet shall you be glad that you freed me. Bid Owen the prince look +to the door before ever he opens it. Bid him wear his mail day and +night, and never ride unguarded. Let him have one whom he trusts to +sleep across his doorway, until Tregoz and his men are all +accounted for." + +"Well, then," I said, "farewell--as well as you shall deserve +hereafter. You best know if you have one safe place left to you in +England or in Wales." + +"I was not all so bad until the law hounded me forth from men," he +said. "I have yet places where I am held as an honest man." + +Now I had enough of him, and I would not ask him more of himself +yet I will say that my heart softened somewhat toward him, for I +knew that here also he had been well thought of. Almost did I +forget how he had treated me, for now that seemed a grudge against +Tregoz. Maybe that was all foolishness on my part, but I am not +ashamed thereof today, as I was then. + +"Stay, have you any weapon?" I said, as I was turning away. "There +are many ills that may befall an unarmed man in a wild country." + +"There was a seax here," he said, rising stiffly. "They left it on +the ground, that I might see help out of my reach, as it were. Ay, +here it is." + +He took it up, and I knew that after all he had felt somewhat as he +had made me feel when I saw help close to me and might not have it. +I pitied him, for I knew well what his torture had been. Ay, and I +will tell this, that men may know how this terror burnt into me. +Many a time have I let a trapped rat go, because I would not see +the agony of dumb helplessness in anything. It frays me. There is +no wonder that I set Evan free. + +I said no more, but left him staring after me with the seax in his +hand, and rode on my way, thinking most of all of the peril that +was about Owen, and longing to be back with him that I might guard +him. It seemed likely now that Gerent could take all these men +whose names I had heard without the least trouble, for they could +not deem that their plans were known. Ina would surely let me bide +with my foster father till danger to him was past. + +So I came into the road that runs along the top of the Ridgeway, +and then I knew where I was. I could see the great ness of Tenby +far before me across the hills, and presently at a turn in the road +I saw Howel and Eric and his men ahead of me. They had taken the +stag, and knew that I should make my way back, and so troubled not +at all for me. + +There Howel and I parted from the Danes, they going back to Tenby, +while we returned slowly to Pembroke. And when we came to the +palace yard we found a little train of horses and men there, as +though some new guests had come in lately. + +"I know who these will be," said Howel. "You will have company in +your homeward crossing. Here is Dunwal of Devon, and his daughter, +who have been on pilgrimage to St. Davids, for Christmastide. They +knew that Nona returned at this time, and have come hither on the +chance of a passage home in the ship which brought her. In good +time they are, after all." + +Presently I met these folk, and very courteous they were. Dunwal +was a tall, very dark, man, who chose to hold that he was beholden +to myself for the passage home, when he heard why I was sailing so +soon. And his daughter was like him in many ways, being perhaps the +very darkest damsel I have ever seen, though she was handsome +withal. With them was a priest of the old Western Church, a +Cornishman, with his outlandish tonsure. He was somewhat advanced +in years, and strangely wild looking at times, though silent. He +seemed to be Dunwal's chaplain, or else was a friend who had made +the pilgrimage with him. His name was Morfed, they told me. + +I do not think that I should have noted him much, but that when he +heard my Saxon name he scowled heavily, and drew away from me; and +presently, when it came to pass that Howel told Dunwal the news I +had brought, I saw his eyes fixed on me in no friendly way as he +listened. Nor did he join with his friends in the words of gladness +for Owen's return, though indeed I had some thought that theirs +might have been warmer. It was almost as if something was held back +by the Devon man and his daughter, though why I should think so I +could not tell. At all events, their way of receiving the news was +not like that of Howel and Nona. + +By and by, when we came to sit down at table in the largest room of +the palace, bright with fair linen, and silver and gold and glass +vessels before us, and soft and warm under foot with rugs on the +tiled floor which hardly needed them, as I thought, there was a +guest I was pleased to see. Thorgils had ridden from Tenby at the +bidding of the princess, as it seemed, and his first words to me +were of assurance that all went well for our sailing. The good ship +would be ready for the tide of the morrow night. Pleased enough +also he was with the chance of new passengers, as may be supposed. + +I do not think that I have ever sat at a feast whereat so few were +present at the high table, and there were no house-carles at all. +Truly, the room was not large enough for what we deem that a king's +board should be, but we seemed almost in private. There were not +more than thirty guests altogether, but it was pleasant for all +that. The princess was on the right of her father, and Mara, the +daughter of Dunwal, on his left, but I sat next to Nona, and Dunwal +to me again. On the other side of the prince were some of his own +nobles, and across the room sat Thorgils next to the Cornish +priest, among Welshmen of some lower rank. They seemed an +ill-assorted pair, but Thorgils was plainly trying to be friendly +with every one in reach of him, and soon I forgot him in the +pleasantness of all that went on at our table. + +However, by and by Howel said to Nona suddenly, in a low voice: + +"Look yonder at the Norseman. He must be talking heathenry to yon +priest, for the good man seems well-nigh wild. What can we do?" + +Truly, the face of Morfed was black as thunder, while that of the +Norseman was shining with delight in some long-winded story he was +telling. The white-robed servants were clearing the tables at this +moment, and the prince's bard, a fine old harper with golden collar +and chain, was tuning his little gilded harp as if the time for +song had come. + +"Make him sing," said Nona. "I bade him here tonight that he might +do so. He has some wondrous tale to tell us." + +Howel beckoned to the harper, and signed to him, and the old man +rose at once and went to Thorgils. It was not the first time that +he had sung here, it was plain. Then I noted that the priest was +scowling fiercely at myself, and I wondered idly why. I supposed, +so far as I troubled to think thereof that he was one of those who +hated the very name of Saxon. + +Now Thorgils took the harp without demur, smiling at the bard in +thanks, and so came forward into the space round which the tables +were set, while a silence fell on the company. + +"If my song goeth not smoothly in the British tongue, Prince, +forgive me. I can but do my best. Truly, I have even now asked my +neighbour, Father Morfed, if it is fairly rendered, but I have not +had his answer yet." + +He ran his hand over the already tuned strings, and lifted his +voice and began. It was not the first time that he had handled a +British harp, by any means, but if he played well he sang better. I +do not think that one need want to hear a finer voice than his; and +though he had seen fit to doubt his powers, his Welsh was as good +as mine, and maybe, by reason of constant use, far more easy. + +And next moment I knew that he was going to sing nothing more or +less than of King Ina's Yule feast, and what happened thereat. He +had promised to tell the princess the story, and this was her +doing, of course. I could not stop him, and there I must sit and +listen to as highly coloured a tale as a poet could make of it. +Once he saw that I was growing red, and he grinned gently at me +across the harp, and worked up the struggle still more terribly. +And all the while Morfed the priest glowered at me, until at length +he rose and left the room. + +I was glad enough when Thorgils ended that song, but Nona must ask +him for yet another, and that pleased him, of course, and he began +once more. This time he sang, to my great confusion, of the +drinking of the bowl, and of my vow, and I wished that I was +anywhere but in Pembroke, or that I could reach the three-legged +stool on which he was perched from under him. I never knew a man +easy while the gleemen sang his deeds, save Ina, who was used to +it, and never listened; and I knew not where to look, though maybe +more than half the folk present did not understand that I was the +hero of the song. Nevertheless, I had to put up with it, till he +ended with a verse or two of praise of our host and of the princess +who loved the songs of the bard, and so took his applause with a +happy smile and went and sat down, while Nona bade her maidens bear +a golden cup and wine to him. + +Then the princess turned to me with a quiet smile that had some +mischief in it. + +"This last is more than I had thought to hear, Thane," she said; +"you told us nought of yourself and the lady Elfrida when we rode +from the hermit's." + +And so she must ask me many questions, under cover of some chant +which the old bard began, and she drew my tale from me easily +enough, and maybe learnt more than I thought I told her, for before +long she said: + +"Then it seems that, after all, you are not so sure that the lady +is pleased with you for your vow?" + +And in all honesty I was forced to own that I was not. I suppose I +showed pretty plainly that I thought myself aggrieved in the +matter, for the princess smiled at me. + +"Wait till you see how she meets you when you return, Thane. No +need to despair till then." + +It came into my mind to say that I did not much care how I was met, +but I forbore. Maybe it was not true. And then the princess and the +three or four other ladies who were present rose and left the +table, and thereafter we spoke of nought but sport and war, and I +need not tell of all that. But when I went to my chamber presently, +and the two pages were about to leave me to myself some three hours +or so after the princess left the board, one of them lingered for a +moment behind the other, and so handed me a folded and sealed +paper. + +"I pray you read this, Thane," he said, and was gone. + +It was written in a fair hand, that did not seem as that of any +inky-fingered lay brother, but as I read the few words that were +written I knew whose it was, for none but Nona would have written +it. + +"Have a care, Thane. I have spoken with Mara, and I fear trouble. +Dunwal her father is, with Tregoz his brother, at the right hand of +the men who follow Morgan. Morfed the priest is a hater of all that +may make for peace with the Saxon. He is well-nigh distraught with +hatred of your kin." + +Then there were a few words crossed out, and that was all. And to +tell the truth, it was quite enough. But as I came to think over +the matter, it seemed to me that until Dunwal knew that it was his +brother who had tried to get rid of me I need not fear him. As for +the priest, his hatred would hardly lead him to harm the son of +Owen. + +So I slept none the less easily, but from my heart I thanked the +princess for the warning. It should not be my fault if Dunwal had +much power for harm when once I met Gerent. + + + +CHAPTER IX. WHY IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR OWEN TO SLEEP IN THE MOONLIGHT. + + +It needs not that I should tell of the farewell of the next day. I +went from Pembroke with many messages for Owen, and a promise that +if I might ever come over with him I would do so. The princess was +busy with the lady who was to cross with Thorgils, and I did not +find one chance of telling her that I thanked her for her warning, +but I found the page who gave me the letter, and bade him tell his +mistress when we had gone that she had taught me to look in the +face of a fellow passenger, which would be token enough that I +understood. + +Dunwal and his daughter had some few men and pack horses with them, +and one Cornish maiden who attended Mara, so that we were quite a +little train as we rode from Pembroke toward Tenby in the late +afternoon, with a score of Howel's guards to care for us in all +honour. Part of the way, too, Howel rode, and when we came to the +hill above the Caerau woods, and looked down on the winding waters +again, he said to me: + +"I have forgotten to tell you that my men took Evan. By this time +he has met his deserts. I have done full justice on him." + +"Thanks, Prince," I said with a shudder, as I minded what I had +saved the man from. "Did your men question him?" + +Howel smote his thigh. + +"Overhaste again!" he cried in vexation. "That should have been +done; but I bade them do justice on him straightway if they laid +hands on him. They did it." + +I said no more, nor did the prince. It was in my mind that he was +blaming himself for somewhat more than carelessness. So presently +he must turn and leave us, and we bade him farewell with all thanks +for hospitality, and he bade me not forget Pembroke, and went his +way. + +Then I found Dunwal pleasant enough as a companion, and so also was +Mara, and the few miles passed quickly, until we rode through the +gates of the strong stockade which bars the way to the Danes' town +across the narrow neck of the long sea-beaten tongue of cliff they +have chosen to set their place on. The sea is on either side, and +at the end is an island that they hold as their last refuge if need +is, while their ships are safe under one lee or the other from any +wind that blows. + +Far down below us at the cliff's foot, as we rode through the town, +where the houses had been set anywise, like those at Watchet, and +were like them timber built, we could see to our left a little +wharf, and beside it the ship that waited us. And the wind was +fair, and the winter weather soft as one might wish it for the +crossing. + +Now, so soon as Thorgils had seen the baggage of the Cornish folk +safely bestowed I had time for a word with him, taking him apart +and walking up the steep hill path from the haven for a little way, +as if to go to the town. And so I told him who this man was, and +what possible danger might be. + +He heard with a long whistle of dismay: + +"'Tis nigh as bad as crossing with Evan," he said--"but one is +warned. Let them have the after cabin, and do you take the forward +one; it will be safer. Leave me to see to him when we get to +Watchet, for it is in my mind that Gerent will want him. Moreover, +so long as he thinks that you fear him not he will be careless, and +I will watch him. He will want to learn more before he meddles with +you. As for the priest, I will tend him." + +So we were content to leave the matter. Presently, when we were at +sea, I do not think that Dunwal or Morfed had spirit left to care +for aught. I know that I had not. I need not speak of that voyage, +save to say that it was speedy, and fair--to the mind of Thorgils, +at least. + +At last I slept, nor did I wake till we had been alongside the +wharf at Watchet for two hours, being worn out. Then I found that +Dunwal and his party had gone already, and I wondered, with a mind +to be angry, whereat Thorgils laughed. + +"I have even sent them on to Norton with a few of our men to help +him, and they will see that he goes there and nowhere else. You +will find him waiting. I did not want him to fall on you on the +road." + +"What is the news?" I asked. "Have you heard aught?" + +"The best, I think. Gerent is hunting Tregoz, and Owen has swept up +every outlaw from the Quantocks. Our folk helped him. Some of them +told all they knew when they were taken." + +"Then," I said gladly, "Owen knows that I am safe." + +"Not so certainly," Thorgils said. "None of our folk can say that +you crossed with me, and as this is the only ship afloat at this +time of the year there is doubt as to where you are. It will be +good for Owen to see you again. What a tale you have for him! On my +word, I envy you the telling." + +"Well, then, ride with me to Norton straightway, and you shall tell +all and save me words. Owen shall thank you also for your care for +me." + +"What, for letting you sit on my deck while the wind blew? Nay, but +there are no thanks needed between us. You and I have seen a +strange voyage together, and it has ended well. Maybe you and I +will see more sport yet side by side, for I think that we are good +comrades. Let us be going, then, for it was in my mind that I could +not rest until I had seen you safe to your journey's end." + +Then I found that he had his own horses ready for us, and two more +men, well armed and mounted also, were waiting with them on the +green where I had been set down in the litter. So in a very short +time Thorgils had told his men all that he would have done about +the ship, and we were riding fast along the road to Norton, while +the thawing snow told of the going of the frost at last. + +I had been gone but these few days, but each of them seemed like a +month to look back upon as I rode under the shadow of the hills +that I had last seen as a hopeless captive. It grew warm and soft +as the midday sun shone on us, and the road was muddy underfoot +with the chill water that had filled all the brooks again, but I +hardly noticed the change, so eager was I to be back. Glad enough I +was when we saw the village and the mighty earthworks above it, and +yet more glad when the guards at the gate told us that Owen was +even now in the palace. + +I left Thorgils and his men to the care of the guard for the time, +while I went straightway to the entrance doors and asked for speech +with him. + +"It is the word of the king that you shall have free admittance +into the palace and to himself at any time, Thane," the captain of +the guards said. + +So I passed into the great chamber of the palace that was used as +audience hall for all comers, and also as the court of justice. + +The place was full of people, and those mostly nobles, so that I +had to stand in the doorway for a moment to see what was going on. +It was plainly somewhat out of the common, for there were guards +along one end of the room. It seemed as if there were a trial. + +Gerent sat in the great chair which one might call his throne at +the upper end of the room, and beside him was Owen. I thought that +my foster father seemed pale and troubled in that first glance, but +I had every reason to know why this was so. Before these two stood +a man, with his back to me therefore, and for the moment I did not +recognise him. On either side of this man were guards, and it was +plainly he who was in trouble, if any one. Gerent was speaking to +him. + +"Well," he said, "hither you have come as a guest, and as a guest +you shall be treated. But you must know that here within the walls +of the place you shall abide. If you will give your word to do that +I shall not have to keep you so closely." + +"This is not what I had looked for from you, King Gerent," the man +said. + +I knew the voice at once, for it was that of Dunwal, my fellow +passenger. So the treachery of his brother must be known, and he +was to be held here as a hostage, as one might say. Gerent's next +words told me that it was so. + +"If there is any fault to be found, it is in the ways of your +brother. Blame him that I must needs have surety for his behaviour. +It cannot be suffered that he should go on plotting evil against +us, unchecked in some way." + +Dunwal shrugged his shoulders, as if to say that all this was no +concern of his. + +"Shall you hold my daughter as well?" he said. "I trust that your +caution will not make you go so far as that." + +Gerent's eyes flashed at the tone and words, but he answered very +coldly: + +"She will bide here also, and in all honour." + +Then he beckoned to a noble who stood near him, and spoke to him +for a moment. It chanced that this was one of the very few whom I +knew here. His name was Jago, and I had often seen him at +Glastonbury, for he was a friend of our ealdorman, Elfrida's +father, holding somewhat the same post in Norton as my friend in +our town. Owen liked him well also, and he was certainly no friend +to Morgan and his party. + +"Jago's wife will give your daughter all hospitality in his house," +Gerent said, turning again to Dunwal. "Have I your word as to +keeping within bounds during my pleasure?" + +"Ay, you have it," answered Dunwal curtly. + +Then I slipped out of the door quietly, and went to that room where +Owen and I waited on our first coming here, and I sent a steward to +tell him of my arrival. There is no need for me to tell how he +greeted me, or how I met him. + +Then when those greetings were over I heard all that had been going +on, and my loss had made turmoil enough. My men had brought back +the news, having missed me very shortly, but it was long before +they found traces of me. The first thing that they saw was my hawk, +as I expected, and after that the bodies of the slain. As I was not +with them, they judged that I had escaped in some way, but they +lost the track of the feet in the woodlands, and so rode back to +Owen in all haste. + +Then was a great gathering of men for the hunting of the outlaws, +for it would take a small army to search the wild hills and +woodlands of the Quantocks to any effect. The whole countryside +turned out gladly, and the Watchet Norsemen helped also. + +In the end, on the next day they penned the outlaws into some +combe, and took most of them, and then all was told by them, so far +as they knew it. Gerent laid hands on four of the men who had sworn +the oath Evan told me of, that evening after some leading outlaw +had given their names, but Tregoz had escaped. + +He had been one of the most active in the matter of the hunt, to +all seeming, and had ridden out with Owen and Jago and the rest. +Then he took advantage of some turn in the hills, when men began to +scatter, and was no more seen. Presently it was plain enough why +this was, when those who were taken were made to speak. Yet it +seemed that he was not so far off, for already an attack had been +made on Owen as he rode beyond the village, though it was no very +dangerous one. Now it was to be hoped that the danger from him was +past, for his brother had been taken the moment he rode into the +gate, and he would suffer if more harm was done. + +Then I asked if our king had been told of all this, and I learnt +that he had heard at once, and had written back to Owen to say that +he would pay any ransom that might be asked for me if I yet lived, +as was hoped. The outlaws had told of Evan's plan, but it was not +known if I had been taken out of the country yet. + +"All is well that ends well," Owen said; "but I asked Ina not to +say aught of the matter yet for a while. There is one at least in +Glastonbury who might be sorely terrified for you." + +He laughed at my red face, for I knew that he meant Elfrida. It was +in my mind, however, that I wished she had heard, for then, +perhaps, she would have been sorry that she had not been kinder to +me--unless, indeed, she was glad that I was out of the way, in all +truth. + +Then there was my own long tale to be told, and of course I told +Owen all. It was good to hear him say that he himself could have +done nought but free Evan. + +Thereafter we sought Thorgils, who was happy in the guardroom, and +had seemingly been telling my tale there, for the men stared at me +somewhat. I do not suppose that it lost in the telling. + +Owen thanked him for his help, and took him to see Gerent; which +saved me words, for the Norseman must needs tell how Evan had +brought me on board his ship, and so we even let him say all that +there was to be said. + +After that Gerent loaded him with presents, and so let him go well +pleased. + +I went out to his horse with him, and saw him start. His last word +as he parted from me was that if I needed a good axeman at my back +at any time I was to send for him, and so he went seaward, singing +to himself, with the men who had brought Dunwal hither behind him. + +After that there was more to say of Howel and his court. It seemed +that Gerent and Owen liked him well, and I wondered that Owen had +not sought him when the trouble fell on him. I think he would not +go to Dyfed as a disgraced man, for I know he could not clear +himself at the time. + +Now at supper, presently, there was Dunwal, looking anxious, as I +thought, but trying not to shew it. His daughter Mara was there +also, and as it happened she sat next to me. I suppose the +seneschal set her there as we had crossed from Dyfed together, +unless she had asked it, or gone to that seat without asking. She +was very pleasant, talking of the troubles of the voyage, and so +went on to speak sadly enough of the greater trouble that had +waited her. + +"I am glad the king has kept us, however," she said. "I can be +content with the court rather than with our wild Dartmoor, as you +may guess. But all these things are too hard for me, and how any +man can plot against so wonderful looking a prince as Owen passes +me. I cannot but think that there is some mistake, and that my +uncle has no hand in the affair. That will be proved ere long, I do +believe." + +I answered that indeed I hoped that it would prove so, and then +asked for Morfed, the priest who had crossed with us, as I did not +see him among the other clergy at the table. She told me that he +had left them, on foot, at the gate of Watchet, making his way +westward, as she believed. He had only joined their party for +easier travelling in Dyfed. + +Then she must needs ask me questions about Thorgils' song, and +specially of Elfrida. I had no mind to tell her much, but it is +hard to refuse to answer a lady who speaks in all friendly wise and +pleasantly, so that I had to tell her much the same that I told +Nona the princess, and began to wonder if every lady who had the +chance would be as curious to know all about what story there was. +And that was a true foreboding of mine, for so it was, until I grew +used to it. But all this minded me of Nona and her warning, and I +was half sorry that the priest had not come here, to be taken care +of with Dunwal. + +After that night we saw little of these two. Mara went to the house +of Jago, and Dunwal kept to himself about the palace boundaries +within the old ramparts, and seemed to shun notice. As for me, word +went to Ina that all was well, and he sent a letter back to say +that it would please him to know that I was with Owen for a time +yet. So I bided with him, and for a time all went well, for we +heard nought of Tregoz in any way, while another of his friends was +taken and imprisoned in some western fortress of Gerent's. Nor were +there any more attacks made on Owen, so that after a little while +we went about, hunting and hawking, in all freedom, for danger +seemed to have passed with the taking of Dunwal as hostage. + +Then one day a guard from the gate brought me a folded paper, on +which my name was written in a fair hand, saying that it had been +left for me by a swineherd from the hill, who said that it was from +some mass priest whom I knew. The guard had let the man go away, +deeming that, of course, there was no need to keep him. Nor had +they asked who the priest might be, as it was said that I knew him. + +I took the letter idly and went to my stables with it in my hand, +and opened and read it as I walked. + +"To Oswald, son of Owen.--It is not good to sleep in the +moonlight." + +That was all it said, and there was no name at the end of it. I +thought it foolish enough, for every one knows that the cold white +light of the moon is held to be harmful for sleepers in the open +air. But I was not in the way of sleeping out in this early season +with its cold, though, of course, it was always possible that one +might be belated on the hills and have to make a night in the +heather of it when hunting on Exmoor or the Brendons. There was not +much moon left now, either. + +So I showed the note to Owen presently, and he puzzled over it, +seeing that it could not have been sent for nothing. At last we +both thought that whoever wrote it, or had it written, knew that +some attack would be made on us with the next moon, when it would +be likely that we might be riding homeward by its light with no +care against foes. That might well be called "sleeping in the +moonlight" as things were; and at all events we were warned in +time. The trouble to me was that it seemed to say that danger was +not all past. + +However, when there was no moon at all I forgot the letter for the +time, no more trouble cropping up, and but for a chance word I +think that it had not come into my mind again until we were out in +the moonlight at some time. As we sat at table one evening when the +moon was almost at the full again, some one spoke of moonstruck +men, and that minded me, and set me thinking. He said that once he +himself had had a sore pain in the face by reason of the moonlight +falling on it when he was asleep, and another told somewhat the +same, until the talk drifted away to other things and they forgot +it. But now I remembered how that at our first coming here I had +waked in the early hours and seen a patch of moonlight from a high +southern window on the outer wall of the palace passing across +Owen's breast as he slept. Then I was on the floor across the door, +but now I slept in the same place that Owen had that night, while +he was on the couch across the room and under the window. It was +possible, therefore, that the light did fall on my face, but I was +pretty sure that if so it would have waked me. + +At all events, if the letter had aught to do with that, it was a +cumbrous way of letting me know that my bed was in a bad place for +quiet sleep. The only thing that seemed likely thus was that the +good priest who wrote had left the palace before he had remembered +to tell me how he had fared in that room once, and so sent back +word. There were many priests backward and forward here, as at +Glastonbury with Ina. Then it seemed plain that this was the +meaning of the whole thing, and so I would hang a cloak over the +window by and by. + +And, of course, having settled the question in my own mind, I +forgot to do that, and was like to have paid dearly for forgetting. + +Two nights afterward, when the moon was at the full, I woke from +sleep suddenly with the surety that I heard my name called softly. +I was wide awake in a moment, and found the room bright with +moonlight that did indeed lie in a broad square right across my +chest on the furs that covered me. I glanced across to Owen, but he +was asleep, as there was full light enough to see, and then I +wondered why I seemed to have heard that call. In a few moments I +knew that, and also that the voice I heard was the one that had +come to me in sore danger before. + +Idly and almost sleeping again I watched the light, to see if +indeed it was going to cross my face, and then a sudden shadow +flitted across it, and with a hiss and flick of feathers a long +arrow fled through the window and stuck in the plaster of the wall +not an inch above my chest, furrowing the fur of the white bearskin +over me, so close was it. + +In a moment I was on the floor, with a call to Owen, and it was +well that I had the sense to swing myself clear from the light and +leap from the head of the bed, for even as my feet touched the +floor a second arrow came and struck fairly in the very place where +I had been, and stood quivering in the bedding. + +Then was a yell from outside, and before Owen could stay me I +looked through the window, recklessly enough maybe, but with a +feeling that no more arrows would come now that the archer was +disturbed. It needed more than a careless aim to shoot so well into +that narrow slit. Across the window I could see the black line of +the earthworks against the light some fifty paces from the wall of +the palace, with no building between them on this side at all; and +on the rampart struggled two figures, wrestling fiercely in +silence. One was a man whose armour sparkled and gleamed under the +moon, and the other seemed to be unarmed, unless, indeed, that was +a broad knife he had in his hand. Then Owen pulled me aside. + +"The sentry has him," he said, after a hurried glance. "Let us out +into the light, for there may be more on hand yet." + +Now I hurried on my arms, but another look showed me nothing but +the bare top of the rampart. No sign of the men remained. I could +hear voices and the sounds of men running in the quiet, and I +thought these came from the guard, who were hurrying up from the +gate. + +"The men have rolled into the ditch," I said. "I can see nothing +now." + +Then we ran out, bidding the captain of the guard to stand to arms +as we passed through the great door of the palace, and so we went +round to the place whence the arrows had come. A score of men from +the gate were already clustered there on the earthworks, talking +fast as Welshmen will, but heedful to challenge us as we came. I +saw that they had somewhat on the ground in the midst of them. + +"Here is a strange affair, my Prince," one of them said, as he held +out his hand to help Owen up the earthworks. + +The group stood aside for us to look on what they had found, and +that was a man, fully armed in the Welsh way of Gerent's guards, +but slain by the well-aimed blow of a strong seax that was yet left +where it had been driven home above the corselet. There was a war +bow and two more arrows lying at the foot of the rampart, as if +they had been wrested from the hand of the archer and flung there. +The men had not seen these, but I looked for them at once when I +saw that there was no bow on the slain man. + +"Who is this?" Owen said gravely, and without looking closely as +yet. + +"It is Tregoz of the Dart, whom the king seeks," one or two of the +men said at once. + +I had known that it must be he in my own mind before the name was +spoken. There fell a silence on the rest as the name was told, and +all looked at my foster father. There was plainly some fault in the +watching of the rampart that had let the traitor find his way here +at all. + +"Which of you was it who slew him?" asked Owen. + +"None of us, Lord. We cannot tell who it may have been. Even the +sentry who keeps this beat is gone." + +"Doubtless it was he who slew him, and is himself wounded in the +fosse. Look for him straightway." + +There they hunted, but the man was not to be found. Nor was it his +weapon that had ended Tregoz. + +Then Owen said in a voice that had grown very stern: "Who was the +sentry who should have been here?" + +The men looked at one another, and the chief of them answered at +last that the man was from Dartmoor, one of such a name. And then +one looked more closely at the arms Tregoz wore, and cried out that +they were the very arms of the missing sentry, or so like them that +one must wait for daylight to say for certain that they were not +they. + +It was plain enough then. In such arms Tregoz could well walk +through the village itself unnoticed, as one of the palace guards +would be, and so when the time came he would climb from some hiding +in the fosse and take the place of his countryman on the rampart, +and the watchful captain would see but a sentry there and deem that +all was well. + +Yet this did not tell us who was the one who had wrestled with and +slain him, and Owen told what had been done, while I went and +brought the bow and arrows from the foot of the rampart, in hopes +that they might tell us by mark or make if more than Tregoz and the +sentry were in this business. Then I looked at my window, and, +though narrow, it was as fair a mark in the moonlight as one would +need. Without letting my shadow fall on the sleeper, it was +possible to see my couch and the white furs on it, though it would +be needful to raise the arm across the moonlight in the act of +shooting. It was all well planned, but it needed a first-rate +bowman. + +"It was surely Tregoz who shot," one of the men said. "The sentry +who was here was a bungler with a bow. None whom we know but Tregoz +could have made sure of that mark, bright as the night is. Well it +was, Lord, that you were not sleeping in your wonted place." + +Owen glanced at me to warn me to say nothing, and bade the men take +the body to the guardroom. They were already cursing the sentry who +had brought shame on their ranks by leaguing himself with a +traitor, and it was plain that there was no need to bid them lay +hands on him if they could. That was a matter that concerned their +own honour. + +So we left the guarding of the place in their hands, and they +doubled the watches from that time forward. Then we went and spoke +with the captain of the guard, who yet kept his post at the doors, +as none had called him. + +"Maybe I am to blame," he said, when he heard all. "I should not +have left a Dartmoor man from the country whence Tregoz came to +keep watch there. I knew that he was thence, and thought no harm." + +"There is no blame to you," Owen said. "It is not possible to look +for such treachery among our own men." + +Then we went into our room to show the captain what had been done. +And thence the two arrows had already been taken. The hole in the +plaster where the first struck was yet there, and the slit made by +the second in the tough hide of the bear was to be seen when I +turned over the fur, but who had taken them we could not tell. +Only, it was plain that here in the palace some one was in the plot +and had taken away what might be proof of who the archer had been, +not knowing, as I suppose, that the attempt had failed so utterly. +For an arrow will often prove a good witness, as men will use only +some special pattern that they are sure of, and will often mark +them that they may claim them and their own game in the woodlands +if they are found in some stricken beast that has got away for a +time. It was more than likely that Tregoz would have been careful +to use only such arrows as he knew well in a matter needing such +close shooting as this. Indeed, we afterwards found men who knew +the two shafts from the rampart as those of the Cornishman, without +doubt. + +This I did not like at all, for the going of these arrows brought +the danger to our very door, as it were. Nor did the captain, for +he himself kept watch over us for the rest of that night, and +afterwards there was always a sentry in the passage that led to our +room. + +We were silent as we lay down again, and sleep was long in coming. +I puzzled over all this, for beside the taking of the arrows there +was the question of who the slayer of Tregoz might be, and who had +written the letter that should have warned us. + +In all truth, it was not good to sleep in the moonlight! + +Somewhat of the same kind Owen was thinking, for of a sudden he +said to me: "Those arrows were meant for me, Oswald. Did you note +what the man said about my not sleeping in my wonted place?" + +"Ay, but I did not know that you had slept on this side. Since I +came back, at least, you have not done so." + +Owen smiled. + +"No, I have not," he said; "but in the old days that was always my +place, and you will mind that there I slept on the night we first +were here together. That was of old habit, and I only shifted to +this side when you came back, because I knew that you would like +the first light to wake you. Every sentry who crosses the window on +the rampart can see in here if it is light within, but he could not +tell that we had changed places, for the face of the sleeper is +hidden." + +Then he laughed a little, and added: + +"In the old days when I was in charge of the palace this face of +the ramparts was always the best watched, because the men knew that +if I waked and did not see the shadow of the sentry pass and repass +as often as it should, he was certain to hear of it in the morning. +Tregoz would know that old jest. I suppose Dunwal may have had some +hand in taking the arrows hence." + +"It is likely enough," I answered. "He will have to pay for his +brother's deed tomorrow, in all likelihood, also. But who wrote the +letter, and who slew Tregoz?" + +Owen thought for a little while. + +"Mara, Dunwal's daughter, is the most likely person to have +written," he said. "It would be like a woman to do so, and she +seems at least no enemy. Maybe the man was the sentry, after all, +and fled because he had given up his arms, and so was sharer in the +deed that he repented of. Or he may have been some friend of ours, +or foe of the Cornishman, who would not wait for the rough handling +of the guard when they found him there where he should not be. No +doubt we shall hear of him soon or late." + +But we did not. There was no trace of him, or of the writer of the +letter. One may imagine the fury of Gerent when he heard all this +in the morning, but even his wrath could not make Dunwal speak of +aught that he might know. But for the pleading of Owen, the old +king would have hung him then and there, and all that my foster +father could gain for him was his life. Into the terrible old Roman +dungeon, pit-like, with only a round hole in the stone covering of +it through which a prisoner was lowered, he was thrown, and there +he bided all the time I was at Norton. + +By all right the lands of these two fell again into the hands of +the king, and he would give them to Owen. + +"Take them," he said, when Owen would not do so at first: "they owe +you amends. If you do not want them yourself, wait until you sit in +my seat, and then give them to Oswald, that he may have good reason +for leaving Ina for you." + +So Owen held them for me, as it were, and was content. Some day +they might be mine, if not in the days of Ina, whom we loved. + +But Gerent either forgot or cared not to think of Mara, Dunwal's +daughter, and she bided in the best house in the town, with Jago's +wife, none hindering her in anything. There was no more sign of +trouble now that Tregoz and his brother were out of the way. + + + +CHAPTER X. HOW THE EASTDEAN MANORS AND SOMEWHAT MORE PASSED FROM OSWALD TO +ERPWALD. + + +I bided at Norton with Owen until the Lententide drew near, and +then I must needs go back to my place with Ina. Maybe I should have +gone before this, seeing that all was safe now, but our king had +been on progress about the country, to Chippenham, and so to +Reading and thence to London, and but half his guard was with him, +so that I was not needed. Now he was back at Glastonbury, and I +must join him there and go back to royal Winchester with him for +the Easter feast. + +Owen and I also had been far westward at one time or another, in +this space, though there is little worth telling beyond that we +went even to the lands of Tregoz that had passed to him, and so +took possession of them. I could not see that any of the folk on +those lands, whether free or thrall, seemed other than glad that +Owen was their lord now. It was said that Tregoz was little loved. +We left a new steward in the great half-stone and half-timber +house, with house-carles enough to see that none harmed either him +or the place, and so came back to Norton. + +Now, one may say that all this time, seeing that Glastonbury was +but so short a distance from Norton, I was a laggard lover not to +have ridden over to see Elfrida, and maybe it would be of little +use for me to deny it. However, I would have it remembered that +there was always fear for Owen in my mind if I was apart from him +at the first, and then there was this westward journey, and the +hunting in new places, and many other things, so that the time +slipped by all too quickly. Also, when it is easy to go to a place +one is apt to say that tomorrow will do, and, as every one knows, +tomorrow never comes. Nor had we said much of that damsel; if Owen +had not altogether forgotten my oath, he never spoke of it, nor did +I care to remind him. Nevertheless, whenever we spoke of Howel and +his daughter, Owen's godchild, I minded that the princess had +bidden me see how Elfrida greeted me when I came back, and it was +in my mind that she would be no less glad to see me after a long +absence. + +That I should find out very shortly, but the thought troubled me +little. I will say that the parting from Owen was all that was of +consequence to me, for it was hard enough. I could not tell when we +should meet again, for I must go east and he west now, and +presently all Devon, and maybe Cornwall, would lie between us, even +when our court was at Glastonbury. It would be hard to see him at +all in the coming days, for not often was Gerent here. However, +partings must needs be, and we made the least of it, and so at last +we rode together to the old bridge that crosses the Parrett, and +there bade our last farewells, and went our ways, not looking back. + +It was a lonesome ride onward for me after all these days with him, +and I had not a word for my house-carles, who had ridden from +Glastonbury hither to meet me, for the first few miles. Then I +bethought myself, and drew rein a little and let them come up with +me, for I had ridden alone at their head for a while, and so heard +all the news of the court and whatever talk was going about the +place, and my mind left Norton and went on, as it were, before me +to Glastonbury and all that I should see there. + +There was a warm welcome waiting for me from the many friends, and +best of all from the king himself. With him I sat long in his +chamber telling of my doings and of Owen, and hearing also of what +had been going on. At the last, when I was about to leave his +presence, he said: + +"There is one matter that we must speak of tomorrow, for it is +weighty and needs thought. Let it bide now, for it is nought +unhappy, and so come to me at noon and we will speak thereof. Now +your friends will seek you, and I will not say more." + +I left him then with a little wonder as to what this business might +be, but thought little of it, as it would very likely be a matter +of taking some men on some errand or the like house-carle work, and +then I bethought me that I would even go and see how fared Elfrida. +It was not unpleasant to think of taking her by surprise, for I did +not suppose that she had heard of my return yet. At all events, she +would have no chance of making up some stiff greeting for me. +Wherefore I went down the street with my head in the air, making up +my mind how I would greet her, and maybe I thought of a dozen ways +before I reached the ealdorman's door. + +His welcome was hearty enough at all events, but before I could +make up my mind to ask for Elfrida, who was not to be seen at +first, though I had counted on finding her at her wheel in the +great hall of the house, as was her wont in the afternoon, he had +wasted a long hour in hearing all that he could of my affairs, as +may be supposed. There had been some strange rumours flying about +since I was lost. I began to wish that I had brought Thorgils home +with me, for it was plain that I should have to go over all this +too often, and he cared not at all how many times he told the same +tale. + +At last I was able to find a chance of asking how fared the lady +Elfrida, and at that the ealdorman laughed. + +"What, has not all this put that foolishness out of your head?" he +said. + +"No, it has not," I answered pretty shortly. + +But all the same, the old thought that I had remembered her less +than I would have it known did flash across me for a moment. + +"Well, I will send for her, and she will tell you for herself how +she fares." + +He sent, and then in about half an hour she came, just as I was +thinking I would wait no longer. And if she had been stiff with me +in the orchard it was even more so now, and I did not seem to get +on with her at all. She said, indeed, that she was glad to see me +back, but in no way could I think that she looked more so than any +one else I had met. + +So we talked a little, and then all of a sudden her father said: + +"Ho!--Here comes that South Saxon again." + +Then at once a blush crept slowly over her fair face, and she tried +not to look toward the great door in vain, though no one came in, +and presently she was gone with but a few words to me. I did not +like this at all, but the ealdorman laughed at her and then at me, +the more that he saw that I was put out. + +"Never mind, Oswald," he said. "That vow of yours pledged you to no +more than duty to any fair lady." + +"Maybe it is just as well that it did not," I answered, trying to +laugh also. + +"Ay, that is right. You were bound to say somewhat, and you did it +well. But it has not pleased the girl, nevertheless." + +"I did think, at least, she would have been more glad to see me." + +"Trouble yourself not at all about the ways of damsels for the next +five years, or maybe ten, Oswald, my friend," said the ealdorman. +"So will you have an easier life, and maybe a longer one." + +Discontented enough I went away, and that same discontent lasted +for a full half-hour. At the end of that time I found myself +laughing at the antics of two boys who were sporting on a flooded +meadow in a great brew tub, while their mother threatened them with +a stick from the bank. It was my thought that a cake would have +fetched them back sooner than the stick, but maybe she knew best. +It was like a hen with ducklings. + +Then I grew tired of loitering outside the town and nursing my +wounded pride, and when it began to rain I forgot it, and went back +to the palace and talked about the British warriors with Nunna and +some of the other young thanes until supper time. + +Next morning I waited on the king as he had bidden me, finding him +in his chamber with a pile of great parchments and the like before +him. He bade me be seated, and I sat in the window seat opposite +him. + +"It is no light matter that I have to speak of," he said, "but I +will get to the point straightway. What do you remember of your old +home, Eastdean?" + +Now the thoughts of old days there that had sprung afresh in my +mind in the parting with Owen, made me ready to answer that at +once. + +"Little, my King. I was but ten years old when we fled," I answered +therefore. + +"That is likely. But would you go back there? As the Thane of +Eastdean, I mean; for I know that you would wish to see the place +where your father lies." + +I could not answer him this at once, for it was indeed a matter +that needed thought. So I said, and he turned to his writings with +a nod and left me to myself. + +In all these thoughts of mine, pleasant as they were with some +memories, it had never come to me to wish that the lands were mine +again. Save for that one thing of which Ina spoke, and for the +pleasantness of seeing old scenes again, I had never cared to go +back. Owen had not spoken of the lands that should have been mine +for years, and even as he talked with me and Gerent he had not +seemed to remember that old loss at all. Gerent had done so, saying +that I should be back there, but even that did not stir me now. I +was of the court, and here I had my place, and all my life was knit +with the ways of the atheling guard and the ordering of the +house-carles under Owen. If I were to turn from all this to become +a forest thane it would be banishment. + +And then I thought of Owen, and how this would take me yet farther +from him. I would sooner, if I must be sent from Ina, go to him and +find what home I might on the lands of Tregoz in wild Dartmoor. And +then the thought of leaving Ina, who had cared for me since I was a +child, was almost as terrible. + +"I would not leave you, my King," I said at last. + +Ina looked up at me with a smile, but was silent, stroking his +beard as was his way when thinking, looking past me out of the +narrow window to the great Tor that towered beyond the new abbey +buildings. + +"Think!" he said at last--"partings must come, and lands are not to +be had lightly. Erpwald's brother, who held Eastdean, is dead." + +"I need no lands," I answered. "The ways of a captain of your +house-carles are good to me, and I need no more. If I took those +lands from your hand, my King, needs must that I gave up all the +life with you. Sooner would I let the land go and bide with you. +Yet if I must needs take them, be it as you will." + +"It is a great thing that you speak so lightly of giving up," he +answered gravely; "Erpwald, the heathen, was willing to risk his +life for those lands, and he held them dear. And a captain of the +king's house-carles will always look to be rewarded for service +with lands. In time you will seek the same." + +"That time has not yet come to me, King Ina." + +"Eastdean lies in my hand here," he said, taking up a parchment +with a great seal on it. "I may give it to whom I will, but you are +the lawful heir who should hold it from me. If it goes not to you, +it may be that one whom you would not shall have it." + +Then I said, not seeing at all what the king would have me do, but +thinking that he deemed me foolish for not taking the lands +straightway: + +"Let me bide with you even yet for a while. When the time comes +that I must leave you I must go to Owen, and neither he nor I care +for aught but to be here. He must leave you because of duty, and if +this is indeed choice with me, let me choose to stay. It is nought +to me who holds the lands, save only that it might be one who will +tend the grave of my father." + +Then said Ina, looking into my face and smiling, as if well +pleased: + +"The choice is free, my Thane, and I should be wrong if I did not +say that I am glad to hear you choose thus. I have missed you in +these days, and I have work here for you yet. It was in my mind +that thus you would choose, and I am glad. Let it be so. I need one +to take the place of Owen, as second in command of the household, +as one may say, and that you must do for me henceforward. + +"Nay," he said quickly, raising his hand as I tried to find some +words of thanks for this honour; "you know the ways of Owen, and +men know you, and it will be as if there had been no change, and +that will mean that we shall have no grumbling in the palace, and +the right men will be sent to do what they are best fitted for--and +all that, so that there will be quiet about the court as ever. It +is a matter off my mind, let me tell you, and no thanks are +needed." + +So he laughed and let me kiss his hand, patting me on the shoulder +as I rose, and then bade me sit down again. He had yet more to say. + +"With Erpwald who is dead, men would hold that you had a blood +feud. That is done with; but his son yet lives. I do not think it +is your way, or Owen's, to hold that a feud must be carried on in +the old heathen way of our forefathers." + +"Most truly not," I said. "What ill has a son of Erpwald done to me +or mine?" + +"None! Nay, rather has he done well, for I know that he has +honoured the grave of your father, and even now is ready to do what +he can to make amends for the old wrong. He brought me this." + +He took up the parchment that he had shewn me before. It was a +grant of the manors of Eastdean to Erpwald, gained by those means +of utmost craft whereby the king thought that indeed the last of +our line had perished by other hands than those of the heathen +thane. + +"Honest and straightforward and Christian-like is this young +Erpwald," the king said. "Well brought up by his Christian mother, +if not very ready or brilliant in his ways. Now he has learned how +his father came into the lands, and though he might well have held +them after his uncle on this grant, he has come hither to set the +matter in my hands. 'It is not fair,' quoth he, 'that I should hold +them if one is left of the line of Ella. I should not sleep easily +in my bed. Nevertheless, I will buy them if so be that one is left +to sell them to me.' So he sighed, for the place is his home." + +"All these years it has been no trouble to me that Erpwald's +brother has held the place, my King. It will be no trouble to think +that a better Erpwald holds them yet." + +"I do not think that he will be happy unless he deems that he has +paid some price--some weregild {ii}, as one may say; for slow +minds as his hang closely to their thoughts when they are formed. +See, Oswald, I have thought of all this, and the young man has been +here for a fortnight. I brought him here from Winchester, where he +joined me. Let me tell you what I think." + +"The matter is in your hands altogether, my King." + +"As you have set it there," he said, smiling gently. "Now all seems +plain to me, and I will say that this is even what I thought you +would wish to do. How shall it be if we bid Erpwald, for the deed +of his father, to build a church in Eastdean and there to keep a +priest, that all men shall know how that the martyr is honoured, +and the land be the better for his death?" + +Nought better than this could be, as I thought, and I told the king +so. + +"Why, then," he said, "that is well. I shall have pleased both +parties, as I hope. I know you will meet him in all friendliness." + +Then he let me go, and it was with a light heart that I parted from +him. Now I knew that my father's grave and memory would be held in +more than common honour, and I was content. + +Men would miss Owen sorely here, but, save for that, I had so often +acted for him in these last two years that my being altogether in +his place made little difference to any one, or even to myself in a +few days. That last was as well for myself, as it seems to me, for +I was not over proud, as I might have been had the post been new to +me. As it was, I do not think that there was any jealousy over it, +or at least I never found it out. My friends rejoiced openly, and +if any one wondered that the king should so trust a man of my age, +the answer that I had saved Ina's life was enough to satisfy all. + +My men drank my health in their quarters that night, and after I +got over the little strangeness of sitting on the high place next +to Nunna, things went on, save for the want of Owen about the +court, even as when he was the marshal and I but his squire, as it +were. + +I saw young Erpwald for the first time soon after the king had +spoken of him to me, and I liked the look of him well enough. He +was some few years older than I, square and strong, with a round +red face and light hair, pleasant in smile, if not over wise +looking. One would say that he might be a good friend, but one +could hardly think of him as willingly the enemy of any man. Some +one made me known to him as the son of Owen, as was usual, and as +such would I be known to him for a while; but for some time I saw +little of him, not caring to seek his company, as indeed there was +no reason for me to do so. + +The next thing that I heard of him was that he had made a great +friend of the ealdorman since he came here, being often at his +house. It was not so long before I met him there, though my pride, +which would not let me risk another rebuff, kept me away for some +days. I had an uneasy feeling that I should fare no better, and I +could find good reason enough to justify the thought in some ways, +as any one may see from what had happened before. + +Maybe that was a token that my first feelings were cooling off, and +I do not think that there is much wonder if they were. It would +have been strange, and not altogether complimentary to the fair +damsel if, after the deed at the feast and the vow that I had to +make, I had not thought myself desperately in love with her at +last, after a good many years of friendship. But now there had +befallen the long days of peril and anxiety which had set her in +the background altogether, and I had had time to come to more sober +thoughts, as it were. Men have said that I aged more in that short +time than in the next ten years of my life, and it is likely. +Nevertheless, it needed but a word or two of kindness to bring me +to Elfrida's feet once for all, and but a little more coldness to +send me from her altogether. + +So at last I went to her home to find out how I should fare, +thinking less of the matter than last time, and there she sat in +the hall, chatting merrily with Erpwald. That pleasantness stopped +when I came in, and after the first needful greetings Elfrida froze +again, and Erpwald fell silent, as if I was by no means welcome. I +could see that I was the third who spoils company. However, the +ealdorman came in directly, and I talked to him, and as we paid no +heed to those two they took up their talk once more, and presently +their words waxed low. Whereon the ealdorman glanced at them with a +sly grin and wink to me, and I understood. + +So I went away, for that was enough. Of course, I was very angry, +by reason of the scratch to my pride; for it does hurt to think +that one is not wanted, and for a while I brooded over it just as I +had done the other day. Then it came to me that at least I had no +reason to be angry with Erpwald, who could know little or anything +about me, being a newcomer, and it was not his fault if the girl +made a tool of him to scare me away, and after that I found my +senses again, rather sooner than before, perhaps. It was plain that +the ealdorman took it for granted that I had no feeling now in that +direction, and so others would do the same, which was comforting. +So I supposed that there was no more to be said on the subject by +any one, unless Elfrida chose to have the matter out, and set +things on the old footing of frank friendliness again. + +There I found that I was mistaken at once. Some one was coming down +the lane after me quickly, and then calling my name. I turned, and +there was Erpwald, with a very red face, trying to overtake me, and +I waited for him. + +"A word with you, Thane," he said, out of breath. + +"As many as you will. What is it?" + +"Wait until I get my breath," he said. "One would think that you +were in a desperate hurry, by the pace you go. Plague on all such +fast walkers!" + +That made me laugh, and he smiled across his broad face in return. + +"It is all very well to grin," he said, straightening his face +suddenly to a blankness; "but what I have to say concerns a mighty +serious matter." + +"Well, then, get it done with," I answered, trying not to smile yet +more. + +"I don't rightly know how to begin," he said in a hesitating kind +of way. "Words are as hard to manage as a drove of forest swine, +and I am a bad hand at talking. Can you not tell what I have to +say?" + +"Not in the least," I answered. + +It flashed across me that he might have found out who I was, +however, and wanted to speak of the old trouble. + +"Well," he said at last, growing yet redder, "the Lady Elfrida is +angry that her name has been coupled with yours pretty much +lately." + +He stopped with a long breath, and I knew what he was driving at. + +"She has told me as much herself already," I said solemnly. + +He heaved a sigh of relief. + +"But she did not tell me that," he said in a puzzled sort of way. +"Well, it must not go on, or--or else, that is, I shall have to see +that it does not." + +"The worst of it is that I cannot help it," said I. "Did the lady +ask you to speak to me of the matter?" + +"Why, no; she did not. Only, I thought that some one must. Of +course, I mean that I will fight you if it goes on." + +"Of course," I said. "But I can in no wise stop it. Do you know how +it began?" + +"Not altogether. How was it?" + +"Really, that you had better ask some one else," I said, keeping a +grave face. "I think that it would have been fairer to me to have +done so first. But if there was any real blame to me, do you think +that the ealdorman would have been glad to see me just now? I think +that it was plain that he was so." + +"I am an owl," Erpwald said. "Of course, he would not have been. +But did you come to see the ealdorman, or the lady?" + +"Why, both of them, of course. I have known them for years." + +He looked relieved when he heard that, and I thought that he must +be badly smitten already. + +"Well, I will go and ask the ealdorman all about it," he said. +"Where shall I find you in an hour's time?" + +"In my quarters," I answered; "but, of course, if you want to fight +me you will have to send a friend to talk to me." + +"I will send the ealdorman himself." + +"Best not, for he is the man who is charged with the stopping of +these affairs if he hears of them. Any atheling you meet will help +you in such a matter. It is an honour to be asked to do so. But +don't ever ask me to be your second if you have another affair, for +I also have to hinder these meetings if I can." + +"Is there any one else I must not ask?" he said in a bewildered +way. + +"Best not ask the abbot," I said, and I could not help smiling. + +"Now you are laughing at me, and that is too bad. How am I to know +your court ways?" + +"Well, you will not have to fight me unless you really want to pick +a quarrel. So it does not matter. Get to the bottom of the +question, and then come and talk it over, and we will see what is +to be done." + +He nodded and left me, and I had a good chuckle over the whole +business. It was not likely that Elfrida had set him on me, in the +least; but I suppose he had heard some jest of her father's, who +was one of those who will work anything that pleases them to the +last. + +So I went my way, and saw to one or two things, and sat me down in +the room off the hall that had been Owen's, and presently Erpwald +came in, and I saw that he was in trouble. + +"Well," I said, "how goes the quarrel?" + +"I am a fool," he replied promptly. "The lady should be proud of +the affair, and the more it is talked of the better she should like +it. You are right in saying that it cannot be stopped. Why, there +is a gleeman down the street this minute singing the deeds of +Oswald and Elfrida. As for the vow you made, the ealdorman says +that it could not have been better done. Forgive me for troubling +you about it at all." + +He held out his broad hand, and for a moment I hesitated about +taking it. He bore his father's name, but in a flash it came to me +that I was wrong. We were both children when the ill deed was +wrought, and I was no heathen to hold a blood feud against all the +family of the wrongdoer. He did not even know that one of us lived, +and, as the king had told me, I knew that he was prepared to make +amends. + +So I took his hand frankly, and he had not noticed the moment's +slowness or, if he did, took it for the passing of vexation from my +mind. + +"You will laugh at me again," he said, "but now I am in hot water +in all sooth. The lady will not speak to me at all." + +I did laugh. I sat down on the edge of the table and tried to stop +it, but his red face was so rueful that I could not, and at last he +had to smile also. + +"Why, what have you done?" I asked. "Now it is my turn to know +reasons why. Here is a new offence to be seen into." + +"I only told her that I had spoken to you on the subject, and was +going to talk to the ealdorman, her father, if she would not save +me the trouble by telling me herself all about it." + +"And then?" + +"She got up and went away, tossing her head, without a word. So I +had a talk with the ealdorman, and learnt all; but after that I +tried to see her, and that black-haired Welsh maiden of hers told +me that she would not see me." + +"It seems to me that you have had a bad day," I said. "But what +does it matter? You have done what seemed right, and if it is taken +in the wrong way you cannot help it." + +"It does matter," he said. "If she is wroth with me, I don't mind +telling you that I am fit to hang myself. Could you not set things +right for me, somehow? You are an old friend." + +"No, hardly; for I am not in favour there just now." + +"Well, I shall go and try to get round the Welsh girl to speak for +me." + +Now, that was a servant I had never heard of, and I thought I knew +all the household. So I could not tell him if that would be of use, +and he left me in some sort of desperation to try what he could. He +was very much in love. + +Next day he came back beaming. Somehow the Welshwoman had managed +things for him, and all was well again. I had my own thought that +Elfrida was by no means unwilling to meet him halfway, but I did +not say so. I think I had fairly got over my feelings by this time, +but I must say that I felt a sort of half jealousy about it. But +the more I came to look on the South Saxon's round face, and to +think of him as Elfrida's favoured lover, the less I felt it. It +became a jest to watch the going of the affair, and I was not the +only one who found it so in a very short time. + +Erpwald made no secret of his devotion. He minded me of a great +faithful stupid dog, whose trust was boundless and whose love was +worth having. One could lead him anywhere, but he was true +Sussex--he would not be driven an inch. + +So Elfrida had a hopeless slave at her beck and call, and by and by +I was on the old footing, and we used to make much of my vow of +service to her. + +"I would that I had made that vow," Erpwald said once. + +"It is not too late now," answered the ealdorman, with his great +laugh; "but I do not think it is needed." + +After me went Erpwald when he was not at the ealdorman's, and Ina +told me that he was glad to see that I harboured no thought of +revenge. + +"Presently you will want to go to Eastdean to see that your +father's grave is well honoured, and this friendliness will help +you," he said. "And for his friend such a man as Erpwald will do +much. The church at Eastdean will be no poor one, and you will help +him choose the place. We could not have asked him to do anything +that has pleased him more." + +One thing I feared was that when he found out who I was he would be +ill at ease with me, and I asked the king to tell him in the way +that seemed best to his wisdom, lest the knowledge should come by +chance from some one else. + +So he did that, and in a day or two Erpwald came to me and told me +that he knew at last who I was, and we had a long talk together. It +was in his mind to try to make me take the lands again, and I had +hard work to make him believe that I was in earnest when I said +that I did not want them. And at the end I made him happy by +telling him that the king would let me go to Eastdean with him +before long, so that we could see to things together. + +"Well," he said, "this is all very pleasant for me, and it is +common saying that you will be some sort of prince in West Wales +before long; but I shall ever feel that my family owes yours more +than I can repay." + +After that he was a little uneasy with me for a time, but it soon +wore off, and we used to talk of our ride to Eastdean often enough. + +And then happened a thing that set me back into trouble about Owen +again. I had had many messages from him, as may be supposed, and in +all of them he said that there was no sign of danger, or even of +plotting against him. + +One of my men brought me a written message one evening. A thrall +had left it at the gate for me. And when I asked from whom it came +I had the same answer that was given me when that other writing +warned me not to sleep in the moonlight, for it was said to come +from a priest whom I knew. + +So when I glanced at the writing I was not surprised to see that it +was the same, though the sight of it gave me a cold shudder. +Somewhat the same also was the form in which the message ran: + +"To Oswald, son of Owen.--It is not good to take wine from the hand +of a Briton." + +Now, I had some reason to believe that Mara had written the first +note, as she seemed the only possible person to warn us of the +plots of her kin, and that was a very plain warning to Owen rather +than to myself, as it seemed. So I thought this might come from the +same hand, and be meant for him also, and that all the more that +there was not a stranger left in Glastonbury, now that the feasting +was over, much less a Welshman. But Owen had none but Welsh round +him, and it seemed to say that there was some plot among them +again. Maybe he would know who was meant by the "Briton." Men have +nicknames that seem foolish to any but those who are in the jest of +them. We used to call Erpwald the "Saxon" sometimes, because he was +not of Wessex, although we were as much Saxon as he, or more so, +according to our own pride. + +I went straight down the street to the house of a man whom I knew +well, an honest franklin who had a good horse and knew the border +country from end to end, and I bade him ride with all speed to Owen +at Norton with the paper. He was to give it into his own hand, and +I made shift to scrawl a few words on the outside of it that he +might shew to my friend the captain of the guard, and so win +speedier entry to the palace. I did not send one of my own men, +because he would have been known as coming from me, while this man +was often in Norton about cattle and the like, and none would +wonder at seeing him. + +I was easier when I saw him mount and ride away, but I was ill +content until the morning came and brought him back with tidings +that all was well, and that Owen would be on his guard. + +Also, the franklin was to tell me that Gerent's court went to Isca, +which we call Exeter, in two days' time, and that Owen would fain +see me before he went westward, if I could come to him. There +seemed to be difficulty in persuading Gerent to let him return to +our court, even for a day now. + +Whereon I went to Ina and told him of this new trouble, and he bade +me go. He thought that some fresh plot was being hatched in Exeter, +but both he and I wondered that the warning was not sent direct to +my foster father, rather than in this roundabout way through my +hands. He said the same thing to me that Howel had spoken when I +parted from him. + +"These plotters will not think twice about striking at Owen through +you, if it seems the only way to reach him. And you mind that the +princess told you to have a care for yourself. Evan said that if +strife was stirred up between us and Gerent they would be glad. If +they slew you, my Thane, it is likely that there would be trouble, +unless Gerent is as wroth as I should be." + +So I went with a few guards and spent the day and night with Owen +at Norton. I knew it was the last chance I should have of seeing +him for a long time, but we talked of the coming summer, promising +ourselves that journey together to see Howel. I told him how things +went with Elfrida and me, and he did not seem to wonder much, nor +to think it of any consequence. He laughed at me, and told me to +get over it as soon as I could, and that was all. + +But this last warning he could no more understand than I. It was +his thought that it was meant for me rather than himself. + +"You will have to take heed to any Welshman you meet," he said, +"and as you are warned that should be no very difficult matter. No +Briton can ever pretend to be a Saxon." + +I do not think that there is more to be said of that meeting, +though indeed I would willingly dwell on it. Mayhap it will be +plain why I would do so presently, for I left him bright and happy +in his old place, with nought but the distance from the foster son +whom he loved to trouble him. + +But when I rode away again the sorrow of that parting fell heavily +on me, and I could not shake it off. It seemed to me that I would +not see Owen again, though why it so seemed I could not tell. If I +had any thought of danger to myself I should have cared little, so +it was not that. I wonder if one can feel "fey" for another man if +he is dear to you as no other can be? + + + +CHAPTER XI. HOW ERPWALD FELL FROM CHEDDAR CLIFFS; AND OF ANOTHER WARNING. + + +In the coming week, after I had thus taken leave of Owen, my friend +Herewald, the ealdorman, would have a hunting party before we all +left him and Glastonbury for Winchester, and so it came to pass +that on the appointed day a dozen of us rode with a train of men +and hounds after us along the westward slopes of the Mendips in the +direction of Cheddar, rousing the red deer from the warm woodlands +of the combes where they love to hide. We had the slow-hounds with +us, and that, as it seems to me, is better sport than with the +swift gaze-hounds I rode after on the Welsh hills with Eric. It is +good to hear the deep notes of them as they light on the scent of +the quarry in the covers, and to see them puzzle out a lost line in +the open, and to ride with the crash and music of the full pack +ahead of one in the ears, as the deer doubles no longer, but trusts +to speed for escape. + +Those who were with us were friends of mine and of the ealdorman, +and there were three ladies in the party--one of these being, of +course, Elfrida. + +Erpwald was in close attendance on her, a matter which was taken +for granted by every one at this time. He was to go with the court +to Winchester, and thence he and I would ride to Eastdean. + +So we hunted through the forenoon, taking one deer, and then rode +onward until we came to the place where the great Cheddar gorge +cleaves the Mendips across from summit to base, sheer and terrible. +The village lies at the foot of the gorge on the western side of +the hills, half sheltered between the first cliffs of the vast +chasm, but on the hillside above is a deep cover that climbs upward +to the summit, and it was said that a good deer had been harboured +there. + +So presently, while the hounds were drawing this wood below us, I +and Elfrida and Erpwald found ourselves together and waiting on the +hilltop at the edge of the gorge. I was almost sorry to make a +third in that little party, but Erpwald knew nothing of the +country, and Elfrida had no more skill in matters of time and place +and distance than most ladies, which is not saying much, in all +truth, though I hardly should dare to set it down, save by way of +giving a reason for my presence with so well contented a party of +two. + +Now, if there is one who has not seen this Cheddar gorge, I will +say that it is as if the mighty hills had been broken across as a +boy breaks a long loaf, or as if some giant had hewn a narrow gap +with the roughest pick that ever was handled. Our forefathers held +that Woden had indeed hewn it so, and we have tales that the evil +one himself cleft it in a night, and that the rocky islands of +Steep and Flat Holme, yonder in the mid channel, are the rubbish +which he hewed thence and cast there. Maybe the overhanging cliffs +are full four hundred feet high from the little white track which +winds at their foot, and from cliff top to cliff top is but a short +bow shot. + +From where we waited one could look sheer down on the track below +us, and a man who was coming slowly along it seemed like a rat in +its run, so far off did he appear. At least, so said Erpwald, who +looked over, riding to the very edge. I had no wish to do so, +having been there before, and not altogether liking it. + +Then he wanted Elfrida to look over also, and that frightened her, +and so we rode back and forth a little, for the wind was keen on +the hill, listening for sound of horn or hound in the cover. + +One reason why we were so near the edge of the cliffs was that +Erpwald had not seen the place before, and had heard much of it; +and another was that as no deer could cross the gorge we should be +sure to have the hunt before us when one broke. There are tales of +hunted deer, ay, and of huntsmen also, going over the cliffs at +full speed, but that is likely only when the pace has been hot and +the danger is forgotten. I had no mind, either, to see some of +Herewald's young hounds cast themselves over in eagerness if they +chose to follow, as young ones will, the scent of some hill fox who +had his lair among the rocks and knew paths to safety on the face +of the cliffs, so that was yet another reason why we were in that +place, and I tell this because it is likely that some one may ask +how it was that I suffered my friends to bide in so perilous a +spot, seeing what happened presently. + +It was not long before those two forgot me, and rode side by side +talking. Maybe I forgot them, for the last time I was on the cliff +tops was across the channel, and I minded the two with whom I rode +then--Howel and Nona. + +Then suddenly the ringing of the horn roused us, and Erpwald came +toward me, thinking that, of course, Elfrida was close after him, +but with his eyes too intently watching the place where I had said +a deer was most likely to break cover to notice much else. I was +some twenty paces farther from the edge than they. The horses +pricked up their ears at the well-known sound, and stood with +lifted heads watching as eagerly as we. + +Then there came a little cry from Elfrida as she bade her horse +stand, and I heard it trampling sharply, as if restive, behind us. +I turned in my saddle to see what was amiss, and what I saw made my +blood run cold, and the sweat broke out on my forehead in a moment. + +With the sound of the horn and the moving away of Erpwald the horse +had waxed restive, as horses will at a cover side when the time to +move on seems near. I think that it had probably reared a little +and that she had tried to check it, for now it was backing slowly +and uneasily toward the edge of that awesome cliff that was but ten +paces from its heels. Even now the girl was backing him yet more in +her efforts to make him stand still, and I dared not make a move to +catch the bridle lest he should swing round at once from me and go +over. + +"Spur him, Elfrida. Let his head go, and spur him," I said as +quietly as I could, but so that she must needs hear. + +It was all that I could do. + +She spurred him, and then as he made a little leap forward, checked +him, and that was yet worse. Then I saw Erpwald, with an ashy face, +dismount and go hastily toward the edge behind her, sidelong, and I +swung my horse away from him, so that by chance hers might follow +me out of danger. + +But that was useless. The brute was yet backing, and his heels were +almost on the brink. It seemed that his rider did not know how near +she was. + +"Get off!" I said hoarsely. "Get off at once!" + +Then she knew, but could only turn and look. The hinder hoofs lost +hold on the rocky edge as the horse made its first slip backward, +and even as the loosened stones rattled down, and it lurched with +one leg hanging over the gulf, Erpwald leapt forward and tore +Elfrida from the saddle, and half threw her toward me. I do not +remember when I dismounted, but I was there and grasped her hand +and dragged her back out of the way of the lashing fore feet. + +Then Erpwald was gone. The horse struggled wildly in one last +effort to save itself, and swept my friend over with it. There was +a rattle of stones, a silence, and then a dull crash in the depths +below. + +One moment later and all three would have gone. I heard the shout +of the man on the track below, and I wondered in a dull way if he +had been killed also. + +And now I had Elfrida to tend, for she had fainted. What she had +seen I could not tell, but I hoped that at least she knew nought +before Erpwald went. It was as if she had lost consciousness when +he reached her, for I saw the hand on the rein loosen helplessly. I +carried her back from the cliff and tried to bring her to herself, +vainly, though indeed I almost wished that she might remain as she +was until we were back in Glastonbury. + +Then I wound my horn again and again to bring some to my help, and +I tried not to think of that which surely lay crushed on the road +below. There could be no hope for either man or horse. + +Then came the sound of swift hoofs, and there was the ealdorman and +one or two others, coming in all haste to know what the urgent call +betokened, but by the time that he had dismounted and asked if +there was any hurt to his daughter I could only gasp and point +downward. My mouth was dry and parched, and I did not know how to +put into words the thing that had happened; but he saw that +Elfrida's horse was not there, and that Erpwald's ran loose with +mine, and he guessed. + +"Over the cliff?" he said, whispering, and I nodded. + +"Go and look," he gasped, and he knelt down and took Elfrida from +me. + +The two who were with him were trying to catch the loose horses, +and we were alone for the moment. So I crept to the edge and looked +over, fearing what I should see. But I saw nothing but the bare +track winding there, and I remembered that the cliff overhung. + +Then, as I scanned every rock and cranny below me a man came out +from under the overhang at the foot of the cliff and looked up. For +a moment my heart leapt, for I thought it was Erpwald. But it was +only the traveller we had seen, and he must have been looking at +what had rolled into the hollow that hid it from me. He glanced up +and caught sight of me. + +"How did it happen?" he called up to me. + +"Dead?" I called back, with a terror of what I knew would be his +answer. + +Then he laughed at me. + +"Do you expect a horse to be leather all through, Master? Of course +he is.--Saddle and all smashed to bits." + +Then a dull anger took me that he thought of the horse only, as it +seemed, unless he was mazed as I was with it all. + +"The man--the man," I said. + +"There is no man here, Master. Did one fall?" he said in a new +voice, and he crossed to the other side of the gorge and scanned +the face of the cliff. + +"He is not to be seen," he said. "Maybe he has caught yonder." + +He pointed to a ledge that was plain enough to me, but nowhere near +the place whence the fall was. There were no ledges to be seen as I +looked straight down, and I knew that this place was the most sheer +fall along all the length of the gorge. + +Now three more of our party came up, and at once they rode down to +the village and so round to where the man stood. It seemed a long +time before they were there and talking to him. + +"Ho, Oswald!" + +Their voices came cheerfully enough, and I looked down at them. + +"There seem to be clefts here and there, and in one of those he +must needs be," they said. "We are going to the village to get a +cragsman with a rope, and will be with you anon." + +There was at least hope in that, and I watched them ride swiftly +away. The ravens were gathering fast now, knowing that what fell +from above must needs be their prey, and two great eagles were +wheeling high overhead, waiting. I heard the kites screaming to one +another from above the eagles, and from the woods came the call of +the buzzards. They knew more than I. + +Now the ealdorman could not bring Elfrida round, and he thought it +best to take her hence. So he had her lifted to him on his horse, +and went slowly and carefully down the hill toward the village with +her. I had told him all that had happened by this time, and I was +to bring word presently to him of how the search went. + +So I and those two friends who had first come sat there on the +cliff top waiting in silence for the coming of the man with his +ropes. All that could be said had been said. + +Here and there on the face of the cliff some yew trees had managed +to find a holding, and their boughs were broken by the passage of +the horse at least through them. But there were no shreds of +clothing on them, as if Erpwald had reached them. That might be +because the weightier horse fell first. It seemed to me in that +moment of the fall that he was between the horse and the cliff as +he went over the edge, for the forefeet of the horse struck his +legs and threw him backward, and the last thing that I minded was +seeing his head against the horse's mane in some way. That last +glimpse will bide with me until I forget all things. + +It seemed very long before our friends came back with the ropes. +Backwards and forwards in front of us flew untiringly two ravens, +now flying across the gorge, and then again almost brushing us with +their wings as they swept up the face of the cliff from below. We +thought they had a nest somewhere close at hand, for it was their +time. + +"If Erpwald were dead," I said presently, "those birds would not be +so restless. It is hard to think that they know where he is and how +he fares; but at least they tell us that he is not yet prey for +them." + +Backward and forward they swept, until my eyes grew dazed with +watching them, and then suddenly they both croaked their alarm +note, wheeled quickly away from the cliff's face, and fled across +the gorge and were gone. + +Then was a rattle of stones, and a shout from some one in the track +below, and I started and saw a head slowly rising above the edge of +the cliff as if its owner had climbed up to us. White and streaked +with blood was the face, but it was not crushed or marred, and it +was Erpwald's. + +"Lend me a hand," he said, as we stared at him, as one needs must +stare at one who comes back as it were from the grave. "My head +swims even yet." + +I grasped his hand and helped him to the grass, and once there he +stood upright and shook himself, looking round in an astonished way +as he did so. + +"No broken bones," he said. "Where is Elfrida? Is she all right? I +was rough with her, I fear, but I could not help it. Could I have +managed otherwise?" + +"In no way better," I said, finding my tongue at length. "She has +gone to the village. But where have you been!" + +"In a long hole just over here," he answered. "But how long has she +been gone?" + +"How long do you think that you have been in your hole?" + +"A few minutes. It cannot be long. Yet it must have been longer +than I thought, for the shadows are changed." + +It was a full hour and a half since he fell, but I did not say so, +lest it should be some sort of shock to him. So I bade him sit down +while I saw to a cut there was on his head--the only sign of hurt +that he had. + +"I thought that I was done for at first," he said. + +"So thought I, until we found that you were not at the bottom. Even +now some of us have gone for ropes that we might search the cliff +for you. We could not see you anywhere, and there does not seem to +be any ledge here that could catch you." + +"Why, you could have touched me with a spear all the time, if you +had known where to thrust it. I think I fainted, or somewhat +foolish of the sort. My head hit the rock as I went over. Also the +horse ground me between it and the cliff, so that all my breath +went. But that pushed me into the hole, and I will not grumble. At +least, I think that was it, but I cannot be sure. My senses went." + +He began to laugh, but suddenly turned to me with a new look on his +face. + +"Oh, but was Elfrida feared for me?--What did she think?" + +"She saw nought of it," I said. "I believe that she had fainted +with terror when you laid hold of her. The ealdorman came and took +her to the village, and I do not suppose she knows that you have +been lost." + +"That is well," he said, with his great sigh. "Look over and see my +hole." + +I did not care to look over again, and, moreover, knew that I could +not see it. I mind every jutting stone and twisted yew that is on +the cliff there, to this day. However, one of the others went a +little to one side, where Erpwald had appeared, and swung himself +to the tiny ledge that had given him foothold as he came up, and so +looked at the place. There was a long cleft between two layers of +rock which went back into the cliff's face for some depth, with a +little backward slope that had saved the helpless man from rolling +out again, and there was a raven's nest at one end of it. One may +see that cleft from below and across the gorge if one knows where +to look, but not by any means from above, by reason of the overhang +of the brink. It was plain that, as he thought, the horse's body, +or maybe its shoulder, thrust him into the cleft, but it was well +that he was senseless and so could not struggle, or he would have +surely missed it. It is his saying that he had no trouble in +getting into the place, but more in climbing out. + +Now we called the good news to some of our people and the villagers +who were on the road below, and they broke into cheers as they +heard it. They could hardly believe that the man they had seen on +the edge just now was Erpwald himself. Then we went down to the +village, meeting the men with the ropes halfway, and so came to the +first houses of the street, where the ealdorman was standing +outside one of the better sort. He came to meet us, and I never saw +anything like the look on his face when he saw Erpwald and heard +his cheerful greeting. I told him how things ended. + +"I have given a lot of trouble, as it seems" Erpwald said humbly; +"but I could not help it." + +"Trouble!" said the ealdorman. "Had it not been for you there would +have been nought but trouble for me all the rest of my life." + +He took Erpwald's hand as he spoke and pressed it, but he would not +say more then. Maybe he could not. So he turned to me. + +"It is all right, Oswald, for Elfrida is herself again, and she saw +nothing after she looked into the gulf below her. I have told her +nothing." + +"Do not tell her anything, Ealdorman," Erpwald said. "No need to +say what a near thing it was, or that I handled her like a sack of +oats. She would never forgive me. But Oswald says it was all that I +could have done. It was a good thing that he was there to take +her." + +"How are you going to account for the broken head, then?" + +"Say I was thrown from my horse afterward, or somewhat of that +kind," he said. "Or, stay, these will do it. I have been birds' +nesting. I thought these would please her. One gets falls while +scrambling after the like." + +He put his hand into his pouch as he spoke. + +"Plague on it, one is broken," he said, bringing out a raven's egg. +"There were two in that place where I stopped falling." + +The ealdorman and I stared at him in wonder. It amazed us that in +such a moment a man should think of this trifle. And now he was +turning his soiled pouch inside out and wiping it with a tuft of +grass, grumbling the while. It was plain that the danger had made +no impression on him. + +"Were not you frightened when you found how nearly you had fallen +from the cliff?" I asked him. + +"No; why should I be? I did not fall from it. I was feared enough +when I thought that I was going, and I thought I was at the bottom +when I came to myself. But as I had not gone so far, there was an +end." + +I minded the story of the Huntsman's Leap, and how I had felt when +I knew my escape. It was plain that this forest-bred Erpwald, with +his cool head, and lack of power to picture what might have been, +would make a good warrior, so far as dogged fearlessness goes, and +that is a long way. + +Now the ealdorman kept what else he might have to say until we were +at home, for it was time for us to be off. So we brushed Erpwald +down and hid his cut under a cap that the good franklin of the +house lent him, for his own was gone, as he said, to make a bird's +nest somewhere on the cliffs; and then Elfrida came from the +cottage, looking a little white and shaken with her fright, but +otherwise none the worse, and we started. + +Erpwald kept out of her sight for a little while, but as we were +fairly on the way home it was not long before he found his way to +her side, and we let those two have their say out together. + +One by one the friends who had joined us dropped out of the party +as their way led them aside, until by the time we reached the +ealdorman's house only half a dozen of us were left. Then Herewald +would have us come in for some cheer after the long day, but we +were tired and stained, and I must be back at the guardroom, and so +he bade his folk bring somewhat out here to us. There was a cask of +ale already set on the low wall by the gate for the men, and we sat +on our horses waiting, with a little crowd of thralls and children +round us, looking at the two good deer that we brought back. Then +the steward and some of the women of the house brought horns of ale +from the house for us. + +One of the women came to me, and without seeing who she was, or +thinking of doing so, I reached out my hand for the horn that she +held up, and at that moment some one from behind seemed to run +against my horse's flank, and he lashed out and reared as if he was +hurt. My rein was loose, and I was bending carelessly over to take +the horn, and it was all that I could do to keep my seat for the +moment. As for the girl, she dropped the horn and ran from the +plunging horse into the doorway for safety. + +Then I heard the sharp crack of a whip, and the voice of the head +huntsman speaking angrily: + +"Out on you for a silly oaf!--What mean you by going near the thane +at all?" + +The whip cracked again, and the long lash curled round the +shoulders of a ragged thrall, who tried in vain to escape it. + +"On my word, I believe you did it on purpose!" the huntsman cried, +with a third shrewd lash that found its lodgment rightly. + +"Mercy, Master," mumbled the man, writhing; "it is this terrible +crossing of the eyes. I do not rightly see where I go." + +I had quieted the horse by this time, and I held up my hand to stay +the lash from the thrall. Some one picked up the horn that the girl +had let fall. + +"Let him be," I said. "It could but have been a chance, and he is +lucky not to have been kicked. See, he does squint most amazingly." + +"Ay," growled the huntsman, "so he does; but I never knew a +cross-eyed man before who had any trouble in walking straight +enough." + +The thrall slunk away among his fellows. He was a round-shouldered +man with hay-coloured hair and a stubby beard of the same, and he +rubbed his shoulders with his elbows lifted as he went. Then the +steward gave me a fresh horn, and we said farewell to our host and +hostess, and Erpwald and I went our way. + +"I thought that the horse would have knocked the Welsh girl over," +he said presently. "She was pretty nimble, however. That churl must +have kicked your horse sharply to make him plunge as he did." + +"Trod on his fetlock most likely," I answered. "Clumsy knave." + +"Well, that huntsman knows how to use a lash, at all events, and he +will have a care in future. But how my head does ache!" + +"That is likely enough," I said, laughing. "It was a shrewd knock, +and it kept you in that hole for the longest hour and a half I have +ever known." + +"It does take somewhat out of the common to hurt me much," he said +simply. + +"Well, by tomorrow you will be famed all over Glastonbury as the +man who fell over Cheddar cliffs and escaped by reason of lighting +on the thickest part of him," I answered. + +It was a poor jest enough, but it set him laughing. I did not wish +him to say more of what had just happened, for I was puzzled about +it, and wanted to get my thoughts to work. He had spoken of the +very thing that I had been warned of, for almost had I taken the +horn from the hand of a Briton--the Welsh girl of whom he spoke +once before. I had forgotten her, for I do not think that I had +ever seen her since she came here, until now. But at this moment I +seemed to have a feeling that her face was in some way familiar to +me, though only in that half-formed way that troubles one, and I +was trying to recall how this might be. + +Erpwald went off to the guest chamber where he was lodged, and +presently I found our old leech and took him to see after him. He +went comfortably to sleep after his hurt had been dressed, and so I +left him. I will say at once that he felt no more trouble from it. + +Then I went to the stables to see how fared my horse after the +day's work, and found him enjoying his feed after grooming. I +looked him over, but I could see no mark to show where the man +might have hurt him. But as I was running my hand along the smooth +hock to feel for any bruise, my groom said to me: + +"Have you had a roll in a thorn bush, Master?" + +"No.--What makes you think I might have had one?" + +"I found this in his flank when I rubbed him down, and it was run +thus far into him." + +He held out a long stiff blackthorn spine, marking a full inch on +its length with his thumbnail. + +"Enough to set a horse wild for a moment," he went on. "And unless +you had fallen, I could not think how it got there." + +"In which flank was it?" I asked, taking the thorn from him. + +"The near flank, Master." + +That was where the thrall ran against him, and surely the huntsman +was not so far wrong when he said that he did so on purpose. If so, +it was done at the right moment to give me a heavy fall, save for a +bit of luck, or maybe horsemanship. It was a strange business. + +"I was through a thicket or two today," I said carelessly. "Maybe I +hit a branch in just the right way to drive it in. If we were +galloping he would not have noticed it. These little things happen +oddly sometimes." + +Then the man began to tell me some other little mishaps to horses +that could not be explained, bustling about the while. And before +long I left the stables and went to my own quarters, with the thorn +yet in my hand. It had been cut from the bush, and not broken, just +as if it had been chosen. Now, if these hidden plotters wanted to +frighten me, I am bound to say that they succeeded more or less. +Was the giving of the horn by the Welsh girl to be a signal to the +thrall in some way? If there is one thing that a man need not be +ashamed to say that he fears, it is treachery, and I seemed to be +surrounded by it. Hardly could a house-carle come to my door but it +seemed to me that he must needs bring one of these unlucky notes. +It was just as well that I had some unknown friend to write them to +me, though I cannot say that I had profited by them so far. + +Now I sent two of my men to see if they could find the cross-eyed +thrall, but of course he was not to be laid hands on. Only the +people who had been at the ealdorman's door seemed to have seen +him, and they could not tell who or whence he was. He was so easily +known, however, that I thought I should be certain to have him +sooner or later. Such a squint as he had is not to be hidden, and +that made the wonder that he had dared to do this all the greater. + +I slept on it all, and woke with fewer fears on me, for I was +overwrought yesterday after all the terrible waiting on the cliff +and what went before. It was Sunday, moreover, and the early +services in the new church helped mightily to set a new face on +things. So when I had seen to the few duties of the morning, I went +down the street to ask after Elfrida, being anxious to hear that +her fright had done her no hurt. Erpwald had been there before me, +but I had missed him since. + +Elfrida was well, and glad to see me. We sat and talked of +yesterday, and I found that Erpwald had said nothing of how he +saved her, and it was pleasant to tell her of it, while she +listened with eyes that sparkled. It was plain that I could have +found nothing that would please her better than to talk of him. So +I even told her how he had gone over the edge into the cleft, but +without saying that we feared for his life for so long. Then her +father came in, and at once she asked after some sick person. + +"How goes it with him now," she said. + +"Well enough, says the leech; but he had well-nigh died in the +night." + +"What is it that ails him?--Can the leech tell that yet?" + +"He has taken somewhat that has poisoned him," the ealdorman +answered. "The leech asked if he had eaten of mushrooms, or rather +toadstools, by mistake." + +"But there are none about as yet." + +Now I asked who the sick man was, and Herewald told me that he was +such an one who was with us yesterday. I minded him as one who +stood near me at the door when my horse reared. I thought that he +was the man who picked up my dropped horn, and I was sorry for him. +However, that was not much concern of mine, so we passed to other +talk for a little, and then Elfrida said: + +"Are there any tidings of my maiden? I fear for her." + +"None at all," the ealdorman said. "Here is a strange thing, +Oswald; for that girl whom you so nearly rode over last evening is +as clean gone as if she had never been. None saw her go, but when +supper time came she was nowhere to be found. Nor is there any +trace of her now." + +I felt as if I had expected to hear that the Welsh girl had gone as +well as the thrall, and I cannot say that I was surprised; though +as they had failed in whatever they meant to compass this time, I +could not see why they should not have tried again. + +"Whence came she," I asked as carelessly as I could. "Maybe she has +only gone home, fearing blame for dropping that horn." + +"She has no home to go to, that we ken. She came from Jago at +Norton only a little while ago, and she would hardly try to get +back there across the hills alone. She is an orphan serf of his, +and I fear that she has been stolen away." + +"She has not been here long, then?" + +"She came when you were with Owen. Jago sent to ask if Elfrida +would take her in, she being worth having as a maid. His wife had +no place for her, but would that she was well cared for. So she +came with the first chapman who travelled this way." + +Now as I thought of this girl, in a moment it flashed across me +where I had seen her before. It was on board the ship at Tenby, and +she came with Dunwal and his daughter Mara. I was certain of it, +though I had only seen her that once, for there I was in a strange +land, and so noticed things and people at which I should hardly +have glanced elsewhere. The Danish and British dress over there was +strange to me also. + +Then, as soon as I had a chance I asked the ealdorman for a few +moments of private speech, and we went into his own chamber that +opened on the high place of the hall where we had been sitting. +There I told him all the trouble, for surely I needed all help that +I could find, and at the last I said: + +"Mara, the daughter of Dunwal, was at guest quarters with Jago." + +Then I saw the face of my friend paling slowly under its ruddy tan, +and he rose and walked across the room once or twice, biting his +lip as though in wrath or sore trouble. I could not tell which it +was, but I thought that he was putting some new thought together in +his mind. + +"It is plain enough," he said at last, staying his walk at a side +table. "I saw my sick man pick up that horn the girl dropped, and +he looked into it and laughed and drank from it, saying that it was +a pity to waste good stuff. See, here it is. The curl of it may +have kept a fair draught in it for him." + +There were several horns standing in their silver or gilded rests +on the table at his elbow, and he held up that one which had been +brought to me, and then dropped it. + +It fell with its mouth upward, rocking on the bend in its midst, so +that it might well have had a gill or two left in it, for it had a +twist as well as the curve in its length, which was somewhat longer +than usual. + +"Poison!" he said in a low voice. "That a friend should be thus +treated at my own door, by my own servant! What shall I say to +you?" + +"It is hard on you as on any one, Ealdorman," I answered. "But the +girl did not come from Jago. Mara sent her in some way. I am sure +it was she whom I saw at Tenby." + +"Ay," he said, "one could not dream that a message seeming to come +from honest Jago was not in truth from him. The trick was sure to +be found out, and that soon, though." + +"Not until the deed was done, maybe. This is the first chance that +the Welsh girl has had to hand me aught." + +The ealdorman held his peace for a moment, and then he broke out +suddenly: + +"By all the relics in Glastonbury, that thrall saved your life! He +is no fool either, for he knew that the horn must be spilt in one +way or the other, and it was worth while for you to run the risk of +a fall rather than that you should drink it. How had he knowledge +of what was to be done?" + +"Whoever wrote the warning told him. It was a chance, however, that +we did not come into the house." + +"There is some friend watching these traitors," said Herewald. "I +did not know the thrall, but so often men from the hill who have +followed us come here for the ale that they know will be going, +that I thought nothing of a stranger more or less. But why choose +my house for this deed?" + +I knew well enough, and it was plain when I minded the ealdorman +that my vow was well known, and told, moreover, by Thorgils in +Mara's hearing. This was a house where I should often be, and when +Mara found out that Jago was a friend of Herewald of Glastonbury +the rest was easy. + +"Well, I will send to Jago today, and find out what he knows. That +Cornish damsel must be better watched. Come, let us go and tell the +king." + +So we went, and when Ina heard what we had to say he grew very +grave, and asked many questions before he told us what his thoughts +were. + +"They have struck at Owen through you, my Thane, even as I feared," +he said. "I think that the matter of the land of Tregoz has saved +you, for I seem to see in this thrall one of his men who hates him +and will thwart his plans. There are yet men who will carry out +what he planned ere he died. Now I am glad that we soon shall be +gone from hence, and that is the first time that I have been ready +to leave Glastonbury." + +Now I will say that when Herewald's messenger came back from Norton +it was even as we thought. Jago had no knowledge of the Welsh girl, +or her sending. But Mara was gone a fortnight or more since, for +Gerent had sent her father for safer keeping to the terrible old +castle of Tintagel on the wild shore, and she had followed to be as +near him as she might. Doubtless the girl might be found there also +in time. + +So I had no more warnings, and in a few days the strain on my mind +wore off. I sent a message through Jago to Owen to tell him what +had happened, so that he should have less anxiety for his own +comfort, while he knew that I was shortly to be far hence. + +Before that came about, however, Erpwald and Elfrida were betrothed +with all solemnity in the new church, for their wedding was to be +held here also in the summer, when all was ready for a new mistress +at Eastdean. So Erpwald rode with us to Winchester a proud man, and +by that time I thought I had forgotten that I ever held myself +entitled to the place he had won. + +But I did not forget the plotting, and as the days wore on, and my +thoughts of it grew a little clearer, I began to wonder if the +thrall who saved me from the poisoned horn might not be the man who +slew Tregoz on the ramparts at Norton in the moonlight. I must say +that it went against the grain for me to believe that Mara had +aught to do with contriving my end through her maid, but unless +there was some crafty hand at work in the background, all +unsuspected, it seemed that there could be none else. + +And then one day I found the little letter that Nona had sent me. +In that I was warned against Morfed the Cornish priest, and I had +forgotten him. + +Now I will confess that two days after the Cheddar business I took +that little brooch that Elfrida had given me, and dropped it into +three fathoms of water as I rode by the mere one day. There are +foolishnesses one does not care to be reminded of. + + + +CHAPTER XII. OF THE MESSAGE BROUGHT BY JAGO, AND A MEETING IN DARTMOOR. + + +As one may be sure, there was no danger for me at Winchester, and +if I had any anxiety at all it was for Owen, who had dangers round +him which I did not know. I had sent him word by that old friend of +his, Jago of Norton, how the last warning was justified, and had +heard from him that with the imprisonment of Dunwal his last +enemies seemed to have been removed or quieted. So I was more at +ease concerning him, and presently rode with Erpwald to Eastdean in +the fair May weather to see the beginning of that church which +should keep the memory of my father. + +And all I will say concerning that is that when I came to visit the +old home once more I knew that I had chosen right. The life of a +forest thane was not for me, and Eastdean seemed to have nought of +pleasure for me, save in a sort of wonderment in seeing how my +dreams had kept so little of aught of the true look of the place. +In them it had grown and grown, as it were, and now I was +disappointed with it. I suppose that it is always so with what one +has not seen since childhood, and for me it was as well. I felt no +shadow of regret for the choice I had made. + +So after the foundation was laid with all due rites, I went back to +the king and found him at Chippenham, for he was passing hither and +thither about his realm, as was his wont, biding for weeks or maybe +months here, and so elsewhere, to see that all went well. And I +knew that in Erpwald and his mother I left good and firm friends +behind me, and that all would be done as I should have wished. Ay, +and maybe better than I could have asked, for what Erpwald took in +hand in his plain single-heartedness was carried through without +stint. + +Through Chippenham come the western chapmen and tin traders, and so +we had news from the court at Exeter that all was well and quiet, +and so I deemed that there was no more trouble to be feared. It +seemed as if Owen had taken his place, and that every foe was +stilled. + +And yet there grew on me an uneasiness that arose from a strange +dream, or vision, if you will, that came to me one night and +haunted me thereafter, so soon as ever my eyes closed, so that I +grew to fear it somewhat. And yet there seemed nothing in it, as +one may say. It was a vision of a place, and no more, though it was +a place the like of which I had never seen. + +I seemed to stand in a deep hollow in wild hills, and round me +closed high cliffs that shut out all but the sky, so that they +surrounded a lawn of fair turf, boulder strewn here and there, and +bright with greener patches that told of bog beneath the grass. In +the very midst of this lawn was a round pool of black, still water, +and across on the far side of that was set a menhir, one of those +tall standing stones that forgotten men of old were wont to rear +for rites that are past. It was on the very edge of the pool, as it +seemed, and was taller than any I had seen on our hills. + +And when in my dream I had seen this strange place, always I woke +with the voice of Owen in my ears calling me. That was the thing +which made me uneasy more than that a dream should come often. + +Three times that dream and voice came to me, but I said nought of +it to any man. Then one day into the courtyard of the king's hall +rode men in haste from the westward, and when I was called out to +meet them the first man on whom my eyes rested was Jago of Norton, +and my heart fell. Dusty and stained he was with riding, and his +face was worn and hard, as with trouble, and he had no smile for +me. + +"What news, friend?" I said, coming close to him as he dismounted. + +"As they took you, so have they taken Owen. We have lost him." + +"Is he slain?" + +"We think not. He was wounded and borne away. We cannot trace him +or his captors. Gerent needs you, and I have a letter to your +king." + +I asked him no more at this time, but I took him straightway to +Ina, travel stained as he was. He had but two men with him, and +they were Saxons he had asked for from Herewald the ealdorman as he +passed through Glastonbury in haste. + +So Ina took the letter, and opened it, and as he read it his face +grew troubled, so that my fear that I had not yet heard the worst +grew on me. Then he handed it to me without a word. + +"Gerent of the Britons, to Ina of Wessex.--I pray you send me +Oswald, Owen's foster son, for I need him sorely. On my head be it +if a hair of him is harmed. He who bears this is Jago, whom you +know, and he will tell my need and my loneliness. I pray you speed +him whom I ask for." + +That was all written, and it seemed to me that more was not needed. +One could read between the lines, after what Jago had said. + +"What is the need for you?" Ina asked, as I gave him back the +letter. + +"To seek for Owen, my father," I said. "Jago must tell what we have +to hear." + +Then he told us, speaking in his own tongue, so that I had to +translate for the king now and then, and it was a heavy tale he +brought. + +Owen had gone to some house that belonged to Tregoz, in the wild +edge of Dartmoor north of Exeter, and there men unknown had set on +the house and burnt it over him, slaying his men and sorely +wounding himself. Only one man had escaped to tell the tale, and he +was wounded and could tell little. And the deed was wrought in the +night, and into the night he had seen the men depart, bearing the +prince with them. But who and whence they were he could neither +tell nor guess. + +Then Gerent had ridden in all haste to the house, and found even as +the wounded man had told, for all was still as the burners left it. +But no man of all the village, nor the shepherds on the hills, +could tell more. Owen was lost without trace left. + +Then said Ina: "What more could be done by Oswald?--Will men help a +Saxon?" + +"This must be between ourselves, King Ina," Jago said plainly. "It +is in my mind that if Oswald and I or some known lord of the +British will go to that place and sit there quietly with rewards in +our hands, we may learn much; for men fear Gerent the king in his +wrath, and they fled from his coming." + +"So be it," said Ina. "Oswald shall go, and it seems to me that +every day is precious, so that he shall go at once. Is there +thought that Owen may be taken out of the country, as Oswald was +taken?" + +"Every port and every fisher is watched, and has been so. For that +was the first thing we feared. And word has gone to Howel of Dyfed +and Mordred of Morganwg, farther up the channel, that they should +watch their shores also. Nought has been left undone that may be +done." + +So it came to pass that on the next morning Jago and I rode away +together along the great road that leads westward to Exeter and +beyond, asking each train of chapmen whom we met if there was yet +news, and hearing nought but sorrow for the loss of the prince they +had hailed with such joy again. Nor did we draw rein, save to +change horses, till we clattered up the ancient paved street of the +city on its hill, and dismounted at the gates of the white palace +where Gerent waited me. + +There the first man who came out to greet me was one whom I was +altogether glad to see, though his presence astonished me for a +moment. Howel of Dyfed passed from the great door and bade me +welcome. + +"It is a different meeting from that which we had planned, Thane," +he said, somewhat sadly. "I am here to help you if I can; for when +we heard that Owen was lost much as you were, we came over +straightway, there being reasons of her own which would not let +Nona rest till we had sailed. Presently you will hear them from +herself, for she is here. Glad am I to see you." + +"There is no fresh hope?" I asked, as we went in. + +"None; but we hope much from you. At least, your coming will cheer +the old king, for he is well-nigh despairing." + +Now I was prepared to see some change in Gerent by reason of all +this sorrow and trouble, but not for all that was plain when I +first set eyes on him presently. Old and shrunken he seemed, and +his voice was weary and dull. Yet there came a new light into his +eyes as he saw me, and he greeted me most kindly, bidding me, after +a few words of welcome, to rest and eat awhile after the long ride, +before we spoke together of troubles. + +So in a little time I sought him again, and found him in a room +with warm sunlight streaming into it, making the strange pictured +walls bright and cheerful, and yet somewhat over close for one who +loves the open air or the free timbered roof that loses itself in +the smoke wreaths overhead, with the wind blowing through it as it +blows through the forest whence it was wrought, and with twitter of +birds to mind one of that also. Nevertheless, the old king in his +purple mantle with its golden hem over the white linen tunic, and +his little golden circlet on his curling white hair, seemed in +place there, even as I minded thinking that Owen in his British +array seemed in place. + +Now Howel stood where Owen was wont to stand, and the only other in +the room was the lady, who rose from the king's side to greet me. + +And if her smile was a little sad, it was plain that Nona the +princess was glad as her father to see her guest again, and I will +say that to me the sight of her was like a bright gleam in the grey +of sadness that was over all things. It did not seem possible that +she and trouble could find place together. + +So I greeted her, and she went back to her place quickly, for +hardly would Gerent wait for us to speak a few words before he +would talk of that which was in all his thoughts; and then came +Jago and stood at the door, guarding it as it were against +listeners. + +Now the old king told me all that I had heard from his thane +already, and I must tell what I thought thereof, and that was +little enough beyond what I have said, and at last, when he seemed +to wait for me to ask him more, I put a question that had come into +my mind as I rode, and asked if there might be any chance of Morfed +the priest having a hand in the matter. + +And at that the king's frown grew black, and he answered fiercely: + +"Morfed, the mad priest?--Ay, why had not I thought of him before? +Look you, Oswald, into my hall of justice he came, barefoot and +ragged from his wanderings, but a few days before Owen left me; and +before all the folk, high and low, who were gathered there he cried +out on all those who spoke for peace with the men who owned the +rule of Canterbury, and who held traffic with the Saxon who has +taken our lands. And Owen was for speaking him fair, seeing that he +was crazed, but I bade him be silent, telling the priest that what +was lost is lost, and there needed no more said thereof; and that +if the men of Austin and we differed it was not the part of +Christian men to make the difference wider, even as Owen and +Aldhelm were wont to say. And at that he raved, and threatened to +lay the heaviest ban of the Church on Owen, and on all who held +with him, and so he was taken from my presence, and I have seen him +no more. But he was a friend of Morgan." + +"That is the priest who was with Dunwal, surely," Howel said. + +"The same," I answered--"and I was warned of him," and I looked +toward the princess, and she smiled a little and flushed. + +"I mind how he glared at Oswald across my table," Howel said. "But +one need fear little from him, as I think. Who will heed a crazy +priest?" + +"Many," answered Gerent. "The more because they deem him inspired. +I will have him taken and brought to me." + +There fell a little uneasy silence after that outburst of the +king's, but I felt that I had not yet heard all that they would +tell me. So we waited for the old king to speak, and at last he +turned suddenly to the princess, setting his thin white hand on her +shoulder, and said: + +"Now tell Oswald what foolishness brought you here, Nona, daughter +of Howel, that he may say what he thinks thereof." + +"Maybe he also will think it foolishness, King Gerent," she said in +her low clear voice. "But however that may be, I will tell him, for +in what I have to say may be help. I cannot tell, but because it +might be so I begged my father to bring me hither. It was all that +I could do for my godfather." + +There was just a little quiver in her lip as she said this, and the +fierce old king's face softened somewhat. + +"Nay," he said, "I meant no unkindness. I forgot that it is not +right to speak to a child as to grown warriors. It is long since +there was a lady about the place who is one of us." + +Then Nona smiled wanly, and set her hand on that of the old king, +and kept it there while she spoke. + +"Indeed, Thane, it may be foolishness, and now perhaps as time goes +on it begins to seem so to me. Once, as I know now, on the night +when Owen first slept in his new house on the moor, I dreamed that +he was in sore danger, for I seemed to see shadows of men creeping +everywhere round the house that I have never set eyes on; and +again, on the next night, and that was the night of the burning, I +saw the house in flames, and men fought and fell around it among +the flickering shadows, but I did not seem to see Owen. And then on +the next night, soon after I first slept, I woke trembling with the +most strange dream of all. I think that the light had hardly gone +from the west, but the moon had not yet risen. I dreamed that I +stood at the end of a narrow valley, whose sides were of tall +cliffs of rough grey stone, and in the depth of the valley I saw a +great menhir standing on the farther side of a black pool. And all +the surface of the pool was rippling as if somewhat had disturbed +it, and set upright in the ground on this side was a sword, like to +that which King Ina gave you, Thane--ay, that which you wear now, +not like my father's swords. And I thought that I heard one call on +your name." + +Now I heard Jago stifle a cry behind me, and as for myself I stood +silent, biting my lip that I might know that I was not dreaming +also, and I saw that Howel was looking at me in a wondering way, +while Gerent glowered at me. All the time that she had been +speaking, Nona had looked on the ground, in some fear lest we +should smile at this which had been called foolishness, and I was +glad when the king broke the silence with a short laugh. + +"Well, Oswald, what think you of this? On my word, it seems that +you half believe in the foolishness that some hold concerning +dreams." + +"I would not hold this so," said Howel,--"seeing that she has +dreamed of things that did take place, as we know too well." + +"Fire and fighting? Things, forsooth, that every village girl on +the Saxon marches is frayed with every time she sleeps." + +So said Gerent, and I answered him: + +"Foolishness I cannot call this, either, Lord King. I also have +seen the same in the night watches. I have seen pool and menhir, +and the cliffs that hem them, even as the princess saw them. And I +woke with the voice of Owen in my ears." + +"Dreams, dreams!" the old king said. "Go to, you do but tell me +these trifles to please me, and as if to give me hope that in such +an unheard-of place we shall find him whom we have lost. Say no +more, but go your ways on the morrow and search. And may you find +your dream valley and what is therein." + +He rose up impatiently, and Howel gave him his arm from the room. +Jago followed him, and when the heavy curtain fell across the +doorway, Nona, who had risen with Gerent, turned to me. + +"I am sure now that there we shall find Owen," she said, with a new +light of hope in her eyes. "And also I am sure that at the bottom +of all the matter is Morfed the priest." + +"It was a needed warning against him that I had from your hand, +Princess," I said; "now let me thank you for it." + +"I am glad you had it safely, for indeed I feared for you with +those people on the ship with you. What has become of them?" + +I told her the fate of Dunwal, so far as I knew it. I did not then +know that Gerent had put an end to his plotting once for all two +days after Owen was lost. As for his daughter, I knew no more than +Jago told the ealdorman. + +Then she said: "Now I would ask you to speak to my father, that he +would let me go with you to Dartmoor, that I may help you search. I +do not like to be far from him, but he says there may be danger. +Which makes me the more anxious not to leave him, as you may +suppose." + +She smiled, but as I made no answer she went on: + +"And maybe Owen will need nursing when you find him. They say he +was sorely wounded. Ay, I am sure we shall find him, else why did +we have these strange visions? And I think that were he not +disabled altogether he would have won to freedom in some way." + +"It is that wounding that makes me fear the worst," I said in a low +voice; for indeed the thought of Owen as hurt, in the care, or want +of care, of those who hated him, was not easy to be borne. "It is +my fear that we shall be too late." + +"Nay, but you must not fear that," she said quickly. "That is no +sort of mind in which you have to set to work. I will think rather +that they have carried him to some safe tending. There will be time +enough to dread the worst when it is certain. There was nought in +the dreams to make us think that he was dead." + +The bright face and voice cheered me wonderfully, and for the +moment, at least, I felt sure that our search would not fail. Then +I tried to persuade her not to come with us. One could not say that +there was any safety, even for her, among the men who would harm +Owen, though I thought that none would be in the least likely to +fall on Howel. Rather, they would keep out of his way altogether. +In my own mind I wished that I was going alone, or with none but +Jago, though, on the other hand, it might be possible that men +would speak to him if they would not to me. And at last I did +persuade her to bide here until we had news, promising that if need +was she should come and see the place herself when all was known. + +"Well, maybe it is not so needful that I should go now," she said. +"I thought that I alone could tell my father when that valley was +found, but you know as much of it as I, and will be sure when you +stand in it." + +And so we fell to talk of these visions which were so much alike, +and there was but one difference in them. In the dream of the +princess the pool had been ruffled, and mine was still as glass. +And that seemed strange, and we could make nothing of it. Then +Howel came back, and there is little more to say of the doings of +that evening. There was no feasting in Gerent's house now. + +Very early in the next dawning Howel and I rode westward with five +score men of Gerent's best after us, into wilder country than I had +ever yet seen; and late in the evening we came to where the +countless folds of Dartmoor lie round the heads of Dart River. And +there Tregoz had set his house, and I think that it was the first +that had ever been in those wilds, save the huts of the villagers. +Only the hall of the place had been burnt, and there yet stood the +house of the steward on the village green, if one may call a meadow +that had a dozen huts round it by that name, and we bestowed +ourselves in the great room of that, while our men found places in +stables and outhouses and the huts. Every man of the place had fled +as they saw us coming, for the fear of Gerent was on them; but the +women and children remained, and they had heard of the son of Owen, +at least, since he and I were in Dartmoor in the spring. I had some +of them brought to me when we were rested, and told them that none +need fear aught, knowing that they would tell their menfolk. + +And so it was, for after we had been quietly in the place for two +days the men were back and at their work again. I do not think that +even our Mendip miners were so wild as these people, and their +strange Welsh was hard for me and Howel to understand. I will say +that the whole matter seemed hopeless for a time, for no man would +say anything to us about it. If we spoke to a man, questioning him, +and presently wished to find him again, he was gone, and it would +be days ere he came back. + +Some of our guards knew the country as well as most, and with them +we rode many a long mile into the hills during the first few days, +searching for the deepest valleys, and ever did I look to see the +great menhir before me as we came to bend after bend of the hills. +Circles of standing stones we found, and cromlechs, ruins of +ancient round stone huts where villages had been before men could +remember, and once we saw a menhir on the hillside; but that was +not what I sought, and none could tell us of the lost valley. + +Yet it was in my mind as I questioned one or two that their looks +seemed to say that the description of the place was not unknown to +them, and if they would they could tell me more. At last, when I +came to know the speech better at the end of a week, I thought that +I would try another plan; I would trust to the shepherds, and ride +alone for once across the hills. I thought that, even were I set +upon, my horse would take me from danger more quickly than hillmen +could run, and Howel, unwillingly enough, agreed that it seemed to +be the only chance. Maybe the men would speak more openly with me +on the hillside and alone. + +So I asked if there was any one could tell me where there were +menhirs in the valleys, and a shepherd said that he knew two or +three. So I rode with him at my side to one of these, but it was +not that which I sought; and, as I hoped, the man was more willing +to speak, and we got on well enough. We had not met with a soul all +day, but my hawk had taken two bustard after I saw the stone and +was disappointed. One of these as a gift to the shepherd had opened +his lips wonderfully, and we were talking as we rode in the dusk, +and were not so far from the village, of another stone that I was +to see next day, when I asked him if he had ever heard of the lost +valley of pool and menhir. + +He did not answer, but shrunk to my side, looking round him +fearfully. + +"What comes, Lord," he said, whispering;--"see yonder?" + +He pointed across the bare hillside, and I looked but saw nothing. + +"I saw nought," I said. "Is it unlucky to speak of the place?" + +"I saw somewhat leap from yonder rock," he whispered; "it went +behind that other." + +Plainly the man was terrified, and I asked him what he feared. + +"The good folk, Lord." + +"Pixies?--Do they come when one speaks of the lost valley?" + +"Speak lower, Lord,--lower! Look, yonder it is again!" + +Then I also saw in the dusk the figure of a man who crept softly +from one great boulder to another, and without thinking of the +terror of the shepherd I spurred my horse, and rode straight for +the rock behind which the figure disappeared, having no mind to +have an arrow put into me at short range by one of the men of +Tregoz--or of Morfed--unawares. + +The shepherd howled in fright when he was left, but I did not heed +him, and in a moment I was round the rock and almost on the +cowering man whom I had seen. He turned to fly, and I cried to him +to stop, but he only got another rock between me and him, for the +hillside was covered with them, and shrank behind it, so that I +could only see his wild eyes as he glared at me across it. He said +nothing, and I did not think that he was armed, so far as the dim +evening light would let me see. + +"Why are you dogging me thus?" I cried; "come out, and no harm will +befall you." + +I rode round, and he shifted as I did, so that he was between me +and the shepherd, and then I called to the latter that this was but +a man, and bade him come and help me to catch him. Whereon the man +looked swiftly over his shoulder and saw that he was fairly +trapped. + +"Keep him back, Master," he said in a strange growling voice, which +was not that of a Dartmoor savage either in tone or speech. "Keep +him back, and we will talk together; I mean no harm." + +But I had no need to tell the shepherd not to come, for he bided +where he was, being afraid; but I held up my hand to him as if to +bid him be still, lest the man should know that he would not help +me. + +"Come out like a man," I said. "One would think that you were some +evildoer." + +"Master, I will swear that I am not. Let that be, for I have +somewhat to tell you that you will be glad to hear." + +"If that is true, why did you not come openly, instead of waiting +till I had you in a corner? Every one knows that there is reward +for news from any honest man." + +"There are those who would take my life if they caught me, Master. +I have been seeking for speech with you alone all this day; I hoped +the shepherd would leave you hereabout for his home, and then I +would have come to you." + +"Well," I said, "if you could tell me what I need to hear I will +hold you safe from any." + +"Master, will you swear that?" said the man eagerly. + +Then it came across me that maybe this was one of those who fell on +Owen, for one might well look for a traitor among so many. + +So I answered cautiously: "Save and except you are one of those who +have wrought harm to the prince you shall be safe. If you are one +who has him alive and in keeping you shall be safe also." + +"Master, you have promised, and it is well known that you keep your +word. I am your man henceforward, by reason of that promise. I will +give you a token that I have not harmed the prince." + +"What have you to tell?" + +"Master, they say that you seek the lost valley, of which none will +speak." + +"That seems true; but speak up, and mouth not your words so." + +"Here was I born and bred, Master," said the man, still in the same +growling voice. "I know where the lost valley is hidden, though +none may go there save at peril of life. It is unlucky so much as +to speak thereof." + +"Can you take me within sight of its place, so that I can find it?" +I asked, with a wild hope at last springing up in me. + +"I can; and, Master, unluckier than I am I cannot be, so that life +is little to me. Into that place I will even go for you, and risk +what may befall me, if only you will find pardon for me. Only, I do +not know if you will find aught of Owen the prince there." + +"You must be in a bad way, my poor churl," said I, "if things are +thus with you. But if you will help me to that place, and there let +me find what I may, there is naught that may not be forgiven you. +Even were it murder, I will pay the weregild for you, and you shall +have cause to say that the place has no ill luck for you." + +"Thane," said the man, in a new voice that was strangely familiar +to me, "you have spoken, and forgiven I shall surely be." + +Then he rose from behind the rock and came to my side, and took my +hand and kissed it again and again, and surely I had seen his form +before. + +"Thane, I am Evan the outlaw, and my life is yours because you +forgave me a little once, and saved me from the wolves, giving that +life back to me when I knew it well nigh gone." + +I looked at the pale hair and beard of the man, and wondered. +Evan's had been black as night. + +"It is Evan's voice," I said; "but you have changed strangely." + +"Needs must I, Thane, with every man's hand against me, if I would +serve you and Owen the prince for your sake." + +Then I looked round for my shepherd, but he had fled. + +"Come to the house with me," I said. "I think that none will know +you, and if they do so I will answer for you." + +"No, Thane; after tomorrow, seeing that even Howel sets such store +on finding the valley, as men tell me, I shall be safe even from +him. I think that you are the only one who will trust me yet." + +There I knew that he was most likely right. Had I not been certain +that he could have kept me from knowing him even yet, I think that +I might have been doubtful of him myself. + +"As you will," I answered. "We can meet tomorrow. Now give me that +token by which I am to know that you have not harmed Owen." + +"It is right that you should not yet trust me," Evan said, as if he +read my thoughts, "for I do not deserve it. Here is one token: 'It +is not good to sleep in the moonlight.' And I will give you yet +another, if I may, for, indeed, I would have you know that the +words I spoke yonder were true when I said that you should be glad +that you freed me, and that I have tried to serve you. That may be +known by the token of the blackthorn spine and the dog whip." + +I reined up my horse in wonderment and stared at him, and he came +close to my side, so that I could see him plainly. And, lo! his +shoulders grew rounded, and his eyes crossed terribly, and they +bided so, and he mumbled the words he had said when the whip of the +huntsman fell on him. + +Then he straightened himself again and looked timidly at me. He was +not like the man who had bound me so cruelly in Holford combe on +the Quantocks. + +"Evan," I cried, "what you did for me at the ealdorman's gate is +enough to win any pardon you may need." + +"It is wonderful that, after all, pardon should come from you, +Thane. Do you mind how I said to you that I hoped to win it +otherwise through you when we took you on the Quantocks? It is good +to feel as a free man once more." + +"Free, and maybe honoured yet, Evan," I said; for I knew that he +had risked his life for me and Owen. "Presently you shall come with +me to Wessex, where none know you, and there shall be a fresh life +for you. It is in my mind that what you brought on me was as a last +hope." + +"Ay, that is true, Thane." + +And then I asked him to tell me all he knew of Owen, and of what +had happened here, and how it came about that he knew aught. And as +he told me it was plain that this was a true tale, for one could +feel it so. + +He had followed Owen, keeping himself hidden, after I went to +Winchester, for there he knew that I was safe, and yet he would +serve me if he could. So from the hillside where he lay he had seen +the burning and the fight; and after Owen fell he followed them who +bore him away, till he lost them in a grey mist that rolled from +the hills and hid them in the darkness. Nor had he been able to +find trace of them again, though he had hunted far and wide. + +And so he waited for my coming, being sure that I would not be +long. But he knew that they had gone toward what he called the lost +valley, if it was not likely that they would dare so much as look +into it. + +"But," he said, "there was a priest with them, seeming to lead +them. Maybe he would dare." + +Into my mind at once came the certainty that this must be Morfed, +but Evan knew nought of him. He had no more to tell me of this. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. HOW OSWALD AND HOWEL DARED THE SECRET OF THE MENHIR, AND MET +A WIZARD. + + +So we two rode on together over the wild hills, and talked of what +chance there might be of finding Owen on the morrow. He could not +tell me if his wounds were deep, for he was far off and helpless, +but he told me how he had fought, and that was even as I had known +he would. + +Now the soft June darkness had fallen, and we were not a mile from +the first houses of the village. Soon, if they were alert, we +should meet the first outpost of our men who guarded us, and mayhap +it were better that Evan came no farther tonight. Yet I would know +somewhat of himself and the way in which he had helped me thus. So +I stayed my horse and dismounted for a few minutes. + +"Tell me, Evan," I said, "how came you into trouble at the first?" + +"It is easy, Thane," he answered. "I was Evan the chapman, and well +known near and far in Cornwall and Dyvnaint as an honest man, even +as I have seemed yet beyond the water. Two years ago I slew the +steward of this Tregoz in the open market place of Isca, and there +was indeed little blame to me, for I did but protect my goods which +he would have taken by force, and smote too hard. Little order was +there in that market if the king was not there, and Morgan and his +friends were in the town. Men have taken heart again since the +coming back of Owen, for it was bad enough, as you may suppose by +what happened to me. So I fled, and then Tregoz had me outlawed, +with a price on my head, so that, being well known, I had to take +to Exmoor and herd with others in the same case. I knew that no +weregild, as the Saxon calls it, would be enough to save me from +the Cornishman. + +"There I was the one who could sell the stolen goods across the +water, being held in good repute there, and I traded with the Norse +strangers who ferried me across. So it was that when Owen came I +was in Watchet, and there Tregoz saw me and laid hands on me. Then +he needed men to carry out that which he would do, and he had me +forth and spoke to me, saying that if I would manage the Quantock +outlaws for him he would forgive me and have me inlawed again. I +was to have been hanged that day, Thane, and so you will see that I +had no choice. Owen's coming saved me then." + +Evan was not the first man whom I had known to be driven into evil +ways by misfortune and powerful enemies. I had little blame for +him. A man will do much to save his neck from the rope. But this +did not tell me how he knew the plans of Tregoz after I set him +free in Dyfed. + +"Then you came back to the Cornishman after I freed you?" I asked. + +"That I did not, Thane, for the best of reasons. He would have +hanged me at once if he were in power, and I had not meant to let +him set eyes on me again in any case, for he was treacherous. I +came back round the head waters of the Severn, through Wessex, +where I was only a Weala, though, indeed, that is almost the same +as an outlaw there; and there, by reason of Gerent's seeking for +me, I changed my looks and watched for Tregoz, for I found that he +was yet about the place in hiding. Thralls know and tell these +things to men of their own sort, though they seem to know nothing +if you ask them, Thane." + +"Then you wrote the letters?" + +"I had them written by the old priest of Combwich by the Parrett +River, who will tell you that he did so. I took them myself to the +palaces for you." + +"And was it you who slew Tregoz?" + +"Ay, with that seax you gave me back at the Caerau wolf's den. I +heard that he had been speaking with a sentry, and thereafter I +followed him and heard his plan. I saw him change arms with the +sentry, and presently I fell on him, but the arrow had sped and I +feared I was too late. I had to cross the trench from the bushes +where I was hidden." + +"But the poisoning at Glastonbury?--How did you know of that? + +"Easy it was to know of, but less easy to prevent. I lurked round +Glastonbury until I saw the girl, and knew that some fresh trouble +was on hand for you. I knew her, for I had seen to that at Norton, +that I might learn somewhat, if I could, while she attended on the +lady, the daughter of Dunwal. She met her master there once or +twice with messages, and it was by following her that I found his +hiding in the hills. It was not hard for me to get her to tell me +all that she had to do, for I made her think that I was in the +plotting. Then she found it harder than had been expected to serve +you, for she was kept about the lady. So she asked me, and I told +her to wait. I thought she would most likely lose her chance +altogether, and maybe but for your staying at the gate that day she +would have done so." + +"It was not the first time that we have had half the household +outside serving a hunting party," I said. + +"And each time I have been there, Thane, lest this should happen. +The girl told me that such times were her only chance, and I said +she had better wait for such a one again. I knew that in the open I +could in some way spill the horn, so that she would be helpless and +harmless afterward. Therefore I bade her not to try to harm you in +the house, for my own reasons, but told her that it were safer for +herself to wait for some stirrup cup chance, as it were. That day I +saw that it had come, and I cut a thorn from the nearest bush and +was ready. I could not reach the girl to stumble against her." + +I minded that Thorgils had said that this Evan could beguile Loki +himself with fair words, and I could well believe it. But he did +not do things by halves when he set himself a task, and I felt that +but for him I should certainly have been a victim--to Mara, or to +whom?" + +"Who wrought this plot? Was it Mara, the Cornish lady?" + +"I do not think so," he answered, shaking his head. "There is one +thing that the girl would never tell me. In no wise could I get the +name of the one who gave her the poison. I do not know where she +fled to, but it is likely that it was to that one." + +"Some day you shall know how grateful I am for this, Evan," I said. +"Now I must go. Only one thing more.--Where do you sleep?" + +"Wheresoever I may, that I may be near you, Thane. Now meet me +tomorrow at this place, and we will go to the lost valley. After +that let me serve you for good and all if I may. I can do many +things for you, and you had my life in your hand and gave it back +to me; though indeed I know that it was hard for you to do so, +seeing that a thane is sorely wronged by being bound by such as I." + +"I can give you little, Evan; but I can, as I have said, find you a +place in the court, whence you may rise." + +"Let me serve you, Master," he said earnestly. "I have served +myself for long enough, and it has not turned out well. If I please +you not, I will go where you bid me, but in anywise let me try." + +"As you will," I said. "I owe you well-nigh aught you can ask, and +this is little enough." + +Then I shook hands with him and parted. It was a strange meeting. + +I went back to Howel with a mind that was full of what I might find +on the morrow, but with little hope that there would be anything of +sign that Owen yet lived. Howel was growing anxious for me as the +darkness fell, and was glad to greet me, and I suppose my face told +him somewhat. + +"Why," he said, as I stepped into the firelight on the hearth of +the little house, "what is this? Have you heard news at last?" + +"I have found one who will take us to the lost valley, but nothing +more. I have heard nought fresh, but that there was indeed a priest +with the men who took Owen away." + +"Well, we guessed as much as that; but I tell you plainly, Oswald, +that I fear what may be in store for us in that place. Nona is not +the girl to fancy things, and I know that her dreams must have been +terrible to her. And then you also--" + +"I fear, too," I said. "But I do not think that anything will be +worse than this long uncertainty. Well, that is to be seen. Now I +must tell you who it is that is to guide us, and maybe you will say +that it is a strange story enough. Have patience until you hear +all, however." + +So I told him, beginning with the certainty that I had had some +friend at work for me, and then telling him at last that I had +found the man who had indeed saved me from these two dangers, and +would also have saved Owen if he could. + +"Why, how is it that he kept himself hidden all the time?" + +"For good reason enough, in which you have some share," I answered, +laughing. "It is none other than Evan the chapman." + +"Evan!--How did he escape the Caerau wolves? I tell you that I had +him tied up for them--and hard words from Nona did I get therefore +when she knew. I was ashamed of myself for the thing afterwards, +and on my word I am glad he got away. But when I am wroth I wax +hasty, and things go hard with those who have angered me. But he +was a foe of yours." + +"Laugh at me as you will," I said; "I made him my friend when I cut +his bonds in your woods." + +He stared at me in wonder, and I told him what the hunting led to. +And then I also told of what had sent Evan among the outlaws, and +how he came to fall in with me. + +"You are a better man than I, Oswald," he said thoughtfully, when I +ended. "I could not have let him go. I am glad that you did it, and +that for other reasons than that the deed has turned out to be of +use." + +Then he would hear more, and when it came to the way in which Evan +had beguiled the Welsh servant he laughed. + +"Surely he laid aside the squint when he made up to her, else from +your account he would not have been welcome. But he could hardly +have kept it up, lest the wind should change and it should bide +with him, as the old women say. Well, I used to like the man, and +so did Nona, and it is good to think that one was not so far +wrong." + +Now we thought that on the morrow we would go with but half a dozen +men to the valley, if that would seem good to Evan. If he thought +more were needed it would be easy to call them to us from the place +where we were to meet him; and so we slept as well as the thought +of that search would let us, and it was a long night to me. I think +it was so for Howel also, for once in the night he stirred and +spoke my name softly, and finding that I waked he said: + +"I know why that girl of Mara's would not tell who set her on you. +It is not like a maid to be sparing with her mistress' secrets, and +Morfed is at the back of it. It is his work, and he laid a curse on +the girl if she told who sent her. About the only thing that would +keep her quiet." + +"Why would Morfed want to hurt me?" + +"Plain enough is that. If you were slain, Gerent would hold Ina +responsible for Owen's sake, and Ina would blame Gerent, and there +would be a breach at the least in the peace that your bishop has +made." + +Then we were silent, and presently sleep came to me, until the +first light crept into the house and woke me. + +In an hour we were riding across the hills with Evan, for whom we +had brought a horse, and there were fifty men with us. We should +leave them at a place which Evan would show us, and so go on with +him without them. It was not so certain that we might not run into +the nest of the men who had taken Owen, though this would surely +not be in the lost valley. + +Many a long mile Evan led us into the hills northwestward, and far +beyond where I had yet been. I cannot tell how far it was +altogether, for the way was winding, but I lost sight of all +landmarks that I knew, and ever the bare hills grew barer and yet +more wild, and I could understand that there were places where even +the shepherds never went. + +At first we saw one or two of these watching us from a distance, +but soon we passed into utter loneliness, and nought but the cries +of the nesting curlew which we startled, and the wail of the plover +round our heads, broke the solemn stillness of the grey rocks on +every side. Even our men grew silent, and the ring of sword on +stirrup seemed too loud to be natural at last. We were all fully +armed, of course. + +Then we came to a place where the hills drew together, and doubled +fold on fold under a cloud of hanging mist that hid their heads, +and as we rode, once Evan pointed silently to a rock, and I looked +and saw strange markings on it that had surely some meaning in +them, though I could not tell what it was. And when I looked at him +in question I saw that his face was growing pale and anxious, so +that I thought we must be near the place which we sought. So it +was, for after we had left that stone some two score fathoms behind +us, as we passed up a narrow valley, there opened out yet another, +wilder and more narrow still, and at its mouth he would have us +leave the men and go on with him. + +Now, we had seen no man, but when it came to this, Howel said: + +"By all right of caution, we should have an outpost or two on those +ridges. If we are going into this place it will not do to be +trapped there." + +So without question Evan pointed out places whence men could watch +well enough against any possible comers, but he told me that we +were close to the place we would see, and a call from our horns +would bring help at once if it were needed. Howel sent men by twos +to the hilltops, and the rest dismounted and waited where we stayed +them, while we three went on together up the valley. I bade one of +the men give Evan his spear, for he had none. + +Grey and warm it was there, for the clouds hung overhead, and no +breeze could find its way into the depths of this place, and it was +very silent, but it was not the lost valley itself. And now Howel, +who had not yet so much as seemed to know Evan, rode alongside him +for a moment, and spoke kindly to him, telling him that he was glad +of all that I had told him, and at last asking him to forget that +which he had done to him in the woods of Dyfed. And that was much +for the proud prince to ask, as I think, and I held him the more +highly therefor in my mind. + +And Evan replied by asking Howel to forget rather that he had ever +deserved death at his hands. + +"It shall be seen that I am not ungrateful to the Thane, my master, +hereafter--if I may live after seeing this place," he said. + +"Is it so deadly, then?" asked Howel, speaking low in the hush of +the valley. + +"It is said that those who see it must die--at least, of us who ken +the curse on it. I do not think that it will harm you or the thane +to see it, for you are not of this land at all. I have known men +see this valley by mischance, and they have died shortly, crying +out on the terror thereof. Yet none has ever told what he saw +therein." + +Now it seemed to me that it was possible that such men died of fear +of what might be, as men who think they are accursed, whether by +witchcraft or in other ways, will die, being killed by the trouble +on their minds, and so I said to Evan: + +"I will not take you into this place. Show us the way, and I will +go alone." + +"No, Master," he said, in such wise that it was plain that there +was no turning him. "I am a Christian man, and I will not let old +heathen curses hold me back, now that there is good reason why I +should stand in that place. I will not be afraid thereof." + +"Is the curse so old?" I asked. + +"Old beyond memory," he said. "As old as what is in that place." + +"As the menhir, therefore." + +"I do not know that there is a menhir, Thane. How know you?" + +I reined up, and told him shortly. It was only fair that I should +do so. Then he said: + +"The prince is dead, and maybe that he lies there will end the +curse. Come, we will see." + +A few paces more, and suddenly the hillside seemed to open in a +ragged cleft that made another branching valley into the heart of +the left-hand hillside, so deep that it seemed rather to sink +downward from the mouth than to rise as a valley ever will. In all +truth, none would ever have found that place unless he sought for +it with a guide. I had not guessed that we were so near its +entrance. + +I looked round the hills, but from here I could see not one of our +men on their watch posts, though one would have thought that where +they stood it would have been impossible to lose sight of all. We +were almost at the head of the wider valley along which we had +ridden. + +Now I had thought to be the leader into the lost valley when we +came to it, but this Evan would not suffer. There was not room for +us to ride abreast into its depths, for the narrow bottom of the +cleft in the hills was littered with fallen boulders from the +steeps that bordered it, and through these we had to pick our way. +There was no path, nor was it possible to trace any mark of the +foot of man or horse that might have been there before us, and the +valley turned almost in a half circle, so that we could see no +distance before us. + +Now, I know that Evan had a hard struggle with his fears, but +nevertheless, without drawing rein he led on, only turning to me +with one word that told me that we had found the place; and as he +turned I saw that his face was ashy pale, and as he rode on he +crossed himself again and again, and his lips moved in prayer. + +Down the long curve of the valley we rode, and it ever narrowed +under rocky hills that grew at last to cliffs, and I knew that this +must be but the bed of a raging torrent in the winter, for the +stones that rattled under the horse hoofs were rounded, and here +and there were pools of clear water among them. Any moment now +might set us face to face with what I longed to see. + +And when I saw Evan, ten paces ahead of me, straighten himself in +the saddle as if he would guard a blow from his face, and draw +rein, I knew that we were there, and I rode to his side and looked. + +Suddenly the valley had ended in the place which I had seen in my +vision--a rugged circle of cliffs, in whose only outlet, to all +seeming, we stood. And in the midst of that circle was the pool of +still, black water, and across that towered the tall menhir from a +green bank on which it stood facing me. All round the pool was +green grass, bright with the treacherous greenness that tells of +deep bog beneath it, and then fair turf, and beyond the turf the +rocky scree from the cliffs again. The menhir was full thrice a +man's height. + +It was even as I had seen it. I knew every rock and patch of green, +and the very outline of the edge of the beetling crags that had +been so plain to me in the dream light ere Owen called me. + +But I did not heed these things at the first. My eyes went to the +place where Nona the princess had seen the sword in the long grass +on the hither side of the pool's edge, but I could not see it now. +Then I must ride forward and search for it, and at that time Howel +was close to me, and together we rode yet a little farther into the +circle that the cliffs made, and as we drew closer to the edge of +the pool I scanned every inch of the ground, seeking the sword +which it seemed impossible that I should not find. + +"It has gone," said Howel in a hushed voice. + +And at that moment I saw a sparkle among the new grass at the very +edge of the bog that surrounded the pool, and I threw the reins to +the prince and sprang from my horse and went toward it. The light +was very dull here, though it was nigh midday now, and indeed so +high and overhanging were the cliffs that I do not think the sun +ever reached the surface of the pool, save at this high midsummer, +and then but as it passed athwart the narrow entrance, which faced +south. Then it would send its rays across the pool full on the face +of the menhir, as it seemed. + +So I could see nought again until I was close to the spot whence +the spark shone, and then I caught it once more, and hastily I +cleared aside the rank grass with my spear butt, and lo! even as +she had seen it in dreams the sword of Owen was there, and it was +the gleam from the gem in its hilt, which no damp could dim, which +had caught my eye. But a little while longer and we should never +have seen even that, for the weapon was slowly sinking into the bog +in which its scabbard point had been set, and even as I stepped +forward a pace to reach it the black ooze rose round my foot, and +Evan, who was behind me, caught my hand and pulled me back from its +edge. + +Then I turned with the sword in my hand, and I saw that his face +had found its colour again, and that his fears had left him, for he +had looked on the valley of the mighty curse and yet lived. His +horse was at his side, and he had sprung to help me, but I hardly +heeded him, for I had what I sought in my hand, and I held it up to +Howel without a word, and a sort of fresh hope began to rise in my +heart. Owen might not be so far from us. + +"How came it there?" Howel said, wondering. + +"Who can tell," I answered, turning over many possibilities in my +mind. + +"One thing is certain," Evan said,--"no man set it in that place +meaningly, for there he must have known that it would be whelmed +soon or late." + +"Nor could it have been dropped there," I answered. "None would go +so near the edge of the bog. It was surely thrown there. One +thought to hurl it into the pool. Yet if so he could have done it, +or would have tried again." + +"Come, let us search the place," said Howel. + +I hung the sword to my saddle bow, while Evan took the horses. The +leather scabbard was black with the bog water of the turf where it +had been set, but the blade within it was yet bright and keen. + +Then I and the prince together walked slowly round the edge of the +black pool on the broad stretch of grass between the bog around it +and the loosely piled stones of the cliffs' foot. Here and there +even this turf shook to our tread, as if it too were undermined +with bog, and we went warily, therefore, wishing that we had not +left our spears by the horses. + +"One would call such a place as this 'the devil's cauldron' in our +land," said Howel. "I mislike it altogether." + +Then he sprang back with a start, and clutched my arm and pointed +to the ground at his feet. The skull of a man grinned up at us, +half sunk in the green turf, and the ends of ribs shewed how he to +whom it had belonged lay. There went a cold chill through me as I +looked; but I saw that the bones were old, very old. They had +nought to do with our trouble, and what had been to others about +the loss of him who had died here was long past and forgotten, or +amended. But for the sake of what had been I was fain to unhelm for +a moment as we stepped past them. + +So we went on silently until we were halfway to the menhir, and +then we saw that there was yet another way into this place, for +across the water a jutting wall of rock had hidden a gorge that had +surely been cleft by water, for down it came a little stream that +seemed to sink into the turf so soon as it reached it. + +"That is what fills the pool," said I, "and it must find its way +hence underground like the stream at Cheddar. The pool may be +fathomless. I would that I could look into its depths." + +"What may not be in yonder gorge?" said Howel. "We must go and +see." + +So we came to the menhir's foot, and though the bog came almost to +it there was yet a little mound of turf on which it stood, and I +went to that to see if thence I could peer deeper into the dark +water, but I could not. + +"Come," Howel said, "it is midday, and I for one would not be on +these hills on Midsummer Eve. Call me heathenish if you like, but +this is an unlucky night whereon to walk in the haunts of the good +folk." + +I had forgotten that so it was, and even now I only smiled at the +prince, for my mind was full of other things as I followed him +toward the glen whence the stream came. And now I was sure that +here was growing more clearly a trace as of a seldom trodden path +toward its mouth. We passed a great flat rock, whereon were strange +markings and a hollowed basin, which stood behind the menhir near +the cliff, and to this the path led, but not beyond, from the glen. +Now we were almost in the opening, when both of us stopped and +looked at one another. + +Surely there were footsteps coming among the rocks of the water +course before us. Steep and crooked as this was, we could hear +them, though as yet if it were a man or men who came we could not +see. I pulled the prince back into cover, where the rocks hid us +from any one who came down the stream, and I loosened my sword in +its sheath, for I could not be so sure that it might not be sorely +needed. + +The rattle of stones came nearer, and I saw Evan hurrying to us. He +also had heard, and he had made shift to tie the horses to some +point of rock, and he ran with our spears in his hand to join us. + +"Get to the other side of the pool, Thane," he said. "It may be the +band of men who wrought the burning." + +"No," I answered. "Listen. Maybe there are three or four men, not +more. I want to take one if I can. He shall tell me all he knows of +this place." + +For I had made up my mind that one who would come here freely must +needs be of those who had brought Owen. + +Then from the narrow portal of the glen passed quickly, looking +neither to the right nor left, a tall man, followed by two others, +and they seemed not to see us, but went straight toward the menhir +along that path I thought I had traced, and Howel and I stared at +them, speechless and motionless, for the like of them we had never +seen. + +As for Evan, he reeled against the rock, and stared after them, +clutching it with both hands, so that his spear fell rattling along +the rocks. + +"The Druids!" he gasped. "We are dead men." + +At the sharp rattle the leader of the three men turned, and I knew +him. He was clad in a wonderful gold and white robe that swept the +ground, priest-like, but not that of any Christian, and his hair +was bound with a golden fillet with which oak leaves were twisted, +and in his ears were large earrings. On his bare right arm was a +coiled golden bracelet, and a heavy golden torque was round his +neck, and a great golden brooch knit up the folds of his flowing +white cloak on his right shoulder. But for all this strange dress I +knew him, and he was Morfed the priest, and I heard Howel mutter +the name also. + +Then a word from Morfed caused the other two to turn, and they saw +us, and there flashed from under their robes--which were like those +of their leader, save for golden ornaments--a long knife in the +hand of each, and they made as if to fly on us. + +Morfed held up his hand, and they stayed, glaring at us. I listened +for the coming of more of his followers down the water course, but +I heard none. + +Then Morfed spoke a word or two to his men, and came toward us, +leaving them standing where they were, some twenty paces or less +behind him, and as he came his pale face shewed no sort of feeling +of any kind. His strange bright eyes seemed to look past us, as if +we were but stones at the path side. + +"So it is the Saxon," he said, staying close before us. "Well, I +have waited for you, if I did not look to see you here. And this is +Howel of Dyfed. Surely a Briton knows that to break in on the rites +of the Druid is death? But Howel ever was rash. And this is the +outlaw. It is a true saying that he who sees this place shall die, +Evan." + +Then said Howel boldly: "Briton I am, and therefore I know that the +rites of the Druid are banned by Holy Church. Wherefore does one of +her priests come in this heathen robe to such a place as this on +the eve of midsummer?" + +"Seeing that none but the initiated may know what truth the ancient +faith holds, it is not for you to say that this is heathenry, +Prince," Morfed answered more quietly than I expected. "Ask yon +Saxon if his Yule feast is less sacred to him now because it is not +so long since that it was Woden's. Is tomorrow less Midsummer Day +because it is the day of St. John? Hold your peace thereon, and go +hence while I suffer you." + +At that I glanced at the mouth of the valley whence we came, half +looking to see it blocked by men, but it was not. There was nothing +to stay us three armed men in this place, with but three against +us, and they well-nigh defenceless. Morfed saw that glance and +laughed. + +"The Druid has other arms than those of steel," he said, and he +drew slowly from the wide cincture round his waist a little golden +sickle and balanced it in his hand before me, flashing it to and +fro. + +Now I was sure that he was crazed in all truth, and I would speak +him fair that I might learn what he would tell me. Howel was +silent, seeming to look curiously at the golden toy in the priest's +hand, as it shifted restlessly backward and forward. + +"We have come hither to pry into no ancient rites, Morfed," I said. +"Tell me what you know of Owen the prince, my foster father, and we +will go hence. I have seen that which tells me that he is near, but +there are yet things that I must learn of how he came and where he +lies." + +But Morfed seemed to heed me not at all as I spoke. Only, he kept +moving the little sickle which Howel watched, and its glancings +drew my eyes to it in spite of myself, for overhead the sky was +clearing somewhat and the sun was trying to break through, and the +gold shone brightly. + +"Midday," muttered the priest, "nigh midday, and what is to be done +against the morrow must be done, else will the tale of many a +thousand years be marred, and by me. Lo! the sun comes, and time +passes swiftly." + +The sun did indeed shine out now as some cloud passed, and I saw +that its rays came slanting through the gap in the cliffs across +the pool, passing the menhir without lighting on it, but falling +now on the flat rock that was behind it, though not fully yet. Half +thereof was still in the shadow thrown by the hills. + +Morfed glanced at that shadow, and his face changed, for I think +that he knew the time for some midday rite which we might not see +was near, and at that he seemed to make some resolve. He did not +turn from us, but he lifted his voice in a strange chant, and said +somewhat in Welsh that I could not understand, and as they heard it +his two followers placed themselves on either side of the flat rock +three paces behind him, and stood motionless. Then Morfed lifted +his arm and began to sing softly, swinging the sickle in time to +the song, with his eyes on us. + +I thought that maybe he would sing to us the end of Owen, as would +Thorgils, but the tongue in which the words were spoken was not the +Welsh that I knew. I think now that it was the tongue of the men +who reared the menhir, and that which was the mother of the tongue +of Howel and Gerent alike. It was an uncanny song, and I waxed +uneasy as it went on, and the flashing sickle waved more quickly +before my eyes. + +Soon the murmur of the song seemed to get into my brain, as it +were, and the sparkle of the gold in the sunlight wove itself into +strange circles of light before my eyes, widening and narrowing in +mystic curves that dazzled me, until at last I would look no +longer, and with an effort I turned my head and glanced at Howel to +ask if this foolishness should not be ended. + +But he shook his head. + +"Let him be," he said in a whisper. "It is ill to anger a crazed +man. Surely he will tell what we need soon." + +But beside him Evan seemed to be shrinking as in terror. I suppose +the Briton has old memories of the Druids of past days which yet +bid him fear them. + +"Hearken to me, and heed them not," sang Morfed in words that I +could understand. "Hearken, for you have much to learn." + +That was true, and I turned to him. I supposed that he was in truth +about to speak to me as I would, and straightway the look of Morfed +was on my face, and the song went back to its old burden, and the +flashing sickle held my eyes with its circling, and I knew that if +I looked long I also must pass as it were from myself, as had those +two, and I wrenched my eyes from him. + +Then a movement on the stone caught my gaze, and I saw that the two +men yet stood motionless, but across the sunlit patch which had +crept nearer the centre where the hollowed bowl was, a great adder, +greater than any I had ever seen, thick and spade-headed, had +coiled itself in shining folds peaceably and seeming not to heed +the men. Only its head was raised a little, and it swayed as in +time to the chant of the priest, while the long forked tongue +flickered forth now and then restlessly. + +But Morfed went on with his song and his waving, seeming to try to +draw my look back to him, and I noted, as I glanced again at him, +that a shade of doubt crossed his face, and at that a new thought +came to me. Maybe if he saw that I feared him not he would speak. +So I looked in his eyes and bade him be silent and hearken to what +I said to him. + +Some wave of anger flushed his face then, and he drew a pace nearer +to me, but he was not silent, and the waving sickle was not still. +Neither of these things troubled me any longer, and I looked past +them, in such wise that he might see that I meant him to obey me, +even as one will look at a sullen thrall who delays to carry out an +order given. A captain of warriors will know what signs to watch +for in a man's face well enough, and slowly and at last I saw the +look for which I waited steal across the face of the man before me, +and then I raised my hand and said: + +"Be still, and answer me." + +The song stopped, and the lifted sickle sank with the hand that +held it, and the eyes of Morfed left mine and sought the ground. + +"What will you?" he said. "Let me go, for it is time." + +"When you have answered," I said sternly. "Tell me, where is Owen?" + +"In yonder pool," he said, as a child will answer its teacher. + +But if he answered as a child, his face was sullen as of a child +that is minded to rebel, and I knew that he would try not to tell +me aught. + +"You lie," I said coldly. "Neither Christian priest nor Druid would +dare set a prince of Cornwall in an unhallowed grave. Tell me the +truth." + +"Ay, I lied," he said, speaking in a strange voice that seemed to +come from him against his will. And then he spoke quickly, without +faltering or excuse. "I led the men who should slay the despiser of +the faith of his youth and friend of the Saxon, and we came to the +house and destroyed it, but they slew him not. Sorely wounded he +was, and yet they would not do my bidding and make an end, but +murmured at me. Then they bore him away into the hills, saying that +they would heal him of his hurts and thereafter win his pardon, for +he was ever forgiving, and it is true that I told them not who it +was they were to slay. I said that it was Oswald the Saxon, who +slew Morgan, and they were glad. I do not know how it has come to +pass that you are here. I hate you!" + +"Speak on, Morfed," I said, for he had stayed his words on that, +and I bent all my mind into that command as it were, so that he +knew that I meant to be his master in this. + +"Why should I not speak," he said dully. "Let me end quickly. Ay, I +went with them, thinking that he would die on the way, for he was +sorely wounded, and I mocked them and threatened them in vain. I +led them to this place, and when they knew it they fled, and left +him to me. Wherefore I brought him here, that I might see him +die--I and these two carried him on the litter the men made. Then +will I bury him in no hallowed grave, for I myself spoke the +uttermost ban of Holy Church against him, for that he had herded +with the men of the Saxons who follow Canterbury, and has wrought +for peace with them." + +Then I knew at last that Owen was not dead, and I think that in my +gladness I lost my hold on Morfed, as it were, for I half forgot +him. And at that moment there came a little cry from one of the men +who waited by the flat altar stone, and both of them looked to +Morfed for some command, as if a time had come. The stone was in +full light now, and I noted that the shadow of the menhir was +creeping toward its base, but not yet quite pointing to it. + +But Morfed did not answer the cry, and the great adder, roused by +it, moved restlessly in its coils, darting its long forked tongue +into the hollow of the stone as if it sought somewhat. Then one of +the men who seemed the younger took from under his robe a golden +flask and poured what looked like milk into the hollow, and the +creature lowered its head and lapped it thence. + +At that cry Morfed started and half turned. But I had more to ask +him, and I spoke sternly. Behind me was a rattle of arms, as if +Howel would have stayed him. + +"Morfed," I said, "you have yet to tell me where Owen, the prince, +is hidden. If you would finish what you are about here, tell me +straightway, or bid one of these men shew me, or we will stay all +this wizardry." + +Maybe I spoke more boldly than I felt, for indeed the whole +business and the place made all seem uncanny. I know that my +comrades feared it all. + +But now Morfed heeded my word no longer. Slowly at last he turned +away, and now he must needs look back toward the altar stone and +the menhir in turning, and the sight of them seemed to bring to his +mind what work he had here, so that in a moment I was forgotten, +and he sprang past me toward his attendants, one of whom was +pointing silently, but with a white face, to the shadow of the +menhir. And I saw that now it touched the stone and crept up on its +surface for an inch or less. + +I suppose that tomorrow that shadow would be so much shorter, and +would not lie on the flat top of the stone at all. Then for a +little space the sun would seem to one at the back of the altar to +stand on the menhir's top, while all the stone and the bowl where +the adder lay was in full light, even as men say the sun seems to +stand on the great stone of Stonehenge on Midsummer Day at its +rising. I had seen that wonder once, and this minded me of it. + +But what Morfed saw told him that midday had come and was passing; +and all that meant to him, beyond that the time for some rite had +been forgotten, I cannot tell. There came from his lips a cry that +was of terror and of sorrow as I thought, and the adder lifted its +head from its lapping and coiled itself menacingly. + +He did not heed the creature, but threw abroad his hands sunwards, +and began to speak hurriedly in that tongue which I could not +follow; and as his words went on the faces of his men grew haggard, +and one of them wept openly. The younger threw the golden vessel he +had in his hand into the pool, and turned on me a look of the most +terrible hate, and his hand stole under his robes as if he sought +the knife I had seen him draw when they first came. + +Now Howel and Evan were beside me, wondering, but spear in hand, +and I was glad. There was more than enmity in the look of these +men, and one to three has little chance. Whatever strange fears my +friends had felt passed with the sight of danger. + +But while Morfed spoke his followers were still, listening to him +intently, until at last he seemed to dismiss them; and then they +turned from him with a strange deep reverence, and folded their +hands on their breasts, and came past where we stood, not looking +at us, but with their eyes on the ground as if they were going +back, up the water course whence they came. And at that I thought +they might be going to where Owen was, and that they would harm +him. + +"Quick, Evan," I said; "follow them. See where they go." + +"Ay, follow them," said Morfed. "Now I care not what befalls." + +And with that he raised his voice and called somewhat to the men, +and they quickened their pace into the glen. I did not understand +what they said in return, but somewhat in the words of the ancient +tongue they spoke was more plain to Howel, and he cried to me +hastily, hurrying after Evan. + +"Guard you the priest here, and beware of him!" + +Then he dashed up the water course into which Evan had already +disappeared, and I heard the feet of the four on the loose stone as +they climbed upward. I had almost a mind to follow them, for I +thought that their way led to Owen, but I dared not leave Morfed to +go elsewhere. This might only be a plan to lead us astray. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. HOW OSWALD FOUND WHAT HE SOUGHT, AND RODE HOMEWARD WITH NONA +THE PRINCESS. + + +So I was left with Morfed the priest, and he did not offer to +follow his men, but stood and faced me with eyes that gleamed with +the fire of wrath or madness, or both. We waited, both of us, as I +think, to hear if any sound beyond the lessening footfalls came +from the water course, but they died away upward, and there was +still no word between us. Then I thought that I would try one more +plan with him. + +"Morfed," I said, "take me to Owen, and I will pledge my word that +Gerent shall seek no revenge for what has been done by you." + +"What I have done!" he broke out. "I sought to rid the land of a +foe, and that was a deed worth doing. Know you what you have +done?--Through you is ended the tale of many a thousand years. The +time is past when I, the priest and Archdruid of this poor land, +should have done what has been done, since time untold, without +fail, against tomorrow's rites. That day, therefore, through you +shall be unobserved. It is strange that a mere Saxon warrior, with +no thought beyond his feasting and fighting, should set his will +against mine and prove the stronger. Now I wit well that this is +some fated day, and that herein lies some omen of what shall be." + +Then he turned a little from me, and looked at the shadow which had +passed altogether from the altar stone now, and half to himself he +said: + +"I had thought that this menhir had fallen when this came to pass. +But maybe the old prophecy meant that not until it fell we must +cease our rites. But that was not how we read the words of old +time. If we read them wrong, what else have we mistaken?" + +"Morfed," I broke in on his musings, "end this idle talk, and tell +me of Owen. Then I will go hence and leave you to work what you +will here. I had no wish to disturb your rites, whatsoever they +were. If aught has happened amiss, it was your own fault, not mine. +Your own deed brought me here." + +But he paid not the least heed to me, and yet I thought that he +tried to put me off, as it were, by seeming wrapt in thoughts. + +"Surely it should have fallen on this day that sees the end, even +as runs the ancient prophecy--'When the pool shall whelm the stone, +Druid rite and chant are done.' But it has not fallen, and the end +is not yet. But what shall amend this fault?" + +I had listened for some sound from Howel and Evan, but since the +footsteps passed up the glen I had heard none until this moment. +Then came one cry from far upward, and silence thereafter. Morfed +heard it and looked up, setting at the same time his hand on the +edge of the altar stone. + +The golden sickle flashed as he did so, and at that, swift as the +flash itself, the adder stiffened its coils, and its head flew +back, baring the long fangs, and twice it struck the hand deeply. + +"I am answered," Morfed said quietly. "My life shall amend." + +But he never moved his hand, and the adder swiftly slid from off +the stone and sought some hiding place in the loose rocks at the +cliff foot, and the priest watched it go, motionless. + +"Look you, Saxon," he said, lifting his eyes to me; "now I must +die, and with me ends the line of the Druids of this land of the +olden faith. Yonder in the Cymric land beyond the narrow sea whence +Howel came it shall not be lost. The hills shall keep it, and there +the slow mind of the Saxon shall not slay the old powers as you +have slain them in me. Now I know that nought but the power of the +cross shall avail on such minds as yours, for the lore of the older +days is not for you. See! This is an end, and now you in your +simpleness shall do one last thing for me." + +I saw that the hand which yet rested on the altar was swelling +already, and was waxing fiery red with four black marks where the +fangs struck it. And I had a sort of pity for him, seeing him bear +this, which he deemed his punishment, bravely. Still, he had +answered nothing as to where Owen was. + +"Morfed," I said, therefore--"if it is indeed the last hour for +you, make amends for another ill by telling me where Owen is, and I +will do what you ask me, if it is what I may do honestly and as a +Christian." + +"Grave me a cross on yonder menhir in token that the days of the +Druid are numbered," he said softly, sitting down on the stone with +his head bowed, as if in deadly faintness. + +Two steps took me to the menhir, and I drew my seax that I might do +as he asked me. It was a little thing, and Christian, and I thought +that maybe he had come to himself from the madness of which men +spoke. Yet though it seemed long that Howel was away, and I longed +to follow him, I dared not leave this man, seeing that for all I +knew Owen was somewhere close at hand, and it was not to be known +what this priest might do in his despair. Howel and Evan might be +following the men yet into some hiding place. + +I set the point of my weapon to the stone and went to work, graving +the upright stem of the cross first, thinking that Morfed would +speak when he saw that I was indeed doing as he asked me. The stone +was softer than I expected, and surely was not of the granite of +the cliffs around, but had been brought from far, else I could not +have marked it at all. Yet I had to lean heavily on my seax as I +cut, and it was no light task, as I stood sidewise that I might not +lose sight of Morfed. + +"I die," he said presently. "There will be none left who may bring +back the ancient secrets hither from the land of the Cymro. See, +this is an end." + +He rose up, staggering a little, and cast the golden sickle from +him into the pool with a light eddying splash, as if it skimmed the +surface ere it sank, but I did not look at it, and that was well +for me. I saw his hand fly to his breast, as the hands of his men +had gone for their weapons when they first saw us, and I knew what +was coming. + +Hardly had the golden toy touched the water when out flashed a long +dagger from his robes, and he flew on me, thinking, no doubt, that +I must needs turn my head to watch the fall of his sickle, and I +was ready for him. He was no warrior, and his hand was too high, +but he was a priest, and on him I would not use my weapon. I swung +aside from him, striking up his arm, and his blind rush carried him +against the menhir, so that the blow which was meant for me fell +thereon, scoring the stone deeply; and lo! his own hand ended with +that blow what I had begun, marking the cross-beam I had yet to +make, so that the holy sign was complete. + +And I saw that in a flash, even as he reeled back from the menhir +and staggered. His foot splashed into the ooze of the bank and went +down; and with that he lost his footing altogether and fell +headlong into the pool, swaying as he went, across the front of the +menhir. + +Now there was a shout and the sound of hurrying footsteps behind +me, but it was Howel's voice, and I did not turn. I leaned on the +menhir to try to catch the white robes that swirled below me, and +then I felt a heave and quaking in the turf on which I knelt as I +reached over the black water, and Howel cried out and dragged me +back roughly for a long fathom. + +The menhir was falling. Slowly at first, and then more swiftly, it +bent forward over the pool, and then it gathered way suddenly, and +with a mighty crash it fell with all its towering height across +it--and across the last flash of the white robes of the man who yet +struggled therein. + +For a moment the cross looked skyward, and then the wave swept over +the stone, and it was gone into the unknown depths that maybe held +so many secrets of the strange rites of those who had reared it. +Only where its foot had been planted was a pit to shew that +somewhat had been there, and that was slowly filling with the black +bog which had undermined the stone at last. The old prophecy had +come to pass, and there was indeed an end. + +But I saw for a moment into that pit before it was filled, and in +it was laid open as it were a great stone chest, where the base of +the menhir had been to cover it, and in that were skulls and bones +of men, and among them the dull gleam of ancient gold and flint. + +The wild tumult of the water died away, and the ripples came, and +then the pool was glassy as before, but there was no sign of +movement in it, and now it was clear no longer. And still Howel and +I stared silently at that place whence the great stone had passed +like a dream. + +"Nona saw it troubled," Howel said at last. + +But I answered what was in my mind, with a sort of despair: + +"He never told me where Owen lies." + +"But I think we have found him, or nearly," Howel answered. "Come +with me. This is no place for us to bide in. Did you hear those +voices?" + +I had heard the echoes from the rocks after the great crash, and +they were strange and wild enough, but I heard nothing more. + +"I heard one shout some time since," I said, rising up from where I +still sat as Howel had left me. + +"Nay, but the wailing when the stone fell," he said. "Wailing from +all around. Wailing as of the lost. Come hence, Oswald." + +I do not know if the man of the more ancient race heard more than +I, mingled with those wild echoes, but I know that Howel the prince +feared little. Now he was afraid, even in the bright sunlight, and +owned it. + +But the first shock had passed from me, and I looked for our +horses. They had gone. I think that the fall of the menhir scared +them, for they were yet tied where Evan left them, just before +that. + +"Howel, the horses have broken loose and gone," I cried. + +"Let them be," he said; "they will but go to the men down the +valley, and will be caught there. Come, we must get hence." + +He fairly dragged me with him towards the glen, and it was not +until we were out of the circle of cliffs round the pool and +picking our way among the boulders of the water course, that he +spoke again. + +"That is better," he said,--"one can breathe here. I do not care if +I never set eyes on that place again, and indeed I hope we need +not. Now we have to find Owen as quickly as we may." + +"What of the two men?" + +"One turned on us, and we slew him perforce. The other Evan has +tied up safely, though it took us all our time to catch him. I left +Evan trying to make him speak." + +I wondered in what way he was trying, but the path grew steeper and +steeper, and the plash of water falling among the stones made it +hard to hear. We went on and on, ever upward, until the walls of +the narrow glen widened, and at last we were on a barren hillside, +across which the little stream found its way in a belt of green +grass and fern and bog from farther heights yet, and there I looked +for Evan. The path reappeared here again, and it went slanting +across the hill and over its shoulder, hardly more than a sheep +track as it was. And here lay the body of the slain man. + +"Over the hill crest," Howel said, noting my look around. "The man +ran across this track. Did you hear what Morfed said to them?" + +"No, I heard him call, of course, but his tongue is unknown to me." + +"It was the ancient British, I think. I heard a word or two here +and there, but few of those we use yet. I heard more that are +written in our oldest writings, and few enough of them. But what he +said to his men was plain enough, happily. He bade them kill the +captive to amend the wrong done. I do not know what the wrong was." + +I knew then that Owen had had a narrow escape, and but for the +fleetness of foot of Evan he would surely have been slain. I told +Howel of what had passed while he was absent, and so we came to the +hilltop, and I saw a little below me the white robes of the +captive, and Evan sitting by him, resting on his spear. He rose up +as we came to him. + +"Has he spoken, Evan?" I said. + +"Ay, Master," he answered, with a grin that minded me of other days +with him. "He says he will take us to the place where Owen lies, if +we will promise to spare his life." + +"We will promise that," I answered. "We will let him go his own way +after we have seen all that we need." + +"Let me rise, then," the man said quietly. "I will shew you all." + +"Do not untie his hands, Evan, but let him walk," I said. "He is +not to be trusted, if he is like his master." + +It was the elder of the two whom we had before us, and he seemed +downcast and harmless enough as we let him rise, though he was +unhurt. He had run on while the younger turned to stay the +pursuers, but Evan had caught him. He led us along the path, which +I suppose his own feet and those of Morfed had worn, unless it was +old as the menhir itself, and on the way he said suddenly: + +"Let me ask one thing of you. Has the menhir fallen?" + +"Ay, with the cross graven on it," I answered; and my words checked +a laugh that was on Evan's lips. + +"I knew it. I heard the crash," the man said. "That is an end +therefore." + +But Howel told the whole story as he had seen it take place, from +the time when Morfed flew at me, to the time when the waters were +still again; and as he heard, the man clenched his hands and bowed +his head and went on quickly, as if that would prevent his hearing. +After that he said nothing. + +Then the path took us round the shoulder of a hill, and before us +was a rocky platform on the sunward slope which went steeply down +to another brook far below us. Far and wide from that platform one +could see over the heads of three streams, and across three hill +peaks that were right before us, and at the back of the level place +was a great cromlech made of one vast flat stone reared on three +others that were set in a triangle to uphold it. Seven good feet +from the ground its top was, and each of the three supporting +stones was some twelve feet long, so that it was like a house for +space within, and the two foremost stones were apart as a doorway. +And again beyond the cromlech was a hut, shaped like a beehive of +straw, built of many stones most wonderfully, both walls and roof. +There were things about this hut that seemed to tell that it was in +use, and even as our footsteps rang on the rocky platform, out of +its low doorway crept an ancient woman and stared at us wildly. + +"What is this?" she screamed. "How should these unhallowed ones +come hither?" + +"Silence, mother," our captive said. "All is done, and these men +come to take away the prince." + +Then she saw that he was bound with Evan's belt, and at that she +screamed again, and a wild look came into her face, and with a +bound that was wonderful in one so old and bent she fled to the +cromlech, and climbed up the rearward stone in some way, perching +herself on the flat top, whence she glared at us. + +"We will not harm you, mother," I said, seeing her terror. + +And even as I spoke, from within the stone walls of the cromlech +came the voice that I longed to hear again, weak, indeed, but yet +that of Owen: + +"Oswald, Oswald!" + +Then I paid no more heed to the hag, but ran into the dark place, +and there indeed was my foster father, swathed in bandages, and +lying white and helpless on a rough couch, but yet with a bright +smile and greeting for me, and I went on my knees at his side and +answered him. + +I will not say more of that meeting. Outside the old woman cursed +and reviled Howel and Evan and the captive in turns unceasingly; +but I heeded her no more than one heeds a starling chattering on +the roof in the early morning. I had all that I sought, and aught +else was as nothing to me. + +After a little while Howel's face came into the doorway, and Owen +called him in. I saw the look of the prince change as he marked the +many swathings that told of Owen's sore hurts. + +"Nay, but trouble not," Owen said, seeing this. "I am cut about a +bit, for certain, but not so badly that I may not be about again +soon. The old lady overhead has a shrewd tongue, but she is a +marvellous good leech. I have not fared so badly here, and I knew +Oswald would not rest until he found me." + +"Now we must take you hence," I said. "Our men wait, and we can no +doubt get them here." + +He smiled, being tired with the joy of seeing us and the speaking, +and I went out to Evan. The old woman still sat on the cromlech, +and when she saw me her voice rose afresh with more hard words, +which I would not notice. + +"Evan," I said, "how shall we take the prince hence?" + +"The litter they brought him on stands behind the hut yonder," he +answered; "for this man tells me so. Also he says that we are not +half a mile from our men, and that we can see one from just above +here." + +So I sent him to bring them, telling him how the horses were gone, +so that we had no need to go back into the valley. To tell the +truth, I was as much relieved in my mind that we need not do so as +it was plain that he was. Then when he was gone I went back to +Owen, and he asked me if we had seen Morfed. I did not tell him +more than that we had done so, but that he was not here, one of his +two men having guided us, for the tale we must tell him by and by +might be better untold as yet. + +"It does not matter," he said. "I cannot understand the man. At one +time I think that he was at the bottom of all the trouble, and at +another that he rescued me from the men who fell on the house. I +have seen little of him here until yesterday and today. There is a +man whom he calls 'the Bard,' who has tended me well enough with +the old dame, and another whom he names 'the Ovate,' whom I have +seen now and then--a younger man. I have set eyes on none but these +four since the men of the burning left me to them in the hills." + +We asked him how all that went, and he told us what he could +remember. He had waked from some sort of a swoon while he was being +carried, in the midst of many men, and again had come to himself +when his litter had been set down. At that time there was seemingly +a quarrel between Morfed and his two followers and these men, and +it ended by the many departing and leaving him to the priest. That +was, as I knew, when the hillmen would not come into the lost +valley. + +"They set my sword beside me," he said. "Presently in the dark I +saw the gleam of a pool, and I made shift to throw it into the +water, so that no outlaw or Morgan's man should boast that he wore +it. Ina gave it me. One of the men saw me throw it, and was for +staying, but the other said he had heard the splash and that it was +gone. Morfed was not near at the time, having gone on. I heard him +singing somewhere beyond the water." + +"I have found it, father," I said. "It was on the edge of the pool, +in long grass, and it helped us somewhat, for we knew you were +near. Now say if it is well to move you yet. We can bide here with +the men if not." + +He laughed a little. + +"I think so, but that is a question for the leech. Ask the dame. +Maybe she will answer if you speak her fair." + +Howel went to do that, saying that maybe she would listen to a +Briton, for most of her wrath was concerning my Saxon arms. So +presently I heard her shrill voice growing calmer as Howel coaxed +her, and then there was a sound as if she climbed from her perch, +and Howel came back to us. + +"We may take you, she says. Hither come the men in all haste also, +and we may get away from this place at once. These hills are +uncanny on Midsummer Eve, and I am glad that we have long daylight +before us." + +Then said Owen: + +"Oswald, I have not withal, but I would fain reward the bard and +the old woman for their care of me. I think that even at +Glastonbury there are none who would have healed these hurts of +mine more easily than she." + +I had my own thoughts about the bard, but I said that I would see +to this, and went to him. The men were close at hand, and I saw +that they led our horses with them. + +"Bard," I said, "Owen the prince speaks well of you. Is it true +that you would have slain him had you not been stayed on your way?" + +"I do not know, Lord," he answered. "When I was with Morfed, needs +must I do his bidding, even against my will. Yet, away from him, I +think that I should not have harmed the prince. I am a Christian +man, for all that you have seen." + +"There was somewhat strangely heathenish in what I did see," I +said. "But I suppose that is all done with?" + +"I might go across the sea to the British lands in the north or in +the south and learn to attain to druidship," he said. "But I will +not. What I know shall die with me. He who was the next to me +above, even Morfed, is gone, and he who was next below is gone +also. Druid and Ovate both. I am the only one of the old line left, +and I will be the last. Call me Bard no longer, I pray you." + +"Well," I said, for there was that in the face of the man which +told me that he was in earnest, "I will believe you, and the more +that Owen trusts you." + +I let loose his hands then, and he stretched his cramped arms and +thanked me. I minded well what that feeling was like. + +"What would Morfed have done with the prince?" I asked. + +"I do not know. I have heard him plan many things. I think that if +he had won him to his thoughts concerning the men of Canterbury he +would have taken him home. If not, I only know this, that he would +never have been seen in this land again. There was a thought of +carrying him even across the sea to the Britons in the south--in +Gaul. But of all things Morfed hoped that he would die here." + +So I supposed, but I said no more, for Evan and the men reined up +close to us. There was joy enough among them all as Owen was slowly +and carefully laid on the rough litter. And we left those two +staring after us, silent. But I suppose that the terror of that +strange place will still lie on all the countryside, and I hold +that since the day when the wizards of old time reared the menhir +on that which it covered, with cruel rites and terrible words that +have bided in the minds of men as a terror will bide, no man but +such as Morfed has dared to pry into that valley lest the ancient +curse should fall on them--the curse of the Druid who would hide +his secrets. It may be, therefore, that it will not be known by the +folk that the menhir has fallen, even yet, for we who did know it +told them nought thereof. + +As for that falling, it is the saying of Howel that it was wrought +by the might of the holy sign, and maybe he is not so far wrong in +a way. For if the slow creeping of the bog had at last undermined +the base of the tall stone so that it needed but little to disturb +its balance, no wind could reach it in that cliff-walled place even +in the wildest gale, and it is likely that no hand but mine had +touched it for long ages. I began, and the rush and blow of Morfed +ended, the work of overthrow, with the sign of might complete. And +Evan holds that but for the graving thereof he at least were by +this time a dead man. + +It was late evening when we came to the village, with no harm to +Owen at all beyond tiredness, which a good sleep would amend; and +after that there is little that I need tell of Howel's going to +Exeter with the good news, and of his bringing back to us a litter +more fitted for the carrying of the hurt prince, and then the +welcome that was for us from Gerent. + +When we were back with him, Owen passed into the loving hands of +Nona the princess, and I do not think that he had any cause to +regret his older leech of the beehive hut, skilful as she was, for +we who loved him saw him gain strength daily. + +Now I found means to send a letter to Ina, by the tin traders who +were on the way to London, telling him that all was well, and +begging him to suffer me to bide with my foster father for a time +yet, as I knew indeed that I might, for my new place in the +household had few duties save at times of ceremony, and in war, +when I must lead the men of the household as the bearer of the +king's own banner. And as the days went on it grew plain to me that +there was somewhat amiss about the court here. + +There was no dislike of myself, as I may truly say, among the men +of West Wales whom I met with, but there was a coldness now and +then which I could not altogether fathom, and that specially among +the priests. It seemed that while Gerent had forgotten that I was +aught but the son of Owen, who had brought him back, no one else +forgot that I was a Saxon, and that there was more in the +remembrance than should be in these times of peace. I could not +think that this was due to my share in the death of Morgan either, +for it was plain that not one of his friends was about the court. + +At last I spoke of this to Howel, and found that he also had seen +somewhat of the kind. + +"I know it," he said. "If I am not very much mistaken, and I ought +to know the signs of coming trouble by this time, there is somewhat +brewing in the way of fresh enmity with your folk. It comes from +the priests." + +"There are more of the way of thinking of Morfed, therefore," I +answered. + +"And if that is so there may be more danger for Owen. It is well +known that he is for peace, and that Gerent will listen to him in +all things." + +We talked of that for some time, not being at all easy yet +concerning the matter, after seeing how far some were willing to go +toward removing one who was in their way. I could not stay here +long, nor could Howel, and it was certain that Gerent could not +well guard Owen up to this time. + +And at last Howel spoke the best counsel yet, after many plans +turned over between us. + +"We will even take him to Dyfed, and nurse him to strength in +Pembroke. Then if aught is in the wind it will break out at once, +lest he should return and spoil all. Gerent will either have to bow +to the storm and fight, or else he will get the upper hand and +quiet things again. If he can do that last, at least till Owen is +back, all will be well. Owen will take things in hand then, and +will be master." + +That was indeed a way out of the trouble, and therein Nona helped +us with Owen, so that at last he consented. I will say that he knew +little or nothing of possible trouble here, and we told him +nothing, for, in the first place, we had no certainty thereof, and +in the next, he was not strong enough to do anything against it if +we had. + +When we came to ask Gerent if Howel might take him to Dyfed, we +found no difficulty at all, which surprised me not a little. I +think that the king knew that it was well for him to be across the +channel in all quiet. + +So it came to pass that in a few days all was ready for our going +to Watchet to find Thorgils or some other shipmaster who would take +us over. We could wait at Norton until the time of sailing came, if +we might not cross at once, and thence I should go back to Ina. + +One may guess without any telling of mine what the parting with +Owen was for Gerent. As for myself, I was somewhat sorry to bid the +old king farewell, for I liked him, and he was ever most kind to +me. But I was not sorry to leave his court, by any means, for those +reasons of which I have spoken, and of them most of all for fear of +more plotting against Owen. + +Now I will say that the ride to Watchet, slow and careful for his +sake who must yet travel in the litter, and in fair summer weather, +is one that I love to look back on. As may be supposed, by this +time I and the princess were very good friends, and it is likely +that I rode beside her for most of the way. We had many things to +talk of. + +One thing I have not set down yet is, that it had been easy, after +what he had done for us, to win full pardon for Evan from Gerent. +Now he rode with me, well armed and stalwart, as my servant, and +one could hardly want a more likely looking one. And Nona had some +good words and friendly to say to him, which made him hold his head +higher yet after a time. + +Presently, since I was on my way back to Glastonbury and onwards, +we must needs speak of Elfrida, and I told her how I had fared when +I came back from Dyfed. She laughed at me, and I laughed at myself +also; for now I knew at last that the old fancy had in all truth +passed from my mind. + +So we came to Norton, and then sought Thorgils, and after that it +was a week before he was ready. I mind the wonder on the face of +the Norseman when he saw Evan at my heels on the day when his ship +came home and I met him on the wharf; but he was glad to see him +there. + +"Faith," he said, "it has been a trouble to me that a man whom I +was wont to trust had turned out so ill. It shook my own belief in +my better judgment. I did think I knew a man when I saw him, until +then. So I was not far wrong after all. Now I will make a new song +of his deeds, and I do not think it will be a bad one." + +Then it came to pass that one day, when the wind blew fair for +Tenby, I saw the ship draw away from me as her broad sail filled, +while on the deck was Owen in a great chair, and from his side Nona +waved to me, and Howel shouted that I must come over ere long and +fetch Owen home. Thorgils was steering, and he lifted his arm and +cried his parting words, and so I turned away, feeling lonely as a +man may feel for a little while. And presently I looked again +toward the ship, and I think that the last I saw of her was the +flutter of Nona's kerchief in the soft wind, and I vowed that +nought should hinder me from Dyfed when the time came. + +Thereafter I rode to Glastonbury, and told Herewald what I thought +of the trouble that was surely brewing in the west; and he said +that he also had some reason to think that along his borders men +were getting more unruly, as if none tried to hinder them from +giving cause of offence to us. + +"Well, if they will but keep quiet until this wedding is over it +will be a comfort," he said. "I should be more at ease if once +Elfrida was safely in Sussex." + +Then I learned that the wedding was to be in a month's time or so, +and already there were preparations in hand for it. With all my +heart I hoped also that nought might mar it. + +Then I passed on to the king at Winchester, and glad was he to hear +that we had indeed found Owen. But as he listened to what I thought +was coming on us from the west, he said: + +"It is even what Owen and I foresaw with the death of Aldhelm. This +is a matter that not even Owen could have prevented, for it comes +of the jealousy of the priests. We will go to Glastonbury and +watch, and maybe we shall be in time for the wedding. But I will +not be the one to break the peace. If war there must be, it must +come from Gerent." + +And so he mused for a while, and then said: + +"Well, so it will be. And not before West Wales has tried her +failing force for the last time will there be a lasting peace." + + + +CHAPTER XV. HOW ERPWALD SAW HIS FIRST FIGHT ON HIS WEDDING DAY. + + +So we went to Glastonbury in a little time, and now it was as if +Yuletide had come again in high summer, so full was the little town +with guests who came to the wedding. Erpwald had come soon after +us, with a train of Sussex thanes, who were his neighbours and +would see him through the business, and take him and his bride home +again. Well loved were the ealdorman and his fair daughter, and +this was the first wedding in the new church, of which all the land +was proud. + +Only Ina was somewhat uneasy, though he would not shew it. For on +all the Wessex border from Severn Sea to the Channel there was +unrest. It seemed that the hand of Gerent had altogether slackened +on his people, so that they did what they listed, and it was even +worse than it had been in the days of Morgan and his brother, for +at least they were answerable for what the men of Dyvnaint wrought +of harm. There was none to take their place here, while the old +king bided in Exeter or in Cornwall, and never came to Norton at +all now. So there was pillage and raiding across the Parrett, and +at last Ina had sent messages to Gerent concerning it. + +A fortnight ago that was, and now the messengers had returned, +bearing word from Gerent that he himself would come and speak to +Ina of Wessex and answer him, and it was doubtful what that answer +meant. There might well be a menace of war therein, or it might +mean that he was only coming to Norton. It would not be the first +time that the two kings had met there and spoken with one another +in all friendliness concerning matters which might have been of +much trouble. And we heard at least of no gathering of forces by +the Welsh. + +Yet Ina warned all the sheriffs of the Wessex borderland, and could +do no more. The levies would come up at once when the first summons +came. + +All of which the ealdorman spoke to me of, but neither Erpwald nor +Elfrida knew that war was in the air. We did not tell them. Thus we +hoped to keep all knowledge that aught was unrestful from them in +their happiness, until at least they two were beyond the sound of +war, if it needs must come. + +But it came to pass on the day before the wedding that all men knew +thereof in stern truth, and that was a hard time for many. + +Erpwald and I sat on the bench before the ealdorman's house in the +late sunshine of the long July evening, talking of the morrow, and +of Eastdean, and aught else that came uppermost, so that it was +pleasant to think of, and before us we could see the long road that +goes up the slope of Polden hills and so westward toward the Devon +border. Along it came a wain or two laden high with the first rye +that was harvested that year, and a herd or two of lazy kine +finding their way to the byres for the evening milking. And then +beyond the wains rose a dust, and I saw the waggoners draw aside, +and the dust passed them, and the kine scattered wildly as it +neared them; and so down the peaceful road spurred a little company +of men who shouted as they came, never drawing rein or sparing spur +for all that the farm horses reared and plunged and the kine fled +terror stricken. + +I think that I knew what it meant at once, but Erpwald laughed and +said: "More of our guests, belike. One rides fast to a bridal, but +they are over careless." + +But I did not answer, for the hot pace of those who came never +slackened, and spurring and with loose rein they swept across the +bridge over the stream and so thundered toward us. + +"Here is a hurry beyond a jest," said Erpwald, sitting up; +"somewhat is amiss, surely." + +Never rode men in that wise but for life. In a minute they were +close, and one of them spied me and called to me, waving his arm +toward the palace and reeling in his saddle as he did so. His arm +was bandaged, and I saw that the spear his comrade next him bore +was reddened, and that the other two had leapt on their horses with +nought but the halter to guide them withal, as if in direst need +for haste. Not much longer could their horses last as it seemed. + +I sprang up and followed to the king's courtyard, leaving Erpwald +wondering, and a footpath brought me there almost as they drew rein +inside the gates. One of the horses staggered and fell as soon as +he stayed, and his rider was in little better plight. That one who +had beckoned to me knew me, and spoke at once, breathless: + +"Let us to the king, Thane. The Welsh--the Welsh!" + +"An outlaw raid again?" I asked. + +"Would I come hither in this wise for that?" the man answered. + +He was a sturdy franklin from the Quantock side of the river--one +whose father had been set there by Kenwalch. + +"I can deal, and have dealt, with the like of them, but this is +war. They are on us in their thousands, and I have even been burnt +out for being a Saxon, by a raiding party." + +"Whence?" + +"From Norton," answered another of the men. "Gerent, their king, is +there with a host beyond counting. One fled from across the hills +and told us, and we believed him not till the raiders came." + +With that I took the men straightway to the king, bidding the +house-carles hold their peace awhile. And even as we talked with +this party, another man rode in from the Tone fenlands, and he had +seen the march of the West Welsh men, and knew that Gerent's force +was halted at Norton. A swift and sudden gathering, and a swift +march that was worthy of a good leader, else had we heard thereof +before this. + +After that man came another, and yet another, till all the +courtyard was full of reeking horses and white-faced men, and the +ealdorman was sent for and Nunna; and in an hour or less the war +arrow was out, and the news was flying north and south and east, +with word that all Somerset was to be here on the morrow to hold +the land their forebears had won from those who came. + +Presently with the quiet of knowing all done that might be done on +us, the ealdorman and I went down to his house. + +"Here is an end of tomorrow's wedding," he said sadly. "I do not +know how Elfrida will take it, for it is not to be supposed that +Erpwald will hold back from the levy, though, indeed, if ever man +had excuse, he has it in full." + +I knew that he would not, also, and said nothing. He was yet +sitting on the settle where I had left him waiting for me, with the +level sun in his face as it sank across the Poldens, and he looked +content with all things. + +"What a coil and a clatter has been past me, surely," he said. "I +doubt there must be a raid over the border, from what I hear the +men shouting." + +"More than that, friend," I said gravely, looking straight at him. +"The Welsh are on us in all earnest, and tomorrow we must meet them +somewhere yonder, where the sun is setting." + +He looked at me, and his face flushed redder and redder. + +"What, fighting in the air?" he said, with a sort of new interest. + +"War,--nothing more or less," answered Herewald with a groan. + +"I am in luck for once," he said, leaping up. "Let me go with you, +Oswald; for this is what I have never seen." + +"Hold hard, son-in-law," cried the ealdorman. "What of the +wedding?" + +His face fell, and he stared at us blankly, but his cheek paled. + +"Forgive me," he said. "I never can manage to keep more than one +thing in my head at a time. Here was I thinking of nought but that, +until this news came and drove out all else. Don't tell Elfrida +that I forgot it." + +"Trouble enough for her without that," answered Herewald. "You +cannot hold back, maybe, though indeed, not one will think the +worse of you if you do so. We must tell Elfrida what has befallen, +however, and she must speak her mind on your doings. Come, let us +find her." + +"Do you speak first, Ealdorman," I said, and he nodded and went his +way. + +Erpwald and I followed him into the hall, and there stayed. He was +long gone thence to the bower where Elfrida sat with her maidens +preparing for the morrow. + +"What will she say?" asked Erpwald presently. + +"I think that she will bid you fight for the king, though it will +be hard for her to do so." + +"I hope she will, though, indeed, I should like to think that it +will not be easy for her to send me away," said the lover, torn in +two ways. "How long will it take to settle with these Welsh?" + +"I cannot tell," I said, shaking my head. + +For, indeed, though I would not say it, a Welsh war is apt to be a +long affair if once they get among the hills. + +"If we have the victory, I think that the wedding will not be put +off for so very long," I added to comfort him. + +He walked back and forth across the hall until Herewald came back, +and then started toward him. + +"Go yonder and speak with her," the ealdorman said, pointing to the +door whence he came. + +Then he went hastily, and we two looked at one another. + +"How is it with her?" I said. + +"In the way of the girl who helped you slay Morgan," he said +grimly. "She would hold him nidring if he had not wished to go." + +We went to the door and looked out. All the road was dotted with +men from the nearer villages who came to the gathering, and as they +marched, each after the reeve of the place, they sang. And past the +hindmost of them came a single horseman hurrying. Another messenger +with the same news, doubtless. + +Then there were footsteps across the hall behind us, and Elfrida +and Erpwald came to us. I stole one glance at her, and saw that she +hid her sorrow and pain well, though it was not without an effort. +She spoke fast, and seemingly in cheerful wise, as we turned to +her. + +"Father, here is this Erpwald, who will go to the war, and I cannot +hold him back. What can you say to him?" + +"Nought, surely. For if he will not listen to you, it is certain +that he will hearken to none else." + +She laughed a little strained laugh, and turned to Erpwald. + +"You must have your own way, as I can see plainly enough; and our +wedding must needs wait your pleasure. Even my father will not help +to keep you here." + +"But, Elfrida--it was your own saying--" the poor lover went no +further, for he was beyond his depth altogether. + +It would seem that this was not the way in which she had spoken to +him when they were alone. So I went to help him. + +"We will take care of him, Elfrida," I said, trying to laugh; "but +I think that he is able to do that for himself fairly well." + +Then I was sorry that I had spoken, for it was a foolish speech, +seeing that it brought the thought of danger more closely to her +than was need, or maybe than she had let it come to her yet. She +turned into the half-darkness of the hall again, and after her went +Erpwald. The ealdorman and I went to the courtyard and left them, +feeling that we need say no more. + +Then through the dusk that horseman whom we had noted clattered up, +and called in a great voice to us, asking if we knew where he +should find Oswald the marshal, and I answered him and went out +into the road to him. And there sat Thorgils, fully armed, on a +great horse that was white with foam, but had been carefully +ridden. + +"Ho, comrade! have you heard the news?" he said, gripping my hand. + +"Twenty times in half an hour," I answered. "But is there somewhat +fresh?" + +"Have any of your twenty told you that these knaves of Welsh have +broken peace with us, tried to burn Watchet town--and had their +heads broken?" + +"News indeed, that," said I. "What more?" + +"If you Saxons will stand by us, your kin, it may be worth your +while. Here have I ridden to tell you so." + +Then I hurried him to the king, for this was a matter worth +hearing. Watchet was on Gerent's left flank, and a force there was +a gain to us indeed, if only by staying the force at Norton for a +day longer. We should have so much the more time in which to gather +the levies. + +But, seeing that they were not yet gathered, it did not at first +seem possible to Ina that we could help to save the little town, +whose few men had beaten off today's attack, but would be surely +overwhelmed by numbers on the morrow if Gerent chose. But Thorgils +had not come hither without a plan in his head, and he set it +before the king plainly. + +"Norton is on the southern end of the Quantocks, and Watchet is at +the northern end, as you know, King Ina. Between the two on the +hills is the great camp which any force can hold, but nought but a +great one can storm. If you will give me two hundred men, I will +have that camp by morning, and that will save Watchet, and maybe +hold back Gerent in such wise that he will not care to pass it +without retaking it. He will not know how few of us will be there, +and you will be able to choose your own ground for the fighting +while he bethinks him. There is but one road into Wessex across the +Quantocks, and we shall seem to menace that while we cover the way +to Watchet." + +"So the camp is held?" asked Ina. "Gerent is before me there." + +"Held by the men we beat off from Watchet, King. One we took tells +us that they had no business to fall on our town, but turned aside +to do it. Gerent has little hold on some of his chiefs. Now they +are there with a fear of us and our axes on them, and if we may +fall on them unawares we can take the camp without trouble, as I +think." + +"Oswald," said Ina, after a little thought, "how many horsemen can +you raise now?" + +The town was full of horses by this time, and I thought that it +would not be hard to raise a hundred, and that in half an hour. +Maybe if we did go with Thorgils we should meet many more men on +the way to the levy also. + +"Then you shall go with Thorgils," the king said. "It is a risk, +certainly, but it is worth it. We had held that camp, had we had +but a day's earlier warning, and that loss may be made good thus. +That outlaw of yours will know many a safe place of retreat for you +if need is. Good luck be with you." + +He shook hands with us both, and we did not delay. His only bidding +was that we should hold the camp until we had word from him, if we +took it, and he was to learn thereof by signal. + +So it came to pass that in an hour and a half Thorgils and I and +Erpwald, who would by no means let me go without him, and three of +his Sussex friends, rode across the causeway to the Polden hills in +the dusk, with a matter of six score men behind us, well armed and +mounted all--for these borderers have need to keep horse and arms +of the best, and those ever ready. + +From the ealdorman's door Elfrida watched us go very bravely, and +the glimmer of her white dress was the lodestar that kept the eyes +of her lover turned backward while it might be seen. It vanished +suddenly, and he heaved a deep sigh, and I knew that she had been +fain to watch no longer lest her tears should be seen. + +As we went along the Polden ridge we met flying men, and men who +came to the levy, and by twos and threes we added to our little +force, until we had a full hundred more than when we started. + +Thorgils took us to a tidal ford that crosses the Parrett River far +below any bridge, which he thought would not yet be watched by the +Welsh. There is a steep hill fort that covers this ford, but on it +were no fires as of an outpost yet. Then we were a matter of eight +miles from the great camp on the highest ridge of the Quantocks +which we had to take, and we had ridden five-and-twenty miles. I +was glad that we had to wait an hour or more for the fall of the +tide before we could cross, for we rode fast thus far. + +So we dismounted and watched the slow fall of the water, and we +planned what we would do presently; until at last we splashed +through the muddy ford, and rode on through dense forest land until +the great camp rose above us, a full thousand feet skyward, and we +saw the glow of the watch fires of those who held it. It seemed +almost impossible to scale this hill as we looked on its slope in +the darkness, but we reached its foot where the hill is steepest, +and held on northward yet, until we came to where there is a long +steady rise up to the very gate of the earthworks. + +Now there should have been an outpost halfway along this slope +toward the camp, for whatever tribe of the Britons made the +stronghold had not forgotten to raise a little fort for one. But we +were in luck, for this outpost was not held, and we rode past it, +and knew that there was every chance now of our fairly surprising +the camp. The first grey of dawn was coming when I passed the word +to the men to close up, and told them what we were to do. + +"We charge through the earthworks, for there is no barrier across +the gate, and spread out across the camp with all the noise we can. +Follow a flight for no long distance beyond the earthworks, but +scatter the Welsh." + +So we rode on steadily until we were but a bow shot from the +trench, and yet no alarm was raised, for the foe watched hardly at +all, deeming that no Saxon force would think of crossing where we +crossed the river, or of coming on them from the north at all. + +Then Thorgils and I and Erpwald rode forward, and I gave the word +to charge, and up the long smooth slope we went at the gallop, with +a heavy thunder of hoofs on the firm turf of the ancient track. And +that thunder was the first sign that the Welsh knew of our coming. + +I saw one come to the gateway and look, and then with a wild howl +throw himself into the outer ditch for safety, and the camp roared +with the alarm, and the dim white figures flocked to the rampart, +and through a storm of ill-aimed arrows we rode through the +unguarded gate and were on them. + +"Ahoy!--Out, out!--Holy Cross!" + +The war shouts of Norseman and South Saxon and Wessex men were in +startling medley together here, and that terrified the Welsh yet +more. It must have seemed to them that the Norsemen had called +unheard of allies to their help. There was no order or rallying +power among them. + +We three were first through the gateway, and then we were riding +across the camp with levelled spears, over men and through the +fires, and a panic fell on the foe, so that without waiting to see +what our numbers were, in headlong terror they fled from the charge +over the ramparts and into the forests in the valleys on either +side beyond whence we came. I had no fear of their rallying thence +to any effect, for it would take them all their time to find their +leaders in the combes and the thick undergrowth that clothed their +sides. Once out of the camp, too, they could not see into it to +tell how few we were. + +I suppose that there were some five hundred Welsh in the place. I +do not think that we harmed many of them in the hurry and the dark, +but we scared them terribly. Here and there one rolled under the +horses' hoofs, and we paid no heed to such as fell thus, and they +rose again and fled the faster. All but one, that is, so far as I +was concerned. I charged a man, and my spear missed him as he leapt +aside, and he struck at my horse as I passed him, and the next +moment I was rolling on the ground with the good steed, and the man +behind me had to leap over us as we lay. That was one of the Sussex +thanes, and he was no mean horseman or unready, luckily. Then he +chased my enemy out of the camp, and came back to see if I were +hurt. But I was not, and I bade him go on with the rest. We were +almost across the camp at this time. + +"Take my horse rather," he said. "See, there is a bit of a stand +being made yonder." + +There were yet some valiant and cooler-headed Welshmen whom the +panic had not carried away, and they were getting together to our +right. The camp was full three hundred paces across, and as we +spread over it our line had gaps here and there, so that some at +least had seen what our numbers were. They had passed into the camp +again over the earthworks, or had been passed by in the place by +us, and they were gathering round one who wore the crested helm and +gilded arms of a chief, and he was raving at the cowards who had +left him. Even now he had not more than a score of men with him. + +Our men were chasing the flying foe across the open hilltop now, +outside the camp, and there were but few left within its enclosure, +though I saw the dim forms of some who were turning back without +going beyond the rampart, and one of these was Erpwald. He also saw +the group of Welshmen, and called the other horsemen to him, and +even as the chief saw us two standing alone together, and led his +few toward us, the shout of the four or five who charged with my +friend stayed them, and they closed up to meet the new attack. + +Then the Sussex thane, whose name was Algar, saw this, and again +urged me to take his horse, saying that it was not fitting for the +leader to be dismounted while work was yet in hand; but I saw a +thing that bade me forget him, and set me running at full speed +toward the Welshmen. Erpwald had ridden well ahead of his comrades, +and as his spear crossed those of the foe one of them stepped +forward before his chief and made a sweeping blow at the legs of +the horse with a long pole-axe. Down the horse came, and Erpwald +flew over its head into the midst of the enemy, overthrowing one or +two of them as if he had been a stone from a sling. + +In a moment they closed over him, but I was there before they could +get clear of one another to slay him. I cut my way through the +turmoil before they knew I was on them, and stood over him sword in +hand, while the Welsh shrank back for a space with the suddenness +of my coming. There was Algar also hewing at them and trying to +reach my side, having dismounted, and those who followed Erpwald +were on them with their long spears. It was more as a shouting than +a fight for a moment or two, but Erpwald never moved, being +stunned, as it seemed. It was like to go hard with me for a time, +for my men could not reach me. Still, I held the Welsh back from +Erpwald and myself. + +There was a great shout of "Ahoy," and I saw from beyond the ring +round me the rise and fall of a broad axe, and then Thorgils was at +my back, and close behind him was Evan. More of our men were coming +up fast to where they heard the noise; but the foe were minded to +make a good fight of it, and only to yield when there was no shame +in doing so. + +"It is no bad thing to have a good axe at one's back," quoth +Thorgils in a gruff shout between his war cries as he hewed, and +with that I heard the said axe crash on a foe again. + +Then I had the chief before me, and his men fell back a little to +make way for him to me. Our swords crossed, and I took his first +thrust fairly on the shield and returned it, wounding him a little, +and he set his teeth and flew at me, point foremost, with the +deadly thrust of the Roman weapon. That the shield met again, and I +struck out over his guard and he went down headlong. And at that +his men made a wild rush on me, yelling. At that time I saw +Thorgils, with a great smile on his face, smite one man to his +right with the axe edge, and another on his left with the blunt +back of the weapon as he swung it round, and Evan saved me from a +man who was coming on me from behind. That is all I know of the +fight, save that it seemed that I heard some cry for quarter, for +of a sudden I went down across Erpwald for no reason that I could +tell. + +It was full daylight when I came round, and the first thing that my +eyes lit on was the broad face of Erpwald, who sat by my side with +a woebegone look that changed suddenly to a great grin when he saw +me stir and look at him. Then I saw Evan also watching me, with his +arm tied up, and I was fain to laugh at his solemn face of trouble. +Whereon from somewhere behind me Thorgils cried in his great +seafaring voice: + +"There now, what did I tell you two owls? His head is too hard to +mind a bit of a knock like that." + +Then he came and laughed at me, and I asked what sent me over. + +"The pole-axe man hit you with the flat of his unhandy weapon. It +is lucky for you that he was a bungler, however, for there is a +sore dint in your helm." + +I sat up and looked round the camp. There was a knot of captives in +its midst, among whom was the chief I had fought, wounded, indeed, +but not badly, and our men were eating the enemy's provender and +laughing. A fire of green brushwood and heather was sending a tall +pillar of smoke into the air to tell the watchers on the Poldens +and at Watchet that we had done what we came to do. But here we had +to stay till we heard from Ina that we were to join him, and for +Erpwald's sake and Elfrida's I was not sorry. + +He had seen his first fight, and nearly found his end therein. I do +not know how I could have looked Elfrida in the face again had he +indeed risen no more from that medley. But I thought that he made +more than enough of my coming to his rescue. It was only a matter +of holding back a crowd till help came. + +"All very well to put it in that way, comrade," said Thorgils; "but +where does my axe come in? You are not fair, for, by Thor's hammer, +Erpwald, both of you had been mincemeat but for that." + +"Nay," said I, laughing; "you and I were those who held back the +crowd. I could not have done it alone." + +"But you did, though," the Norseman answered at once. +"Nevertheless, it was as well that I happened up in good time." + +Now we rode across the nearer hills until we could see into the +fair valley which men call Taunton Deane since those days, and we +saw the answering fires which told us that all was well at Watchet, +for we had saved the little town. Not until Gerent learned how few +we were here would he dare to divide his forces. Far off to the +southward in the valley we could see the blue reek of his +campfires, and it would seem that he had not yet moved on the +Wessex border. + +All the day we waited and watched, anxious and restless, but no +attack came on us here, and the smoke of the camp grew no thinner +at Norton. A few Norsemen rode up to us from Watchet, and they said +that no move was on hand yet, so far as they could tell. And at +last, as the sun was setting, and shone level on the slope of the +Poldens, above which the Tor of Glastonbury sent a waving wreath of +smoke into the air to bid Wessex gather against the ancient foe, we +saw the long line of sparkling helms and spear points as our host +marched from hill to causeway to the bridge that spans the Parrett. +Ina would hold the heights above Norton before morning. + +But that made it the more needful that we should bide here till we +were sent for, seeing that we guarded the flank of our advance; and +hard it was to sit still and do it, with a battle pending yonder. +It was a long night to us, and hungry. + +Early in the next morning there was heavy smoke on these hills that +told of burning on the line of our march, and there was more away +toward the far Blackdown hills, as if there were trouble beyond +Tone. And in the afternoon there fell a strange stillness on the +woods round us, and I wondered. There was never a buzzard or kite, +raven or crow, left in all the woodland, and then I minded that +overhead lately the birds of prey had all flown in one direction, +and that toward where Norton lay. + +It was the cry of the kite and the voice of the songbirds that I +missed. The birds of prey had gone, and in the cover their little +quarry cowered in fear of the shadow of the broad wings which had +crossed them so often. Even now two of the great sea eagles were +sailing inland, and from these strange signs we knew for certain +that yonder a battlefield was spread for them, where Saxon and +Welsh strove for mastery in the fair valley. But we must pace the +hill crest, silent and moody, waiting for some sign that might tell +us of victory. + +That came at last in the late afternoon. Slowly there gathered, +over the trees where Norton was, a haze that thickened into a +smoke, and that grew into heavy dun clouds which rose and drifted +even to the hilltops, for Norton was burning, and by that token we +knew that Ina was victor. + +Presently there were flying men of the Welsh who could be seen on +the open hillsides, and some few came even up to this camp, and we +took them, and from them heard how the battle had gone. It had been +a terrible battle, from their account, but they knew little more +than that, and that they were beaten. I suppose that Ina thought it +best for us to hold this camp for the night, for here we bided, +chafing somewhat; and but for what we took from the Welsh, hungry, +until early morning. Then at last a mounted messenger came to us, +and we went to Norton. + +There, indeed, was high praise waiting for us from Ina, for it +seemed that our work had checked the advance of Gerent, and had +given time for full gathering of the levies before he was over the +border. But now I learnt that there was another Welsh army in the +field, beyond the Tone River, and until we heard how it fared with +the Dorset levies in that direction it was doubtful if we might +hold that all was well yet. Gerent had not set everything on this +one attack, but had also marched on Langport across the Blackdown +hills. Thither Nunna had led what men he could be spared, and was +to meet the Dorset levies, whose ealdorman, Sigebald, had sent word +to Glastonbury, soon after I left there, to tell of this attack. + +In the late evening there were beacon fires on the Blackdown hills, +and a great one on the camp at Neroche which crowns and guards the +hills in that direction. And so presently through the dusk one rode +into Norton with word of the greatest battle that Wessex had fought +since men could remember, for Nunna had met the foe on the way to +Langport, and at last, after a mighty struggle which had long +seemed doubtful, had swept them back across the hills whence they +came, in full flight homeward. So there was full victory for +Wessex, but we had to pay a heavy price therefor. Nunna had fallen +in the hour of triumph, and Sigebald, the ealdorman, was lost to +Dorset also. + +Presently we laid Nunna in his mound on the Blackdown hills where +he had fallen. There he bides as the foremost of Saxon leaders in +the new land we had won, and I do not think that it is an unfitting +place for such a one as he. It is certain that so long as a Wessex +man who minds the deeds of his fathers is left the name of Nunna +will be held in honour with that of the king; his kinsman. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. OF MATTERS OF RANSOM, AND OF FORGIVENESS ASKED AND GRANTED. + + +Now I must needs tell somewhat of the way in which Ina won Norton, +for that had so much to do with my fortunes as it turned out, +seeing that all went well by reason of our holding the hill fort, +in which matter, indeed, Thorgils must have his full share of +praise. + +Gerent halted in his march when the flying men from the camp came +in to him, telling him that we were in strong force on the hill, +and so our men crossed the Parrett unhindered, and won to the long +crest of the southward spurs of Quantocks, where the Welsh gathered +against Kenwalch in the old days and stayed his farther conquest. +There was some sort of an advance post by this time in the Roman +camp at Roborough, and Ina sent a few men to take it, and that was +easily done. Then Gerent heard that Ina was on him, and went to +meet him, and so the two armies met on the westward slope of the +hills above Norton, and there all day long the battle swayed to and +fro until the Welsh broke and fled back to the town itself. Then +was a long fight across the ramparts, and at last Ina took the +place, and so chased his enemy in hopeless rout across the moorland +westward yet, until there was no chance of any stand being made. + +But Gerent escaped, though it was said that it was sorely against +his will. I was told that the old king came to the battle in a +wonderful chariot drawn by four white horses, and that he stood in +it fully armed, bidding his nobles carry him to the forefront of +the fighting, but that they would not heed him. And presently when +they knew that all was lost they hurried him from the field, though +he cursed them, and even hewed at them with his sword to stay them +as they went. + +Now Ina's camp was set within the walls of Norton among the yet +smoking ruins of the palace, where not one stone was left on +another; and the Dragon banner of Wessex floated side by side with +the White Horse of the sons of Hengist, where I had been wont to +see the Dragon of the line of Arthur. + +All the afternoon of that day Ina sat and saw the long files of +captives pass before him, and I was there to question any he would, +for he knew little or none of the Welsh tongue. + +Many of these captives were of high rank, men who had only yielded +when they must, and here and there I knew one of these by sight. +They would be held to ransom by their captors, and the rest, +freeman or thrall, as they had been, would be the slaves of those +who took them, save they also could pay for freedom. It was a sad +enough throng that passed under the shadow of the proud banners. + +At last I saw one whom I knew well, and whom the king knew, for it +was Jago. He stood in the line, looking neither to right nor left, +but taking his misfortune like a brave man. + +"Here is Jago, the friend of Owen, whom you know, King Ina," I +said. + +The king glanced up at the Welsh thane. There was no pride of +conquest in the face of Ina as he gazed at his captives, and when +one came as Jago came he looked little at him, lest he should seem +to exult. + +"Take him, and do what you will with him, Oswald. We owe you much +again; if you see others for whom you would speak, tell me. I will +deal with friends of Owen as you will. That is known already, and +none will gainsay it." + +I thanked the king quietly, but none the less heartily, and I ran +my eyes down the line, but I saw no more known faces. So I went +after Jago, who had passed on. + +"Friend, you are free," I said. "That is the word of our king, for +the sake of old friendship." + +He could not answer, but the light leapt into his eyes, and he held +out his hand to me. Then I took him to the tent which my +house-carles had pitched next the king's, where Nunna's should have +been, and bade him sit down there. Then I went out and brought up +my own prisoners, passing the commoners into the hands of the men +who had been with me, but keeping the chief until the last. Two of +the house-carles led him up, and his face had as black a scowl on +it as I had ever seen, and he looked sullenly at us. + +"Who is he?" asked Ina, turning towards me. + +I did not know, and, to tell the truth, had forgotten to ask him in +the waiting for news of Nunna. So I asked him his name with all +courtesy, and could win no answer from him but a blacker scowl than +ever. Judging from his arms, which were splendid, and of the half +Roman pattern that Howel wore, he might be of some note. I thought +Jago might know him, so I asked him. + +"Mordred, prince of Morganwg {iii}, from across the channel," +he answered, looking from the tent door. "He is a prize for whoever +took him. Gerent sent word to several of those princes, and his men +are somewhere in the country yet, I suppose. They came at Gerent's +invitation." + +I went back to Ina, who had set the chief aside for the moment, and +when some other man's captives had passed, bound to a long cord, my +men brought him forward again. + +"Ask him what brought him here," said Ina, when he heard who he +was. + +"I have a mind not to answer you," Mordred growled, when I put the +question, "but seeing that there is no use in keeping silence, I +will tell you. I hate Saxons, and so when Gerent asked me I came to +help him." + +"With your men?" + +"A shipload of them. They are up in the hills yonder, where you +left them, I suppose; and they will be a trouble to you until they +get home, if they can. I am well quit of the cowards." + +Now I began to understand how it was that this force went aside to +fall on Watchet, and had little heart in the defence of the camp. +They were strangers, who hated the name of the Northmen from their +own knowledge of them, and could not miss a chance of a fight with +them here. After that the men of Gerent who were with them at the +camp cared nought for their strange leader. + +"Take him, and hold him to ransom, Oswald," Ina said, when I told +him all this. "From all I ever heard of Morganwg, he should be some +sort of reward for what you have done. I should set his price high +also, for he deserves it for coming here." + +So I took Mordred to my tent, telling him that I must speak of him +of ransom. + +"Ransom? Of course, that will be paid. What price do you set on +me?" + +Now that was a question on which I had no thought ready, seeing +that I had never held any man of much rank to ransom before, and I +hesitated. At last I remembered what some great Mercian thane had +to pay to Owen some years ago, and I named that sum, which was good +enough for me and Erpwald and Thorgils to share between us. + +Thereon his face flushed red, and he scowled fiercely at me. + +"What!--Is that the value of a prince of Morganwg? It is ill to +insult a captive." + +"Nay, Prince, there is no insult--" + +"By St. Petroc, but there is, though! What will the men of +Morganwg--what will the Dyfed men say when they hear that the Saxon +holds one of the line of Arthur at the value of a hundred cows? Ay, +that is how I shall be known henceforth!--Mordred of the cows, +forsooth." + +He was working himself up into a rage now, and even Jago from the +corner of the tent where he sat, dejectedly enough, began to smile. +I had spoken of fair coined silver, and I had some trouble myself +in keeping a grave face when this Welsh prince counted the cost of +cattle therein. + +"Will you double the sum, Prince?" I asked in all good faith. + +"I will pay the ransom that is fitting for a prince of Morganwg to +pay when his foes have the advantage of him. The honour of the +Cymro is concerned." + +"Ask him his value," said Jago in Saxon, knowing that Mordred did +not understand that tongue at all. "Never was so good a chance of +selling a man at his own price." + +Then I could not help a smile, and Mordred waxed furious. He turned +on Jago with his fist clenched. + +"Silence, you miserable--" + +"Prince, Prince," I cried. "He did but bid me ask you what was +fitting." + +"Well, then, do it," he cried, stamping impatiently, and glaring at +Jago yet. + +It was plain that if he did not understand the Saxon he saw that +there was some jest. + +"It is a hard matter for me to set a price on you, Prince," I said +gravely. "I have never held one of your rank to ransom before, so +that you will forgive seeming discourtesy if I have unwittingly +done what was not fitting in the matter. What would the men of your +land think worthy of you?" + +"Once," he said slowly, "it was the ill luck of my--of some +forebear of mine to have to be ransomed. They paid so much for +him." + +He named a sum in good Welsh gold that it had never come into my +mind to dream of. It was riches for all three of us. And I dared +not say that it was too much and somewhat like foolishness, for it +was his own valuation. So I held my peace. + +"Not enough?" he asked, not angrily, but as if it would be an +honour to hear that I set him higher. "What more shall I add?" + +"No more, Prince. I see that I have yet things to learn." + +Truly, I had always heard that the tale of the golden tribute to +Rome from Britain had tempted my forebears here first of all, and +now I believed it. I suppose these Welsh princes had hoards which +had been carried from out of the way of us Saxons and Angles long +ago. + +"Ay, you have," Mordred said grimly. "One day it shall be what the +worth of a British prince is in good cold steel, maybe. Now let me +have a messenger who shall take word to my people and bring back +what is needed." + +He scowled when I mentioned Thorgils, but he knew him by repute at +least, and was willing to trust him, as I would do so. In the end, +therefore, it was he who took the signet ring and the letter the +prince had written and brought back the gold. Some of the coins +were of the days of Cunobelin, but the most of it was in bars and +rings and chains, wrought for traffic by weight. + +Now I will say at once that neither of my comrades would share in +this ransom, though I thought that it was a matter between the +three of us, as leaders of the force that day. + +"Not I," quoth Thorgils--"the man was your own private captive, for +you sent him down yourself. What do I want with that pile of gold? +I have enough and to spare already, and I should only hoard it. Or +else I should just give it back to you for a wedding present by and +by. What? Shaking your head? Well, what becomes of all my songs if +they end not in a wedding? Have a care, Oswald, and see that you +make up your mind in time." + +So he went away, laughing at me, but afterward I did make him +promise that if he needed a new ship at any time he would tell me, +so that I might give him one for the sake of the first voyage in +the old vessel, and that pleased him well. + +Now I told Ina this, being always accustomed to refer anything to +him, and he was not surprised to hear that the Norseman would not +take the gold. + +"And if I may advise," he said, "I would not offer a share to +Erpwald; for, in the first place, he does not expect it, seeing +that the captive is yours only, by all right of war; and in the +next, he deems that you have already given him Eastdean, and he is +not so far wrong. So it would hurt him. He will be all the happier +now that he will know that you have withal to buy four Eastdeans, +if you will." + +So against my will, as it were, that day made a rich man of me. +Presently I gave the wealth into the hand of Herewald the +ealdorman, and he so managed it, being a great trader in his way, +that it seemed to grow somewise, and I have a yearly sum therefrom +in ways that are hard to be understood by me, but which seem simple +enough to him. + +I handed over Mordred to the Norsemen to keep until Thorgils +returned with the ransom, for before we could rest with the sword +in its scabbard again it was needful that all care should be taken +for the holding of the new land we had won, and Ina would see to +that himself. Here and there we had fighting, but the Welsh never +gathered again in force against us, and at last we held every town +and camp from sea to sea along the line of the hills that run from +Exmoor southwards, and there was our new border. + +Jago went back to Exeter, seeing that his house was burnt at Norton +with the rest of the town, and I heard afterwards that there he had +found his wife, whom he had sent away when the certainty of war +arose. I was in no trouble for him, as he had houses elsewhere. + +But we sent Erpwald back to Glastonbury in all haste, and he was in +nowise loth to go, as may be supposed. One may also guess how he +was received there. Then, as soon as Ina came back with us all, the +ealdorman set to work to prepare afresh the wedding that was so +strangely and suddenly broken in upon, and it was likely to be +little less joyous that it had been so. + +On the evening before the wedding the ealdorman came to me, when +the day's duties were over, and said that Elfrida wished to speak +to me. So I went, of course, not at all troubling that the +ealdorman could not tell me what was to be said, for there were +many things concerning tomorrow's arrangements with which I was +charged in one way or another. + +So I found her waiting me alone, in that chamber off the hall where +her father and I spoke of the poisoning. + +"I have not sent for you for nothing, Oswald," she said, blushing a +little as if it were a hard matter she had to speak of. "There is +somewhat on my mind that I must needs disburden." + +"Open confession is good," I said, laughing--"what is it? + +"Well--have you forgotten your vow of last Yuletide?" + +"Not in the least. Would you have me do so? For that were somewhat +hard." + +"No--but yes, in a way." + +There she stopped for a moment, and I waited for her to go on, not +having any very clear notion of what was to come. She turned away +from me somewhat, letting her fingers play over one of the tall +horns on the table, when she spoke again. + +"It has been in my mind that you--that maybe you thought that I +have been hard on you--in ways, since we spoke in the orchard." + +So that was what troubled her, but I did not see why she should +have spoken of it, seeing that a lady has no need at all to justify +her ways in such a matter, surely. + +"No," I answered, "that I never thought. If my vow displeased you, +or maybe rather if I displeased you thereafter, I had no reason to +blame any one but myself for the way in which it was needful that I +should be shewn that so it was. It was just the best thing for me, +for it cured me of divers kinds of foolishnesses." + +"That is what I would have heard you say," she said with a +light-hearted laugh enough, while her face cleared. "Now I can say +what I will. Do you know that you have kept your vow to the full +already?" + +"Not at all. There are long years before you yet, as one may hope." + +"Ay, Oswald, and through you those years seem bright to look +forward to. See, through you has come Erpwald, and now you have +kept his life for me at risk of your own. All my life long I shall +thank you for those two things. Surely your vow is fulfilled, for +this will be lifelong service. There is more that I would say to +you, but I cannot." + +She turned away again, weeping for very happiness, as I think, that +could not be told, and I had no word to speak that was worth +uttering, though I must say somewhat. + +"It will be good to think of you two together--" + +"In the place you have given us," she broke in on me. "Love and a +home for all my life! What more could your vow have wrought than +that? Let me go, Oswald, or I shall weep. It was a good day that +sent you to be my champion." + +Then she stepped swiftly to me and kissed me once, and fled, and I +do not mind saying that I was glad that she had gone. Too much +thanks for things that had been done more or less by chance, and as +they came to hand as it were, without any special thought for any +one, are apt to make one feel discomforted. + +The wedding on the morrow I have no skill to tell of, but as every +one has seen such a thing, that hardly matters. I will only set +down that never had I seen such a bright one, or so good a company, +there being all the more guests present because many who came to +the levies stayed on to do honour to the ealdorman and his +daughter. Elfrida looked all that a bride should, as I thought, and +also as the queen said in my hearing, so that I think I cannot be +wrong. I gave her Gerent's great gold armlet, having caused it to +be wrought into such a circlet for her hair as any thane's wife +might be well pleased to wear. + +As for Erpwald, he was dazed and speechless with it all, but none +heeded him, though indeed he made a gallant groom, for that is the +usual way as regards the bridegroom at such times. Which is perhaps +all the more comfortable for him. + +Then was pleasant feasting, and after it some of us who had been +Erpwald's closer friends here rode a little way with those two +wedded ones on the first stage of their homeward journey. The +Sussex thanes and their men were with them as guard, and they rode +on ahead and left us to take our leave. + +And by and by, after a mile or two, the rest turned back with gay +farewells, and left me alone with the two, for they knew that I was +their nearest friend, and would let me be the last to speak with +them. We had not much to say, indeed, but there are thoughts, and +most of all, good wishes, that can be best read without words. + +"There is but one thing that I wish," Elfrida said at the very +last, even when I had turned my horse and was leaving them. + +"What is that?" I asked, seeing that there was some little jest +coming. + +"Only, that I had seen the Princess Nona." + +I laughed, and so they were gone, and I went back to Glastonbury, +wondering if Elfrida guessed what my thoughts of that lady might +be. I had not said much of her to any one, except as one must speak +of people with whom one has been for a while. + +Strangely enough had come to pass that which I vowed to do for +Elfrida, though not in the way which had been in my mind when I +drank the Bragi bowl. Presently, when I came back to the +ealdorman's house, I had to put up with some old jests concerning +that vow, which seemed to others to have come to naught, but they +did not hurt me. + +Three days after the wedding Thorgils came to Glastonbury with his +charge, and glad enough I was to hand it to Herewald, as I have +already said, and to get the care of it off my mind. Yet I will say +that by this time there had come to me a knowledge concerning this +gold which was pleasant. Only the other day I had been but the +simple captain of house-carles, though I was also the friend of a +mighty king, and foster son of a prince indeed, and that had been +all that I needed or cared for. Lately there had come a new hope +into my life, and it was one that was far from me at that time. But +now, when the time came for me to go to Dyfed for Owen, I should go +with power to choose lands and a home for myself and for that one +whom I dared now to ask to share it. And that was the only reason +that I cared to think of the new riches at all. If that hope came +to naught I should certainly care for them or need them little +enough, for my home would be the court as ever. + +Better to me than the gold was a letter from Owen. The honest +Norseman had gone out of his way to put in at Tenby, knowing that I +should be glad to have news thence, and not troubling about Mordred +who was waiting release, at all. So he had seen Owen, who was well +as might be, he said. + +"With two holes in one thigh, and his left arm almost growing again +like a crab's claw. I do not think that he was in the least +surprised to hear of the war, nor indeed of its end. All he wanted +to know was of you, as it seemed, at least from me. So it was also +with Howel and the princess. It was good to see their faces when I +told them of the fight at the camp, and how you won glory there. +Nevertheless, I was half afraid that I made the fighting a bit too +fierce over Erpwald, for the princess turned pale enough in hearing +how you were knocked over. You ken that I am apt to make the most +of things when I am telling a story. My father was just the same, +and maybe my grandfather before that, for saga telling runs in the +family." + +I laughed at him, but in my mind I thought of the day when I saw +Elfrida pale as she heard of Erpwald's danger at Cheddar, and I +wondered. + +Then I turned to Owen's letter, and it was long and somewhat sad, +as may be supposed, for this war had a foreshadowing of long +parting between him and me. But he said that he had known it must +come, having full knowledge, before Morfed the priest took him, how +the war party were getting beyond control. Wherefore he saw that he +and I had been saved much sadness by his absence, and it remained +to be seen how we should fare when he returned. At least, we should +meet soon in Dyfed, for he mended apace. + +I need not tell all of that letter, for it was mostly between us +twain. But in it were words for Ina concerning peace, such as an +ambassador from the British might well speak, and they helped +greatly toward settlement by and by. And so the letter ended with +greetings from Howel and Nona, and many words concerning their +kindness to him. + +But when I spoke to Thorgils of crossing soon to bring Owen back he +shook his head. + +"I suppose he has even made the best of things in the letter, but +if he can bear arms again by Yule it will be a wonder," he said. +"Yet he is well for so sorely wounded a man." + +Then he promised that it should not be so long before I heard news +from Owen again, for he had yet to make several voyages before the +winter. And he kept his promise well, for I think that he made one +more than he would have done, for my sake solely, though he will +not own it, lest the long winter should seem lonesome to me. + +For I will say at once that Owen did not come back by Yule. All +that went on in the Cornish court I do not know, but it seemed that +Gerent thought it well that he should not return until the last +hope of victory over Wessex had passed from among his people; and +it may be that he did not wish it to be thought that Owen had any +hand in bringing about the peace which he must needs make. He would +see to that, and take all the blame thereof himself, caring nothing +for any man, if blame there should be from those who set the war on +foot. + +So although I waited to hear from time to time as Thorgils came and +went, getting also word from him when some Danish ship crossed to +Watchet, nought was said of Owen's return. And I was not sorry, for +as things went I could not have gone to Dyfed to meet him. + +There was the new land we had won to be tended, and for a time the +planning for that was heavy enough. All men know now how it ended +in the building of the mighty fortress of Taunton at the southern +end of the Quantock hills, to bar the passage from West to East for +all time. There is no mightier stronghold in all England than this, +at least of those built by Saxon hands, and there has been none +made like it since Hengist came to this land. It stands some two +miles from where the Romans set Norton, for they had the same need +to curb the wild British as have we, and the place they chose for +their ways of warfare needed little amending for ours. + +While that was building, Ina dwelt in the house of some great +British lord at the place we call South Petherton, not far off from +the fortress. As the place pleased him, presently he had a palace +built there for himself, which, as it turned out, Ethelburga the +queen never liked at all. However, that came about in after years. +All day long now he was at Taunton, taking pride in overseeing all, +so that there is no wonder that the place is strong. + +As for me, I was with Herewald the ealdorman on the new boundary +line with the levies and the king's own following, guarding against +any new attack, and trying to win the Welsh to friendship. That was +mostly my work, as I knew the tongue, and they knew me as Owen's +foster son. We had some little trouble with them for a time, but +soon, as they came to know the justice of the king, and that he did +not mean to drive them from the land, they became content, and +indeed there were many who welcomed a strong hand over them. + +Presently there would be Saxon lords over the manors as Ina found +men to hold them, but there would be no change beyond that. Freeman +should be freeman, and thrall thrall, as before, each in his old +holding undisturbed, with equal laws for Saxon and Briton alike. + +Now, one day when I came to the house of the king at Petherton on +some affairs I needed his word concerning, presently there came a +message to me that Ethelburga the queen would speak with me, and, +somewhat wondering, I was taken to her bower, and found her waiting +for me. + +"Oswald," she said, after a few words of greeting, "there is one +who wronged you once, and has come to ask for your forgiveness. +What answer shall I give?" + +"Lady," I said, "I can remember none who need forgiveness from me +now. Those who wrought ill against Owen have it already, or are +gone. I have no foes, so far as I know, myself, and truly no wrongs +unforgiven." + +"Nay, but there is this one." + +"Why then, my Queen, that one must needs be forgiven, seeing that I +know not of wrong to me." + +I laughed a little, thinking of some fault of a servant, or of a +man of the guard, of which she had heard. But she went to a settle +hard by and swept aside a kerchief which lay on it as if by chance, +and under it were two war arrows. And I knew them at once for those +which had been shot into our window at Norton and had vanished. + +Now I will say that the sight of these brought back at once some of +the old feeling against those who, like Tregoz, had sought Owen's +life and mine, and my face must needs show it. + +"Ay," the queen said, seeing that, "these are indeed a token that +forgiveness is needed." + +Then I remembered that there was but one who could come here with +these arrows, though how she had them I could not do more than +guess. It could be none other than Mara, the daughter of Dunwal. + +Then suddenly, from among the ladies at the end of the room, one +who was dressed in black rose up and came toward me, and she was +none other than Mara herself, thin and pale indeed, and with the +pride gone from her dark face. Her voice was very low as she spoke +to me, and her bright black eyes were dim with tears. + +"I do not ask you to forgive my uncle, or indeed my father--for +what they planned and well-nigh wrought is past forgiveness," she +said, "Forget those things if it be possible, but forgive my part +in them." + +"I have done that long ago, lady," I said in all truth. + +I knew that she must have been made use of by the men in some ways, +but I did not think at all that she had wished ill as they wished +it, since I knew that Morfed had trained the Welsh girl to the deed +at Glastonbury. + +"Ay," she said sadly. "But forgetfulness is not forgiveness. You do +not know how I carried messages between my father and uncle, when +one was in bondage and the other in hiding, so that their plans +were laid through me. I am guilty with them. Therefore I would hear +you say at least that you will try to forgive before I pass from +the world into the cloister where I may pray for them, and for you +also, if I may." + +Then I said, with a great pity on me for this lady whom I had known +so proud and careless: + +"Lady, I do forgive with all my heart. I do not think that you +could have stood aloof from your father, and I do not think that +you are so much to blame in all the trouble as you would seem to +make me believe. In all truth I do forgive." + +She looked searchingly at me while I spoke, and what she saw in my +face was enough to tell her that she had all she needed, and with +one word of thanks she went back to the ladies, and one of them +took her from the room. + +"She goes into my new nunnery at Glastonbury tomorrow, Oswald," the +queen said, "and now she will rest content. It was a good chance +that brought you here today, my Thane, for she had begged me to +send for you, and that I could hardly do, seeing that one knows not +where to find you from day to day. I could tell her truly that I +knew I could win your forgiveness: but that would not have been +enough for her, I think." + +So Mara passed into the nunnery, and unless she has been one of the +veiled sisters whom one sees in their places at the time of mass, I +do not know that I have ever set eyes on her again. I do not think +that it was the saddest end for her. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. HOW OSWALD FOUND A HOME, AND OF THE LAST PERIL OF OWEN THE +PRINCE. + + +All that winter, and through the spring, men toiled at the great +fortress, but Ina went back presently to Glastonbury, or to others +of his houses, after his wont, now and then riding even from far to +us to see how all went. And I was fully busy in the new province, +for we made a roll of those who owned land there, that all might be +known to the king, and that matter was set in my hand for those +reasons which had made me useful already in quieting the country. +Moreover, the years at Malmesbury had made me able to write well, +and now I was glad that I had learnt, though indeed it went sorely +against the grain with me to do so at the time. Truly, I had to go +on this errand of the king's with sword in one hand and pen in the +other, but I daresay I did better, and fared less roughly, than +would one who could not speak to the British freemen in their own +tongue. At least, if a man was sullen when I came to him, he was, +as a rule, pretty friendly when I left, for he knew that no harm +was meant him, and that to be on this roll meant that on his lands +he was to bide in peace. + +And I may not forget that Evan helped me greatly in the matter, for +he knew almost all of the best freemen. + +When the walls were strong, in the midst of the new fortress they +built a good house for Ina, and we thought that he meant to live +here at times, for he had it fully furnished, even to the rushes on +the floor, after Easter. By that time I had leisure to spend the +holy season with the court at Glastonbury, for there was peace +everywhere. And there I had a visit from Thorgils, who brought good +news from across the sea. He had made his first voyage of the year, +and had seen Owen, who was himself again, if yet weak. + +He had not written to me, but sent word by the Norseman that he did +but wait for me to come for him, if I might. If not he would come +alone; but it seemed to him that we should have to part when we +reached this side of the channel, for he must go to Gerent at once. + +Next day Ina and the queen must needs pass to Taunton to see the +place, for he said that when I might go for Owen depended on its +readiness. So we rode with but a small train, meaning, after seeing +the fortress, to go on to Petherton for the night, which was quite +a usual plan with the king nowadays, since all this building was on +hand. + +So we went round all the walls, and saw the new bridge across the +Tone River, and then went into the hall that stood, as I have said, +within the walls of the fortress itself. There all was ready for +the king, even to a fire on the hearth in the middle of the great +hall, which was fully as large as that at Glastonbury itself. I had +not seen this house of late, and now the king would have me go all +over it and tell him what I thought thereof. + +Indeed, there was nought to say of it but good, for it would be +hard to find one better planned in all Wessex, as I think, whether +in the house itself, or about the buildings that were set along its +walls without for the thralls and workshops, or in the stables and +other outhouses. It was indeed such a house as any thane would be +proud to hold as his home. + +Presently, therefore, after seeing all, the king and queen and I +stood by the hearth in the hall again, and Ina asked me my thoughts +of it. And I told him even as I have written, that all was well +done and completely. + +"Why, then," he said, "let me come and stay here now and then." + +I laughed at that. + +"I have heard, my King, of house-carles who led their masters, but +that is not our way. Where the king goes the household follows, in +Wessex." + +He laughed also, for a moment. + +"Long may it be so," he said. "Nevertheless, I think that I shall +have to be as a guest here now and then." + +Then Ethelburga smiled at my puzzled face, and spoke in her turn. + +"Why, Oswald, it seems to me that you are the only man in all +Wessex who does not know who is to live here." + +"It is always said that the king himself will make it one of his +palaces, lady," I answered. + +Then Ina set his hand on my shoulder, and made no more secret of +what he meant. + +"I want you to bide here, my Thane, and hold this unquiet land for +me. There is not one who can better rule it from this fortress for +me than yourself; and the house and all that is in it is yours, if +you will." + +Then for a moment came over me that same feeling of loneliness that +had kept me from taking Eastdean again, and with it there was the +thought that I was not able to take so great a charge on me. + +"How can I do this, my King?" I said, not knowing how to put into +words all that I felt. "I am not strong enough for such a post." + +"Nay," he said gravely. "It is said of me that I do not do things +hastily, and it is a true word enough, seeing that I know that I +often lose a chance by over caution, maybe. Answer me a question or +two fairly, and I think you will see that I may ask you to bide +here." + +Then he minded me that I alone of all his athelings knew this Welsh +tongue as if born thereto, and also that men knew me as the son of +Owen the prince, so that the Welsh would hardly hold me as a +stranger. That I had found out in these last months while I had +been numbering the freemen and their holdings; and as I went about +that business I had seen every one that was of any account, so that +already I knew all the land I had to rule better than any other. +That task, however, had been set me, as I know now, in preparation +for this post. + +I had no answer to make against all this concerning myself, for it +was true enough, but I did not speak at once. It did not follow +that I could rule as I should, even with all this to help me, and I +knew it. + +"What, is more needed?" Ina said. "Well, I at least have had a +letter from Owen by the hand of Thorgils yesterday. See what is +written in it." + +He set the writing in my hand, and turned away while I read it. It +was meant for my sight as well as his, for he had written to Owen +concerning this post for me. And after I had read it all I could +say no more, for Owen told how he would help me in all ways +possible, and also that he knew how Gerent himself would be more +content in knowing that no stranger was to be over the land he had +lost. + +So I gave the letter back to the king's hand, and said plainly: "I +think that I may not hold back from what you ask me, my King, after +all that Owen says. Nevertheless I--" + +"But I am certain that you will do well," said Ina. "Now I shall +miss my captain about the court, but I need him here. So you must +even stay. There is Owen on the west to help you keep the peace in +one way, and Herewald on the east to help you with the levies if +need be. Fear not, therefore. It is in my mind that you will have +an easier time here than any other I could have bethought me of, if +I had tried." + +Then, as in duty bound, I knelt and kissed the hand of the king in +token of homage, and he smiled at me contented. + +"You will be the first ealdorman of Devon, Oswald, when the Witan +meets," he said; for it needed the word of the council of the +thanes to give me the rank that was fitting. + +Then when I rose up and stood somewhat mazed with the suddenness of +it all, Ethelburga the queen, who had stood by smiling at me now +and then, said: "This is your hall, Oswald, remember. But it needs +one thing yet. You were wrong when you said it was complete." + +I looked round and saw nothing wanting, from the hangings on the +wall to the pile of skins on the high place seats. + +"There are the pegs for the arms of the house-carles," I said, "but +no arms thereon yet. That will soon be mended. And I have to set up +a head or two of game, to make all homely, maybe?" + +"More than that, Oswald," she said, laughing. "Strange how dense a +man can be! It is a mistress who is needed. Else the women of Devon +will have no friend at court." + +I laughed, a little foolishly, perhaps, not having any answer at +all, and Ina smiled and went out into the court by himself, saying +that he would not meddle with such matters. So I was left to the +queen by the hearth. + +"Jesting apart, Oswald," she said, "I had hoped that vow of yours +would have led to somewhat, and whose fault it was that nought came +of it I do not know. However, no harm seems to have been done, and +that may pass, though indeed Elfrida was a favourite of mine. But +see to it that next time you are no laggard. Now, when are you +going to Dyfed?" + +Then I suppose my face told some tale against me, for the queen +laughed softly. + +"Soon, Oswald?" + +I could not pretend to misunderstand her then, but when it was put +to me so plainly it did not seem to me all so certain that my suit +would fare better than my vow. I had no fear once that the last +would not have been welcome, and was mistaken enough. Now, perhaps +because I was in real earnest, I did doubt altogether. + +"What, do you fear that there is no favour for you, my Thane?" +Ethelburga said, with a smile lingering round the corners of her +mouth. + +"I do not see how there can be," I answered. "I am not worthy. It +is one thing for the princess to be friendly with me, and another +for her to suffer me to look so high." + +I spoke plainly to the queen, as I was ever wont since I was a +child in her train and she the kindly lady to whose hand I looked +for all things, and from whom all my earlier happinesses had come. +She was ever the same, and I know well that her name will be +remembered as one of our best hereafter. It was almost therefore as +mother to son that she spoke to me, rather than as mistress to +servant. + +"But you had no doubts at all concerning Elfrida." + +"That was foolishness, my Queen, and I see it now. This is +different altogether." + +"I know it, and it was my fault in a way. Still, you were then but +the landless house-carle captain, and yet you dared to look up to +the daughter of the ealdorman. Now you are the Thane of Taunton, +and to be the first ealdorman of Saxon Devon, with house and riches +at your back, moreover. And she of whom you think is but the +daughter of a Welsh princelet." + +"Nay, my Queen, but she is Nona." + +"Go your ways, Oswald," the queen said, laughing--"of a surety you +are in earnest this time. Nay, but I will jest no more, and will +wish you all speed to Pembroke. If there is no welcome, and more, +for you there, I am mistaken, for you deserve all you wish." + +So we spoke no more, but joined the king. Presently, when I came to +think of what the queen had said of my changed rank and all that, I +saw that she was right, and it heartened me somewhat. Not that I +thought it would make any difference to Nona, but that it surely +must to Howel, which was a great matter after all. + +In a week Ina gathered the Witan of Somerset here to Taunton, first +that the last stone of the fortress should be laid with all +solemnity and due rites, even as the foundation had been laid with +the blessing of Holy Church on it, and then that he might take +counsel for the holding of the new land. Then in full Witan I did +homage and took the oaths that were fitting, and so the king girt +my sword on me afresh as I sat at the foot of his throne as the +first ealdorman of Devon; and the Witan confirmed his choice, also +making sure to me all dues that should come to the man who held the +rank. They seemed well satisfied with the king's choice of me, and +that was a good thing, for I will say that I had somewhat feared +jealousy here and there. I do not think that their approval was due +to any special merit of my own at all, but it was plain that I +stood in a halfway place, as it were, between the two courts in a +way that was in itself enough to make the choice good policy. + +After that Ina bade me go to Dyfed, while he was yet in the west, +and would set all things in train for me, choosing my house-carles, +and setting such men as I could work well with in places of trust +in the land. There was much for the king to do yet. + +"Therefore take what time you will, Oswald," he said kindly. "You +will be busy enough when you come back, and I can trust you not to +overstay your time. If Owen can come to speak with me bring him, +but that is doubtful yet." + +One may suppose that I did not delay then. I sent Evan to Thorgils, +and asked him to give me a passage over, and so had a fortnight to +wait for him, as he was on his way from some voyage westward at the +time. Then a fair summer sailing and a welcome from the Danefolk at +Tenby, where we put in rather than make for the long tidal waters +of Milford Haven against a southwest breeze. + +There the Danes must needs set themselves in array in all holiday +gear that I might ride to Pembroke as a prince's foster son, with a +better following than Evan and my half-dozen house-carles, and I +rode with fifty men after me, so that the guard at the palace gates +might have thought that Ina himself had come to see Owen, and there +was bustle of welcome enough. + +And so there were wonderful greetings for me, from Owen first, and +afterward from Howel and from Nona, and I will not say much of +them. If one knows what it is to see a father whom one had left +weak and ill, strong and well and fully himself again; if one has +met a good friend after absence; if one knows what it may be to see +again the one who is dearest in thought, there is no need for me to +try and tell the greeting, and if not, I could not make it +understood. Let it be therefore. It was all that I looked for, and +I was more than content. + +And yet, for all that, it was a long week before I dared to tell +Nona that which I would, and how I did so is another thing that I +cannot set down. Maybe all that I need say is that I need not have +feared, and that the new hall at Taunton waited for its mistress +from that hour forward. + +And so at length I knew that I must be away, and I rode to Tenby to +see Thorgils, and found him in the haven, begrimed and happy, with +men and boys round him at work on the ship everywhere, painting and +scraping in such wise that I hardly knew her. From stem to stern +she was bright green instead of her sea-stained rusty black, and a +broad gilt band ran along her side below the oar ports. A great red +and gold dragon from one of the warships of the Danes reared its +crest on the stem head, while its tail curved in red and gold over +the stern post, and even the mast was painted in red and white +bands, and had a new gilt dog vane at its head. + +"Here is finery, comrade," I said. "What is the meaning thereof?" + +"Well, if you know not, no man knows. I have a new coat for +tomorrow's wedding, and it is only fit that the ship that takes +home the bride should have one also. Wherefore the old craft will +be somewhat to sing about by the time I have done with her." + +Then he showed me a new red-striped sail that Eric had given him, +and an awning for the after deck which the women of the town had +wrought for the shelter of the princess whom they loved. It seemed +like a good speeding to Nona and to me. + +And so it was at the end of a fortnight thereafter. It would be +long to tell of the morrow's wedding, and then of days at Pembroke +before we sailed, passed all too quickly for me. But at last we +stood with Owen on the deck of the good ship while all the shore +buzzed with folk, Welsh and Danish alike, who watched us pass from +Dyfed to the Devon coast, cheering and waving with mighty goodwill, +and only Howel seemed lonely as he sat on his white horse, still +and yet smiling, with his men round him, where the cliff looks over +the inner harbour, to see the last for many days of the daughter he +had trusted to my keeping. + +We cleared the harbour, and then where she had been lying under the +island flew toward us under thirty oars the best longship that Eric +owned, for it was his word that as the Danes had seen me into +Pembroke by land, so they would see Nona from the shore with a +king's following by sea, and that was well done indeed. The old +chief himself was steering in full arms, and all the rowers were in +their mail and helms, flashing and sparkling wondrously in the sun +as they swung in time to the rowing song as they came. And all down +the gangway amidships between the rowers stood the armed men who +should take their places when their turn came, full sixty warriors, +well armed and mail clad as if they had need to guard us across the +sea. + +I suppose that there is no more wonderful sight than such a ship as +this, fresh from her winter quarters, and with her full crew of +three men to an oar in all array for war, and Owen and I gazed at +her in all delight. As for my princess, she had more thought for +the kindliness of the chief in thus troubling himself and his men, +I think, for she could not know the pleasure it gave each man of +the Danes to feel his arms on him and the good ship swinging under +him again after long months ashore. + +"There is another ship in the offing," I said to Thorgils +presently, when we, with the Dane just astern of us, were some five +miles from land and had ceased to look back to Tenby. Nona had gone +into the cabin away from the wind, which came a little chill from +the east on the open sea, and maybe also that she felt the chill of +parting from her father more than she would have us know. + +"Ay," he said, looking at the far vessel under his hand, "I do not +make out what she is--but if she is a trader--well, our Danes are +likely to get some reward for their trouble. They will not have +come out for nothing." + +I laughed, for any trader in the Severn sea knew that he must be +ready to pay more than harbour dues if he had the ill luck to meet +with the Danes. They would make him pay for freedom, but would not +harm him unless he was foolish enough to fight. + +So we held on, and the strange sail, which was seemingly beating up +channel against the wind, put about and headed for us somewhat +sooner than Thorgils expected. + +"She is making mighty short boards," he said. "She should surely +have headed over to the coast yet awhile. Would have fetched a bit +of a breeze off the land there, maybe." + +Thorgils watched this vessel curiously, for there were things about +her which seemed to puzzle him. The men, too, were beginning to +talk of her and watch her. And presently I saw that our consort, +the Dane, had slackened her speed, so that there was a mile of +water between us astern. + +"Oh ay," said Thorgils, as I spoke of this, "they mean to pick her +up when we have passed her. They can overhaul her as they like." + +Now we drew near to the strange ship, and it seemed to Owen and me, +as we stood side by side on the after deck beside Thorgils at the +helm, that we saw here and there among the men on her deck the +sparkle of arms as she lifted and swayed to the waves. She was a +long black ship, not like the Dane at all, and her sail was three +cornered on a long tapering yard, quite unlike ours, which was +square. Thorgils said that she was a trader from the far south, a +foreigner, even from so far as Spain, though why she was here he +could not tell. Mostly such never came round the Land's End. + +"She wants to speak with us," he said presently. "I suppose she has +lost herself in strange waters." + +The vessel was right across our bows now, some half mile away, and +her tall sail was flapping in the wind as she hove to. Thorgils put +the helm down so as to pass to windward of her, and as he did so +the sail of the stranger filled again, and she headed as if waiting +to sail with us for a while. Now we could see that many of her +crew, which did not seem large, were armed, and I thought little of +that, seeing that there were Danes about. But Thorgils waxed +silent, and sent a man to the masthead suddenly, for some reason +which was not plain to me. + +No sooner was the man there than he shouted somewhat in broad Norse +sea language, which made our skipper start and knit his brows. + +"How many?" he asked. + +"Like to herrings in a barrel.--More than I can tell," the masthead +man answered. + +Then Thorgils turned to us. + +"This is more than I can fully fathom," he said, leaning on the +helm a little, so that the ship edged up a trifle closer to the +wind steadily. "She has her weather gunwale packed with men, who +are hiding under it--armed men. On my word, it is well that Eric is +with us." + +Owen and I looked at one another. If I had been alone, or with him +only, I think I should have rejoiced in this seeming chance of a +fight at sea, but with Nona and her maidens on board there was a +sort of terror for me in what all this might mean. + +No honest vessel hid her men thus, and waited for the coming of two +strangers. + +"Get your arms on, prince and comrade," said Thorgils. "It is in my +mind that these are desperate folk of sorts. We are pranked up with +that dragon like any longship, and here is Eric astern of us, and +yet there is some look of fighting in the hiding of these men. Will +they face two of us, or what is it?" + +"We may not fight with the lady on board, Thorgils," Owen said +under his breath. "If so be we can get away from them we must. Yet +it will be the first time that Oswald and I have thought of +flying." + +"There is no merit in staying for a fight if there is need why one +should be out of it," Thorgils said. "See, she is going to try to +get to windward of us, and now will be a bit of a sailing match." + +Then he called one of the men, and he came aft and took a pole with +a round red board on its top from where it hung along the gunwale, +and, standing on the stern rail with his arm round the high stern +post, waved it slowly. He was signalling to Eric as Thorgils bade +him. + +The ship forged up into the wind closer and closer, and the spray +flew over her bows as she met the sea. But the strange vessel was +no less weatherly, and kept pace with us, and now Eric was bearing +down on us more or less, sailing a little more free than we, though +he also had to luff somewhat to keep near us, taking a long slant +across our course as we sailed now. + +I sent Evan for our arms, for the men were arming silently. They +were in the chests in the fore cabin where I had once been bound, +and Nona knew nought of possible trouble on hand. To keep her from +it altogether I went to the low door of her rude shelter before I +put on my mail, and looked in, telling her to keep the cabin closed +against the spray that was flying, and had a bright smile for my +thought. Then I went back to the deck and armed, and all the while +the two ships reached to windward, but even in that little time I +saw that the stranger had gained on us. The man was at work +signalling to Eric again. + +"We shall know if he means fighting in no long time," said Thorgils +to me. "If he does I think that he is going to be surprised." + +"How?" + +"Well, unless every man on board is clean witless they must deem us +both harmless. Maybe they have heard of a wedding party that is to +cross and are waiting for us. Otherwise it seems impossible that +they will face us and the Dane as well." + +Now Eric was back on his old tack, and passing astern of us. I saw +the glint of his oar blades, which had been run out from their +ports ready to take the water if need was presently. + +And then we knew that his help would be wanted. Suddenly the +strange ship's head flew up into the wind and she was round on the +other tack, paying off wonderfully quickly; and as she did so, from +under her gunwale, where they could be hidden no longer, rose the +armed men, seeming to crowd her deck in a moment. She was full of +them from stem to stern, and our men shouted. She had won well to +windward of us. + +But Thorgils had known what was coming, and had kept his quick eye +on the helmsman of the stranger. Even as her helm went down for the +luff his went up and the men sprang to the sheets, and we were +tearing across her bows even as her sail filled on the new tack, +and heading away lift by lift toward Eric. And Eric hove to to meet +us, and his sail fell and his oars flashed out and took the water, +and he made for us like the sea dragon his ship seemed. + +"Down with you men under cover!" roared Thorgils. "Arrows, +comrade!--Down with you!" + +The strange ship was only a bow shot from us, if a long one yet, +but she was overhauling us apace. + +I saw her men forward bending their bows, and the Norsemen of our +crew came aft with my men under the break of the deck on which we +stood, where they were in cover. Evan ran to me with his shield up. + +"Evan," I cried, "shield Thorgils." And I set myself before Owen +with my own shield raised to cover him, and he laughed at me +grimly. + +He set his own alongside mine, and we three stood covering +Thorgils. The Norseman's face was set and watchful, but his blue +eyes danced under the knit brows, and I do believe that he was +enjoying the sport. + +Ay, and so would I but for her who was so close to me. It was the +first time I had known aught but joy in battle, and what all my +strange new thoughts were I cannot say. I would not pass through +that time again for worlds. + +Then the first arrow fled from the enemy toward us, falling short +by a yard or two, and at that there came one who looked like a +chief, and stood on the high bows and hailed us in Welsh. + +At sight of him Evan cried out, and Owen started. + +"Daffyd of Carnbre, Morfed's kinsman," Owen said to me quietly. +"This is the last of the crew who followed Morgan." + +"Likewise the last of Daffyd," Thorgils growled grimly. "Look!" + +But I could not. Now the arrow storm swept on us, and all the air +seemed dark with shafts which dimpled the sea like a hailstorm, and +clanged on our shields and smote the decks with a sharp click from +end to end of the vessel. Even at that time I saw that some of the +arrows were British, but more of some outland make with cruelly +barbed heads. One or two went near my helm, and I had several in my +shield, but none of us were hurt. + +I had to watch them for the sake of Thorgils, who was unmailed, and +I could not look where he pointed ahead of us. + +Then of a sudden the arrows ceased to rain on us, and there went a +cry as of terror from the decks of our enemy. The wild war song of +the Tenby Danes rose ahead of us, and I turned and looked. Eric was +close on us, and his men had risen from under the gunwales, where +they too had been hiding until the foe was in their grasp, and now +the dragon was on her prey, and that prey knew it. And yet Evan had +need to shield me as I turned, for the chief whom they called +Daffyd was urging his men to shoot, and himself snatched a bow and +loosed an arrow at us harmlessly. + +It was wonderful. Under the sweep of the thirty long oars the +dragon ship tore past us, hurling the white foam from her sharp +bows, while the thunder of war song and breaking wave and rolling +oars filled my ears and set our men leaping and cheering as they +saw her. Eric was on the high forecastle, and he waved his broad +axe at us gleefully, and all along the decks the fighting men stood +above the armed rowers; one shielding the toiler, and one with bent +bow ready, steady as oaks on the reeling deck, and cheering us also +with lifted weapons. + +The foe saw, and her oars ran out too late. The dragon met her, and +thus, checking her speed as she passed her, swept her crowded deck +with arrows at half range; and yet the foe held on after us, for +the men of Daffyd and of Morgan were bent on ending Owen if they +themselves must die. The arrows were about us again, and Eric must +turn and be back to our help. It seemed that the foe would be on us +before that help could come. + +I did not know the handiness of the longship under oars. She was +about even as I looked again from the foe to her. And her sail was +hoisted, and under that and oars alike she was back on the foe; and +then the men of Daffyd forgot him and us in the greater business of +caring for themselves, and left him raving on the foredeck, to seek +shelter while they might. + +Then I suppose the helmsman was shot, for the ship luffed +helplessly, and in a moment the stem of the viking was crashing on +her quarter, and the grappling irons were fast to her. Thorgils +laughed and luffed at once. + +"Somewhat to sing of," he said cheerfully, as he hove to to watch +the fight. + +That it was in all truth. We were but a bow shot off, and could see +it all. We heard the ships grinding together, and we heard the +shout of the Danes and the outland yells of the Welsh, and we saw +the vikings swarming on board while the axes flashed and the war +song rose again. + +"Eric has a mind to pay them for nigh spoiling a wedding voyage," +quoth our Norseman. + +It was no long fight, for I suppose that there are men of no race +who can stand before the Northmen at sea, at least since we have +forgotten the old ship craft of our forefathers. From stem to stern +Eric led his men, sweeping all before him, some foemen even leaping +overboard out of the way of the terrible axes, and so meeting +another death. I think that the Welsh chief Daffyd was the last to +fall before old Eric himself. And then was a great cheer from the +two ships, and after it silence. + +Then Eric hailed us, and Thorgils ran out his oars, and we went +alongside the Danish ship. And at that time Nona came from the +cabin, and called me, looking wonderingly at the arrows that +littered the deck at her feet. + +"Oswald, what is it all?--Do the good Danes leave us?" + +Then she saw my mail, and paled a little. + +"Fighting! and I not with you?" she cried. "Is any one hurt?" + +But I went to her side and told her how things had gone, asking her +to bide in the shelter yet, for we had things to see that were not +for her. And so she went back again and closed the door, being +assured that the danger had passed. + +We went on board the Danish ship, for there was not enough sea to +prevent our lying gunwale to gunwale for a moment. Both Owen and I +would find out if possible how all this came about. There was a row +of captives on the deck of the enemy waiting question, and I looked +down on them from beside Eric. + +Swarthy men and black haired they were, speaking no tongue which we +knew, and one of them was black as his hair. I had never seen a +black man before, and he seemed uncanny. The Danes were staring at +him also, and he was grinning at them with white teeth through +thick lips in all unconcern. Many of these men had chains on their +legs, and this black among them. + +"Chained to the oar benches they were, poor thralls," Eric said. +"We could not bide that, so we cut them free. Then they fell on +their lords and rent them." + +Owen shuddered. He had seen the southern galleys before, and knew +why no man was left alive of the foreigners who had fought. Our kin +do not slay the wounded. But there were some Britons left among the +captives, and one of them cried to Owen by name for mercy. + +We had that man on board the Dane and questioned him, and learnt +all. He had no reason to hide aught when he was promised safety. + +Daffyd had heard that we were to cross from Tenby, having had all +the doings of Owen spied upon since the winter. Then he learned +that when I came over Owen was to return, and therefore he had my +doings watched also. He hired this foreign ship in Marazion, where +she put in for trade just as he was wondering how to compass our +end on the journey, promising her fierce crew gold of his own and +all plunder there might be, if they would help him to an easy +revenge. So they came into the Severn sea, and lay for a fortnight +or more under Lundy Island, watching for us as a cat watches for a +mouse, and getting news now and then from Welsh fishers from +Milford Haven. + +It was from them that Daffyd learned of my wedding, and so it came +to pass that neither he nor the strangers thought for a moment that +our two ships held aught but passengers and much plunder, with a +princess to hold to ransom, moreover, for the taking. They took no +account of the few house-carles we might have with us, and even I +knew nought of the crossing of the armed Danish ship with us, which +was planned so that it came as a pleasant surprise to us all. +Thorgils was right, and it had been a terrible one for them. + +So the plunder fell to Eric, and it was worth having. There was the +ship and arms and captives, and the gold of Daffyd, and that of the +traders, moreover, with some strange and precious woven goods from +southern looms, silken and woollen, which yet remained in the hold, +wondrous to look on. + +Now, in halting words enough I went to thank Eric and his men for +that which he had done for me and mine, which indeed was more than +I knew how to put into words. + +"Hold on, comrade," he said, staying me. "I will tell you somewhat. +Good friends enough we are with Howel nowadays, but it was not +always so. It was the doing of your fair princess that things came +not to blows between us at one time, for we held that he was +unreasonable in some matter of scatt {iv} to be paid. She +settled that matter for us with wise words, and we hold that to her +we owe it that we are in Tenby today. Howel could starve us out any +time he chose. And that the prince will own to you if you ask him, +being an honest man, if hasty. We shall miss Nona the princess +sorely--good luck to her." + +Then he must needs have all the bales of rich goods set on board +our ship, as a wedding present to Nona, and so set a crew on board +the prize, and she left us, heading homewards to Tenby. We went +back to our own ship at once after this was done, but Eric would +see us safely to Watchet before he was satisfied, and so we took up +the quiet passage again, little harmed enough. Eric had a few +wounded men, but we had not suffered from the arrows. + +Presently the stars came out, and Nona and I sat with Owen under +the awning in the quiet of the calm sea, while the men rowed under +the shadow of the sail that held a little wind enough to help them +homeward, and we went over all the things that the day had brought +us. And Owen said: + +"Now you may be at rest concerning me, Oswald, for there is not one +left to lift a hand against me of whom I need think twice. Daffyd +was the last of the crew to which Morgan and Tregoz and Dunwal +belonged, for Gerent has the rest in ward safely; and there they +will bide, if I know aught of him, until I have to beg him to set +them free beyond the shores of Cornwall." + +I will say now that this was true, for thence forward no man lifted +hand or voice against my foster father. The war and its hopeless +ending quieted the men whom Morfed had led, and there was peace, in +which men turned to Owen as the one who could keep it, and had +given wise counsel which was once disregarded. + +So it came to pass that I took home Nona with me, and set her as +princess in the hall at Taunton amid the rejoicing of all the Welsh +folk who were under me; for, as Ethelburga the queen had said, they +knew that they had a friend in her. And here we have bided ever +since, and are happy in home and friends and work, for all seems to +have gone well with us. And as to those good friends of ours, there +may yet be a little to tell before I set the pen aside. + +Owen passed to Exeter at the time we came home, for he would see +his uncle before he went to speak with Ina. But presently he was +back with us at Taunton, bearing with him a wondrous present for +the bride from Gerent, and good and friendly words for me which +promised well for the peace of the border, at least while he lived. +And seeing that he lives yet, with Owen at his right hand, that has +been a long time. + +Now Owen comes and goes, and none think it strange that he is most +friendly with Ina, for men have learnt that in the peace of the two +realms is happiness. + +Presently Jago came back to Norton, for I needed some British +adviser at hand, for Evan, faithful and well trusted as he is as +our honest steward, and able to tell me of the needs of the people, +knows nought of the greater laws and ways, and Herewald minded me +of him. They had ever been good friends, and I could fully trust +him. So he rebuilt his house at Norton, where the land lay waste +round the old Roman walls which our Saxons hate, and there he is +now, helping me mightily with his knowledge of the Welsh customs, +which I do not wish to interfere with more than needful. + +For, in the wisdom of Ina, we did not follow the old plan of +driving out and enslaving all the Welsh folk in this new-won land, +as had been the rule in the days of the first coming of our +forefathers when Saxons were few. Those manors whose owners had +fallen or would not bide under the new rule, Ina gave to thanes of +his own, and the men of Somerset and Dorset took what land they +would where the freeman had left them, but all others he left under +new and even-handed laws in peace. + +So I had to content the men of both races as well as I could, and +men say that I wrought well. At least, I have had no murmuring, and +I may deem that they are right. + +As one may suppose, there is no more welcome guest in our hall than +Thorgils, and at times he brings Eric or some other Tenby Dane with +him if a ship happens to cross hither. Once a year also he brings +Howel, and there is feasting in our hall, Saxon and Norseman, +Briton of the west and Briton from over sea together in all good +fellowship. + +One evening it came to pass that Thorgils sat in our hall, which +was bright with the strange stuffs that came from the ship of +Daffyd, and we talked of the old ship a little, after he had sung +to us. And then I said idly: + +"She must be getting old, comrade. When am I to give you that new +craft we once spoke of?" + +Whereon he looked at Nona suddenly, and said: + +"I mind that old promise. But now there is a ship of another sort +that will be a better present. I will ask for that." + +"What is it?" + +"Build us a church at Watchet, and set there a priest who shall +teach us the way of the Christian. We have seen you forego a blood +feud and do well to the innocent man whom our faith would have +bidden you slay, and it is good. We know you for a brave warrior, +and your faith has not taken the might from your heart as we were +told it must. Only let the priest be a Saxon." + +Then he added, as if thinking aloud: + +"Ay, Odin and Thor and the rest of the Asir are far off from us +here. Our old faith falls from us, and we are ready for the new. +Let it be soon." + +There I think that the hand of Nona wrought, for the Norse folk +fairly worshipped her. So it was not long before that good friend +of mine, the Abbot of Glastonbury, found me the right man, and one +day thereafter Nona and I stood sponsors for Thorgils and one or +two more whom we knew well, at the font in the new church which the +gold of Mordred built instead of the ship, and soon all the little +town was Christian in more than name. + +There is happiness at Eastdean, and we meet with Erpwald and +Elfrida at the house of her father now and then, and they have been +here also. But I have never had time to go to Eastdean again, +though it is a promise that we will do so when we may. + +It is the word of Ina my master that all things go well where I +bear rule for him, and I fear little blame, if little praise may be +for me, when Owen comes to us from time to time. If there is any +praise, it is due to my fair British princess, who is my best +adviser in all things. + +So there is peace; and some day, and that no distant one, there +will grow up here a new race in the west, wrought of the blood of +Saxon and Briton and Norseman; and the men of that Devon and +Somerset that shall be, will have the doggedness of the Saxon and +the fire of the Welsh and the boldness of the Norse, to be first of +all England, maybe, in peace and in war, on shore and at sea. And +that will have been brought to pass by the wisdom of Ina, whose +even laws are held the wisest that the race of Hengist has ever +known. + +It is in my mind that the lesson of the wisdom of equal rights for +all men, whether conquered or conqueror, is one that will bide with +us in the days to come, and be our pride. + +Now it seems that I have told my story so far as any will care to +hear it. But if there has been aught worth telling it has centered +round that one who took me from the jaws of the wild wolf in the +Andredsweald. First in my heart, and first in the hearts of his +people now at last, must be set the name of my foster father, +Owen--the Prince of Cornwall. + +THE END. + + + +NOTES. + + +i The national weapon. A heavy blade between sword and dagger, +with curved back and straight edge, fitted for almost any use. + +ii The fine to be paid in amends for an open "manslaying" in +quarrel or feud. + +iii The ancient Welsh province now represented by the county of +Glarnorgan. + +iv Tribute due to an overlord by the settlers. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Prince of Cornwall, by Charles W. Whistler + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13315 *** diff --git a/13315-h/13315-h.htm b/13315-h/13315-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3aac16b --- /dev/null +++ b/13315-h/13315-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10006 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<title>A Prince of Cornwall</title> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13315 ***</div> + +<h1>A PRINCE OF CORNWALL:</h1> +<p>A Story of Glastonbury and the West in the Days of Ina of +Wessex;<br> +by Charles W. Whistler.</p> +<h3><a href="#PREFACE">PREFACE</a>.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a>. HOW OWEN OF CORNWALL +WANDERED TO SUSSEX, AND WHY HE BIDED THERE.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a>. HOW ALDRED THE THANE KEPT +HIS FAITH, AND OWEN FLED WITH OSWALD.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a>. HOW KING INA'S FEAST +WAS MARRED, AND OF A VOW TAKEN BY OSWALD.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a>. HOW THE LADY ELFRIDA +SPOKE WITH OSWALD, AND OF THE MEETING WITH GERENT.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a>. HOW OSWALD FELL INTO BAD +HANDS, AND FARED EVILLY, ON THE QUANTOCKS.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a>. HOW OSWALD HAD AN UNEASY +VOYAGE AND A PERILOUS LANDING AT ITS END.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a>. HOW OSWALD CROSSED THE +DYFED CLIFFS, AND MET WITH FRIENDS.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a>. HOW OSWALD LOST A +HUNT, AND FOUND SOMEWHAT STRANGE IN CAERAU WOODS.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a>. WHY IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR +OWEN TO SLEEP IN THE MOONLIGHT.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a>. HOW THE EASTDEAN MANORS AND +SOMEWHAT MORE PASSED FROM OSWALD TO ERPWALD.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a>. HOW ERPWALD FELL FROM +CHEDDAR CLIFFS; AND OF ANOTHER WARNING.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a>. OF THE MESSAGE BROUGHT +BY JAGO, AND A MEETING IN DARTMOOR.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a>. HOW OSWALD AND HOWEL +DARED THE SECRET OF THE MENHIR, AND MET A WIZARD.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a>. HOW OSWALD FOUND WHAT +HE SOUGHT, AND RODE HOMEWARD WITH NONA THE PRINCESS.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a>. HOW ERPWALD SAW HIS FIRST +FIGHT ON HIS WEDDING DAY.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a>. OF MATTERS OF RANSOM, +AND OF FORGIVENESS ASKED AND GRANTED.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a>. HOW OSWALD FOUND A +HOME, AND OF THE LAST PERIL OF OWEN THE PRINCE.</h3> +<h3><a href="#NOTES">NOTES</a>.</h3> +<h2><a name="PREFACE">PREFACE</a>.</h2> +<p>A few words of preface may save footnotes to a story which deals +with the half-forgotten days when the power of a British prince had +yet to be reckoned with by the Wessex kings as they slowly and +steadily pushed their frontier westward.</p> +<p>The authority for the historical basis of the story is the +Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which gives A.D. 710 as the year of the +defeat of Gerent, king of the West Welsh, by Ina of Wessex and his +kinsman Nunna. This date is therefore approximately that of the +events of the tale.</p> +<p>With regard to the topography of the Wessex frontier involved, +although it practically explains itself in the course of the story, +it may be as well to remind a reader that West Wales was the last +British kingdom south of the Severn Sea, the name being, of course, +given by Wessex men to distinguish it from the Welsh principalities +in what we now call Wales, to their north. In the days of Ina it +comprised Cornwall and the present Devon and also the half of +Somerset westward of the north and south line of the river Parrett +and Quantock Hills. Practically this old British "Dyvnaint" +represented the ancient Roman province of Damnonia, shrinking as it +was under successive advances of the Saxons from the boundary which +it once had along the Mendips and Selwood Forest. Ina's victory +over Gerent set the Dyvnaint frontier yet westward, to the line of +the present county of Somerset, which represents the limit of his +conquest, the new addition to the territory of the clan of the +Sumorsaetas long being named as "Devon in Wessex" by the +chroniclers rather than as Somerset.</p> +<p>The terms "Devon" or "Dyvnaint," as they are respectively used +by Saxon or Briton in the course of the story, will therefore be +understood to imply the ancient territory before its limitation by +the boundaries of the modern counties, which practically took their +rise from the wars of Ina.</p> +<p>With regard to names, I have not thought it worth while to use +the archaic, if more correct, forms for those of well-known places. +It seems unnecessary to write, for instance, "Glaestingabyrig" for +Glastonbury, or "Penbroch" for Pembroke. I have treated proper +names in the same way, keeping, for example, the more familiar +latinised "Ina" rather than the Saxon "Ine," as being more nearly +the correct pronunciation than might otherwise be used without the +hint given by a footnote.</p> +<p>The exact spot where Wessex and West Wales met in the battle +between Ina and Gerent is not certain, though it is known to have +been on the line of the hills to the west of the Parrett, and +possibly, according to an identification deduced from the Welsh +"Llywarch Hen," in the neighbourhood of Langport. Local tradition +and legend place a battle also at the ancient Roman fortress of +Norton Fitzwarren, which Ina certainly superseded by his own +stronghold at Taunton after the victory. As Nunna is named as +leader of the Saxons, together with the king himself, it seems most +likely that there were two columns acting against the Welsh advance +on the north and south of the Tone River, and that therefore there +were battles at each place. On the Blackdown Hills beyond Langport +a barrow was known until quite lately as "Noon's barrow," and it +would mark at least the line of flight of the Welsh; and if not the +burial place of the Saxon leader, who is supposed to have fallen, +must have been raised by him over his comrades.</p> +<p>The line taken by the story will not be far wrong, therefore, as +in any case the Blackdown and Quantock strongholds must have been +taken by the Saxons to guard against flank attacks, from whichever +side of the Tone the British advance was made.</p> +<p>The course of the story hangs to some extent on the influence of +the old feud between the British and Saxon Churches, which dated +from the days of Augustine and his attempt to compel the adoption +of Western customs by the followers of the Church which had its +rise from the East. There is no doubt that the death of the wise +and peacemaking Aldhelm of Sherborne let the smouldering enmity +loose afresh, with the result of setting Gerent in motion against +his powerful neighbour. Ina's victory was decisive, Gerent being +the last king of the West Welsh named in the chronicles, and we +hear of little further trouble from the West until A.D. 835, when +the Cornish joined with a new-come fleet of Danes in an +unsuccessful raid on Wessex.</p> +<p>Ina's new policy with the conquered Welsh is historic and well +known. Even in the will of King Alfred, two hundred years later, +some of the best towns in west Somerset and Dorset are spoken of as +"Among the Welsh kin," and there is yet full evidence, in both +dialect and physique, of strongly marked British descent among the +population west of the Parrett.</p> +<p>There is growing evidence that very early settlements of +Northmen, either Norse or Danish, or both, contemporary with the +well-known occupation of towns, and even districts, on the opposite +shores of South Wales, existed on the northern coast of Somerset +and Devon. Both races are named by the Welsh and Irish chroniclers +in their accounts of the expulsion of these settlers from Wales in +A.D. 795, and the name of the old west country port of Watchet +being claimed as of Norse origin, I have not hesitated to place the +Norsemen there.</p> +<p>Owen and Oswald, Howel and Thorgils, and those others of their +friends and foes beyond the few whose names have already been +mentioned as given in the chronicles, are of course only historic +in so far as they may find their counterparts in the men of the +older records of our forefathers. If I have too early or late +introduced Govan the hermit, whose rock-hewn cell yet remains near +the old Danish landing place on the wild Pembrokeshire coast +between Tenby and the mouth of Milford Haven, perhaps I may be +forgiven. I have not been able to verify his date, but a saint is +of all time, and if Govan himself had passed thence, one would +surely have taken his place to welcome a wanderer in the way and in +the name of the man who made the refuge.</p> +<p>CHAS. W. WHISTLER.</p> +<p>STOCKLAND, 1904.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a>. HOW OWEN OF CORNWALL +WANDERED TO SUSSEX, AND WHY HE BIDED THERE.</h2> +<p>The title which stands at the head of this story is not my own. +It belongs to one whose name must come very often into that which I +have to tell, for it is through him that I am what I may be, and it +is because of him that there is anything worth telling of my doings +at all. Hereafter it will be seen, as I think, that I could do no +less than set his name in the first place in some way, if indeed +the story must be mostly concerning myself. Maybe it will seem +strange that I, a South Saxon of the line of Ella, had aught at all +to do with a West Welshman--a Cornishman, that is--of the race and +line of Arthur, in the days when the yet unforgotten hatred between +our peoples was at its highest; and so it was in truth, at first. +Not so much so was it after the beginning, however. It would be +stranger yet if I were not at the very outset to own all that is +due from me to him. Lonely was I when he first came to me, and +lonely together, in a way, have he and I been for long years that +for me, at least, have had no unhappiness in them, for we have been +all to each other.</p> +<p>I have said that I was lonely when he first came to me, and I +must tell how that was. I suppose that the most lonesome place in +the world is the wide sea, and after that a bare hilltop; but next +to these in loneliness I would set the glades of a beech forest in +midwinter silence, when the snow lies deep on the ground under +boughs that are too stiff to rustle in the wind, and the birds are +dumb, and the ice has stilled the brooks. Set a lost child amid the +bare grey tree trunks of such a winter forest, in the dead silence +of a great frost, with no track near him but that which his own +random feet have made across the snow, and I think that there can +be nought lonelier than he to be thought of: and in the depth of +the forest there is peril to the lonely.</p> +<p>I had no fear of the forest till that day when I was lost +therein, for the nearer glades round our village had been my +playground ever since I could remember, and before I knew that fear +therein might be. That was not so long a time, however, save that +the years of a child are long years; for at this time, when I first +learned the full wildness of the woods of the great Andredsweald +and knew what loneliness was, I was only ten years old. Since I +could run alone my old nurse had tried to fray me from wandering +out of sight of those who tended me, with tales of wolf and bear +and pixy, lest I should stray and be lost, but I had not heeded her +much. Maybe I had proved so many of her tales to be but pretence +that, as I began to think for myself, I deemed them all to be +so.</p> +<p>But now I was lost in the forest, and what had been a playground +was become a vast and desolate land for me, and all the things that +I had ever heard of what dangers lurked within it, came back to my +mind. I remembered that the grey wolf's skin on which I slept had +come hence, and I minded the calf that the pack had slain close to +the village a year ago, and I thought of the girl who went mazed +and useless about the place, having lost her wits through being +pixy led, as they said, long ago. The warnings seemed to me to be +true enough, now that all the old landmarks were lost to me, and +all the tracks were buried under the crisp snow. I did not know +when I had left the road from the village to the hilltop, or in +which direction it lay.</p> +<p>It was very silent in the aisles of the great beech trunks, for +the herds were in shelter. There was no sound of the swineherds' +horn, though the evening was coming on, and but for the frost it +was time for their charges to be taken homeward, and the woodmen's +axes were idle. Even the scream of some hawk high overhead had been +welcome to me, and the harsh cry of a jay that I scared was like +the voice of a friend.</p> +<p>It was the fault of none but myself that I was lost. I had +planned to go hunting alone in the woods while the old nurse, whose +care I was far beyond, slept after her midday meal before the fire. +So, over my warm woollen clothing I had donned the deerskin short +cloak that was made like my father's own hunting gear, and I had +taken my bow and arrows, and the little seax {<a name="EndNote1anc" +href="#EndNote1sym"><sup>i</sup></a>} that a thane's son may always +wear, and had crept away from the warm hall without a soul seeing +me. I had thought myself lucky in this, but by this time I began to +change my mind in all truth. Well it was for me that there was no +wind, so that I was spared the worst of the cold.</p> +<p>I went up the hill to the north of the village by the track +which the timber sleds make, climbing until I was on the crest, and +there I began to wander as the tracks of rabbit and squirrel led me +on. Sometimes I was set aside from the path by deep drifts that had +gathered in its hollows with the wind of yesterday, and so I left +it altogether in time. Overhead the sky was bright and clear as the +low sun of the month after Yule, the wolf month, can make it. I +wandered on for an hour or two without meeting with anything at +which to loose an arrow, and my ardour began to cool somewhat, so +that I thought of turning homewards. But then, what was to me a +wondrous quarry crossed my way as I stood for a moment on the edge +of a wide aisle of beech trees looking down it, and wondering if I +would not go even to its end and so return. Then at once the wild +longing for the chase woke again in me, and I forgot cold and time +and place and aught else in it.</p> +<p>Across the glade came slowly and lightly over the snow a great +red hare, looking against the white background bigger than any I +had ever set eyes on before. It paid no heed at all to me, even +when I raised my bow to set an arrow on the string with fingers +which trembled with eagerness and haste. Now and again it stopped +and seemed to listen for somewhat, and then loped on again and +stopped, seeming hardly to know which way it wished to go. Now it +came toward me, and then across, and yet again went from me, and +all as if I were not there.</p> +<p>It was thirty paces from me when I shot, and I was a fair +marksman, for a boy, at fifty paces. However, the arrow skimmed +just over its back, and it crouched for a second as it heard the +whistle of the feathers, and then leapt aside and on again in the +same way. But now it crossed the glade and passed behind some trees +before I was ready with a second arrow, and I ran forward to +recover the first, which was in the snow where it struck, hoping +thence to see the hare again.</p> +<p>When I turned with the arrow in my hand I saw what made the hare +pay no heed to me. There was a more terrible enemy than even man on +its track. Sniffing at my footprints where they had just crossed +those of the hare was a stoat, long and lithe and cruel. I knew it +would not leave its quarry until it had it fast by the throat, and +the hare knew it also by some instinct that is not to be fathomed, +for I suppose that no hare, save by the merest chance, ever escaped +that pursuer. The creature seemed puzzled by my footprint, and sat +up, turning its sharp eyes right and left until it spied me; but +when it did so it was not feared of me, but took up the trail of +the hare again. And by that time I was ready, and my hand was +steady, and the shaft sped and smote it fairly, and the hare's one +chance had come to it. I sprang forward with the whoop of the Saxon +hunter, and took up and admired my prey, not heeding its scent at +all. It was in good condition, and I would get Stuf, the +house-carle, who was a sworn ally of mine, to make me a pouch of +it, I thought.</p> +<p>I mind that this was the third wild thing that I had slain. One +of the others was a squirrel who stayed motionless on a bough to +stare at me, in summer time, and the second was a rabbit which Stuf +had shown me in its seat. This was quite a different business, and +I was proud of my skill with some little reason. I should have some +real wild hunting to talk of over the fire tonight.</p> +<p>Then I must follow up the hare, of course, and I thrust the long +body of the stoat through my girdle, so that its head hung one way +and its tail the other, and took up the trail of the hare where my +prey had left it. Now, I cannot tell how the mazed creature learned +that its worst foe was no longer after it, but so it must have +been, else it had circled slowly in lessening rings until the stoat +had it, and presently it would have begun to scream dolefully. But +I only saw it once again, and then it seemed to be listening at +longer spaces. Yet it took me a long way before it suddenly fled +altogether, as its footmarks told me. A forest-bred lad learns +those signs soon enough, if he is about with the woodmen in snow +time.</p> +<p>Then I turned to make my way home, following my own track for a +little way. That was crooked, and I went to take a straighter path, +and after that I was fairly lost.</p> +<p>Yet I held on, hoping every minute to come into some known glade +or sight, some familiar landmark, before the sun set. But I found +nought but new trees, and new views over unknown white country all +round me as I turned my steps hither and thither as one mark after +another drew me. Then the sun set and the short day was over, and +the grey twilight of snow weather came after the passing of the +warm red glow from the west, shadowless and still.</p> +<p>That was about the time when I was missed at home, for my father +came back from Chichester town, and straightway asked for me. And +when I came not for calling, nor yet for the short notes of the +horn which my father had always used to bring me to him, one ran +here and another there, seeking me in wonted places about the +village, until one minded that he had seen a boy, who must have +been myself, go up the hill track forestwards.</p> +<p>Then was fear enough for me, seeing that from our village more +than one child has wandered forth thus and been seen no more, and I +was the only son of the long-widowed thane, and the last of the +ancient line that went back to Ella, and beyond him even to Woden. +So in half an hour there was not a man left in the village, and all +the woods and hillsides rang with their calls to me, while in the +hall itself bided only the old nurse, who wept and wailed by the +hearth, and my father, whose tall form came and went across the +doorway, restless; for he waited here lest he should miss my coming +homeward. Up the steep street of the village the wives stood in the +doorways silent, and forgetting their ailments for once in +listening for the cries that should tell that I was found. If they +spoke at all, they said that I should not be seen again, for the +cold had driven the wolves close to the villages.</p> +<p>But I was by this time far beyond the reach of friendly voices, +on the edge of the great hill that falls sheer down through many a +score feet of hanging woods and thicket to the Lavington valley far +below, and there at last I knew for certain that I was lost +utterly, for this place or its like I had never seen before. Then I +stayed my feet, bewildered, for the sun was gone, and I had nothing +to tell me in which direction I was heading, for at that time the +stars told me nought, though there were enough out now to direct +any man who was used to the night. When I stood still I found that +I was growing deadly cold, and the weariness that I had so far +staved off began to creep over me, so that I longed to sleep.</p> +<p>And I suppose that I should have done so, and thereby met my +death shortly, but for a thing that roused me in an instant, and +set the warm blood coursing through me again.</p> +<p>There came a rustling in the undergrowth of the hillside below +me, and that was the most homely sound that I had heard since the +wild geese flew over me seaward with swish and whistle of broad +wings and call that I knew well. The silence of the great brown +owls that circled swiftly over me now and then was uncanny.</p> +<p>The rustling drew nearer, and then out into the open place under +the tall bare tree trunks where I stood trotted a grey beast that +was surely a shepherd's dog, for he stayed and looked back and +whined a little as if his master must be waited for. I thought that +I could hear the cracking of more branches once farther down the +hill.</p> +<p>Then I called to the dog, knowing that he and the shepherd would +not be far apart, and at the call the dog turned quickly toward me +and leaped back a yard, cowering a little with drooping tail. So I +called him again, and more loudly.</p> +<p>"Hither, lad! Hither, good dog!"</p> +<p>But the beast backed yet more from me, and I saw the dull gleam +of yellow teeth and heard him snarl as he did so, and then he +growled fiercely, so that I thought him sorely ill-tempered. But I +had no fear of dogs, and I called him again cheerily, and at that +he sank on his haunches and set back his head and howled and yelled +as I had never heard any dog give tongue before. And presently from +a long way off I heard the like howls, as if all the dogs of some +village answered him, and I thought their tongue was strange +also.</p> +<p>Then came the shout of a man, even as I expected, and there was +the noise of one who tears his way through briers and brambles in +haste; but at that shout the dog turned and fled like a grey shadow +into the farther thickets, and was gone.</p> +<p>"Who calls?" one said loudly, and from the hillside climbed +hastily into the open a tall man, bearded and strong, and with a +pleasant-looking, anxious face. He was dressed in leather like our +shepherds, and like them carried but quarterstaff and seax for +weapons. I suppose that I was in some shadow, for at first he did +not see me.</p> +<p>"Surely I heard a child's voice," he said out loud--"or was it +some pixy playing with the grey beast of the wood?"</p> +<p>"Here I am," I cried, running to him; "take me home, shepherd, +for I think that I am lost."</p> +<p>He caught me up in haste, looking round him the while.</p> +<p>"Child," he said, "how came you here--and to what were you +calling?"</p> +<p>"I was calling your dog," I answered, "but he is not friendly. +Does he look for a beating? for he ran away yonder when he heard +you coming."</p> +<p>"Ay, sorely beaten will that dog be if he comes near me just +now," the man said grimly. "Never mind him, but tell me how you +came here, and where you belong."</p> +<p>So I told him that I was Oswald, the son of Aldred, the thane of +Eastdean, thinking, of course, that all men would know of us, and +so I bade him take me home quickly.</p> +<p>"I have been hunting," I said, showing him my unsavoury prey, +which by this time was frozen stiff in my belt. "Then I followed +the hare this was after, and I cannot tell how far I have +come."</p> +<p>All this while the man had me in his strong arms, and he had +looked at the track of the dog in the snow, and now was walking +swiftly from it, through the beech trees, looking up at their +branches as if wondering at the way the great trunks shot up smooth +and bare from the snow at their roots before they reached the first +forking, fathoms skyward.</p> +<p>"I am a stranger, Oswald, the thane's son," he said. "I do not +rightly know in which direction your home may lie."</p> +<p>I know now that he was himself as lost as I, but that he did not +tell me, for my sake. It is an easy thing for a stranger to go +astray in the Andredsweald. But I could not tell him more than that +I knew that I had left the sea always behind me so long as I knew +where it lay. So he turned southwards at once when he heard that, +and went on swiftly. Then I heard the howl of his dog again, and I +laughed, for the other howls that answered him were nearer.</p> +<p>"Listen, shepherd," I said. "Your dog is making his comrades +howl for him, and the beating that is to come.</p> +<p>"Are you cold?"</p> +<p>For he had shivered suddenly, and his pace quickened. He had +heard the howl of the single wolf that has found its quarry, and +calls the answering pack to follow. But he did not tell me of my +mistake.</p> +<p>"I am not cold overmuch," he answered. "Let us run and warm +me."</p> +<p>Then he ran until we came to the top of a hill whence the last +glimmer of the sea over Selsea was plain before him, and there I +asked him to set me down lest I tired him.</p> +<p>"Nay, but you keep me warm," he said. "Tell me, are there oak +trees as one goes seaward?"</p> +<p>"Ay, many and great ones in some places."</p> +<p>Then he ran down the hill, and the sway of his even stride +lulled me so that I dozed a little. I roused when he stayed +suddenly.</p> +<p>"Sit here, Oswald, for a moment, and fear nought while I rest +me," he said in a strange voice.</p> +<p>We were halfway up a long slope and among fresh trees. Then he +lifted me and set me on the curved arm of a great oak tree, some +eight feet from the ground, asking me if I was safe there. And when +I laughed and answered that I was, he set his back against the +trunk, and drew his heavy seax, putting his staff alongside him, +where he could reach it at once if it was needed. It was light +enough, with the clear frosty starlight on the snow.</p> +<p>Then I heard the swift patter of feet over the crisp surface, +and the grey beast came and halted suddenly not three yards from +us, and on his haunches he sat up and howled, and I heard the +answering yells in no long space of time coming whence we had come. +His eyes glowed green with a strange light of their own as he +stared at my friend, and for a moment I looked to see him come +fawning to his master's feet.</p> +<p>Suddenly he gathered himself together, and sprung silently at +the throat of the man who waited him, and there was a flash of the +keen steel, and a sound as of the cleaving of soft wood, and the +beast was in a twitching heap at the man's feet. I knew what it was +at last, yet I could say nothing. The wolf was quite dead, with its +head cleft.</p> +<p>Swiftly my friend hewed the great head from the trunk and tore +one of the leather cross garterings from his leg, and so leapt at a +branch which hung above him and pulled it down. Then he bound the +head to its end with the thong and let it go, so that it dangled a +fathom and a half above him, and then he lifted me from my place +and ran as I had not thought any man could run, until he stayed at +the brow of the hill for sheer want of breath.</p> +<p>Behind us at that moment rose the sound as of hungry dogs that +fight over the food in their kennels, and my friend laughed under +his breath strangely.</p> +<p>"That will be a wild dance beneath the tree anon," he said, as +if to himself.</p> +<p>Then he said to me, "Are you frayed, bairn?" as he ran on +again.</p> +<p>"No," I answered, "You can smite well, shepherd."</p> +<p>"Needs must, sometime," he said. "Now, little one, have you a +mother waiting you at home?"</p> +<p>"No. Only father and old nurse."</p> +<p>"Nor brother or sister?"</p> +<p>"None at all," I said.</p> +<p>"An only child, and his father lonely," the man said. "Well, I +will chance it while the trees last. The head will stay them +awhile, maybe."</p> +<p>Now he went swiftly across the rolling woodlands, and again I +slept in his arms, but uneasily and with a haunting fear in my +dreaming that I should wake to see the wild eyes of the wolf +glaring across the snow on us again. So it happens that all I know +of the rest of that flight from Woden's pack has been told me by +others, so that I can say little thereof.</p> +<p>The howls of the pack as they stayed to fall on the carcass of +their fellow, after their wont, died away behind us, and before +they were heard again my friend had come across a half-frozen +brook, and for a furlong or more had crashed and waded through its +ice and water that our trail might be lost in it. Then he lit on +the path that a sounder of wild swine had made through the snow on +either side of it as they crossed it, and that he followed, in +hopes that the foe would leave us to chase the more accustomed +quarry. From that he leapt aside presently with a wondrous leap and +struck off away from it. He would leave nothing untried, though +indeed by this time he had reason to think that the pack had lost +us at the brook, for he heard no more of them.</p> +<p>So at last he came within sound of some far-off shouts of those +who were seeking me, and he guessed well what those shouts meant, +and turned in their direction. Had he not heard them I do not know +what place of refuge, save the trees, he would have found that +night, for he was then passing across the valley that winds down to +our home.</p> +<p>So it happened that when at last he saw the red light from the +door of our hall gleaming across the snow, for it had been left +open that perchance I might see it, he was close to the place, and +he came into the courtyard inside the stockading without meeting +any one, for he came from the side on which the village is not.</p> +<p>There I woke as the house dogs barked, and at first it was with +a cry of fear lest the wolves were on us again; but the fear passed +as I saw my father come quickly into the light of the doorway, and +heard his voice as he stilled the dogs and cried to ask if the boy +was found.</p> +<p>"Ay, Thane, he is here, and safe," my friend answered, and he +set me down in the midst of the court, while the dogs leapt and +fawned round me.</p> +<p>Then I ran to the arms that were held out for me, forgetting for +the moment the one who had brought me back to them, and left him +standing there.</p> +<p>Then the man who had saved me turned after one long look at that +meeting, and I think that he was going his way in silence, content +with that he had done, but my father saw it and called to him:</p> +<p>"Friend, stay, for I have not thanked you, and I hold that there +is reward due to you for what you have brought back to me."</p> +<p>"It was a chance meeting, Thane, and I am glad to have been of +use. No need to speak of reward, for it is indeed enough to have +seen the boy home safely."</p> +<p>"Why, then," said my father, "I cannot have a stranger pass my +hall at this time in the evening, when it is too late to reach the +town in safety. Here you must at least lodge for the night, or +Eastdean will be shamed. Your voice tells me that you are a +stranger--but maybe you have your men waiting for you at hand? +There will be room for them also."</p> +<p>For there was that in the tones of the voice of this man which +told my father that here he had no common wanderer.</p> +<p>"I am alone," my friend said. "But your men seek the little one +even yet in the forest. Will you not call them in?"</p> +<p>My father looked at the man for a moment, and smiled.</p> +<p>"Ay, I forgot in my joy. They are well-nigh as anxious as I have +been."</p> +<p>Then he took down the great horn that hung by the door, and +wound the homing call that brings all within its hearing back to +the hall, and its hoarse echoes went across the silent woods until +it was answered by the other horns that passed on the message until +the last sounds came but faintly to us. I heard men cheering also, +for they knew by the token that all was well. My father had me in +his arms all this time, standing in the door.</p> +<p>"There would have been sorrow enough had he been lost indeed," +my father said. "He is the last of the old line, and the fathers of +those men whom you hear have followed his fathers since the days of +Ella. Come in, and they will thank you also. Where did you find +him?"</p> +<p>Then as he turned and went into the hall the light flashed red +on my jerkin suddenly, and he cried, "Here is blood on his +clothing!--Is he hurt?"</p> +<p>"No," I said stoutly; "maybe it is the blood of the stoat I +slew, or else it has come off the shepherd's sleeves. He hewed off +the wolf's head and hung it on the tree."</p> +<p>Then my father understood what my peril had been--even that +which he and all the village had feared for me, and his face paled, +and he held out his hand to the man, drawing in his breath +sharply.</p> +<p>"Woden!" he cried, "what is this, friend? Are you hurt, +yourself? For the wolf must be slain ere his head can be hefted, as +we say."</p> +<p>"No hurt to any but the wolf," the man said, smiling a little. +"We did but meet with one who called the pack on us. So I even hung +his head on a tree, that the pack when it came might stay to leap +at it. They were all we had to fear, and maybe that saved us."</p> +<p>"I marvel that you are not even now in the tree, yourself--with +the boy."</p> +<p>"Nay, but the frost is cruel, and he would have been sorely +feared with the leaping and howls of the beasts. There were always +trees at hand as we fled, if needs were to take to them. It was in +my mind that it were best to try to get him home, or near it."</p> +<p>Then said my father, gripping the hand that met his: "There is +more that I would say, but I cannot set thoughts into words well. +Only, I know that I have a man before me. Tell me your name, that +neither I nor the boy may ever forget it."</p> +<p>"Here, in the Saxon lands, men call me Owen the Briton," he +answered simply.</p> +<p>"I thought your voice had somewhat of the Welsh tone," my father +said. "And your English is of Mercia. I have heard that there are +Britons in the fenland there."</p> +<p>"I am of West Wales, Thane, but I have bided long in +Mercia."</p> +<p>Then came my old nurse, and there were words enough for the +time. Her eyes were red with weeping, but it was all that my father +could do to prevent her scolding me soundly then and there for the +fright I had given her. But she set a great bowl of bread and milk +before me, and the men began to come in at that time, and they +stood in a ring round me and watched me eat it as if they had never +seen me before, while my father spoke aside of the flight to Owen +on the high place. But concerning his own story my father asked the +stranger no more until he chose to open the matter himself.</p> +<p>After supper there was all the tale to be told, and when that +was done the Welshman slept before the hall fire with the +house-carles, but my father had me with him in the closed chamber +beyond the high seat, for it seemed that he would not let me go +beyond his sight again yet.</p> +<p>Now, that is how Owen came to me at first, and the first thing +therefore that I owe to him is nothing less than life itself. And +from that time we have been, as I have said, together in all +things.</p> +<p>On the next morning my father made his guest take him back over +the ground we had crossed together, for no fresh snow had fallen, +and the footprints were plain to be followed almost from the gate +of the hall stockade. So they came at last to the tree, and on it +the head hung yet, but the body was clean gone. All round the tree +the snow was reddened and trampled by the fierce beasts who leapt +to reach the head, and the marks of their clawing was on the trunk, +where they had tried to climb it. From the footmarks it seemed that +there were eight or nine of them. Three great ones had left the +head and followed us presently as far as the brook, half a mile +away.</p> +<p>After that the two men went on to the place where Owen had found +me, and there my father, judging from the dress and loneliness of +the Briton that he might be able to help him somewhat, said:</p> +<p>"I do not know what your plans may be, but is there any reason +why you should not bide here and help me tend the life you have +kept for me?"</p> +<p>Then answered Owen: "You know nought of me, Thane. For all you +ken, I may be but an outlaw who is fleeing from justice."</p> +<p>"Do I know nought about you? I think that last night and what I +have seen today have told me much, and I have been held as a good +judge of a man. If so be that you were an outlaw, which I do not +think, what you have done is enough to inlaw you again with any +honest man--even had you taken a life, for you have saved one. Did +I know you were an outlaw I would see to your pardon. But maybe you +are on a journey that may not be hindered?"</p> +<p>Now Owen was silent for a little, and there came a shadow over +his face as he answered, slowly and with his eyes on the far +sea:</p> +<p>"No man's man am I, and I am but drifting Westward again at +random. Yet I can say in all truth, that I am no wanderer for ill +reason in any wise. I will tell you, Thane, here and alone, that +there are foes in my home for whose passing, in one way or another, +I must needs wait. Even now I was on my way to Bosham, where they +tell me are Western monks with whom I might bide for a time, if not +altogether. I was lost in the forest last night."</p> +<p>Now my father saw that some heavy sorrow of no common sort lay +beneath the quiet words of the man before him, and he forbore to +ask him more. Also, he deemed that in the Welsh land he would +surely rank as a thane, for his ways and words bespoke more than +his dress would tell. Therefore he said:</p> +<p>"Wait here with us for a while at least. There will be no more +welcome guest."</p> +<p>"Let me be of some use, rather," Owen answered. "If I bide with +you, Thane, and I thank you for the offer, let it be as I have +bided elsewhere from time to time--as one of the household, not as +an idle guest, if it were but to help the woodmen in the +forest."</p> +<p>"Why, that will be well. I need a forester, and it is plain that +you are a master of woodcraft. Let it be so. Yet I must tell you +one thing fairly, and that is, that I am what you would call a +heathen. I know that you are a good Christian man, for I saw you +sign your holy sign before you ate last night and this morning. Yet +I do not hate Christians."</p> +<p>"I had heard that all Sussex was turned to the faith," Owen +said.</p> +<p>"If one says that all the men have gone to market, one knows +that here and there one is excepted for good reason. It is not for +a thane of the line of Woden to give up the faith of his fathers +idly. I do not know what may be in the days to come, but here in +the Andredsweald some dozen of us will not leave the old gods. It +was the bidding of Ethelwalch the king that we should do so, but +that is not a matter wherein a king may meddle, as it seems to +us."</p> +<p>"I do not know why I should not bide with you, Thane, if so be +that there is no hindrance to my faith."</p> +<p>"That there will be none. Why, the most of my folk are Christian +enough. And if a man of the Britons did not honour his old faith it +would be as strange as if I honoured not that of my fathers. I have +no quarrel with the faith of any man, either king or thrall."</p> +<p>"Then I will be your forester, Thane, for such time as I may, +and I thank you."</p> +<p>"Nay, but the thanks are all on my side," answered my father. +"Now I shall know that the boy will have one with whom he may live +all day in the woods if he will, and I shall be content."</p> +<p>So Owen bided with us, half as honoured guest and half as +forester, and as time went on he was well loved by all who knew +him, for he was ever the same to each man about the place. As for +me, it was the best day that could have dawned when he found me in +the woods as a lost child. And that my father said also.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a>. HOW ALDRED THE THANE KEPT +HIS FAITH, AND OWEN FLED WITH OSWALD.</h2> +<p>Our Sussex was the last land in all England that was heathen. I +suppose that the last heathen thanes in Sussex were those whose +manors lay in the Andredsweald, as did ours. Most of these thanes +had held aloof from the faith because at the first coming of good +Bishop Wilfrith, some twelve years ago, those who had hearkened to +him were mostly thralls and freemen of the lower ranks, and they +would not follow their lead. Yet of these there were some, like my +father, who had no hatred, to say the least, of the Christian and +his creed, and did but need the words of one who could speak +rightly to them to turn altogether from the Asir.</p> +<p>Maybe the only man who was at this time really fierce against +the faith was Erpwald, the thane of Wisborough, some half-score +miles from us northwards across the forest. He had been the priest +of Woden in the old days, and indeed held himself so even now, +though secretly, for fear of Ina the Wessex king, who ruled our +land well and strongly. This Erpwald was no very good neighbour of +ours, as it happened, for he and my father had some old feud +concerning forest rights and the like which he had taken to heart +more than there was any occasion for, seeing that it was but such a +matter as most thanes have, unless they are unusually lucky, in a +place where boundaries are none. It is likely enough that but for +the easy ways of my father, who gave in to him so far as he could, +this feud would have been of trouble some time ago, for as the +power of Erpwald, as priest, waned he seemed to look more for power +in other ways. Yet in the end both the matter of the faith and the +matter of the feud seemed to work together in some way that brought +trouble enough on our house, which must be told; for it set Owen +and me out into the world together for a time, and because of it +there befell many happenings thereafter which have not all been sad +in their ending.</p> +<p>Owen had been with us for a year and a half when what I am going +to tell came to pass, and in that time my father had come to look +on him rather as a brother than as a guest, and the thought that he +might leave him at any time was one which he did not like to keep +in his mind.</p> +<p>That being so, it was not at all surprising that in this summer +my father had at last borne witness that he wished to become a +Christian altogether, and so it had come to pass that he and Owen +and I used to ride to Bosham, the little seacoast village beyond +Chichester town, to speak with Dicul, the good old Irish priest, +who yet bided there rather than in the new monastery which Wilfrith +built at Selsea, until we were taught all that was needful, and the +time came when we should be baptized.</p> +<p>That my father would have done here at Eastdean, that all his +people, who were Christians before him, should see and rejoice. Yet +it was not an easy matter for him as it had been for them, for now +he would stand alone among his fellows, the heathen thanes; and +most of all Erpwald the priest would be wroth with him for leaving +that which he had held so long. He must meet these men often +enough, and he knew that they would have biting words to hurl at +him, but that thought did not stay him for a moment. It was more +than likely that one or two more would follow him when once the old +circle was broken.</p> +<p>So on a certain day Dicul rode over from Bosham on his mule, and +early on the next morning he set up a little wooden cross by the +spring above the hall, and there my father and I and Stuf, the head +man of the house-carles, who had bided in the old faith for love of +my father, were baptized, Owen and one of the village freemen +standing sponsors for us, and that was a wondrous day to us all, as +I think. For when all was done my father gave their freedom to all +our thralls, for the sake of the freedom that had been given him, +and he promised that here, where he and they had been freed, a +church should be built of good forest oak, after the woodcutting of +the winter to come.</p> +<p>Then Dicul went his way homewards, with one of our men to lead +his mule and carry some few presents for his people to Bosham, and +after he was gone we had a quiet feasting in our hall until the +light was gone. And even as our feasting ended there came in a +swineherd from the forest with word that from the northward there +came a strong band of armed men through the forest, and he held it +right that my father should be warned thereof, for he feared they +were some banded outlaws, seeing that there was peace in the land. +That was no unlikely thing at all, for our forests shelter many, +and game being plentiful they live there well enough, if not +altogether at ease. As a rule they gave little trouble to us, and +at times in the winter we would even have men who were said to be +outlaws from far off working in the woods for us.</p> +<p>Yet now and then some leader would rise among them and gather +them into bands which waxed bold to harry cattle and even houses, +so that there might be truth in what the swineherd told. +Nevertheless my father thought of little danger but to the herds, +and so had them driven into the sheds from the home fields, and set +the men their watches as he had more than once done before in like +alarms.</p> +<p>Presently I was awakened, for I had gone to rest before the +message came, by the hoarse call of a horn and the savage barking +of the dogs. I heard the hall doors shut and open once or twice as +men passed in and out, and in the hall was the rattle of weapons as +the men took them from their places on the walls, but I heard no +voices raised more than usual. Then I got out of my bed and tried +to open the sliding doors that would let me out on the high place +from my father's chamber, where I always slept now, but I could not +move them. So I went back to my place and listened.</p> +<p>What was happening I must tell, therefore, as Owen has told me, +for I saw nothing to speak of.</p> +<p>As the horn was blown, one of the men who had been on guard came +into the hall hastily and spoke to my father.</p> +<p>"The house is beset, Lord. Stuf blew the horn and bade me tell +you. There are men all round the stockade."</p> +<p>"Outlaws?"</p> +<p>The man shook his head.</p> +<p>"We think not, Lord. But it is dark, and we cannot fairly see +them. We heard them call one 'Thane.' Nor are there any outland +voices among them, as there would be were they outlaws."</p> +<p>Then my father armed himself in haste and went out. The night +was very dark, and it was raining a little. Stuf had shut the +stockade gates, which were strong enough, and had reared a ladder +against the timbers that he might look over.</p> +<p>Close to the ladder stood Owen, armed also, for he had been out +to see that all was quiet and that the men were on guard.</p> +<p>"There are men everywhere," he said. "I would we had some +light."</p> +<p>"Heave a torch on the straw stack," my father answered; "there +will be enough then."</p> +<p>The stack was outside the stockade, and some twenty yards from +its corner. One of the men ran to the hall and brought a torch from +its socket on the wall, and handed it to Stuf, who threw it fairly +on the stack top, from the ladder. It blazed up fiercely as it went +through the air, and from the men who beset us there rose a howl as +they saw it. Several ran and tried to reach it with their spears, +but they were not in time. The first damp straws of the thatch +hissed for a moment, dried, and burst into flame, and then nought +could stop the burning. The red flames gathered brightness every +moment, lighting up two sides of the stockading, in the midst of +which the hall stood. Then an arrow clicked on Stuf's helm, and he +came down into shelter.</p> +<p>"This is a strange affair, Master," he said. "I have seen three +men whom I know well among them."</p> +<p>"Who are they?"</p> +<p>"Wisborough men--freemen of Erpwald's."</p> +<p>My father and Owen looked at one another. Words my father knew +he should have to put up with, after today, from Erpwald, but this +seemed token of more than words only.</p> +<p>Then came the blast of a horn from outside, and a strange voice +shouted that the thane must come and speak with those who called +him. So my father went to the gate and answered from within it:</p> +<p>"Here am I. What is all the trouble?"</p> +<p>"Open the gate, and you shall know."</p> +<p>"Not so, Thane," cried one of our men, who was peering through +the timbers of the stockade. "Now that I can see, I have counted +full fifty men, and they are waiting as if to rush in."</p> +<p>Then said my father:</p> +<p>"Maybe we will open the gate when we are sure you are friends. +One may be forgiven for doubting that when you come thus at +midnight to a peaceful house."</p> +<p>"We are friends or not, as you choose, Aldred," the voice +answered. "I am Erpwald, Woden's priest, and I am here to stay +wrong to the Asir of which I have heard."</p> +<p>"I will not pretend not to know what you mean, Erpwald," +answered my father. "But this, as it seems to me, is a matter that +concerns me most of all."</p> +<p>"If it concerns not Woden's priest, whom shall it concern?" +answered Erpwald. "It is true, then, that you have left the Asir to +follow the way of the thralls, led aside by that Welshman you have +with you?"</p> +<p>"It is true enough that I am a Christian," said my father +steadily. "As for leaving the Asir, that is not to be said of one +whose line goes back to Woden, his forefather. But I cannot worship +him any longer. Forefather of mine he may be, but not a god."</p> +<p>"Ho! that is all I needed to hear. Now, I will not mince matters +with you, Aldred. Either you give up this foolishness, or I am here +to make you do so."</p> +<p>Now, my father looked round at the men and saw that all the +house-carles and one or two from the village were in the courtyard, +fifteen of them altogether, besides himself and Owen. They were all +Christian men, and they stood in a sort of line behind him across +the closed gate with their faces set, listening.</p> +<p>"Don't suppose that there is any help coming to you from the +village," said the hard voice from outside. "There is a guard over +every house."</p> +<p>"Erpwald," said my father, "it is a new thing that any man +should be forced to quit his faith here in Sussex. Nor is it the +way of a thane to fall on a house at night in outlaw fashion. Ina +the king will have somewhat to say of this."</p> +<p>"If there is one left to tell him, that is," came back the +reply. "There will not be shortly, unless I have your word that +tomorrow you come to me at Wisborough and make such atonement to +the Asir as you may, quitting your new craze."</p> +<p>Then said Stuf, the leader of the house-carles, growling:</p> +<p>"That is out of the question, and he knows it. He means to fall +on us, else had he spoken to you elsewhere first, Thane. It seems +to me that here we shall die."</p> +<p>He looked round on his fellows, and they nodded, and one set his +helm more firmly on his head, and another tightened his belt, and +one or two signed the cross on their broad chests, but not one +paled, though they knew there was small hope for them if Erpwald +chose to storm the house. The court was light as day with the +flames of the stack by this time.</p> +<p>"What think you of this, Owen," my father said.</p> +<p>"That it is likely that we must seal our faith with our blood, +brother," he answered. "Yet I think that there is more in this than +heathenism, in some way."</p> +<p>"There is an old feud of no account," said my father, "but I +would not think hardly of Erpwald. After all, he was Woden's +priest, and is wroth, as I myself might have been. It is good to +die thus, and but for the boy I would be glad."</p> +<p>"I do not think that he will be harmed," said Owen, "even if the +worst comes to the worst."</p> +<p>"Well, if I fall, try to get him hence. After that maybe Erpwald +will be satisfied. I set him in your charge, brother, for once you +have saved him already. Fail me not."</p> +<p>Owen held out his hand and took his.</p> +<p>"I will not fail you," he said--"if I live after you."</p> +<p>Now from outside the voices began to be impatient, and Erpwald +had been crying to my father to be speedy, unheeded. But in the +midst of the growing shouts of the heathen my father turned to the +men and asked them if they were content to die with him for the +faith. And with one accord they said that they would.</p> +<p>Then with a thundering crash a great timber beam was hurled +against the gate, shaking its very posts with the force of the six +men who wielded it at a run, and in the silence that fell as they +drew back Erpwald cried:</p> +<p>"For the last time, Aldred, will you yield?"</p> +<p>But he had no answer, and after a short space the timber crashed +against the gate again and again. And across it waited our few, +silent and ready for its falling.</p> +<p>I heard all this in the closed chamber, and the red light of the +fire shone across the slit whence the light and fresh air came into +it, but it was too high for me to look out of. I got up and dressed +myself then, for no reason but that I must be doing something. I +waxed excited with the noise and flickering light, and no one came +near me. My old nurse was the only woman in the house, for the +married house-carles lived in the village, and I daresay she slept +through it all in her own loft. There was no thunderstorm that +could ever wake her.</p> +<p>At this time my father sent a few of the men to the back of the +house, that they might try at least to keep off the foe from +climbing the stockade and so falling on them in the rear. But the +timbers were high, and the ditch outside them full of water, and as +it happened there was no attack thence.</p> +<p>Erpwald watched the back indeed, but all his force was bent on +the gate.</p> +<p>It was not long before that fell, crashing inwards, and across +it strode the heathen priest into the gap. He was fully armed, and +wore the great golden ring of the temple--all that was left him of +his old surroundings since Ethelwalch the king, who sent Wilfrith +to us, had destroyed the building that stood with the image of +Woden in it hard by his house. Men used to take oath on that ring, +as do we on the Book of the Gospels, and they held it holier than +the oaken image of the god itself. I do not think that any man had +seen it since that time until this night.</p> +<p>Now Erpwald stood for a moment in the gate, with his men hard +behind him, expecting a rush at him, as it would seem. But our folk +stood firm in the line across the courtyard, shoulder to shoulder, +with my father and Owen before them. So they looked at one +another.</p> +<p>Then Erpwald slipped the golden ring from his arm and held it +up. There may have been some thought in his mind that my father was +hesitating yet.</p> +<p>"By the holy ring I adjure you, Aldred, for the last time, to +return to the Asir," he said loudly.</p> +<p>My father shook his head only, but Stuf the house-carle, who had +stood beside him at the font this morning, had another answer which +was strange enough.</p> +<p>"This for the ring!" he said.</p> +<p>And with that he hurled a throwing spear at it as it shone in +the firelight, with a true aim. The spear went through the ring +itself without harming the hand of the holder, and coming a little +slantwise, twitched it away from him and stuck in the timber of the +stockade whence the gatepost had been riven. The ring hung spinning +on the shaft safely enough, but to Erpwald it seemed that his +treasure had gone altogether, and he yelled with rage and sprang +forward. After him came his men, and in a moment the two parties +were hand to hand.</p> +<p>Then was fighting such as the gleemen sing of, with the light of +the red fire waxing and waning across the courtyard the while. The +strange lights and shadows it cast were to the advantage of our men +for a little while, but the numbers were too great against them for +that to be of much avail. Soon they who had not fallen were borne +back to the hall door, and there stood again, but my father was not +with them.</p> +<p>He fell at the first, as Owen tells me. Another has told me that +Owen stood across his body and would have fallen with him, but that +Stuf drew him away, calling on him to mind his promise concerning +me, and so he went back, still fighting, until he stood in the door +of the hall.</p> +<p>There Erpwald and his men stayed their hands, like a ring of +dogs that bay a boar. There was a little porch, so that they could +not get at him sideways, and needs must that they fell on him one +at a time. It seemed that not one cared to be the first to go near +the terrible Briton as he stood, in the plain arms and with the +heavy sword my father had given him, waiting for them. Well do I +know what he was like at that time, and I do not blame them. There +is no man better able to wield weapons than he, and they had learnt +it.</p> +<p>Then the light of the straw stack went out suddenly, as a stack +fire will, and the darkness seemed great. Yet from the well-lit +hall a path of light came past Owen and fell on his foes, so that +he could well see any man who was bold enough to come, and they +held back the more.</p> +<p>There were but six men of ours in the house behind Owen.</p> +<p>Then came Erpwald, leaning, sorely wounded, on one of his men, +and Owen spoke to him.</p> +<p>"You have wrought enough harm, Erpwald, for this once. Let the +rest of the household go in peace."</p> +<p>"Harm?" groaned the heathen. "Whose fault is it? How could I +think that the fool would have resisted?"</p> +<p>"As there are fifty men in the yard at this moment, it seems +that you were sure of it," answered Owen in a still voice. "If you +knew it not before, now at least you know that a Christian thinks +his faith worth dying for."</p> +<p>Now, whether it was his wound, or whether he saw that he had +gone too far, Erpwald bethought himself, and seemed minded to make +terms.</p> +<p>"I wish to slay no more," he said. "Yield yourselves quietly, +and no harm shall come to you."</p> +<p>"Let them not go, Thane," said one of his men, "else will they +be off to Ina, and there will be trouble. You mind what you +promised us."</p> +<p>Now, Owen heard this, and the words told him that he was right +in thinking that there was more than heathenry in the affair. It +seemed to him that the first thing was to save me, and that if he +could do that in any way nought else mattered much. It was plain +that no man was to be left to bring Ina on the priest for his ill +deeds.</p> +<p>"If that is all the trouble now," he said, therefore, "as we are +in your power you can make us promise what you like. Give us terms +at least; if not, come and end us and the matter at once."</p> +<p>One of the men flew at him on that, and bided where he fell, +across the doorway of the porch; none stirred to follow him.</p> +<p>"Swear that you will not go to Ina for a month's time with any +tales, and you and all shall go free," Erpwald said.</p> +<p>The man who had spoken before put in at once:</p> +<p>"What of the blood feud, Erpwald?--There is Aldred's son +yet."</p> +<p>At that the priest lost temper with his follower, and turned on +him savagely:</p> +<p>"Is it for men to war with children? What care I for a blood +feud? Can I not fend for myself? Hold your peace."</p> +<p>Then he said to Owen:</p> +<p>"They say that you are the child's foster-father now. If I give +him to you, will you swear that you or he shall cross my path no +more? You need not trouble to go to Ina, for he will not hearken to +a Briton in any case."</p> +<p>Owen reddened under the last, but for my sake he did not answer, +save to the first part of the saying.</p> +<p>"I will swear to take the child hence and let this matter be for +us as if it had not been," he said, seeing that it was the best he +could win for me.</p> +<p>What other thoughts were in his mind will be seen hereafter, but +I will say now that it was not all so hopeless as it seemed to +Erpwald.</p> +<p>"What of the other men," asked one or two of Erpwald's +following.</p> +<p>"They shall bide here, where we can keep an eye on them," the +priest answered. "They will not hurt us, nor we them, save only if +they try to make trouble."</p> +<p>Then some of our house-caries said in a low tone to Owen: +"Better to die with the master. Let us out and fall on them."</p> +<p>But he said: "This is for the boy's sake. Let me be, my +brothers; I have the thane's word to carry out."</p> +<p>Then they knew that he was right, but they bade him make Erpwald +swear to keep faith with them all.</p> +<p>So he spoke again with the priest, asking for honest pledges in +return for his own oath. Whereon from across the courtyard, where a +few wounded men lay--a voice weak with pain cried, with a strange +laugh:</p> +<p>"Get him the holy ring, that he may be well bound. It hangs +yonder where I put it, in the gateside timbers."</p> +<p>Erpwald glowered into the darkness, but he could see nothing of +the man who had spoken. But one of his men had seen the spear cast, +and knew what was meant, though the fight had set it out of his +mind. So he ran, and found the shaft easily in the darkness, and +took the ring from it, bringing it back to Erpwald.</p> +<p>"It is luck," he said. "Spear and ring alike have marked the +place for Woden."</p> +<p>"Hold your peace, fool," snarled Erpwald, with a sharp look at +Owen.</p> +<p>And at that Stuf laughed again, unheeded.</p> +<p>Then Owen swore as he had promised, on the cross hilt of his +sword, and Erpwald swore faith on the ring, and so the swords were +sheathed at last; and when they had disarmed all our men but Owen, +Erpwald's men took torches from the hall and went to tend the +wounded, who lay scattered everywhere inside the gate, and most +thickly where my father fell.</p> +<p>Owen went to that place, with a little hope yet that his friend +might live, but it was not so. Therefore he knelt beside him for a +little while, none hindering him, and so bade him farewell. Then he +went to Stuf, who was sorely hurt, but not in such wise that he +might not recover.</p> +<p>"What will you do with the child?" the man asked.</p> +<p>"Have no fear for him. I shall take him westward, where my own +people are. He shall be my son, and I think that all will be well +with him hereafter."</p> +<p>"I wit that you are not what you have seemed, Master," Stuf +said. "It will be well if you say so."</p> +<p>Then Owen bade him farewell also, and went to find me and get me +hence before the ale and mead of the house was broached by the +spoilers. And, as I have said, I was already dressed, and I ran to +his arms and asked what all the trouble was, and where my father +had gone, and the like. I think that last question was the hardest +that Owen ever had put to him, and he did not try to answer it +then. He told me that he and I must go to Chichester at once, at my +father's bidding; and I, being used to obey without question, was +pleased with the thought of the unaccustomed night journey. And +then Owen bethought him, and left me for a moment, going to the +chest where my father had his store of money. It was mine now, and +he took it for me.</p> +<p>It seemed strange to him that there was no ransacking of the +house, as one might have expected. Had the foe fired it he would +not have been surprised at all, but all was quiet in the hall, and +the voices of the men came mostly from the storehouses, whence he +could hear them rolling the casks into the courtyard; so he told me +to bide quietly here in the chamber for a few minutes, and went out +on the high place swiftly, closing the door after him, that I might +see nothing in the hall.</p> +<p>There he found Erpwald himself close at hand, sitting in my +father's own chair while the wound that Owen himself had given him +was being dressed. At the side of the great room sat the rest of +our men, downcast and wondering, and half a dozen of the foe stood +on guard at the door. It was plain that nought in the house was to +be meddled with.</p> +<p>Erpwald turned as he heard the sliding door open.</p> +<p>"Get you gone as soon as you may," he said sullenly.</p> +<p>"There is one thing that I must ask you, Erpwald," Owen said. +"It is what one may ask of one brave man concerning another. Let +Aldred's people bury him in all honour, as they will."</p> +<p>"There you ask too much, Welshman. But I will bury him myself in +all honour in the way that I think best. He shall have the burial +of a son of Woden for all his foolishness."</p> +<p>At least, there would be no dishonour to his friend in that, and +Owen thought it best to say no more, but he had one more boon, as +it were, to ask.</p> +<p>"Let me take a horse from the stable for the child," he said. +"We may have far to go."</p> +<p>He thought that he would have been met with rage at this, but it +was worth asking. However, Erpwald answered somewhat wearily, and +not looking at him:</p> +<p>"Take them all, if you will. I am no common reiver, and they are +not mine. The farther you go the better. But let me tell you, that +it will be safer for you not to make for Winchester and the king. I +shall have you watched."</p> +<p>"A plain warning not to be disregarded," answered Owen. "We +shall not need it."</p> +<p>Erpwald said no more, and Owen came back to me, closing the door +after him again. There was another door, seldom used, from this +chamber to the back of the house where the servants had their +quarters, and through that he took me, wrapped in such warm furs as +he could find. Then he went to the stables, and in the dark, for he +would not attract the notice of Erpwald's men, who were round the +ale in the courtyard, he saddled my forest pony, and another good +horse which he was wont to ride with my father at times. He did not +take the thane's own horse, as it would be known, and he would risk +no questions as to how he came by it.</p> +<p>Then we rode away by the back gate, and when the darkness closed +on us as we passed along the well-known road towards Chichester the +voices of the foe who revelled in our courtyard came loudly to us. +And I did but think it part of the rejoicing of that day as I +listened.</p> +<p>Through the warm summer rain we came before daylight had fully +broken to Bosham, not passing through Chichester, for the gates +would be closed. And just before the sun rose, Dicul the priest +came from his house to the little church and saw us sitting in the +porch, waiting him, while the horses cropped the grass on the +little green outside the churchyard, hobbled in forest fashion.</p> +<p>He bade us back to his house, and there I fell asleep +straightway, with the tiredness that comes suddenly to a child. And +Owen and he talked, and I know that he told him all that had +happened and what his own plans for me were, under the seal of +secrecy. And then he begged the good priest to tell me of my +loss.</p> +<p>So it came to pass that presently Dicul took me on his knee and +told me wonderful stories of the martyrs of old time, and of his +own land in times that are not so far off; and when it seemed to me +that indeed there is nought more wonderful and blessed than to give +life for the faith, he told me how my father had fallen at the +hands of heathen men, and was indeed a martyr himself. I do not +know that he could have done it more wisely or sweetly, for half +the sting was lost in the wonder of it all.</p> +<p>But he did not tell me who it was had slain my father, and that +I did not know for many a long day.</p> +<p>After that we ate with him, and he gave us some little store for +a journey, and so Owen and I rode on again, westward, homeless +indeed, but in no evil case.</p> +<p>Now, as one may suppose, Owen's first thought was to get me +beyond the reach of Erpwald, whose mood might change again, from +that in which he let us go with what we would, to that in which he +came on us. So all that day we went on steadily, sleeping the night +in a little wayside inn, and pushing on again in the early morning, +until Owen deemed it safe for us to draw rein somewhat, and for my +sake to travel slowly.</p> +<p>At this time he had no clear plan in his head for the ending of +our journey, nor was there need to make one at once. We had store +of money to last us for many a long day, what with my father's and +that which Owen had of his own, and we were well mounted, and what +few things we needed to seem but travellers indeed Owen bought in +some little town we passed through on the third day. After that we +went easily, seeing things that had nought in them but wonder and +delight for me.</p> +<p>Then at last we came in sight of the ancient town of Sarum on +its hill, and there we drew up on the wayside grass to let a little +train of churchmen pass us, and though I did not know it, that +little halt ended our wandering. In the midst of the train rode a +quiet looking priest, who sang softly to himself as his mule ambled +easily along, and he turned to give us his blessing as Owen +unhelmed when he passed abreast of us. Then his hand stayed as he +raised it, and I saw his face lighten suddenly, and he pulled up +the mule in haste, crying to Owen by name, and in the Welsh tongue. +And I saw the face of my foster-father flush red, and he leapt from +his horse and went to the side of the priest, setting his finger on +his lip for a moment as he did so.</p> +<p>Then the priest signed that his people should go on, and at once +they left him with us, and Owen bade me do reverence to Aldhelm, +the abbot of Malmesbury, before whom we stood. And after that they +talked long in Welsh, and that I could not follow, though indeed I +knew a fair smattering of it by this time, seeing that Owen would +have me learn from him, and we had used it a good deal in these few +days as we rode.</p> +<p>It seemed to me that Aldhelm was overjoyed to see Owen, and I +know now that those two were old friends of the closest at one +time, when they met in Owen's own land.</p> +<p>So from that meeting it came to pass that we found a home with +the good abbot at Malmesbury for a time, and there I learned much, +as one may suppose, while Owen trained me in arms, and the monks +taught me book learning, which I liked not at all, and only +suffered for love of Owen, who wished me to know all I might.</p> +<p>Then one day, after two years in quiet here, came Ina the king +with all his court to see the place and the new buildings that were +rising under the hand of Aldhelm and Owen, who had skill in such +matters, and then again was a change for us. It seems that +Ethelburga the queen took a fancy to me, and asked that I might be +with her as a page in the court, and that was so good a place for +the son of any thane in the land that Owen could not refuse, though +at first it seemed that we must be parted for a time.</p> +<p>But it was needful that the king should hear my story, that he +might have some surety as to who I was, and if I were worthy by +birth to be of his household, and Owen hardly knew how to tell him +without breaking his oath to Erpwald. Yet it was true that the +heathen thane had scoffed at him, rather than forbidden him to seek +Ina, though indeed it was plain that he meant to bind us from +making trouble for him in any way. But at last Owen said that if +the king would forbear to take revenge for a wrong done to me, he +might speak, and so after promise given he told all.</p> +<p>Very black grew the handsome face of the king as he heard.</p> +<p>"Am I often deceived thus?" he said. "I will even send some to +ask of all the ins and outs of such another case hereafter. This +Erpwald sent to me to say that Aldred and all his house had been +slain by outlaws, and that he himself had driven them off and I +believed him. After that I made over the Eastdean lands to him, and +I take it that they were what he wanted. Well, he has not lived +long to enjoy them, for he died not long ago, and now his brother +holds the lands after him, and I know that he at least is a worthy +man.</p> +<p>"Let it be. The child is my ward now, as an orphan, and I should +have had to set his estate in the hands of some one to hold till he +can take them. There will be no loss to him in the end."</p> +<p>Then he smiled and looked Owen in the face.</p> +<p>"I know you well, Owen, though it is plain that you would not +have it so. Mind you the day when I met Gerent at the Parrett +bridge? I do not often forget a face, and I saw you then, and asked +who you were. Now there is good and, as I hope, lasting peace +between our lands, thanks to the wisdom of our good Aldhelm here, +and I will ask you somewhat, for I know that you also wrought for +that peace while you might. Come to me, and be of the nobles who +guard me and mine, and so wait in honour until the time comes when +you may return to your place. Then you will be with the boy +also."</p> +<p>So it came to pass that we took leave of that good friend the +abbot, and went from Malmesbury in the train of Ina of Wessex. +Thereafter for six years I served Ethelburga the queen, being +trained in all wise as her own child, and after that I was one of +the athelings of the court in one post or another, but always with +the king when there was war on the long frontier of the Wessex +land.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a>. HOW KING INA'S FEAST WAS +MARRED, AND OF A VOW TAKEN BY OSWALD.</h2> +<p>At this time, when I take up my story again, I was two and +twenty, not very tall indeed, but square in the shoulder, and well +able to hold my own, at the least, with the athelings who were my +comrades, at the weapon play or any of our sports. It would have +been my own fault if I were not so, for there was no better warrior +in all Ina's following than Owen, and he taught me all I knew. And +that knowledge I had tested on the field more than once, for Ina +had no less trouble with his neighbours than any other king in +England, whether in matters of raiding to be stopped or tribute to +be enforced. Since I was too old to serve the queen as page any +longer I had been of his bodyguard, and where he went was not +always the safest place on a field for us who shielded him.</p> +<p>A court is always changing, as men come and go again to their +own places after some little service there, but Owen and I were of +those to whom the court was home altogether. Owen was the king's +marshal now, and I was in command of the house-carles, and had been +so for a year or more. It was no very heavy post, nor responsible +after all, for Ina's guard was the love of his people, and beyond +these warriors from the freemen who served as palace guard and +watch, were the athelings of the household, from whose number I had +been chosen for this post by right of longest service more than for +any other reason, as I think. I knew all the ins and outs of every +house where Ina went, and had nothing fresh to learn in the matter. +Still, if the men under me were few, the post had its own +privileges, and was always held to lead to somewhat higher, and I +was more than content therewith, for it kept me near Owen and the +king, whom I loved next to my foster father.</p> +<p>I do not think that by this time any one knew, save the king, +that I was not Owen's own son. I was wont to call him father +always, and I cannot be blamed, for he was foster father and +godfather to me, and well did he take the father's place to the +orphan whom he had saved. And I had forgotten Eastdean, save as one +keeps a memory of the home where one was a child. I never thought +of it as a place that should have been mine, for neither the king +nor Owen ever spoke to me concerning it. Sometimes, in remembrances +of my father, I would wonder into whose hands the manors had +passed, but rather in hopes that some day those who owned them now +would suffer me to see that the grave where he lay was honoured, +rather than as a matter which at all concerned me in any closer +way.</p> +<p>For, since I was but a child, the court had been my home, with +Owen as my father, and Ina the king as the loved guardian for whom +I would gladly give my life in need. All my training and thoughts +were centred here, not as what one calls a courtier at all, but as +one of the household who feared the king and queen no more than +Owen himself, and yet reverenced all three as those to whom all +homage was due since he could remember.</p> +<p>Thus things were with us at the end of the tenth year after we +left Aldhelm at Malmesbury, and now the court was at Glastonbury in +fair Somerset, keeping the Christmastide there in the place that is +the holiest in all England by reason of the coming thither of +Joseph of Arimathea, and the first preaching of the Gospel in our +land by him. It was not by any means the first time I had been in +the place, and here I had some good friends indeed; for Ina loved +the vale of Avalon well, and often came hither with a few of us, or +with the whole court, to the house which he had made that he might +watch the building of the wondrous church which he was raising over +the very spot where the little chapel of the saint had been in the +old days.</p> +<p>Fair is the place indeed, for it lies deep among green hills, +and from the westward slope where the church stands, at their foot +stretch great meres to lesser hills toward the sunset beyond. Very +pleasant are the trees and flowers of the rich meadows of the +island valley, and the wind comes but gently here even at Yuletide, +hardly ruffling the clear waters that have given the place its +name, "Inys Vitryn," and "Avalon" men called the place before we +Saxons came, by reason of those still meres and the wondrous +orchards which fear no frost among the hills that shelter them. The +summer seems to linger here after it has fled from the uplands.</p> +<p>There was a goodly company gathered in Ina's hall for the +twelfth night feasting. Truly, the hall was not so great as that in +the palace at Winchester, but it was all the brighter for that +reason. It was hard to get that great space well lighted and warmed +at times, when the wind blew cold under eaves and through narrow +windows; but here all was well lit and comfortable to look on and +to feel also, as one sat and feasted with the sweet sedges of the +mere banks deep under foot on the floor and the great fire in the +hall centre near enough to every one. I think that this hall in +Glastonbury was as pleasant as any that I know in all Wessex.</p> +<p>There was a great door midway in the southern side of the hall, +and as one entered, to right and left along that wall ran the +tables for the house-carles and other men of the lower ranks, and +for strangers who might come in to share the king's hospitality and +had no right to a higher place. Then at either end of the hall were +cross tables, where the thanes and their ladies had their places in +due order, above the franklins whose cross tables were next to +those of the house-carles. And then, right over against the south +wall and across the fire on the hearth, was the longest table of +all, and in the midst of that was the high place for the king and +queen and a few others. That dais was the only place where the +guests did not sit on both sides of the tables, for the king's +board stood open to the midst of the hall on its three low steps +that he might see and be seen by all his guests, and be fitly +served from in front.</p> +<p>On the hearth a great yule log burnt brightly, and all round the +wall were set torches in their sconces, so that the hall was very +bright. On the walls were the costly hangings that we took +everywhere with us, and above them shone the spare arms and helms +and shields of the house-carles, mixed with heads of boar and stag +and wolf from the Mendips and Quantocks where Ina hunted, each head +with its story. Up and down in the spaces between the tables +hurried the servants who tended the guests, so that the hall was +full of life and brightness from end to end. There was peace in all +Wessex at this time, and so here was a full gathering of guests to +the little town.</p> +<p>Ina and Ethelburga the queen were on the high place, and to +their left was Herewald, the Somerset ealdorman, who lived in +Glastonbury, and was a good friend of mine, as will be seen, with +his fair daughter Elfrida, and on the right of the king was Nunna, +his cousin, and his wife. Owen was next to Herewald, at one end of +the high place, and at the other end was Sigebald, the Dorset +ealdorman, under whom I had fought not so long ago. There were many +others of high rank in the west to the right and left of these +again at the long tables.</p> +<p>Indeed, there was but one whom I missed in all the gathering. My +old friend Aldhelm was gone. He died in the last year, after having +been Bishop of Sherborne for a little while. I missed him sorely, +as did every man who knew him.</p> +<p>I do not think that if one searched all England through there +could have been found a more noble looking group than that at Ina's +high table. It is well known that our king and queen were beyond +all others for royalty of look and ways, and I will venture to say +that neither of the ealdormen had their equals, save in Nunna, +anywhere. But it is not my word only, for it was a common saying, +that Owen seemed most royal next to the king himself. Grave he +always was, but with a ready smile and pleasant, in the right +place, and though he was now about five-and-forty he had changed +little to my eyes from what he was twelve years ago, when he saved +me from the wolves. He was one of those men who age but slowly.</p> +<p>One other on the high place I have not mentioned in this way. +That was Elfrida, the Somerset ealdorman's daughter, of whom it was +said that she was the fairest maiden in all Wessex. Certainly at +this time I for one would have agreed in that saying. She was two +years younger than I, if I dare say it, and it seemed to me that in +the last three years she had suddenly grown from the child that I +used to play with to a very stately lady, well fitted to take the +place of her mother, who used to be kind to me when I first came +here as the queen's somewhat mischievous page, and had but died a +year or so ago. I think that this feast was the first Elfrida and +her father had been present at since then, and at least, that was +the reason I heard given for her presence on the high place.</p> +<p>Now I must say where my place was in the hall, for it may make +more plain what happened hereafter. The young nobles of the court +who had no relatives present sat at one of the cross tables at the +king's right hand, and at the head of these tables was my seat by +reason of my post as captain of the house-carles. So I sat with my +back to the long chief table, with its occupants just behind me, +and to my left was the open space in the centre of the hall, so +that if I was needed, or had to go out for the change of guard or +other house-carle business, all that I had to do, being at one end +of the bench, was to get up and go my way without disturbing any +one. At the same time I could see all the hall before me, and a +half turn of the head would set my eyes on the king himself.</p> +<p>The door of the hall was closed when the king entered from his +own chambers and took his place, so that the cold, and the +draughts, which might eddy the smoke of fire and torches about the +guests too much, was kept out. But it was closed against weather +only, for any man might crave admittance to the king's ball at the +great feast, whether as wayfarer or messenger or suppliant, so that +he had good reason for asking hospitality. Several men had come in +thus as the feast went on, but none heeded the little bustle their +coming made, nor so much as turned to see where they were set at +the lower tables, except myself and perhaps Owen. There was +merriment enough in the hall, and room and plenty for all comers, +even as Ina loved to have it.</p> +<p>Now there is no need to tell aught of that feast, until the meat +was done and the tables were cleared for the most pleasant part of +the evening, when the servants, whether men or women, sat down at +their tables also, and the harp went round, with the cups, and men +sang in turn or told tales, each as he was best able to amuse the +rest. There was a little bustle while this clearance went on, and +men changed their seats to be nearer friends and the like, for the +careful state of the beginning of the feast was over in some +degree; but at last all was ready, and the great door, which had +been open for a few minutes as the servants took out into the +courtyard the great cauldrons and spits, was closed, and then there +fell a silence, for we waited for a custom of the king's.</p> +<p>Here at Ina's court we kept up the old custom of drinking the +first cup with all solemnity, and making some vows thereover. This +cup was, of course, to be drunk by the host, and after him by any +whom he would name, or would take a vow on him. In the old heathen +days this cup was called the "Bragi bowl," and the vows were made +in the names of the Asir, and mostly ended in fighting before the +year was over. We kept the old name yet, but now the vows were made +in the name of all the Saints, and if Ina or any other made one it +was sure to be of such sort that it would lead to some worthy deed +before long, wrought in all Christian wise. Maybe the last of the +old pattern of vow was made when Kentwine our king swore to clear +the Welsh from the Parrett River to the sea, and did it.</p> +<p>So when the time came we sat waiting, each with his horn or cup +before him, brimming with ale or cider or mead, as he chose, and +men turned in their seats that they might see the pleasant little +ceremony at the high place the better. As for me, I just turned in +my bench end so that my feet were clear of the table, on which my +arm and cup rested, and faced right down the hall, with, of course, +no one at all between me and the steps of the high place. For now +all had taken their seats except one cup bearer, who waited at the +lowest step with the king's golden cup in one hand, and in the +other a silver flagon of good Welsh wine to fill it withal. One +would say that this was but a matter of chance, but as it happened +presently it was well that I moved.</p> +<p>Now, in the hush was a little talk and laughter among those who +were nearest the king, and then I saw the queen smile and speak to +Elfrida, who blushed and looked well pleased, and then rose and +came daintily round the end of the king's board. There a thane who +sat at the table at the foot of the steps rose and handed her down +them to where the servant waited. Ina had asked her to hand him the +cup after the old fashion, she being the lady of the chief house in +Glastonbury next his own. There she took the cup from the man's +hand, and held it while he filled it heedfully. A little murmur +that was all of praise went round the hall, and her colour rose +again as she heard it, for it was not to be mistaken, and from the +lower tables the voices were outspoken enough in all honesty.</p> +<p>Then she went up the steps holding the cup, and the king smiled +on her as she came, and so she stood on the dais before the table +and held out the wine, and begged the king to drink the "Bragi +bowl" from her hands in her father's town.</p> +<p>The king bowed and smiled again, and rose up to take the cup +from this fair bearer, and at that moment there was a sort of +scuffle, unseemly enough, at the lower end of the hall near the +door, and gruff voices seemed to be hushed as Ina glanced up with +the cup yet untouched by his hand.</p> +<p>Then a man leapt from the hands of some who tried to hold him +back, and he strode across the hall past the fire and to the very +foot of the high place--as rough and unkempt a figure as ever +begged for food at a king's table, unarmed, and a thrall to all +seeming. And as he came he cried:</p> +<p>"Justice, Ina the king!--Justice!"</p> +<p>At that I and my men, who had sprung to our feet to hinder him, +sat down again, for a suppliant none of us might hinder at any +time. I did not remember seeing this man come in, but that was the +business of the hall steward, unless there was trouble that needed +the house-carles.</p> +<p>Ina frowned at this unmannerly coming at first, but his brow +cleared as he heard the cry of the man. He signed to Elfrida to +wait for a moment, and looked kindly at the thrall before him.</p> +<p>"Justice, Lord," the man said again.</p> +<p>"Justice you shall have, my poor churl," answered the king +gently. "But this is not quite the time to go into the matter. Sit +you down again, and presently you shall tell all to Owen the +marshal, and thus it will come to me, and you shall see me again in +the morning."</p> +<p>"Nay, but I will have justice here and now," the man said +doggedly, and yet with some sort of appeal in his voice.</p> +<p>"Is it so pressing? Well, then, speak on. Maybe the vow that I +shall make will be to see you righted."</p> +<p>And so the king sat down again, and the lady Elfrida waited, +resting one hand on the table at the end of the dais farthest from +me, and holding the golden cup yet in the other.</p> +<p>"What shall be done to the man who slays my brother?" the thrall +cried.</p> +<p>And the king answered:</p> +<p>"If he has slain him by craft, he shall die; but if in fair +fight and for what men deem reason, then he shall pay the full +weregild that is due according to my dooms."</p> +<p>Then said the man, and his voice minded me of Owen's in some +way:</p> +<p>"But and if he slew him openly in cold blood, for no wrong done +to himself?"</p> +<p>"A strange doing," said the king--"but he should die +therefor."</p> +<p>The king leant forward, with his elbow on the table to hear the +better, and the man was close to the lowest step to be near him. It +seemed that he was very wroth, for his right hand clutched the +front of his rough jerkin fiercely, and his voice was harsh and +shaking.</p> +<p>"It is your own word, Ina of Wessex, that the man who has slain +my brother in this wise shall die. Lo, you! I am Morgan of +Dyvnaint--and thus--"</p> +<p>There flashed from under the jerkin a long knife in the man's +hand, and at the king he leapt up the low steps. But two of us had +seen what was coming, and even as the brave maiden on his left +dashed the full cup of wine in the man's face, blinding him, I was +on him, so that the wine covered him and my tunic at once. I had +him by the neck, and he gripped the table, and his knife flashed +back at me wildly once, but I jerked him round and hurled him from +the dais with a mighty crash, and so followed him and held him +pinioned, while the cups and platters of the overturned table +rolled and clattered round us.</p> +<p>Then rose uproar enough, and the hall was full of flashing +swords. I mind that I heard the leathern peace thongs of one snap +as the thane who tried to draw it tugged at the hilt, forgetting +them. Soon I was in the midst of a half ring of men as I held the +man close to the great fire on the hearth with his face downward +and his right arm doubled under him. He never stirred, and I +thought he waited for me to loose my hold on him.</p> +<p>Then came the steady voice of Ina:</p> +<p>"Let none go forth from the hall. To your seats, my friends, for +there can be no more danger; and let the house-carles see to the +man."</p> +<p>Two of my men took charge of my captive, even as he lay, and I +stood up. Owen was close to me.</p> +<p>"The man is dead," he said in a strange voice.</p> +<p>"I doubt it," I answered, looking at him quickly, for the voice +startled me. Then I saw that my foster father's face was white and +drawn as with some trouble, and he was gazing in a still way at the +man whom the warriors yet held on the floor.</p> +<p>"His foot has been in the fire since you hove him there, yet he +has not stirred," he said.</p> +<p>Then I minded that I had indeed smelt the sharp smell of burning +leather, and had not heeded it. So I told the two men to draw the +thrall away and turn him over. As they did so we knew that he was +indeed dead, for the long knife was deep in his side, driven home +as he fell on it. And I saw that in the hilt of it was a wonderful +purple jewel set in gold. It was not the weapon of a thrall.</p> +<p>That Ina saw also, and he came down from the high place, and +stood and looked in the face of this one who would have slain him, +fixedly for a minute.</p> +<p>Then he said, speaking to Owen in a low voice:</p> +<p>"Justice has been done, as it seems to me. Justice from a higher +hand than mine, moreover."</p> +<p>Then he went back to his place, and standing there said in the +dead hush that was on us all:</p> +<p>"It would seem that this man thought that he had somewhat +against me, indeed, but I do not know him, or who his brother may +have been. Nor have I slain any man save in open field of battle at +any time, as all men know, save and except that I may be said to +have done so by the arm of the law. Yet even so, our Wessex dooms +are not such as take life but for the most plain cause, and that +seldom as may be. Is there any one here who has knowledge of this +man who calls himself Morgan of Dyvnaint? It seems to me that I +have heard the name before."</p> +<p>Now Owen had gone back to his place, and while one or two thanes +came forward and looked in the face of the man, whom they had not +yet seen plainly, he spoke to the king, and Ina seemed to wonder at +what he heard.</p> +<p>Then Herewald the ealdorman said:</p> +<p>"That is the name of one of the two Devon princes of the West +Welsh, cousins of Gerent the king. We have trouble with their men, +who raid our homesteads now and then."</p> +<p>At that a big man with a yellow moustache and long curling hair +rose from among the franklins and said loudly, in a voice which was +neither like that of a Briton nor a Saxon at all:</p> +<p>"Let me get a nearer look at him, and I will soon tell you if he +is what he claimed to be."</p> +<p>And with no more ceremony he came to where I and the two +house-carles yet stood, and looked and laughed a little to himself +as he did so.</p> +<p>"He is Morgan the prince, right enough," he said. "And I can +tell you all the trouble. Your sheriff hung his brother, Dewi, +three months since for cattle lifting and herdsman slaying on this +side Parrett River, somewhere by Puriton, where no Welshman should +be. I helped hunt the knaves at the time. The sheriff took him for +a common outlaw like his comrades, and it was in my mind that there +would be trouble. So I told the sheriff, and he said that if the +king himself got mixed up with outlaws and cattle thieves he must +even take his chance with the rest. And thereon I said--"</p> +<p>"Thanks, friend," said Ina. "The rest shall be for tomorrow. +Bide here tonight, that you may tell all at the morning."</p> +<p>The man made a courtly bow enough, and went back to his seat, +and then Ina bade Owen see to his lodgment, and after that the +thralls carried out the body. I went quietly and walked along the +lower tables, bidding my men see if more Welshmen were present, but +finding none, and then I found the hall steward wringing his hands, +with an ashy face, at the far end of the hall.</p> +<p>"Master Oswald," he said, almost weeping, "how that man came in +here I do not know. I saw him not until he rose up. None seem to +have seen him enter, but men have so shifted their places that it +seemed not strange to any near him that they had not seen him +before."</p> +<p>"Had you seen him you could not have turned him away," I said. +"He came as a suppliant, and the king's word is strict concerning +such at these times. Good Saxon enough he spoke, too, in the way of +many of our half Welsh border thralls. I do not think that you will +be blamed. Most likely he slipped in as the tables were cleared +just now. There was coming and going enough, and we have many +strangers here.</p> +<p>"Who is the yellow-haired man?"</p> +<p>"A chapman from the town. Some shipmaster whom the ealdorman +knows."</p> +<p>Now, after I was back in my place and the bustle was ended, +there fell an uneasy silence, for men knew not if the feast was to +go on. Many of the ladies had gone, with the queen, and Elfrida was +there no longer. But Ina stood up with a fresh cup in his hand, and +he smiled and said, while the eyes of all were on him:</p> +<p>"Friends, we have seen a strange thing, but you have also seen +the deeds of a brave maiden and a ready warrior to whom I am +beholden for my life, as is plain enough. Yet we will not let the +wild ways of our western neighbours mar the keeping of our holy +tide. Maybe there is more to be learnt of the matter, but if so +that can rest. Think now only of these two brave ones, I pray you, +for I have yet the Bragi bowl to drink, and it is not hard to say +whom I should pledge therein."</p> +<p>Then he looked round for Elfrida, not having noticed that she +had gone with the queen.</p> +<p>"Why," he said, "it was in my mind to pledge the lady first, but +I fear she has been fain to leave us. So I do not think that I can +do better than pledge both my helpers together, and then Oswald can +answer for the lady and himself at once."</p> +<p>He rose and held the cup high, and I rose also, not quite sure +if I were myself or some one else, with all the hall looking at +me.</p> +<p>"Drinc hael to the lady Elfrida, bravest and fairest in all the +land of Somerset!" he cried. "Drinc hael, Oswald the king's +thane--thane by right of ready and brave service just +rendered!"</p> +<p>Then he drank with his eyes on me, and there went up a sort of +cheer at his words, for men love to see any service rewarded on the +spot if it may be so. Now I was at a loss what to say, and the lady +should have been here to bring the cup to me in all formality. +Maybe I should have stood there silent and somewhat foolish, but +that the ealdorman, her father, helped me out.</p> +<p>"Come and do homage for the new rank, lad," he said in a low +voice.</p> +<p>He was at the lower table near me now, for the high table had +been broken and the king stood alone on the dais.</p> +<p>So I went to the steps, and bent one knee at their top, and +kissed the hand of the king, and then held out the hilt of my +sword, that he might seem to take it and give it me again. But he +bade me rise, and so he took off his own sword, which was a +wondrous one, and the token of the submission of some chief on the +Welsh border beyond Avon, and he girt it on me with his own +hands.</p> +<p>"You nigh gave your life for me, my thane," he said. "That man's +knife was perilously near you."</p> +<p>He touched my tunic with his hand, and I looked. Across it where +my heart beat was a long slit that I had not found out yet, where +the knife flew at me. That stroke must have been the man's bane, +because to reach me thus he had thrown his arm across his chest, +and so had fallen on his weapon.</p> +<p>Then I was going, I think, though indeed I hardly know what I +did at that moment, but the king stayed me, laughing.</p> +<p>"Do not think that I am going to let you off the cup, though. +Now you shall pledge me, and if you have any vow to make which is +fitting for a thane, make it and let us all hear it. But you have +also the lady to think of in your words."</p> +<p>Then there was a little rustle at the door which was on the high +place, and the queen returned with some of her ladies, hearing that +all was seemly again, and she stood smiling at these last words. +But Elfrida was not with her, and I was glad, else I had been more +mazed yet. So I plucked up heart and took the cup from the hand of +the king, trying to collect my thoughts into some sort of fitting +words.</p> +<p>"Drinc hael Cyning," I said, while my voice shook. "Here do I +vow before all the Saints and before this company--that I will do +my best to prove myself worthy of this honour that has been set on +me!"</p> +<p>"Why, Oswald," said the queen, "that is no sort of vow such as +you should make, for we know that already, and you have proved it +now if never before. And you have forgotten Elfrida."</p> +<p>Now, I thought to myself that the last thing that I was ever +likely to do was to forget that maiden, and with that a thought +came into my head, and as the queen was smiling at me, and every +one was waiting, I grew desperate, and must needs out with it.</p> +<p>"Now, I cannot do better than this," I said, finding my courage +all of a sudden. "Here do I add to my vow that so long as my life +shall last I will not again forget the Lady Elfrida. Nor will I be +content until I am held worthy by her to--to guard her all the rest +of my days."</p> +<p>With that I drained the cup, and while the thanes laughed and +cheered all round me, and Ina smiled as if well pleased enough, the +queen set her hand on my arm, smiling also, and said:</p> +<p>"That was well said, my thane, but for one turn of the words. +Why did you not tell us plainly that you mean to win her? We all +know what you mean."</p> +<p>Then I went to my place, and I glanced at Herewald, to see how +he would take all this. Somewhat seemed to have amused him +mightily, and his eyes brimmed with a jest as he looked at me. +Presently, when men forgot me in listening to the vow Ina made, +that he would add somewhat to the new Church in thankfulness for +this escape, the ealdorman came near me and whispered:</p> +<p>"You are a cautious youth, Oswald, for I never heard a man turn +a hint from a lady better in my life. Nevertheless, if you are not +careful, Ethelburga will wed you to Elfrida for all your +craft."</p> +<p>He laughed again, and said no more. But I was looking at Owen, +who seemed to have some thoughts of his own that were troubling him +sorely. He smiled and nodded, indeed, when he caught my eye, but +then he grew grave again directly, and afterwards his horn stood +before him on the table untasted, and his look seemed far away, +though round him men sang and all was merry.</p> +<p>However, as one may suppose, the merriment was not what it +should have been, and none wondered much when Ina rose and left the +table with a few pleasant parting words. He was never one to bide +long at a feast, and he knew, maybe, that the house-carles and +younger men would be more at ease when his presence was no longer +felt by them. With him went Owen and the ealdorman, and Nunna, at +some sign of his, and after they went I had to stand no little +banter concerning my vow, as may be supposed.</p> +<p>I was not sorry when a page came and bade me join the king in +his own chamber, though it was all good-natured and in no sort of +unkindness. I will not say that I did not enjoy it either. So I +went as I was bidden, and found that some sort of council was being +held, and that those four were looking grave over it. I supposed +they had some errand for me at first, but in no long time I knew +that what was on hand was nought more or less than the beginning of +parting between Owen and me.</p> +<p>I will make little of all that was said, though it was a long +matter, and heavy in the telling, and maybe tangled here and there +to me as I listened. I think that Ina understood that trouble fell +on me as I heard all, for he looked kindly on me from his great +chair, while Nunna sat on the table and was silent, stroking his +beard, as if thinking. But Owen drew me to the settle by him, and +bade me hearken while the king told me the tale I had to learn.</p> +<p>Then I heard how Owen, my foster father, was indeed a prince of +the old Cornish line that came from Arthur, and how his cousins, +Morgan and Dewi, had plotted to oust him from his place at the +right hand of Gerent the king, and had succeeded only too well, so +that he had had to fly. It matters not what their lies concerning +him had been, nor do I think that Owen knew all that had been said +against him, but Gerent had banished him, and so he had wandered to +Mercia, and thence after a year or two to Sussex, having heard of +the Irish monks of the old Western Church at Bosham. So he had met +with me, and thus he and I had come to Ina's court together.</p> +<p>And as I heard all, I knew that it had been for my sake that he +was content to serve as a simple forester at Eastdean, for Ina told +me that across the Severn among the other princes of the old Welsh +lands he would have been more than welcome. I could say nothing, +but I set my hand on his and left it there, and he smiled at me, +and grasped it.</p> +<p>"And now," said Ina, "your hand has in some sort avenged the old +wrong, for you have brought about the end of Morgan, who was Owen's +foe. But this is a matter we need to hear more concerning. Do you +bring us that stranger that he may tell us what he knows."</p> +<p>I went to the hall again, and found him easily enough, for all +men were looking at him. He was in the midst of the hall, juggling +in marvellous wise with a heavy woodman's axe, which he played with +as if it were a straw for lightness. Even as I entered from the +door on the high place he was whirling it for a mighty stroke which +seemed meant to cleave a horn cup which he had set on a stool +before him, and I wondered. But he stayed the stroke as suddenly as +if his great arms had been turned to steel, so that the axe edge +rested on the rim of the vessel without so much as notching it, and +at that all the onlookers cheered him.</p> +<p>"Now it may be known," said he, smiling broadly, "why men call +me Thorgils the axeman."</p> +<p>Then he threw the unhandy weapon into the air whirling, and +caught it as it came to hand again, so that it balanced on his +palm, and so he held it as I went to him, and told him the king +would speak with him.</p> +<p>Whereon he threw the axe at the doorpost, so that it stuck +there, and laughed at the new shout of applause, and so turned down +his sleeves and bade me lead him where I would.</p> +<p>He made a stiff, outlandish salute as he stood before Ina, and +the king returned it.</p> +<p>"I have sent for you now, friend, rather than wait for morning," +he said, "for it seems to me that we have business that must be +seen to with the first light. Will you tell us what you know of +this man who has been slain? I think you are no Welshman of +Cornwall."</p> +<p>"I am Thorgils the Norseman of Watchet, king," he answered. +"Thorgils the axeman, men call me, by reason, of some skill with +that weapon which your folk seem to hold in no repute, which is a +pity. Shipmaster am I by trade, and I am here to seek for cargo, +that I may make one more voyage this winter with the more profit, +having to cross to Dyfed, beyond the narrow sea, though it is late +in the year."</p> +<p>"I thought you might be a Dane from Tenby."</p> +<p>"The Welsh folk know the difference between us by this time," +Thorgils said, with a little laugh. "They call them 'black heathen' +and us 'white heathen,' though I don't know that they love us +better than they do them. By grace of Gerent the king, to be +politic, or by grace of axe play, to speak the truth, we have a +little port of our own here on this side the water, at the end of +the Quantocks, where we seek to bide peaceably with all men as +traders."</p> +<p>"Ay! I have heard of your town," said Ina. "Now, can tell us how +Morgan and his brother came to be in company with outlaws?"</p> +<p>"He fell out with Gerent over us, to begin with. I went with our +chiefs to Exeter when we first came seeking a home, to promise +tribute if we were left in peace in the place we had chosen. Gerent +was willing enough, but Morgan, who claims some sort of right over +the Devon end of the kingdom, was against our biding at all, and +there were words. However, Gerent and we had our way, and so we +thought to hear no more of the matter. But the next thing was that +Morgan gathered a force and tried to turn us out on his own +account, and had the worst of the affair. That angered Gerent, for +he lost some good men outside our stockades. And then other things +cropped up between them. I have heard that the old king found out +old lies told by Morgan concerning Owen the prince, whom men hope +to see again, but I know little of that. Anyway, Morgan and his +brother fled, and this is the end thereof. We heard too that he +plotted to take the throne, and it is likely."</p> +<p>"Thanks, friend," Ina said. "That is a plain tale, and all we +need to know. But what say men of Owen, whom you spoke of? Is it +known that he lives?"</p> +<p>"Oh ay. They say that you know more of him than any one. Men +have seen him here at Glastonbury. Moreover, Gerent came to Norton, +just across the Quantocks, yesterday, and it is thought that he +wants to send a message to you asking after him. There will be joy +in West Wales if he goes back to the right hand of the king, for +one would think that he was a fairy prince by the way he is spoken +of."</p> +<p>Thereat Ina smiled at Owen, and Thorgils saw it, and knew what +was meant in a moment. He turned to Owen with a quick look, and +said frankly:</p> +<p>"True enough, Prince, but I did not know that I spoke of a +listener. On my word, if you do go back, you will have hard work to +live up to what is expected of you. Maybe what is more to the point +is this, that Morgan has more friends than enough, and it is likely +that they will stick at little to avenge him.</p> +<p>"Howbeit," he added with a quaint smile, "it shall not be said +that Thorgils missed a chance. Prince, if you do go back to Gerent +you will be his right hand, as they say. Therefore I will ask you +at once to have us Norsemen in favour, so far as we need any. +Somewhat is due to the bearer of tidings, by all custom."</p> +<p>Ina laughed, and even Owen smiled at the ready Norseman, but +Herewald the ealdorman and I wondered at him, for he spoke as to +equals, with no sort of fear of the king on him, which was not +altogether the way of men who stood before Ina.</p> +<p>Then said Owen quietly:</p> +<p>"Friend, I think there is a favour I may ask you, rather. I have +bided away from my uncle, King Gerent, because I would not return +to him unasked, being somewhat proud, maybe. But now it seems to +King Ina and myself that needs must I go to him to take the news of +this death of Morgan myself. It is a matter that might easily turn +to a cause of war between Wessex and West Wales, for if the man +tried to slay our king in his own court, it may also be told that +here was slain a prince of Dyvnaint. There is full need that the +truth should reach the king before rumour makes the matter over +great. You have seen all, and are known to the Welsh court as a +friend. Come with me, therefore, tomorrow and tell the tale."</p> +<p>"That I will, Prince," Thorgils said. "You will be welcome; but +as I warn you, there will be need for care."</p> +<p>"You know somewhat of the ways of the Welsh court," said +Ina.</p> +<p>"Needs must, Lord King. I am a shipmaster, and every trader I +carry across the sea, sometimes to South Wales, and sometimes to +Bristol, and betimes so far as to Ireland, tells me all he has +learned. It were churlish not to listen, and then we need warning +against such attacks as that of Morgan. Moreover, one likes +somewhat to talk of."</p> +<p>"That is plain enough," said Nunna, laughing.</p> +<p>"Maybe I do talk too much," answered the Norseman. "It is a +failing in my family. But my sister is worse than I."</p> +<p>Then the king laughed again, and so dismissed the shipman, and +presently Owen bade me make all preparation for riding to Norton on +the morrow early. Ina would have us take a strong guard, and I +should bring them back, either with or without Owen, as things +went.</p> +<p>But little sleep had I that night, for I knew too well that from +henceforth my life and that of my foster father must lie apart, and +how far sundered we might be I could not tell. There was no love of +the Saxon in West Wales, nor of the Welshman in Wessex.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a>. HOW THE LADY ELFRIDA SPOKE +WITH OSWALD, AND OF THE MEETING WITH GERENT.</h2> +<p>Gerent, the king of the West Welsh, as we called him, ruled over +all the land of Devon and Cornwall, from the fens of the Tone and +Parrett Rivers to the Land's End. Only those wide fens, across +which he could not go, had kept our great King Kenwalch from +pushing Wessex yet westward, and along their line had been our +frontier since his days until, not long before Ina came to the +throne, Kentwine crossed them to the north and cleared the +marauding Welsh of the Quantock hills and forests from the river to +the sea, setting honest Saxon franklins here and there in the +new-won land, to keep it for him. It was out of those deep wooded +hills that Morgan had come on the raid that ended so badly for his +brother and himself, for the wasted country was yet a sort of +no-man's land, where outlaws found easy harbourage, coming mostly +from the Welsh side. It would not need much to set the tide of war +moving westward again, now that our men knew the fenland as well as +ever the British learned the secrets of the paths.</p> +<p>Now that the time seemed to have come for him to leave Ina, Owen +feared most of all that the long peace would end, for that would +mean the rending of old friendships and certain parting from me. +How much longer the peace would last was very doubtful, and men +said that it was only the wisdom of Aldhelm that had kept it so +well, and now he was dead. It was not so long since that a west +Welshman would not so much as eat with a Saxon, so great was the +hatred they had for us, though that had worn off more or less. +Maybe it would have passed altogether but that there were the +differences between the ways of the two Churches which were always +cropping up and making things bitter again, and those were the +troubles that Aldhelm, whom Gerent honoured, had most tried to +smooth away with some sort of success. Yet it was well known that +many of the Welsh priests and people were sorely against peace with +the men who followed the way of Austin of Canterbury.</p> +<p>As for me, I almost wondered that Ina seemed so ready to part +with Owen, but presently I saw that if Gerent owned him again, my +foster father would be a link between the two kingdoms, which would +make for peace in every way. But for all that, in my own heart was +a sort of half hope that in spite of what the Norseman had heard, +Owen would not be welcomed back to the west, else I should lose him +altogether. There was no intercourse between our courts, now that +Aldhelm was gone.</p> +<p>But in the morning, when I came to say some of this to Owen, he +smiled at me, and said:</p> +<p>"Wait, Oswald. Time enough for trouble when it comes. Maybe you +and I will be back here this evening, and if not, I hope that my +staying with my uncle will mean peace between our lands. Let it be +so till we have seen what may be our fortune at Norton."</p> +<p>So I tried to let the trouble pass, and indeed at the morning +meal I had my new rank to think of, for my comrades would not +forget it, nor would they let me do so. The first man to greet me +as thane was Thorgils the Norseman, too, and he went with me to see +to choosing men and horses for our journey, and I was glad of his +gossip, for it kept me from thinking overmuch of the heavier things +that had kept me waking.</p> +<p>He would guide us across the hills to Norton, where Gerent was; +for though we knew somewhat of the Quantocks, beyond them we did +not go. The palace where the king lay was an ancient Roman +stronghold, and had belonged to Morgan, who was dead; and though +Thorgils had heard that Gerent was there to seek Owen, it was more +likely that he had come to see that the outlawed brothers did not +gather any force against him in their own place. It was many a year +since he had been so near our border.</p> +<p>Presently Thorgils would go down the town to the inn where he +had bestowed his horse, and I went with him, having an hour left +before we started, rather than face any more banter concerning my +thanedom. It was almost in my mind to go to the ealdorman's house +to ask after Elfrida, but I forbore, being shy, I suppose, and so +left the Norseman to join us presently, and went back to the king's +hall by a short cut from the village, whereby I had a meeting which +was unlooked for altogether.</p> +<p>That way was a sort of stolen short cut across the king's +orchard, which some of us used at times in coming from village to +hall, for it lay between the two on the south side of the hall +where the ground sloped sunwards. And as I leapt over the fence I +was aware of a lady who was gathering some of the ruddy crab apples +from the ground under their bare tree, for the hot ale of the +wassail bowl, doubtless, for we leave them out to mellow with the +frost thus. She did not heed me as I came over the soft snow, and +when she did at last look up I saw that she was Elfrida. Just for a +moment I wished that I had gone round by the road, but there was no +escape for me now, for she had seen me. So I unbonneted and went to +meet her.</p> +<p>There was a little flush on her face when she saw me, but it was +not altogether one of pleasure, for when I wished her good morrow, +all that I had in return was a cold little bow and the few words +that needs must be spoken in answer. Whereat I felt somewhat +foolish; but it did not seem to me that I had done aught to deserve +quite so much coldness, not being a stranger by any means. So I +would even try to find the way to a better understanding, and I +thought that maybe the sight of me had brought back some of the +terror of last night.</p> +<p>"Now, I hope that the rough doings of the feast have not been +troublous to you, Lady Elfrida," I said, trying with as good a +grace as I could not to see her cold looks.</p> +<p>I saw that she did indeed shrink a little from them as I spoke, +even in the passing thought.</p> +<p>But she answered:</p> +<p>"Such things are best forgotten as soon as may be. I do not wish +to hear more of them."</p> +<p>"Nevertheless," I answered, "there are some who will not forget +them, and I fear that you must needs be ready to hear of your part +in them pretty often."</p> +<p>"Ay," she said somewhat bitterly, "I suppose that I am the talk +of the whole place now."</p> +<p>"If so, there would be many who would be glad to be spoken of as +you must needs be. There is nought but praise for you."</p> +<p>Then she turned on me, and the trouble was plain enough in a +moment.</p> +<p>"But for yourself, Thane, there would have been nought that I +could not have put up with. But little thought for me was there +when you made me the jest of your idle comrades over that foolish +cup of the king's."</p> +<p>That was a new way of looking at the matter, in all truth. I +supposed that a vow of fealty to any lady would have been taken by +her as somewhat on which to pride herself maybe, from whomsoever it +came. Which seemed to be foolishness in this fresh light. Still, it +came to me that her anger was not altogether fair, for I was the +one who had to stand the jesting, and not one of my honest comrades +so much as mentioned her name lightly in any wise.</p> +<p>"That was no jest of mine, Elfrida," I said gravely enough. "If +there is any jest at all that will come from my oath, it will be +that I have been foolish enough to vow fealty to one who despises +me. The last thing that I would do is anything that might hurt you. +And my vow stands fast, whether you scorn me or not, for if it was +made in a moment, it is not as if I had not had long years to think +on in which we have been good friends enough."</p> +<p>"Ay," she said, turning from me and reaching some apples that +yet hung on a sheltered bough, "I have heard the terms of that vow +from my father, more than once. You can keep it without +trouble."</p> +<p>"Have I your leave to try to keep it?"</p> +<p>"You have had full leave to be a good friend of ours all these +years, as you say, and I do not see that the vow binds you to more. +No one thinks that you are likely to forget last night, or any one +who took part in that cruel business. And if a friend will not help +to guard a lady--well, he would be just nidring, no more or +less."</p> +<p>Then she took up her basket, which was pretty full and no burden +for a lady, for she had picked fast and heedlessly as she spoke to +me, and so turned away.</p> +<p>"Nay, but surely you know that there was more than that meant," +I said lamely.</p> +<p>"No need to have haled my name into the matter at all," she +said.</p> +<p>And then, seeing that my eyes went to the basket, she smiled a +little, and held it to me with both hands.</p> +<p>"Well, if you meant some new sort of service, you can begin by +carrying this for me. I am going to the queen's bower."</p> +<p>I took it without a word, and we went silently together to the +door that led to the queen's end of the hall. There she stayed for +a moment with her hand on the latch.</p> +<p>But she had only a question to ask me:</p> +<p>"Do you go with your father to the Welsh king's court, as it is +said that he will go shortly?"</p> +<p>"We start together in an hour's time or thereabout," I answered, +wondering.</p> +<p>"Well then, take this to mind you of your vow," she said, and +threw a little bronze brooch, gilt and set with bright enamel, into +the basket, and so fled into the house, leaving me on the doorstep +with the apples.</p> +<p>I set them down there, and had a mind to leave the brooch also. +However, on second thoughts I took it, and went my way in a puzzled +state of mind. It certainly seemed that Elfrida was desperately +angry with me for reasons which were not easy to fathom, and yet +she had given me this--that is, if to have a thing thrown at one is +to have it given. But I was not going to quarrel with the manner of +a gift from Elfrida, and so I went on with it in my hand, and as I +turned the corner into a fresh path I also ran into the abbot of +the new minster, who was on his way to speak with Owen before he +set out. He had been a great friend of Bishop Aldhelm's, and I had +known him well since the old days of Malmesbury.</p> +<p>"So Oswald," he cried, "I have been looking for you, that I +might wish you all good in your thaneship. Why, some of us are +proud of you. And I, having known you since you were a child, feel +as if I had some sort of a share in your honours. But what is +amiss? One would look to see you the gayest of the gay, and it +seems as if the world had gone awry with you."</p> +<p>Now, the abbot was just the friend to whom I could tell my +present trouble without fear of being mocked, for he was wont to +stand to us boys of the court as the good friend who would help us +out of a scrape if he could, and make us feel ashamed thereof in +private afterward, in all kindliness. So I told him what was on my +mind, for he was at the feast last night.</p> +<p>"It is all that vow of mine," I said. "I have just met Elfrida, +and she is angry with me for naming her at all."</p> +<p>"Unfair," said the abbot. "You could not have helped it, seeing +that you were bidden to do so."</p> +<p>I had forgotten that, and it was possible that Elfrida did not +know it. So I said that I did not look for quite the scorn I had +met with, at all events. Whereon the abbot stayed in his walk and +asked more, trying to look grave as he heard me, and soon he had +all the story.</p> +<p>"So you carried the basket like any thrall, and had my Yuletide +gift to her in payment," he said, with his eyes twinkling; "I will +ask if she has lost it presently, and you will be avenged."</p> +<p>He laughed again, and then said more gravely, but with a smile +not far off:</p> +<p>"Go to, Oswald, don't ask me to make the ways of a damsel plain +to you, for that was more than Solomon himself could compass. But I +think I know what is wrong. Her father has been making a jest to +her of the way you worded your vow, laughing mightily after his +manner, and she is revenging herself on you. Never mind. Wait till +you come back from this journey, and then see how things are with +her. Now let us talk of your errand, for it is important."</p> +<p>Then we went slowly together, and he told me how that he had +foreseen for a long time that Owen would return to his uncle and +take his right place again. Also he told me that Morgan had a +strong party on his side, and that we might have trouble with them +if Owen was taken into favour again.</p> +<p>"As I hope he may be," he added with a sigh; "for I have seen +the war cloud drifting nearer every year under the guidance of +Morgan and his fellows."</p> +<p>Then we turned into the courtyard, and he went to speak to Owen +in the hall, turning with a last smile to bid me hide the brooch, +lest Elfrida should hear some jesting about that next. So I pinned +it under my cloak, and then went and donned my arms, and saw to all +things for the journey, both for Owen and myself; and so at last +the hour came when I led the men round to the great door of the +hall, and sent one to say that all was ready.</p> +<p>Now the king came forth, and with him was Owen. Ina wore his +everyday dress, but my foster father was fully armed, and as those +two stood there I thought that I had never seen a more kingly +looking pair, silent and thoughtful both, and with lines of care on +their foreheads, and both in their prime of life.</p> +<p>Behind me I heard Thorgils say to Godred, the chief house-carle: +"If there were choice, I would take the king that wears the war +gear. That is the only dress that to my mind fits a man who shall +lead warriors."</p> +<p>Now the king came and spoke with me, bidding me be on my guard +against any attack while we were at Norton, telling me plainly also +that he deemed that there was danger to both of us at the first, +somewhat in the way in which the abbot had already spoken to me. I +daresay the words were his, for he had been counselling Owen.</p> +<p>Then the queen came forth with her ladies, and there was an +honour for us, for she herself brought the stirrup cup to Owen, +bidding him farewell, at the same time that the king must needs +send Elfrida with another cup to me, saying that it was my due for +last night's omission. But there was no smile as she set it in my +hand, and she waited with head turned away until I gave it back to +her, as if she looked at Owen rather than any one else. Then it was +only a short word of farewell that she said to me, and yet it did +seem that her eyes were less grave than she would seem in face as +she turned back to the other ladies on the hall steps.</p> +<p>Then Owen unhelmed and turned his horse to the gates, and after +him we went clattering down the street. In a minute or two Thorgils +came alongside me.</p> +<p>"So that was the lady of the vow, surely. Well, you may be +excused for making it, though indeed it is rash to bind +oneself--nay, but it seems that this is one of those matters +whereon I must hold my tongue!"</p> +<p>For I had spurred my horse a little impatiently, and he +understood well enough. I did not altogether care that this +stranger should talk of my affairs--more particularly as they did +not seem to be going at all rightly. So he said no more of them, +but began to talk of himself gaily, while Owen rode alone at our +head, as he would sometimes if his thoughts were busy.</p> +<p>Presently he reined up and came alongside us, taking his part in +our talk in all cheerfulness. And from that time I had little +thought but of the pleasantness of the ride in the sharp winter air +and under the bright sun with him toward the new court which I had +often longed to see, with its strange ways, in the ancient +British-Roman palace that he had so often told me of.</p> +<p>So we rode along the ancient and grass-grown Roman road that +lies on the Polden ridge, hardly travelled save by a few chapmen, +since the old town they called Uxella was lost in the days of my +forefathers. The road had no ending now, as one may say, for beyond +the turning to the bridge across the Parrett for which we were +making it passed to nought but fen and mere where once had been the +city. All the wide waters on either side of the hills were hard +frozen, and southward, across to where we could see the blue hill +of ancient Camelot, the ice flashed black and steely under the red +low sun of midwinter. Before us the Quantocks lay purple and +deepest brown where the woods hid the snow that covered them. Over +us, too, went the long strings of wild geese, clanging in their +flight in search of open water--and it was the wolf month again, +and even so had they fled on that day when Owen found me in the +snow.</p> +<p>And therewith we fell into talk of Eastdean, and dimly enough I +recalled it all. I knew that an Erpwald held the place even yet, +but I cared not. It was but a pleasant memory by reason of the +coming of Owen, and I had no thought even to see the place again. +Only, as we talked it did seem to me that I would that I knew that +the grave of my father was honoured.</p> +<p>Then we left the old road, and crossed the ancient Parrett +bridge, where the Roman earthworks yet stood frowning as if they +would stay us. They were last held against Kenwalch, and now we +were in that no-man's land which he had won and wasted. Then we +climbed the long slope of the Quantocks, whence we might look back +over the land we had left, to see the Tor at Glastonbury +shouldering higher and higher above the lower Poldens, until the +height was reached and the swift descent toward Norton began. There +we could see all the wild Exmoor hills before us, with the sea away +to our right, and Thorgils shewed us where lay, under the very +headlands of the hills we were crossing, the place where his folk +had their haven. He said that he could see the very smoke from the +hearths, but maybe that was only because he knew where it ought to +be, and we laughed at him.</p> +<p>So we came to the outskirts of Norton, and all the way we had +seen no man. The hills were deserted, save by wild things, and of +them there was plenty. And now for the first time I saw men living +in houses built of stone from ground to roof, and that was strange +to me. We Saxons cannot abide aught but good timber. Here none of +us had ever come, and still some of the houses built after the +Roman fashion remained, surrounded, it is true, by mud hovels of +yesterday, as one might say, but yet very wonderful to me. Many a +time I had seen the ruined foundations of the like before, but one +does not care to go near them. The wastes our forefathers made of +the old towns they found here, and had no use for, lie deserted, +for they are haunted by all things uncanny, as any one knows. Maybe +that is because the old Roman gods have come back to their old +places, now that the churches are no longer standing.</p> +<p>Through the village we went, and then came to the walls of the +ancient stronghold, and they seemed as if they were but lately +raised, so strong were they and high. The gates were in their +places, and at them was a guard, and through them, for they stood +open, I could see the white walls and flat roof of the house, or +rather palace, which was either that of the Roman governor of the +place, or else had been rebuilt or restored from time to time in +exactly the same wise, so that it stood fair and lordly and fit for +a king's dwelling even yet. Maybe the wattled hovels of the thralls +that clustered round it inside the great earthworks were not what +would have been suffered in the days of those terrible men who made +the fortress, but I doubt not that they stood on the foundations of +the quarters of the soldiers who had held it for Rome.</p> +<p>The guard turned out in orderly wise as we came to the gates, +and they wore the Roman helm and corselet, and bore the heavy Roman +spear and short heavy sword. But that war gear I had seen before on +the other Welsh border, and I had a scar, moreover, that would tell +that I had been within reach of one weapon or the other. I knew +their tongue, too, almost as well as my own, for Owen had taught it +me, saying that I might need it at some time. It had already been +of use to the king in the frontier troubles, for I could interpret +for him, but I think that Owen had in his mind the coming of some +such day as this.</p> +<p>Now, Owen would have me speak to the guard and tell them our +errand, and I rode forward and did so. The short day was almost +over by this time; and the captain who came to meet me did not seem +to notice my Saxon arms in the shadow of the high rampart. Hearing +that we bore a message for the king, he sent a man to ask for +directions, and meanwhile we waited. I asked him if there was any +news, thinking it well to know for certain if aught had been heard +yet of the end of Morgan. News of that sort flies fast.</p> +<p>"No news at all," he answered. "What did you expect?"</p> +<p>"I had heard of the death of a prince, and do not know the +rights thereof."</p> +<p>"Why, where have you been? That is old news. It was only Dewi, +and he is no loss. The Saxon sheriff hung him, even as the king +said he would do to him an he caught him, so maybe it is the same +in the end. I have not heard that any one is sorry to lose +him."</p> +<p>He laughed, and if it was plain that Morgan's brother was not +loved, it was also plain that nought was known of the end of the +other prince yet. We were first with the tidings here, and that +might be as well.</p> +<p>Now a message came to bid us enter, and the steward who brought +it told us that we were to be lodged in some great guest chamber, +and that we should speak with the king shortly.</p> +<p>The men bided outside the walls, the captain leading them to a +long row of timber-built stables which stood close at hand by the +gate. Presently, when the horses were bestowed, they would be +brought to the guest hall; so Thorgils went with them, while the +steward led Owen and myself through the gate and to the palace, +which stood squarely in the midst of the fortress, with a space +between it and the other buildings which filled the area.</p> +<p>By daylight I knew afterwards that it was uncared for, and +somewhat dilapidated without, but in the falling dusk it looked all +that it should. We entered through a wide door, and passed a +guardroom where many men lounged, armed and unarmed, and then were +in a courtyard formed by the four sides of the building, +wonderfully paved, and with a frozen fountain in its midst. There +were windows all round the walls which bounded this court, and the +light shone red from them, very cheerfully, and already there was +bustle of men who crossed and passed through the palace making +ready for our reception. The steward led us to the northern wing of +the house across this court, and so took us into an antechamber, as +it seemed, warm and bright, with hanging lamps, and with painted +walls and many-patterned tiled floor, but for all its warmth with +no fire to be seen, which was strange enough to me.</p> +<p>And so soon as the bright light shone on Owen I saw the steward +start and gaze at him fixedly, and then as Owen smiled a little at +him he fell on his knees and cried softly some words of welcome, +with tears starting in his eyes.</p> +<p>"Oh my Lord," he said, "is it indeed you? This is a good day.--A +thousand welcomes!"</p> +<p>Owen raised him kindly, and set his finger on his lip.</p> +<p>"It is well that you have been the first to know me, friend," he +said. "Now hold your peace for a little while till we see what says +my uncle. I must have word with him at once, if it can be managed, +before others know me. It will be best."</p> +<p>"He waits you, Lord. It was his word that he would see the Saxon +alone."</p> +<p>Then he led us into another room like to that we left, but +larger, and with rich carpets on the tiled floor, and there sat +Gerent alone to wait us. I thought him a wonderful looking old man, +and most kingly, as he rose and bowed in return when we greeted +him. His hair was white, and his long beard even whiter, but his +eyes were bright. Purple and gold he wore, and those robes and the +golden circlet on his head shewed that he had put on the kingly +dress to meet with the messenger of a king.</p> +<p>Almost had Owen sprung toward him, but he forbore, and when the +king had taken his seat he went slowly to him, holding out a letter +which Ina had written for him, saying nothing. And Gerent took it +without a word or so much as a glance at the bearer from under his +heavy brows, and opened it.</p> +<p>Owen stood back by me, and we watched the face of the king as he +read. We saw his brows knit themselves fiercely at first, and then +as he went on they cleared until he seemed as calm as when he first +met us. But the flush that had come with the frown had not faded +when at last he looked keenly at us.</p> +<p>"Come nearer," he said in a harsh voice, speaking in fair Saxon. +"Know you what is written herein?"</p> +<p>"I know it," Owen said.</p> +<p>"Here Ina says that this is borne by one whom I know. Is it you +or this young warrior?"</p> +<p>Then Owen went forward and fell on one knee before the king, and +said in his own tongue--the tongue of Cornwall and of Devon:</p> +<p>"I am that one of whom Ina has spoken. Yet it is for Gerent to +say whether he will own that he knows me even yet."</p> +<p>I saw the king start as the voice of Owen came to him in the +familiar language, and he knitted his brows as one who tries to +recall somewhat forgotten, and he looked searchingly in the face of +the man who knelt before him, scanning every feature.</p> +<p>And at last he said in a hushed voice, not like the harsh tones +of but now:</p> +<p>"Can it be Owen?--Owen, the son of my sister? They said that one +like him served the Saxon, but I did not believe it. That is no +service for one of our line."</p> +<p>"What shall an exile do but serve whom he may, if the service be +an honoured one? Yet I will say that I wandered long, seeing and +learning, before there came to me a reason that I should serve Ina. +To you I might not return."</p> +<p>But the king was silent, and I thought that he was wroth, while +Owen bided yet there on his knee before him, waiting his word. And +when that came at last, it was not as I feared.</p> +<p>Slowly the king set forth his hand, and it shook as he did so. +He laid it on Owen's head, while the letter that was on his knees +fluttered unheeded to the floor as he bent forward and spoke +softly:</p> +<p>"Owen, Owen," he said, "I have forgotten nought. Forgive the old +blindness, and come and take your place again beside me."</p> +<p>And as Owen took the hand that would have raised him and kissed +it, the old king added in the voice of one from whom tears are not +so far:</p> +<p>"I have wearied for you, Owen, my nephew. Sorely did I wrong you +in my haste in the old days, and bitterly have I been punished. I +pray you forgive."</p> +<p>Then Owen rose, and it seemed to me that on the king the weight +of years had fallen suddenly, so that he had grown weak and needful +of the strong arm of the steadfast prince who stood before him, and +I took the arm of the steward and pulled him unresisting through +the doorway, so that what greeting those two might have for one +another should be their own.</p> +<p>Then said the steward to me as we looked at one another:</p> +<p>"This is the best day for us all that has been since the prince +who has come back left us. There will be joy through all +Cornwall."</p> +<p>But I knew that what I dreaded had come to pass, and that from +henceforth the way of the prince of Cornwall and of the house-carle +captain of Ina's court must lie apart, and I had no answer for +him.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a>. HOW OSWALD FELL INTO BAD +HANDS, AND FARED EVILLY, ON THE QUANTOCKS.</h2> +<p>It would be long for me to tell how presently Owen called me in +to speak with the king, and how he owned me as his foster son in +such wise that Gerent smiled on him, and spoke most kindly to me as +though I had indeed been a kinsman of his own. And then, after we +had spoken long together, Thorgils was sent for, and he told the +tale of the end of Morgan plainly and in few words, yet in such +skilful wise that as he spoke I could seem to see once more our +hall and myself and Elfrida at the dais, even as though I were an +onlooker.</p> +<p>"You are a skilful tale teller," the king said when he ended. +"You are one of the Norsemen from Watchet, as I am told."</p> +<p>"I am Thorgils the shipmaster, who came to speak with you two +years ago, when we first came here. Men say that I am no bad +sagaman."</p> +<p>"This is a good day for me," Gerent said, "and I will reward you +for your tale. Free shall the ship of Thorgils be from toil or +harbourage in all ports of our land from henceforward. I will see +that it is known."</p> +<p>"That is a good gift, Lord King," said the Norseman, and he +thanked Gerent well and heartily, and so went his way back to the +guest chambers with a glad heart.</p> +<p>Then Gerent said gravely:</p> +<p>"I suppose that there are men who would call all these things +the work of chance or fate. But it is fitting that vengeance on him +who wronged you should come from the hand of one whom you have +cared for. That has not come by chance; but I think it will be well +that it is not known here just at first whose was the hand that +slew Morgan."</p> +<p>"For fear of his friends?" asked Owen thoughtfully.</p> +<p>"Ay, for that reason. Overbearing and proud was he, but for all +that there are some who thought him the more princely because he +was so. And there are few who know that he did indeed try to end my +life, for I would not spread abroad the full shame of a prince of +our line. Men have thought that I would surely take him into favour +again, but that was not possible. Only, I would that he had met a +better ending."</p> +<p>The old king sighed, and was silent. Presently Owen said that I +must see to the men and horses, and I rose up to leave the chamber, +and then the king said:</p> +<p>"We shall see you again at the feast I am making for you all. +Then tomorrow you must take back as kingly a letter to Ina as he +wrote to me, and so return to Owen for as long as your king will +suffer you to bide with us."</p> +<p>So I went to the stables first of all, and there was Thorgils +bidding a Welsh groom to get out his horse while he took off the +arms that had been lent him from our armoury, for he was but half +armed when he came.</p> +<p>"There is no need to do that," I said; "for if Ina arms a man, +it is as a gift for service done, if he is not too proud to take +it. But are you not biding for the feast?"</p> +<p>"First of all," he said, laughing, "none ever knew a Norseman +too proud to accept good arms from a king. Thank Ina for me in all +form. And as to my going, seeing that tide waits for no man, if I +do not get home shortly I shall lose the tide I want for a bit of a +winter voyage I have on hand; wherefore I must go. Farewell, and +good luck to you. This business has turned out well, after all, and +a great man you will be in this land before long. Don't forget us +Norsemen when that comes about, and if ever you need a man at your +back, send for me. You might have a worse fence than my axe, and I +have a liking for you; farewell again."</p> +<p>I laughed and shook hands with him, and he swung himself into +the saddle and rode away.</p> +<p>There was high feasting that night in the guest hall of Norton, +as may be supposed. I sat on the left of the king, and Owen on his +right, while all the great men who could be summoned in the time +were present, and it was plain enough that the homecoming of their +lost prince was welcome to every one in all the hall. Not one dark +look was there as I scanned the bright company, and presently not +one refused to join in the great shout of welcome that rose when +Owen pledged them all.</p> +<p>It was a good welcome, and the face of the old king grew bright +as he heard it.</p> +<p>Then the harpers sang; I did not think their ways here so +pleasant as our own, where the harp goes round the hall, and every +man takes his turn to sing, or if he has no turn for song, tells +tale or asks riddle that shall please the guests. Certainly, these +Welsh folk were readier to talk than we, and maybe the meats were +more dainty and the wines finer than ours, and in truth the Welsh +mead was good and the Welsh ale mighty, but men seemed to care +little for the sport that should come after the meal was over. Yet +these harpers sang well, and from them I learnt more about my +foster father than he had ever cared to tell me, for they sang of +old deeds of his. Doubtless they made the most of them, for it +would seem from their songs that he had fought with Cornish giants +as an everyday thing, and that he had been the bane of more than +one dragon. But one knows how to sift the words of the gleeman's +song, and they told me at least that Owen had been a great champion +ere he left his home.</p> +<p>Still, I missed the bright fire on the hearth, and the ways of +the court were too stately for me here. Men seemed not to like the +cheerful noise of my honest house-carles, who jested and laughed as +they would have done in the hall of Ina, who loved to see and hear +that his men were merry. We should have thought that there was +something wrong if there had not been plenty of noise at the end of +the long tables below the salt.</p> +<p>Now, I will not say that there was not something very pleasant +in sitting here at the side of the king as the most honoured guest +next to my foster father, but there was a sadness at the back of it +all in the knowledge that it was likely that from henceforth our +ways must needs go apart more or less, and that I might see him +only from time to time. For I was Ina's man, and a Saxon, and it +could not be supposed that I should be welcome here. I knew that I +must go back to my place, and he must bide in his that he had found +again, and so there was the sorrow of parting to spoil what might +else have made me a trifle over proud.</p> +<p>Gerent did not stay long at the feast, nor did the ladies who +were present, and Owen and I stayed for but a little while after +they had gone. Then we were taken in all state to the room where we +should sleep, and so for the first time I was housed within stone +walls. There were a sort of wide benches along the walls covered +with skins and bright rugs for us to sleep on, but after I had +helped Owen to his night gear I took the coverings that were meant +for me and set them across the door on the floor and so slept. For +I had a fear of treachery and the friends of Morgan.</p> +<p>It was in my mind to talk for a while before rest came, but Owen +would not suffer me to do so, saying that it was best to sleep on +all the many things that happened before we thought much of what +was to be done next. So I wrapt myself in my rugs on the strangely +warm floor and went to sleep at once, being, as may be supposed, +fairly tired out with the long day and its doings. More than that +little space of time it seemed since we left Glastonbury, and even +my meeting with Elfrida was like a matter of long ago to me.</p> +<p>There was a bronze lamp burning with some scented oil, hanging +from the ceiling, which seemed so low after our open roofs, and we +had left it alight, as I thought it better to have even its glimmer +than darkness, here in this strange house. And presently I woke +with a feeling that this lamp had flared up in some way, shining +across my eyes, so that I sat up with a great start, grasping my +sword hastily. But the lamp burned quietly, and all that woke me +was the light of a square patch of bright moonlight from a high +window that was creeping across the broad chest of Owen as he +slept, and had come within range of my eyelids, for my face was +turned to him. The room was bright with it, and for a little I +watched the quiet sleeper, and then I too slept, and woke not again +until Owen roused me with the daylight from the same window falling +on his face.</p> +<p>"That is where I should have slept," I said, "for it is my place +to wake you, father."</p> +<p>He laughed, and said that it was his place in the old days, and +there was a sigh at the back of the laugh as he thought of those +times, and then we forgot the whole thing. Yet though it seems a +little matter in the telling, in no long time I was to mind that +waking in a strange way enough, and then I remembered.</p> +<p>We must part presently, as I found, at least for a little while. +There was no question but that Owen would stay at the court here, +and so Gerent had ready for me a letter which I should carry back +to Ina at once. He spoke very kindly to me at that time, giving me +a great golden bracelet from his own arm, that I might remember to +come back to bide for a time with him ere long. And then we broke +our fast, and my men were ready, and I parted from my foster father +in the bright morning light that made the white walls of the old +palace seem more wonderful to me than ever.</p> +<p>"Farewell, then, for a while," he said to me; "come back as soon +as Ina will spare you. There will be peace between him and Gerent +now, as I think."</p> +<p>Then came a man in haste from out of the gateway where we stood +yet, and he bore a last gift from Gerent to me. It was a beautiful +wide-winged falcon from the cliffs of Tintagel in the far west, +hooded and with the golden jesses that a king's bird may wear on +her talons.</p> +<p>"It is the word of the king," said the falconer, "that a thane +should ride with hawk on wrist if he bears a peaceful message. +Moreover, there will be full time on the homeward way for a flight +or two. Well trained she is, Master, and there is no better passage +hawk between here and Land's End."</p> +<p>That was a gift such as any man might be proud of, and I asked +Owen to thank the king for me. And so we parted with little sorrow +after all, for it was quite likely that I should be back here in a +day or two for yet a little while longer with him.</p> +<p>So I and my men were blithe as we rode in the still frosty air +across the Quantocks by the way we had come, and by and by, when we +gained the wilder crests, I began to look about me for some chance +of proving the good hawk that sat waiting my will on my wrist.</p> +<p>Soon I saw that the rattle and noise of men and horses spoiled a +good chance or two for me, for the black game fled to cover, and +once a roe sprang from its resting in the bushes by the side of the +track and was gone before I could unhood the bird.</p> +<p>"Ho, Wulf!" I cried to one of the men who was wont to act as +forester when Ina hunted, "let us ride aside for a space, and then +we will see what sort of training a Welshman can give a hawk."</p> +<p>So we put spurs to our horses and went on until they were a mile +behind us, and then we were on a ridge of hill whence a long wooded +combe sank northward to the dense forest land at the foot of the +hills, and there we rode slowly, questing for what might give us a +fair flight. Bustard there were on these hills, and herons also, +for below me I could see the bare branches of the tree tops on +which the broad-winged birds light at nesting time, twigless and +skeleton-like. For a while we saw nothing, however, and so rode +wide of the track, across the heather, until we found the woodland +before us, and had to make our way back to the road, which passed +through it. But before we came in sight of the road, from almost +under my feet, a hare bolted from a clump of long grass, and made +for the coverts. I cast off the hawk and shouted, but we were too +near the underwood, and it seemed that the hare would win to cover +in time to save herself.</p> +<p>Yet in a moment the hare was back again out of the cover, and +running along its edge in the open as though she had met with +somewhat that she feared even more than the winged terror which she +had so nearly baffled. And that was strange, for it is hard to get +a hare to stir from her seat if there is a hawk overhead, so that +sometimes men have even picked up the timid beast from her +place.</p> +<p>"There is a fox in the underwood, and she has seen him," I +cried, and then forgot all about the strangeness of the matter in +watching the stoop of the ready hawk, who waited only for one more +chance.</p> +<p>Not far did the hare win this time. The hawk swooped and took +her close to the edge of the wood, and I rode quickly to take the +bird again and give her her share of the quarry. And then, while my +eyes were fixed on her, and I was just about to dismount, I was +aware of something like a streak of light that flew from the +underwood toward me, and suddenly my horse reared wildly, and fell +back on me, pinning me to the ground.</p> +<p>At the same moment I heard Wulf roaring somewhat, and then he +was between me and the cover, and I saw him, through the dazedness +of my eyes with the fall, dismount and unsling his shield from his +back, with his eyes ever on the wood. Then an arrow struck the +ground close to me, and I heard another smite Wulf's shield with +the clap that no warrior can mistake. At that his steed took fright +and left us.</p> +<p>"Get my horn and wind it," I said, struggling to get free from +the horse. It was no mean bowman who had sent that first arrow, for +the poor beast never moved after it fell, and had spent its last +strength in rearing.</p> +<p>"That is crushed flat, Master," Wulf said between his teeth, and +he tried to lift the weight that was on me.</p> +<p>Then the arrows came thickly again, and he crouched over me with +the shield, behind the horse. It was lucky that I was almost +covered by it as I lay, for it was between me and the wood. I +writhed and struggled and at last I was free again, and Wulf helped +me to get my own shield from my back as I rose, and then we stood +back to back and looked for our foes.</p> +<p>"Morgan's people, I suppose," I said. "We should not have left +the men, for I knew that he was leagued with Quantock outlaws."</p> +<p>"A nidring set, too," said Wulf savagely. "Can't they show +themselves?"</p> +<p>As if the men had heard him, they came from the cover even as he +spoke. There were more than I could count after a few moments, for +they poured out in twos and threes from all along the edge of the +wood, and came cautiously toward us, in such wise as to surround +us. Wild looking men they were, with never a helm or mail shirt +among them, but they were all well armed enough with bow and spear +and seax, and more than one had swords.</p> +<p>Then I looked round to see if I could see my men coming, and my +heart sank. We were hidden from the road by the crest of the hill, +and I knew that the flight of the hawk had led us some way from it. +We could not be less than a full mile from them at the rate we had +ridden, and I did not think it likely that they had hurried after +us, for they would not spoil sport.</p> +<p>Now the men were round us in a ring that was closing quickly, +and Wulf and I had our swords out and were back to back facing +them. Not a word had been said on either side, and I was not going +to begin to talk to outlaws. If they had anything to say they might +say it. But they had not, and I knew that they would make a rush on +us directly.</p> +<p>One who seemed to be the leader whistled sharply, and the rush +came with a wild howl and flight of ill-aimed spears that were of +no harm. The circle was too close for a fair throw at us, lest the +weapon should go too far. I had time to catch one as it passed me, +and send it back with the Wessex war shout, and there was one man +less against us.</p> +<p>I think that I cut down one or two after that, and then I felt +Wulf reel and prop himself against me. Then I had a score of men +crowding on me, and they clogged my sword arm and gripped my shield +and tore it aside, and then from behind or at the side one smote me +on the head with a club or a stone hammer, and I went down. I heard +one cry that I was not to be slain, as I fell.</p> +<p>Then Wulf stood over me for a little while and fought all that +crowd, until he was on his knees at my side, and my senses were +coming back to me. Then he fell over me, and the men threw +themselves on me and pinioned me and thrust something into my mouth +and then bound me.</p> +<p>I knew that Wulf was slain at that time, and that he had given +his life for me. That was what he would have wished to do, but in +my heart there grew a wild rage with these men and with myself for +my carelessness that had led us into their hands.</p> +<p>Now they dragged me into the cover, and thither also they +brought Wulf and the fallen men, and for a little while all sat +silent, and soon I knew what they were waiting for. I heard the +voices of my men and the very click and rattle of their arms as +they trotted slowly through the wood along the road, and I tried to +shout to them, but the gag would not let me. So their sounds died +away beyond the hill, and after them crept some of the foe, to see +that they did not halt or turn back, as one may suppose. I thought +how that they had at least three miles to ride before they could +come to any place whence they could see that I and Wulf were not +before them, and then, when they missed us, how were they to begin +to seek us?</p> +<p>I suppose that my wits were sharpened with my danger, for I saw +one thing that might help them even while I was thinking this. My +hawk had gorged herself with her prey when the fight had turned +aside from her, and so she was sitting sleepily and contented on +the high bough of one of the trees that stood at the wood's edge. +And she still had her jesses on, so that my men would know her if +they caught sight of her by any chance.</p> +<p>Now the men who had me, being sure that all fear was past, began +to talk of what was to be done next, and they spoke in Welsh, +plainly thinking that I could not understand them. There were three +or four who seemed to take the lead under the one who had given the +signal for attack, and the rest gathered round them.</p> +<p>At first they were for killing me offhand as it seemed, but the +leader would not hear of that.</p> +<p>"Search him first, and let us see who he is," he said. "We may +have caught the wrong man, after all."</p> +<p>So they came to me and searched my pouch and thrust their grimy +hands into the front of my byrnie, and there they found the king's +letter, which they seized with a shout of delight. Then they took +my arms, wondering at the sword with its wondrous hilt. Only my +ring mail byrnie they could not take from me, as they feared to +untie my arms.</p> +<p>"Not much would I give for your life if this warrior got loose," +said one of them to that one who had the letter. "See how he glares +at you."</p> +<p>And true enough that was, moreover. I should surely have gone +berserk, like the men Thorgils told me of as we rode yesterday, had +I been able to get free for a moment.</p> +<p>They took my belongings to the leaders, and they asked for some +one who could read the letter, and there was none, even as I had +expected, so that I was glad.</p> +<p>"It does not matter much," the leader said; "doubtless it has a +deal of talk in it which would mean nought to us. We will have it +read the next time one of us goes to the church," and with that he +grinned, and the others laughed as at a good jest. "Let me look at +the sword he wore."</p> +<p>He looked and his eyes grew wide, and then he whistled a little +to himself. The others asked him what was amiss.</p> +<p>"If we have got Owen's son, we have taken Ina's own sword as +well," he said. "Many a time have I seen the king wear it before +the law got the best of me. It is not to be mistaken. Now, if we +are not careful we have a hornets' nest on us in good truth. Ina +does not give swords like this to men he cares nought for, and +there will be hue and cry enough after him, and that from Saxon and +Welsh alike."</p> +<p>"Kill him and have done. That is what we meant to do when we +laid up for him."</p> +<p>So said many growling voices, and I certainly thought that the +end was very near.</p> +<p>"Ay, and have ourselves hung in a row that will reach from here +to the bridge," the leader said coolly. "Mind you this, that with +the Welsh up against us we cannot get to Exmoor, and with the +Saxons out also we cannot win to the Mendips, as we have done +before now."</p> +<p>"There is the fen."</p> +<p>"And all the fenmen Owen's own men. Little safety is there in +that."</p> +<p>"But he slew Morgan, as they say."</p> +<p>"Worse luck for Morgan therefore. What is that to you and me, +when one comes to think of it?"</p> +<p>Now I began to understand the matter more or less. It seemed to +me that these were Morgan's outlaws, and that somehow they had +heard all the story. No doubt that was easy enough, for it would be +all over Norton before the night was very old after our coming. And +these outlaws have friends everywhere. So they had laid up for me, +and now the leader was frightened, as it would seem, or else he had +some other plan in his head. It did not seem that he had wished me +to be slain, from the first, if it could be helped. Maybe the +others had forced him to waylay me. A leader of outlaws has little +hold on his men.</p> +<p>"Let him swear to say nought of us, and let him go then," one of +the other leaders said in a surly way.</p> +<p>Then the chief got up and laughed at them all.</p> +<p>"There are six of us slain and a dozen with wounds, and we will +make him pay for that and for Morgan as well before we have done +with him. Now we must not bide here, or we shall have his men back +on us, seeking him. Let us get away, and I will think of somewhat +as we go. There is profit to be made out of this business, if I am +not mistaken."</p> +<p>Then they brought my man's horse, which they had caught, and set +me on it, making my feet fast under the girth. The men who had +fallen they hid in the bushes, and it troubled me more than aught +to think that Wulf should lie among them. My horse they dragged +into a hollow, and piled snow over him. Then they went swiftly down +the hillside into the deep combe, leaving only the trampled and +reddened snow to tell that there had been a fight.</p> +<p>I had a hope for a little while that the track they left would +be enough for my men to follow if they hit on it, but there was +little snow lying in the sheltered woodlands, and there the track +was lost. And these men scattered presently in all directions, so +that trace of them was none. Only the leader and some dozen men +stayed with me.</p> +<p>So they took me for many a long mile, always going seaward, +until we were in a deep valley that bent round among the hills +until its head was lost in their folds, and there was some sort of +a camp of these outlaws sheltered from any wind that ever blew, and +with a clear brook close at hand. All round on the hillsides was +the forest, but there was one landmark that I knew.</p> +<p>High over the valley's head rose a great hill, and on that was +an ancient camp. It was what they call the "Dinas," the refuge camp +of the Quantock side, which one can see from Glastonbury and all +the Mendips.</p> +<p>Here they took me from the horse and bound my feet afresh, and +took the gag from my mouth and set me against a tree, and so waited +until the band had gathered once more, lighting a great fire +meanwhile. Glad enough was I of its warmth, for it is cold work +riding bound through the frost.</p> +<p>When that was done the leader bade some of those with him fetch +the goods to this place, and catch some ponies ready against the +journey. I could not tell what this might mean, but I thought that +they had no intention of biding here, and I was sorry in a dull +way. It had yet been a hope that they might be tracked by my men +from the place of the fight.</p> +<p>After these men had gone hillward into the forest, others kept +coming in from one way or another until almost all seemed to have +returned.</p> +<p>One by one as these gathered, they came and looked at me, and +laughed, making rough jests at me, which I heeded not at all, if +they made my blood boil now and then. Once, indeed, their leader +shouted roughly to them to forbear, when some evil words came with +a hoarse gust of laughter to his ears, and they said under their +breath, chuckling as at a new jest:</p> +<p>"Evan has a mind to tell Tregoz that he treated the Saxon well," +and so left me. It seemed to me that I had heard that name at +Norton.</p> +<p>When the best part of the band had gathered again they lit +another fire fifty yards from me, and round it they talked and +wrangled for a good half hour. It was plain that they were speaking +about me and my fate, but I could hear little of what they +said.</p> +<p>The leader took not much part in the talk at first, but let the +rest have their say. And when they had talked themselves out, as it +were, he told them his plans. I could not hear them, but the rest +listened attentively enough, and at the end of his speech seemed to +agree, for they laughed and shouted and made not much comment.</p> +<p>Then the leaders got up and came and looked at me.</p> +<p>"Tell him what we are going to do with him, Evan," one said to +the chief.</p> +<p>So Evan spoke in the worst Saxon I had ever heard, and I thought +that it fitted his face well.</p> +<p>"No good glaring in that wise," he said; "if you are quiet no +harm will come to you. We are going to hold you as a hostage until +your Saxon master or your British father pay ransom for you, and +inlaw us again. That last is a notion of my own, for I am by way of +being an honest man. The rest do not care for anything but the +money we shall get for you from one side or the other, or maybe +from both. By and by, when we have you in a safe place, you shall +write a letter for us to use, and I will have you speak well of me +in it, so that it shall be plain that you owe your life to me, and +then I shall be safe. That is a matter between you and me, however. +None of these knaves ken a word of Saxon."</p> +<p>I suppose that I showed pretty plainly what I thought of this +sort of treachery to his comrades, for one of the others laughed at +me, and said:</p> +<p>"Speak him fair, Evan, speak him fair, else we shall have +trouble with him."</p> +<p>"I am just threatening him now," the villain said in +Welsh--"after that is time to give him a chance to behave himself," +and then he went on to me in Saxon: "Now, if you will give your +word to keep quiet and go with me as a friend I will trust you, but +if not--well, we must take you as we can. How do you prefer to +go?"</p> +<p>He waited for an answer, but I gave him none. I would not even +seem to treat with them.</p> +<p>"Don't say that I did not give you a chance," he said; "but if +you will go as a captive, that is your own fault."</p> +<p>And as I said nothing he turned away, and said to the rest:</p> +<p>"We shall have to bind him. He will not go quietly."</p> +<p>"How shall we get him on board as a captive?" one asked.</p> +<p>"That would be foolishness," Evan said; "the next thing would be +that every one would know who the captive that was taken out of +Watchet was. I have a better plan than that. We will tie him up +like a sorely wounded man, and so get him shipped carefully and +quietly with no questions asked."</p> +<p>"Well, then, there is no time to lose. We must be at the harbour +in four hours' time at the latest. Tide will serve shortly after +that," one of the others said. "What about the sword?--shall we +sell it to the Norsemen?"</p> +<p>"What! and so tell all the countryside what we have been +doing?--it is too well known a weapon. No, put it into one of the +bales of goods, and I can sell it safely to some prince on the +other side. No man dare wear it on this, but they will not know it +there, or will not care if they do. Now get a litter made, and +bring me some bandages."</p> +<p>It seemed to me to be plain that they would try to get me across +the channel into Wales, or maybe Ireland, and my heart sank. But +after all, Owen would gladly pay ransom for me, and that was the +one hope I had. And then I wondered what vessel they had ready, and +all of a sudden I minded that Thorgils had spoken of a winter +voyage that he was going to take on this tide, and my heart leapt. +It was likely that these men were going to sail with him, so I +might have a chance of swift rescue.</p> +<p>Now Evan went to work on me with the help of one of his men, who +seemed to know something of leech craft.</p> +<p>"This," said Evan, "is a poor friend of mine who has met with a +bad fall from his horse. His thigh is broken and his shoulder is +out. Also his jaw is broken, because the horse kicked him as he +lay. For the same reason he is stunned, and cannot move much. It is +a bad case altogether," and he grinned with glee at his own +pleasantry.</p> +<p>Then they fitted a long splint to my right leg from hip to +ankle, so that I was helpless as a babe in its swaddlings, and made +fast the other leg to that. They did not do more than loosen the +cords that bound me just enough to suffer them to pass the bandages +round until the splint was on, and the other men stood in a ring +and gibed at me all the time. After that they bandaged my right arm +across my chest as if for a slipped shoulder, but under the +bandages were cords that pinioned my elbows to one another across +my back, so that I could only move my left forearm. Evan said that +he would tie that also if need was, but it might pass now. I could +not reach my mouth with this free hand, if I did try to take out a +gag.</p> +<p>Next they bandaged my head and chin carefully, so that only my +eyes were to be seen. I suppose that I might be thankful that they +left my mouth uncovered more or less. And Evan said that he would +gag me by and by.</p> +<p>"No need to discomfort him more than this now," he added. "Maybe +he will be ready to promise silence when he has gone some time in +this rig."</p> +<p>By this time some had caught half a dozen hill ponies, and on +them they loaded several bales of goods, which I thought looked +like those of some robbed chapman, and I have reason to think that +they were such. They opened one of these, and in it they stowed my +sword and helm and the great gold ring that Gerent gave me. There +was some argument about this, but the leader said that it was +better to sell it for silver coin which they could use +anywhere.</p> +<p>Now Evan and two others dressed themselves afresh, and washed in +the brook. One would have taken them for decent traders when that +was done, for they were soberly clad in good blue cloth jerkins, +with clean white hose, and red garterings not too new. Good cloaks +they had also, and short seaxes in their belts. Only Evan had a +short Welsh sword, and the peace strings of that were tied round +the hilt. I wondered where the bodies of the honest men they had +taken these things from were hidden in the wild hills.</p> +<p>Half a dozen of the best clad of the other men took boar spears, +and so they were ready for a start, for all the world like the +chapmen they pretended to be. They put me into the litter they had +ready then, and four of the men were told off to bear me, +grumbling. It was only a length of sacking made fast to two stout +poles, and when they had hoisted me to their shoulders a blanket +was thrown over me, and a roll of cloth from one of the bales set +under my head, so that I might seem to be in comfort at least.</p> +<p>Then the band set out, and we went across the hills seaward and +to the west until we saw Watchet below us. There was a road +somewhere close at hand, as I gathered, for we stopped, and some of +the rabble crept onward to the crest of the hill and spied to see +if it was clear. It was so, and here all the band left us, and only +Evan and the other two seeming merchants went on with their +followers, who bore me and led the laden ponies. The road had no +travellers on it, as far as I could see, nor did we meet with a +soul until we were close into the little town that the Norsemen had +made for themselves at the mouth of a small river that runs between +hills to the sea.</p> +<p>Maybe there were two score houses in the place, wooden like +ours, but with strange carvings on the gable ends. And for fear, no +doubt, of the British, they had set a strong stockade all round the +place in a half circle from the stream to the harbour. There were +several long sheds for their ships at the edge of the water, and a +row of boats were lying on a sort of green round which the houses +stood with their ends and backs and fronts giving on it, as each +man had chosen to set his place.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a>. HOW OSWALD HAD AN UNEASY +VOYAGE AND A PERILOUS LANDING AT ITS END.</h2> +<p>I thought that Evan had forgotten to gag me, but before we went +to the gate of the stockade he came and did it well. I could not +see a soul near but my captors, and it would have been little or no +good to shout. So I bore it as well as I might, being helpless. +Then, within arrow shot of the gate, one of the men blew a harsh +horn, and we waited for a moment until a man, armed with an axe and +sword, lounged through the stockade and looked at us, and so made a +gesture that bid us enter, and went his way within. I hope that I +may never feel so helpless again as I did at the time when I passed +this man, who stared at me in silence, unable to call to him for +help.</p> +<p>Then we crossed the green without any one paying much heed to +us, though I saw the women at the doors pitying me, and so we came +to the wharf, alongside which a ship was lying. There were several +men at work on her decks, and it was plain that she was to sail on +this tide, for her red-and-brown striped sail was ready for +hoisting, and there was nothing left alongside to be stowed. She +was not yet afloat however, though the tide was fast rising.</p> +<p>Evan hailed one of the men, and he came ashore to him. The +bearers set down my litter and waited.</p> +<p>"Where is the shipmaster?" Evan asked.</p> +<p>The man jerked his thumb over his shoulder, and lifted his voice +and shouted "Ho Thorgils, here is the Welsh chapman."</p> +<p>I saw the head of my friend rise from under the gunwale +amidships, and when he saw who was waiting he also came ashore. +Evan met him at the gangway.</p> +<p>"I thought you were not coming, master chapman," he said. "A +little later and you had lost your voyage. Tide waits for no man, +and Thorgils sails with the tide he waits. Therefore Thorgils waits +for no man."</p> +<p>Just for a moment a thought came to me that Thorgils was in +league with the outlaws, and that was hard. But Evan's next words +told me that in this I was wrong. It would seem that the taking of +his ill-gotten goods across the channel had been planned by Evan +before he fell in with me, and maybe that already made plan was the +saving of my life, by putting the thought of an easy way to dispose +of me to some profit into the outlaw's head.</p> +<p>"I had been here earlier," he said, "but for a mischance to my +friend here. I want to take him with me, if you will suffer +it."</p> +<p>He pointed to me as he spoke, and Thorgils turned and looked at +me idly. I was some twenty yards from him as I lay, and I tried to +cry out to him as his eyes fell on me, but I could only fetch a +sort of groan, and I could not move at all.</p> +<p>"He seems pretty bad," said Thorgils, when he heard me. "What is +amiss with him? I can have no fevers or aught of that sort aboard, +with the young lady as passenger, moreover."</p> +<p>"There is nothing of that," Evan answered hastily. "It is but +the doing of a fall from his horse. The beast rolled on him, and he +has a broken thigh, slipped shoulder, and broken jaw, so that it +will be long before he is fit for aught again, as I fear. Now he +wants to get back to his wife and children at Lanphey, hard by +Pembroke, and our leech said that he would take no harm from the +voyage. It is calm enough, and not so cold but that we may hap him +up against it. If I may take him, I will pay well for his +passage."</p> +<p>Thorgils looked at me again for a moment.</p> +<p>"Well," he said, "if that is all, I do not mind. It would be +better if the after cabin was empty, but of course the princess has +that. There is room for him to be stowed comfortably enough under +the fore deck with your bales, however, and it will be warm there. +Ay, we will take the poor soul home, for his mind will be easier, +and that will help his healing. It is ill to be laid up in a +strange land. Get him on board as soon as you can, for there is but +an hour to wait for tide. I will ask no pay for his passage, for he +is but another bale of goods, as it were, swaddled up in that wise, +and I told you that I would take all you liked to bring for what we +agreed on."</p> +<p>Evan thanked him, and Thorgils laughed, turning away to go up +the town, and saying that he would be back anon. I groaned again as +he passed me, and he looked straight in my eyes, which were all +that he could see of me.</p> +<p>"Better on board than in that litter, poor fellow," he said +kindly; "it is a smooth sea, and we shall see Tenby in no long time +if this breeze holds."</p> +<p>He passed on with a nod and smile, and I could almost have wept +in my rage and despair. I could not have thought of anything more +cruel than this, and there was a sour grin on Evan's face, as if he +knew what was passing in my mind.</p> +<p>Now they lifted me once more and carried me to the ship, setting +me down amidships while they got the bales of goods on board. She +was a stout trading vessel, built for burden more than speed, but +she seemed light in the water, as though she had little cargo for +this voyage. She had raised decks fore and aft, and there were low +doors in the bulkheads below them that seemed to lead to some sort +of cabins. Under the forward of these decks the outlaws began to +stow their bales, the man who had called Thorgils ashore directing +them.</p> +<p>I lay just at the gangway, and a little on one side so as not to +block it, and I watched all that went on, helplessly. There was no +one near me, or I think that I should have made some desperate +effort to call a Norseman to my help. Maybe Evan thought me safer +here than nearer the place where all were busy, as yet, but +presently I heard voices on the wharf as if some newcomers were +drawing near, and Evan heard them also, and left his cargo to +hasten to my side. I saw that he looked anxious, and a little hope +of some fresh chance of escape stirred in me, though, as they had +carried me on board feet foremost, I could not see who came.</p> +<p>When they were close at hand their voices told me that one at +least was a lady, and that she and her companions were Welsh. I +supposed that this was the princess of whom I had heard Thorgils +speak just now. I should know in a moment, for the first footsteps +were on the long gangplank and pattering across it, while Evan +began to smile and bow profoundly.</p> +<p>Then there came past my litter, stepping daintily across the +planks, a most fair and noble lady, tall and black haired and +graceful, wrapped against the sea air in the rare beaver skins of +the Teifi River, and wonderful stuffs that the traders from the +east bring to Marazion, such as we Saxons seldom see but as +priceless booty, paid for with lives of men in war with West Wales +in days not long gone by.</p> +<p>She half turned as she saw me, and it gave me a little pang, as +it were, to see her draw her dress aside that it might by no means +touch me, no doubt with the same fear of fever that had been in the +mind of my friend at the first. But then she stayed and looked at +me and at Evan, who was yet cringing in some Welsh way of respect +as she passed. Her companions stopped on the gangplank, and they +were silent.</p> +<p>"Why is this sick man on the ship," she said to my captor, with +some little touch of haughtiness. "And why is he swathed thus? What +is wrong with him?"</p> +<p>Evan bowed again, and at once began his tale as he had told it +to Thorgils. But he did not say that I came from near Pembroke at +all. Now he named some other place whose name began with "Llan--" +as my home.</p> +<p>"The good shipmaster has suffered me to take him home, Lady, +subject to your consent," he ended. "I pray you let it be so."</p> +<p>Now the eyes of the princess had grown soft as she heard the +tale, and when Evan ended it there was pity in her voice as she +answered.</p> +<p>"Surely he may come, and if there is no fitting place for him he +shall even have the cabin to himself. I can be well content in +these warm things of mine on deck in this calm air, and he must +have all shelter."</p> +<p>"Nay, Lady, but there is the fore cabin, where he will be well +bestowed," Evan said hastily, beckoning at the same time to his +comrades that they might take me from this too unsafe place at +once.</p> +<p>He kept himself between me and her as much as he could all this +time, and I made no sign. It seemed to me that I could not, even in +my trouble, bring more pain to this soft-eyed princess by raising +the groan which was all that I could compass. What good would it +do? I could tell her nothing, and she could not dream of the true +reason that made me try to cry out. Maybe she would listen through +all the long hours to come to hear if the poor wretch she felt for +was yet in that dire pain that made him moan so terribly.</p> +<p>"Is he well bandaged?" she said, then. "It is ill if broken +bones are not closely set and splinted, and the ship will plunge +and rock presently."</p> +<p>Evan assured her with many words that all was well done, and yet +she lingered.</p> +<p>"I must see him well and softly bestowed in his place," she +said, half laughing, and turning to some who stood yet beyond my +range of sight. "Else I shall have no peace at all till we come to +land again."</p> +<p>Evan turned to me at that saying, to hide his face. He was +growing ashy pale, and the sweat was breaking out on his forehead. +And that made me glad to see, for he was being punished. Even yet +the princess might wish to see that my swathings were comfortable, +and if I once had my mouth freed for a moment all was lost to +him.</p> +<p>He signed to his comrades to lift me carefully, and then put a +bold face on the matter, and thanked the princess for her +kindness.</p> +<p>"Lady, I may be glad to beg a warm wrap or two from your store," +he said. "If it pleases you, we will shew you where he is to +lie."</p> +<p>So they went forward, I on my litter first, and the lady and her +people following. Evan knew well enough that little fault could be +found with the warm place that was ready for me among the bales +under the deck, and he was eager to get me out of sight before +Thorgils returned. They had made a place ready with some of the +softer bales for me to lie on, and there they lifted me from the +litter, very carefully indeed, that they might not have to +rearrange any of my bonds. Then the princess looked in through the +low doorway and seemed content.</p> +<p>"It is as well as one can expect on board a ship, I suppose," +she said, with a little sigh. "But I will send him somewhat to +cover him well."</p> +<p>And then she bade me farewell, bidding me be patient for the +little while of the voyage, and also adding that presently, when +she was at home, she would ask Govan the hermit to pray for me; and +so went her way, with the two maidens who were with her, and +followed by a couple of well-armed warriors, all of whom I could +see now for the first time.</p> +<p>Then Evan drew his hand over his forehead and cursed. As for the +other Welshmen, they looked at one another, saying nothing, but I +could see that they also had been fairly terrified. One of the men +of the princess came with a warm blanket to cover me, and he stayed +to see it put over me. It was as well that he did so, for Evan had +no time to see that my arm was yet loose, unless he had forgotten +that it ever had been so. Then they all went out, shutting the door +after them, and I was left to my thoughts, which were not +happy.</p> +<p>I began to blame myself as a fool for not trying to let the +princess see that all was not right. But still I could not lose +hope, for Thorgils might yet wish to see me, or the princess might +send her men to look in on me. There were more chances now than a +little while ago, as I thought.</p> +<p>I began to think over all that were possible, presently, and I +tried to get the gag from my mouth. I could not reach it with my +free hand, however, my elbows being too tightly fastened back even +after all the shaking of the journey. Then I thrust that free hand +and forearm well among the bandages across my chest, so that either +of my captors who thought of it might think that the other had +bound it, for I dared not try to loosen myself more yet. There +would be time for that when we were fairly at sea.</p> +<p>After that I lay still, and so spied the bale in which my sword +had been put, and that gave me some sort of hope by its nearness to +me, though indeed it did not seem likely that I should ever get +it.</p> +<p>I heard Thorgils come on board before very long, and I could +hear also the voice of the princess as she talked to him, though +with the length of the vessel between us, and the wash of the +ripples alongside in my ears, I did not make out if they spoke of +me. Evan spoke with them also, and it is likely that they did +so.</p> +<p>Presently I could tell by the sway of the ship that she was +afloat, and the men began to bustle about the deck overhead, while +Thorgils shouted some orders now and then. Soon the sides of the +ship grated along the wharf as she was hauled out, and then the +shore warps were hove on board with a thud above me. I felt the +lift of a little wave and heard the rattle of the halliards as the +sail was hoisted and the ship heeled a little, and then began the +cheerful wash and bubble of the wave at her bows as she went to +sea. The men hailed friends on shore with last jests and farewells, +and then fell to clearing up the shore litter from the decks.</p> +<p>Then Evan came and looked at me. Through the door I could see +the hills and the harbour beyond the high stern, and on that +Thorgils was steering, with his eyes on the vane at the masthead. +His men were coiling down ropes, and Evan's two men were sitting +under the weather gunwale aft, talking with the guards of the +princess. She was in the after cabin, I suppose, out of the way of +the wind, with her maidens. I could not see her.</p> +<p>"Art all well, friend?" said Evan, loudly enough for the nearest +Norseman to hear. "Well, that is good."</p> +<p>Then he sunk his voice to a whisper, and said: "That gag bides +in your mouth, let me tell you. I will risk no more calling to the +shipmaster."</p> +<p>He cast his eyes over me and grunted, and went out, leaving the +low door open so that he could see me at any time. It was plain +that he thought his men had fastened my arm.</p> +<p>Now I tried to get rid of the gag again, and I will say that the +outlaw knew how to manage that business. It filled my mouth, and +the bandage round the jaw held it firmly. In no way could I get it +out, or so much as loosen it enough to speak. And then I was worn +out, and the little heave of the ship lulled me, and I forgot my +troubles in sleep that came suddenly.</p> +<p>I was waked by the clapping to of the cabin door and the thunder +of the wind in the great square sail as the ship went on the other +tack. We had a fair breeze from the southwest over our quarter as +the tide set up channel, but now it had turned and Thorgils was +wearing ship. The new list of the deck flung the door to, and none +noticed it, for it was dark now except for the light of the rising +moon, and I suppose that the other noises of the ship prevented +Evan hearing that the door had closed.</p> +<p>I felt rested with the short sleep, and now seemed the time to +try to get free if ever. I got my left hand out of the bandages +where I had hidden it, and began to claw at my chin to try to free +it from the swathings that kept my mouth closed, but I could hardly +get at them, so tightly were my elbows lashed behind my back, and +it became plain that I must get them loose first if I could. It was +easy to get the bandages loose, but the knotted cord was a +different matter, for the men who tied it knew something of the +work, and the cord was not a new one and would not stretch.</p> +<p>Then I heard two of the Norseman talking close to the cabin +bulkhead.</p> +<p>"This is as good a passage as we shall ever make in the old +keel," one said; "but we shall not fetch Tenby on this tide. Will +Thorgils put in elsewhere, I wonder?"</p> +<p>"We could make the old landing place in an hour," was the +answer, "and we had better wait for tide there than box about in +the open channel in this cold. There is snow coming, I think."</p> +<p>I heard the man flap his arms across his chest, and the other +said:</p> +<p>"Where do these merchants want to get ashore? I expect that +Thorgils will do as they think best. He is pretty good +natured."</p> +<p>They went away, and it seemed that I might have an hour before +me. I was sure that if he had a chance Evan would land as soon as +he could, and at some other place than at the Danes' town if +possible, so that he might get me away without questions that might +be hard to answer.</p> +<p>So I strained at the cords which bound my elbows with all my +might, but I only hurt myself as the lashings drew tighter. I +twisted from side to side as I did this, and presently hit my elbow +hard against some metal fitting of the ship that seemed very sharp. +Just at first I did not heed this, but by and by, when I had fairly +tired myself with struggling, I minded it again, and so turned on +my side and set my free hand to work to find out what it was.</p> +<p>There was a stout post which came from beneath and through the +rough flooring of the cabin on which I lay, and went upward to the +deck. I daresay it was to make the cable fast to, but I could not +see that, nor did it matter to me what it might be for. But what I +had felt was a heavy angle iron that was bolted by one arm to the +post and by the other to a thick beam that crossed the ship from +side to side, so as to bind the two together. It had a sharp edge +on the part which crossed the floor, and it seemed to me as if it +had been set there on purpose, for if I could manage to reach it +rightly I might chafe through the cords at my back. Of course, +there was the chance of Evan coming in and seeing what I was at, +but I could keep my covering on me, maybe, and if Thorgils came, so +much the better. He would see that something was amiss.</p> +<p>It was no easy task to get myself in such wise that the cord was +fairly on the edge of the iron, but I did it at last, and, +moreover, I got the thick blanket that was over me to cover me +afresh. Then I started to try to chafe the cord through, and of +course I could only move a little at a time, and I could not be +sure that I was always rubbing it on the same place. And the great +post was sorely in my way, over my shoulder more or less, so that I +must needs hurt myself now and then against it. But as this seemed +my one chance I would not give up until I must.</p> +<p>Every now and then I stayed my sawing and had a great tug at the +cords, in hopes that they would give way, but at last I knew I must +saw them through almost to the last strand. It would have been easy +if I could keep at work on the same spot, but that was impossible, +for I could not see behind me, and the post kept shifting me as I +struck it.</p> +<p>I wondered now that I had seen nothing of Evan for so long. +Maybe if I had not been so busy the wonder would have passed, for I +should have been seasick as he was. There was some sea over on this +coast, and quite enough to upset a landsman. However, I was content +that he did not come, without caring to know why.</p> +<p>Then I became aware that the movement of the ship had changed in +some way. There was less of it, and the roll was longer. Soon I +heard Thorgils calling to his men, and then the creak of the blocks +and the thud of folds of canvas on deck told me that the sail was +lowered. After that the long oars rattled as they were run out, and +their even roll and click in the rowlocks seemed to say that they +were making up to some anchorage or wharf. The end of the voyage +was at hand, and I worked harder than ever at my bonds. I began to +fear that the cords would never chafe through enough for me to snap +them, and my heart fell terribly.</p> +<p>Now there was a shout from Thorgils, and his men stopped rowing. +I heard another shout from on shore, as it seemed, and the sound of +breakers on rocks was not so very distant as we slipped into smooth +water. The men trampled across the deck over my head and cast the +mooring ropes ashore, and then the ship scraped along a landing +stage of some sort and came to rest. I worked wildly at the +rope.</p> +<p>Judging from the voices I heard, there seemed to be a number of +people on shore, and soon I heard steps coming along the deck +towards the cabin door. Hastily I straightened myself, and got a +fold of my blanket over my free forearm just as it opened, and Evan +peered in. Past his shoulder I could see that it was bright +moonlight, and I had a glimpse of tall snow-covered cliffs that +towered over us.</p> +<p>"How goes it, friend?" he cried in a loud voice. "Hast slept +well? We are in your own land, and will be ashore soon."</p> +<p>That was for others to hear. Then he stood aside to let a little +more light into the cabin, and it seemed that he had no suspicions +that all was not as he would have it. He came inside and felt me +carelessly enough.</p> +<p>"Well," he said. "You are warm in here, and no mistake. If I +mistake not, you have been trying to wriggle out of these +bonds."</p> +<p>He set his hand under some of the lashings and pulled them +without uncovering me much, though it would not have mattered if he +had done so, as it was very dark in here.</p> +<p>As I knew only too well, they were fast as ever, and he +said:</p> +<p>"Well, we can tie a knot fairly. Presently we will loosen you a +bit--in the morning maybe."</p> +<p>He went and closed the door, and I fell to work again. He would +leave me now for a while.</p> +<p>There was a long talk from ship to shore before the gangplank +was run out, and presently Thorgils spoke to Evan, seemingly close +to the cabin door:</p> +<p>"Here's a bit of luck for your princess," he said. "Her father +is up in the camp yonder, with his guards behind him. Maybe there +is trouble with the Tenby Danefolk, or going to be some. It is as +well that we put in here. Now he bids us take the lady up to him +and bide to feast with him, Will you come with me?"</p> +<p>"I stay by my goods," answered Evan, with a laugh. "If there is +a levy in the camp there will be men who will need watching among +them."</p> +<p>"Why, then, we six Norsemen can go, and leave you to tend the +ship."</p> +<p>"That will be all right," said Evan, somewhat gladly, as I +thought; "so long as we are here you need have no fear. Every one +knows that a chapman will fight for his goods if need be. But a +Welshman will not meddle with a Welshman's goods."</p> +<p>"So long as he is there to mind them," laughed Thorgils. "Then +we can go. I do not know how soon we can be back, though."</p> +<p>"That is no matter. We are used to keeping watch."</p> +<p>"Ay. How is that hurt friend of yours after the voyage?"</p> +<p>"Well as one could expect," answered Evan, "He says he has slept +almost all the way. He is comfortable where he is."</p> +<p>They went aft, and soon I heard the princess speaking with them. +Then the well-known click and clash of armed men marching in order +came to me, as the chief sent a guard for his daughter. It was +terrible to hear the voices of honest men so close to me and to be +helpless, and I worked at the rope feverishly.</p> +<p>I heard the princess and her party leave the ship, and almost as +the last footstep left the deck one strand of the cord went. I +worked harder yet, with a great hope on me.</p> +<p>"Presently the Norsemen will be full of Howel's mead," I heard +Evan say to one of his men. "Then we will get ashore and leave +swiftly. I think we need not stay to pay Thorgils for the +voyage."</p> +<p>"Let us tell some of the shore men to bide here to help us," +said the other--"we have the Saxon to carry."</p> +<p>"That is a good thought."</p> +<p>They clattered over the plank ashore, and another strand of the +rope went at that time. I thought it was but one of another turn of +the line, however. Five minutes more of painful sawing and +straining and I felt another strand give way. That made three, and +now one of the two turns of line that held my arms could have but +one strand left, and that ought to be no more than I could break by +force. Then I wrestled with it with little care if my struggles as +I bent and strove made noise that might call attention to me, for +it was my last chance. The lines bruised and cut me sorely, even +through my mail, but I heeded that no more than I did the hardness +of the timbers against which I rolled; and at last it did snap, +with a suddenness that let my elbow fly against the iron that had +been my saving, almost forcing a cry from me.</p> +<p>I was yet bound to my splints, but with my arms free it was but +the work of a few seconds to cast off the last of my bonds, and +within five minutes after the strand had parted I was on my feet, +and rubbing and stretching my bruised and cramped limbs into life +again. Then I felt in the darkness for the bale that held my gear, +and found it and tore it open.</p> +<p>How good it was to gird the sword on me again, and to feel the +cold rim of the good helm round my hot forehead! I was myself +again, and as I slipped Gerent's gold ring on my arm I thought that +it was almost worth the bondage to know what pleasure can be in the +winning of freedom. I forgot that I was troubled with thirst and +hunger, having touched nothing since I broke my fast with Owen; +though, indeed, there was little matter in that, for I had done +well at that meal with the long ride before me, and one ought to be +able to go for a day and a night without food if need be, as a +warrior.</p> +<p>Still, I was not yet out of the trouble. Thorgils had gone to +some place that I knew nothing of, and I had yet to learn if there +was any hope from Evan's shore going, which might make things +easier or might not. I could hear no one moving about the ship, so +I pushed the door open for an inch or two, and looked out into the +moonlight, with my drawn sword ready in my hand.</p> +<p>We were in a strange place. The ship's bows were landward, so +that as I looked aft I could see that we lay just inside the mouth +of a little cove, whose guarding cliffs towered on either side of +the water for not less than ten-score feet above the fringe of +breakers, falling sheer to the water with hardly so much as a +jutting rock at their feet. There was no sign of house or man at +the hilltop, so that it was plain that we were not at Tenby.</p> +<p>Then I was able to see that we were alongside a sort of landing +place that was partly natural and partly hewn and smoothed from the +living rock into a sort of wharf at the foot of the cliff. From +this landing place a steep road, hewn with untold labour at some +ancient day, slanted sharply upward and toward the head of the cove +along the face of the rocks, which were somewhat less steep on this +side than across the water. I could not see the top of this road, +but no doubt it was that along which Thorgils and the princess had +gone, and no doubt also Evan thought to carry me up it before +long.</p> +<p>I had a hope that my friend would return too soon for that, but +it was a slender one. It was plain that he had gone too far for me +to call to him. Yet could I win clear of the ship I might find or +fight my way up after him, and that seemed easy with only these +three Welshmen against me, and they expecting no attack.</p> +<p>I looked for the two who were left if I slew Evan. One sat under +the weather gunwale, wrapped in a great cloak, and seemed to be +sleeping. The other was not far off on the landing place, watching +Evan, who was speaking with a dozen men at the foot of the +rock-hewn road. I suppose that the coming in of the ship had drawn +idlers from the camp I had heard of to see her, for they all had +arms of some sort.</p> +<p>This was bad, for it seemed certain that the whole crowd would +join with Evan in falling on me if he called on them. If I came +forth now I had full twenty yards to cover before I reached them +from the ship's side after I had settled with the men on watch. In +that space all would be ready for me, and they were too many for me +to cut through to the roadway. I thought too that I heard the +voices of more who came downward toward the ship, though I could +not see them whence I was.</p> +<p>Then it came into my mind that if there was any place where I +could hide myself on deck I would try to creep to it while none had +their eyes on the ship. Then Evan, as he went to the cabin to seek +me, would have to deal with me from the rear. But that I soon saw +was hopeless. The deck was clear of lumber big enough to shelter +me, and the moonlight was almost as bright as day on everything, +and all the clearer for the snow that covered all the land. So I +began to turn over many other plans in my mind, and at last it +seemed that the only thing was to wait in the cabin for the best +chance that offered. Most likely Evan would do even as he had said, +and try and get away at once, with all he could lay hands on. If +so, I thought it would be certain that in his hurry he would bring +all these men on board in order to get his goods, and maybe those +belonging to Thorgils also, out and away with all haste, and so I +could cut through them with a rush that must take them unawares, +and so win to the camp with none to hinder me. There might be +sentries who would stay me, but I should be within calling distance +of my friend. Moreover, a sentry would see that I was some sort of +a leader of men, and might help me. So I began to wish for Evan to +act, for my fingers itched to get one downward blow at him.</p> +<p>I had not long to wait. He finished his talk with the men, and +they all came to the ship, even as I had hoped. But only half of +them came on board, leaving the rest alongside on the rock so that +they might help the goods over the side. That was not all that I +could have wished, but I thought that I might get through them in +the surprise that was waiting for them. So I drew my sword, and for +want of shield wrapped the blanket from the floor round my left +arm, and stood by for the rush.</p> +<p>Evan walked in a leisurely way toward the door, talking to one +of the newcomers as he came. The rest straggled behind him.</p> +<p>"I wonder how my sick man fares now," he said, and set his hand +to the latch.</p> +<p>Then he opened the door and I shouted and sprung forth, aiming a +blow at him as I came. But I was not clear of the low deck, and my +sword smote the beam overhead so that I missed him, and he threw +himself on the deck out of reach of a second blow, howling. I was +sorry, but I could not stop, for I had to win to the shore and to +the road yet.</p> +<p>The other men shrank from me, and I went through them easily, +and so reached the shoreward gunwale. There I was stayed, for Evan +had never ceased to cry to his fellows to stop me, and there was a +row of ready swords waiting for me. And there were more men coming +down the path, Welshmen as I could see by their arms, and by their +white tunics which glimmered in the moonlight. So that was closed +to me, and it seemed that here I must fight my last fight.</p> +<p>Then as I could not go over the side I went to the high stern +and leapt on it, half hoping that the men on shore might not be +quick enough to stay me from a leap thence, but they were there +alongside before me. Evan was up now, and cheering on the men on +deck to attack me, but not seeming to care to lead them. They +gathered together and came aft to me slowly, planning, as it would +seem, how best to attack me, for the steering deck on which I was +raised me four feet or so above them. The men on shore could not +reach me at all unless I got too near the gunwale, when some of +them who had spears might easily end me.</p> +<p>Something alongside the ship caught my eyes, and I glanced at it +with a thought that here might be fresh foes. But it was only the +little boat that belonged to the ship. The wind had caught her, and +was drifting her at the length of her painter as if she wanted to +cross the cove to its far side. Perhaps the men saw that my eyes +were not on them for that moment, for they made a rush from the +deck to climb the steering platform.</p> +<p>Then I had a good fight for a few minutes, until I swept them +back to their place. Two had won to the deck beside me, and there +they stayed. Now I had a hope that the men on shore would come +round to the ship and leave the way clear for me, but Evan called +to them to bide where they were. He had not faced me yet, and I +bade him do so, telling him that this was his affair, and that it +was nidring to risk other men's lives to save his own skin. But +even that would not bring him on me.</p> +<p>Now the men whom I had seen coming down from the cliffs' top had +hurried to see what all the shouting meant, and I saw that they +were well-armed warriors and mostly spearsmen. Evan cried to them +to come and help, and they ranged up alongside. He told them that I +was a Norseman who had gone berserk, and must needs be slain.</p> +<p>"That is easily managed," said the leader. "Get to your bows, +men."</p> +<p>I saw half a dozen unslinging them, and I knew that without +shield I was done, and in that moment a thought came to me. I +suppose that danger sharpens one's wits, for I saw that in the +little boat was my last chance. I had not time to draw her to the +side, and so I cut her painter, which was fast to a cleat close to +me, and as I did so the first arrow missed my head.</p> +<p>Then I shouted and leapt from the high stern straight among the +crowd at Evan, felling one of his outlaw comrades as I lit on the +deck. But I could not reach him, and in a few seconds I should have +been surrounded. So I cleared a way to the seaward side and went +overboard, amid a howl from my foes. I thought that I should never +stop sinking, for I had forgotten my mail; but I came to the +surface close to the ship, and looked for the boat. She was +drifting gently away from me, and I knew that I should have all +that I could do to reach her before the bowmen got to work again +from the ship's deck. Some one threw an axe at me as I swam, which +was waste of a good weapon, and I hoped that it was not Thorgils' +best. Strange what thoughts come to a man when in a strait.</p> +<p>The water struck icy cold to me, and I felt that I could not +stand it long, but I gained on the boat with every stroke, though +it was hard work swimming in my mail and with a sword in my hand. I +got rid of the blanket that was hampering my left arm, and by that +time I was far enough from the ship for my foes to be puzzled by +it. The moonlight was bright on the water, but the little waves +tossed it so that it must have been hard for them to know which was +I and which the floating stuff. Certainly, the first arrows that +were shot when the bowmen got a chance at me from the ship or over +her were aimed at the blanket, for I heard them strike it. Then one +leapt from wave to wave past me.</p> +<p>I won to the boat just in time, for I could not have held on +much longer. The cold was numbing me, and if I stopped swimming I +must have sunk with the weight of mail. None of our old summer +tricks of floating and the like were of any use with that weight on +me. The arrows were coming thickly by that time, and I was glad to +get to the far side of the boat and rest my hand on the gunwale, +while I managed to sheathe my sword. The men could not see plainly +where I was, and the arrows pattered on the planks of the boat and +hissed into the water still, on the chance of hitting me. So I +thought it well to get out of range before I tried to get on board, +and so held the gunwale with one hand and paddled on with the +other, until the arrows began to fall short, and at last ceased. A +Welshman's bow has no long range, so that I had not far to go thus. +But all the while I feared most of all to hear the plash of oars +that would tell me that they had put off another boat in chase of +me.</p> +<p>A little later and I should have been helpless, as I found when +I tried to get into the boat. The cold was terrible, and it had +hold of my limbs in spite of the swimming. It was hard work +climbing over the bows, as I must needs do unless I wanted to +capsize the light craft as I had overset a fisher's canoe more than +once, by boarding her over the side, as we sported in the +Glastonbury meres in high summer; but I managed it, and was all the +better for the struggle, which set the blood coursing in my veins +again. Then I got out the oars and began to pull away from the +ship, with no care for direction so long as I could get away from +her.</p> +<p>The foe had no boat, for they were all clustered in the ship or +close to her on the rock, and there was a deal of noise going on +among them. When I was fairly out of their way, and I could no +longer make out their forms, I began to plan where I had best go, +and at first I thought of a little beach that I had seen on the far +side of the cove, thinking that I could get up what seemed a gorge +to the cliff's top, and so hide inland somewhere. But when I could +see right into the gorge, I found that it was steep and higher than +I thought. My foes would be able to meet me by the time I was at +the top.</p> +<p>There was no other place that I could see, for none could climb +from the foot of the cliffs elsewhere, since if he reached the +rocks he would have to stay where he leapt to them. So as there was +no help for it, I headed for the open sea. No doubt, I thought, I +should find some landing place along the coast before I had gone +far, and meanwhile I was getting a fair start of the enemy, who +would have to follow the windings of the cliffs if they cared to +come after me.</p> +<p>I pulled therefore for the eastern end of the cove, opposite to +the place where the ship lay, and so rounded the point and was out +in the open and tossing on the waves in a way that tried my rowing +sorely, for I am but a fresh-water boatman. Lucky it was for me +that there was little sea on, or I should have fared badly. Then I +pulled eastward, and against the tide also, but that was a thing +that I did not know.</p> +<p>The boat was wonderfully light and swift, and far less trouble +to send along than any other I had seen. There are no better +shipwrights than the Norsemen, and we Saxons have forgotten the +craft.</p> +<p>The terrible numbness passed off as I worked, but now the wind +grew cold, and the clouds were working up from the southwest +quickly, with wind overhead that was not felt here yet. I knew that +I must make some haven soon, or it was likely that I should be +frozen on the sea, but the great cliffs were like walls, and at +their feet was a fringe of angry foam everywhere. I could see no +hope as yet. Far away to the east of me a great headland seemed to +bar my way, but I did not think that I should ever reach it. And +all the while I looked to see the black forms of men on the cliffs +in the moonlight, but they did not come. That was good at +least.</p> +<p>Then at last my heart leapt, for I saw, as a turn of the cliffs +opened out to me, another white beach with a cleft of the rocks +running up from it, and I thought it best to take the chance it +gave me, for I feared the blinding snow that would be here soon, +and I felt that the sea was rising. If my foes were after me they +would have been seen before now, as they came to the edge of the +cliffs to spy me out, and anyway I dreaded them less than the +growing cold. Moreover, I thought that Evan would hardly get many +men to follow him on a chase of what he had told them was a madman, +and a dangerous one at that. He had his goods to see to also.</p> +<p>So I ran the boat into the black mouth of the gorge, and beached +her well by good chance. I had little time to lose, but I tied her +painter to a rock at the highest fringe of tide wrack, in hopes +that she might be safe. It was so dark here that I did not think +that Evan would see her from above. And then I began to climb up +the rugged path that led out of the gorge to the hilltops.</p> +<p>There were bones everywhere in it. Bones and skulls of droves of +cattle on all the strand above the tide mark for many score yards. +Their ribs stuck out from the snow everywhere, and the sightless +eye sockets grinned at me as I stumbled over them. But I had no +time to wonder how they came there, for I must get to the summit +before Evan and his men reached it by their way along the cliff. I +ate handfuls of the snow and quenched my thirst that was growing on +me again, and my strength began to come back to me as I hurried +upward. I was a better man when at last I reached the top of the +gorge than when I came ashore.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a>. HOW OSWALD CROSSED THE +DYFED CLIFFS, AND MET WITH FRIENDS.</h2> +<p>Now I halted before I lifted my head above the skyline, and +listened with a fear on me lest I should hear the sound of running +feet, and I was the more careful because I knew that the snow which +lay white and deep on all the open land might deaden any sounds +thereof. But I heard nothing save the wail of the wind overhead as +it rose in gusts. I wondered if Thorgils would be able to bide in +this little cove, or must needs put out to seek some other haven. +There seemed to be a swell setting into it.</p> +<p>So I crept yet farther up the path, crouching behind a point of +rock, and thence I saw a dark line on the snow that seemed to +promise a road, and that must surely lead to some house or village. +I went forward to it with all caution, and with my head over my +shoulder, as they say, but I saw no man. This track led east and +west, and was well trodden by cattle, but there were few footprints +of men on it, so far as I could see. So I turned into it, going +ever away from the ship, and hurrying. I had a thought that I heard +shouts behind me, but there was more wind here on the heights than +I had felt on the sea, or it was rising, and it sung strangely +round the bare points of rock that jutted up everywhere. Maybe it +was but that.</p> +<p>Inland I could see no sign of house or hut where I might find +food at least, but the cloud wrack had drifted across the moon, and +I could not see far now. It was a desolate coast, all unlike our +own.</p> +<p>Then I came to a place where the track crossed stony ground and +was lost in gathered snow. When I was across that I had lost the +road altogether, and had only the line of the cliffs to guide me to +what shelter I could not tell. And now a few flakes of snow +fluttered round me, and I held on hopelessly, thinking that surely +I should come to some place that would give me a lee of rock that I +could creep under.</p> +<p>Then the snow swooped down on me heavily, with a whirl and rush +of wind from the sea, and I tried to hurry yet more from the chill. +Then I was sure that I heard voices calling after me, and I ran, +not rightly knowing where to go, but judging that the coastline +would lead me to some fishers' village in the end. There seemed no +hope from the land I had seen.</p> +<p>Again the voices came--nay, but there was one voice only, and it +called me by my name: "Oswald, Oswald!"</p> +<p>I stopped and listened, for I thought of Thorgils. But the voice +was silent, and again I pressed on in the blinding snow, and at +once it came, wailing:</p> +<p>"Oswald, Oswald!"</p> +<p>It was behind me now and close at hand, and I turned with my +hand on my sword hilt. But there was nothing. Only the snow whirled +round me, and the wind sung in the rocks. I called softly, but +there was no answer, and I was called no more as I stood still.</p> +<p>"Oswald, Oswald!"</p> +<p>I had turned to go on my way when it came this time, and now I +could have sworn that I knew the voice, though whose it was I could +not say.</p> +<p>"Who calls me," I cried, facing round.</p> +<p>Then a chill that was not of cold wind and snow fell on me, for +there was silence, and into my mind crept the knowledge of where I +had last heard that voice. It was long years ago--at Eastdean in +half-forgotten Sussex.</p> +<p>"Father!" I cried. "Father!"</p> +<p>There was no reply, and I stood there for what seemed a long +time waiting one. I called again and again in vain.</p> +<p>"It is weakness," I said to myself at last, and turned.</p> +<p>At once the voice was wailing, with some wild terror as it +seemed, at my very shoulder, with its cry of my name, and I must +needs turn once more sharply:</p> +<p>"Oswald, Oswald!"</p> +<p>My foot struck a stone as I wheeled round, and it grated on +others and seemed to stop. But as I listened for the voice I heard +a crash, and yet another, and at last a far-off rumble that was +below my very feet, and I sprang with a cry away from the sound, +for I knew that I stood on the very brink of some gulf. And then +the snow ceased for a moment and the moon shone out from the break +in the clouds, and I saw that my last footprint whence the voice +had made me turn was on the edge of an awesome rift that cleft the +level surface on the downland, clean cut as by a sword stroke, +right athwart my path. Even in clear daylight I had hardly seen +that gulf until I was on its very brink, for I could almost have +leapt it, and nought marked its edge. And in its depths I heard the +crash and thunder of prisoned waves.</p> +<p>I do not know that I ever felt such terror as fell on me then. +It was the terror that comes of thinking what might have been, +after the danger is past, and that is the worst of all. I sank down +on the snow with my knees trembling, and I clutched at the grass +that I might not feel that I must even yet slip into that gulf that +was so close, though there was no slope of the ground toward it. +Sheer and sudden it gaped with sharp edges, as the mouth of some +monster that waited for prey.</p> +<p>There on the snow I believe that I should have bided to sleep +the sleep of the frozen, for I hardly dared to move. The snow +whirled round me again, but I did not heed it, and with a great +roar the wind rose and swept up the rift with a sound as of mighty +harps, but it did not rouse me. Only my father's voice came to me +again and called me, and I rose up shaking and followed it as it +came from time to time, until I was once more on the track that I +had lost.</p> +<p>There it left me, but the sadness that had been in its tones was +gone when it last came. And surely that was the touch of no +snowflake that lit on my hand for a moment and was gone.</p> +<p>Now I grew stronger, and the fear of the unseen was no longer on +me, and I battled onward with wind and snow for a long way. Thanks +to the wind, the track was kept clear of the snow, and I did not +lose it again until it led me to help that was unlooked for.</p> +<p>There came the sound of a bell to me, strange sounding indeed, +but a bell nevertheless, and I knew that somewhere close at hand +was surely some home of monks who would take me in with all +kindness. And presently the track led me nearer to the sound of the +sea, and at last bent sharply to the right and began to go +downhill, while the sound of the bell grew plainer above the roar +of nearer breakers yet. I felt that I was passing down such a gorge +as that up which I had come from the boat, but far narrower, for I +had not gone far before I could touch the rocky walls with either +hand. Then I came to steps, and they were steep, but below me still +sounded the bell, and the hoarse breakers were very near at hand. I +expected to see the lights of some little fishing village every +moment, but the wind that rushed up the narrow space between the +cliff walls and brought the salt spray with it almost blinded +me.</p> +<p>Suddenly the stairway turned so sharply that I almost fell, and +then I found my way downward barred by what seemed a great +rough-faced rock that was right across the gorge, if one may call a +mere cleft in the cliffs so, and barred my way, while the strange +bell sounded from beyond it. But it was sheltered under this +barrier, and I felt along it to find out where I had to climb over, +thinking that the stairway must lead up its face. But there was no +stair, and as I groped my hand came on cut stone, and when I felt +it I knew that I had come to a doorway, for I found the woodwork, +but in no way could I find how it opened.</p> +<p>I kicked on it, therefore, and shouted, but it seemed that none +heard. The bell went on and then stopped, and I thought I heard +footsteps on the far side of the barrier. They came nearer, and +then were almost at the door, paused for a moment, and then the +door was opened and the red light from a fire flashed out on me, +showing the tall form of a man in monk's dress in its opening.</p> +<p>"Come in, my son," said a grave voice, speaking Welsh, that had +no wonder in it, though one could hardly have expected to see an +armed and gold-bedecked Saxon here in the storm.</p> +<p>I stumbled into what I had thought a rock, and found when my +eyes grew used to the light that I was in a house built of great +stones, uncemented but wonderfully fitted together, and warm and +bright with the driftwood fire, though I heard the spray rattle on +the roof of flat stones, and the wind howled strangely around the +walls. Both ends of this house were of the living rock of the sides +of the gorge, and at one end seemed to be a sort of cave with a +narrow entrance.</p> +<p>The man who had bidden me in stood yet at the open door looking +out on his staircase, but he did not bide there long. With a sigh +he turned and closed the door and came in, hardly looking at me, +but turning toward the cave I had just noticed. He was an old man, +very old indeed, with a long white beard and pale face lined with +countless wrinkles, and he stooped a little as he walked. But his +face was calm and kind, though he did not smile at me, and I felt +that here I was safe with one of no common sort.</p> +<p>"Come, my son," he said, "it is the hour of prime. Glad am I to +have one with me after many days."</p> +<p>He waited for no answer, and I followed him for the few steps +that led to the rock cavern; and there was a tiny oratory with its +altar and cross, and wax lights already burning.</p> +<p>The old man knelt in his place and I knelt with him, and as he +began the office straightway I knew how worn out I was, and of a +sudden the lights danced before me and I reeled and fell with a +clatter and clash of arms on the rocky floor. I seemed to know that +the old man turned and looked and rose up from his knees hastily, +and I tried to say that I was sorry that I had broken the peace of +this holy place; but he answered in his soft voice:</p> +<p>"Why, poor lad, I should have seen that you were spent ere this. +The fault is mine."</p> +<p>He raised me gently, and seemed to search me for some wound. And +as he did so I came more to myself, and begged him to go on with +his office.</p> +<p>"First comes care of the afflicted, my son, and after that may +be prayer. In truth, to help the fainting is in itself a prayer, as +I think. Come to the fireside and tell me what is amiss."</p> +<p>"Fasting and fighting and freezing, father," I said, trying to +laugh.</p> +<p>"Are you wounded?" he asked quickly.</p> +<p>"No, not at all."</p> +<p>"That is well. It is a brave heart that will jest in such a case +as yours, for you are ice from head to foot. Well, I had better +hear your story, if you will tell it me, in the daylight. Now get +those wet garments off you and put on this. I will get you food, +and you shall sleep."</p> +<p>This was surely the last place where my foes would think of +looking for me, and the snow would hide every trace of my path. So +I made no delay, but took off my byrnie and garments. There was a +pool on the floor where I stood, for it was true enough that I had +been ice covered. Then I put on a rough warm brown frock with a +cord round the waist, so that I looked like a lay brother at +Glastonbury, and all the while I waxed more and more sleepy with +the comfort of the place. But I wiped my arms carefully while the +old priest was busy with a cauldron over the fire, and we were +ready at the same time.</p> +<p>Then I had a meal of some sort of stew that seemed the best I +ever tasted, and a long draught of good mead, while the host looked +on in grave content. And then he spread a heap of dry seaweed in a +corner near the fire, and blessed me and bid me sleep. Nor did I +need a second bidding, and I do not think that I can have stirred +from the time that I lay down to the moment when I woke with a +feeling on me that it was late in the daylight.</p> +<p>So it was, and I looked round for my kind host, but he was not +to be seen. Outside the wind was still strong, but not what it had +been, for the gale was sinking suddenly as it rose, and into the +one little window the sun shone brightly enough now and then as the +clouds fled across it. There was a bright fire on the hearth, and +over it hung a cauldron, whence steam rose merrily, and it was +plain that my friend of last night was not far off, so I lay still +and waited his return.</p> +<p>Then my eyes fell on my clothes and arms as they hung from pegs +in the walls over against me, and it seemed as if the steel of mail +and helm and sword had been newly burnished. Then I saw also that a +rent in my tunic, made when my horse fell, had been carefully +mended, and that no speck of the dust and mire I had gathered on my +garments from collar to hose was left. All had been tended as +carefully as if I had been at home, and I saw Elfrida's little +brooch shining where I had pinned it.</p> +<p>That took me back to Glastonbury in a moment, but I had to count +before I could be sure that it was but a matter of hours since I +took that gift in the orchard, rather than of months. And I +wondered if Owen knew yet that I was lost, or if my men sought me +still. Then my mind went to Evan, the chapman outlaw, and I thought +that by this time he would have given me up, and would be far away +by now, beyond the reach of Thorgils and his wrath.</p> +<p>Now the seaward door opened, and a swirl of spray from the +breakers on the rocks came in with my host, who set a great armful +of drift wood on the floor, closed it, and so turned to me.</p> +<p>"Good morrow, my son," he said. "How fare you after rest?"</p> +<p>"Well as can be, father," I answered, sitting up. "Stiff I am, +and maybe somewhat black and blue, but that is all. I have no hurt. +But surely I have slept long?"</p> +<p>"A matter of ten hours, my son, and that without stirring. You +needed it sorely, so I let you be. Now it is time for food, but +first you shall have a bath, and that will do wonders with the +soreness."</p> +<p>Thankful enough was I of the great tub of hot water he had ready +for me, and after it and a good meal I was a new man. My host said +nought till I had finished, and then it was I who broke the silence +between us.</p> +<p>"Father," I said, "I have much to thank you for. What may I call +you?"</p> +<p>"They name me Govan the Hermit, my son."</p> +<p>"I do not know how to say all I would, Father Govan," I went on, +"but I was in a sore strait last night, and but for your bell I +think I must have perished in the snow, or in some of the clefts of +these cliffs."</p> +<p>"I rang the bell for you, my son, though I knew not why. It came +on me that one was listening for some sign of help in the +storm."</p> +<p>"How could you know?" I asked in wonder.</p> +<p>Govan shook his head.</p> +<p>"I cannot tell. Men who bide alone as I bide have strange +bodings in their solitude. I have known the like come over me +before, and it has ever been a true warning."</p> +<p>Now it was my turn to be silent, for all this was beyond me. I +had heard of hermits before, but had never seen one. If all were +like this old man, too much has not been said of their holiness and +nearness to unseen things.</p> +<p>So for a little while we sat and looked into the fire, each on a +three-legged stool, opposite one another. Then at last he asked, +almost shyly, and as if he deemed himself overbold, how it was that +I had come to be on the cliffs. That meant in the end that he heard +all my story, of course, but my Welsh halted somewhat for want of +use, and it was troublesome to tell it. However, he heard me with +something more than patience, and when I ended he said:</p> +<p>"Now I know how it is that a Saxon speaks the tongue of Cornwall +here in Dyfed. You have had a noble fostering, Thane, for even here +we lamented for the loss of Owen the prince. We have seen him in +Pembroke in past years. You will be most welcome there with this +news, for Howel, our prince, loved him well. They are akin, +moreover. It will be well that you should go to him for help."</p> +<p>He rose up and went to the seaward door again, and I followed +him out. The sea was but just below us, for the tide was full, and +the breakers were yet thundering at the foot of the cliffs on +either hand. But I did not note that at first, for the thing which +held my eyes at once was a ship which was wallowing and plunging +past us eastward, under close reefed sail, and I knew her for the +vessel in which I had crossed. Thorgils had left the cove, and was +making for Tenby while he might. I should have to seek him +there.</p> +<p>"How far is it to the Danes' town, Father Govan?" I asked. +"Yonder goes my friend's ship."</p> +<p>"Half a day's ride, my son, and with peril for you all the way. +Our poor folk would take you for a Dane in those arms, and you have +no horse. Needs must that you seek Howel, and he will give you a +guard willingly."</p> +<p>Then he turned toward a great rock that lay on the beach, as if +it had fallen from the cliffs that towered above us.</p> +<p>"Here is the bell that you heard last night," he said.</p> +<p>He took a rounded stone that lay on the rock and struck it, and +I knew that the clear bell note that it gave out was indeed that +which had been my saving.</p> +<p>"Once I had a bell in the cote on the roof yonder," he said, +"but the Danes caught sight of it when they first passed this way, +and took it from me. Then as I sorrowed that the lonely shepherds +and fishers might no more hear its call, I seemed to see a vision +of an angel who bade me see what had been sent me instead. And when +I went out as the vision bade me, I could see nought but this rock +newly fallen, and was downcast. And so, from the cliff rolled a +little stone and smote it, and it rang, and I knew the gift. To my +hearing it has a sweeter voice than the bell made with hands."</p> +<p>Then he showed me his well, roofed in with flat stones because +the birds would wash in it, and so close to the sea salt that it +seemed altogether wonderful that the water was fresh and sweet. And +then I saw that the cell did indeed stretch from side to side of +the narrow cleft down which I had come, so that each end of the +building was of living rock.</p> +<p>"I built it with my own hands, my son," he said. "I cannot tell +how long ago that was, for time is nought to me, but it was many +years. Once I wore arms and had another name, but that also I care +not to recall."</p> +<p>Then there came footsteps from above us, and looking up I saw a +man in a rough fisher's dress coming in haste down the long flight +of rock-hewn steps that led from the cliff top down the cleft to +the door that I had found last night, and soon we heard him calling +to the hermit.</p> +<p>Govan left me, and went through the cell to speak with him, but +was back very shortly.</p> +<p>"Howel the prince is coming hither," he said. "The man you saw +has seen him on the way, and came to warn me to be at hand for him. +It is well for you, my son, as I am sure."</p> +<p>So we went together into the house, and I thought to arm myself, +but Govan smiled and asked me not to do so, saying that hither even +Howel would come without his weapons, in all likelihood.</p> +<p>I understood him, and did but see that my sword was in reach +before I sat down and waited for the coming of the Welsh prince, +and I thought that all I need ask him was for help to reach Tenby, +whither Thorgils must have gone. It was quite likely that Evan +might have raised the country against me in hopes of taking me +again. And maybe I would ask for justice on the said Evan. Also I +wanted to hear what had happened after my going.</p> +<p>It was not long that I had to wait. There came the tramp of +horses at the top of the gorge, and the sound of a voice or two, +and then the tread of an armed man came slowly down the stair, and +Govan went to meet him. I rose and waited for his entry.</p> +<p>Now there came in, following Govan, unhelmed as he had greeted +the holy man, a handsome, middle-aged warrior, black haired and +eyed and active looking. He wore the short heavy sword of the Roman +pattern, gold hilted and scabbarded, at his side, and the helm he +carried had a high plumed crest and hanging side pieces that seemed +like those pictured on the walls of Gerent's palace. He had no body +armour on, and his dress was plain enough, of white woollen stuff +with broad crimson borders, but round his neck was a wonderful +twisted collar of gold, and heavy golden bracelets rang as his arms +moved. I saw that his first glance went to me, and that his face +changed when he saw that I was not one of his own people, but a +foreigner, as he would hold me. I saw too that he noted my arms as +they hung on the wall behind me.</p> +<p>Govan saw it also, and made haste to tell him who I was.</p> +<p>"This is one who should be welcome to you, Prince, for the sake +of old days, for he has come by mischance from Dyvnaint, being +foster son of one of the princes of Gerent's court, though a Saxon +by birth. Nevertheless he speaks our tongue well. He will tell you +all that presently, and I think that he needs your help."</p> +<p>"I thought you one of our troublesome neighbours, the Danes," he +said, with a smile now in place of the look of doubt. "But if you +are from Dyvnaint there are many things that you can tell me. But I +have come here to see that all is well with Father Govan, for there +is talk of a mad Norseman who is roving the country, unless the +cold has ended him in the night. It is good to see that nought is +wrong here."</p> +<p>Now I stood apart, and Govan and his guest spoke together for a +few moments before my turn to tell Howel of my plight should come, +and almost the next thing that the prince said made me wonder that +I had not thought who he was at once. Of course, he was the father +of the kindly princess who had crossed the sea with Thorgils, and +had so nearly been the means of my earlier rescue.</p> +<p>"Nona, my daughter, is here at the cliff top, Father Govan," +Howel said. "She came home in the Norse ship last night, as we +planned; but tide failed for Tenby, and it chanced that the ship +had to put in at the old landing place. Now she wants to thank you +for your prayers for her, and also to beg them for some sick man +about whom she is troubling herself--some poor hurt knave of a +trader who crossed in the ship with her."</p> +<p>"I will go out and speak with her," Govan said, smiling. "It is +ever her way to think of the troubled."</p> +<p>"Tell her that I will not keep her long in the cold," Howel +said. "Bid her keep her horse walking, lest he take chill, if I may +ask as much, Father."</p> +<p>Govan threw his cowl over his head, and answered:</p> +<p>"I will tell her. Now, Prince, this friend of mine has come here +in a strange way, and I think he needs help that you can give +him."</p> +<p>He passed out of the cliffward door and went his way up the long +stairway. Then Howel asked me how he could help me.</p> +<p>"Tell me about Dyvnaint also, for when I was a boy I was long at +Gerent's court. Did not Govan say that you were fostered by one of +the princes? It is likely that I knew your foster father well, if +so; was he Morgan?"</p> +<p>"Not Morgan, but Owen," I answered, and at that Howel almost +started to his feet.</p> +<p>"Owen!" he cried. "Does he yet live? Surely we all thought him +dead, or else he had come hither to us when he was banished. I +loved him well in the old days, and glad I am that you are not +Morgan's charge. Tell me all about Owen. Is he home again?"</p> +<p>"Morgan is dead," I answered, feeling that here I had met with a +friend in all certainty. "And because of that, Owen is in his place +again, and I am here. It has all happened in this week, and to tell +you of it is to tell you all my trouble."</p> +<p>Now he was all impatience to hear, and I told him all that +needed to be told, until I came to the time when Owen was back at +Norton with the old king. Then he asked me some questions about +matters there, and in the midst of my answers sprang up.</p> +<p>"Why," he cried, "here I have forgotten the girl, and she ought +to be hearing all this, instead of sitting in the cold on the +cliff. She is Owen's goddaughter, moreover, and he was here only a +little time before he was banished. She can remember him well."</p> +<p>"Stay, though," he said, sitting down again. "There is your own +tale yet. Let us hear it. Maybe that is not altogether so +pleasant."</p> +<p>My own thought was that I was glad I might tell it without the +wondering eyes of the fair princess on me, being afraid in a sort +of way of having her think of me as the helpless sick man she had +pitied. So I hastened to tell all that story.</p> +<p>And when I came to the way in which Evan brought me, Howel's +eyes flashed savagely, and a black scowl came over his handsome +face, sudden as a thunderstorm in high summer.</p> +<p>"It will be a short shrift and a long rope for that Evan when I +catch him," he said. "He comes here every year, and I suppose that +the goods I have had from him at times have been plunder. I would +that you had ended him last night. Now he has got away in peace, +and is out of my reach, maybe, by this time. Well, how went +it?"</p> +<p>Then I told him the end of the tale, wondering how it was that +Thorgils had let him go. I asked the prince if he could explain +that for me.</p> +<p>"Not altogether," he said. "Evan sent to me to ask me for men to +guard the ship presently, after we began the feast, saying that he +was going ashore with his goods, and was responsible to the +shipmaster. I told Thorgils, and he said it was well. So I sent a +guard, and presently Evan came and spoke with Thorgils for a little +while, and drank a cup of wine, and so went his way. Next morning, +before he sailed, Thorgils came and grumbled about the loss of his +boat, saying that Evan had taken some sick friend of his ashore in +her, and that she had not come back. I paid him for it too, because +I like the man, and so does my daughter. He sailed, and then I +heard of the fight for the first time."</p> +<p>Howel laughed a little to himself.</p> +<p>"Master Evan must have paid my rascals well to keep up the story +of the sick man to Thorgils, for he said nothing to me of any +fight. Maybe, however, he never spoke to any of them, and it is +likely that they would not say much to him. And now, by the Round +Table! if you are not the mad Norseman they prated of to me when I +wanted to know who slew the two men, and if you are not the sick +man that Nona is so anxious about! Here, she must come and see +you!"</p> +<p>With that he got up and went to the door before I could stay +him, and called gaily to the princess, whose horse I could hear +stamping high above us.</p> +<p>"Ho, Nona, here is a friend of yours whom you will be glad to +see. Ask Father Govan to let you come hither, and bid the men take +your horse."</p> +<p>So I must make the best of it, and I will say that I felt +foolish enough. It was in my mind, though, that I owed many thanks +to the princess for all her kind thought for me as sick man. I had +already said as much to Howel. So I began to try to frame some sort +of speech for her. One never remembers how such speeches always +fail at the pinch.</p> +<p>The light footsteps came down the steps in no long time, and +then the princess entered, dressed much as yesterday, with a bright +colour from the wind, and looking round to see the promised +friend.</p> +<p>"I have kept you long, daughter," Howel said, taking her hand, +"but I have been hearing good news. Here is Oswald of Wessex, a +king's thane, but more than that to us, for he is the adopted son +of your own godfather, Owen of Cornwall, and he brings the best of +tidings of him."</p> +<p>Now the maiden's face flushed with pleasure, and she held out +her hand to me in frank welcome. Yet I saw a little wondering look +on her face as she let her eyes linger on mine for a moment, and +that puzzled me.</p> +<p>"You are most welcome, Thane," she said. "It is a wonderful +thing that here I should learn that my lost godfather yet lives. +You will come to Pembroke with us, and tell me of him there?"</p> +<p>Then Howel laughed as if he had a jest that would not keep, and +he cried: "Why, Nona, that is a mighty pretty speech, but surely +one asks a sick man of his health first."</p> +<p>She blushed a little, and glanced again at me.</p> +<p>"Surely the thane is not hurt?" she said.</p> +<p>"Yesterday he was, and that sorely. What was it, Thane?--Slipped +shoulder, broken thigh, and broken jaw? All of which a certain +maiden pitied most heartily, even to lending a blanket to the poor +man."</p> +<p>Then Nona blushed red, and I made haste to get rid of some of +the thanks that were heartfelt enough if they came unreadily to my +lips, and Howel laughed at both of us. I think that the princess +found her way out of the little constraint first, for she began to +smile merrily.</p> +<p>"There must be a story for me to hear about all this," she said. +"But I was sure that I had seen your eyes before. I was wondering +where it could have been."</p> +<p>"Well," said Howel, "I have sat with the thane for close on an +hour, and now I do not know what colour his eyes are."</p> +<p>"They were all that I could see of him, father," laughed the +princess, and then she put the matter aside. "Now we have been here +long enough, and good Govan shivers on the hilltop. Surely the +thane will ride home with us, and we can talk on the way."</p> +<p>Howel added at once that this was the best plan for me, and what +he was about to ask me himself.</p> +<p>"I know you will want to get home again as soon as may be," he +said. "No doubt Thorgils will take you at once. I will have word +sent to him at Tenby to stay for you."</p> +<p>"Father, you have forgotten," the princess said, somewhat +doubtfully, as I thought.</p> +<p>"Nay, but I have not," answered Howel grimly. "But honest +Thorgils is a white heathen, and those Tenby men are black heathen. +He does not come into our quarrels, and will heed me, if they will +not."</p> +<p>I minded that I had heard of trouble between the Tenby Danes and +this prince, and it seemed that he spoke of it again. However, that +I might hear by and by. So I thanked him, and said that I could +wish for nothing better than to be his guest until I could go on my +way hence.</p> +<p>Now the princess went to the cliff top and called Govan, while I +armed myself. The hermit came back, and I bade him farewell, with +many thanks for his kindnesses during the hours I had been with +him; and so I went from the little cell with the blessing of Govan +the Hermit on me, and that was a bright ending to hours which had +been dark enough. Govan the Saint, men call him, now that he has +gone from among them, and rightly do they give him that name, as I +think.</p> +<p>Howel dismounted one of his men, and set me on the horse in his +place, and then we rode to the camp at the landing place by the +track which had led me hither, passing the head of the rift from +which I had escaped, so that I saw its terrors in full daylight. +And they were even more awesome to me than as I hung on the brink +with the depths unknown below me. Then Howel told me how once a +hunter had come suddenly on that gulf with his horse at full +gallop, and had been forced to leap or court death by checking the +steed. He had cleared it in safety, but the terror of what he had +done bided with him, so that he died in no long time; I could well +believe it.</p> +<p>Then the princess told me many things of Govan, and among others +that the poor folk held that when the Danes came and stole the bell +from him he had been hidden from them in the rock wall of the +chapel, which had gaped to take him in, closing on him and setting +him free when danger was past. Certainly there was a cleft in the +rock wall of the chapel wall that had markings as of the ribs of a +man in its sides, and was just the height and width for one to +stand in, but Govan said nought to me about it when he told of the +taking of the bell. Danes also slew all these cattle whose bones I +had passed among.</p> +<p>Then we came in sight of the camp, over which the red dragon +banner of Wales floated, and Howel told me how it was that he had +met us there with his guards.</p> +<p>"Men saw Thorgils' ship from the lookout, and so I came here, +for they said that she could not make Tenby on this tide and must +needs come in here. Nona has been for three months with her +mother's folk in Cornwall--ay, she is half Cornish, and kin to +Gerent and Owen. I was married over there, at Isca, and Owen was at +the wedding as my best man, though he is ten years younger than I. +That is how he came to be the girl's godfather, you see. Now I +wanted her back, for it is lonely at Pembroke without her, and I am +apt to wax testy with folk if she is not near to keep things +straight. So I sent word by Thorgils six weeks ago that she was to +come back, and he was to bring her. I have had the men watching for +the ship ever since. Good it is to see her again, and she has +brought good news also, with yourself. I have a mind to keep you +with us awhile, and let the Norseman take back word of your +safety."</p> +<p>But I said that, however pleasant this would be, it seemed plain +that I must get back to Owen with all speed, to warn him of this +trouble that was somewhat more than brewing. It could not be +thought that I would send word and yet never move to his side to +help.</p> +<p>"If I might say what comes into my mind," said the fair +princess, "it seems almost better that none but Owen and yourself +know that the plot is found out, while you guard against it. The +traitors will be less careful if they deem that nought is known. +Thorgils is somewhat talkative, you know."</p> +<p>"That is right," said Howel. "I have a good counsellor here, +Thane, as you see. However, Thorgils will not sail today, for he +has just put in, and I know that he was complaining of some sort of +damage done, as the gale set a bit of a sea into the cove, and he +had some ado to keep clear of the rocks for a time. We will even +ride to Pembroke, and I will send for Thorgils that he may speak +with you."</p> +<p>And then he added grimly:</p> +<p>"Moreover, I will send men on the track of Evan, the chapman, +forthwith."</p> +<p>So we called out the guards from the camp, where there were +lines of huts with a greater building in the midst as if it were +often used thus, and so rode across the rolling land northwards +till we came to Pembroke. And there Howel of Dyfed dwelt in state +in such a palace as that of Gerent, for here again the hand of the +Saxon had never come, and the buildings bore the stamp of Imperial +Rome.</p> +<p>So once again I was lodged within stone walls, and with a roof +above me that I could touch with my hand, and I need not say how I +fared in all princely wise as the son of Owen. I suppose there +could be no more frank and friendly host than Howel of Dyfed.</p> +<p>Tired I was that night also, and I slept well. But once I woke +with a fear for Owen on me, for I had dreamed that I saw some man +creeping and spying along the wide ramparts of Norton stronghold. +And it seemed that the man had a bow in his hand.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a>. HOW OSWALD LOST A +HUNT, AND FOUND SOMEWHAT STRANGE IN CAERAU WOODS.</h2> +<p>I thought Pembroke a very pleasant place when I came to see it +in the fair winter's morning. The gale had passed, but it had +brought a thaw with it, and there was a softness in the air again, +and the light covering of snow had gone when I first looked abroad. +There had been no such heavy fall here as we had in Wessex beyond +the sea.</p> +<p>Maybe pleasant companionship had something to do with my thought +of the place, for none can deny that a good deal does depend on who +is with one. And, seeing that after the morning meal her father was +busy with his counsellors for a time, Nona the princess would shew +me all that was to be seen while we waited the coming of +Thorgils.</p> +<p>Whoever chose the place for the building of this palace +stronghold chose well, for it is set on a rocky tongue of land that +divides the waters of an inland branch of the winding Milford +Haven, so that nought but an easily defended ridge of hill gives +access to the fortress. All the tongue itself has sheer rock faces +to the water, and none might hope to scale them. They and the wall +across the one way from the mainland, as one may call it, make +Howel's home sure, and since the coming of the Danes into the land +he had strengthened what had fallen somewhat into decay in the long +years of peace that had passed.</p> +<p>We had never reached Dyfed, either from land or sea. So I saw +hawks and hounds, stables and guardrooms and all else, and at last +we walked on the terraced edge of the cliffs in the southern sun, +and there a man came and said that Thorgils the Norseman had +come.</p> +<p>"Oh," said Nona with a little laugh, "he knows not that you are +here! Let us see his face when he meets you!"</p> +<p>"The prince is busy," said the servant. "Is it your will that +the stranger should be brought here?"</p> +<p>"Yes, bring him. Tell him that I would speak with him, but say +nought of any other."</p> +<p>The man bowed and went his way, and the princess turned to me +with a new look of amusement on her face.</p> +<p>"Pull that cloak round you, Thane, and pay no heed to him when +he comes; we may have sport."</p> +<p>They had given me a long Welsh cloak of crimson, fur bordered, +and a cap to wear with it instead of my helm. And of course I had +not on my mail, though Ina's sword was at my side, and Gerent's +bracelet on my arm, setting off a strange medley of black-and-blue +bruises and red chafed places from the cords, moreover. So I +laughed, and did as she bade me, even as I saw Thorgils brought +round the palace toward us from the courtyard where they had taken +charge of his horse. There were two other men with him, tall, wiry +looking warriors, and all three were well armed, but in a fashion +which was neither Welsh nor Saxon, but more like the latter than +the former.</p> +<p>"Danes from Tenby," said Nona; "I know them both, and like them. +See what wondrous mail they have, and look at the sword hilt of the +elder man. That is Eric, the chief, and I think he comes to speak +with my father."</p> +<p>The two Danes hung back as they saw that Howel was not present, +but Thorgils unhelmed and came forward quickly, with the courtly +bow he knew how to make when he chose, as he saluted the princess. +Then he turned slightly to me with his stiff salute, and as I +nodded to him I saw him start and look keenly at me. Then he looked +away again, and tried to seem unheeding, but it was of no use; his +eyes came back to me.</p> +<p>"You seem to have met our friend before, Shipmaster," said Nona, +whose eyes were dancing.</p> +<p>"I cannot have done so, Princess," he answered. "But on my word, +I never saw so strange a likeness to one I do know."</p> +<p>"I trust that is a compliment to my friend," she said.</p> +<p>"Saving the presence of the one who is like the man I know, I +may say for certain that it is nought else to him."</p> +<p>I turned away somewhat smartly, for I wanted to laugh, and this +was getting personal. The princess was not unwilling, I think, that +it should be more so.</p> +<p>"Now you have offended the present, and I shall have to say that +the absent need not be so."</p> +<p>"Nor the present either, Princess. See here, Lord, the man you +are so wondrous like in face did the bravest deed I have seen for +many a day. Moreover, he saved the life of a king thereby. Shall I +tell thereof?"</p> +<p>Now this was a new tale to Nona, for, as may be supposed, I had +not said that it was myself who handled Morgan so roughly, as I +told the tale of his end. It would have seemed like boasting myself +somewhat, as I thought, so I did but say that he was dragged away +from the king in time. Nor had I spoken of Elfrida. The tale was +told hurriedly, and when it was done there had been no thought but +of Owen. It was greater news here that he lived than that Ina had +narrowly escaped.</p> +<p>So she glanced round at me in some surprise, and then turned +again to Thorgils.</p> +<p>"Some time you shall, for I love your songs. Not now, for we +have not time."</p> +<p>"Thanks, Lady. It will be a good song, and is shaping well in my +mind. There is a brave lady therein also."</p> +<p>"Well, you have not told us who the brave man is.</p> +<p>"Did I not know that Oswald, son of Owen the Cornish prince, was +by this time in Glastonbury, I should have said he was here, so +great is the likeness. It is a marvel.</p> +<p>"Now, Lord, you will forgive me, no doubt."</p> +<p>"Ay, freely," I said, turning round sharply. "That is, if your +friend has a sword as good as this," and I shewed him the gemmed +hilt of Ina's gift from beneath the folds of my great cloak.</p> +<p>He stared at it, and then at my face again, and I took off my +cap to him with a bow.</p> +<p>"It is strange that a shipmaster knows not his own passenger," I +said.</p> +<p>But he was dumb for a moment, and his mouth opened. Nona laughed +at him and clapped her hands with glee, and I must laugh also.</p> +<p>"By Baldur," he gasped, "if it is not Oswald, in the flesh! What +witchcraft brought you here? To my certain knowledge there is no +ship but mine afloat now in the Severn Sea."</p> +<p>"Why, then, I crossed with you, friend," I said.</p> +<p>"That you did not--" he began, but stopped short.</p> +<p>"Thorgils, Thorgils--the sick man!" cried Nona.</p> +<p>"Oh!" said Thorgils, "can you have been Evan's charge?"</p> +<p>"Ay. Mind you that it was your own word that there might be +danger from the friends of Morgan?"</p> +<p>Then I told him all, and he heard with growls and head shakings, +which but for the presence of the lady might have been hard sayings +concerning my captors.</p> +<p>But when I ended he said:</p> +<p>"If ever I catch the said Evan there will be a reckoning. All +the worse it will be for him that for these five years past I have +known him, and deemed him a decent and trustworthy man, for a Welsh +trader. I have fetched him back and forth with his goods twice or +thrice a year for all that time, and now I suppose he has made me a +carrier of stolen wares! Plague on him. I mind me now that betimes +I have thought he dealt in cast-off garments somewhat, but that was +not my affair. Now one knows how that was."</p> +<p>"I liked the man well, also," said the princess, with a sigh. +"He has come here every year, and betimes as he shewed me his +goods--not those you spoke of, Thorgils--it has seemed to me that +he was downcast, and as one who had sorrow in his heart. Maybe he +had, for his ill doings. He deserves to be punished, but yet I +would ask that--that if you lay hands on him you will be +merciful."</p> +<p>"He shewed little mercy to Oswald the thane," growled Thorgils. +"However, Princess, I think that you may be easy. He will not risk +aught, and we shall see him no more. But the knave would beguile +Loki. Never a word did I hear of any trouble, but he came and spoke +to me as I sat with your men yonder, and paid me his passage money, +and said he had asked for a guard for the ship as he wanted to be +away with the sick man. Also he said he would borrow the boat for +his easier passage ashore. I supposed she was smashed in the gale, +as she came not back, and Howel paid me for her when I +grumbled."</p> +<p>"I wonder he went near you," I said.</p> +<p>"Therein was craft. If he had not paid passage I would have let +every shipmaster beware of him, and he would have fared ill. He +thought you done for, no doubt, and so fell back on certainty, as +one may say. It is a marvel you escaped the great rifts in yon +cliffs in the storm. Now he will hear that you are none the worse, +and he will be sorry he paid me."</p> +<p>Thorgils laughed grimly, but Nona sighed at the downfall of the +man she had liked. As for myself, it mattered little what became of +him, so far as I was concerned. Howel's men were hunting him as I +knew, and I only hoped they might catch him, for then we might +learn more of the plotting that was on hand from him. He would tell +all to save his skin, no doubt.</p> +<p>But now I told Thorgils how I needed to be back in Norton with +all speed, and it sent a sort of chill through me to see him shake +his head.</p> +<p>"There is need, truly," he said, "and all that may be done I +will do. But yestermorn we found that we had sprung a plank or two +just above the waterline, as we were in a bad berth for shelter. I +made shift to get the ship to Tenby, but on one tack she leaks like +a basket, and she must be repaired. It will take all today, and +maybe tomorrow; but it shall be done, if we have to work double +tides, or to make a cobbler's job of it in haste. I must be off +therefore to see to it. But I hope, if wind will serve us we may +sail for home tomorrow night. Tide serves about midnight, and waits +for no man. You had better be with us betimes."</p> +<p>He saw that I seemed downcast, and added thoughtfully enough: +"It is in my mind that you need have little care yet. Gerent will +not let Owen out of his sight for some time, as I think, and danger +begins when he is abroad alone, and carelessly. Maybe not till he +is at Exeter."</p> +<p>Then he beckoned to the two Danes who were waiting him, and made +them known to me after they had saluted the princess. Eric the +chief was a fine old warrior, iron grey and strong, and the other +was his son, who bade fair to be like his father in time. He was a +sturdy young man, and wore his arms well. They shook hands with me +frankly, and from their words it was plain that Thorgils had told +my story at Tenby already.</p> +<p>"This is the sick man I told you of," he said now. "He turns out +to be a Thane of Glastonbury, and Evan had a hand in some plot of +the friends of Morgan. Took him by craft and brought him here for +ransom, doubtless. I had not thought that man such a knave, and +shall distrust my judgment of men sorely in future."</p> +<p>Then Nona asked them what they would with the prince, and Eric +told her.</p> +<p>"The deer are in the valleys, Lady, and we came to tell the +prince that we have harboured the great stag of twelve points in +the woods beyond Caerau. Will it please him to join our hunt?"</p> +<p>"Doubtless," she said. "Now there is no time to be lost, for the +day is high already."</p> +<p>"None the worse, Princess," said Eric. "The last snow is passing +hourly."</p> +<p>So we went round to the front of the palace toward the gates, +and there waited half a dozen more men and horses by a gathering of +men on foot with a pack of great hounds, the like of which I had +never seen. They were the Danish hounds, which had come hither with +their masters, and were big and strong enough for any quarry, even +were it the bear that yet lurked in the Welsh mountain wilds.</p> +<p>Then Howel came, and would have me mounted well, and in less +than half an hour we were riding eastward along the ancient way +they call the Ridgeway, which crowns the long hill between the sea +and the valleys where lie the windings of Milford Haven. And so we +went till we could see Tenby itself far off on its rocky ness, and +at that point left Thorgils to go his way, while we turned +northward into the inland valleys, and sought the deep combe where +they had harboured the stag.</p> +<p>The snow lay here and there yet, but it was almost gone, and the +going was somewhat heavy, but overhead the sky was soft and grey, +and the wind was pleasant if chill. North and west it was, and that +would be fair for our crossing, if only it would hold, as Thorgils +deemed that it surely would.</p> +<p>Now it was good to hear the horn and the cheer of the hunters as +they drew the deep cover for the deer, and the half-dozen couple of +hounds that were held back in leash while the rest were at their +work strained and whimpered to be with them. And at last the great +stag broke from the cover, in no haste, but in a sort of disdain of +those who had disturbed him, and after him came a few scurrying +hinds who huddled to him for safely. They trotted to another cover, +and after them streamed the hounds, and then the great stag was +driven alone from his hiding, and so the pack was laid on and we +were away.</p> +<p>He headed for the far waters of the haven I had seen glittering +from the hilltop, even as Howel told me was likely, and the pace +was fast at the first. So I settled myself to the work and rode as +one should ride on another man's horse, and a good one, moreover, +carefully enough. But these hills were easier than ours, for +heather was none, and the loose stones that trouble us on Mendips +and Quantocks were not to be seen. It was fair grass land mostly. +So I let my horse go, and in a little while had forgotten aught but +the sheer joy of the pace, and the cry of the great hounds, and the +full delight of such a run as one dreams of. Whereby I have little +more to tell thereof.</p> +<p>For a country may seem to be open enough as one looks down on it +from a height, but as one crosses it the difference in what has +seemed easy riding is soon plain. Long swells of rolling ground +rise as it were from nothing, and deep valleys that had been unseen +cross the path, and the clustered trees are found to be deep woods +as they are neared. Then the man who knows the country has the +advantage, and it is as well to follow him. But I was well mounted, +and the pace was good where the gale had thinned the snow, and it +came about that before I had time to think what Howel and Eric and +the Danes who were on horseback were doing I rode down one side of +a little cover, past which the deer had gone with the hounds close +on him, while the rest went on the other. I heard one shout, but it +did not come into my mind that it was to me, for I thought that +they needs must follow, and did not look round. Then I had to turn +off yet more to the right as the best way seemed to take me, and +meanwhile they were off to the left.</p> +<p>So when I was clear of the thicket and could see across the open +again I had lost them. Unless I could hear the hounds I had nothing +to guide me, and I drew rein and listened for them. As I heard +nothing I rode on until I had a stretch of open country before me, +but there I could see no more. Afterwards I learned that the deer +had turned and made for the hill again, but it did not seem likely +that he would do so with the waters of the haven so close at hand +as I could see them. It was more likely that he would head straight +for them, and so I spurred on once more in that direction. It was +certainly the best thing that I could do, and I had not far to go +before a mile of the open water was before me. But there was nought +on its banks but a row of patient herons, fishing or sleeping, and +the sight of them told me that no man had passed this way for many +a long hour.</p> +<p>I waited in that place for a few moments, to see if the deer +made for the refuge of the water from some cover that as yet hid +him from me, but he did not come. It was plain to me then that the +hunt had doubled back and that I was fairly thrown out, and I went +no farther. By this time Eric might be miles away, and I knew +nothing of the lie of the land, save that along the crest of the +Ridgeway ran the road from Tenby to Pembroke, and that once on that +road I could make my way back in no long time. That, as it seemed +to me, was the best thing that I could do, and I headed my horse at +once for the hill, going slowly, for it was no great distance, and +it was heavy going in the places where the snow had gathered in +drifts. I thought that maybe I should cross the track of the horses +and hounds, or hear Eric's horn before I had gone far, but I +reached the foot of the hill without doing either.</p> +<p>Then I came to a place where the land began to draw upward more +sharply, thickly timbered, with scattered rocks among the roots of +the trees. Fox and badger and wildcat had their hiding places here, +for I could trace them on all sides, and then I saw the track of a +wolf, and that minded me, as that track in snow ever must, of Owen +and the day when he came to my help at Eastdean. That is the +clearest memory I have of my childhood.</p> +<p>Then I thought that I heard the horn, and stopped to listen, nor +was it long before what I had heard came to my ears again. It was +not the sound of the horn, however, but somewhat strange to me, and +for a while I wondered what forest bird or beast had a note like +that.</p> +<p>For the third time I heard it, and now it was plainly like the +half-stifled cry of some one in pain among the trees to the right +of me, and not far distant either. So I rode toward the place +whence the cry seemed to come, and as I went I called. At that the +voice rose more often, with some sound of entreaty in its tone, and +it seemed to be trying to form words. I hastened then, crossing +more wolf tracks on the way, and then I struck the trail of many +men and a few horses; but these were not Eric's, for the hoof marks +were rather those of ponies than of his tall steeds. I followed +that track, for it seemed to lead toward the weary voice that I +heard, and so I came to a circle of great oaks with a clear space +of many paces wide between them, and there I found what I was +seeking. It was piteous enough.</p> +<p>A man was tied to the greatest of the trees, with knees to chin, +and bound ankles, while round his knees his hands were clasped and +fastened so that a stout stake was thrust through, under his knees +and over his elbows, trussing him helplessly. The cords that bound +him to the tree were round his body in such wise that he could by +no means fall on his side and so work himself free from the stake, +and round his mouth was a ragged cloth tied, but not closely enough +to prevent him from calling out as I heard him. I think that he +must have gnawed it from closer binding than I saw now. Across the +snow behind him the paws of some daring wolf had left marks as if +the beast had sniffed at his very back not so long since, and +surely but for the chance of my coming that way nought but his +bones had been left in that place by the pack before morning came +again.</p> +<p>It was a strange cry that this man gave when he saw me, for in +no way could I take it for a cry of joy for rescue. I could rather +think that he had raised the same when the wolf came near him. And +when I dismounted and led my horse after me toward him he seemed to +try to shrink from me, as if I also meant him harm. I thought that +the poor soul had surely gone distracted with the fear of the +forest beasts on him, so that he no longer knew friend from foe, +and I wondered how long he had been bound here in this lonely +place. I had seen no house or trace of men between here and +Tenby.</p> +<p>I hitched the bridle rein over a low bough, and leaving my horse +went toward him to set him loose, wondering who had left him here. +And as I drew my seax and went to cut the lashings he writhed +afresh and cried piteously for mercy in what sounded like bad Saxon +from behind the cloth across his face, as though he deemed that I +came to slay him. I did not notice the strangeness of his using my +own tongue here in the heart of a Welsh land at the time, but +thought he took me for one of those who had bound him.</p> +<p>"Fear not," I said, speaking in Welsh to comfort him.</p> +<p>And if anything, that seemed to terrify him yet more.</p> +<p>"Mercy, good Thane--mercy!" he mumbled from his half-stifled +lips.</p> +<p>Then it seemed to me that it was strange that he knew what I +was, and before I cut the bonds I took the cloth from his face, and +lo! the man was Evan the outlaw, my enemy!</p> +<p>That told me why he feared me in good truth, for he had need to +do so, and I stood back and looked at him with the bright weapon +still in my hand, and he cried and begged for mercy unceasingly. It +seemed but right that he should be bound helplessly as he had bound +me, yet he had not the bitterness of seeing a friend look on him +without knowing him as had I. It was a foe whom he saw, and that a +righteous one.</p> +<p>Then I was minded to turn away and leave him where he was, until +the foe from the forest looked on him for the last time, for it was +all that he deserved, and I set my seax back in my belt and turned +away to my horse with a great loathing of the man in my mind; and +seeing that, he begged for mercy again most pitiably.</p> +<p>That is a hard thing to hear unmoved, and I stayed and looked at +him again. My first wrath was leaving me as I saw the fullness of +the end of his plans, and I do not think that it is in me to be +utterly revengeful.</p> +<p>"What mercy can you hope from me!" I said coldly.</p> +<p>"None, Thane--none. But let me go hence with you. Better the +rope than these wild beasts. Or slay me now, and swiftly."</p> +<p>"Who, of all your friends, tied you here?" I asked him.</p> +<p>"Howel's men," he answered. "They took my goods at the ford of +Caerau yonder, and so brought me here and left me. That was early +this morning."</p> +<p>"I marvel that you bided in reach of any who might speak with +me," I said.</p> +<p>"My comrades left me, for fear of that same. I must hire ponies +to get the goods away. I thought you had died on the wild sea that +night."</p> +<p>"It seems to me that this is but justice on you. The goods you +have lost were stolen from honest men. And it were just if I left +you bound as you bound me."</p> +<p>Then the man said slowly: "Ay, it is justice. But will you treat +me even as I treated you, Thane?"</p> +<p>I looked at him in some wonder. The man's face had grown calm, +though it was yet grey and drawn, and this seemed as if he would +own his fault without excuse. I minded that Nona the princess and +her father, ay, and Thorgils, had said that they thought well of +Evan the merchant up till this time.</p> +<p>"Supposing I let you go--What then?" I said.</p> +<p>"First of all, I would tell you somewhat for which you will +thank me, Thane."</p> +<p>"Tell me that first," I said, not altogether believing that he +had anything which could be worth my hearing, but with a full mind +now to let him go.</p> +<p>Plainly, he had some sort of faith in me, or in the worth of +what he had to say, for he began eagerly:</p> +<p>"Thane, when we took you, it was Owen of Cornwall for whom we +waited. We were not minding you at all until we saw that we might +hurt him through you."</p> +<p>"That I suppose. I know that you laid wait for Owen the +prince."</p> +<p>"Ay, for you know the Welsh and heard all that we said. But +listen, Thane, this is it. Eight of the friends of Morgan had sworn +the death of Owen that morning, and it was the leader of them who +set us on. He was not there, for he waited on another road."</p> +<p>"Were you one of the eight?"</p> +<p>"That I am not," he said. "I and my men were but hired, as +Morgan was wont to hire us now and then. When we took you methought +that it was well for me, for through you I might be inlawed again, +even as I told you."</p> +<p>"Who was this leader?" I asked, heeding this last speech not at +all.</p> +<p>"Tregoz of the Dart, men call him, for he holds lands thereon. +Also there are these of the great men of Cornwall and +Dyvnaint."</p> +<p>He called over the names of the other seven, and I repeated them +that I should not forget. The only one that I had heard before was +that of Tregoz. The outlaws had spoken of him, and now I remembered +him as one of those who had seemed loudest in welcome to Owen when +he came to Norton. So I told Evan, and he nodded.</p> +<p>"I heard him boast of the same," he said, and I believed him for +the way in which he said it.</p> +<p>"How do they think to slay Owen, and wherefore?" I asked, and my +blood ran cold at the thought of the treachery that was round +him.</p> +<p>Doubtless this Tregoz was back at court.</p> +<p>"In any way that they may compass, and if in such a way as to +stir up war with Ina of Wessex so much the better, as they say. It +is revenge for the death of Morgan, and hatred of the Saxon, +mixed."</p> +<p>"Is there any more that I should know?"</p> +<p>"None, Thane. But I have broken no oath in telling you this, as +you might think. We outlaws were not bound, for there seemed no +need."</p> +<p>It was strange that he should care to tell me this, being what +he was. Once more I minded words of Thorgils--that the knave would +beguile Loki himself with fair words. Yet there was somewhat very +strange in all the looks and words of the man at this time. But I +would not talk longer with him, and I cut his bonds and freed +him.</p> +<p>He tried to rise and stretch his cramped limbs, groaning with +the pain of them as he did so. And that grew on him so that of a +sudden he swooned and fell all his length at my feet, and then I +found myself kneeling and chafing the hands of this one who had +bound me, so that he should come round the sooner. At last he +opened his eyes, and I fetched the horn of strong mead that Howel +had bidden his folk hang on my saddle bow when we rode out, and +that brought him to himself again. He sat up on the snow and +thanked me humbly.</p> +<p>"Now, what will you do?" I said. "Let me tell you that Thorgils +is after you, and that Howel has set a price on your head, or was +going to do so. And it is better that you cross the sea no more, +for if ever any one of the men of Gerent or Ina catch you your life +will be forfeit."</p> +<p>"I will get me to North Wales or Mercia, Thane, and there will I +live honestly, and that I will swear. Only, I will pray you not to +tell Howel that I am free."</p> +<p>"I am like to tell no man," I answered grimly. "For I should but +be called a soft-hearted fool for my pains."</p> +<p>"Yet shall you be glad that you freed me. Bid Owen the prince +look to the door before ever he opens it. Bid him wear his mail day +and night, and never ride unguarded. Let him have one whom he +trusts to sleep across his doorway, until Tregoz and his men are +all accounted for."</p> +<p>"Well, then," I said, "farewell--as well as you shall deserve +hereafter. You best know if you have one safe place left to you in +England or in Wales."</p> +<p>"I was not all so bad until the law hounded me forth from men," +he said. "I have yet places where I am held as an honest man."</p> +<p>Now I had enough of him, and I would not ask him more of himself +yet I will say that my heart softened somewhat toward him, for I +knew that here also he had been well thought of. Almost did I +forget how he had treated me, for now that seemed a grudge against +Tregoz. Maybe that was all foolishness on my part, but I am not +ashamed thereof today, as I was then.</p> +<p>"Stay, have you any weapon?" I said, as I was turning away. +"There are many ills that may befall an unarmed man in a wild +country."</p> +<p>"There was a seax here," he said, rising stiffly. "They left it +on the ground, that I might see help out of my reach, as it were. +Ay, here it is."</p> +<p>He took it up, and I knew that after all he had felt somewhat as +he had made me feel when I saw help close to me and might not have +it. I pitied him, for I knew well what his torture had been. Ay, +and I will tell this, that men may know how this terror burnt into +me. Many a time have I let a trapped rat go, because I would not +see the agony of dumb helplessness in anything. It frays me. There +is no wonder that I set Evan free.</p> +<p>I said no more, but left him staring after me with the seax in +his hand, and rode on my way, thinking most of all of the peril +that was about Owen, and longing to be back with him that I might +guard him. It seemed likely now that Gerent could take all these +men whose names I had heard without the least trouble, for they +could not deem that their plans were known. Ina would surely let me +bide with my foster father till danger to him was past.</p> +<p>So I came into the road that runs along the top of the Ridgeway, +and then I knew where I was. I could see the great ness of Tenby +far before me across the hills, and presently at a turn in the road +I saw Howel and Eric and his men ahead of me. They had taken the +stag, and knew that I should make my way back, and so troubled not +at all for me.</p> +<p>There Howel and I parted from the Danes, they going back to +Tenby, while we returned slowly to Pembroke. And when we came to +the palace yard we found a little train of horses and men there, as +though some new guests had come in lately.</p> +<p>"I know who these will be," said Howel. "You will have company +in your homeward crossing. Here is Dunwal of Devon, and his +daughter, who have been on pilgrimage to St. Davids, for +Christmastide. They knew that Nona returned at this time, and have +come hither on the chance of a passage home in the ship which +brought her. In good time they are, after all."</p> +<p>Presently I met these folk, and very courteous they were. Dunwal +was a tall, very dark, man, who chose to hold that he was beholden +to myself for the passage home, when he heard why I was sailing so +soon. And his daughter was like him in many ways, being perhaps the +very darkest damsel I have ever seen, though she was handsome +withal. With them was a priest of the old Western Church, a +Cornishman, with his outlandish tonsure. He was somewhat advanced +in years, and strangely wild looking at times, though silent. He +seemed to be Dunwal's chaplain, or else was a friend who had made +the pilgrimage with him. His name was Morfed, they told me.</p> +<p>I do not think that I should have noted him much, but that when +he heard my Saxon name he scowled heavily, and drew away from me; +and presently, when it came to pass that Howel told Dunwal the news +I had brought, I saw his eyes fixed on me in no friendly way as he +listened. Nor did he join with his friends in the words of gladness +for Owen's return, though indeed I had some thought that theirs +might have been warmer. It was almost as if something was held back +by the Devon man and his daughter, though why I should think so I +could not tell. At all events, their way of receiving the news was +not like that of Howel and Nona.</p> +<p>By and by, when we came to sit down at table in the largest room +of the palace, bright with fair linen, and silver and gold and +glass vessels before us, and soft and warm under foot with rugs on +the tiled floor which hardly needed them, as I thought, there was a +guest I was pleased to see. Thorgils had ridden from Tenby at the +bidding of the princess, as it seemed, and his first words to me +were of assurance that all went well for our sailing. The good ship +would be ready for the tide of the morrow night. Pleased enough +also he was with the chance of new passengers, as may be +supposed.</p> +<p>I do not think that I have ever sat at a feast whereat so few +were present at the high table, and there were no house-carles at +all. Truly, the room was not large enough for what we deem that a +king's board should be, but we seemed almost in private. There were +not more than thirty guests altogether, but it was pleasant for all +that. The princess was on the right of her father, and Mara, the +daughter of Dunwal, on his left, but I sat next to Nona, and Dunwal +to me again. On the other side of the prince were some of his own +nobles, and across the room sat Thorgils next to the Cornish +priest, among Welshmen of some lower rank. They seemed an +ill-assorted pair, but Thorgils was plainly trying to be friendly +with every one in reach of him, and soon I forgot him in the +pleasantness of all that went on at our table.</p> +<p>However, by and by Howel said to Nona suddenly, in a low +voice:</p> +<p>"Look yonder at the Norseman. He must be talking heathenry to +yon priest, for the good man seems well-nigh wild. What can we +do?"</p> +<p>Truly, the face of Morfed was black as thunder, while that of +the Norseman was shining with delight in some long-winded story he +was telling. The white-robed servants were clearing the tables at +this moment, and the prince's bard, a fine old harper with golden +collar and chain, was tuning his little gilded harp as if the time +for song had come.</p> +<p>"Make him sing," said Nona. "I bade him here tonight that he +might do so. He has some wondrous tale to tell us."</p> +<p>Howel beckoned to the harper, and signed to him, and the old man +rose at once and went to Thorgils. It was not the first time that +he had sung here, it was plain. Then I noted that the priest was +scowling fiercely at myself, and I wondered idly why. I supposed, +so far as I troubled to think thereof that he was one of those who +hated the very name of Saxon.</p> +<p>Now Thorgils took the harp without demur, smiling at the bard in +thanks, and so came forward into the space round which the tables +were set, while a silence fell on the company.</p> +<p>"If my song goeth not smoothly in the British tongue, Prince, +forgive me. I can but do my best. Truly, I have even now asked my +neighbour, Father Morfed, if it is fairly rendered, but I have not +had his answer yet."</p> +<p>He ran his hand over the already tuned strings, and lifted his +voice and began. It was not the first time that he had handled a +British harp, by any means, but if he played well he sang better. I +do not think that one need want to hear a finer voice than his; and +though he had seen fit to doubt his powers, his Welsh was as good +as mine, and maybe, by reason of constant use, far more easy.</p> +<p>And next moment I knew that he was going to sing nothing more or +less than of King Ina's Yule feast, and what happened thereat. He +had promised to tell the princess the story, and this was her +doing, of course. I could not stop him, and there I must sit and +listen to as highly coloured a tale as a poet could make of it. +Once he saw that I was growing red, and he grinned gently at me +across the harp, and worked up the struggle still more terribly. +And all the while Morfed the priest glowered at me, until at length +he rose and left the room.</p> +<p>I was glad enough when Thorgils ended that song, but Nona must +ask him for yet another, and that pleased him, of course, and he +began once more. This time he sang, to my great confusion, of the +drinking of the bowl, and of my vow, and I wished that I was +anywhere but in Pembroke, or that I could reach the three-legged +stool on which he was perched from under him. I never knew a man +easy while the gleemen sang his deeds, save Ina, who was used to +it, and never listened; and I knew not where to look, though maybe +more than half the folk present did not understand that I was the +hero of the song. Nevertheless, I had to put up with it, till he +ended with a verse or two of praise of our host and of the princess +who loved the songs of the bard, and so took his applause with a +happy smile and went and sat down, while Nona bade her maidens bear +a golden cup and wine to him.</p> +<p>Then the princess turned to me with a quiet smile that had some +mischief in it.</p> +<p>"This last is more than I had thought to hear, Thane," she said; +"you told us nought of yourself and the lady Elfrida when we rode +from the hermit's."</p> +<p>And so she must ask me many questions, under cover of some chant +which the old bard began, and she drew my tale from me easily +enough, and maybe learnt more than I thought I told her, for before +long she said:</p> +<p>"Then it seems that, after all, you are not so sure that the +lady is pleased with you for your vow?"</p> +<p>And in all honesty I was forced to own that I was not. I suppose +I showed pretty plainly that I thought myself aggrieved in the +matter, for the princess smiled at me.</p> +<p>"Wait till you see how she meets you when you return, Thane. No +need to despair till then."</p> +<p>It came into my mind to say that I did not much care how I was +met, but I forbore. Maybe it was not true. And then the princess +and the three or four other ladies who were present rose and left +the table, and thereafter we spoke of nought but sport and war, and +I need not tell of all that. But when I went to my chamber +presently, and the two pages were about to leave me to myself some +three hours or so after the princess left the board, one of them +lingered for a moment behind the other, and so handed me a folded +and sealed paper.</p> +<p>"I pray you read this, Thane," he said, and was gone.</p> +<p>It was written in a fair hand, that did not seem as that of any +inky-fingered lay brother, but as I read the few words that were +written I knew whose it was, for none but Nona would have written +it.</p> +<p>"Have a care, Thane. I have spoken with Mara, and I fear +trouble. Dunwal her father is, with Tregoz his brother, at the +right hand of the men who follow Morgan. Morfed the priest is a +hater of all that may make for peace with the Saxon. He is +well-nigh distraught with hatred of your kin."</p> +<p>Then there were a few words crossed out, and that was all. And +to tell the truth, it was quite enough. But as I came to think over +the matter, it seemed to me that until Dunwal knew that it was his +brother who had tried to get rid of me I need not fear him. As for +the priest, his hatred would hardly lead him to harm the son of +Owen.</p> +<p>So I slept none the less easily, but from my heart I thanked the +princess for the warning. It should not be my fault if Dunwal had +much power for harm when once I met Gerent.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a>. WHY IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR +OWEN TO SLEEP IN THE MOONLIGHT.</h2> +<p>It needs not that I should tell of the farewell of the next day. +I went from Pembroke with many messages for Owen, and a promise +that if I might ever come over with him I would do so. The princess +was busy with the lady who was to cross with Thorgils, and I did +not find one chance of telling her that I thanked her for her +warning, but I found the page who gave me the letter, and bade him +tell his mistress when we had gone that she had taught me to look +in the face of a fellow passenger, which would be token enough that +I understood.</p> +<p>Dunwal and his daughter had some few men and pack horses with +them, and one Cornish maiden who attended Mara, so that we were +quite a little train as we rode from Pembroke toward Tenby in the +late afternoon, with a score of Howel's guards to care for us in +all honour. Part of the way, too, Howel rode, and when we came to +the hill above the Caerau woods, and looked down on the winding +waters again, he said to me:</p> +<p>"I have forgotten to tell you that my men took Evan. By this +time he has met his deserts. I have done full justice on him."</p> +<p>"Thanks, Prince," I said with a shudder, as I minded what I had +saved the man from. "Did your men question him?"</p> +<p>Howel smote his thigh.</p> +<p>"Overhaste again!" he cried in vexation. "That should have been +done; but I bade them do justice on him straightway if they laid +hands on him. They did it."</p> +<p>I said no more, nor did the prince. It was in my mind that he +was blaming himself for somewhat more than carelessness. So +presently he must turn and leave us, and we bade him farewell with +all thanks for hospitality, and he bade me not forget Pembroke, and +went his way.</p> +<p>Then I found Dunwal pleasant enough as a companion, and so also +was Mara, and the few miles passed quickly, until we rode through +the gates of the strong stockade which bars the way to the Danes' +town across the narrow neck of the long sea-beaten tongue of cliff +they have chosen to set their place on. The sea is on either side, +and at the end is an island that they hold as their last refuge if +need is, while their ships are safe under one lee or the other from +any wind that blows.</p> +<p>Far down below us at the cliff's foot, as we rode through the +town, where the houses had been set anywise, like those at Watchet, +and were like them timber built, we could see to our left a little +wharf, and beside it the ship that waited us. And the wind was +fair, and the winter weather soft as one might wish it for the +crossing.</p> +<p>Now, so soon as Thorgils had seen the baggage of the Cornish +folk safely bestowed I had time for a word with him, taking him +apart and walking up the steep hill path from the haven for a +little way, as if to go to the town. And so I told him who this man +was, and what possible danger might be.</p> +<p>He heard with a long whistle of dismay:</p> +<p>"'Tis nigh as bad as crossing with Evan," he said--"but one is +warned. Let them have the after cabin, and do you take the forward +one; it will be safer. Leave me to see to him when we get to +Watchet, for it is in my mind that Gerent will want him. Moreover, +so long as he thinks that you fear him not he will be careless, and +I will watch him. He will want to learn more before he meddles with +you. As for the priest, I will tend him."</p> +<p>So we were content to leave the matter. Presently, when we were +at sea, I do not think that Dunwal or Morfed had spirit left to +care for aught. I know that I had not. I need not speak of that +voyage, save to say that it was speedy, and fair--to the mind of +Thorgils, at least.</p> +<p>At last I slept, nor did I wake till we had been alongside the +wharf at Watchet for two hours, being worn out. Then I found that +Dunwal and his party had gone already, and I wondered, with a mind +to be angry, whereat Thorgils laughed.</p> +<p>"I have even sent them on to Norton with a few of our men to +help him, and they will see that he goes there and nowhere else. +You will find him waiting. I did not want him to fall on you on the +road."</p> +<p>"What is the news?" I asked. "Have you heard aught?"</p> +<p>"The best, I think. Gerent is hunting Tregoz, and Owen has swept +up every outlaw from the Quantocks. Our folk helped him. Some of +them told all they knew when they were taken."</p> +<p>"Then," I said gladly, "Owen knows that I am safe."</p> +<p>"Not so certainly," Thorgils said. "None of our folk can say +that you crossed with me, and as this is the only ship afloat at +this time of the year there is doubt as to where you are. It will +be good for Owen to see you again. What a tale you have for him! On +my word, I envy you the telling."</p> +<p>"Well, then, ride with me to Norton straightway, and you shall +tell all and save me words. Owen shall thank you also for your care +for me."</p> +<p>"What, for letting you sit on my deck while the wind blew? Nay, +but there are no thanks needed between us. You and I have seen a +strange voyage together, and it has ended well. Maybe you and I +will see more sport yet side by side, for I think that we are good +comrades. Let us be going, then, for it was in my mind that I could +not rest until I had seen you safe to your journey's end."</p> +<p>Then I found that he had his own horses ready for us, and two +more men, well armed and mounted also, were waiting with them on +the green where I had been set down in the litter. So in a very +short time Thorgils had told his men all that he would have done +about the ship, and we were riding fast along the road to Norton, +while the thawing snow told of the going of the frost at last.</p> +<p>I had been gone but these few days, but each of them seemed like +a month to look back upon as I rode under the shadow of the hills +that I had last seen as a hopeless captive. It grew warm and soft +as the midday sun shone on us, and the road was muddy underfoot +with the chill water that had filled all the brooks again, but I +hardly noticed the change, so eager was I to be back. Glad enough I +was when we saw the village and the mighty earthworks above it, and +yet more glad when the guards at the gate told us that Owen was +even now in the palace.</p> +<p>I left Thorgils and his men to the care of the guard for the +time, while I went straightway to the entrance doors and asked for +speech with him.</p> +<p>"It is the word of the king that you shall have free admittance +into the palace and to himself at any time, Thane," the captain of +the guards said.</p> +<p>So I passed into the great chamber of the palace that was used +as audience hall for all comers, and also as the court of +justice.</p> +<p>The place was full of people, and those mostly nobles, so that I +had to stand in the doorway for a moment to see what was going on. +It was plainly somewhat out of the common, for there were guards +along one end of the room. It seemed as if there were a trial.</p> +<p>Gerent sat in the great chair which one might call his throne at +the upper end of the room, and beside him was Owen. I thought that +my foster father seemed pale and troubled in that first glance, but +I had every reason to know why this was so. Before these two stood +a man, with his back to me therefore, and for the moment I did not +recognise him. On either side of this man were guards, and it was +plainly he who was in trouble, if any one. Gerent was speaking to +him.</p> +<p>"Well," he said, "hither you have come as a guest, and as a +guest you shall be treated. But you must know that here within the +walls of the place you shall abide. If you will give your word to +do that I shall not have to keep you so closely."</p> +<p>"This is not what I had looked for from you, King Gerent," the +man said.</p> +<p>I knew the voice at once, for it was that of Dunwal, my fellow +passenger. So the treachery of his brother must be known, and he +was to be held here as a hostage, as one might say. Gerent's next +words told me that it was so.</p> +<p>"If there is any fault to be found, it is in the ways of your +brother. Blame him that I must needs have surety for his behaviour. +It cannot be suffered that he should go on plotting evil against +us, unchecked in some way."</p> +<p>Dunwal shrugged his shoulders, as if to say that all this was no +concern of his.</p> +<p>"Shall you hold my daughter as well?" he said. "I trust that +your caution will not make you go so far as that."</p> +<p>Gerent's eyes flashed at the tone and words, but he answered +very coldly:</p> +<p>"She will bide here also, and in all honour."</p> +<p>Then he beckoned to a noble who stood near him, and spoke to him +for a moment. It chanced that this was one of the very few whom I +knew here. His name was Jago, and I had often seen him at +Glastonbury, for he was a friend of our ealdorman, Elfrida's +father, holding somewhat the same post in Norton as my friend in +our town. Owen liked him well also, and he was certainly no friend +to Morgan and his party.</p> +<p>"Jago's wife will give your daughter all hospitality in his +house," Gerent said, turning again to Dunwal. "Have I your word as +to keeping within bounds during my pleasure?"</p> +<p>"Ay, you have it," answered Dunwal curtly.</p> +<p>Then I slipped out of the door quietly, and went to that room +where Owen and I waited on our first coming here, and I sent a +steward to tell him of my arrival. There is no need for me to tell +how he greeted me, or how I met him.</p> +<p>Then when those greetings were over I heard all that had been +going on, and my loss had made turmoil enough. My men had brought +back the news, having missed me very shortly, but it was long +before they found traces of me. The first thing that they saw was +my hawk, as I expected, and after that the bodies of the slain. As +I was not with them, they judged that I had escaped in some way, +but they lost the track of the feet in the woodlands, and so rode +back to Owen in all haste.</p> +<p>Then was a great gathering of men for the hunting of the +outlaws, for it would take a small army to search the wild hills +and woodlands of the Quantocks to any effect. The whole countryside +turned out gladly, and the Watchet Norsemen helped also.</p> +<p>In the end, on the next day they penned the outlaws into some +combe, and took most of them, and then all was told by them, so far +as they knew it. Gerent laid hands on four of the men who had sworn +the oath Evan told me of, that evening after some leading outlaw +had given their names, but Tregoz had escaped.</p> +<p>He had been one of the most active in the matter of the hunt, to +all seeming, and had ridden out with Owen and Jago and the rest. +Then he took advantage of some turn in the hills, when men began to +scatter, and was no more seen. Presently it was plain enough why +this was, when those who were taken were made to speak. Yet it +seemed that he was not so far off, for already an attack had been +made on Owen as he rode beyond the village, though it was no very +dangerous one. Now it was to be hoped that the danger from him was +past, for his brother had been taken the moment he rode into the +gate, and he would suffer if more harm was done.</p> +<p>Then I asked if our king had been told of all this, and I learnt +that he had heard at once, and had written back to Owen to say that +he would pay any ransom that might be asked for me if I yet lived, +as was hoped. The outlaws had told of Evan's plan, but it was not +known if I had been taken out of the country yet.</p> +<p>"All is well that ends well," Owen said; "but I asked Ina not to +say aught of the matter yet for a while. There is one at least in +Glastonbury who might be sorely terrified for you."</p> +<p>He laughed at my red face, for I knew that he meant Elfrida. It +was in my mind, however, that I wished she had heard, for then, +perhaps, she would have been sorry that she had not been kinder to +me--unless, indeed, she was glad that I was out of the way, in all +truth.</p> +<p>Then there was my own long tale to be told, and of course I told +Owen all. It was good to hear him say that he himself could have +done nought but free Evan.</p> +<p>Thereafter we sought Thorgils, who was happy in the guardroom, +and had seemingly been telling my tale there, for the men stared at +me somewhat. I do not suppose that it lost in the telling.</p> +<p>Owen thanked him for his help, and took him to see Gerent; which +saved me words, for the Norseman must needs tell how Evan had +brought me on board his ship, and so we even let him say all that +there was to be said.</p> +<p>After that Gerent loaded him with presents, and so let him go +well pleased.</p> +<p>I went out to his horse with him, and saw him start. His last +word as he parted from me was that if I needed a good axeman at my +back at any time I was to send for him, and so he went seaward, +singing to himself, with the men who had brought Dunwal hither +behind him.</p> +<p>After that there was more to say of Howel and his court. It +seemed that Gerent and Owen liked him well, and I wondered that +Owen had not sought him when the trouble fell on him. I think he +would not go to Dyfed as a disgraced man, for I know he could not +clear himself at the time.</p> +<p>Now at supper, presently, there was Dunwal, looking anxious, as +I thought, but trying not to shew it. His daughter Mara was there +also, and as it happened she sat next to me. I suppose the +seneschal set her there as we had crossed from Dyfed together, +unless she had asked it, or gone to that seat without asking. She +was very pleasant, talking of the troubles of the voyage, and so +went on to speak sadly enough of the greater trouble that had +waited her.</p> +<p>"I am glad the king has kept us, however," she said. "I can be +content with the court rather than with our wild Dartmoor, as you +may guess. But all these things are too hard for me, and how any +man can plot against so wonderful looking a prince as Owen passes +me. I cannot but think that there is some mistake, and that my +uncle has no hand in the affair. That will be proved ere long, I do +believe."</p> +<p>I answered that indeed I hoped that it would prove so, and then +asked for Morfed, the priest who had crossed with us, as I did not +see him among the other clergy at the table. She told me that he +had left them, on foot, at the gate of Watchet, making his way +westward, as she believed. He had only joined their party for +easier travelling in Dyfed.</p> +<p>Then she must needs ask me questions about Thorgils' song, and +specially of Elfrida. I had no mind to tell her much, but it is +hard to refuse to answer a lady who speaks in all friendly wise and +pleasantly, so that I had to tell her much the same that I told +Nona the princess, and began to wonder if every lady who had the +chance would be as curious to know all about what story there was. +And that was a true foreboding of mine, for so it was, until I grew +used to it. But all this minded me of Nona and her warning, and I +was half sorry that the priest had not come here, to be taken care +of with Dunwal.</p> +<p>After that night we saw little of these two. Mara went to the +house of Jago, and Dunwal kept to himself about the palace +boundaries within the old ramparts, and seemed to shun notice. As +for me, word went to Ina that all was well, and he sent a letter +back to say that it would please him to know that I was with Owen +for a time yet. So I bided with him, and for a time all went well, +for we heard nought of Tregoz in any way, while another of his +friends was taken and imprisoned in some western fortress of +Gerent's. Nor were there any more attacks made on Owen, so that +after a little while we went about, hunting and hawking, in all +freedom, for danger seemed to have passed with the taking of Dunwal +as hostage.</p> +<p>Then one day a guard from the gate brought me a folded paper, on +which my name was written in a fair hand, saying that it had been +left for me by a swineherd from the hill, who said that it was from +some mass priest whom I knew. The guard had let the man go away, +deeming that, of course, there was no need to keep him. Nor had +they asked who the priest might be, as it was said that I knew +him.</p> +<p>I took the letter idly and went to my stables with it in my +hand, and opened and read it as I walked.</p> +<p>"To Oswald, son of Owen.--It is not good to sleep in the +moonlight."</p> +<p>That was all it said, and there was no name at the end of it. I +thought it foolish enough, for every one knows that the cold white +light of the moon is held to be harmful for sleepers in the open +air. But I was not in the way of sleeping out in this early season +with its cold, though, of course, it was always possible that one +might be belated on the hills and have to make a night in the +heather of it when hunting on Exmoor or the Brendons. There was not +much moon left now, either.</p> +<p>So I showed the note to Owen presently, and he puzzled over it, +seeing that it could not have been sent for nothing. At last we +both thought that whoever wrote it, or had it written, knew that +some attack would be made on us with the next moon, when it would +be likely that we might be riding homeward by its light with no +care against foes. That might well be called "sleeping in the +moonlight" as things were; and at all events we were warned in +time. The trouble to me was that it seemed to say that danger was +not all past.</p> +<p>However, when there was no moon at all I forgot the letter for +the time, no more trouble cropping up, and but for a chance word I +think that it had not come into my mind again until we were out in +the moonlight at some time. As we sat at table one evening when the +moon was almost at the full again, some one spoke of moonstruck +men, and that minded me, and set me thinking. He said that once he +himself had had a sore pain in the face by reason of the moonlight +falling on it when he was asleep, and another told somewhat the +same, until the talk drifted away to other things and they forgot +it. But now I remembered how that at our first coming here I had +waked in the early hours and seen a patch of moonlight from a high +southern window on the outer wall of the palace passing across +Owen's breast as he slept. Then I was on the floor across the door, +but now I slept in the same place that Owen had that night, while +he was on the couch across the room and under the window. It was +possible, therefore, that the light did fall on my face, but I was +pretty sure that if so it would have waked me.</p> +<p>At all events, if the letter had aught to do with that, it was a +cumbrous way of letting me know that my bed was in a bad place for +quiet sleep. The only thing that seemed likely thus was that the +good priest who wrote had left the palace before he had remembered +to tell me how he had fared in that room once, and so sent back +word. There were many priests backward and forward here, as at +Glastonbury with Ina. Then it seemed plain that this was the +meaning of the whole thing, and so I would hang a cloak over the +window by and by.</p> +<p>And, of course, having settled the question in my own mind, I +forgot to do that, and was like to have paid dearly for +forgetting.</p> +<p>Two nights afterward, when the moon was at the full, I woke from +sleep suddenly with the surety that I heard my name called softly. +I was wide awake in a moment, and found the room bright with +moonlight that did indeed lie in a broad square right across my +chest on the furs that covered me. I glanced across to Owen, but he +was asleep, as there was full light enough to see, and then I +wondered why I seemed to have heard that call. In a few moments I +knew that, and also that the voice I heard was the one that had +come to me in sore danger before.</p> +<p>Idly and almost sleeping again I watched the light, to see if +indeed it was going to cross my face, and then a sudden shadow +flitted across it, and with a hiss and flick of feathers a long +arrow fled through the window and stuck in the plaster of the wall +not an inch above my chest, furrowing the fur of the white bearskin +over me, so close was it.</p> +<p>In a moment I was on the floor, with a call to Owen, and it was +well that I had the sense to swing myself clear from the light and +leap from the head of the bed, for even as my feet touched the +floor a second arrow came and struck fairly in the very place where +I had been, and stood quivering in the bedding.</p> +<p>Then was a yell from outside, and before Owen could stay me I +looked through the window, recklessly enough maybe, but with a +feeling that no more arrows would come now that the archer was +disturbed. It needed more than a careless aim to shoot so well into +that narrow slit. Across the window I could see the black line of +the earthworks against the light some fifty paces from the wall of +the palace, with no building between them on this side at all; and +on the rampart struggled two figures, wrestling fiercely in +silence. One was a man whose armour sparkled and gleamed under the +moon, and the other seemed to be unarmed, unless, indeed, that was +a broad knife he had in his hand. Then Owen pulled me aside.</p> +<p>"The sentry has him," he said, after a hurried glance. "Let us +out into the light, for there may be more on hand yet."</p> +<p>Now I hurried on my arms, but another look showed me nothing but +the bare top of the rampart. No sign of the men remained. I could +hear voices and the sounds of men running in the quiet, and I +thought these came from the guard, who were hurrying up from the +gate.</p> +<p>"The men have rolled into the ditch," I said. "I can see nothing +now."</p> +<p>Then we ran out, bidding the captain of the guard to stand to +arms as we passed through the great door of the palace, and so we +went round to the place whence the arrows had come. A score of men +from the gate were already clustered there on the earthworks, +talking fast as Welshmen will, but heedful to challenge us as we +came. I saw that they had somewhat on the ground in the midst of +them.</p> +<p>"Here is a strange affair, my Prince," one of them said, as he +held out his hand to help Owen up the earthworks.</p> +<p>The group stood aside for us to look on what they had found, and +that was a man, fully armed in the Welsh way of Gerent's guards, +but slain by the well-aimed blow of a strong seax that was yet left +where it had been driven home above the corselet. There was a war +bow and two more arrows lying at the foot of the rampart, as if +they had been wrested from the hand of the archer and flung there. +The men had not seen these, but I looked for them at once when I +saw that there was no bow on the slain man.</p> +<p>"Who is this?" Owen said gravely, and without looking closely as +yet.</p> +<p>"It is Tregoz of the Dart, whom the king seeks," one or two of +the men said at once.</p> +<p>I had known that it must be he in my own mind before the name +was spoken. There fell a silence on the rest as the name was told, +and all looked at my foster father. There was plainly some fault in +the watching of the rampart that had let the traitor find his way +here at all.</p> +<p>"Which of you was it who slew him?" asked Owen.</p> +<p>"None of us, Lord. We cannot tell who it may have been. Even the +sentry who keeps this beat is gone."</p> +<p>"Doubtless it was he who slew him, and is himself wounded in the +fosse. Look for him straightway."</p> +<p>There they hunted, but the man was not to be found. Nor was it +his weapon that had ended Tregoz.</p> +<p>Then Owen said in a voice that had grown very stern: "Who was +the sentry who should have been here?"</p> +<p>The men looked at one another, and the chief of them answered at +last that the man was from Dartmoor, one of such a name. And then +one looked more closely at the arms Tregoz wore, and cried out that +they were the very arms of the missing sentry, or so like them that +one must wait for daylight to say for certain that they were not +they.</p> +<p>It was plain enough then. In such arms Tregoz could well walk +through the village itself unnoticed, as one of the palace guards +would be, and so when the time came he would climb from some hiding +in the fosse and take the place of his countryman on the rampart, +and the watchful captain would see but a sentry there and deem that +all was well.</p> +<p>Yet this did not tell us who was the one who had wrestled with +and slain him, and Owen told what had been done, while I went and +brought the bow and arrows from the foot of the rampart, in hopes +that they might tell us by mark or make if more than Tregoz and the +sentry were in this business. Then I looked at my window, and, +though narrow, it was as fair a mark in the moonlight as one would +need. Without letting my shadow fall on the sleeper, it was +possible to see my couch and the white furs on it, though it would +be needful to raise the arm across the moonlight in the act of +shooting. It was all well planned, but it needed a first-rate +bowman.</p> +<p>"It was surely Tregoz who shot," one of the men said. "The +sentry who was here was a bungler with a bow. None whom we know but +Tregoz could have made sure of that mark, bright as the night is. +Well it was, Lord, that you were not sleeping in your wonted +place."</p> +<p>Owen glanced at me to warn me to say nothing, and bade the men +take the body to the guardroom. They were already cursing the +sentry who had brought shame on their ranks by leaguing himself +with a traitor, and it was plain that there was no need to bid them +lay hands on him if they could. That was a matter that concerned +their own honour.</p> +<p>So we left the guarding of the place in their hands, and they +doubled the watches from that time forward. Then we went and spoke +with the captain of the guard, who yet kept his post at the doors, +as none had called him.</p> +<p>"Maybe I am to blame," he said, when he heard all. "I should not +have left a Dartmoor man from the country whence Tregoz came to +keep watch there. I knew that he was thence, and thought no +harm."</p> +<p>"There is no blame to you," Owen said. "It is not possible to +look for such treachery among our own men."</p> +<p>Then we went into our room to show the captain what had been +done. And thence the two arrows had already been taken. The hole in +the plaster where the first struck was yet there, and the slit made +by the second in the tough hide of the bear was to be seen when I +turned over the fur, but who had taken them we could not tell. +Only, it was plain that here in the palace some one was in the plot +and had taken away what might be proof of who the archer had been, +not knowing, as I suppose, that the attempt had failed so utterly. +For an arrow will often prove a good witness, as men will use only +some special pattern that they are sure of, and will often mark +them that they may claim them and their own game in the woodlands +if they are found in some stricken beast that has got away for a +time. It was more than likely that Tregoz would have been careful +to use only such arrows as he knew well in a matter needing such +close shooting as this. Indeed, we afterwards found men who knew +the two shafts from the rampart as those of the Cornishman, without +doubt.</p> +<p>This I did not like at all, for the going of these arrows +brought the danger to our very door, as it were. Nor did the +captain, for he himself kept watch over us for the rest of that +night, and afterwards there was always a sentry in the passage that +led to our room.</p> +<p>We were silent as we lay down again, and sleep was long in +coming. I puzzled over all this, for beside the taking of the +arrows there was the question of who the slayer of Tregoz might be, +and who had written the letter that should have warned us.</p> +<p>In all truth, it was not good to sleep in the moonlight!</p> +<p>Somewhat of the same kind Owen was thinking, for of a sudden he +said to me: "Those arrows were meant for me, Oswald. Did you note +what the man said about my not sleeping in my wonted place?"</p> +<p>"Ay, but I did not know that you had slept on this side. Since I +came back, at least, you have not done so."</p> +<p>Owen smiled.</p> +<p>"No, I have not," he said; "but in the old days that was always +my place, and you will mind that there I slept on the night we +first were here together. That was of old habit, and I only shifted +to this side when you came back, because I knew that you would like +the first light to wake you. Every sentry who crosses the window on +the rampart can see in here if it is light within, but he could not +tell that we had changed places, for the face of the sleeper is +hidden."</p> +<p>Then he laughed a little, and added:</p> +<p>"In the old days when I was in charge of the palace this face of +the ramparts was always the best watched, because the men knew that +if I waked and did not see the shadow of the sentry pass and repass +as often as it should, he was certain to hear of it in the morning. +Tregoz would know that old jest. I suppose Dunwal may have had some +hand in taking the arrows hence."</p> +<p>"It is likely enough," I answered. "He will have to pay for his +brother's deed tomorrow, in all likelihood, also. But who wrote the +letter, and who slew Tregoz?"</p> +<p>Owen thought for a little while.</p> +<p>"Mara, Dunwal's daughter, is the most likely person to have +written," he said. "It would be like a woman to do so, and she +seems at least no enemy. Maybe the man was the sentry, after all, +and fled because he had given up his arms, and so was sharer in the +deed that he repented of. Or he may have been some friend of ours, +or foe of the Cornishman, who would not wait for the rough handling +of the guard when they found him there where he should not be. No +doubt we shall hear of him soon or late."</p> +<p>But we did not. There was no trace of him, or of the writer of +the letter. One may imagine the fury of Gerent when he heard all +this in the morning, but even his wrath could not make Dunwal speak +of aught that he might know. But for the pleading of Owen, the old +king would have hung him then and there, and all that my foster +father could gain for him was his life. Into the terrible old Roman +dungeon, pit-like, with only a round hole in the stone covering of +it through which a prisoner was lowered, he was thrown, and there +he bided all the time I was at Norton.</p> +<p>By all right the lands of these two fell again into the hands of +the king, and he would give them to Owen.</p> +<p>"Take them," he said, when Owen would not do so at first: "they +owe you amends. If you do not want them yourself, wait until you +sit in my seat, and then give them to Oswald, that he may have good +reason for leaving Ina for you."</p> +<p>So Owen held them for me, as it were, and was content. Some day +they might be mine, if not in the days of Ina, whom we loved.</p> +<p>But Gerent either forgot or cared not to think of Mara, Dunwal's +daughter, and she bided in the best house in the town, with Jago's +wife, none hindering her in anything. There was no more sign of +trouble now that Tregoz and his brother were out of the way.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a>. HOW THE EASTDEAN MANORS AND +SOMEWHAT MORE PASSED FROM OSWALD TO ERPWALD.</h2> +<p>I bided at Norton with Owen until the Lententide drew near, and +then I must needs go back to my place with Ina. Maybe I should have +gone before this, seeing that all was safe now, but our king had +been on progress about the country, to Chippenham, and so to +Reading and thence to London, and but half his guard was with him, +so that I was not needed. Now he was back at Glastonbury, and I +must join him there and go back to royal Winchester with him for +the Easter feast.</p> +<p>Owen and I also had been far westward at one time or another, in +this space, though there is little worth telling beyond that we +went even to the lands of Tregoz that had passed to him, and so +took possession of them. I could not see that any of the folk on +those lands, whether free or thrall, seemed other than glad that +Owen was their lord now. It was said that Tregoz was little loved. +We left a new steward in the great half-stone and half-timber +house, with house-carles enough to see that none harmed either him +or the place, and so came back to Norton.</p> +<p>Now, one may say that all this time, seeing that Glastonbury was +but so short a distance from Norton, I was a laggard lover not to +have ridden over to see Elfrida, and maybe it would be of little +use for me to deny it. However, I would have it remembered that +there was always fear for Owen in my mind if I was apart from him +at the first, and then there was this westward journey, and the +hunting in new places, and many other things, so that the time +slipped by all too quickly. Also, when it is easy to go to a place +one is apt to say that tomorrow will do, and, as every one knows, +tomorrow never comes. Nor had we said much of that damsel; if Owen +had not altogether forgotten my oath, he never spoke of it, nor did +I care to remind him. Nevertheless, whenever we spoke of Howel and +his daughter, Owen's godchild, I minded that the princess had +bidden me see how Elfrida greeted me when I came back, and it was +in my mind that she would be no less glad to see me after a long +absence.</p> +<p>That I should find out very shortly, but the thought troubled me +little. I will say that the parting from Owen was all that was of +consequence to me, for it was hard enough. I could not tell when we +should meet again, for I must go east and he west now, and +presently all Devon, and maybe Cornwall, would lie between us, even +when our court was at Glastonbury. It would be hard to see him at +all in the coming days, for not often was Gerent here. However, +partings must needs be, and we made the least of it, and so at last +we rode together to the old bridge that crosses the Parrett, and +there bade our last farewells, and went our ways, not looking +back.</p> +<p>It was a lonesome ride onward for me after all these days with +him, and I had not a word for my house-carles, who had ridden from +Glastonbury hither to meet me, for the first few miles. Then I +bethought myself, and drew rein a little and let them come up with +me, for I had ridden alone at their head for a while, and so heard +all the news of the court and whatever talk was going about the +place, and my mind left Norton and went on, as it were, before me +to Glastonbury and all that I should see there.</p> +<p>There was a warm welcome waiting for me from the many friends, +and best of all from the king himself. With him I sat long in his +chamber telling of my doings and of Owen, and hearing also of what +had been going on. At the last, when I was about to leave his +presence, he said:</p> +<p>"There is one matter that we must speak of tomorrow, for it is +weighty and needs thought. Let it bide now, for it is nought +unhappy, and so come to me at noon and we will speak thereof. Now +your friends will seek you, and I will not say more."</p> +<p>I left him then with a little wonder as to what this business +might be, but thought little of it, as it would very likely be a +matter of taking some men on some errand or the like house-carle +work, and then I bethought me that I would even go and see how +fared Elfrida. It was not unpleasant to think of taking her by +surprise, for I did not suppose that she had heard of my return +yet. At all events, she would have no chance of making up some +stiff greeting for me. Wherefore I went down the street with my +head in the air, making up my mind how I would greet her, and maybe +I thought of a dozen ways before I reached the ealdorman's +door.</p> +<p>His welcome was hearty enough at all events, but before I could +make up my mind to ask for Elfrida, who was not to be seen at +first, though I had counted on finding her at her wheel in the +great hall of the house, as was her wont in the afternoon, he had +wasted a long hour in hearing all that he could of my affairs, as +may be supposed. There had been some strange rumours flying about +since I was lost. I began to wish that I had brought Thorgils home +with me, for it was plain that I should have to go over all this +too often, and he cared not at all how many times he told the same +tale.</p> +<p>At last I was able to find a chance of asking how fared the lady +Elfrida, and at that the ealdorman laughed.</p> +<p>"What, has not all this put that foolishness out of your head?" +he said.</p> +<p>"No, it has not," I answered pretty shortly.</p> +<p>But all the same, the old thought that I had remembered her less +than I would have it known did flash across me for a moment.</p> +<p>"Well, I will send for her, and she will tell you for herself +how she fares."</p> +<p>He sent, and then in about half an hour she came, just as I was +thinking I would wait no longer. And if she had been stiff with me +in the orchard it was even more so now, and I did not seem to get +on with her at all. She said, indeed, that she was glad to see me +back, but in no way could I think that she looked more so than any +one else I had met.</p> +<p>So we talked a little, and then all of a sudden her father +said:</p> +<p>"Ho!--Here comes that South Saxon again."</p> +<p>Then at once a blush crept slowly over her fair face, and she +tried not to look toward the great door in vain, though no one came +in, and presently she was gone with but a few words to me. I did +not like this at all, but the ealdorman laughed at her and then at +me, the more that he saw that I was put out.</p> +<p>"Never mind, Oswald," he said. "That vow of yours pledged you to +no more than duty to any fair lady."</p> +<p>"Maybe it is just as well that it did not," I answered, trying +to laugh also.</p> +<p>"Ay, that is right. You were bound to say somewhat, and you did +it well. But it has not pleased the girl, nevertheless."</p> +<p>"I did think, at least, she would have been more glad to see +me."</p> +<p>"Trouble yourself not at all about the ways of damsels for the +next five years, or maybe ten, Oswald, my friend," said the +ealdorman. "So will you have an easier life, and maybe a longer +one."</p> +<p>Discontented enough I went away, and that same discontent lasted +for a full half-hour. At the end of that time I found myself +laughing at the antics of two boys who were sporting on a flooded +meadow in a great brew tub, while their mother threatened them with +a stick from the bank. It was my thought that a cake would have +fetched them back sooner than the stick, but maybe she knew best. +It was like a hen with ducklings.</p> +<p>Then I grew tired of loitering outside the town and nursing my +wounded pride, and when it began to rain I forgot it, and went back +to the palace and talked about the British warriors with Nunna and +some of the other young thanes until supper time.</p> +<p>Next morning I waited on the king as he had bidden me, finding +him in his chamber with a pile of great parchments and the like +before him. He bade me be seated, and I sat in the window seat +opposite him.</p> +<p>"It is no light matter that I have to speak of," he said, "but I +will get to the point straightway. What do you remember of your old +home, Eastdean?"</p> +<p>Now the thoughts of old days there that had sprung afresh in my +mind in the parting with Owen, made me ready to answer that at +once.</p> +<p>"Little, my King. I was but ten years old when we fled," I +answered therefore.</p> +<p>"That is likely. But would you go back there? As the Thane of +Eastdean, I mean; for I know that you would wish to see the place +where your father lies."</p> +<p>I could not answer him this at once, for it was indeed a matter +that needed thought. So I said, and he turned to his writings with +a nod and left me to myself.</p> +<p>In all these thoughts of mine, pleasant as they were with some +memories, it had never come to me to wish that the lands were mine +again. Save for that one thing of which Ina spoke, and for the +pleasantness of seeing old scenes again, I had never cared to go +back. Owen had not spoken of the lands that should have been mine +for years, and even as he talked with me and Gerent he had not +seemed to remember that old loss at all. Gerent had done so, saying +that I should be back there, but even that did not stir me now. I +was of the court, and here I had my place, and all my life was knit +with the ways of the atheling guard and the ordering of the +house-carles under Owen. If I were to turn from all this to become +a forest thane it would be banishment.</p> +<p>And then I thought of Owen, and how this would take me yet +farther from him. I would sooner, if I must be sent from Ina, go to +him and find what home I might on the lands of Tregoz in wild +Dartmoor. And then the thought of leaving Ina, who had cared for me +since I was a child, was almost as terrible.</p> +<p>"I would not leave you, my King," I said at last.</p> +<p>Ina looked up at me with a smile, but was silent, stroking his +beard as was his way when thinking, looking past me out of the +narrow window to the great Tor that towered beyond the new abbey +buildings.</p> +<p>"Think!" he said at last--"partings must come, and lands are not +to be had lightly. Erpwald's brother, who held Eastdean, is +dead."</p> +<p>"I need no lands," I answered. "The ways of a captain of your +house-carles are good to me, and I need no more. If I took those +lands from your hand, my King, needs must that I gave up all the +life with you. Sooner would I let the land go and bide with you. +Yet if I must needs take them, be it as you will."</p> +<p>"It is a great thing that you speak so lightly of giving up," he +answered gravely; "Erpwald, the heathen, was willing to risk his +life for those lands, and he held them dear. And a captain of the +king's house-carles will always look to be rewarded for service +with lands. In time you will seek the same."</p> +<p>"That time has not yet come to me, King Ina."</p> +<p>"Eastdean lies in my hand here," he said, taking up a parchment +with a great seal on it. "I may give it to whom I will, but you are +the lawful heir who should hold it from me. If it goes not to you, +it may be that one whom you would not shall have it."</p> +<p>Then I said, not seeing at all what the king would have me do, +but thinking that he deemed me foolish for not taking the lands +straightway:</p> +<p>"Let me bide with you even yet for a while. When the time comes +that I must leave you I must go to Owen, and neither he nor I care +for aught but to be here. He must leave you because of duty, and if +this is indeed choice with me, let me choose to stay. It is nought +to me who holds the lands, save only that it might be one who will +tend the grave of my father."</p> +<p>Then said Ina, looking into my face and smiling, as if well +pleased:</p> +<p>"The choice is free, my Thane, and I should be wrong if I did +not say that I am glad to hear you choose thus. I have missed you +in these days, and I have work here for you yet. It was in my mind +that thus you would choose, and I am glad. Let it be so. I need one +to take the place of Owen, as second in command of the household, +as one may say, and that you must do for me henceforward.</p> +<p>"Nay," he said quickly, raising his hand as I tried to find some +words of thanks for this honour; "you know the ways of Owen, and +men know you, and it will be as if there had been no change, and +that will mean that we shall have no grumbling in the palace, and +the right men will be sent to do what they are best fitted for--and +all that, so that there will be quiet about the court as ever. It +is a matter off my mind, let me tell you, and no thanks are +needed."</p> +<p>So he laughed and let me kiss his hand, patting me on the +shoulder as I rose, and then bade me sit down again. He had yet +more to say.</p> +<p>"With Erpwald who is dead, men would hold that you had a blood +feud. That is done with; but his son yet lives. I do not think it +is your way, or Owen's, to hold that a feud must be carried on in +the old heathen way of our forefathers."</p> +<p>"Most truly not," I said. "What ill has a son of Erpwald done to +me or mine?"</p> +<p>"None! Nay, rather has he done well, for I know that he has +honoured the grave of your father, and even now is ready to do what +he can to make amends for the old wrong. He brought me this."</p> +<p>He took up the parchment that he had shewn me before. It was a +grant of the manors of Eastdean to Erpwald, gained by those means +of utmost craft whereby the king thought that indeed the last of +our line had perished by other hands than those of the heathen +thane.</p> +<p>"Honest and straightforward and Christian-like is this young +Erpwald," the king said. "Well brought up by his Christian mother, +if not very ready or brilliant in his ways. Now he has learned how +his father came into the lands, and though he might well have held +them after his uncle on this grant, he has come hither to set the +matter in my hands. 'It is not fair,' quoth he, 'that I should hold +them if one is left of the line of Ella. I should not sleep easily +in my bed. Nevertheless, I will buy them if so be that one is left +to sell them to me.' So he sighed, for the place is his home."</p> +<p>"All these years it has been no trouble to me that Erpwald's +brother has held the place, my King. It will be no trouble to think +that a better Erpwald holds them yet."</p> +<p>"I do not think that he will be happy unless he deems that he +has paid some price--some weregild {<a name="EndNote2anc" href= +"#EndNote2sym"><sup>ii</sup></a>}, as one may say; for slow minds +as his hang closely to their thoughts when they are formed. See, +Oswald, I have thought of all this, and the young man has been here +for a fortnight. I brought him here from Winchester, where he +joined me. Let me tell you what I think."</p> +<p>"The matter is in your hands altogether, my King."</p> +<p>"As you have set it there," he said, smiling gently. "Now all +seems plain to me, and I will say that this is even what I thought +you would wish to do. How shall it be if we bid Erpwald, for the +deed of his father, to build a church in Eastdean and there to keep +a priest, that all men shall know how that the martyr is honoured, +and the land be the better for his death?"</p> +<p>Nought better than this could be, as I thought, and I told the +king so.</p> +<p>"Why, then," he said, "that is well. I shall have pleased both +parties, as I hope. I know you will meet him in all +friendliness."</p> +<p>Then he let me go, and it was with a light heart that I parted +from him. Now I knew that my father's grave and memory would be +held in more than common honour, and I was content.</p> +<p>Men would miss Owen sorely here, but, save for that, I had so +often acted for him in these last two years that my being +altogether in his place made little difference to any one, or even +to myself in a few days. That last was as well for myself, as it +seems to me, for I was not over proud, as I might have been had the +post been new to me. As it was, I do not think that there was any +jealousy over it, or at least I never found it out. My friends +rejoiced openly, and if any one wondered that the king should so +trust a man of my age, the answer that I had saved Ina's life was +enough to satisfy all.</p> +<p>My men drank my health in their quarters that night, and after I +got over the little strangeness of sitting on the high place next +to Nunna, things went on, save for the want of Owen about the +court, even as when he was the marshal and I but his squire, as it +were.</p> +<p>I saw young Erpwald for the first time soon after the king had +spoken of him to me, and I liked the look of him well enough. He +was some few years older than I, square and strong, with a round +red face and light hair, pleasant in smile, if not over wise +looking. One would say that he might be a good friend, but one +could hardly think of him as willingly the enemy of any man. Some +one made me known to him as the son of Owen, as was usual, and as +such would I be known to him for a while; but for some time I saw +little of him, not caring to seek his company, as indeed there was +no reason for me to do so.</p> +<p>The next thing that I heard of him was that he had made a great +friend of the ealdorman since he came here, being often at his +house. It was not so long before I met him there, though my pride, +which would not let me risk another rebuff, kept me away for some +days. I had an uneasy feeling that I should fare no better, and I +could find good reason enough to justify the thought in some ways, +as any one may see from what had happened before.</p> +<p>Maybe that was a token that my first feelings were cooling off, +and I do not think that there is much wonder if they were. It would +have been strange, and not altogether complimentary to the fair +damsel if, after the deed at the feast and the vow that I had to +make, I had not thought myself desperately in love with her at +last, after a good many years of friendship. But now there had +befallen the long days of peril and anxiety which had set her in +the background altogether, and I had had time to come to more sober +thoughts, as it were. Men have said that I aged more in that short +time than in the next ten years of my life, and it is likely. +Nevertheless, it needed but a word or two of kindness to bring me +to Elfrida's feet once for all, and but a little more coldness to +send me from her altogether.</p> +<p>So at last I went to her home to find out how I should fare, +thinking less of the matter than last time, and there she sat in +the hall, chatting merrily with Erpwald. That pleasantness stopped +when I came in, and after the first needful greetings Elfrida froze +again, and Erpwald fell silent, as if I was by no means welcome. I +could see that I was the third who spoils company. However, the +ealdorman came in directly, and I talked to him, and as we paid no +heed to those two they took up their talk once more, and presently +their words waxed low. Whereon the ealdorman glanced at them with a +sly grin and wink to me, and I understood.</p> +<p>So I went away, for that was enough. Of course, I was very +angry, by reason of the scratch to my pride; for it does hurt to +think that one is not wanted, and for a while I brooded over it +just as I had done the other day. Then it came to me that at least +I had no reason to be angry with Erpwald, who could know little or +anything about me, being a newcomer, and it was not his fault if +the girl made a tool of him to scare me away, and after that I +found my senses again, rather sooner than before, perhaps. It was +plain that the ealdorman took it for granted that I had no feeling +now in that direction, and so others would do the same, which was +comforting. So I supposed that there was no more to be said on the +subject by any one, unless Elfrida chose to have the matter out, +and set things on the old footing of frank friendliness again.</p> +<p>There I found that I was mistaken at once. Some one was coming +down the lane after me quickly, and then calling my name. I turned, +and there was Erpwald, with a very red face, trying to overtake me, +and I waited for him.</p> +<p>"A word with you, Thane," he said, out of breath.</p> +<p>"As many as you will. What is it?"</p> +<p>"Wait until I get my breath," he said. "One would think that you +were in a desperate hurry, by the pace you go. Plague on all such +fast walkers!"</p> +<p>That made me laugh, and he smiled across his broad face in +return.</p> +<p>"It is all very well to grin," he said, straightening his face +suddenly to a blankness; "but what I have to say concerns a mighty +serious matter."</p> +<p>"Well, then, get it done with," I answered, trying not to smile +yet more.</p> +<p>"I don't rightly know how to begin," he said in a hesitating +kind of way. "Words are as hard to manage as a drove of forest +swine, and I am a bad hand at talking. Can you not tell what I have +to say?"</p> +<p>"Not in the least," I answered.</p> +<p>It flashed across me that he might have found out who I was, +however, and wanted to speak of the old trouble.</p> +<p>"Well," he said at last, growing yet redder, "the Lady Elfrida +is angry that her name has been coupled with yours pretty much +lately."</p> +<p>He stopped with a long breath, and I knew what he was driving +at.</p> +<p>"She has told me as much herself already," I said solemnly.</p> +<p>He heaved a sigh of relief.</p> +<p>"But she did not tell me that," he said in a puzzled sort of +way. "Well, it must not go on, or--or else, that is, I shall have +to see that it does not."</p> +<p>"The worst of it is that I cannot help it," said I. "Did the +lady ask you to speak to me of the matter?"</p> +<p>"Why, no; she did not. Only, I thought that some one must. Of +course, I mean that I will fight you if it goes on."</p> +<p>"Of course," I said. "But I can in no wise stop it. Do you know +how it began?"</p> +<p>"Not altogether. How was it?"</p> +<p>"Really, that you had better ask some one else," I said, keeping +a grave face. "I think that it would have been fairer to me to have +done so first. But if there was any real blame to me, do you think +that the ealdorman would have been glad to see me just now? I think +that it was plain that he was so."</p> +<p>"I am an owl," Erpwald said. "Of course, he would not have been. +But did you come to see the ealdorman, or the lady?"</p> +<p>"Why, both of them, of course. I have known them for years."</p> +<p>He looked relieved when he heard that, and I thought that he +must be badly smitten already.</p> +<p>"Well, I will go and ask the ealdorman all about it," he said. +"Where shall I find you in an hour's time?"</p> +<p>"In my quarters," I answered; "but, of course, if you want to +fight me you will have to send a friend to talk to me."</p> +<p>"I will send the ealdorman himself."</p> +<p>"Best not, for he is the man who is charged with the stopping of +these affairs if he hears of them. Any atheling you meet will help +you in such a matter. It is an honour to be asked to do so. But +don't ever ask me to be your second if you have another affair, for +I also have to hinder these meetings if I can."</p> +<p>"Is there any one else I must not ask?" he said in a bewildered +way.</p> +<p>"Best not ask the abbot," I said, and I could not help +smiling.</p> +<p>"Now you are laughing at me, and that is too bad. How am I to +know your court ways?"</p> +<p>"Well, you will not have to fight me unless you really want to +pick a quarrel. So it does not matter. Get to the bottom of the +question, and then come and talk it over, and we will see what is +to be done."</p> +<p>He nodded and left me, and I had a good chuckle over the whole +business. It was not likely that Elfrida had set him on me, in the +least; but I suppose he had heard some jest of her father's, who +was one of those who will work anything that pleases them to the +last.</p> +<p>So I went my way, and saw to one or two things, and sat me down +in the room off the hall that had been Owen's, and presently +Erpwald came in, and I saw that he was in trouble.</p> +<p>"Well," I said, "how goes the quarrel?"</p> +<p>"I am a fool," he replied promptly. "The lady should be proud of +the affair, and the more it is talked of the better she should like +it. You are right in saying that it cannot be stopped. Why, there +is a gleeman down the street this minute singing the deeds of +Oswald and Elfrida. As for the vow you made, the ealdorman says +that it could not have been better done. Forgive me for troubling +you about it at all."</p> +<p>He held out his broad hand, and for a moment I hesitated about +taking it. He bore his father's name, but in a flash it came to me +that I was wrong. We were both children when the ill deed was +wrought, and I was no heathen to hold a blood feud against all the +family of the wrongdoer. He did not even know that one of us lived, +and, as the king had told me, I knew that he was prepared to make +amends.</p> +<p>So I took his hand frankly, and he had not noticed the moment's +slowness or, if he did, took it for the passing of vexation from my +mind.</p> +<p>"You will laugh at me again," he said, "but now I am in hot +water in all sooth. The lady will not speak to me at all."</p> +<p>I did laugh. I sat down on the edge of the table and tried to +stop it, but his red face was so rueful that I could not, and at +last he had to smile also.</p> +<p>"Why, what have you done?" I asked. "Now it is my turn to know +reasons why. Here is a new offence to be seen into."</p> +<p>"I only told her that I had spoken to you on the subject, and +was going to talk to the ealdorman, her father, if she would not +save me the trouble by telling me herself all about it."</p> +<p>"And then?"</p> +<p>"She got up and went away, tossing her head, without a word. So +I had a talk with the ealdorman, and learnt all; but after that I +tried to see her, and that black-haired Welsh maiden of hers told +me that she would not see me."</p> +<p>"It seems to me that you have had a bad day," I said. "But what +does it matter? You have done what seemed right, and if it is taken +in the wrong way you cannot help it."</p> +<p>"It does matter," he said. "If she is wroth with me, I don't +mind telling you that I am fit to hang myself. Could you not set +things right for me, somehow? You are an old friend."</p> +<p>"No, hardly; for I am not in favour there just now."</p> +<p>"Well, I shall go and try to get round the Welsh girl to speak +for me."</p> +<p>Now, that was a servant I had never heard of, and I thought I +knew all the household. So I could not tell him if that would be of +use, and he left me in some sort of desperation to try what he +could. He was very much in love.</p> +<p>Next day he came back beaming. Somehow the Welshwoman had +managed things for him, and all was well again. I had my own +thought that Elfrida was by no means unwilling to meet him halfway, +but I did not say so. I think I had fairly got over my feelings by +this time, but I must say that I felt a sort of half jealousy about +it. But the more I came to look on the South Saxon's round face, +and to think of him as Elfrida's favoured lover, the less I felt +it. It became a jest to watch the going of the affair, and I was +not the only one who found it so in a very short time.</p> +<p>Erpwald made no secret of his devotion. He minded me of a great +faithful stupid dog, whose trust was boundless and whose love was +worth having. One could lead him anywhere, but he was true +Sussex--he would not be driven an inch.</p> +<p>So Elfrida had a hopeless slave at her beck and call, and by and +by I was on the old footing, and we used to make much of my vow of +service to her.</p> +<p>"I would that I had made that vow," Erpwald said once.</p> +<p>"It is not too late now," answered the ealdorman, with his great +laugh; "but I do not think it is needed."</p> +<p>After me went Erpwald when he was not at the ealdorman's, and +Ina told me that he was glad to see that I harboured no thought of +revenge.</p> +<p>"Presently you will want to go to Eastdean to see that your +father's grave is well honoured, and this friendliness will help +you," he said. "And for his friend such a man as Erpwald will do +much. The church at Eastdean will be no poor one, and you will help +him choose the place. We could not have asked him to do anything +that has pleased him more."</p> +<p>One thing I feared was that when he found out who I was he would +be ill at ease with me, and I asked the king to tell him in the way +that seemed best to his wisdom, lest the knowledge should come by +chance from some one else.</p> +<p>So he did that, and in a day or two Erpwald came to me and told +me that he knew at last who I was, and we had a long talk together. +It was in his mind to try to make me take the lands again, and I +had hard work to make him believe that I was in earnest when I said +that I did not want them. And at the end I made him happy by +telling him that the king would let me go to Eastdean with him +before long, so that we could see to things together.</p> +<p>"Well," he said, "this is all very pleasant for me, and it is +common saying that you will be some sort of prince in West Wales +before long; but I shall ever feel that my family owes yours more +than I can repay."</p> +<p>After that he was a little uneasy with me for a time, but it +soon wore off, and we used to talk of our ride to Eastdean often +enough.</p> +<p>And then happened a thing that set me back into trouble about +Owen again. I had had many messages from him, as may be supposed, +and in all of them he said that there was no sign of danger, or +even of plotting against him.</p> +<p>One of my men brought me a written message one evening. A thrall +had left it at the gate for me. And when I asked from whom it came +I had the same answer that was given me when that other writing +warned me not to sleep in the moonlight, for it was said to come +from a priest whom I knew.</p> +<p>So when I glanced at the writing I was not surprised to see that +it was the same, though the sight of it gave me a cold shudder. +Somewhat the same also was the form in which the message ran:</p> +<p>"To Oswald, son of Owen.--It is not good to take wine from the +hand of a Briton."</p> +<p>Now, I had some reason to believe that Mara had written the +first note, as she seemed the only possible person to warn us of +the plots of her kin, and that was a very plain warning to Owen +rather than to myself, as it seemed. So I thought this might come +from the same hand, and be meant for him also, and that all the +more that there was not a stranger left in Glastonbury, now that +the feasting was over, much less a Welshman. But Owen had none but +Welsh round him, and it seemed to say that there was some plot +among them again. Maybe he would know who was meant by the +"Briton." Men have nicknames that seem foolish to any but those who +are in the jest of them. We used to call Erpwald the "Saxon" +sometimes, because he was not of Wessex, although we were as much +Saxon as he, or more so, according to our own pride.</p> +<p>I went straight down the street to the house of a man whom I +knew well, an honest franklin who had a good horse and knew the +border country from end to end, and I bade him ride with all speed +to Owen at Norton with the paper. He was to give it into his own +hand, and I made shift to scrawl a few words on the outside of it +that he might shew to my friend the captain of the guard, and so +win speedier entry to the palace. I did not send one of my own men, +because he would have been known as coming from me, while this man +was often in Norton about cattle and the like, and none would +wonder at seeing him.</p> +<p>I was easier when I saw him mount and ride away, but I was ill +content until the morning came and brought him back with tidings +that all was well, and that Owen would be on his guard.</p> +<p>Also, the franklin was to tell me that Gerent's court went to +Isca, which we call Exeter, in two days' time, and that Owen would +fain see me before he went westward, if I could come to him. There +seemed to be difficulty in persuading Gerent to let him return to +our court, even for a day now.</p> +<p>Whereon I went to Ina and told him of this new trouble, and he +bade me go. He thought that some fresh plot was being hatched in +Exeter, but both he and I wondered that the warning was not sent +direct to my foster father, rather than in this roundabout way +through my hands. He said the same thing to me that Howel had +spoken when I parted from him.</p> +<p>"These plotters will not think twice about striking at Owen +through you, if it seems the only way to reach him. And you mind +that the princess told you to have a care for yourself. Evan said +that if strife was stirred up between us and Gerent they would be +glad. If they slew you, my Thane, it is likely that there would be +trouble, unless Gerent is as wroth as I should be."</p> +<p>So I went with a few guards and spent the day and night with +Owen at Norton. I knew it was the last chance I should have of +seeing him for a long time, but we talked of the coming summer, +promising ourselves that journey together to see Howel. I told him +how things went with Elfrida and me, and he did not seem to wonder +much, nor to think it of any consequence. He laughed at me, and +told me to get over it as soon as I could, and that was all.</p> +<p>But this last warning he could no more understand than I. It was +his thought that it was meant for me rather than himself.</p> +<p>"You will have to take heed to any Welshman you meet," he said, +"and as you are warned that should be no very difficult matter. No +Briton can ever pretend to be a Saxon."</p> +<p>I do not think that there is more to be said of that meeting, +though indeed I would willingly dwell on it. Mayhap it will be +plain why I would do so presently, for I left him bright and happy +in his old place, with nought but the distance from the foster son +whom he loved to trouble him.</p> +<p>But when I rode away again the sorrow of that parting fell +heavily on me, and I could not shake it off. It seemed to me that I +would not see Owen again, though why it so seemed I could not tell. +If I had any thought of danger to myself I should have cared +little, so it was not that. I wonder if one can feel "fey" for +another man if he is dear to you as no other can be?</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a>. HOW ERPWALD FELL FROM +CHEDDAR CLIFFS; AND OF ANOTHER WARNING.</h2> +<p>In the coming week, after I had thus taken leave of Owen, my +friend Herewald, the ealdorman, would have a hunting party before +we all left him and Glastonbury for Winchester, and so it came to +pass that on the appointed day a dozen of us rode with a train of +men and hounds after us along the westward slopes of the Mendips in +the direction of Cheddar, rousing the red deer from the warm +woodlands of the combes where they love to hide. We had the +slow-hounds with us, and that, as it seems to me, is better sport +than with the swift gaze-hounds I rode after on the Welsh hills +with Eric. It is good to hear the deep notes of them as they light +on the scent of the quarry in the covers, and to see them puzzle +out a lost line in the open, and to ride with the crash and music +of the full pack ahead of one in the ears, as the deer doubles no +longer, but trusts to speed for escape.</p> +<p>Those who were with us were friends of mine and of the +ealdorman, and there were three ladies in the party--one of these +being, of course, Elfrida.</p> +<p>Erpwald was in close attendance on her, a matter which was taken +for granted by every one at this time. He was to go with the court +to Winchester, and thence he and I would ride to Eastdean.</p> +<p>So we hunted through the forenoon, taking one deer, and then +rode onward until we came to the place where the great Cheddar +gorge cleaves the Mendips across from summit to base, sheer and +terrible. The village lies at the foot of the gorge on the western +side of the hills, half sheltered between the first cliffs of the +vast chasm, but on the hillside above is a deep cover that climbs +upward to the summit, and it was said that a good deer had been +harboured there.</p> +<p>So presently, while the hounds were drawing this wood below us, +I and Elfrida and Erpwald found ourselves together and waiting on +the hilltop at the edge of the gorge. I was almost sorry to make a +third in that little party, but Erpwald knew nothing of the +country, and Elfrida had no more skill in matters of time and place +and distance than most ladies, which is not saying much, in all +truth, though I hardly should dare to set it down, save by way of +giving a reason for my presence with so well contented a party of +two.</p> +<p>Now, if there is one who has not seen this Cheddar gorge, I will +say that it is as if the mighty hills had been broken across as a +boy breaks a long loaf, or as if some giant had hewn a narrow gap +with the roughest pick that ever was handled. Our forefathers held +that Woden had indeed hewn it so, and we have tales that the evil +one himself cleft it in a night, and that the rocky islands of +Steep and Flat Holme, yonder in the mid channel, are the rubbish +which he hewed thence and cast there. Maybe the overhanging cliffs +are full four hundred feet high from the little white track which +winds at their foot, and from cliff top to cliff top is but a short +bow shot.</p> +<p>From where we waited one could look sheer down on the track +below us, and a man who was coming slowly along it seemed like a +rat in its run, so far off did he appear. At least, so said +Erpwald, who looked over, riding to the very edge. I had no wish to +do so, having been there before, and not altogether liking it.</p> +<p>Then he wanted Elfrida to look over also, and that frightened +her, and so we rode back and forth a little, for the wind was keen +on the hill, listening for sound of horn or hound in the cover.</p> +<p>One reason why we were so near the edge of the cliffs was that +Erpwald had not seen the place before, and had heard much of it; +and another was that as no deer could cross the gorge we should be +sure to have the hunt before us when one broke. There are tales of +hunted deer, ay, and of huntsmen also, going over the cliffs at +full speed, but that is likely only when the pace has been hot and +the danger is forgotten. I had no mind, either, to see some of +Herewald's young hounds cast themselves over in eagerness if they +chose to follow, as young ones will, the scent of some hill fox who +had his lair among the rocks and knew paths to safety on the face +of the cliffs, so that was yet another reason why we were in that +place, and I tell this because it is likely that some one may ask +how it was that I suffered my friends to bide in so perilous a +spot, seeing what happened presently.</p> +<p>It was not long before those two forgot me, and rode side by +side talking. Maybe I forgot them, for the last time I was on the +cliff tops was across the channel, and I minded the two with whom I +rode then--Howel and Nona.</p> +<p>Then suddenly the ringing of the horn roused us, and Erpwald +came toward me, thinking that, of course, Elfrida was close after +him, but with his eyes too intently watching the place where I had +said a deer was most likely to break cover to notice much else. I +was some twenty paces farther from the edge than they. The horses +pricked up their ears at the well-known sound, and stood with +lifted heads watching as eagerly as we.</p> +<p>Then there came a little cry from Elfrida as she bade her horse +stand, and I heard it trampling sharply, as if restive, behind us. +I turned in my saddle to see what was amiss, and what I saw made my +blood run cold, and the sweat broke out on my forehead in a +moment.</p> +<p>With the sound of the horn and the moving away of Erpwald the +horse had waxed restive, as horses will at a cover side when the +time to move on seems near. I think that it had probably reared a +little and that she had tried to check it, for now it was backing +slowly and uneasily toward the edge of that awesome cliff that was +but ten paces from its heels. Even now the girl was backing him yet +more in her efforts to make him stand still, and I dared not make a +move to catch the bridle lest he should swing round at once from me +and go over.</p> +<p>"Spur him, Elfrida. Let his head go, and spur him," I said as +quietly as I could, but so that she must needs hear.</p> +<p>It was all that I could do.</p> +<p>She spurred him, and then as he made a little leap forward, +checked him, and that was yet worse. Then I saw Erpwald, with an +ashy face, dismount and go hastily toward the edge behind her, +sidelong, and I swung my horse away from him, so that by chance +hers might follow me out of danger.</p> +<p>But that was useless. The brute was yet backing, and his heels +were almost on the brink. It seemed that his rider did not know how +near she was.</p> +<p>"Get off!" I said hoarsely. "Get off at once!"</p> +<p>Then she knew, but could only turn and look. The hinder hoofs +lost hold on the rocky edge as the horse made its first slip +backward, and even as the loosened stones rattled down, and it +lurched with one leg hanging over the gulf, Erpwald leapt forward +and tore Elfrida from the saddle, and half threw her toward me. I +do not remember when I dismounted, but I was there and grasped her +hand and dragged her back out of the way of the lashing fore +feet.</p> +<p>Then Erpwald was gone. The horse struggled wildly in one last +effort to save itself, and swept my friend over with it. There was +a rattle of stones, a silence, and then a dull crash in the depths +below.</p> +<p>One moment later and all three would have gone. I heard the +shout of the man on the track below, and I wondered in a dull way +if he had been killed also.</p> +<p>And now I had Elfrida to tend, for she had fainted. What she had +seen I could not tell, but I hoped that at least she knew nought +before Erpwald went. It was as if she had lost consciousness when +he reached her, for I saw the hand on the rein loosen helplessly. I +carried her back from the cliff and tried to bring her to herself, +vainly, though indeed I almost wished that she might remain as she +was until we were back in Glastonbury.</p> +<p>Then I wound my horn again and again to bring some to my help, +and I tried not to think of that which surely lay crushed on the +road below. There could be no hope for either man or horse.</p> +<p>Then came the sound of swift hoofs, and there was the ealdorman +and one or two others, coming in all haste to know what the urgent +call betokened, but by the time that he had dismounted and asked if +there was any hurt to his daughter I could only gasp and point +downward. My mouth was dry and parched, and I did not know how to +put into words the thing that had happened; but he saw that +Elfrida's horse was not there, and that Erpwald's ran loose with +mine, and he guessed.</p> +<p>"Over the cliff?" he said, whispering, and I nodded.</p> +<p>"Go and look," he gasped, and he knelt down and took Elfrida +from me.</p> +<p>The two who were with him were trying to catch the loose horses, +and we were alone for the moment. So I crept to the edge and looked +over, fearing what I should see. But I saw nothing but the bare +track winding there, and I remembered that the cliff overhung.</p> +<p>Then, as I scanned every rock and cranny below me a man came out +from under the overhang at the foot of the cliff and looked up. For +a moment my heart leapt, for I thought it was Erpwald. But it was +only the traveller we had seen, and he must have been looking at +what had rolled into the hollow that hid it from me. He glanced up +and caught sight of me.</p> +<p>"How did it happen?" he called up to me.</p> +<p>"Dead?" I called back, with a terror of what I knew would be his +answer.</p> +<p>Then he laughed at me.</p> +<p>"Do you expect a horse to be leather all through, Master? Of +course he is.--Saddle and all smashed to bits."</p> +<p>Then a dull anger took me that he thought of the horse only, as +it seemed, unless he was mazed as I was with it all.</p> +<p>"The man--the man," I said.</p> +<p>"There is no man here, Master. Did one fall?" he said in a new +voice, and he crossed to the other side of the gorge and scanned +the face of the cliff.</p> +<p>"He is not to be seen," he said. "Maybe he has caught +yonder."</p> +<p>He pointed to a ledge that was plain enough to me, but nowhere +near the place whence the fall was. There were no ledges to be seen +as I looked straight down, and I knew that this place was the most +sheer fall along all the length of the gorge.</p> +<p>Now three more of our party came up, and at once they rode down +to the village and so round to where the man stood. It seemed a +long time before they were there and talking to him.</p> +<p>"Ho, Oswald!"</p> +<p>Their voices came cheerfully enough, and I looked down at +them.</p> +<p>"There seem to be clefts here and there, and in one of those he +must needs be," they said. "We are going to the village to get a +cragsman with a rope, and will be with you anon."</p> +<p>There was at least hope in that, and I watched them ride swiftly +away. The ravens were gathering fast now, knowing that what fell +from above must needs be their prey, and two great eagles were +wheeling high overhead, waiting. I heard the kites screaming to one +another from above the eagles, and from the woods came the call of +the buzzards. They knew more than I.</p> +<p>Now the ealdorman could not bring Elfrida round, and he thought +it best to take her hence. So he had her lifted to him on his +horse, and went slowly and carefully down the hill toward the +village with her. I had told him all that had happened by this +time, and I was to bring word presently to him of how the search +went.</p> +<p>So I and those two friends who had first come sat there on the +cliff top waiting in silence for the coming of the man with his +ropes. All that could be said had been said.</p> +<p>Here and there on the face of the cliff some yew trees had +managed to find a holding, and their boughs were broken by the +passage of the horse at least through them. But there were no +shreds of clothing on them, as if Erpwald had reached them. That +might be because the weightier horse fell first. It seemed to me in +that moment of the fall that he was between the horse and the cliff +as he went over the edge, for the forefeet of the horse struck his +legs and threw him backward, and the last thing that I minded was +seeing his head against the horse's mane in some way. That last +glimpse will bide with me until I forget all things.</p> +<p>It seemed very long before our friends came back with the ropes. +Backwards and forwards in front of us flew untiringly two ravens, +now flying across the gorge, and then again almost brushing us with +their wings as they swept up the face of the cliff from below. We +thought they had a nest somewhere close at hand, for it was their +time.</p> +<p>"If Erpwald were dead," I said presently, "those birds would not +be so restless. It is hard to think that they know where he is and +how he fares; but at least they tell us that he is not yet prey for +them."</p> +<p>Backward and forward they swept, until my eyes grew dazed with +watching them, and then suddenly they both croaked their alarm +note, wheeled quickly away from the cliff's face, and fled across +the gorge and were gone.</p> +<p>Then was a rattle of stones, and a shout from some one in the +track below, and I started and saw a head slowly rising above the +edge of the cliff as if its owner had climbed up to us. White and +streaked with blood was the face, but it was not crushed or marred, +and it was Erpwald's.</p> +<p>"Lend me a hand," he said, as we stared at him, as one needs +must stare at one who comes back as it were from the grave. "My +head swims even yet."</p> +<p>I grasped his hand and helped him to the grass, and once there +he stood upright and shook himself, looking round in an astonished +way as he did so.</p> +<p>"No broken bones," he said. "Where is Elfrida? Is she all right? +I was rough with her, I fear, but I could not help it. Could I have +managed otherwise?"</p> +<p>"In no way better," I said, finding my tongue at length. "She +has gone to the village. But where have you been!"</p> +<p>"In a long hole just over here," he answered. "But how long has +she been gone?"</p> +<p>"How long do you think that you have been in your hole?"</p> +<p>"A few minutes. It cannot be long. Yet it must have been longer +than I thought, for the shadows are changed."</p> +<p>It was a full hour and a half since he fell, but I did not say +so, lest it should be some sort of shock to him. So I bade him sit +down while I saw to a cut there was on his head--the only sign of +hurt that he had.</p> +<p>"I thought that I was done for at first," he said.</p> +<p>"So thought I, until we found that you were not at the bottom. +Even now some of us have gone for ropes that we might search the +cliff for you. We could not see you anywhere, and there does not +seem to be any ledge here that could catch you."</p> +<p>"Why, you could have touched me with a spear all the time, if +you had known where to thrust it. I think I fainted, or somewhat +foolish of the sort. My head hit the rock as I went over. Also the +horse ground me between it and the cliff, so that all my breath +went. But that pushed me into the hole, and I will not grumble. At +least, I think that was it, but I cannot be sure. My senses +went."</p> +<p>He began to laugh, but suddenly turned to me with a new look on +his face.</p> +<p>"Oh, but was Elfrida feared for me?--What did she think?"</p> +<p>"She saw nought of it," I said. "I believe that she had fainted +with terror when you laid hold of her. The ealdorman came and took +her to the village, and I do not suppose she knows that you have +been lost."</p> +<p>"That is well," he said, with his great sigh. "Look over and see +my hole."</p> +<p>I did not care to look over again, and, moreover, knew that I +could not see it. I mind every jutting stone and twisted yew that +is on the cliff there, to this day. However, one of the others went +a little to one side, where Erpwald had appeared, and swung himself +to the tiny ledge that had given him foothold as he came up, and so +looked at the place. There was a long cleft between two layers of +rock which went back into the cliff's face for some depth, with a +little backward slope that had saved the helpless man from rolling +out again, and there was a raven's nest at one end of it. One may +see that cleft from below and across the gorge if one knows where +to look, but not by any means from above, by reason of the overhang +of the brink. It was plain that, as he thought, the horse's body, +or maybe its shoulder, thrust him into the cleft, but it was well +that he was senseless and so could not struggle, or he would have +surely missed it. It is his saying that he had no trouble in +getting into the place, but more in climbing out.</p> +<p>Now we called the good news to some of our people and the +villagers who were on the road below, and they broke into cheers as +they heard it. They could hardly believe that the man they had seen +on the edge just now was Erpwald himself. Then we went down to the +village, meeting the men with the ropes halfway, and so came to the +first houses of the street, where the ealdorman was standing +outside one of the better sort. He came to meet us, and I never saw +anything like the look on his face when he saw Erpwald and heard +his cheerful greeting. I told him how things ended.</p> +<p>"I have given a lot of trouble, as it seems" Erpwald said +humbly; "but I could not help it."</p> +<p>"Trouble!" said the ealdorman. "Had it not been for you there +would have been nought but trouble for me all the rest of my +life."</p> +<p>He took Erpwald's hand as he spoke and pressed it, but he would +not say more then. Maybe he could not. So he turned to me.</p> +<p>"It is all right, Oswald, for Elfrida is herself again, and she +saw nothing after she looked into the gulf below her. I have told +her nothing."</p> +<p>"Do not tell her anything, Ealdorman," Erpwald said. "No need to +say what a near thing it was, or that I handled her like a sack of +oats. She would never forgive me. But Oswald says it was all that I +could have done. It was a good thing that he was there to take +her."</p> +<p>"How are you going to account for the broken head, then?"</p> +<p>"Say I was thrown from my horse afterward, or somewhat of that +kind," he said. "Or, stay, these will do it. I have been birds' +nesting. I thought these would please her. One gets falls while +scrambling after the like."</p> +<p>He put his hand into his pouch as he spoke.</p> +<p>"Plague on it, one is broken," he said, bringing out a raven's +egg. "There were two in that place where I stopped falling."</p> +<p>The ealdorman and I stared at him in wonder. It amazed us that +in such a moment a man should think of this trifle. And now he was +turning his soiled pouch inside out and wiping it with a tuft of +grass, grumbling the while. It was plain that the danger had made +no impression on him.</p> +<p>"Were not you frightened when you found how nearly you had +fallen from the cliff?" I asked him.</p> +<p>"No; why should I be? I did not fall from it. I was feared +enough when I thought that I was going, and I thought I was at the +bottom when I came to myself. But as I had not gone so far, there +was an end."</p> +<p>I minded the story of the Huntsman's Leap, and how I had felt +when I knew my escape. It was plain that this forest-bred Erpwald, +with his cool head, and lack of power to picture what might have +been, would make a good warrior, so far as dogged fearlessness +goes, and that is a long way.</p> +<p>Now the ealdorman kept what else he might have to say until we +were at home, for it was time for us to be off. So we brushed +Erpwald down and hid his cut under a cap that the good franklin of +the house lent him, for his own was gone, as he said, to make a +bird's nest somewhere on the cliffs; and then Elfrida came from the +cottage, looking a little white and shaken with her fright, but +otherwise none the worse, and we started.</p> +<p>Erpwald kept out of her sight for a little while, but as we were +fairly on the way home it was not long before he found his way to +her side, and we let those two have their say out together.</p> +<p>One by one the friends who had joined us dropped out of the +party as their way led them aside, until by the time we reached the +ealdorman's house only half a dozen of us were left. Then Herewald +would have us come in for some cheer after the long day, but we +were tired and stained, and I must be back at the guardroom, and so +he bade his folk bring somewhat out here to us. There was a cask of +ale already set on the low wall by the gate for the men, and we sat +on our horses waiting, with a little crowd of thralls and children +round us, looking at the two good deer that we brought back. Then +the steward and some of the women of the house brought horns of ale +from the house for us.</p> +<p>One of the women came to me, and without seeing who she was, or +thinking of doing so, I reached out my hand for the horn that she +held up, and at that moment some one from behind seemed to run +against my horse's flank, and he lashed out and reared as if he was +hurt. My rein was loose, and I was bending carelessly over to take +the horn, and it was all that I could do to keep my seat for the +moment. As for the girl, she dropped the horn and ran from the +plunging horse into the doorway for safety.</p> +<p>Then I heard the sharp crack of a whip, and the voice of the +head huntsman speaking angrily:</p> +<p>"Out on you for a silly oaf!--What mean you by going near the +thane at all?"</p> +<p>The whip cracked again, and the long lash curled round the +shoulders of a ragged thrall, who tried in vain to escape it.</p> +<p>"On my word, I believe you did it on purpose!" the huntsman +cried, with a third shrewd lash that found its lodgment +rightly.</p> +<p>"Mercy, Master," mumbled the man, writhing; "it is this terrible +crossing of the eyes. I do not rightly see where I go."</p> +<p>I had quieted the horse by this time, and I held up my hand to +stay the lash from the thrall. Some one picked up the horn that the +girl had let fall.</p> +<p>"Let him be," I said. "It could but have been a chance, and he +is lucky not to have been kicked. See, he does squint most +amazingly."</p> +<p>"Ay," growled the huntsman, "so he does; but I never knew a +cross-eyed man before who had any trouble in walking straight +enough."</p> +<p>The thrall slunk away among his fellows. He was a +round-shouldered man with hay-coloured hair and a stubby beard of +the same, and he rubbed his shoulders with his elbows lifted as he +went. Then the steward gave me a fresh horn, and we said farewell +to our host and hostess, and Erpwald and I went our way.</p> +<p>"I thought that the horse would have knocked the Welsh girl +over," he said presently. "She was pretty nimble, however. That +churl must have kicked your horse sharply to make him plunge as he +did."</p> +<p>"Trod on his fetlock most likely," I answered. "Clumsy +knave."</p> +<p>"Well, that huntsman knows how to use a lash, at all events, and +he will have a care in future. But how my head does ache!"</p> +<p>"That is likely enough," I said, laughing. "It was a shrewd +knock, and it kept you in that hole for the longest hour and a half +I have ever known."</p> +<p>"It does take somewhat out of the common to hurt me much," he +said simply.</p> +<p>"Well, by tomorrow you will be famed all over Glastonbury as the +man who fell over Cheddar cliffs and escaped by reason of lighting +on the thickest part of him," I answered.</p> +<p>It was a poor jest enough, but it set him laughing. I did not +wish him to say more of what had just happened, for I was puzzled +about it, and wanted to get my thoughts to work. He had spoken of +the very thing that I had been warned of, for almost had I taken +the horn from the hand of a Briton--the Welsh girl of whom he spoke +once before. I had forgotten her, for I do not think that I had +ever seen her since she came here, until now. But at this moment I +seemed to have a feeling that her face was in some way familiar to +me, though only in that half-formed way that troubles one, and I +was trying to recall how this might be.</p> +<p>Erpwald went off to the guest chamber where he was lodged, and +presently I found our old leech and took him to see after him. He +went comfortably to sleep after his hurt had been dressed, and so I +left him. I will say at once that he felt no more trouble from +it.</p> +<p>Then I went to the stables to see how fared my horse after the +day's work, and found him enjoying his feed after grooming. I +looked him over, but I could see no mark to show where the man +might have hurt him. But as I was running my hand along the smooth +hock to feel for any bruise, my groom said to me:</p> +<p>"Have you had a roll in a thorn bush, Master?"</p> +<p>"No.--What makes you think I might have had one?"</p> +<p>"I found this in his flank when I rubbed him down, and it was +run thus far into him."</p> +<p>He held out a long stiff blackthorn spine, marking a full inch +on its length with his thumbnail.</p> +<p>"Enough to set a horse wild for a moment," he went on. "And +unless you had fallen, I could not think how it got there."</p> +<p>"In which flank was it?" I asked, taking the thorn from him.</p> +<p>"The near flank, Master."</p> +<p>That was where the thrall ran against him, and surely the +huntsman was not so far wrong when he said that he did so on +purpose. If so, it was done at the right moment to give me a heavy +fall, save for a bit of luck, or maybe horsemanship. It was a +strange business.</p> +<p>"I was through a thicket or two today," I said carelessly. +"Maybe I hit a branch in just the right way to drive it in. If we +were galloping he would not have noticed it. These little things +happen oddly sometimes."</p> +<p>Then the man began to tell me some other little mishaps to +horses that could not be explained, bustling about the while. And +before long I left the stables and went to my own quarters, with +the thorn yet in my hand. It had been cut from the bush, and not +broken, just as if it had been chosen. Now, if these hidden +plotters wanted to frighten me, I am bound to say that they +succeeded more or less. Was the giving of the horn by the Welsh +girl to be a signal to the thrall in some way? If there is one +thing that a man need not be ashamed to say that he fears, it is +treachery, and I seemed to be surrounded by it. Hardly could a +house-carle come to my door but it seemed to me that he must needs +bring one of these unlucky notes. It was just as well that I had +some unknown friend to write them to me, though I cannot say that I +had profited by them so far.</p> +<p>Now I sent two of my men to see if they could find the +cross-eyed thrall, but of course he was not to be laid hands on. +Only the people who had been at the ealdorman's door seemed to have +seen him, and they could not tell who or whence he was. He was so +easily known, however, that I thought I should be certain to have +him sooner or later. Such a squint as he had is not to be hidden, +and that made the wonder that he had dared to do this all the +greater.</p> +<p>I slept on it all, and woke with fewer fears on me, for I was +overwrought yesterday after all the terrible waiting on the cliff +and what went before. It was Sunday, moreover, and the early +services in the new church helped mightily to set a new face on +things. So when I had seen to the few duties of the morning, I went +down the street to ask after Elfrida, being anxious to hear that +her fright had done her no hurt. Erpwald had been there before me, +but I had missed him since.</p> +<p>Elfrida was well, and glad to see me. We sat and talked of +yesterday, and I found that Erpwald had said nothing of how he +saved her, and it was pleasant to tell her of it, while she +listened with eyes that sparkled. It was plain that I could have +found nothing that would please her better than to talk of him. So +I even told her how he had gone over the edge into the cleft, but +without saying that we feared for his life for so long. Then her +father came in, and at once she asked after some sick person.</p> +<p>"How goes it with him now," she said.</p> +<p>"Well enough, says the leech; but he had well-nigh died in the +night."</p> +<p>"What is it that ails him?--Can the leech tell that yet?"</p> +<p>"He has taken somewhat that has poisoned him," the ealdorman +answered. "The leech asked if he had eaten of mushrooms, or rather +toadstools, by mistake."</p> +<p>"But there are none about as yet."</p> +<p>Now I asked who the sick man was, and Herewald told me that he +was such an one who was with us yesterday. I minded him as one who +stood near me at the door when my horse reared. I thought that he +was the man who picked up my dropped horn, and I was sorry for him. +However, that was not much concern of mine, so we passed to other +talk for a little, and then Elfrida said:</p> +<p>"Are there any tidings of my maiden? I fear for her."</p> +<p>"None at all," the ealdorman said. "Here is a strange thing, +Oswald; for that girl whom you so nearly rode over last evening is +as clean gone as if she had never been. None saw her go, but when +supper time came she was nowhere to be found. Nor is there any +trace of her now."</p> +<p>I felt as if I had expected to hear that the Welsh girl had gone +as well as the thrall, and I cannot say that I was surprised; +though as they had failed in whatever they meant to compass this +time, I could not see why they should not have tried again.</p> +<p>"Whence came she," I asked as carelessly as I could. "Maybe she +has only gone home, fearing blame for dropping that horn."</p> +<p>"She has no home to go to, that we ken. She came from Jago at +Norton only a little while ago, and she would hardly try to get +back there across the hills alone. She is an orphan serf of his, +and I fear that she has been stolen away."</p> +<p>"She has not been here long, then?"</p> +<p>"She came when you were with Owen. Jago sent to ask if Elfrida +would take her in, she being worth having as a maid. His wife had +no place for her, but would that she was well cared for. So she +came with the first chapman who travelled this way."</p> +<p>Now as I thought of this girl, in a moment it flashed across me +where I had seen her before. It was on board the ship at Tenby, and +she came with Dunwal and his daughter Mara. I was certain of it, +though I had only seen her that once, for there I was in a strange +land, and so noticed things and people at which I should hardly +have glanced elsewhere. The Danish and British dress over there was +strange to me also.</p> +<p>Then, as soon as I had a chance I asked the ealdorman for a few +moments of private speech, and we went into his own chamber that +opened on the high place of the hall where we had been sitting. +There I told him all the trouble, for surely I needed all help that +I could find, and at the last I said:</p> +<p>"Mara, the daughter of Dunwal, was at guest quarters with +Jago."</p> +<p>Then I saw the face of my friend paling slowly under its ruddy +tan, and he rose and walked across the room once or twice, biting +his lip as though in wrath or sore trouble. I could not tell which +it was, but I thought that he was putting some new thought together +in his mind.</p> +<p>"It is plain enough," he said at last, staying his walk at a +side table. "I saw my sick man pick up that horn the girl dropped, +and he looked into it and laughed and drank from it, saying that it +was a pity to waste good stuff. See, here it is. The curl of it may +have kept a fair draught in it for him."</p> +<p>There were several horns standing in their silver or gilded +rests on the table at his elbow, and he held up that one which had +been brought to me, and then dropped it.</p> +<p>It fell with its mouth upward, rocking on the bend in its midst, +so that it might well have had a gill or two left in it, for it had +a twist as well as the curve in its length, which was somewhat +longer than usual.</p> +<p>"Poison!" he said in a low voice. "That a friend should be thus +treated at my own door, by my own servant! What shall I say to +you?"</p> +<p>"It is hard on you as on any one, Ealdorman," I answered. "But +the girl did not come from Jago. Mara sent her in some way. I am +sure it was she whom I saw at Tenby."</p> +<p>"Ay," he said, "one could not dream that a message seeming to +come from honest Jago was not in truth from him. The trick was sure +to be found out, and that soon, though."</p> +<p>"Not until the deed was done, maybe. This is the first chance +that the Welsh girl has had to hand me aught."</p> +<p>The ealdorman held his peace for a moment, and then he broke out +suddenly:</p> +<p>"By all the relics in Glastonbury, that thrall saved your life! +He is no fool either, for he knew that the horn must be spilt in +one way or the other, and it was worth while for you to run the +risk of a fall rather than that you should drink it. How had he +knowledge of what was to be done?"</p> +<p>"Whoever wrote the warning told him. It was a chance, however, +that we did not come into the house."</p> +<p>"There is some friend watching these traitors," said Herewald. +"I did not know the thrall, but so often men from the hill who have +followed us come here for the ale that they know will be going, +that I thought nothing of a stranger more or less. But why choose +my house for this deed?"</p> +<p>I knew well enough, and it was plain when I minded the ealdorman +that my vow was well known, and told, moreover, by Thorgils in +Mara's hearing. This was a house where I should often be, and when +Mara found out that Jago was a friend of Herewald of Glastonbury +the rest was easy.</p> +<p>"Well, I will send to Jago today, and find out what he knows. +That Cornish damsel must be better watched. Come, let us go and +tell the king."</p> +<p>So we went, and when Ina heard what we had to say he grew very +grave, and asked many questions before he told us what his thoughts +were.</p> +<p>"They have struck at Owen through you, my Thane, even as I +feared," he said. "I think that the matter of the land of Tregoz +has saved you, for I seem to see in this thrall one of his men who +hates him and will thwart his plans. There are yet men who will +carry out what he planned ere he died. Now I am glad that we soon +shall be gone from hence, and that is the first time that I have +been ready to leave Glastonbury."</p> +<p>Now I will say that when Herewald's messenger came back from +Norton it was even as we thought. Jago had no knowledge of the +Welsh girl, or her sending. But Mara was gone a fortnight or more +since, for Gerent had sent her father for safer keeping to the +terrible old castle of Tintagel on the wild shore, and she had +followed to be as near him as she might. Doubtless the girl might +be found there also in time.</p> +<p>So I had no more warnings, and in a few days the strain on my +mind wore off. I sent a message through Jago to Owen to tell him +what had happened, so that he should have less anxiety for his own +comfort, while he knew that I was shortly to be far hence.</p> +<p>Before that came about, however, Erpwald and Elfrida were +betrothed with all solemnity in the new church, for their wedding +was to be held here also in the summer, when all was ready for a +new mistress at Eastdean. So Erpwald rode with us to Winchester a +proud man, and by that time I thought I had forgotten that I ever +held myself entitled to the place he had won.</p> +<p>But I did not forget the plotting, and as the days wore on, and +my thoughts of it grew a little clearer, I began to wonder if the +thrall who saved me from the poisoned horn might not be the man who +slew Tregoz on the ramparts at Norton in the moonlight. I must say +that it went against the grain for me to believe that Mara had +aught to do with contriving my end through her maid, but unless +there was some crafty hand at work in the background, all +unsuspected, it seemed that there could be none else.</p> +<p>And then one day I found the little letter that Nona had sent +me. In that I was warned against Morfed the Cornish priest, and I +had forgotten him.</p> +<p>Now I will confess that two days after the Cheddar business I +took that little brooch that Elfrida had given me, and dropped it +into three fathoms of water as I rode by the mere one day. There +are foolishnesses one does not care to be reminded of.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a>. OF THE MESSAGE BROUGHT +BY JAGO, AND A MEETING IN DARTMOOR.</h2> +<p>As one may be sure, there was no danger for me at Winchester, +and if I had any anxiety at all it was for Owen, who had dangers +round him which I did not know. I had sent him word by that old +friend of his, Jago of Norton, how the last warning was justified, +and had heard from him that with the imprisonment of Dunwal his +last enemies seemed to have been removed or quieted. So I was more +at ease concerning him, and presently rode with Erpwald to Eastdean +in the fair May weather to see the beginning of that church which +should keep the memory of my father.</p> +<p>And all I will say concerning that is that when I came to visit +the old home once more I knew that I had chosen right. The life of +a forest thane was not for me, and Eastdean seemed to have nought +of pleasure for me, save in a sort of wonderment in seeing how my +dreams had kept so little of aught of the true look of the place. +In them it had grown and grown, as it were, and now I was +disappointed with it. I suppose that it is always so with what one +has not seen since childhood, and for me it was as well. I felt no +shadow of regret for the choice I had made.</p> +<p>So after the foundation was laid with all due rites, I went back +to the king and found him at Chippenham, for he was passing hither +and thither about his realm, as was his wont, biding for weeks or +maybe months here, and so elsewhere, to see that all went well. And +I knew that in Erpwald and his mother I left good and firm friends +behind me, and that all would be done as I should have wished. Ay, +and maybe better than I could have asked, for what Erpwald took in +hand in his plain single-heartedness was carried through without +stint.</p> +<p>Through Chippenham come the western chapmen and tin traders, and +so we had news from the court at Exeter that all was well and +quiet, and so I deemed that there was no more trouble to be feared. +It seemed as if Owen had taken his place, and that every foe was +stilled.</p> +<p>And yet there grew on me an uneasiness that arose from a strange +dream, or vision, if you will, that came to me one night and +haunted me thereafter, so soon as ever my eyes closed, so that I +grew to fear it somewhat. And yet there seemed nothing in it, as +one may say. It was a vision of a place, and no more, though it was +a place the like of which I had never seen.</p> +<p>I seemed to stand in a deep hollow in wild hills, and round me +closed high cliffs that shut out all but the sky, so that they +surrounded a lawn of fair turf, boulder strewn here and there, and +bright with greener patches that told of bog beneath the grass. In +the very midst of this lawn was a round pool of black, still water, +and across on the far side of that was set a menhir, one of those +tall standing stones that forgotten men of old were wont to rear +for rites that are past. It was on the very edge of the pool, as it +seemed, and was taller than any I had seen on our hills.</p> +<p>And when in my dream I had seen this strange place, always I +woke with the voice of Owen in my ears calling me. That was the +thing which made me uneasy more than that a dream should come +often.</p> +<p>Three times that dream and voice came to me, but I said nought +of it to any man. Then one day into the courtyard of the king's +hall rode men in haste from the westward, and when I was called out +to meet them the first man on whom my eyes rested was Jago of +Norton, and my heart fell. Dusty and stained he was with riding, +and his face was worn and hard, as with trouble, and he had no +smile for me.</p> +<p>"What news, friend?" I said, coming close to him as he +dismounted.</p> +<p>"As they took you, so have they taken Owen. We have lost +him."</p> +<p>"Is he slain?"</p> +<p>"We think not. He was wounded and borne away. We cannot trace +him or his captors. Gerent needs you, and I have a letter to your +king."</p> +<p>I asked him no more at this time, but I took him straightway to +Ina, travel stained as he was. He had but two men with him, and +they were Saxons he had asked for from Herewald the ealdorman as he +passed through Glastonbury in haste.</p> +<p>So Ina took the letter, and opened it, and as he read it his +face grew troubled, so that my fear that I had not yet heard the +worst grew on me. Then he handed it to me without a word.</p> +<p>"Gerent of the Britons, to Ina of Wessex.--I pray you send me +Oswald, Owen's foster son, for I need him sorely. On my head be it +if a hair of him is harmed. He who bears this is Jago, whom you +know, and he will tell my need and my loneliness. I pray you speed +him whom I ask for."</p> +<p>That was all written, and it seemed to me that more was not +needed. One could read between the lines, after what Jago had +said.</p> +<p>"What is the need for you?" Ina asked, as I gave him back the +letter.</p> +<p>"To seek for Owen, my father," I said. "Jago must tell what we +have to hear."</p> +<p>Then he told us, speaking in his own tongue, so that I had to +translate for the king now and then, and it was a heavy tale he +brought.</p> +<p>Owen had gone to some house that belonged to Tregoz, in the wild +edge of Dartmoor north of Exeter, and there men unknown had set on +the house and burnt it over him, slaying his men and sorely +wounding himself. Only one man had escaped to tell the tale, and he +was wounded and could tell little. And the deed was wrought in the +night, and into the night he had seen the men depart, bearing the +prince with them. But who and whence they were he could neither +tell nor guess.</p> +<p>Then Gerent had ridden in all haste to the house, and found even +as the wounded man had told, for all was still as the burners left +it. But no man of all the village, nor the shepherds on the hills, +could tell more. Owen was lost without trace left.</p> +<p>Then said Ina: "What more could be done by Oswald?--Will men +help a Saxon?"</p> +<p>"This must be between ourselves, King Ina," Jago said plainly. +"It is in my mind that if Oswald and I or some known lord of the +British will go to that place and sit there quietly with rewards in +our hands, we may learn much; for men fear Gerent the king in his +wrath, and they fled from his coming."</p> +<p>"So be it," said Ina. "Oswald shall go, and it seems to me that +every day is precious, so that he shall go at once. Is there +thought that Owen may be taken out of the country, as Oswald was +taken?"</p> +<p>"Every port and every fisher is watched, and has been so. For +that was the first thing we feared. And word has gone to Howel of +Dyfed and Mordred of Morganwg, farther up the channel, that they +should watch their shores also. Nought has been left undone that +may be done."</p> +<p>So it came to pass that on the next morning Jago and I rode away +together along the great road that leads westward to Exeter and +beyond, asking each train of chapmen whom we met if there was yet +news, and hearing nought but sorrow for the loss of the prince they +had hailed with such joy again. Nor did we draw rein, save to +change horses, till we clattered up the ancient paved street of the +city on its hill, and dismounted at the gates of the white palace +where Gerent waited me.</p> +<p>There the first man who came out to greet me was one whom I was +altogether glad to see, though his presence astonished me for a +moment. Howel of Dyfed passed from the great door and bade me +welcome.</p> +<p>"It is a different meeting from that which we had planned, +Thane," he said, somewhat sadly. "I am here to help you if I can; +for when we heard that Owen was lost much as you were, we came over +straightway, there being reasons of her own which would not let +Nona rest till we had sailed. Presently you will hear them from +herself, for she is here. Glad am I to see you."</p> +<p>"There is no fresh hope?" I asked, as we went in.</p> +<p>"None; but we hope much from you. At least, your coming will +cheer the old king, for he is well-nigh despairing."</p> +<p>Now I was prepared to see some change in Gerent by reason of all +this sorrow and trouble, but not for all that was plain when I +first set eyes on him presently. Old and shrunken he seemed, and +his voice was weary and dull. Yet there came a new light into his +eyes as he saw me, and he greeted me most kindly, bidding me, after +a few words of welcome, to rest and eat awhile after the long ride, +before we spoke together of troubles.</p> +<p>So in a little time I sought him again, and found him in a room +with warm sunlight streaming into it, making the strange pictured +walls bright and cheerful, and yet somewhat over close for one who +loves the open air or the free timbered roof that loses itself in +the smoke wreaths overhead, with the wind blowing through it as it +blows through the forest whence it was wrought, and with twitter of +birds to mind one of that also. Nevertheless, the old king in his +purple mantle with its golden hem over the white linen tunic, and +his little golden circlet on his curling white hair, seemed in +place there, even as I minded thinking that Owen in his British +array seemed in place.</p> +<p>Now Howel stood where Owen was wont to stand, and the only other +in the room was the lady, who rose from the king's side to greet +me.</p> +<p>And if her smile was a little sad, it was plain that Nona the +princess was glad as her father to see her guest again, and I will +say that to me the sight of her was like a bright gleam in the grey +of sadness that was over all things. It did not seem possible that +she and trouble could find place together.</p> +<p>So I greeted her, and she went back to her place quickly, for +hardly would Gerent wait for us to speak a few words before he +would talk of that which was in all his thoughts; and then came +Jago and stood at the door, guarding it as it were against +listeners.</p> +<p>Now the old king told me all that I had heard from his thane +already, and I must tell what I thought thereof, and that was +little enough beyond what I have said, and at last, when he seemed +to wait for me to ask him more, I put a question that had come into +my mind as I rode, and asked if there might be any chance of Morfed +the priest having a hand in the matter.</p> +<p>And at that the king's frown grew black, and he answered +fiercely:</p> +<p>"Morfed, the mad priest?--Ay, why had not I thought of him +before? Look you, Oswald, into my hall of justice he came, barefoot +and ragged from his wanderings, but a few days before Owen left me; +and before all the folk, high and low, who were gathered there he +cried out on all those who spoke for peace with the men who owned +the rule of Canterbury, and who held traffic with the Saxon who has +taken our lands. And Owen was for speaking him fair, seeing that he +was crazed, but I bade him be silent, telling the priest that what +was lost is lost, and there needed no more said thereof; and that +if the men of Austin and we differed it was not the part of +Christian men to make the difference wider, even as Owen and +Aldhelm were wont to say. And at that he raved, and threatened to +lay the heaviest ban of the Church on Owen, and on all who held +with him, and so he was taken from my presence, and I have seen him +no more. But he was a friend of Morgan."</p> +<p>"That is the priest who was with Dunwal, surely," Howel +said.</p> +<p>"The same," I answered--"and I was warned of him," and I looked +toward the princess, and she smiled a little and flushed.</p> +<p>"I mind how he glared at Oswald across my table," Howel said. +"But one need fear little from him, as I think. Who will heed a +crazy priest?"</p> +<p>"Many," answered Gerent. "The more because they deem him +inspired. I will have him taken and brought to me."</p> +<p>There fell a little uneasy silence after that outburst of the +king's, but I felt that I had not yet heard all that they would +tell me. So we waited for the old king to speak, and at last he +turned suddenly to the princess, setting his thin white hand on her +shoulder, and said:</p> +<p>"Now tell Oswald what foolishness brought you here, Nona, +daughter of Howel, that he may say what he thinks thereof."</p> +<p>"Maybe he also will think it foolishness, King Gerent," she said +in her low clear voice. "But however that may be, I will tell him, +for in what I have to say may be help. I cannot tell, but because +it might be so I begged my father to bring me hither. It was all +that I could do for my godfather."</p> +<p>There was just a little quiver in her lip as she said this, and +the fierce old king's face softened somewhat.</p> +<p>"Nay," he said, "I meant no unkindness. I forgot that it is not +right to speak to a child as to grown warriors. It is long since +there was a lady about the place who is one of us."</p> +<p>Then Nona smiled wanly, and set her hand on that of the old +king, and kept it there while she spoke.</p> +<p>"Indeed, Thane, it may be foolishness, and now perhaps as time +goes on it begins to seem so to me. Once, as I know now, on the +night when Owen first slept in his new house on the moor, I dreamed +that he was in sore danger, for I seemed to see shadows of men +creeping everywhere round the house that I have never set eyes on; +and again, on the next night, and that was the night of the +burning, I saw the house in flames, and men fought and fell around +it among the flickering shadows, but I did not seem to see Owen. +And then on the next night, soon after I first slept, I woke +trembling with the most strange dream of all. I think that the +light had hardly gone from the west, but the moon had not yet +risen. I dreamed that I stood at the end of a narrow valley, whose +sides were of tall cliffs of rough grey stone, and in the depth of +the valley I saw a great menhir standing on the farther side of a +black pool. And all the surface of the pool was rippling as if +somewhat had disturbed it, and set upright in the ground on this +side was a sword, like to that which King Ina gave you, Thane--ay, +that which you wear now, not like my father's swords. And I thought +that I heard one call on your name."</p> +<p>Now I heard Jago stifle a cry behind me, and as for myself I +stood silent, biting my lip that I might know that I was not +dreaming also, and I saw that Howel was looking at me in a +wondering way, while Gerent glowered at me. All the time that she +had been speaking, Nona had looked on the ground, in some fear lest +we should smile at this which had been called foolishness, and I +was glad when the king broke the silence with a short laugh.</p> +<p>"Well, Oswald, what think you of this? On my word, it seems that +you half believe in the foolishness that some hold concerning +dreams."</p> +<p>"I would not hold this so," said Howel,--"seeing that she has +dreamed of things that did take place, as we know too well."</p> +<p>"Fire and fighting? Things, forsooth, that every village girl on +the Saxon marches is frayed with every time she sleeps."</p> +<p>So said Gerent, and I answered him:</p> +<p>"Foolishness I cannot call this, either, Lord King. I also have +seen the same in the night watches. I have seen pool and menhir, +and the cliffs that hem them, even as the princess saw them. And I +woke with the voice of Owen in my ears."</p> +<p>"Dreams, dreams!" the old king said. "Go to, you do but tell me +these trifles to please me, and as if to give me hope that in such +an unheard-of place we shall find him whom we have lost. Say no +more, but go your ways on the morrow and search. And may you find +your dream valley and what is therein."</p> +<p>He rose up impatiently, and Howel gave him his arm from the +room. Jago followed him, and when the heavy curtain fell across the +doorway, Nona, who had risen with Gerent, turned to me.</p> +<p>"I am sure now that there we shall find Owen," she said, with a +new light of hope in her eyes. "And also I am sure that at the +bottom of all the matter is Morfed the priest."</p> +<p>"It was a needed warning against him that I had from your hand, +Princess," I said; "now let me thank you for it."</p> +<p>"I am glad you had it safely, for indeed I feared for you with +those people on the ship with you. What has become of them?"</p> +<p>I told her the fate of Dunwal, so far as I knew it. I did not +then know that Gerent had put an end to his plotting once for all +two days after Owen was lost. As for his daughter, I knew no more +than Jago told the ealdorman.</p> +<p>Then she said: "Now I would ask you to speak to my father, that +he would let me go with you to Dartmoor, that I may help you +search. I do not like to be far from him, but he says there may be +danger. Which makes me the more anxious not to leave him, as you +may suppose."</p> +<p>She smiled, but as I made no answer she went on:</p> +<p>"And maybe Owen will need nursing when you find him. They say he +was sorely wounded. Ay, I am sure we shall find him, else why did +we have these strange visions? And I think that were he not +disabled altogether he would have won to freedom in some way."</p> +<p>"It is that wounding that makes me fear the worst," I said in a +low voice; for indeed the thought of Owen as hurt, in the care, or +want of care, of those who hated him, was not easy to be borne. "It +is my fear that we shall be too late."</p> +<p>"Nay, but you must not fear that," she said quickly. "That is no +sort of mind in which you have to set to work. I will think rather +that they have carried him to some safe tending. There will be time +enough to dread the worst when it is certain. There was nought in +the dreams to make us think that he was dead."</p> +<p>The bright face and voice cheered me wonderfully, and for the +moment, at least, I felt sure that our search would not fail. Then +I tried to persuade her not to come with us. One could not say that +there was any safety, even for her, among the men who would harm +Owen, though I thought that none would be in the least likely to +fall on Howel. Rather, they would keep out of his way altogether. +In my own mind I wished that I was going alone, or with none but +Jago, though, on the other hand, it might be possible that men +would speak to him if they would not to me. And at last I did +persuade her to bide here until we had news, promising that if need +was she should come and see the place herself when all was +known.</p> +<p>"Well, maybe it is not so needful that I should go now," she +said. "I thought that I alone could tell my father when that valley +was found, but you know as much of it as I, and will be sure when +you stand in it."</p> +<p>And so we fell to talk of these visions which were so much +alike, and there was but one difference in them. In the dream of +the princess the pool had been ruffled, and mine was still as +glass. And that seemed strange, and we could make nothing of it. +Then Howel came back, and there is little more to say of the doings +of that evening. There was no feasting in Gerent's house now.</p> +<p>Very early in the next dawning Howel and I rode westward with +five score men of Gerent's best after us, into wilder country than +I had ever yet seen; and late in the evening we came to where the +countless folds of Dartmoor lie round the heads of Dart River. And +there Tregoz had set his house, and I think that it was the first +that had ever been in those wilds, save the huts of the villagers. +Only the hall of the place had been burnt, and there yet stood the +house of the steward on the village green, if one may call a meadow +that had a dozen huts round it by that name, and we bestowed +ourselves in the great room of that, while our men found places in +stables and outhouses and the huts. Every man of the place had fled +as they saw us coming, for the fear of Gerent was on them; but the +women and children remained, and they had heard of the son of Owen, +at least, since he and I were in Dartmoor in the spring. I had some +of them brought to me when we were rested, and told them that none +need fear aught, knowing that they would tell their menfolk.</p> +<p>And so it was, for after we had been quietly in the place for +two days the men were back and at their work again. I do not think +that even our Mendip miners were so wild as these people, and their +strange Welsh was hard for me and Howel to understand. I will say +that the whole matter seemed hopeless for a time, for no man would +say anything to us about it. If we spoke to a man, questioning him, +and presently wished to find him again, he was gone, and it would +be days ere he came back.</p> +<p>Some of our guards knew the country as well as most, and with +them we rode many a long mile into the hills during the first few +days, searching for the deepest valleys, and ever did I look to see +the great menhir before me as we came to bend after bend of the +hills. Circles of standing stones we found, and cromlechs, ruins of +ancient round stone huts where villages had been before men could +remember, and once we saw a menhir on the hillside; but that was +not what I sought, and none could tell us of the lost valley.</p> +<p>Yet it was in my mind as I questioned one or two that their +looks seemed to say that the description of the place was not +unknown to them, and if they would they could tell me more. At +last, when I came to know the speech better at the end of a week, I +thought that I would try another plan; I would trust to the +shepherds, and ride alone for once across the hills. I thought +that, even were I set upon, my horse would take me from danger more +quickly than hillmen could run, and Howel, unwillingly enough, +agreed that it seemed to be the only chance. Maybe the men would +speak more openly with me on the hillside and alone.</p> +<p>So I asked if there was any one could tell me where there were +menhirs in the valleys, and a shepherd said that he knew two or +three. So I rode with him at my side to one of these, but it was +not that which I sought; and, as I hoped, the man was more willing +to speak, and we got on well enough. We had not met with a soul all +day, but my hawk had taken two bustard after I saw the stone and +was disappointed. One of these as a gift to the shepherd had opened +his lips wonderfully, and we were talking as we rode in the dusk, +and were not so far from the village, of another stone that I was +to see next day, when I asked him if he had ever heard of the lost +valley of pool and menhir.</p> +<p>He did not answer, but shrunk to my side, looking round him +fearfully.</p> +<p>"What comes, Lord," he said, whispering;--"see yonder?"</p> +<p>He pointed across the bare hillside, and I looked but saw +nothing.</p> +<p>"I saw nought," I said. "Is it unlucky to speak of the +place?"</p> +<p>"I saw somewhat leap from yonder rock," he whispered; "it went +behind that other."</p> +<p>Plainly the man was terrified, and I asked him what he +feared.</p> +<p>"The good folk, Lord."</p> +<p>"Pixies?--Do they come when one speaks of the lost valley?"</p> +<p>"Speak lower, Lord,--lower! Look, yonder it is again!"</p> +<p>Then I also saw in the dusk the figure of a man who crept softly +from one great boulder to another, and without thinking of the +terror of the shepherd I spurred my horse, and rode straight for +the rock behind which the figure disappeared, having no mind to +have an arrow put into me at short range by one of the men of +Tregoz--or of Morfed--unawares.</p> +<p>The shepherd howled in fright when he was left, but I did not +heed him, and in a moment I was round the rock and almost on the +cowering man whom I had seen. He turned to fly, and I cried to him +to stop, but he only got another rock between me and him, for the +hillside was covered with them, and shrank behind it, so that I +could only see his wild eyes as he glared at me across it. He said +nothing, and I did not think that he was armed, so far as the dim +evening light would let me see.</p> +<p>"Why are you dogging me thus?" I cried; "come out, and no harm +will befall you."</p> +<p>I rode round, and he shifted as I did, so that he was between me +and the shepherd, and then I called to the latter that this was but +a man, and bade him come and help me to catch him. Whereon the man +looked swiftly over his shoulder and saw that he was fairly +trapped.</p> +<p>"Keep him back, Master," he said in a strange growling voice, +which was not that of a Dartmoor savage either in tone or speech. +"Keep him back, and we will talk together; I mean no harm."</p> +<p>But I had no need to tell the shepherd not to come, for he bided +where he was, being afraid; but I held up my hand to him as if to +bid him be still, lest the man should know that he would not help +me.</p> +<p>"Come out like a man," I said. "One would think that you were +some evildoer."</p> +<p>"Master, I will swear that I am not. Let that be, for I have +somewhat to tell you that you will be glad to hear."</p> +<p>"If that is true, why did you not come openly, instead of +waiting till I had you in a corner? Every one knows that there is +reward for news from any honest man."</p> +<p>"There are those who would take my life if they caught me, +Master. I have been seeking for speech with you alone all this day; +I hoped the shepherd would leave you hereabout for his home, and +then I would have come to you."</p> +<p>"Well," I said, "if you could tell me what I need to hear I will +hold you safe from any."</p> +<p>"Master, will you swear that?" said the man eagerly.</p> +<p>Then it came across me that maybe this was one of those who fell +on Owen, for one might well look for a traitor among so many.</p> +<p>So I answered cautiously: "Save and except you are one of those +who have wrought harm to the prince you shall be safe. If you are +one who has him alive and in keeping you shall be safe also."</p> +<p>"Master, you have promised, and it is well known that you keep +your word. I am your man henceforward, by reason of that promise. I +will give you a token that I have not harmed the prince."</p> +<p>"What have you to tell?"</p> +<p>"Master, they say that you seek the lost valley, of which none +will speak."</p> +<p>"That seems true; but speak up, and mouth not your words +so."</p> +<p>"Here was I born and bred, Master," said the man, still in the +same growling voice. "I know where the lost valley is hidden, +though none may go there save at peril of life. It is unlucky so +much as to speak thereof."</p> +<p>"Can you take me within sight of its place, so that I can find +it?" I asked, with a wild hope at last springing up in me.</p> +<p>"I can; and, Master, unluckier than I am I cannot be, so that +life is little to me. Into that place I will even go for you, and +risk what may befall me, if only you will find pardon for me. Only, +I do not know if you will find aught of Owen the prince there."</p> +<p>"You must be in a bad way, my poor churl," said I, "if things +are thus with you. But if you will help me to that place, and there +let me find what I may, there is naught that may not be forgiven +you. Even were it murder, I will pay the weregild for you, and you +shall have cause to say that the place has no ill luck for +you."</p> +<p>"Thane," said the man, in a new voice that was strangely +familiar to me, "you have spoken, and forgiven I shall surely +be."</p> +<p>Then he rose from behind the rock and came to my side, and took +my hand and kissed it again and again, and surely I had seen his +form before.</p> +<p>"Thane, I am Evan the outlaw, and my life is yours because you +forgave me a little once, and saved me from the wolves, giving that +life back to me when I knew it well nigh gone."</p> +<p>I looked at the pale hair and beard of the man, and wondered. +Evan's had been black as night.</p> +<p>"It is Evan's voice," I said; "but you have changed +strangely."</p> +<p>"Needs must I, Thane, with every man's hand against me, if I +would serve you and Owen the prince for your sake."</p> +<p>Then I looked round for my shepherd, but he had fled.</p> +<p>"Come to the house with me," I said. "I think that none will +know you, and if they do so I will answer for you."</p> +<p>"No, Thane; after tomorrow, seeing that even Howel sets such +store on finding the valley, as men tell me, I shall be safe even +from him. I think that you are the only one who will trust me +yet."</p> +<p>There I knew that he was most likely right. Had I not been +certain that he could have kept me from knowing him even yet, I +think that I might have been doubtful of him myself.</p> +<p>"As you will," I answered. "We can meet tomorrow. Now give me +that token by which I am to know that you have not harmed +Owen."</p> +<p>"It is right that you should not yet trust me," Evan said, as if +he read my thoughts, "for I do not deserve it. Here is one token: +'It is not good to sleep in the moonlight.' And I will give you yet +another, if I may, for, indeed, I would have you know that the +words I spoke yonder were true when I said that you should be glad +that you freed me, and that I have tried to serve you. That may be +known by the token of the blackthorn spine and the dog whip."</p> +<p>I reined up my horse in wonderment and stared at him, and he +came close to my side, so that I could see him plainly. And, lo! +his shoulders grew rounded, and his eyes crossed terribly, and they +bided so, and he mumbled the words he had said when the whip of the +huntsman fell on him.</p> +<p>Then he straightened himself again and looked timidly at me. He +was not like the man who had bound me so cruelly in Holford combe +on the Quantocks.</p> +<p>"Evan," I cried, "what you did for me at the ealdorman's gate is +enough to win any pardon you may need."</p> +<p>"It is wonderful that, after all, pardon should come from you, +Thane. Do you mind how I said to you that I hoped to win it +otherwise through you when we took you on the Quantocks? It is good +to feel as a free man once more."</p> +<p>"Free, and maybe honoured yet, Evan," I said; for I knew that he +had risked his life for me and Owen. "Presently you shall come with +me to Wessex, where none know you, and there shall be a fresh life +for you. It is in my mind that what you brought on me was as a last +hope."</p> +<p>"Ay, that is true, Thane."</p> +<p>And then I asked him to tell me all he knew of Owen, and of what +had happened here, and how it came about that he knew aught. And as +he told me it was plain that this was a true tale, for one could +feel it so.</p> +<p>He had followed Owen, keeping himself hidden, after I went to +Winchester, for there he knew that I was safe, and yet he would +serve me if he could. So from the hillside where he lay he had seen +the burning and the fight; and after Owen fell he followed them who +bore him away, till he lost them in a grey mist that rolled from +the hills and hid them in the darkness. Nor had he been able to +find trace of them again, though he had hunted far and wide.</p> +<p>And so he waited for my coming, being sure that I would not be +long. But he knew that they had gone toward what he called the lost +valley, if it was not likely that they would dare so much as look +into it.</p> +<p>"But," he said, "there was a priest with them, seeming to lead +them. Maybe he would dare."</p> +<p>Into my mind at once came the certainty that this must be +Morfed, but Evan knew nought of him. He had no more to tell me of +this.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a>. HOW OSWALD AND HOWEL +DARED THE SECRET OF THE MENHIR, AND MET A WIZARD.</h2> +<p>So we two rode on together over the wild hills, and talked of +what chance there might be of finding Owen on the morrow. He could +not tell me if his wounds were deep, for he was far off and +helpless, but he told me how he had fought, and that was even as I +had known he would.</p> +<p>Now the soft June darkness had fallen, and we were not a mile +from the first houses of the village. Soon, if they were alert, we +should meet the first outpost of our men who guarded us, and mayhap +it were better that Evan came no farther tonight. Yet I would know +somewhat of himself and the way in which he had helped me thus. So +I stayed my horse and dismounted for a few minutes.</p> +<p>"Tell me, Evan," I said, "how came you into trouble at the +first?"</p> +<p>"It is easy, Thane," he answered. "I was Evan the chapman, and +well known near and far in Cornwall and Dyvnaint as an honest man, +even as I have seemed yet beyond the water. Two years ago I slew +the steward of this Tregoz in the open market place of Isca, and +there was indeed little blame to me, for I did but protect my goods +which he would have taken by force, and smote too hard. Little +order was there in that market if the king was not there, and +Morgan and his friends were in the town. Men have taken heart again +since the coming back of Owen, for it was bad enough, as you may +suppose by what happened to me. So I fled, and then Tregoz had me +outlawed, with a price on my head, so that, being well known, I had +to take to Exmoor and herd with others in the same case. I knew +that no weregild, as the Saxon calls it, would be enough to save me +from the Cornishman.</p> +<p>"There I was the one who could sell the stolen goods across the +water, being held in good repute there, and I traded with the Norse +strangers who ferried me across. So it was that when Owen came I +was in Watchet, and there Tregoz saw me and laid hands on me. Then +he needed men to carry out that which he would do, and he had me +forth and spoke to me, saying that if I would manage the Quantock +outlaws for him he would forgive me and have me inlawed again. I +was to have been hanged that day, Thane, and so you will see that I +had no choice. Owen's coming saved me then."</p> +<p>Evan was not the first man whom I had known to be driven into +evil ways by misfortune and powerful enemies. I had little blame +for him. A man will do much to save his neck from the rope. But +this did not tell me how he knew the plans of Tregoz after I set +him free in Dyfed.</p> +<p>"Then you came back to the Cornishman after I freed you?" I +asked.</p> +<p>"That I did not, Thane, for the best of reasons. He would have +hanged me at once if he were in power, and I had not meant to let +him set eyes on me again in any case, for he was treacherous. I +came back round the head waters of the Severn, through Wessex, +where I was only a Weala, though, indeed, that is almost the same +as an outlaw there; and there, by reason of Gerent's seeking for +me, I changed my looks and watched for Tregoz, for I found that he +was yet about the place in hiding. Thralls know and tell these +things to men of their own sort, though they seem to know nothing +if you ask them, Thane."</p> +<p>"Then you wrote the letters?"</p> +<p>"I had them written by the old priest of Combwich by the Parrett +River, who will tell you that he did so. I took them myself to the +palaces for you."</p> +<p>"And was it you who slew Tregoz?"</p> +<p>"Ay, with that seax you gave me back at the Caerau wolf's den. I +heard that he had been speaking with a sentry, and thereafter I +followed him and heard his plan. I saw him change arms with the +sentry, and presently I fell on him, but the arrow had sped and I +feared I was too late. I had to cross the trench from the bushes +where I was hidden."</p> +<p>"But the poisoning at Glastonbury?--How did you know of +that?</p> +<p>"Easy it was to know of, but less easy to prevent. I lurked +round Glastonbury until I saw the girl, and knew that some fresh +trouble was on hand for you. I knew her, for I had seen to that at +Norton, that I might learn somewhat, if I could, while she attended +on the lady, the daughter of Dunwal. She met her master there once +or twice with messages, and it was by following her that I found +his hiding in the hills. It was not hard for me to get her to tell +me all that she had to do, for I made her think that I was in the +plotting. Then she found it harder than had been expected to serve +you, for she was kept about the lady. So she asked me, and I told +her to wait. I thought she would most likely lose her chance +altogether, and maybe but for your staying at the gate that day she +would have done so."</p> +<p>"It was not the first time that we have had half the household +outside serving a hunting party," I said.</p> +<p>"And each time I have been there, Thane, lest this should +happen. The girl told me that such times were her only chance, and +I said she had better wait for such a one again. I knew that in the +open I could in some way spill the horn, so that she would be +helpless and harmless afterward. Therefore I bade her not to try to +harm you in the house, for my own reasons, but told her that it +were safer for herself to wait for some stirrup cup chance, as it +were. That day I saw that it had come, and I cut a thorn from the +nearest bush and was ready. I could not reach the girl to stumble +against her."</p> +<p>I minded that Thorgils had said that this Evan could beguile +Loki himself with fair words, and I could well believe it. But he +did not do things by halves when he set himself a task, and I felt +that but for him I should certainly have been a victim--to Mara, or +to whom?"</p> +<p>"Who wrought this plot? Was it Mara, the Cornish lady?"</p> +<p>"I do not think so," he answered, shaking his head. "There is +one thing that the girl would never tell me. In no wise could I get +the name of the one who gave her the poison. I do not know where +she fled to, but it is likely that it was to that one."</p> +<p>"Some day you shall know how grateful I am for this, Evan," I +said. "Now I must go. Only one thing more.--Where do you +sleep?"</p> +<p>"Wheresoever I may, that I may be near you, Thane. Now meet me +tomorrow at this place, and we will go to the lost valley. After +that let me serve you for good and all if I may. I can do many +things for you, and you had my life in your hand and gave it back +to me; though indeed I know that it was hard for you to do so, +seeing that a thane is sorely wronged by being bound by such as +I."</p> +<p>"I can give you little, Evan; but I can, as I have said, find +you a place in the court, whence you may rise."</p> +<p>"Let me serve you, Master," he said earnestly. "I have served +myself for long enough, and it has not turned out well. If I please +you not, I will go where you bid me, but in anywise let me +try."</p> +<p>"As you will," I said. "I owe you well-nigh aught you can ask, +and this is little enough."</p> +<p>Then I shook hands with him and parted. It was a strange +meeting.</p> +<p>I went back to Howel with a mind that was full of what I might +find on the morrow, but with little hope that there would be +anything of sign that Owen yet lived. Howel was growing anxious for +me as the darkness fell, and was glad to greet me, and I suppose my +face told him somewhat.</p> +<p>"Why," he said, as I stepped into the firelight on the hearth of +the little house, "what is this? Have you heard news at last?"</p> +<p>"I have found one who will take us to the lost valley, but +nothing more. I have heard nought fresh, but that there was indeed +a priest with the men who took Owen away."</p> +<p>"Well, we guessed as much as that; but I tell you plainly, +Oswald, that I fear what may be in store for us in that place. Nona +is not the girl to fancy things, and I know that her dreams must +have been terrible to her. And then you also--"</p> +<p>"I fear, too," I said. "But I do not think that anything will be +worse than this long uncertainty. Well, that is to be seen. Now I +must tell you who it is that is to guide us, and maybe you will say +that it is a strange story enough. Have patience until you hear +all, however."</p> +<p>So I told him, beginning with the certainty that I had had some +friend at work for me, and then telling him at last that I had +found the man who had indeed saved me from these two dangers, and +would also have saved Owen if he could.</p> +<p>"Why, how is it that he kept himself hidden all the time?"</p> +<p>"For good reason enough, in which you have some share," I +answered, laughing. "It is none other than Evan the chapman."</p> +<p>"Evan!--How did he escape the Caerau wolves? I tell you that I +had him tied up for them--and hard words from Nona did I get +therefore when she knew. I was ashamed of myself for the thing +afterwards, and on my word I am glad he got away. But when I am +wroth I wax hasty, and things go hard with those who have angered +me. But he was a foe of yours."</p> +<p>"Laugh at me as you will," I said; "I made him my friend when I +cut his bonds in your woods."</p> +<p>He stared at me in wonder, and I told him what the hunting led +to. And then I also told of what had sent Evan among the outlaws, +and how he came to fall in with me.</p> +<p>"You are a better man than I, Oswald," he said thoughtfully, +when I ended. "I could not have let him go. I am glad that you did +it, and that for other reasons than that the deed has turned out to +be of use."</p> +<p>Then he would hear more, and when it came to the way in which +Evan had beguiled the Welsh servant he laughed.</p> +<p>"Surely he laid aside the squint when he made up to her, else +from your account he would not have been welcome. But he could +hardly have kept it up, lest the wind should change and it should +bide with him, as the old women say. Well, I used to like the man, +and so did Nona, and it is good to think that one was not so far +wrong."</p> +<p>Now we thought that on the morrow we would go with but half a +dozen men to the valley, if that would seem good to Evan. If he +thought more were needed it would be easy to call them to us from +the place where we were to meet him; and so we slept as well as the +thought of that search would let us, and it was a long night to me. +I think it was so for Howel also, for once in the night he stirred +and spoke my name softly, and finding that I waked he said:</p> +<p>"I know why that girl of Mara's would not tell who set her on +you. It is not like a maid to be sparing with her mistress' +secrets, and Morfed is at the back of it. It is his work, and he +laid a curse on the girl if she told who sent her. About the only +thing that would keep her quiet."</p> +<p>"Why would Morfed want to hurt me?"</p> +<p>"Plain enough is that. If you were slain, Gerent would hold Ina +responsible for Owen's sake, and Ina would blame Gerent, and there +would be a breach at the least in the peace that your bishop has +made."</p> +<p>Then we were silent, and presently sleep came to me, until the +first light crept into the house and woke me.</p> +<p>In an hour we were riding across the hills with Evan, for whom +we had brought a horse, and there were fifty men with us. We should +leave them at a place which Evan would show us, and so go on with +him without them. It was not so certain that we might not run into +the nest of the men who had taken Owen, though this would surely +not be in the lost valley.</p> +<p>Many a long mile Evan led us into the hills northwestward, and +far beyond where I had yet been. I cannot tell how far it was +altogether, for the way was winding, but I lost sight of all +landmarks that I knew, and ever the bare hills grew barer and yet +more wild, and I could understand that there were places where even +the shepherds never went.</p> +<p>At first we saw one or two of these watching us from a distance, +but soon we passed into utter loneliness, and nought but the cries +of the nesting curlew which we startled, and the wail of the plover +round our heads, broke the solemn stillness of the grey rocks on +every side. Even our men grew silent, and the ring of sword on +stirrup seemed too loud to be natural at last. We were all fully +armed, of course.</p> +<p>Then we came to a place where the hills drew together, and +doubled fold on fold under a cloud of hanging mist that hid their +heads, and as we rode, once Evan pointed silently to a rock, and I +looked and saw strange markings on it that had surely some meaning +in them, though I could not tell what it was. And when I looked at +him in question I saw that his face was growing pale and anxious, +so that I thought we must be near the place which we sought. So it +was, for after we had left that stone some two score fathoms behind +us, as we passed up a narrow valley, there opened out yet another, +wilder and more narrow still, and at its mouth he would have us +leave the men and go on with him.</p> +<p>Now, we had seen no man, but when it came to this, Howel +said:</p> +<p>"By all right of caution, we should have an outpost or two on +those ridges. If we are going into this place it will not do to be +trapped there."</p> +<p>So without question Evan pointed out places whence men could +watch well enough against any possible comers, but he told me that +we were close to the place we would see, and a call from our horns +would bring help at once if it were needed. Howel sent men by twos +to the hilltops, and the rest dismounted and waited where we stayed +them, while we three went on together up the valley. I bade one of +the men give Evan his spear, for he had none.</p> +<p>Grey and warm it was there, for the clouds hung overhead, and no +breeze could find its way into the depths of this place, and it was +very silent, but it was not the lost valley itself. And now Howel, +who had not yet so much as seemed to know Evan, rode alongside him +for a moment, and spoke kindly to him, telling him that he was glad +of all that I had told him, and at last asking him to forget that +which he had done to him in the woods of Dyfed. And that was much +for the proud prince to ask, as I think, and I held him the more +highly therefor in my mind.</p> +<p>And Evan replied by asking Howel to forget rather that he had +ever deserved death at his hands.</p> +<p>"It shall be seen that I am not ungrateful to the Thane, my +master, hereafter--if I may live after seeing this place," he +said.</p> +<p>"Is it so deadly, then?" asked Howel, speaking low in the hush +of the valley.</p> +<p>"It is said that those who see it must die--at least, of us who +ken the curse on it. I do not think that it will harm you or the +thane to see it, for you are not of this land at all. I have known +men see this valley by mischance, and they have died shortly, +crying out on the terror thereof. Yet none has ever told what he +saw therein."</p> +<p>Now it seemed to me that it was possible that such men died of +fear of what might be, as men who think they are accursed, whether +by witchcraft or in other ways, will die, being killed by the +trouble on their minds, and so I said to Evan:</p> +<p>"I will not take you into this place. Show us the way, and I +will go alone."</p> +<p>"No, Master," he said, in such wise that it was plain that there +was no turning him. "I am a Christian man, and I will not let old +heathen curses hold me back, now that there is good reason why I +should stand in that place. I will not be afraid thereof."</p> +<p>"Is the curse so old?" I asked.</p> +<p>"Old beyond memory," he said. "As old as what is in that +place."</p> +<p>"As the menhir, therefore."</p> +<p>"I do not know that there is a menhir, Thane. How know you?"</p> +<p>I reined up, and told him shortly. It was only fair that I +should do so. Then he said:</p> +<p>"The prince is dead, and maybe that he lies there will end the +curse. Come, we will see."</p> +<p>A few paces more, and suddenly the hillside seemed to open in a +ragged cleft that made another branching valley into the heart of +the left-hand hillside, so deep that it seemed rather to sink +downward from the mouth than to rise as a valley ever will. In all +truth, none would ever have found that place unless he sought for +it with a guide. I had not guessed that we were so near its +entrance.</p> +<p>I looked round the hills, but from here I could see not one of +our men on their watch posts, though one would have thought that +where they stood it would have been impossible to lose sight of +all. We were almost at the head of the wider valley along which we +had ridden.</p> +<p>Now I had thought to be the leader into the lost valley when we +came to it, but this Evan would not suffer. There was not room for +us to ride abreast into its depths, for the narrow bottom of the +cleft in the hills was littered with fallen boulders from the +steeps that bordered it, and through these we had to pick our way. +There was no path, nor was it possible to trace any mark of the +foot of man or horse that might have been there before us, and the +valley turned almost in a half circle, so that we could see no +distance before us.</p> +<p>Now, I know that Evan had a hard struggle with his fears, but +nevertheless, without drawing rein he led on, only turning to me +with one word that told me that we had found the place; and as he +turned I saw that his face was ashy pale, and as he rode on he +crossed himself again and again, and his lips moved in prayer.</p> +<p>Down the long curve of the valley we rode, and it ever narrowed +under rocky hills that grew at last to cliffs, and I knew that this +must be but the bed of a raging torrent in the winter, for the +stones that rattled under the horse hoofs were rounded, and here +and there were pools of clear water among them. Any moment now +might set us face to face with what I longed to see.</p> +<p>And when I saw Evan, ten paces ahead of me, straighten himself +in the saddle as if he would guard a blow from his face, and draw +rein, I knew that we were there, and I rode to his side and +looked.</p> +<p>Suddenly the valley had ended in the place which I had seen in +my vision--a rugged circle of cliffs, in whose only outlet, to all +seeming, we stood. And in the midst of that circle was the pool of +still, black water, and across that towered the tall menhir from a +green bank on which it stood facing me. All round the pool was +green grass, bright with the treacherous greenness that tells of +deep bog beneath it, and then fair turf, and beyond the turf the +rocky scree from the cliffs again. The menhir was full thrice a +man's height.</p> +<p>It was even as I had seen it. I knew every rock and patch of +green, and the very outline of the edge of the beetling crags that +had been so plain to me in the dream light ere Owen called me.</p> +<p>But I did not heed these things at the first. My eyes went to +the place where Nona the princess had seen the sword in the long +grass on the hither side of the pool's edge, but I could not see it +now. Then I must ride forward and search for it, and at that time +Howel was close to me, and together we rode yet a little farther +into the circle that the cliffs made, and as we drew closer to the +edge of the pool I scanned every inch of the ground, seeking the +sword which it seemed impossible that I should not find.</p> +<p>"It has gone," said Howel in a hushed voice.</p> +<p>And at that moment I saw a sparkle among the new grass at the +very edge of the bog that surrounded the pool, and I threw the +reins to the prince and sprang from my horse and went toward it. +The light was very dull here, though it was nigh midday now, and +indeed so high and overhanging were the cliffs that I do not think +the sun ever reached the surface of the pool, save at this high +midsummer, and then but as it passed athwart the narrow entrance, +which faced south. Then it would send its rays across the pool full +on the face of the menhir, as it seemed.</p> +<p>So I could see nought again until I was close to the spot whence +the spark shone, and then I caught it once more, and hastily I +cleared aside the rank grass with my spear butt, and lo! even as +she had seen it in dreams the sword of Owen was there, and it was +the gleam from the gem in its hilt, which no damp could dim, which +had caught my eye. But a little while longer and we should never +have seen even that, for the weapon was slowly sinking into the bog +in which its scabbard point had been set, and even as I stepped +forward a pace to reach it the black ooze rose round my foot, and +Evan, who was behind me, caught my hand and pulled me back from its +edge.</p> +<p>Then I turned with the sword in my hand, and I saw that his face +had found its colour again, and that his fears had left him, for he +had looked on the valley of the mighty curse and yet lived. His +horse was at his side, and he had sprung to help me, but I hardly +heeded him, for I had what I sought in my hand, and I held it up to +Howel without a word, and a sort of fresh hope began to rise in my +heart. Owen might not be so far from us.</p> +<p>"How came it there?" Howel said, wondering.</p> +<p>"Who can tell," I answered, turning over many possibilities in +my mind.</p> +<p>"One thing is certain," Evan said,--"no man set it in that place +meaningly, for there he must have known that it would be whelmed +soon or late."</p> +<p>"Nor could it have been dropped there," I answered. "None would +go so near the edge of the bog. It was surely thrown there. One +thought to hurl it into the pool. Yet if so he could have done it, +or would have tried again."</p> +<p>"Come, let us search the place," said Howel.</p> +<p>I hung the sword to my saddle bow, while Evan took the horses. +The leather scabbard was black with the bog water of the turf where +it had been set, but the blade within it was yet bright and +keen.</p> +<p>Then I and the prince together walked slowly round the edge of +the black pool on the broad stretch of grass between the bog around +it and the loosely piled stones of the cliffs' foot. Here and there +even this turf shook to our tread, as if it too were undermined +with bog, and we went warily, therefore, wishing that we had not +left our spears by the horses.</p> +<p>"One would call such a place as this 'the devil's cauldron' in +our land," said Howel. "I mislike it altogether."</p> +<p>Then he sprang back with a start, and clutched my arm and +pointed to the ground at his feet. The skull of a man grinned up at +us, half sunk in the green turf, and the ends of ribs shewed how he +to whom it had belonged lay. There went a cold chill through me as +I looked; but I saw that the bones were old, very old. They had +nought to do with our trouble, and what had been to others about +the loss of him who had died here was long past and forgotten, or +amended. But for the sake of what had been I was fain to unhelm for +a moment as we stepped past them.</p> +<p>So we went on silently until we were halfway to the menhir, and +then we saw that there was yet another way into this place, for +across the water a jutting wall of rock had hidden a gorge that had +surely been cleft by water, for down it came a little stream that +seemed to sink into the turf so soon as it reached it.</p> +<p>"That is what fills the pool," said I, "and it must find its way +hence underground like the stream at Cheddar. The pool may be +fathomless. I would that I could look into its depths."</p> +<p>"What may not be in yonder gorge?" said Howel. "We must go and +see."</p> +<p>So we came to the menhir's foot, and though the bog came almost +to it there was yet a little mound of turf on which it stood, and I +went to that to see if thence I could peer deeper into the dark +water, but I could not.</p> +<p>"Come," Howel said, "it is midday, and I for one would not be on +these hills on Midsummer Eve. Call me heathenish if you like, but +this is an unlucky night whereon to walk in the haunts of the good +folk."</p> +<p>I had forgotten that so it was, and even now I only smiled at +the prince, for my mind was full of other things as I followed him +toward the glen whence the stream came. And now I was sure that +here was growing more clearly a trace as of a seldom trodden path +toward its mouth. We passed a great flat rock, whereon were strange +markings and a hollowed basin, which stood behind the menhir near +the cliff, and to this the path led, but not beyond, from the glen. +Now we were almost in the opening, when both of us stopped and +looked at one another.</p> +<p>Surely there were footsteps coming among the rocks of the water +course before us. Steep and crooked as this was, we could hear +them, though as yet if it were a man or men who came we could not +see. I pulled the prince back into cover, where the rocks hid us +from any one who came down the stream, and I loosened my sword in +its sheath, for I could not be so sure that it might not be sorely +needed.</p> +<p>The rattle of stones came nearer, and I saw Evan hurrying to us. +He also had heard, and he had made shift to tie the horses to some +point of rock, and he ran with our spears in his hand to join +us.</p> +<p>"Get to the other side of the pool, Thane," he said. "It may be +the band of men who wrought the burning."</p> +<p>"No," I answered. "Listen. Maybe there are three or four men, +not more. I want to take one if I can. He shall tell me all he +knows of this place."</p> +<p>For I had made up my mind that one who would come here freely +must needs be of those who had brought Owen.</p> +<p>Then from the narrow portal of the glen passed quickly, looking +neither to the right nor left, a tall man, followed by two others, +and they seemed not to see us, but went straight toward the menhir +along that path I thought I had traced, and Howel and I stared at +them, speechless and motionless, for the like of them we had never +seen.</p> +<p>As for Evan, he reeled against the rock, and stared after them, +clutching it with both hands, so that his spear fell rattling along +the rocks.</p> +<p>"The Druids!" he gasped. "We are dead men."</p> +<p>At the sharp rattle the leader of the three men turned, and I +knew him. He was clad in a wonderful gold and white robe that swept +the ground, priest-like, but not that of any Christian, and his +hair was bound with a golden fillet with which oak leaves were +twisted, and in his ears were large earrings. On his bare right arm +was a coiled golden bracelet, and a heavy golden torque was round +his neck, and a great golden brooch knit up the folds of his +flowing white cloak on his right shoulder. But for all this strange +dress I knew him, and he was Morfed the priest, and I heard Howel +mutter the name also.</p> +<p>Then a word from Morfed caused the other two to turn, and they +saw us, and there flashed from under their robes--which were like +those of their leader, save for golden ornaments--a long knife in +the hand of each, and they made as if to fly on us.</p> +<p>Morfed held up his hand, and they stayed, glaring at us. I +listened for the coming of more of his followers down the water +course, but I heard none.</p> +<p>Then Morfed spoke a word or two to his men, and came toward us, +leaving them standing where they were, some twenty paces or less +behind him, and as he came his pale face shewed no sort of feeling +of any kind. His strange bright eyes seemed to look past us, as if +we were but stones at the path side.</p> +<p>"So it is the Saxon," he said, staying close before us. "Well, I +have waited for you, if I did not look to see you here. And this is +Howel of Dyfed. Surely a Briton knows that to break in on the rites +of the Druid is death? But Howel ever was rash. And this is the +outlaw. It is a true saying that he who sees this place shall die, +Evan."</p> +<p>Then said Howel boldly: "Briton I am, and therefore I know that +the rites of the Druid are banned by Holy Church. Wherefore does +one of her priests come in this heathen robe to such a place as +this on the eve of midsummer?"</p> +<p>"Seeing that none but the initiated may know what truth the +ancient faith holds, it is not for you to say that this is +heathenry, Prince," Morfed answered more quietly than I expected. +"Ask yon Saxon if his Yule feast is less sacred to him now because +it is not so long since that it was Woden's. Is tomorrow less +Midsummer Day because it is the day of St. John? Hold your peace +thereon, and go hence while I suffer you."</p> +<p>At that I glanced at the mouth of the valley whence we came, +half looking to see it blocked by men, but it was not. There was +nothing to stay us three armed men in this place, with but three +against us, and they well-nigh defenceless. Morfed saw that glance +and laughed.</p> +<p>"The Druid has other arms than those of steel," he said, and he +drew slowly from the wide cincture round his waist a little golden +sickle and balanced it in his hand before me, flashing it to and +fro.</p> +<p>Now I was sure that he was crazed in all truth, and I would +speak him fair that I might learn what he would tell me. Howel was +silent, seeming to look curiously at the golden toy in the priest's +hand, as it shifted restlessly backward and forward.</p> +<p>"We have come hither to pry into no ancient rites, Morfed," I +said. "Tell me what you know of Owen the prince, my foster father, +and we will go hence. I have seen that which tells me that he is +near, but there are yet things that I must learn of how he came and +where he lies."</p> +<p>But Morfed seemed to heed me not at all as I spoke. Only, he +kept moving the little sickle which Howel watched, and its +glancings drew my eyes to it in spite of myself, for overhead the +sky was clearing somewhat and the sun was trying to break through, +and the gold shone brightly.</p> +<p>"Midday," muttered the priest, "nigh midday, and what is to be +done against the morrow must be done, else will the tale of many a +thousand years be marred, and by me. Lo! the sun comes, and time +passes swiftly."</p> +<p>The sun did indeed shine out now as some cloud passed, and I saw +that its rays came slanting through the gap in the cliffs across +the pool, passing the menhir without lighting on it, but falling +now on the flat rock that was behind it, though not fully yet. Half +thereof was still in the shadow thrown by the hills.</p> +<p>Morfed glanced at that shadow, and his face changed, for I think +that he knew the time for some midday rite which we might not see +was near, and at that he seemed to make some resolve. He did not +turn from us, but he lifted his voice in a strange chant, and said +somewhat in Welsh that I could not understand, and as they heard it +his two followers placed themselves on either side of the flat rock +three paces behind him, and stood motionless. Then Morfed lifted +his arm and began to sing softly, swinging the sickle in time to +the song, with his eyes on us.</p> +<p>I thought that maybe he would sing to us the end of Owen, as +would Thorgils, but the tongue in which the words were spoken was +not the Welsh that I knew. I think now that it was the tongue of +the men who reared the menhir, and that which was the mother of the +tongue of Howel and Gerent alike. It was an uncanny song, and I +waxed uneasy as it went on, and the flashing sickle waved more +quickly before my eyes.</p> +<p>Soon the murmur of the song seemed to get into my brain, as it +were, and the sparkle of the gold in the sunlight wove itself into +strange circles of light before my eyes, widening and narrowing in +mystic curves that dazzled me, until at last I would look no +longer, and with an effort I turned my head and glanced at Howel to +ask if this foolishness should not be ended.</p> +<p>But he shook his head.</p> +<p>"Let him be," he said in a whisper. "It is ill to anger a crazed +man. Surely he will tell what we need soon."</p> +<p>But beside him Evan seemed to be shrinking as in terror. I +suppose the Briton has old memories of the Druids of past days +which yet bid him fear them.</p> +<p>"Hearken to me, and heed them not," sang Morfed in words that I +could understand. "Hearken, for you have much to learn."</p> +<p>That was true, and I turned to him. I supposed that he was in +truth about to speak to me as I would, and straightway the look of +Morfed was on my face, and the song went back to its old burden, +and the flashing sickle held my eyes with its circling, and I knew +that if I looked long I also must pass as it were from myself, as +had those two, and I wrenched my eyes from him.</p> +<p>Then a movement on the stone caught my gaze, and I saw that the +two men yet stood motionless, but across the sunlit patch which had +crept nearer the centre where the hollowed bowl was, a great adder, +greater than any I had ever seen, thick and spade-headed, had +coiled itself in shining folds peaceably and seeming not to heed +the men. Only its head was raised a little, and it swayed as in +time to the chant of the priest, while the long forked tongue +flickered forth now and then restlessly.</p> +<p>But Morfed went on with his song and his waving, seeming to try +to draw my look back to him, and I noted, as I glanced again at +him, that a shade of doubt crossed his face, and at that a new +thought came to me. Maybe if he saw that I feared him not he would +speak. So I looked in his eyes and bade him be silent and hearken +to what I said to him.</p> +<p>Some wave of anger flushed his face then, and he drew a pace +nearer to me, but he was not silent, and the waving sickle was not +still. Neither of these things troubled me any longer, and I looked +past them, in such wise that he might see that I meant him to obey +me, even as one will look at a sullen thrall who delays to carry +out an order given. A captain of warriors will know what signs to +watch for in a man's face well enough, and slowly and at last I saw +the look for which I waited steal across the face of the man before +me, and then I raised my hand and said:</p> +<p>"Be still, and answer me."</p> +<p>The song stopped, and the lifted sickle sank with the hand that +held it, and the eyes of Morfed left mine and sought the +ground.</p> +<p>"What will you?" he said. "Let me go, for it is time."</p> +<p>"When you have answered," I said sternly. "Tell me, where is +Owen?"</p> +<p>"In yonder pool," he said, as a child will answer its +teacher.</p> +<p>But if he answered as a child, his face was sullen as of a child +that is minded to rebel, and I knew that he would try not to tell +me aught.</p> +<p>"You lie," I said coldly. "Neither Christian priest nor Druid +would dare set a prince of Cornwall in an unhallowed grave. Tell me +the truth."</p> +<p>"Ay, I lied," he said, speaking in a strange voice that seemed +to come from him against his will. And then he spoke quickly, +without faltering or excuse. "I led the men who should slay the +despiser of the faith of his youth and friend of the Saxon, and we +came to the house and destroyed it, but they slew him not. Sorely +wounded he was, and yet they would not do my bidding and make an +end, but murmured at me. Then they bore him away into the hills, +saying that they would heal him of his hurts and thereafter win his +pardon, for he was ever forgiving, and it is true that I told them +not who it was they were to slay. I said that it was Oswald the +Saxon, who slew Morgan, and they were glad. I do not know how it +has come to pass that you are here. I hate you!"</p> +<p>"Speak on, Morfed," I said, for he had stayed his words on that, +and I bent all my mind into that command as it were, so that he +knew that I meant to be his master in this.</p> +<p>"Why should I not speak," he said dully. "Let me end quickly. +Ay, I went with them, thinking that he would die on the way, for he +was sorely wounded, and I mocked them and threatened them in vain. +I led them to this place, and when they knew it they fled, and left +him to me. Wherefore I brought him here, that I might see him +die--I and these two carried him on the litter the men made. Then +will I bury him in no hallowed grave, for I myself spoke the +uttermost ban of Holy Church against him, for that he had herded +with the men of the Saxons who follow Canterbury, and has wrought +for peace with them."</p> +<p>Then I knew at last that Owen was not dead, and I think that in +my gladness I lost my hold on Morfed, as it were, for I half forgot +him. And at that moment there came a little cry from one of the men +who waited by the flat altar stone, and both of them looked to +Morfed for some command, as if a time had come. The stone was in +full light now, and I noted that the shadow of the menhir was +creeping toward its base, but not yet quite pointing to it.</p> +<p>But Morfed did not answer the cry, and the great adder, roused +by it, moved restlessly in its coils, darting its long forked +tongue into the hollow of the stone as if it sought somewhat. Then +one of the men who seemed the younger took from under his robe a +golden flask and poured what looked like milk into the hollow, and +the creature lowered its head and lapped it thence.</p> +<p>At that cry Morfed started and half turned. But I had more to +ask him, and I spoke sternly. Behind me was a rattle of arms, as if +Howel would have stayed him.</p> +<p>"Morfed," I said, "you have yet to tell me where Owen, the +prince, is hidden. If you would finish what you are about here, +tell me straightway, or bid one of these men shew me, or we will +stay all this wizardry."</p> +<p>Maybe I spoke more boldly than I felt, for indeed the whole +business and the place made all seem uncanny. I know that my +comrades feared it all.</p> +<p>But now Morfed heeded my word no longer. Slowly at last he +turned away, and now he must needs look back toward the altar stone +and the menhir in turning, and the sight of them seemed to bring to +his mind what work he had here, so that in a moment I was +forgotten, and he sprang past me toward his attendants, one of whom +was pointing silently, but with a white face, to the shadow of the +menhir. And I saw that now it touched the stone and crept up on its +surface for an inch or less.</p> +<p>I suppose that tomorrow that shadow would be so much shorter, +and would not lie on the flat top of the stone at all. Then for a +little space the sun would seem to one at the back of the altar to +stand on the menhir's top, while all the stone and the bowl where +the adder lay was in full light, even as men say the sun seems to +stand on the great stone of Stonehenge on Midsummer Day at its +rising. I had seen that wonder once, and this minded me of it.</p> +<p>But what Morfed saw told him that midday had come and was +passing; and all that meant to him, beyond that the time for some +rite had been forgotten, I cannot tell. There came from his lips a +cry that was of terror and of sorrow as I thought, and the adder +lifted its head from its lapping and coiled itself menacingly.</p> +<p>He did not heed the creature, but threw abroad his hands +sunwards, and began to speak hurriedly in that tongue which I could +not follow; and as his words went on the faces of his men grew +haggard, and one of them wept openly. The younger threw the golden +vessel he had in his hand into the pool, and turned on me a look of +the most terrible hate, and his hand stole under his robes as if he +sought the knife I had seen him draw when they first came.</p> +<p>Now Howel and Evan were beside me, wondering, but spear in hand, +and I was glad. There was more than enmity in the look of these +men, and one to three has little chance. Whatever strange fears my +friends had felt passed with the sight of danger.</p> +<p>But while Morfed spoke his followers were still, listening to +him intently, until at last he seemed to dismiss them; and then +they turned from him with a strange deep reverence, and folded +their hands on their breasts, and came past where we stood, not +looking at us, but with their eyes on the ground as if they were +going back, up the water course whence they came. And at that I +thought they might be going to where Owen was, and that they would +harm him.</p> +<p>"Quick, Evan," I said; "follow them. See where they go."</p> +<p>"Ay, follow them," said Morfed. "Now I care not what +befalls."</p> +<p>And with that he raised his voice and called somewhat to the +men, and they quickened their pace into the glen. I did not +understand what they said in return, but somewhat in the words of +the ancient tongue they spoke was more plain to Howel, and he cried +to me hastily, hurrying after Evan.</p> +<p>"Guard you the priest here, and beware of him!"</p> +<p>Then he dashed up the water course into which Evan had already +disappeared, and I heard the feet of the four on the loose stone as +they climbed upward. I had almost a mind to follow them, for I +thought that their way led to Owen, but I dared not leave Morfed to +go elsewhere. This might only be a plan to lead us astray.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a>. HOW OSWALD FOUND WHAT HE +SOUGHT, AND RODE HOMEWARD WITH NONA THE PRINCESS.</h2> +<p>So I was left with Morfed the priest, and he did not offer to +follow his men, but stood and faced me with eyes that gleamed with +the fire of wrath or madness, or both. We waited, both of us, as I +think, to hear if any sound beyond the lessening footfalls came +from the water course, but they died away upward, and there was +still no word between us. Then I thought that I would try one more +plan with him.</p> +<p>"Morfed," I said, "take me to Owen, and I will pledge my word +that Gerent shall seek no revenge for what has been done by +you."</p> +<p>"What I have done!" he broke out. "I sought to rid the land of a +foe, and that was a deed worth doing. Know you what you have +done?--Through you is ended the tale of many a thousand years. The +time is past when I, the priest and Archdruid of this poor land, +should have done what has been done, since time untold, without +fail, against tomorrow's rites. That day, therefore, through you +shall be unobserved. It is strange that a mere Saxon warrior, with +no thought beyond his feasting and fighting, should set his will +against mine and prove the stronger. Now I wit well that this is +some fated day, and that herein lies some omen of what shall +be."</p> +<p>Then he turned a little from me, and looked at the shadow which +had passed altogether from the altar stone now, and half to himself +he said:</p> +<p>"I had thought that this menhir had fallen when this came to +pass. But maybe the old prophecy meant that not until it fell we +must cease our rites. But that was not how we read the words of old +time. If we read them wrong, what else have we mistaken?"</p> +<p>"Morfed," I broke in on his musings, "end this idle talk, and +tell me of Owen. Then I will go hence and leave you to work what +you will here. I had no wish to disturb your rites, whatsoever they +were. If aught has happened amiss, it was your own fault, not mine. +Your own deed brought me here."</p> +<p>But he paid not the least heed to me, and yet I thought that he +tried to put me off, as it were, by seeming wrapt in thoughts.</p> +<p>"Surely it should have fallen on this day that sees the end, +even as runs the ancient prophecy--'When the pool shall whelm the +stone, Druid rite and chant are done.' But it has not fallen, and +the end is not yet. But what shall amend this fault?"</p> +<p>I had listened for some sound from Howel and Evan, but since the +footsteps passed up the glen I had heard none until this moment. +Then came one cry from far upward, and silence thereafter. Morfed +heard it and looked up, setting at the same time his hand on the +edge of the altar stone.</p> +<p>The golden sickle flashed as he did so, and at that, swift as +the flash itself, the adder stiffened its coils, and its head flew +back, baring the long fangs, and twice it struck the hand +deeply.</p> +<p>"I am answered," Morfed said quietly. "My life shall amend."</p> +<p>But he never moved his hand, and the adder swiftly slid from off +the stone and sought some hiding place in the loose rocks at the +cliff foot, and the priest watched it go, motionless.</p> +<p>"Look you, Saxon," he said, lifting his eyes to me; "now I must +die, and with me ends the line of the Druids of this land of the +olden faith. Yonder in the Cymric land beyond the narrow sea whence +Howel came it shall not be lost. The hills shall keep it, and there +the slow mind of the Saxon shall not slay the old powers as you +have slain them in me. Now I know that nought but the power of the +cross shall avail on such minds as yours, for the lore of the older +days is not for you. See! This is an end, and now you in your +simpleness shall do one last thing for me."</p> +<p>I saw that the hand which yet rested on the altar was swelling +already, and was waxing fiery red with four black marks where the +fangs struck it. And I had a sort of pity for him, seeing him bear +this, which he deemed his punishment, bravely. Still, he had +answered nothing as to where Owen was.</p> +<p>"Morfed," I said, therefore--"if it is indeed the last hour for +you, make amends for another ill by telling me where Owen is, and I +will do what you ask me, if it is what I may do honestly and as a +Christian."</p> +<p>"Grave me a cross on yonder menhir in token that the days of the +Druid are numbered," he said softly, sitting down on the stone with +his head bowed, as if in deadly faintness.</p> +<p>Two steps took me to the menhir, and I drew my seax that I might +do as he asked me. It was a little thing, and Christian, and I +thought that maybe he had come to himself from the madness of which +men spoke. Yet though it seemed long that Howel was away, and I +longed to follow him, I dared not leave this man, seeing that for +all I knew Owen was somewhere close at hand, and it was not to be +known what this priest might do in his despair. Howel and Evan +might be following the men yet into some hiding place.</p> +<p>I set the point of my weapon to the stone and went to work, +graving the upright stem of the cross first, thinking that Morfed +would speak when he saw that I was indeed doing as he asked me. The +stone was softer than I expected, and surely was not of the granite +of the cliffs around, but had been brought from far, else I could +not have marked it at all. Yet I had to lean heavily on my seax as +I cut, and it was no light task, as I stood sidewise that I might +not lose sight of Morfed.</p> +<p>"I die," he said presently. "There will be none left who may +bring back the ancient secrets hither from the land of the Cymro. +See, this is an end."</p> +<p>He rose up, staggering a little, and cast the golden sickle from +him into the pool with a light eddying splash, as if it skimmed the +surface ere it sank, but I did not look at it, and that was well +for me. I saw his hand fly to his breast, as the hands of his men +had gone for their weapons when they first saw us, and I knew what +was coming.</p> +<p>Hardly had the golden toy touched the water when out flashed a +long dagger from his robes, and he flew on me, thinking, no doubt, +that I must needs turn my head to watch the fall of his sickle, and +I was ready for him. He was no warrior, and his hand was too high, +but he was a priest, and on him I would not use my weapon. I swung +aside from him, striking up his arm, and his blind rush carried him +against the menhir, so that the blow which was meant for me fell +thereon, scoring the stone deeply; and lo! his own hand ended with +that blow what I had begun, marking the cross-beam I had yet to +make, so that the holy sign was complete.</p> +<p>And I saw that in a flash, even as he reeled back from the +menhir and staggered. His foot splashed into the ooze of the bank +and went down; and with that he lost his footing altogether and +fell headlong into the pool, swaying as he went, across the front +of the menhir.</p> +<p>Now there was a shout and the sound of hurrying footsteps behind +me, but it was Howel's voice, and I did not turn. I leaned on the +menhir to try to catch the white robes that swirled below me, and +then I felt a heave and quaking in the turf on which I knelt as I +reached over the black water, and Howel cried out and dragged me +back roughly for a long fathom.</p> +<p>The menhir was falling. Slowly at first, and then more swiftly, +it bent forward over the pool, and then it gathered way suddenly, +and with a mighty crash it fell with all its towering height across +it--and across the last flash of the white robes of the man who yet +struggled therein.</p> +<p>For a moment the cross looked skyward, and then the wave swept +over the stone, and it was gone into the unknown depths that maybe +held so many secrets of the strange rites of those who had reared +it. Only where its foot had been planted was a pit to shew that +somewhat had been there, and that was slowly filling with the black +bog which had undermined the stone at last. The old prophecy had +come to pass, and there was indeed an end.</p> +<p>But I saw for a moment into that pit before it was filled, and +in it was laid open as it were a great stone chest, where the base +of the menhir had been to cover it, and in that were skulls and +bones of men, and among them the dull gleam of ancient gold and +flint.</p> +<p>The wild tumult of the water died away, and the ripples came, +and then the pool was glassy as before, but there was no sign of +movement in it, and now it was clear no longer. And still Howel and +I stared silently at that place whence the great stone had passed +like a dream.</p> +<p>"Nona saw it troubled," Howel said at last.</p> +<p>But I answered what was in my mind, with a sort of despair:</p> +<p>"He never told me where Owen lies."</p> +<p>"But I think we have found him, or nearly," Howel answered. +"Come with me. This is no place for us to bide in. Did you hear +those voices?"</p> +<p>I had heard the echoes from the rocks after the great crash, and +they were strange and wild enough, but I heard nothing more.</p> +<p>"I heard one shout some time since," I said, rising up from +where I still sat as Howel had left me.</p> +<p>"Nay, but the wailing when the stone fell," he said. "Wailing +from all around. Wailing as of the lost. Come hence, Oswald."</p> +<p>I do not know if the man of the more ancient race heard more +than I, mingled with those wild echoes, but I know that Howel the +prince feared little. Now he was afraid, even in the bright +sunlight, and owned it.</p> +<p>But the first shock had passed from me, and I looked for our +horses. They had gone. I think that the fall of the menhir scared +them, for they were yet tied where Evan left them, just before +that.</p> +<p>"Howel, the horses have broken loose and gone," I cried.</p> +<p>"Let them be," he said; "they will but go to the men down the +valley, and will be caught there. Come, we must get hence."</p> +<p>He fairly dragged me with him towards the glen, and it was not +until we were out of the circle of cliffs round the pool and +picking our way among the boulders of the water course, that he +spoke again.</p> +<p>"That is better," he said,--"one can breathe here. I do not care +if I never set eyes on that place again, and indeed I hope we need +not. Now we have to find Owen as quickly as we may."</p> +<p>"What of the two men?"</p> +<p>"One turned on us, and we slew him perforce. The other Evan has +tied up safely, though it took us all our time to catch him. I left +Evan trying to make him speak."</p> +<p>I wondered in what way he was trying, but the path grew steeper +and steeper, and the plash of water falling among the stones made +it hard to hear. We went on and on, ever upward, until the walls of +the narrow glen widened, and at last we were on a barren hillside, +across which the little stream found its way in a belt of green +grass and fern and bog from farther heights yet, and there I looked +for Evan. The path reappeared here again, and it went slanting +across the hill and over its shoulder, hardly more than a sheep +track as it was. And here lay the body of the slain man.</p> +<p>"Over the hill crest," Howel said, noting my look around. "The +man ran across this track. Did you hear what Morfed said to +them?"</p> +<p>"No, I heard him call, of course, but his tongue is unknown to +me."</p> +<p>"It was the ancient British, I think. I heard a word or two here +and there, but few of those we use yet. I heard more that are +written in our oldest writings, and few enough of them. But what he +said to his men was plain enough, happily. He bade them kill the +captive to amend the wrong done. I do not know what the wrong +was."</p> +<p>I knew then that Owen had had a narrow escape, and but for the +fleetness of foot of Evan he would surely have been slain. I told +Howel of what had passed while he was absent, and so we came to the +hilltop, and I saw a little below me the white robes of the +captive, and Evan sitting by him, resting on his spear. He rose up +as we came to him.</p> +<p>"Has he spoken, Evan?" I said.</p> +<p>"Ay, Master," he answered, with a grin that minded me of other +days with him. "He says he will take us to the place where Owen +lies, if we will promise to spare his life."</p> +<p>"We will promise that," I answered. "We will let him go his own +way after we have seen all that we need."</p> +<p>"Let me rise, then," the man said quietly. "I will shew you +all."</p> +<p>"Do not untie his hands, Evan, but let him walk," I said. "He is +not to be trusted, if he is like his master."</p> +<p>It was the elder of the two whom we had before us, and he seemed +downcast and harmless enough as we let him rise, though he was +unhurt. He had run on while the younger turned to stay the +pursuers, but Evan had caught him. He led us along the path, which +I suppose his own feet and those of Morfed had worn, unless it was +old as the menhir itself, and on the way he said suddenly:</p> +<p>"Let me ask one thing of you. Has the menhir fallen?"</p> +<p>"Ay, with the cross graven on it," I answered; and my words +checked a laugh that was on Evan's lips.</p> +<p>"I knew it. I heard the crash," the man said. "That is an end +therefore."</p> +<p>But Howel told the whole story as he had seen it take place, +from the time when Morfed flew at me, to the time when the waters +were still again; and as he heard, the man clenched his hands and +bowed his head and went on quickly, as if that would prevent his +hearing. After that he said nothing.</p> +<p>Then the path took us round the shoulder of a hill, and before +us was a rocky platform on the sunward slope which went steeply +down to another brook far below us. Far and wide from that platform +one could see over the heads of three streams, and across three +hill peaks that were right before us, and at the back of the level +place was a great cromlech made of one vast flat stone reared on +three others that were set in a triangle to uphold it. Seven good +feet from the ground its top was, and each of the three supporting +stones was some twelve feet long, so that it was like a house for +space within, and the two foremost stones were apart as a doorway. +And again beyond the cromlech was a hut, shaped like a beehive of +straw, built of many stones most wonderfully, both walls and roof. +There were things about this hut that seemed to tell that it was in +use, and even as our footsteps rang on the rocky platform, out of +its low doorway crept an ancient woman and stared at us wildly.</p> +<p>"What is this?" she screamed. "How should these unhallowed ones +come hither?"</p> +<p>"Silence, mother," our captive said. "All is done, and these men +come to take away the prince."</p> +<p>Then she saw that he was bound with Evan's belt, and at that she +screamed again, and a wild look came into her face, and with a +bound that was wonderful in one so old and bent she fled to the +cromlech, and climbed up the rearward stone in some way, perching +herself on the flat top, whence she glared at us.</p> +<p>"We will not harm you, mother," I said, seeing her terror.</p> +<p>And even as I spoke, from within the stone walls of the cromlech +came the voice that I longed to hear again, weak, indeed, but yet +that of Owen:</p> +<p>"Oswald, Oswald!"</p> +<p>Then I paid no more heed to the hag, but ran into the dark +place, and there indeed was my foster father, swathed in bandages, +and lying white and helpless on a rough couch, but yet with a +bright smile and greeting for me, and I went on my knees at his +side and answered him.</p> +<p>I will not say more of that meeting. Outside the old woman +cursed and reviled Howel and Evan and the captive in turns +unceasingly; but I heeded her no more than one heeds a starling +chattering on the roof in the early morning. I had all that I +sought, and aught else was as nothing to me.</p> +<p>After a little while Howel's face came into the doorway, and +Owen called him in. I saw the look of the prince change as he +marked the many swathings that told of Owen's sore hurts.</p> +<p>"Nay, but trouble not," Owen said, seeing this. "I am cut about +a bit, for certain, but not so badly that I may not be about again +soon. The old lady overhead has a shrewd tongue, but she is a +marvellous good leech. I have not fared so badly here, and I knew +Oswald would not rest until he found me."</p> +<p>"Now we must take you hence," I said. "Our men wait, and we can +no doubt get them here."</p> +<p>He smiled, being tired with the joy of seeing us and the +speaking, and I went out to Evan. The old woman still sat on the +cromlech, and when she saw me her voice rose afresh with more hard +words, which I would not notice.</p> +<p>"Evan," I said, "how shall we take the prince hence?"</p> +<p>"The litter they brought him on stands behind the hut yonder," +he answered; "for this man tells me so. Also he says that we are +not half a mile from our men, and that we can see one from just +above here."</p> +<p>So I sent him to bring them, telling him how the horses were +gone, so that we had no need to go back into the valley. To tell +the truth, I was as much relieved in my mind that we need not do so +as it was plain that he was. Then when he was gone I went back to +Owen, and he asked me if we had seen Morfed. I did not tell him +more than that we had done so, but that he was not here, one of his +two men having guided us, for the tale we must tell him by and by +might be better untold as yet.</p> +<p>"It does not matter," he said. "I cannot understand the man. At +one time I think that he was at the bottom of all the trouble, and +at another that he rescued me from the men who fell on the house. I +have seen little of him here until yesterday and today. There is a +man whom he calls 'the Bard,' who has tended me well enough with +the old dame, and another whom he names 'the Ovate,' whom I have +seen now and then--a younger man. I have set eyes on none but these +four since the men of the burning left me to them in the +hills."</p> +<p>We asked him how all that went, and he told us what he could +remember. He had waked from some sort of a swoon while he was being +carried, in the midst of many men, and again had come to himself +when his litter had been set down. At that time there was seemingly +a quarrel between Morfed and his two followers and these men, and +it ended by the many departing and leaving him to the priest. That +was, as I knew, when the hillmen would not come into the lost +valley.</p> +<p>"They set my sword beside me," he said. "Presently in the dark I +saw the gleam of a pool, and I made shift to throw it into the +water, so that no outlaw or Morgan's man should boast that he wore +it. Ina gave it me. One of the men saw me throw it, and was for +staying, but the other said he had heard the splash and that it was +gone. Morfed was not near at the time, having gone on. I heard him +singing somewhere beyond the water."</p> +<p>"I have found it, father," I said. "It was on the edge of the +pool, in long grass, and it helped us somewhat, for we knew you +were near. Now say if it is well to move you yet. We can bide here +with the men if not."</p> +<p>He laughed a little.</p> +<p>"I think so, but that is a question for the leech. Ask the dame. +Maybe she will answer if you speak her fair."</p> +<p>Howel went to do that, saying that maybe she would listen to a +Briton, for most of her wrath was concerning my Saxon arms. So +presently I heard her shrill voice growing calmer as Howel coaxed +her, and then there was a sound as if she climbed from her perch, +and Howel came back to us.</p> +<p>"We may take you, she says. Hither come the men in all haste +also, and we may get away from this place at once. These hills are +uncanny on Midsummer Eve, and I am glad that we have long daylight +before us."</p> +<p>Then said Owen:</p> +<p>"Oswald, I have not withal, but I would fain reward the bard and +the old woman for their care of me. I think that even at +Glastonbury there are none who would have healed these hurts of +mine more easily than she."</p> +<p>I had my own thoughts about the bard, but I said that I would +see to this, and went to him. The men were close at hand, and I saw +that they led our horses with them.</p> +<p>"Bard," I said, "Owen the prince speaks well of you. Is it true +that you would have slain him had you not been stayed on your +way?"</p> +<p>"I do not know, Lord," he answered. "When I was with Morfed, +needs must I do his bidding, even against my will. Yet, away from +him, I think that I should not have harmed the prince. I am a +Christian man, for all that you have seen."</p> +<p>"There was somewhat strangely heathenish in what I did see," I +said. "But I suppose that is all done with?"</p> +<p>"I might go across the sea to the British lands in the north or +in the south and learn to attain to druidship," he said. "But I +will not. What I know shall die with me. He who was the next to me +above, even Morfed, is gone, and he who was next below is gone +also. Druid and Ovate both. I am the only one of the old line left, +and I will be the last. Call me Bard no longer, I pray you."</p> +<p>"Well," I said, for there was that in the face of the man which +told me that he was in earnest, "I will believe you, and the more +that Owen trusts you."</p> +<p>I let loose his hands then, and he stretched his cramped arms +and thanked me. I minded well what that feeling was like.</p> +<p>"What would Morfed have done with the prince?" I asked.</p> +<p>"I do not know. I have heard him plan many things. I think that +if he had won him to his thoughts concerning the men of Canterbury +he would have taken him home. If not, I only know this, that he +would never have been seen in this land again. There was a thought +of carrying him even across the sea to the Britons in the south--in +Gaul. But of all things Morfed hoped that he would die here."</p> +<p>So I supposed, but I said no more, for Evan and the men reined +up close to us. There was joy enough among them all as Owen was +slowly and carefully laid on the rough litter. And we left those +two staring after us, silent. But I suppose that the terror of that +strange place will still lie on all the countryside, and I hold +that since the day when the wizards of old time reared the menhir +on that which it covered, with cruel rites and terrible words that +have bided in the minds of men as a terror will bide, no man but +such as Morfed has dared to pry into that valley lest the ancient +curse should fall on them--the curse of the Druid who would hide +his secrets. It may be, therefore, that it will not be known by the +folk that the menhir has fallen, even yet, for we who did know it +told them nought thereof.</p> +<p>As for that falling, it is the saying of Howel that it was +wrought by the might of the holy sign, and maybe he is not so far +wrong in a way. For if the slow creeping of the bog had at last +undermined the base of the tall stone so that it needed but little +to disturb its balance, no wind could reach it in that cliff-walled +place even in the wildest gale, and it is likely that no hand but +mine had touched it for long ages. I began, and the rush and blow +of Morfed ended, the work of overthrow, with the sign of might +complete. And Evan holds that but for the graving thereof he at +least were by this time a dead man.</p> +<p>It was late evening when we came to the village, with no harm to +Owen at all beyond tiredness, which a good sleep would amend; and +after that there is little that I need tell of Howel's going to +Exeter with the good news, and of his bringing back to us a litter +more fitted for the carrying of the hurt prince, and then the +welcome that was for us from Gerent.</p> +<p>When we were back with him, Owen passed into the loving hands of +Nona the princess, and I do not think that he had any cause to +regret his older leech of the beehive hut, skilful as she was, for +we who loved him saw him gain strength daily.</p> +<p>Now I found means to send a letter to Ina, by the tin traders +who were on the way to London, telling him that all was well, and +begging him to suffer me to bide with my foster father for a time +yet, as I knew indeed that I might, for my new place in the +household had few duties save at times of ceremony, and in war, +when I must lead the men of the household as the bearer of the +king's own banner. And as the days went on it grew plain to me that +there was somewhat amiss about the court here.</p> +<p>There was no dislike of myself, as I may truly say, among the +men of West Wales whom I met with, but there was a coldness now and +then which I could not altogether fathom, and that specially among +the priests. It seemed that while Gerent had forgotten that I was +aught but the son of Owen, who had brought him back, no one else +forgot that I was a Saxon, and that there was more in the +remembrance than should be in these times of peace. I could not +think that this was due to my share in the death of Morgan either, +for it was plain that not one of his friends was about the +court.</p> +<p>At last I spoke of this to Howel, and found that he also had +seen somewhat of the kind.</p> +<p>"I know it," he said. "If I am not very much mistaken, and I +ought to know the signs of coming trouble by this time, there is +somewhat brewing in the way of fresh enmity with your folk. It +comes from the priests."</p> +<p>"There are more of the way of thinking of Morfed, therefore," I +answered.</p> +<p>"And if that is so there may be more danger for Owen. It is well +known that he is for peace, and that Gerent will listen to him in +all things."</p> +<p>We talked of that for some time, not being at all easy yet +concerning the matter, after seeing how far some were willing to go +toward removing one who was in their way. I could not stay here +long, nor could Howel, and it was certain that Gerent could not +well guard Owen up to this time.</p> +<p>And at last Howel spoke the best counsel yet, after many plans +turned over between us.</p> +<p>"We will even take him to Dyfed, and nurse him to strength in +Pembroke. Then if aught is in the wind it will break out at once, +lest he should return and spoil all. Gerent will either have to bow +to the storm and fight, or else he will get the upper hand and +quiet things again. If he can do that last, at least till Owen is +back, all will be well. Owen will take things in hand then, and +will be master."</p> +<p>That was indeed a way out of the trouble, and therein Nona +helped us with Owen, so that at last he consented. I will say that +he knew little or nothing of possible trouble here, and we told him +nothing, for, in the first place, we had no certainty thereof, and +in the next, he was not strong enough to do anything against it if +we had.</p> +<p>When we came to ask Gerent if Howel might take him to Dyfed, we +found no difficulty at all, which surprised me not a little. I +think that the king knew that it was well for him to be across the +channel in all quiet.</p> +<p>So it came to pass that in a few days all was ready for our +going to Watchet to find Thorgils or some other shipmaster who +would take us over. We could wait at Norton until the time of +sailing came, if we might not cross at once, and thence I should go +back to Ina.</p> +<p>One may guess without any telling of mine what the parting with +Owen was for Gerent. As for myself, I was somewhat sorry to bid the +old king farewell, for I liked him, and he was ever most kind to +me. But I was not sorry to leave his court, by any means, for those +reasons of which I have spoken, and of them most of all for fear of +more plotting against Owen.</p> +<p>Now I will say that the ride to Watchet, slow and careful for +his sake who must yet travel in the litter, and in fair summer +weather, is one that I love to look back on. As may be supposed, by +this time I and the princess were very good friends, and it is +likely that I rode beside her for most of the way. We had many +things to talk of.</p> +<p>One thing I have not set down yet is, that it had been easy, +after what he had done for us, to win full pardon for Evan from +Gerent. Now he rode with me, well armed and stalwart, as my +servant, and one could hardly want a more likely looking one. And +Nona had some good words and friendly to say to him, which made him +hold his head higher yet after a time.</p> +<p>Presently, since I was on my way back to Glastonbury and +onwards, we must needs speak of Elfrida, and I told her how I had +fared when I came back from Dyfed. She laughed at me, and I laughed +at myself also; for now I knew at last that the old fancy had in +all truth passed from my mind.</p> +<p>So we came to Norton, and then sought Thorgils, and after that +it was a week before he was ready. I mind the wonder on the face of +the Norseman when he saw Evan at my heels on the day when his ship +came home and I met him on the wharf; but he was glad to see him +there.</p> +<p>"Faith," he said, "it has been a trouble to me that a man whom I +was wont to trust had turned out so ill. It shook my own belief in +my better judgment. I did think I knew a man when I saw him, until +then. So I was not far wrong after all. Now I will make a new song +of his deeds, and I do not think it will be a bad one."</p> +<p>Then it came to pass that one day, when the wind blew fair for +Tenby, I saw the ship draw away from me as her broad sail filled, +while on the deck was Owen in a great chair, and from his side Nona +waved to me, and Howel shouted that I must come over ere long and +fetch Owen home. Thorgils was steering, and he lifted his arm and +cried his parting words, and so I turned away, feeling lonely as a +man may feel for a little while. And presently I looked again +toward the ship, and I think that the last I saw of her was the +flutter of Nona's kerchief in the soft wind, and I vowed that +nought should hinder me from Dyfed when the time came.</p> +<p>Thereafter I rode to Glastonbury, and told Herewald what I +thought of the trouble that was surely brewing in the west; and he +said that he also had some reason to think that along his borders +men were getting more unruly, as if none tried to hinder them from +giving cause of offence to us.</p> +<p>"Well, if they will but keep quiet until this wedding is over it +will be a comfort," he said. "I should be more at ease if once +Elfrida was safely in Sussex."</p> +<p>Then I learned that the wedding was to be in a month's time or +so, and already there were preparations in hand for it. With all my +heart I hoped also that nought might mar it.</p> +<p>Then I passed on to the king at Winchester, and glad was he to +hear that we had indeed found Owen. But as he listened to what I +thought was coming on us from the west, he said:</p> +<p>"It is even what Owen and I foresaw with the death of Aldhelm. +This is a matter that not even Owen could have prevented, for it +comes of the jealousy of the priests. We will go to Glastonbury and +watch, and maybe we shall be in time for the wedding. But I will +not be the one to break the peace. If war there must be, it must +come from Gerent."</p> +<p>And so he mused for a while, and then said:</p> +<p>"Well, so it will be. And not before West Wales has tried her +failing force for the last time will there be a lasting peace."</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a>. HOW ERPWALD SAW HIS FIRST +FIGHT ON HIS WEDDING DAY.</h2> +<p>So we went to Glastonbury in a little time, and now it was as if +Yuletide had come again in high summer, so full was the little town +with guests who came to the wedding. Erpwald had come soon after +us, with a train of Sussex thanes, who were his neighbours and +would see him through the business, and take him and his bride home +again. Well loved were the ealdorman and his fair daughter, and +this was the first wedding in the new church, of which all the land +was proud.</p> +<p>Only Ina was somewhat uneasy, though he would not shew it. For +on all the Wessex border from Severn Sea to the Channel there was +unrest. It seemed that the hand of Gerent had altogether slackened +on his people, so that they did what they listed, and it was even +worse than it had been in the days of Morgan and his brother, for +at least they were answerable for what the men of Dyvnaint wrought +of harm. There was none to take their place here, while the old +king bided in Exeter or in Cornwall, and never came to Norton at +all now. So there was pillage and raiding across the Parrett, and +at last Ina had sent messages to Gerent concerning it.</p> +<p>A fortnight ago that was, and now the messengers had returned, +bearing word from Gerent that he himself would come and speak to +Ina of Wessex and answer him, and it was doubtful what that answer +meant. There might well be a menace of war therein, or it might +mean that he was only coming to Norton. It would not be the first +time that the two kings had met there and spoken with one another +in all friendliness concerning matters which might have been of +much trouble. And we heard at least of no gathering of forces by +the Welsh.</p> +<p>Yet Ina warned all the sheriffs of the Wessex borderland, and +could do no more. The levies would come up at once when the first +summons came.</p> +<p>All of which the ealdorman spoke to me of, but neither Erpwald +nor Elfrida knew that war was in the air. We did not tell them. +Thus we hoped to keep all knowledge that aught was unrestful from +them in their happiness, until at least they two were beyond the +sound of war, if it needs must come.</p> +<p>But it came to pass on the day before the wedding that all men +knew thereof in stern truth, and that was a hard time for many.</p> +<p>Erpwald and I sat on the bench before the ealdorman's house in +the late sunshine of the long July evening, talking of the morrow, +and of Eastdean, and aught else that came uppermost, so that it was +pleasant to think of, and before us we could see the long road that +goes up the slope of Polden hills and so westward toward the Devon +border. Along it came a wain or two laden high with the first rye +that was harvested that year, and a herd or two of lazy kine +finding their way to the byres for the evening milking. And then +beyond the wains rose a dust, and I saw the waggoners draw aside, +and the dust passed them, and the kine scattered wildly as it +neared them; and so down the peaceful road spurred a little company +of men who shouted as they came, never drawing rein or sparing spur +for all that the farm horses reared and plunged and the kine fled +terror stricken.</p> +<p>I think that I knew what it meant at once, but Erpwald laughed +and said: "More of our guests, belike. One rides fast to a bridal, +but they are over careless."</p> +<p>But I did not answer, for the hot pace of those who came never +slackened, and spurring and with loose rein they swept across the +bridge over the stream and so thundered toward us.</p> +<p>"Here is a hurry beyond a jest," said Erpwald, sitting up; +"somewhat is amiss, surely."</p> +<p>Never rode men in that wise but for life. In a minute they were +close, and one of them spied me and called to me, waving his arm +toward the palace and reeling in his saddle as he did so. His arm +was bandaged, and I saw that the spear his comrade next him bore +was reddened, and that the other two had leapt on their horses with +nought but the halter to guide them withal, as if in direst need +for haste. Not much longer could their horses last as it +seemed.</p> +<p>I sprang up and followed to the king's courtyard, leaving +Erpwald wondering, and a footpath brought me there almost as they +drew rein inside the gates. One of the horses staggered and fell as +soon as he stayed, and his rider was in little better plight. That +one who had beckoned to me knew me, and spoke at once, +breathless:</p> +<p>"Let us to the king, Thane. The Welsh--the Welsh!"</p> +<p>"An outlaw raid again?" I asked.</p> +<p>"Would I come hither in this wise for that?" the man +answered.</p> +<p>He was a sturdy franklin from the Quantock side of the +river--one whose father had been set there by Kenwalch.</p> +<p>"I can deal, and have dealt, with the like of them, but this is +war. They are on us in their thousands, and I have even been burnt +out for being a Saxon, by a raiding party."</p> +<p>"Whence?"</p> +<p>"From Norton," answered another of the men. "Gerent, their king, +is there with a host beyond counting. One fled from across the +hills and told us, and we believed him not till the raiders +came."</p> +<p>With that I took the men straightway to the king, bidding the +house-carles hold their peace awhile. And even as we talked with +this party, another man rode in from the Tone fenlands, and he had +seen the march of the West Welsh men, and knew that Gerent's force +was halted at Norton. A swift and sudden gathering, and a swift +march that was worthy of a good leader, else had we heard thereof +before this.</p> +<p>After that man came another, and yet another, till all the +courtyard was full of reeking horses and white-faced men, and the +ealdorman was sent for and Nunna; and in an hour or less the war +arrow was out, and the news was flying north and south and east, +with word that all Somerset was to be here on the morrow to hold +the land their forebears had won from those who came.</p> +<p>Presently with the quiet of knowing all done that might be done +on us, the ealdorman and I went down to his house.</p> +<p>"Here is an end of tomorrow's wedding," he said sadly. "I do not +know how Elfrida will take it, for it is not to be supposed that +Erpwald will hold back from the levy, though, indeed, if ever man +had excuse, he has it in full."</p> +<p>I knew that he would not, also, and said nothing. He was yet +sitting on the settle where I had left him waiting for me, with the +level sun in his face as it sank across the Poldens, and he looked +content with all things.</p> +<p>"What a coil and a clatter has been past me, surely," he said. +"I doubt there must be a raid over the border, from what I hear the +men shouting."</p> +<p>"More than that, friend," I said gravely, looking straight at +him. "The Welsh are on us in all earnest, and tomorrow we must meet +them somewhere yonder, where the sun is setting."</p> +<p>He looked at me, and his face flushed redder and redder.</p> +<p>"What, fighting in the air?" he said, with a sort of new +interest.</p> +<p>"War,--nothing more or less," answered Herewald with a +groan.</p> +<p>"I am in luck for once," he said, leaping up. "Let me go with +you, Oswald; for this is what I have never seen."</p> +<p>"Hold hard, son-in-law," cried the ealdorman. "What of the +wedding?"</p> +<p>His face fell, and he stared at us blankly, but his cheek +paled.</p> +<p>"Forgive me," he said. "I never can manage to keep more than one +thing in my head at a time. Here was I thinking of nought but that, +until this news came and drove out all else. Don't tell Elfrida +that I forgot it."</p> +<p>"Trouble enough for her without that," answered Herewald. "You +cannot hold back, maybe, though indeed, not one will think the +worse of you if you do so. We must tell Elfrida what has befallen, +however, and she must speak her mind on your doings. Come, let us +find her."</p> +<p>"Do you speak first, Ealdorman," I said, and he nodded and went +his way.</p> +<p>Erpwald and I followed him into the hall, and there stayed. He +was long gone thence to the bower where Elfrida sat with her +maidens preparing for the morrow.</p> +<p>"What will she say?" asked Erpwald presently.</p> +<p>"I think that she will bid you fight for the king, though it +will be hard for her to do so."</p> +<p>"I hope she will, though, indeed, I should like to think that it +will not be easy for her to send me away," said the lover, torn in +two ways. "How long will it take to settle with these Welsh?"</p> +<p>"I cannot tell," I said, shaking my head.</p> +<p>For, indeed, though I would not say it, a Welsh war is apt to be +a long affair if once they get among the hills.</p> +<p>"If we have the victory, I think that the wedding will not be +put off for so very long," I added to comfort him.</p> +<p>He walked back and forth across the hall until Herewald came +back, and then started toward him.</p> +<p>"Go yonder and speak with her," the ealdorman said, pointing to +the door whence he came.</p> +<p>Then he went hastily, and we two looked at one another.</p> +<p>"How is it with her?" I said.</p> +<p>"In the way of the girl who helped you slay Morgan," he said +grimly. "She would hold him nidring if he had not wished to +go."</p> +<p>We went to the door and looked out. All the road was dotted with +men from the nearer villages who came to the gathering, and as they +marched, each after the reeve of the place, they sang. And past the +hindmost of them came a single horseman hurrying. Another messenger +with the same news, doubtless.</p> +<p>Then there were footsteps across the hall behind us, and Elfrida +and Erpwald came to us. I stole one glance at her, and saw that she +hid her sorrow and pain well, though it was not without an effort. +She spoke fast, and seemingly in cheerful wise, as we turned to +her.</p> +<p>"Father, here is this Erpwald, who will go to the war, and I +cannot hold him back. What can you say to him?"</p> +<p>"Nought, surely. For if he will not listen to you, it is certain +that he will hearken to none else."</p> +<p>She laughed a little strained laugh, and turned to Erpwald.</p> +<p>"You must have your own way, as I can see plainly enough; and +our wedding must needs wait your pleasure. Even my father will not +help to keep you here."</p> +<p>"But, Elfrida--it was your own saying--" the poor lover went no +further, for he was beyond his depth altogether.</p> +<p>It would seem that this was not the way in which she had spoken +to him when they were alone. So I went to help him.</p> +<p>"We will take care of him, Elfrida," I said, trying to laugh; +"but I think that he is able to do that for himself fairly +well."</p> +<p>Then I was sorry that I had spoken, for it was a foolish speech, +seeing that it brought the thought of danger more closely to her +than was need, or maybe than she had let it come to her yet. She +turned into the half-darkness of the hall again, and after her went +Erpwald. The ealdorman and I went to the courtyard and left them, +feeling that we need say no more.</p> +<p>Then through the dusk that horseman whom we had noted clattered +up, and called in a great voice to us, asking if we knew where he +should find Oswald the marshal, and I answered him and went out +into the road to him. And there sat Thorgils, fully armed, on a +great horse that was white with foam, but had been carefully +ridden.</p> +<p>"Ho, comrade! have you heard the news?" he said, gripping my +hand.</p> +<p>"Twenty times in half an hour," I answered. "But is there +somewhat fresh?"</p> +<p>"Have any of your twenty told you that these knaves of Welsh +have broken peace with us, tried to burn Watchet town--and had +their heads broken?"</p> +<p>"News indeed, that," said I. "What more?"</p> +<p>"If you Saxons will stand by us, your kin, it may be worth your +while. Here have I ridden to tell you so."</p> +<p>Then I hurried him to the king, for this was a matter worth +hearing. Watchet was on Gerent's left flank, and a force there was +a gain to us indeed, if only by staying the force at Norton for a +day longer. We should have so much the more time in which to gather +the levies.</p> +<p>But, seeing that they were not yet gathered, it did not at first +seem possible to Ina that we could help to save the little town, +whose few men had beaten off today's attack, but would be surely +overwhelmed by numbers on the morrow if Gerent chose. But Thorgils +had not come hither without a plan in his head, and he set it +before the king plainly.</p> +<p>"Norton is on the southern end of the Quantocks, and Watchet is +at the northern end, as you know, King Ina. Between the two on the +hills is the great camp which any force can hold, but nought but a +great one can storm. If you will give me two hundred men, I will +have that camp by morning, and that will save Watchet, and maybe +hold back Gerent in such wise that he will not care to pass it +without retaking it. He will not know how few of us will be there, +and you will be able to choose your own ground for the fighting +while he bethinks him. There is but one road into Wessex across the +Quantocks, and we shall seem to menace that while we cover the way +to Watchet."</p> +<p>"So the camp is held?" asked Ina. "Gerent is before me +there."</p> +<p>"Held by the men we beat off from Watchet, King. One we took +tells us that they had no business to fall on our town, but turned +aside to do it. Gerent has little hold on some of his chiefs. Now +they are there with a fear of us and our axes on them, and if we +may fall on them unawares we can take the camp without trouble, as +I think."</p> +<p>"Oswald," said Ina, after a little thought, "how many horsemen +can you raise now?"</p> +<p>The town was full of horses by this time, and I thought that it +would not be hard to raise a hundred, and that in half an hour. +Maybe if we did go with Thorgils we should meet many more men on +the way to the levy also.</p> +<p>"Then you shall go with Thorgils," the king said. "It is a risk, +certainly, but it is worth it. We had held that camp, had we had +but a day's earlier warning, and that loss may be made good thus. +That outlaw of yours will know many a safe place of retreat for you +if need is. Good luck be with you."</p> +<p>He shook hands with us both, and we did not delay. His only +bidding was that we should hold the camp until we had word from +him, if we took it, and he was to learn thereof by signal.</p> +<p>So it came to pass that in an hour and a half Thorgils and I and +Erpwald, who would by no means let me go without him, and three of +his Sussex friends, rode across the causeway to the Polden hills in +the dusk, with a matter of six score men behind us, well armed and +mounted all--for these borderers have need to keep horse and arms +of the best, and those ever ready.</p> +<p>From the ealdorman's door Elfrida watched us go very bravely, +and the glimmer of her white dress was the lodestar that kept the +eyes of her lover turned backward while it might be seen. It +vanished suddenly, and he heaved a deep sigh, and I knew that she +had been fain to watch no longer lest her tears should be seen.</p> +<p>As we went along the Polden ridge we met flying men, and men who +came to the levy, and by twos and threes we added to our little +force, until we had a full hundred more than when we started.</p> +<p>Thorgils took us to a tidal ford that crosses the Parrett River +far below any bridge, which he thought would not yet be watched by +the Welsh. There is a steep hill fort that covers this ford, but on +it were no fires as of an outpost yet. Then we were a matter of +eight miles from the great camp on the highest ridge of the +Quantocks which we had to take, and we had ridden five-and-twenty +miles. I was glad that we had to wait an hour or more for the fall +of the tide before we could cross, for we rode fast thus far.</p> +<p>So we dismounted and watched the slow fall of the water, and we +planned what we would do presently; until at last we splashed +through the muddy ford, and rode on through dense forest land until +the great camp rose above us, a full thousand feet skyward, and we +saw the glow of the watch fires of those who held it. It seemed +almost impossible to scale this hill as we looked on its slope in +the darkness, but we reached its foot where the hill is steepest, +and held on northward yet, until we came to where there is a long +steady rise up to the very gate of the earthworks.</p> +<p>Now there should have been an outpost halfway along this slope +toward the camp, for whatever tribe of the Britons made the +stronghold had not forgotten to raise a little fort for one. But we +were in luck, for this outpost was not held, and we rode past it, +and knew that there was every chance now of our fairly surprising +the camp. The first grey of dawn was coming when I passed the word +to the men to close up, and told them what we were to do.</p> +<p>"We charge through the earthworks, for there is no barrier +across the gate, and spread out across the camp with all the noise +we can. Follow a flight for no long distance beyond the earthworks, +but scatter the Welsh."</p> +<p>So we rode on steadily until we were but a bow shot from the +trench, and yet no alarm was raised, for the foe watched hardly at +all, deeming that no Saxon force would think of crossing where we +crossed the river, or of coming on them from the north at all.</p> +<p>Then Thorgils and I and Erpwald rode forward, and I gave the +word to charge, and up the long smooth slope we went at the gallop, +with a heavy thunder of hoofs on the firm turf of the ancient +track. And that thunder was the first sign that the Welsh knew of +our coming.</p> +<p>I saw one come to the gateway and look, and then with a wild +howl throw himself into the outer ditch for safety, and the camp +roared with the alarm, and the dim white figures flocked to the +rampart, and through a storm of ill-aimed arrows we rode through +the unguarded gate and were on them.</p> +<p>"Ahoy!--Out, out!--Holy Cross!"</p> +<p>The war shouts of Norseman and South Saxon and Wessex men were +in startling medley together here, and that terrified the Welsh yet +more. It must have seemed to them that the Norsemen had called +unheard of allies to their help. There was no order or rallying +power among them.</p> +<p>We three were first through the gateway, and then we were riding +across the camp with levelled spears, over men and through the +fires, and a panic fell on the foe, so that without waiting to see +what our numbers were, in headlong terror they fled from the charge +over the ramparts and into the forests in the valleys on either +side beyond whence we came. I had no fear of their rallying thence +to any effect, for it would take them all their time to find their +leaders in the combes and the thick undergrowth that clothed their +sides. Once out of the camp, too, they could not see into it to +tell how few we were.</p> +<p>I suppose that there were some five hundred Welsh in the place. +I do not think that we harmed many of them in the hurry and the +dark, but we scared them terribly. Here and there one rolled under +the horses' hoofs, and we paid no heed to such as fell thus, and +they rose again and fled the faster. All but one, that is, so far +as I was concerned. I charged a man, and my spear missed him as he +leapt aside, and he struck at my horse as I passed him, and the +next moment I was rolling on the ground with the good steed, and +the man behind me had to leap over us as we lay. That was one of +the Sussex thanes, and he was no mean horseman or unready, luckily. +Then he chased my enemy out of the camp, and came back to see if I +were hurt. But I was not, and I bade him go on with the rest. We +were almost across the camp at this time.</p> +<p>"Take my horse rather," he said. "See, there is a bit of a stand +being made yonder."</p> +<p>There were yet some valiant and cooler-headed Welshmen whom the +panic had not carried away, and they were getting together to our +right. The camp was full three hundred paces across, and as we +spread over it our line had gaps here and there, so that some at +least had seen what our numbers were. They had passed into the camp +again over the earthworks, or had been passed by in the place by +us, and they were gathering round one who wore the crested helm and +gilded arms of a chief, and he was raving at the cowards who had +left him. Even now he had not more than a score of men with +him.</p> +<p>Our men were chasing the flying foe across the open hilltop now, +outside the camp, and there were but few left within its enclosure, +though I saw the dim forms of some who were turning back without +going beyond the rampart, and one of these was Erpwald. He also saw +the group of Welshmen, and called the other horsemen to him, and +even as the chief saw us two standing alone together, and led his +few toward us, the shout of the four or five who charged with my +friend stayed them, and they closed up to meet the new attack.</p> +<p>Then the Sussex thane, whose name was Algar, saw this, and again +urged me to take his horse, saying that it was not fitting for the +leader to be dismounted while work was yet in hand; but I saw a +thing that bade me forget him, and set me running at full speed +toward the Welshmen. Erpwald had ridden well ahead of his comrades, +and as his spear crossed those of the foe one of them stepped +forward before his chief and made a sweeping blow at the legs of +the horse with a long pole-axe. Down the horse came, and Erpwald +flew over its head into the midst of the enemy, overthrowing one or +two of them as if he had been a stone from a sling.</p> +<p>In a moment they closed over him, but I was there before they +could get clear of one another to slay him. I cut my way through +the turmoil before they knew I was on them, and stood over him +sword in hand, while the Welsh shrank back for a space with the +suddenness of my coming. There was Algar also hewing at them and +trying to reach my side, having dismounted, and those who followed +Erpwald were on them with their long spears. It was more as a +shouting than a fight for a moment or two, but Erpwald never moved, +being stunned, as it seemed. It was like to go hard with me for a +time, for my men could not reach me. Still, I held the Welsh back +from Erpwald and myself.</p> +<p>There was a great shout of "Ahoy," and I saw from beyond the +ring round me the rise and fall of a broad axe, and then Thorgils +was at my back, and close behind him was Evan. More of our men were +coming up fast to where they heard the noise; but the foe were +minded to make a good fight of it, and only to yield when there was +no shame in doing so.</p> +<p>"It is no bad thing to have a good axe at one's back," quoth +Thorgils in a gruff shout between his war cries as he hewed, and +with that I heard the said axe crash on a foe again.</p> +<p>Then I had the chief before me, and his men fell back a little +to make way for him to me. Our swords crossed, and I took his first +thrust fairly on the shield and returned it, wounding him a little, +and he set his teeth and flew at me, point foremost, with the +deadly thrust of the Roman weapon. That the shield met again, and I +struck out over his guard and he went down headlong. And at that +his men made a wild rush on me, yelling. At that time I saw +Thorgils, with a great smile on his face, smite one man to his +right with the axe edge, and another on his left with the blunt +back of the weapon as he swung it round, and Evan saved me from a +man who was coming on me from behind. That is all I know of the +fight, save that it seemed that I heard some cry for quarter, for +of a sudden I went down across Erpwald for no reason that I could +tell.</p> +<p>It was full daylight when I came round, and the first thing that +my eyes lit on was the broad face of Erpwald, who sat by my side +with a woebegone look that changed suddenly to a great grin when he +saw me stir and look at him. Then I saw Evan also watching me, with +his arm tied up, and I was fain to laugh at his solemn face of +trouble. Whereon from somewhere behind me Thorgils cried in his +great seafaring voice:</p> +<p>"There now, what did I tell you two owls? His head is too hard +to mind a bit of a knock like that."</p> +<p>Then he came and laughed at me, and I asked what sent me +over.</p> +<p>"The pole-axe man hit you with the flat of his unhandy weapon. +It is lucky for you that he was a bungler, however, for there is a +sore dint in your helm."</p> +<p>I sat up and looked round the camp. There was a knot of captives +in its midst, among whom was the chief I had fought, wounded, +indeed, but not badly, and our men were eating the enemy's +provender and laughing. A fire of green brushwood and heather was +sending a tall pillar of smoke into the air to tell the watchers on +the Poldens and at Watchet that we had done what we came to do. But +here we had to stay till we heard from Ina that we were to join +him, and for Erpwald's sake and Elfrida's I was not sorry.</p> +<p>He had seen his first fight, and nearly found his end therein. I +do not know how I could have looked Elfrida in the face again had +he indeed risen no more from that medley. But I thought that he +made more than enough of my coming to his rescue. It was only a +matter of holding back a crowd till help came.</p> +<p>"All very well to put it in that way, comrade," said Thorgils; +"but where does my axe come in? You are not fair, for, by Thor's +hammer, Erpwald, both of you had been mincemeat but for that."</p> +<p>"Nay," said I, laughing; "you and I were those who held back the +crowd. I could not have done it alone."</p> +<p>"But you did, though," the Norseman answered at once. +"Nevertheless, it was as well that I happened up in good time."</p> +<p>Now we rode across the nearer hills until we could see into the +fair valley which men call Taunton Deane since those days, and we +saw the answering fires which told us that all was well at Watchet, +for we had saved the little town. Not until Gerent learned how few +we were here would he dare to divide his forces. Far off to the +southward in the valley we could see the blue reek of his +campfires, and it would seem that he had not yet moved on the +Wessex border.</p> +<p>All the day we waited and watched, anxious and restless, but no +attack came on us here, and the smoke of the camp grew no thinner +at Norton. A few Norsemen rode up to us from Watchet, and they said +that no move was on hand yet, so far as they could tell. And at +last, as the sun was setting, and shone level on the slope of the +Poldens, above which the Tor of Glastonbury sent a waving wreath of +smoke into the air to bid Wessex gather against the ancient foe, we +saw the long line of sparkling helms and spear points as our host +marched from hill to causeway to the bridge that spans the Parrett. +Ina would hold the heights above Norton before morning.</p> +<p>But that made it the more needful that we should bide here till +we were sent for, seeing that we guarded the flank of our advance; +and hard it was to sit still and do it, with a battle pending +yonder. It was a long night to us, and hungry.</p> +<p>Early in the next morning there was heavy smoke on these hills +that told of burning on the line of our march, and there was more +away toward the far Blackdown hills, as if there were trouble +beyond Tone. And in the afternoon there fell a strange stillness on +the woods round us, and I wondered. There was never a buzzard or +kite, raven or crow, left in all the woodland, and then I minded +that overhead lately the birds of prey had all flown in one +direction, and that toward where Norton lay.</p> +<p>It was the cry of the kite and the voice of the songbirds that I +missed. The birds of prey had gone, and in the cover their little +quarry cowered in fear of the shadow of the broad wings which had +crossed them so often. Even now two of the great sea eagles were +sailing inland, and from these strange signs we knew for certain +that yonder a battlefield was spread for them, where Saxon and +Welsh strove for mastery in the fair valley. But we must pace the +hill crest, silent and moody, waiting for some sign that might tell +us of victory.</p> +<p>That came at last in the late afternoon. Slowly there gathered, +over the trees where Norton was, a haze that thickened into a +smoke, and that grew into heavy dun clouds which rose and drifted +even to the hilltops, for Norton was burning, and by that token we +knew that Ina was victor.</p> +<p>Presently there were flying men of the Welsh who could be seen +on the open hillsides, and some few came even up to this camp, and +we took them, and from them heard how the battle had gone. It had +been a terrible battle, from their account, but they knew little +more than that, and that they were beaten. I suppose that Ina +thought it best for us to hold this camp for the night, for here we +bided, chafing somewhat; and but for what we took from the Welsh, +hungry, until early morning. Then at last a mounted messenger came +to us, and we went to Norton.</p> +<p>There, indeed, was high praise waiting for us from Ina, for it +seemed that our work had checked the advance of Gerent, and had +given time for full gathering of the levies before he was over the +border. But now I learnt that there was another Welsh army in the +field, beyond the Tone River, and until we heard how it fared with +the Dorset levies in that direction it was doubtful if we might +hold that all was well yet. Gerent had not set everything on this +one attack, but had also marched on Langport across the Blackdown +hills. Thither Nunna had led what men he could be spared, and was +to meet the Dorset levies, whose ealdorman, Sigebald, had sent word +to Glastonbury, soon after I left there, to tell of this +attack.</p> +<p>In the late evening there were beacon fires on the Blackdown +hills, and a great one on the camp at Neroche which crowns and +guards the hills in that direction. And so presently through the +dusk one rode into Norton with word of the greatest battle that +Wessex had fought since men could remember, for Nunna had met the +foe on the way to Langport, and at last, after a mighty struggle +which had long seemed doubtful, had swept them back across the +hills whence they came, in full flight homeward. So there was full +victory for Wessex, but we had to pay a heavy price therefor. Nunna +had fallen in the hour of triumph, and Sigebald, the ealdorman, was +lost to Dorset also.</p> +<p>Presently we laid Nunna in his mound on the Blackdown hills +where he had fallen. There he bides as the foremost of Saxon +leaders in the new land we had won, and I do not think that it is +an unfitting place for such a one as he. It is certain that so long +as a Wessex man who minds the deeds of his fathers is left the name +of Nunna will be held in honour with that of the king; his +kinsman.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a>. OF MATTERS OF RANSOM, +AND OF FORGIVENESS ASKED AND GRANTED.</h2> +<p>Now I must needs tell somewhat of the way in which Ina won +Norton, for that had so much to do with my fortunes as it turned +out, seeing that all went well by reason of our holding the hill +fort, in which matter, indeed, Thorgils must have his full share of +praise.</p> +<p>Gerent halted in his march when the flying men from the camp +came in to him, telling him that we were in strong force on the +hill, and so our men crossed the Parrett unhindered, and won to the +long crest of the southward spurs of Quantocks, where the Welsh +gathered against Kenwalch in the old days and stayed his farther +conquest. There was some sort of an advance post by this time in +the Roman camp at Roborough, and Ina sent a few men to take it, and +that was easily done. Then Gerent heard that Ina was on him, and +went to meet him, and so the two armies met on the westward slope +of the hills above Norton, and there all day long the battle swayed +to and fro until the Welsh broke and fled back to the town itself. +Then was a long fight across the ramparts, and at last Ina took the +place, and so chased his enemy in hopeless rout across the moorland +westward yet, until there was no chance of any stand being +made.</p> +<p>But Gerent escaped, though it was said that it was sorely +against his will. I was told that the old king came to the battle +in a wonderful chariot drawn by four white horses, and that he +stood in it fully armed, bidding his nobles carry him to the +forefront of the fighting, but that they would not heed him. And +presently when they knew that all was lost they hurried him from +the field, though he cursed them, and even hewed at them with his +sword to stay them as they went.</p> +<p>Now Ina's camp was set within the walls of Norton among the yet +smoking ruins of the palace, where not one stone was left on +another; and the Dragon banner of Wessex floated side by side with +the White Horse of the sons of Hengist, where I had been wont to +see the Dragon of the line of Arthur.</p> +<p>All the afternoon of that day Ina sat and saw the long files of +captives pass before him, and I was there to question any he would, +for he knew little or none of the Welsh tongue.</p> +<p>Many of these captives were of high rank, men who had only +yielded when they must, and here and there I knew one of these by +sight. They would be held to ransom by their captors, and the rest, +freeman or thrall, as they had been, would be the slaves of those +who took them, save they also could pay for freedom. It was a sad +enough throng that passed under the shadow of the proud +banners.</p> +<p>At last I saw one whom I knew well, and whom the king knew, for +it was Jago. He stood in the line, looking neither to right nor +left, but taking his misfortune like a brave man.</p> +<p>"Here is Jago, the friend of Owen, whom you know, King Ina," I +said.</p> +<p>The king glanced up at the Welsh thane. There was no pride of +conquest in the face of Ina as he gazed at his captives, and when +one came as Jago came he looked little at him, lest he should seem +to exult.</p> +<p>"Take him, and do what you will with him, Oswald. We owe you +much again; if you see others for whom you would speak, tell me. I +will deal with friends of Owen as you will. That is known already, +and none will gainsay it."</p> +<p>I thanked the king quietly, but none the less heartily, and I +ran my eyes down the line, but I saw no more known faces. So I went +after Jago, who had passed on.</p> +<p>"Friend, you are free," I said. "That is the word of our king, +for the sake of old friendship."</p> +<p>He could not answer, but the light leapt into his eyes, and he +held out his hand to me. Then I took him to the tent which my +house-carles had pitched next the king's, where Nunna's should have +been, and bade him sit down there. Then I went out and brought up +my own prisoners, passing the commoners into the hands of the men +who had been with me, but keeping the chief until the last. Two of +the house-carles led him up, and his face had as black a scowl on +it as I had ever seen, and he looked sullenly at us.</p> +<p>"Who is he?" asked Ina, turning towards me.</p> +<p>I did not know, and, to tell the truth, had forgotten to ask him +in the waiting for news of Nunna. So I asked him his name with all +courtesy, and could win no answer from him but a blacker scowl than +ever. Judging from his arms, which were splendid, and of the half +Roman pattern that Howel wore, he might be of some note. I thought +Jago might know him, so I asked him.</p> +<p>"Mordred, prince of Morganwg {<a name="EndNote3anc" href= +"#EndNote3sym"><sup>iii</sup></a>}, from across the channel," he +answered, looking from the tent door. "He is a prize for whoever +took him. Gerent sent word to several of those princes, and his men +are somewhere in the country yet, I suppose. They came at Gerent's +invitation."</p> +<p>I went back to Ina, who had set the chief aside for the moment, +and when some other man's captives had passed, bound to a long +cord, my men brought him forward again.</p> +<p>"Ask him what brought him here," said Ina, when he heard who he +was.</p> +<p>"I have a mind not to answer you," Mordred growled, when I put +the question, "but seeing that there is no use in keeping silence, +I will tell you. I hate Saxons, and so when Gerent asked me I came +to help him."</p> +<p>"With your men?"</p> +<p>"A shipload of them. They are up in the hills yonder, where you +left them, I suppose; and they will be a trouble to you until they +get home, if they can. I am well quit of the cowards."</p> +<p>Now I began to understand how it was that this force went aside +to fall on Watchet, and had little heart in the defence of the +camp. They were strangers, who hated the name of the Northmen from +their own knowledge of them, and could not miss a chance of a fight +with them here. After that the men of Gerent who were with them at +the camp cared nought for their strange leader.</p> +<p>"Take him, and hold him to ransom, Oswald," Ina said, when I +told him all this. "From all I ever heard of Morganwg, he should be +some sort of reward for what you have done. I should set his price +high also, for he deserves it for coming here."</p> +<p>So I took Mordred to my tent, telling him that I must speak of +him of ransom.</p> +<p>"Ransom? Of course, that will be paid. What price do you set on +me?"</p> +<p>Now that was a question on which I had no thought ready, seeing +that I had never held any man of much rank to ransom before, and I +hesitated. At last I remembered what some great Mercian thane had +to pay to Owen some years ago, and I named that sum, which was good +enough for me and Erpwald and Thorgils to share between us.</p> +<p>Thereon his face flushed red, and he scowled fiercely at me.</p> +<p>"What!--Is that the value of a prince of Morganwg? It is ill to +insult a captive."</p> +<p>"Nay, Prince, there is no insult--"</p> +<p>"By St. Petroc, but there is, though! What will the men of +Morganwg--what will the Dyfed men say when they hear that the Saxon +holds one of the line of Arthur at the value of a hundred cows? Ay, +that is how I shall be known henceforth!--Mordred of the cows, +forsooth."</p> +<p>He was working himself up into a rage now, and even Jago from +the corner of the tent where he sat, dejectedly enough, began to +smile. I had spoken of fair coined silver, and I had some trouble +myself in keeping a grave face when this Welsh prince counted the +cost of cattle therein.</p> +<p>"Will you double the sum, Prince?" I asked in all good +faith.</p> +<p>"I will pay the ransom that is fitting for a prince of Morganwg +to pay when his foes have the advantage of him. The honour of the +Cymro is concerned."</p> +<p>"Ask him his value," said Jago in Saxon, knowing that Mordred +did not understand that tongue at all. "Never was so good a chance +of selling a man at his own price."</p> +<p>Then I could not help a smile, and Mordred waxed furious. He +turned on Jago with his fist clenched.</p> +<p>"Silence, you miserable--"</p> +<p>"Prince, Prince," I cried. "He did but bid me ask you what was +fitting."</p> +<p>"Well, then, do it," he cried, stamping impatiently, and glaring +at Jago yet.</p> +<p>It was plain that if he did not understand the Saxon he saw that +there was some jest.</p> +<p>"It is a hard matter for me to set a price on you, Prince," I +said gravely. "I have never held one of your rank to ransom before, +so that you will forgive seeming discourtesy if I have unwittingly +done what was not fitting in the matter. What would the men of your +land think worthy of you?"</p> +<p>"Once," he said slowly, "it was the ill luck of my--of some +forebear of mine to have to be ransomed. They paid so much for +him."</p> +<p>He named a sum in good Welsh gold that it had never come into my +mind to dream of. It was riches for all three of us. And I dared +not say that it was too much and somewhat like foolishness, for it +was his own valuation. So I held my peace.</p> +<p>"Not enough?" he asked, not angrily, but as if it would be an +honour to hear that I set him higher. "What more shall I add?"</p> +<p>"No more, Prince. I see that I have yet things to learn."</p> +<p>Truly, I had always heard that the tale of the golden tribute to +Rome from Britain had tempted my forebears here first of all, and +now I believed it. I suppose these Welsh princes had hoards which +had been carried from out of the way of us Saxons and Angles long +ago.</p> +<p>"Ay, you have," Mordred said grimly. "One day it shall be what +the worth of a British prince is in good cold steel, maybe. Now let +me have a messenger who shall take word to my people and bring back +what is needed."</p> +<p>He scowled when I mentioned Thorgils, but he knew him by repute +at least, and was willing to trust him, as I would do so. In the +end, therefore, it was he who took the signet ring and the letter +the prince had written and brought back the gold. Some of the coins +were of the days of Cunobelin, but the most of it was in bars and +rings and chains, wrought for traffic by weight.</p> +<p>Now I will say at once that neither of my comrades would share +in this ransom, though I thought that it was a matter between the +three of us, as leaders of the force that day.</p> +<p>"Not I," quoth Thorgils--"the man was your own private captive, +for you sent him down yourself. What do I want with that pile of +gold? I have enough and to spare already, and I should only hoard +it. Or else I should just give it back to you for a wedding present +by and by. What? Shaking your head? Well, what becomes of all my +songs if they end not in a wedding? Have a care, Oswald, and see +that you make up your mind in time."</p> +<p>So he went away, laughing at me, but afterward I did make him +promise that if he needed a new ship at any time he would tell me, +so that I might give him one for the sake of the first voyage in +the old vessel, and that pleased him well.</p> +<p>Now I told Ina this, being always accustomed to refer anything +to him, and he was not surprised to hear that the Norseman would +not take the gold.</p> +<p>"And if I may advise," he said, "I would not offer a share to +Erpwald; for, in the first place, he does not expect it, seeing +that the captive is yours only, by all right of war; and in the +next, he deems that you have already given him Eastdean, and he is +not so far wrong. So it would hurt him. He will be all the happier +now that he will know that you have withal to buy four Eastdeans, +if you will."</p> +<p>So against my will, as it were, that day made a rich man of me. +Presently I gave the wealth into the hand of Herewald the +ealdorman, and he so managed it, being a great trader in his way, +that it seemed to grow somewise, and I have a yearly sum therefrom +in ways that are hard to be understood by me, but which seem simple +enough to him.</p> +<p>I handed over Mordred to the Norsemen to keep until Thorgils +returned with the ransom, for before we could rest with the sword +in its scabbard again it was needful that all care should be taken +for the holding of the new land we had won, and Ina would see to +that himself. Here and there we had fighting, but the Welsh never +gathered again in force against us, and at last we held every town +and camp from sea to sea along the line of the hills that run from +Exmoor southwards, and there was our new border.</p> +<p>Jago went back to Exeter, seeing that his house was burnt at +Norton with the rest of the town, and I heard afterwards that there +he had found his wife, whom he had sent away when the certainty of +war arose. I was in no trouble for him, as he had houses +elsewhere.</p> +<p>But we sent Erpwald back to Glastonbury in all haste, and he was +in nowise loth to go, as may be supposed. One may also guess how he +was received there. Then, as soon as Ina came back with us all, the +ealdorman set to work to prepare afresh the wedding that was so +strangely and suddenly broken in upon, and it was likely to be +little less joyous that it had been so.</p> +<p>On the evening before the wedding the ealdorman came to me, when +the day's duties were over, and said that Elfrida wished to speak +to me. So I went, of course, not at all troubling that the +ealdorman could not tell me what was to be said, for there were +many things concerning tomorrow's arrangements with which I was +charged in one way or another.</p> +<p>So I found her waiting me alone, in that chamber off the hall +where her father and I spoke of the poisoning.</p> +<p>"I have not sent for you for nothing, Oswald," she said, +blushing a little as if it were a hard matter she had to speak of. +"There is somewhat on my mind that I must needs disburden."</p> +<p>"Open confession is good," I said, laughing--"what is it?</p> +<p>"Well--have you forgotten your vow of last Yuletide?"</p> +<p>"Not in the least. Would you have me do so? For that were +somewhat hard."</p> +<p>"No--but yes, in a way."</p> +<p>There she stopped for a moment, and I waited for her to go on, +not having any very clear notion of what was to come. She turned +away from me somewhat, letting her fingers play over one of the +tall horns on the table, when she spoke again.</p> +<p>"It has been in my mind that you--that maybe you thought that I +have been hard on you--in ways, since we spoke in the orchard."</p> +<p>So that was what troubled her, but I did not see why she should +have spoken of it, seeing that a lady has no need at all to justify +her ways in such a matter, surely.</p> +<p>"No," I answered, "that I never thought. If my vow displeased +you, or maybe rather if I displeased you thereafter, I had no +reason to blame any one but myself for the way in which it was +needful that I should be shewn that so it was. It was just the best +thing for me, for it cured me of divers kinds of +foolishnesses."</p> +<p>"That is what I would have heard you say," she said with a +light-hearted laugh enough, while her face cleared. "Now I can say +what I will. Do you know that you have kept your vow to the full +already?"</p> +<p>"Not at all. There are long years before you yet, as one may +hope."</p> +<p>"Ay, Oswald, and through you those years seem bright to look +forward to. See, through you has come Erpwald, and now you have +kept his life for me at risk of your own. All my life long I shall +thank you for those two things. Surely your vow is fulfilled, for +this will be lifelong service. There is more that I would say to +you, but I cannot."</p> +<p>She turned away again, weeping for very happiness, as I think, +that could not be told, and I had no word to speak that was worth +uttering, though I must say somewhat.</p> +<p>"It will be good to think of you two together--"</p> +<p>"In the place you have given us," she broke in on me. "Love and +a home for all my life! What more could your vow have wrought than +that? Let me go, Oswald, or I shall weep. It was a good day that +sent you to be my champion."</p> +<p>Then she stepped swiftly to me and kissed me once, and fled, and +I do not mind saying that I was glad that she had gone. Too much +thanks for things that had been done more or less by chance, and as +they came to hand as it were, without any special thought for any +one, are apt to make one feel discomforted.</p> +<p>The wedding on the morrow I have no skill to tell of, but as +every one has seen such a thing, that hardly matters. I will only +set down that never had I seen such a bright one, or so good a +company, there being all the more guests present because many who +came to the levies stayed on to do honour to the ealdorman and his +daughter. Elfrida looked all that a bride should, as I thought, and +also as the queen said in my hearing, so that I think I cannot be +wrong. I gave her Gerent's great gold armlet, having caused it to +be wrought into such a circlet for her hair as any thane's wife +might be well pleased to wear.</p> +<p>As for Erpwald, he was dazed and speechless with it all, but +none heeded him, though indeed he made a gallant groom, for that is +the usual way as regards the bridegroom at such times. Which is +perhaps all the more comfortable for him.</p> +<p>Then was pleasant feasting, and after it some of us who had been +Erpwald's closer friends here rode a little way with those two +wedded ones on the first stage of their homeward journey. The +Sussex thanes and their men were with them as guard, and they rode +on ahead and left us to take our leave.</p> +<p>And by and by, after a mile or two, the rest turned back with +gay farewells, and left me alone with the two, for they knew that I +was their nearest friend, and would let me be the last to speak +with them. We had not much to say, indeed, but there are thoughts, +and most of all, good wishes, that can be best read without +words.</p> +<p>"There is but one thing that I wish," Elfrida said at the very +last, even when I had turned my horse and was leaving them.</p> +<p>"What is that?" I asked, seeing that there was some little jest +coming.</p> +<p>"Only, that I had seen the Princess Nona."</p> +<p>I laughed, and so they were gone, and I went back to +Glastonbury, wondering if Elfrida guessed what my thoughts of that +lady might be. I had not said much of her to any one, except as one +must speak of people with whom one has been for a while.</p> +<p>Strangely enough had come to pass that which I vowed to do for +Elfrida, though not in the way which had been in my mind when I +drank the Bragi bowl. Presently, when I came back to the +ealdorman's house, I had to put up with some old jests concerning +that vow, which seemed to others to have come to naught, but they +did not hurt me.</p> +<p>Three days after the wedding Thorgils came to Glastonbury with +his charge, and glad enough I was to hand it to Herewald, as I have +already said, and to get the care of it off my mind. Yet I will say +that by this time there had come to me a knowledge concerning this +gold which was pleasant. Only the other day I had been but the +simple captain of house-carles, though I was also the friend of a +mighty king, and foster son of a prince indeed, and that had been +all that I needed or cared for. Lately there had come a new hope +into my life, and it was one that was far from me at that time. But +now, when the time came for me to go to Dyfed for Owen, I should go +with power to choose lands and a home for myself and for that one +whom I dared now to ask to share it. And that was the only reason +that I cared to think of the new riches at all. If that hope came +to naught I should certainly care for them or need them little +enough, for my home would be the court as ever.</p> +<p>Better to me than the gold was a letter from Owen. The honest +Norseman had gone out of his way to put in at Tenby, knowing that I +should be glad to have news thence, and not troubling about Mordred +who was waiting release, at all. So he had seen Owen, who was well +as might be, he said.</p> +<p>"With two holes in one thigh, and his left arm almost growing +again like a crab's claw. I do not think that he was in the least +surprised to hear of the war, nor indeed of its end. All he wanted +to know was of you, as it seemed, at least from me. So it was also +with Howel and the princess. It was good to see their faces when I +told them of the fight at the camp, and how you won glory there. +Nevertheless, I was half afraid that I made the fighting a bit too +fierce over Erpwald, for the princess turned pale enough in hearing +how you were knocked over. You ken that I am apt to make the most +of things when I am telling a story. My father was just the same, +and maybe my grandfather before that, for saga telling runs in the +family."</p> +<p>I laughed at him, but in my mind I thought of the day when I saw +Elfrida pale as she heard of Erpwald's danger at Cheddar, and I +wondered.</p> +<p>Then I turned to Owen's letter, and it was long and somewhat +sad, as may be supposed, for this war had a foreshadowing of long +parting between him and me. But he said that he had known it must +come, having full knowledge, before Morfed the priest took him, how +the war party were getting beyond control. Wherefore he saw that he +and I had been saved much sadness by his absence, and it remained +to be seen how we should fare when he returned. At least, we should +meet soon in Dyfed, for he mended apace.</p> +<p>I need not tell all of that letter, for it was mostly between us +twain. But in it were words for Ina concerning peace, such as an +ambassador from the British might well speak, and they helped +greatly toward settlement by and by. And so the letter ended with +greetings from Howel and Nona, and many words concerning their +kindness to him.</p> +<p>But when I spoke to Thorgils of crossing soon to bring Owen back +he shook his head.</p> +<p>"I suppose he has even made the best of things in the letter, +but if he can bear arms again by Yule it will be a wonder," he +said. "Yet he is well for so sorely wounded a man."</p> +<p>Then he promised that it should not be so long before I heard +news from Owen again, for he had yet to make several voyages before +the winter. And he kept his promise well, for I think that he made +one more than he would have done, for my sake solely, though he +will not own it, lest the long winter should seem lonesome to +me.</p> +<p>For I will say at once that Owen did not come back by Yule. All +that went on in the Cornish court I do not know, but it seemed that +Gerent thought it well that he should not return until the last +hope of victory over Wessex had passed from among his people; and +it may be that he did not wish it to be thought that Owen had any +hand in bringing about the peace which he must needs make. He would +see to that, and take all the blame thereof himself, caring nothing +for any man, if blame there should be from those who set the war on +foot.</p> +<p>So although I waited to hear from time to time as Thorgils came +and went, getting also word from him when some Danish ship crossed +to Watchet, nought was said of Owen's return. And I was not sorry, +for as things went I could not have gone to Dyfed to meet him.</p> +<p>There was the new land we had won to be tended, and for a time +the planning for that was heavy enough. All men know now how it +ended in the building of the mighty fortress of Taunton at the +southern end of the Quantock hills, to bar the passage from West to +East for all time. There is no mightier stronghold in all England +than this, at least of those built by Saxon hands, and there has +been none made like it since Hengist came to this land. It stands +some two miles from where the Romans set Norton, for they had the +same need to curb the wild British as have we, and the place they +chose for their ways of warfare needed little amending for +ours.</p> +<p>While that was building, Ina dwelt in the house of some great +British lord at the place we call South Petherton, not far off from +the fortress. As the place pleased him, presently he had a palace +built there for himself, which, as it turned out, Ethelburga the +queen never liked at all. However, that came about in after years. +All day long now he was at Taunton, taking pride in overseeing all, +so that there is no wonder that the place is strong.</p> +<p>As for me, I was with Herewald the ealdorman on the new boundary +line with the levies and the king's own following, guarding against +any new attack, and trying to win the Welsh to friendship. That was +mostly my work, as I knew the tongue, and they knew me as Owen's +foster son. We had some little trouble with them for a time, but +soon, as they came to know the justice of the king, and that he did +not mean to drive them from the land, they became content, and +indeed there were many who welcomed a strong hand over them.</p> +<p>Presently there would be Saxon lords over the manors as Ina +found men to hold them, but there would be no change beyond that. +Freeman should be freeman, and thrall thrall, as before, each in +his old holding undisturbed, with equal laws for Saxon and Briton +alike.</p> +<p>Now, one day when I came to the house of the king at Petherton +on some affairs I needed his word concerning, presently there came +a message to me that Ethelburga the queen would speak with me, and, +somewhat wondering, I was taken to her bower, and found her waiting +for me.</p> +<p>"Oswald," she said, after a few words of greeting, "there is one +who wronged you once, and has come to ask for your forgiveness. +What answer shall I give?"</p> +<p>"Lady," I said, "I can remember none who need forgiveness from +me now. Those who wrought ill against Owen have it already, or are +gone. I have no foes, so far as I know, myself, and truly no wrongs +unforgiven."</p> +<p>"Nay, but there is this one."</p> +<p>"Why then, my Queen, that one must needs be forgiven, seeing +that I know not of wrong to me."</p> +<p>I laughed a little, thinking of some fault of a servant, or of a +man of the guard, of which she had heard. But she went to a settle +hard by and swept aside a kerchief which lay on it as if by chance, +and under it were two war arrows. And I knew them at once for those +which had been shot into our window at Norton and had vanished.</p> +<p>Now I will say that the sight of these brought back at once some +of the old feeling against those who, like Tregoz, had sought +Owen's life and mine, and my face must needs show it.</p> +<p>"Ay," the queen said, seeing that, "these are indeed a token +that forgiveness is needed."</p> +<p>Then I remembered that there was but one who could come here +with these arrows, though how she had them I could not do more than +guess. It could be none other than Mara, the daughter of +Dunwal.</p> +<p>Then suddenly, from among the ladies at the end of the room, one +who was dressed in black rose up and came toward me, and she was +none other than Mara herself, thin and pale indeed, and with the +pride gone from her dark face. Her voice was very low as she spoke +to me, and her bright black eyes were dim with tears.</p> +<p>"I do not ask you to forgive my uncle, or indeed my father--for +what they planned and well-nigh wrought is past forgiveness," she +said, "Forget those things if it be possible, but forgive my part +in them."</p> +<p>"I have done that long ago, lady," I said in all truth.</p> +<p>I knew that she must have been made use of by the men in some +ways, but I did not think at all that she had wished ill as they +wished it, since I knew that Morfed had trained the Welsh girl to +the deed at Glastonbury.</p> +<p>"Ay," she said sadly. "But forgetfulness is not forgiveness. You +do not know how I carried messages between my father and uncle, +when one was in bondage and the other in hiding, so that their +plans were laid through me. I am guilty with them. Therefore I +would hear you say at least that you will try to forgive before I +pass from the world into the cloister where I may pray for them, +and for you also, if I may."</p> +<p>Then I said, with a great pity on me for this lady whom I had +known so proud and careless:</p> +<p>"Lady, I do forgive with all my heart. I do not think that you +could have stood aloof from your father, and I do not think that +you are so much to blame in all the trouble as you would seem to +make me believe. In all truth I do forgive."</p> +<p>She looked searchingly at me while I spoke, and what she saw in +my face was enough to tell her that she had all she needed, and +with one word of thanks she went back to the ladies, and one of +them took her from the room.</p> +<p>"She goes into my new nunnery at Glastonbury tomorrow, Oswald," +the queen said, "and now she will rest content. It was a good +chance that brought you here today, my Thane, for she had begged me +to send for you, and that I could hardly do, seeing that one knows +not where to find you from day to day. I could tell her truly that +I knew I could win your forgiveness: but that would not have been +enough for her, I think."</p> +<p>So Mara passed into the nunnery, and unless she has been one of +the veiled sisters whom one sees in their places at the time of +mass, I do not know that I have ever set eyes on her again. I do +not think that it was the saddest end for her.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a>. HOW OSWALD FOUND A +HOME, AND OF THE LAST PERIL OF OWEN THE PRINCE.</h2> +<p>All that winter, and through the spring, men toiled at the great +fortress, but Ina went back presently to Glastonbury, or to others +of his houses, after his wont, now and then riding even from far to +us to see how all went. And I was fully busy in the new province, +for we made a roll of those who owned land there, that all might be +known to the king, and that matter was set in my hand for those +reasons which had made me useful already in quieting the country. +Moreover, the years at Malmesbury had made me able to write well, +and now I was glad that I had learnt, though indeed it went sorely +against the grain with me to do so at the time. Truly, I had to go +on this errand of the king's with sword in one hand and pen in the +other, but I daresay I did better, and fared less roughly, than +would one who could not speak to the British freemen in their own +tongue. At least, if a man was sullen when I came to him, he was, +as a rule, pretty friendly when I left, for he knew that no harm +was meant him, and that to be on this roll meant that on his lands +he was to bide in peace.</p> +<p>And I may not forget that Evan helped me greatly in the matter, +for he knew almost all of the best freemen.</p> +<p>When the walls were strong, in the midst of the new fortress +they built a good house for Ina, and we thought that he meant to +live here at times, for he had it fully furnished, even to the +rushes on the floor, after Easter. By that time I had leisure to +spend the holy season with the court at Glastonbury, for there was +peace everywhere. And there I had a visit from Thorgils, who +brought good news from across the sea. He had made his first voyage +of the year, and had seen Owen, who was himself again, if yet +weak.</p> +<p>He had not written to me, but sent word by the Norseman that he +did but wait for me to come for him, if I might. If not he would +come alone; but it seemed to him that we should have to part when +we reached this side of the channel, for he must go to Gerent at +once.</p> +<p>Next day Ina and the queen must needs pass to Taunton to see the +place, for he said that when I might go for Owen depended on its +readiness. So we rode with but a small train, meaning, after seeing +the fortress, to go on to Petherton for the night, which was quite +a usual plan with the king nowadays, since all this building was on +hand.</p> +<p>So we went round all the walls, and saw the new bridge across +the Tone River, and then went into the hall that stood, as I have +said, within the walls of the fortress itself. There all was ready +for the king, even to a fire on the hearth in the middle of the +great hall, which was fully as large as that at Glastonbury itself. +I had not seen this house of late, and now the king would have me +go all over it and tell him what I thought thereof.</p> +<p>Indeed, there was nought to say of it but good, for it would be +hard to find one better planned in all Wessex, as I think, whether +in the house itself, or about the buildings that were set along its +walls without for the thralls and workshops, or in the stables and +other outhouses. It was indeed such a house as any thane would be +proud to hold as his home.</p> +<p>Presently, therefore, after seeing all, the king and queen and I +stood by the hearth in the hall again, and Ina asked me my thoughts +of it. And I told him even as I have written, that all was well +done and completely.</p> +<p>"Why, then," he said, "let me come and stay here now and +then."</p> +<p>I laughed at that.</p> +<p>"I have heard, my King, of house-carles who led their masters, +but that is not our way. Where the king goes the household follows, +in Wessex."</p> +<p>He laughed also, for a moment.</p> +<p>"Long may it be so," he said. "Nevertheless, I think that I +shall have to be as a guest here now and then."</p> +<p>Then Ethelburga smiled at my puzzled face, and spoke in her +turn.</p> +<p>"Why, Oswald, it seems to me that you are the only man in all +Wessex who does not know who is to live here."</p> +<p>"It is always said that the king himself will make it one of his +palaces, lady," I answered.</p> +<p>Then Ina set his hand on my shoulder, and made no more secret of +what he meant.</p> +<p>"I want you to bide here, my Thane, and hold this unquiet land +for me. There is not one who can better rule it from this fortress +for me than yourself; and the house and all that is in it is yours, +if you will."</p> +<p>Then for a moment came over me that same feeling of loneliness +that had kept me from taking Eastdean again, and with it there was +the thought that I was not able to take so great a charge on +me.</p> +<p>"How can I do this, my King?" I said, not knowing how to put +into words all that I felt. "I am not strong enough for such a +post."</p> +<p>"Nay," he said gravely. "It is said of me that I do not do +things hastily, and it is a true word enough, seeing that I know +that I often lose a chance by over caution, maybe. Answer me a +question or two fairly, and I think you will see that I may ask you +to bide here."</p> +<p>Then he minded me that I alone of all his athelings knew this +Welsh tongue as if born thereto, and also that men knew me as the +son of Owen the prince, so that the Welsh would hardly hold me as a +stranger. That I had found out in these last months while I had +been numbering the freemen and their holdings; and as I went about +that business I had seen every one that was of any account, so that +already I knew all the land I had to rule better than any other. +That task, however, had been set me, as I know now, in preparation +for this post.</p> +<p>I had no answer to make against all this concerning myself, for +it was true enough, but I did not speak at once. It did not follow +that I could rule as I should, even with all this to help me, and I +knew it.</p> +<p>"What, is more needed?" Ina said. "Well, I at least have had a +letter from Owen by the hand of Thorgils yesterday. See what is +written in it."</p> +<p>He set the writing in my hand, and turned away while I read it. +It was meant for my sight as well as his, for he had written to +Owen concerning this post for me. And after I had read it all I +could say no more, for Owen told how he would help me in all ways +possible, and also that he knew how Gerent himself would be more +content in knowing that no stranger was to be over the land he had +lost.</p> +<p>So I gave the letter back to the king's hand, and said plainly: +"I think that I may not hold back from what you ask me, my King, +after all that Owen says. Nevertheless I--"</p> +<p>"But I am certain that you will do well," said Ina. "Now I shall +miss my captain about the court, but I need him here. So you must +even stay. There is Owen on the west to help you keep the peace in +one way, and Herewald on the east to help you with the levies if +need be. Fear not, therefore. It is in my mind that you will have +an easier time here than any other I could have bethought me of, if +I had tried."</p> +<p>Then, as in duty bound, I knelt and kissed the hand of the king +in token of homage, and he smiled at me contented.</p> +<p>"You will be the first ealdorman of Devon, Oswald, when the +Witan meets," he said; for it needed the word of the council of the +thanes to give me the rank that was fitting.</p> +<p>Then when I rose up and stood somewhat mazed with the suddenness +of it all, Ethelburga the queen, who had stood by smiling at me now +and then, said: "This is your hall, Oswald, remember. But it needs +one thing yet. You were wrong when you said it was complete."</p> +<p>I looked round and saw nothing wanting, from the hangings on the +wall to the pile of skins on the high place seats.</p> +<p>"There are the pegs for the arms of the house-carles," I said, +"but no arms thereon yet. That will soon be mended. And I have to +set up a head or two of game, to make all homely, maybe?"</p> +<p>"More than that, Oswald," she said, laughing. "Strange how dense +a man can be! It is a mistress who is needed. Else the women of +Devon will have no friend at court."</p> +<p>I laughed, a little foolishly, perhaps, not having any answer at +all, and Ina smiled and went out into the court by himself, saying +that he would not meddle with such matters. So I was left to the +queen by the hearth.</p> +<p>"Jesting apart, Oswald," she said, "I had hoped that vow of +yours would have led to somewhat, and whose fault it was that +nought came of it I do not know. However, no harm seems to have +been done, and that may pass, though indeed Elfrida was a favourite +of mine. But see to it that next time you are no laggard. Now, when +are you going to Dyfed?"</p> +<p>Then I suppose my face told some tale against me, for the queen +laughed softly.</p> +<p>"Soon, Oswald?"</p> +<p>I could not pretend to misunderstand her then, but when it was +put to me so plainly it did not seem to me all so certain that my +suit would fare better than my vow. I had no fear once that the +last would not have been welcome, and was mistaken enough. Now, +perhaps because I was in real earnest, I did doubt altogether.</p> +<p>"What, do you fear that there is no favour for you, my Thane?" +Ethelburga said, with a smile lingering round the corners of her +mouth.</p> +<p>"I do not see how there can be," I answered. "I am not worthy. +It is one thing for the princess to be friendly with me, and +another for her to suffer me to look so high."</p> +<p>I spoke plainly to the queen, as I was ever wont since I was a +child in her train and she the kindly lady to whose hand I looked +for all things, and from whom all my earlier happinesses had come. +She was ever the same, and I know well that her name will be +remembered as one of our best hereafter. It was almost therefore as +mother to son that she spoke to me, rather than as mistress to +servant.</p> +<p>"But you had no doubts at all concerning Elfrida."</p> +<p>"That was foolishness, my Queen, and I see it now. This is +different altogether."</p> +<p>"I know it, and it was my fault in a way. Still, you were then +but the landless house-carle captain, and yet you dared to look up +to the daughter of the ealdorman. Now you are the Thane of Taunton, +and to be the first ealdorman of Saxon Devon, with house and riches +at your back, moreover. And she of whom you think is but the +daughter of a Welsh princelet."</p> +<p>"Nay, my Queen, but she is Nona."</p> +<p>"Go your ways, Oswald," the queen said, laughing--"of a surety +you are in earnest this time. Nay, but I will jest no more, and +will wish you all speed to Pembroke. If there is no welcome, and +more, for you there, I am mistaken, for you deserve all you +wish."</p> +<p>So we spoke no more, but joined the king. Presently, when I came +to think of what the queen had said of my changed rank and all +that, I saw that she was right, and it heartened me somewhat. Not +that I thought it would make any difference to Nona, but that it +surely must to Howel, which was a great matter after all.</p> +<p>In a week Ina gathered the Witan of Somerset here to Taunton, +first that the last stone of the fortress should be laid with all +solemnity and due rites, even as the foundation had been laid with +the blessing of Holy Church on it, and then that he might take +counsel for the holding of the new land. Then in full Witan I did +homage and took the oaths that were fitting, and so the king girt +my sword on me afresh as I sat at the foot of his throne as the +first ealdorman of Devon; and the Witan confirmed his choice, also +making sure to me all dues that should come to the man who held the +rank. They seemed well satisfied with the king's choice of me, and +that was a good thing, for I will say that I had somewhat feared +jealousy here and there. I do not think that their approval was due +to any special merit of my own at all, but it was plain that I +stood in a halfway place, as it were, between the two courts in a +way that was in itself enough to make the choice good policy.</p> +<p>After that Ina bade me go to Dyfed, while he was yet in the +west, and would set all things in train for me, choosing my +house-carles, and setting such men as I could work well with in +places of trust in the land. There was much for the king to do +yet.</p> +<p>"Therefore take what time you will, Oswald," he said kindly. +"You will be busy enough when you come back, and I can trust you +not to overstay your time. If Owen can come to speak with me bring +him, but that is doubtful yet."</p> +<p>One may suppose that I did not delay then. I sent Evan to +Thorgils, and asked him to give me a passage over, and so had a +fortnight to wait for him, as he was on his way from some voyage +westward at the time. Then a fair summer sailing and a welcome from +the Danefolk at Tenby, where we put in rather than make for the +long tidal waters of Milford Haven against a southwest breeze.</p> +<p>There the Danes must needs set themselves in array in all +holiday gear that I might ride to Pembroke as a prince's foster +son, with a better following than Evan and my half-dozen +house-carles, and I rode with fifty men after me, so that the guard +at the palace gates might have thought that Ina himself had come to +see Owen, and there was bustle of welcome enough.</p> +<p>And so there were wonderful greetings for me, from Owen first, +and afterward from Howel and from Nona, and I will not say much of +them. If one knows what it is to see a father whom one had left +weak and ill, strong and well and fully himself again; if one has +met a good friend after absence; if one knows what it may be to see +again the one who is dearest in thought, there is no need for me to +try and tell the greeting, and if not, I could not make it +understood. Let it be therefore. It was all that I looked for, and +I was more than content.</p> +<p>And yet, for all that, it was a long week before I dared to tell +Nona that which I would, and how I did so is another thing that I +cannot set down. Maybe all that I need say is that I need not have +feared, and that the new hall at Taunton waited for its mistress +from that hour forward.</p> +<p>And so at length I knew that I must be away, and I rode to Tenby +to see Thorgils, and found him in the haven, begrimed and happy, +with men and boys round him at work on the ship everywhere, +painting and scraping in such wise that I hardly knew her. From +stem to stern she was bright green instead of her sea-stained rusty +black, and a broad gilt band ran along her side below the oar +ports. A great red and gold dragon from one of the warships of the +Danes reared its crest on the stem head, while its tail curved in +red and gold over the stern post, and even the mast was painted in +red and white bands, and had a new gilt dog vane at its head.</p> +<p>"Here is finery, comrade," I said. "What is the meaning +thereof?"</p> +<p>"Well, if you know not, no man knows. I have a new coat for +tomorrow's wedding, and it is only fit that the ship that takes +home the bride should have one also. Wherefore the old craft will +be somewhat to sing about by the time I have done with her."</p> +<p>Then he showed me a new red-striped sail that Eric had given +him, and an awning for the after deck which the women of the town +had wrought for the shelter of the princess whom they loved. It +seemed like a good speeding to Nona and to me.</p> +<p>And so it was at the end of a fortnight thereafter. It would be +long to tell of the morrow's wedding, and then of days at Pembroke +before we sailed, passed all too quickly for me. But at last we +stood with Owen on the deck of the good ship while all the shore +buzzed with folk, Welsh and Danish alike, who watched us pass from +Dyfed to the Devon coast, cheering and waving with mighty goodwill, +and only Howel seemed lonely as he sat on his white horse, still +and yet smiling, with his men round him, where the cliff looks over +the inner harbour, to see the last for many days of the daughter he +had trusted to my keeping.</p> +<p>We cleared the harbour, and then where she had been lying under +the island flew toward us under thirty oars the best longship that +Eric owned, for it was his word that as the Danes had seen me into +Pembroke by land, so they would see Nona from the shore with a +king's following by sea, and that was well done indeed. The old +chief himself was steering in full arms, and all the rowers were in +their mail and helms, flashing and sparkling wondrously in the sun +as they swung in time to the rowing song as they came. And all down +the gangway amidships between the rowers stood the armed men who +should take their places when their turn came, full sixty warriors, +well armed and mail clad as if they had need to guard us across the +sea.</p> +<p>I suppose that there is no more wonderful sight than such a ship +as this, fresh from her winter quarters, and with her full crew of +three men to an oar in all array for war, and Owen and I gazed at +her in all delight. As for my princess, she had more thought for +the kindliness of the chief in thus troubling himself and his men, +I think, for she could not know the pleasure it gave each man of +the Danes to feel his arms on him and the good ship swinging under +him again after long months ashore.</p> +<p>"There is another ship in the offing," I said to Thorgils +presently, when we, with the Dane just astern of us, were some five +miles from land and had ceased to look back to Tenby. Nona had gone +into the cabin away from the wind, which came a little chill from +the east on the open sea, and maybe also that she felt the chill of +parting from her father more than she would have us know.</p> +<p>"Ay," he said, looking at the far vessel under his hand, "I do +not make out what she is--but if she is a trader--well, our Danes +are likely to get some reward for their trouble. They will not have +come out for nothing."</p> +<p>I laughed, for any trader in the Severn sea knew that he must be +ready to pay more than harbour dues if he had the ill luck to meet +with the Danes. They would make him pay for freedom, but would not +harm him unless he was foolish enough to fight.</p> +<p>So we held on, and the strange sail, which was seemingly beating +up channel against the wind, put about and headed for us somewhat +sooner than Thorgils expected.</p> +<p>"She is making mighty short boards," he said. "She should surely +have headed over to the coast yet awhile. Would have fetched a bit +of a breeze off the land there, maybe."</p> +<p>Thorgils watched this vessel curiously, for there were things +about her which seemed to puzzle him. The men, too, were beginning +to talk of her and watch her. And presently I saw that our consort, +the Dane, had slackened her speed, so that there was a mile of +water between us astern.</p> +<p>"Oh ay," said Thorgils, as I spoke of this, "they mean to pick +her up when we have passed her. They can overhaul her as they +like."</p> +<p>Now we drew near to the strange ship, and it seemed to Owen and +me, as we stood side by side on the after deck beside Thorgils at +the helm, that we saw here and there among the men on her deck the +sparkle of arms as she lifted and swayed to the waves. She was a +long black ship, not like the Dane at all, and her sail was three +cornered on a long tapering yard, quite unlike ours, which was +square. Thorgils said that she was a trader from the far south, a +foreigner, even from so far as Spain, though why she was here he +could not tell. Mostly such never came round the Land's End.</p> +<p>"She wants to speak with us," he said presently. "I suppose she +has lost herself in strange waters."</p> +<p>The vessel was right across our bows now, some half mile away, +and her tall sail was flapping in the wind as she hove to. Thorgils +put the helm down so as to pass to windward of her, and as he did +so the sail of the stranger filled again, and she headed as if +waiting to sail with us for a while. Now we could see that many of +her crew, which did not seem large, were armed, and I thought +little of that, seeing that there were Danes about. But Thorgils +waxed silent, and sent a man to the masthead suddenly, for some +reason which was not plain to me.</p> +<p>No sooner was the man there than he shouted somewhat in broad +Norse sea language, which made our skipper start and knit his +brows.</p> +<p>"How many?" he asked.</p> +<p>"Like to herrings in a barrel.--More than I can tell," the +masthead man answered.</p> +<p>Then Thorgils turned to us.</p> +<p>"This is more than I can fully fathom," he said, leaning on the +helm a little, so that the ship edged up a trifle closer to the +wind steadily. "She has her weather gunwale packed with men, who +are hiding under it--armed men. On my word, it is well that Eric is +with us."</p> +<p>Owen and I looked at one another. If I had been alone, or with +him only, I think I should have rejoiced in this seeming chance of +a fight at sea, but with Nona and her maidens on board there was a +sort of terror for me in what all this might mean.</p> +<p>No honest vessel hid her men thus, and waited for the coming of +two strangers.</p> +<p>"Get your arms on, prince and comrade," said Thorgils. "It is in +my mind that these are desperate folk of sorts. We are pranked up +with that dragon like any longship, and here is Eric astern of us, +and yet there is some look of fighting in the hiding of these men. +Will they face two of us, or what is it?"</p> +<p>"We may not fight with the lady on board, Thorgils," Owen said +under his breath. "If so be we can get away from them we must. Yet +it will be the first time that Oswald and I have thought of +flying."</p> +<p>"There is no merit in staying for a fight if there is need why +one should be out of it," Thorgils said. "See, she is going to try +to get to windward of us, and now will be a bit of a sailing +match."</p> +<p>Then he called one of the men, and he came aft and took a pole +with a round red board on its top from where it hung along the +gunwale, and, standing on the stern rail with his arm round the +high stern post, waved it slowly. He was signalling to Eric as +Thorgils bade him.</p> +<p>The ship forged up into the wind closer and closer, and the +spray flew over her bows as she met the sea. But the strange vessel +was no less weatherly, and kept pace with us, and now Eric was +bearing down on us more or less, sailing a little more free than +we, though he also had to luff somewhat to keep near us, taking a +long slant across our course as we sailed now.</p> +<p>I sent Evan for our arms, for the men were arming silently. They +were in the chests in the fore cabin where I had once been bound, +and Nona knew nought of possible trouble on hand. To keep her from +it altogether I went to the low door of her rude shelter before I +put on my mail, and looked in, telling her to keep the cabin closed +against the spray that was flying, and had a bright smile for my +thought. Then I went back to the deck and armed, and all the while +the two ships reached to windward, but even in that little time I +saw that the stranger had gained on us. The man was at work +signalling to Eric again.</p> +<p>"We shall know if he means fighting in no long time," said +Thorgils to me. "If he does I think that he is going to be +surprised."</p> +<p>"How?"</p> +<p>"Well, unless every man on board is clean witless they must deem +us both harmless. Maybe they have heard of a wedding party that is +to cross and are waiting for us. Otherwise it seems impossible that +they will face us and the Dane as well."</p> +<p>Now Eric was back on his old tack, and passing astern of us. I +saw the glint of his oar blades, which had been run out from their +ports ready to take the water if need was presently.</p> +<p>And then we knew that his help would be wanted. Suddenly the +strange ship's head flew up into the wind and she was round on the +other tack, paying off wonderfully quickly; and as she did so, from +under her gunwale, where they could be hidden no longer, rose the +armed men, seeming to crowd her deck in a moment. She was full of +them from stem to stern, and our men shouted. She had won well to +windward of us.</p> +<p>But Thorgils had known what was coming, and had kept his quick +eye on the helmsman of the stranger. Even as her helm went down for +the luff his went up and the men sprang to the sheets, and we were +tearing across her bows even as her sail filled on the new tack, +and heading away lift by lift toward Eric. And Eric hove to to meet +us, and his sail fell and his oars flashed out and took the water, +and he made for us like the sea dragon his ship seemed.</p> +<p>"Down with you men under cover!" roared Thorgils. "Arrows, +comrade!--Down with you!"</p> +<p>The strange ship was only a bow shot from us, if a long one yet, +but she was overhauling us apace.</p> +<p>I saw her men forward bending their bows, and the Norsemen of +our crew came aft with my men under the break of the deck on which +we stood, where they were in cover. Evan ran to me with his shield +up.</p> +<p>"Evan," I cried, "shield Thorgils." And I set myself before Owen +with my own shield raised to cover him, and he laughed at me +grimly.</p> +<p>He set his own alongside mine, and we three stood covering +Thorgils. The Norseman's face was set and watchful, but his blue +eyes danced under the knit brows, and I do believe that he was +enjoying the sport.</p> +<p>Ay, and so would I but for her who was so close to me. It was +the first time I had known aught but joy in battle, and what all my +strange new thoughts were I cannot say. I would not pass through +that time again for worlds.</p> +<p>Then the first arrow fled from the enemy toward us, falling +short by a yard or two, and at that there came one who looked like +a chief, and stood on the high bows and hailed us in Welsh.</p> +<p>At sight of him Evan cried out, and Owen started.</p> +<p>"Daffyd of Carnbre, Morfed's kinsman," Owen said to me quietly. +"This is the last of the crew who followed Morgan."</p> +<p>"Likewise the last of Daffyd," Thorgils growled grimly. +"Look!"</p> +<p>But I could not. Now the arrow storm swept on us, and all the +air seemed dark with shafts which dimpled the sea like a hailstorm, +and clanged on our shields and smote the decks with a sharp click +from end to end of the vessel. Even at that time I saw that some of +the arrows were British, but more of some outland make with cruelly +barbed heads. One or two went near my helm, and I had several in my +shield, but none of us were hurt.</p> +<p>I had to watch them for the sake of Thorgils, who was unmailed, +and I could not look where he pointed ahead of us.</p> +<p>Then of a sudden the arrows ceased to rain on us, and there went +a cry as of terror from the decks of our enemy. The wild war song +of the Tenby Danes rose ahead of us, and I turned and looked. Eric +was close on us, and his men had risen from under the gunwales, +where they too had been hiding until the foe was in their grasp, +and now the dragon was on her prey, and that prey knew it. And yet +Evan had need to shield me as I turned, for the chief whom they +called Daffyd was urging his men to shoot, and himself snatched a +bow and loosed an arrow at us harmlessly.</p> +<p>It was wonderful. Under the sweep of the thirty long oars the +dragon ship tore past us, hurling the white foam from her sharp +bows, while the thunder of war song and breaking wave and rolling +oars filled my ears and set our men leaping and cheering as they +saw her. Eric was on the high forecastle, and he waved his broad +axe at us gleefully, and all along the decks the fighting men stood +above the armed rowers; one shielding the toiler, and one with bent +bow ready, steady as oaks on the reeling deck, and cheering us also +with lifted weapons.</p> +<p>The foe saw, and her oars ran out too late. The dragon met her, +and thus, checking her speed as she passed her, swept her crowded +deck with arrows at half range; and yet the foe held on after us, +for the men of Daffyd and of Morgan were bent on ending Owen if +they themselves must die. The arrows were about us again, and Eric +must turn and be back to our help. It seemed that the foe would be +on us before that help could come.</p> +<p>I did not know the handiness of the longship under oars. She was +about even as I looked again from the foe to her. And her sail was +hoisted, and under that and oars alike she was back on the foe; and +then the men of Daffyd forgot him and us in the greater business of +caring for themselves, and left him raving on the foredeck, to seek +shelter while they might.</p> +<p>Then I suppose the helmsman was shot, for the ship luffed +helplessly, and in a moment the stem of the viking was crashing on +her quarter, and the grappling irons were fast to her. Thorgils +laughed and luffed at once.</p> +<p>"Somewhat to sing of," he said cheerfully, as he hove to to +watch the fight.</p> +<p>That it was in all truth. We were but a bow shot off, and could +see it all. We heard the ships grinding together, and we heard the +shout of the Danes and the outland yells of the Welsh, and we saw +the vikings swarming on board while the axes flashed and the war +song rose again.</p> +<p>"Eric has a mind to pay them for nigh spoiling a wedding +voyage," quoth our Norseman.</p> +<p>It was no long fight, for I suppose that there are men of no +race who can stand before the Northmen at sea, at least since we +have forgotten the old ship craft of our forefathers. From stem to +stern Eric led his men, sweeping all before him, some foemen even +leaping overboard out of the way of the terrible axes, and so +meeting another death. I think that the Welsh chief Daffyd was the +last to fall before old Eric himself. And then was a great cheer +from the two ships, and after it silence.</p> +<p>Then Eric hailed us, and Thorgils ran out his oars, and we went +alongside the Danish ship. And at that time Nona came from the +cabin, and called me, looking wonderingly at the arrows that +littered the deck at her feet.</p> +<p>"Oswald, what is it all?--Do the good Danes leave us?"</p> +<p>Then she saw my mail, and paled a little.</p> +<p>"Fighting! and I not with you?" she cried. "Is any one +hurt?"</p> +<p>But I went to her side and told her how things had gone, asking +her to bide in the shelter yet, for we had things to see that were +not for her. And so she went back again and closed the door, being +assured that the danger had passed.</p> +<p>We went on board the Danish ship, for there was not enough sea +to prevent our lying gunwale to gunwale for a moment. Both Owen and +I would find out if possible how all this came about. There was a +row of captives on the deck of the enemy waiting question, and I +looked down on them from beside Eric.</p> +<p>Swarthy men and black haired they were, speaking no tongue which +we knew, and one of them was black as his hair. I had never seen a +black man before, and he seemed uncanny. The Danes were staring at +him also, and he was grinning at them with white teeth through +thick lips in all unconcern. Many of these men had chains on their +legs, and this black among them.</p> +<p>"Chained to the oar benches they were, poor thralls," Eric said. +"We could not bide that, so we cut them free. Then they fell on +their lords and rent them."</p> +<p>Owen shuddered. He had seen the southern galleys before, and +knew why no man was left alive of the foreigners who had fought. +Our kin do not slay the wounded. But there were some Britons left +among the captives, and one of them cried to Owen by name for +mercy.</p> +<p>We had that man on board the Dane and questioned him, and learnt +all. He had no reason to hide aught when he was promised +safety.</p> +<p>Daffyd had heard that we were to cross from Tenby, having had +all the doings of Owen spied upon since the winter. Then he learned +that when I came over Owen was to return, and therefore he had my +doings watched also. He hired this foreign ship in Marazion, where +she put in for trade just as he was wondering how to compass our +end on the journey, promising her fierce crew gold of his own and +all plunder there might be, if they would help him to an easy +revenge. So they came into the Severn sea, and lay for a fortnight +or more under Lundy Island, watching for us as a cat watches for a +mouse, and getting news now and then from Welsh fishers from +Milford Haven.</p> +<p>It was from them that Daffyd learned of my wedding, and so it +came to pass that neither he nor the strangers thought for a moment +that our two ships held aught but passengers and much plunder, with +a princess to hold to ransom, moreover, for the taking. They took +no account of the few house-carles we might have with us, and even +I knew nought of the crossing of the armed Danish ship with us, +which was planned so that it came as a pleasant surprise to us all. +Thorgils was right, and it had been a terrible one for them.</p> +<p>So the plunder fell to Eric, and it was worth having. There was +the ship and arms and captives, and the gold of Daffyd, and that of +the traders, moreover, with some strange and precious woven goods +from southern looms, silken and woollen, which yet remained in the +hold, wondrous to look on.</p> +<p>Now, in halting words enough I went to thank Eric and his men +for that which he had done for me and mine, which indeed was more +than I knew how to put into words.</p> +<p>"Hold on, comrade," he said, staying me. "I will tell you +somewhat. Good friends enough we are with Howel nowadays, but it +was not always so. It was the doing of your fair princess that +things came not to blows between us at one time, for we held that +he was unreasonable in some matter of scatt {<a name="EndNote4anc" +href="#EndNote4sym"><sup>iv</sup></a>} to be paid. She settled that +matter for us with wise words, and we hold that to her we owe it +that we are in Tenby today. Howel could starve us out any time he +chose. And that the prince will own to you if you ask him, being an +honest man, if hasty. We shall miss Nona the princess sorely--good +luck to her."</p> +<p>Then he must needs have all the bales of rich goods set on board +our ship, as a wedding present to Nona, and so set a crew on board +the prize, and she left us, heading homewards to Tenby. We went +back to our own ship at once after this was done, but Eric would +see us safely to Watchet before he was satisfied, and so we took up +the quiet passage again, little harmed enough. Eric had a few +wounded men, but we had not suffered from the arrows.</p> +<p>Presently the stars came out, and Nona and I sat with Owen under +the awning in the quiet of the calm sea, while the men rowed under +the shadow of the sail that held a little wind enough to help them +homeward, and we went over all the things that the day had brought +us. And Owen said:</p> +<p>"Now you may be at rest concerning me, Oswald, for there is not +one left to lift a hand against me of whom I need think twice. +Daffyd was the last of the crew to which Morgan and Tregoz and +Dunwal belonged, for Gerent has the rest in ward safely; and there +they will bide, if I know aught of him, until I have to beg him to +set them free beyond the shores of Cornwall."</p> +<p>I will say now that this was true, for thence forward no man +lifted hand or voice against my foster father. The war and its +hopeless ending quieted the men whom Morfed had led, and there was +peace, in which men turned to Owen as the one who could keep it, +and had given wise counsel which was once disregarded.</p> +<p>So it came to pass that I took home Nona with me, and set her as +princess in the hall at Taunton amid the rejoicing of all the Welsh +folk who were under me; for, as Ethelburga the queen had said, they +knew that they had a friend in her. And here we have bided ever +since, and are happy in home and friends and work, for all seems to +have gone well with us. And as to those good friends of ours, there +may yet be a little to tell before I set the pen aside.</p> +<p>Owen passed to Exeter at the time we came home, for he would see +his uncle before he went to speak with Ina. But presently he was +back with us at Taunton, bearing with him a wondrous present for +the bride from Gerent, and good and friendly words for me which +promised well for the peace of the border, at least while he lived. +And seeing that he lives yet, with Owen at his right hand, that has +been a long time.</p> +<p>Now Owen comes and goes, and none think it strange that he is +most friendly with Ina, for men have learnt that in the peace of +the two realms is happiness.</p> +<p>Presently Jago came back to Norton, for I needed some British +adviser at hand, for Evan, faithful and well trusted as he is as +our honest steward, and able to tell me of the needs of the people, +knows nought of the greater laws and ways, and Herewald minded me +of him. They had ever been good friends, and I could fully trust +him. So he rebuilt his house at Norton, where the land lay waste +round the old Roman walls which our Saxons hate, and there he is +now, helping me mightily with his knowledge of the Welsh customs, +which I do not wish to interfere with more than needful.</p> +<p>For, in the wisdom of Ina, we did not follow the old plan of +driving out and enslaving all the Welsh folk in this new-won land, +as had been the rule in the days of the first coming of our +forefathers when Saxons were few. Those manors whose owners had +fallen or would not bide under the new rule, Ina gave to thanes of +his own, and the men of Somerset and Dorset took what land they +would where the freeman had left them, but all others he left under +new and even-handed laws in peace.</p> +<p>So I had to content the men of both races as well as I could, +and men say that I wrought well. At least, I have had no murmuring, +and I may deem that they are right.</p> +<p>As one may suppose, there is no more welcome guest in our hall +than Thorgils, and at times he brings Eric or some other Tenby Dane +with him if a ship happens to cross hither. Once a year also he +brings Howel, and there is feasting in our hall, Saxon and +Norseman, Briton of the west and Briton from over sea together in +all good fellowship.</p> +<p>One evening it came to pass that Thorgils sat in our hall, which +was bright with the strange stuffs that came from the ship of +Daffyd, and we talked of the old ship a little, after he had sung +to us. And then I said idly:</p> +<p>"She must be getting old, comrade. When am I to give you that +new craft we once spoke of?"</p> +<p>Whereon he looked at Nona suddenly, and said:</p> +<p>"I mind that old promise. But now there is a ship of another +sort that will be a better present. I will ask for that."</p> +<p>"What is it?"</p> +<p>"Build us a church at Watchet, and set there a priest who shall +teach us the way of the Christian. We have seen you forego a blood +feud and do well to the innocent man whom our faith would have +bidden you slay, and it is good. We know you for a brave warrior, +and your faith has not taken the might from your heart as we were +told it must. Only let the priest be a Saxon."</p> +<p>Then he added, as if thinking aloud:</p> +<p>"Ay, Odin and Thor and the rest of the Asir are far off from us +here. Our old faith falls from us, and we are ready for the new. +Let it be soon."</p> +<p>There I think that the hand of Nona wrought, for the Norse folk +fairly worshipped her. So it was not long before that good friend +of mine, the Abbot of Glastonbury, found me the right man, and one +day thereafter Nona and I stood sponsors for Thorgils and one or +two more whom we knew well, at the font in the new church which the +gold of Mordred built instead of the ship, and soon all the little +town was Christian in more than name.</p> +<p>There is happiness at Eastdean, and we meet with Erpwald and +Elfrida at the house of her father now and then, and they have been +here also. But I have never had time to go to Eastdean again, +though it is a promise that we will do so when we may.</p> +<p>It is the word of Ina my master that all things go well where I +bear rule for him, and I fear little blame, if little praise may be +for me, when Owen comes to us from time to time. If there is any +praise, it is due to my fair British princess, who is my best +adviser in all things.</p> +<p>So there is peace; and some day, and that no distant one, there +will grow up here a new race in the west, wrought of the blood of +Saxon and Briton and Norseman; and the men of that Devon and +Somerset that shall be, will have the doggedness of the Saxon and +the fire of the Welsh and the boldness of the Norse, to be first of +all England, maybe, in peace and in war, on shore and at sea. And +that will have been brought to pass by the wisdom of Ina, whose +even laws are held the wisest that the race of Hengist has ever +known.</p> +<p>It is in my mind that the lesson of the wisdom of equal rights +for all men, whether conquered or conqueror, is one that will bide +with us in the days to come, and be our pride.</p> +<p>Now it seems that I have told my story so far as any will care +to hear it. But if there has been aught worth telling it has +centered round that one who took me from the jaws of the wild wolf +in the Andredsweald. First in my heart, and first in the hearts of +his people now at last, must be set the name of my foster father, +Owen--the Prince of Cornwall.</p> +<p>THE END.</p> +<h2><a name="NOTES">NOTES</a>.</h2> +<p><a name="EndNote1sym" href="#EndNote1anc">i</a> The national +weapon. A heavy blade between sword and dagger, with curved back +and straight edge, fitted for almost any use.</p> +<p><a name="EndNote2sym" href="#EndNote2anc">ii</a> The fine to be +paid in amends for an open "manslaying" in quarrel or feud.</p> +<p><a name="EndNote3sym" href="#EndNote3anc">iii</a> The ancient +Welsh province now represented by the county of Glarnorgan.</p> +<p><a name="EndNote4sym" href="#EndNote4anc">iv</a> Tribute due to +an overlord by the settlers.</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13315 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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Whistler + +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 www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Prince of Cornwall + A Story of Glastonbury and the West in the Days of Ina of Wessex + +Author: Charles W. Whistler + +Release Date: August 29, 2004 [EBook #13315] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCE OF CORNWALL *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1>A PRINCE OF CORNWALL:</h1> +<p>A Story of Glastonbury and the West in the Days of Ina of +Wessex;<br> +by Charles W. Whistler.</p> +<h3><a href="#PREFACE">PREFACE</a>.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a>. HOW OWEN OF CORNWALL +WANDERED TO SUSSEX, AND WHY HE BIDED THERE.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a>. HOW ALDRED THE THANE KEPT +HIS FAITH, AND OWEN FLED WITH OSWALD.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a>. HOW KING INA'S FEAST +WAS MARRED, AND OF A VOW TAKEN BY OSWALD.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a>. HOW THE LADY ELFRIDA +SPOKE WITH OSWALD, AND OF THE MEETING WITH GERENT.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a>. HOW OSWALD FELL INTO BAD +HANDS, AND FARED EVILLY, ON THE QUANTOCKS.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a>. HOW OSWALD HAD AN UNEASY +VOYAGE AND A PERILOUS LANDING AT ITS END.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a>. HOW OSWALD CROSSED THE +DYFED CLIFFS, AND MET WITH FRIENDS.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a>. HOW OSWALD LOST A +HUNT, AND FOUND SOMEWHAT STRANGE IN CAERAU WOODS.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a>. WHY IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR +OWEN TO SLEEP IN THE MOONLIGHT.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a>. HOW THE EASTDEAN MANORS AND +SOMEWHAT MORE PASSED FROM OSWALD TO ERPWALD.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a>. HOW ERPWALD FELL FROM +CHEDDAR CLIFFS; AND OF ANOTHER WARNING.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a>. OF THE MESSAGE BROUGHT +BY JAGO, AND A MEETING IN DARTMOOR.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a>. HOW OSWALD AND HOWEL +DARED THE SECRET OF THE MENHIR, AND MET A WIZARD.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a>. HOW OSWALD FOUND WHAT +HE SOUGHT, AND RODE HOMEWARD WITH NONA THE PRINCESS.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a>. HOW ERPWALD SAW HIS FIRST +FIGHT ON HIS WEDDING DAY.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a>. OF MATTERS OF RANSOM, +AND OF FORGIVENESS ASKED AND GRANTED.</h3> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a>. HOW OSWALD FOUND A +HOME, AND OF THE LAST PERIL OF OWEN THE PRINCE.</h3> +<h3><a href="#NOTES">NOTES</a>.</h3> +<h2><a name="PREFACE">PREFACE</a>.</h2> +<p>A few words of preface may save footnotes to a story which deals +with the half-forgotten days when the power of a British prince had +yet to be reckoned with by the Wessex kings as they slowly and +steadily pushed their frontier westward.</p> +<p>The authority for the historical basis of the story is the +Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which gives A.D. 710 as the year of the +defeat of Gerent, king of the West Welsh, by Ina of Wessex and his +kinsman Nunna. This date is therefore approximately that of the +events of the tale.</p> +<p>With regard to the topography of the Wessex frontier involved, +although it practically explains itself in the course of the story, +it may be as well to remind a reader that West Wales was the last +British kingdom south of the Severn Sea, the name being, of course, +given by Wessex men to distinguish it from the Welsh principalities +in what we now call Wales, to their north. In the days of Ina it +comprised Cornwall and the present Devon and also the half of +Somerset westward of the north and south line of the river Parrett +and Quantock Hills. Practically this old British "Dyvnaint" +represented the ancient Roman province of Damnonia, shrinking as it +was under successive advances of the Saxons from the boundary which +it once had along the Mendips and Selwood Forest. Ina's victory +over Gerent set the Dyvnaint frontier yet westward, to the line of +the present county of Somerset, which represents the limit of his +conquest, the new addition to the territory of the clan of the +Sumorsaetas long being named as "Devon in Wessex" by the +chroniclers rather than as Somerset.</p> +<p>The terms "Devon" or "Dyvnaint," as they are respectively used +by Saxon or Briton in the course of the story, will therefore be +understood to imply the ancient territory before its limitation by +the boundaries of the modern counties, which practically took their +rise from the wars of Ina.</p> +<p>With regard to names, I have not thought it worth while to use +the archaic, if more correct, forms for those of well-known places. +It seems unnecessary to write, for instance, "Glaestingabyrig" for +Glastonbury, or "Penbroch" for Pembroke. I have treated proper +names in the same way, keeping, for example, the more familiar +latinised "Ina" rather than the Saxon "Ine," as being more nearly +the correct pronunciation than might otherwise be used without the +hint given by a footnote.</p> +<p>The exact spot where Wessex and West Wales met in the battle +between Ina and Gerent is not certain, though it is known to have +been on the line of the hills to the west of the Parrett, and +possibly, according to an identification deduced from the Welsh +"Llywarch Hen," in the neighbourhood of Langport. Local tradition +and legend place a battle also at the ancient Roman fortress of +Norton Fitzwarren, which Ina certainly superseded by his own +stronghold at Taunton after the victory. As Nunna is named as +leader of the Saxons, together with the king himself, it seems most +likely that there were two columns acting against the Welsh advance +on the north and south of the Tone River, and that therefore there +were battles at each place. On the Blackdown Hills beyond Langport +a barrow was known until quite lately as "Noon's barrow," and it +would mark at least the line of flight of the Welsh; and if not the +burial place of the Saxon leader, who is supposed to have fallen, +must have been raised by him over his comrades.</p> +<p>The line taken by the story will not be far wrong, therefore, as +in any case the Blackdown and Quantock strongholds must have been +taken by the Saxons to guard against flank attacks, from whichever +side of the Tone the British advance was made.</p> +<p>The course of the story hangs to some extent on the influence of +the old feud between the British and Saxon Churches, which dated +from the days of Augustine and his attempt to compel the adoption +of Western customs by the followers of the Church which had its +rise from the East. There is no doubt that the death of the wise +and peacemaking Aldhelm of Sherborne let the smouldering enmity +loose afresh, with the result of setting Gerent in motion against +his powerful neighbour. Ina's victory was decisive, Gerent being +the last king of the West Welsh named in the chronicles, and we +hear of little further trouble from the West until A.D. 835, when +the Cornish joined with a new-come fleet of Danes in an +unsuccessful raid on Wessex.</p> +<p>Ina's new policy with the conquered Welsh is historic and well +known. Even in the will of King Alfred, two hundred years later, +some of the best towns in west Somerset and Dorset are spoken of as +"Among the Welsh kin," and there is yet full evidence, in both +dialect and physique, of strongly marked British descent among the +population west of the Parrett.</p> +<p>There is growing evidence that very early settlements of +Northmen, either Norse or Danish, or both, contemporary with the +well-known occupation of towns, and even districts, on the opposite +shores of South Wales, existed on the northern coast of Somerset +and Devon. Both races are named by the Welsh and Irish chroniclers +in their accounts of the expulsion of these settlers from Wales in +A.D. 795, and the name of the old west country port of Watchet +being claimed as of Norse origin, I have not hesitated to place the +Norsemen there.</p> +<p>Owen and Oswald, Howel and Thorgils, and those others of their +friends and foes beyond the few whose names have already been +mentioned as given in the chronicles, are of course only historic +in so far as they may find their counterparts in the men of the +older records of our forefathers. If I have too early or late +introduced Govan the hermit, whose rock-hewn cell yet remains near +the old Danish landing place on the wild Pembrokeshire coast +between Tenby and the mouth of Milford Haven, perhaps I may be +forgiven. I have not been able to verify his date, but a saint is +of all time, and if Govan himself had passed thence, one would +surely have taken his place to welcome a wanderer in the way and in +the name of the man who made the refuge.</p> +<p>CHAS. W. WHISTLER.</p> +<p>STOCKLAND, 1904.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a>. HOW OWEN OF CORNWALL +WANDERED TO SUSSEX, AND WHY HE BIDED THERE.</h2> +<p>The title which stands at the head of this story is not my own. +It belongs to one whose name must come very often into that which I +have to tell, for it is through him that I am what I may be, and it +is because of him that there is anything worth telling of my doings +at all. Hereafter it will be seen, as I think, that I could do no +less than set his name in the first place in some way, if indeed +the story must be mostly concerning myself. Maybe it will seem +strange that I, a South Saxon of the line of Ella, had aught at all +to do with a West Welshman--a Cornishman, that is--of the race and +line of Arthur, in the days when the yet unforgotten hatred between +our peoples was at its highest; and so it was in truth, at first. +Not so much so was it after the beginning, however. It would be +stranger yet if I were not at the very outset to own all that is +due from me to him. Lonely was I when he first came to me, and +lonely together, in a way, have he and I been for long years that +for me, at least, have had no unhappiness in them, for we have been +all to each other.</p> +<p>I have said that I was lonely when he first came to me, and I +must tell how that was. I suppose that the most lonesome place in +the world is the wide sea, and after that a bare hilltop; but next +to these in loneliness I would set the glades of a beech forest in +midwinter silence, when the snow lies deep on the ground under +boughs that are too stiff to rustle in the wind, and the birds are +dumb, and the ice has stilled the brooks. Set a lost child amid the +bare grey tree trunks of such a winter forest, in the dead silence +of a great frost, with no track near him but that which his own +random feet have made across the snow, and I think that there can +be nought lonelier than he to be thought of: and in the depth of +the forest there is peril to the lonely.</p> +<p>I had no fear of the forest till that day when I was lost +therein, for the nearer glades round our village had been my +playground ever since I could remember, and before I knew that fear +therein might be. That was not so long a time, however, save that +the years of a child are long years; for at this time, when I first +learned the full wildness of the woods of the great Andredsweald +and knew what loneliness was, I was only ten years old. Since I +could run alone my old nurse had tried to fray me from wandering +out of sight of those who tended me, with tales of wolf and bear +and pixy, lest I should stray and be lost, but I had not heeded her +much. Maybe I had proved so many of her tales to be but pretence +that, as I began to think for myself, I deemed them all to be +so.</p> +<p>But now I was lost in the forest, and what had been a playground +was become a vast and desolate land for me, and all the things that +I had ever heard of what dangers lurked within it, came back to my +mind. I remembered that the grey wolf's skin on which I slept had +come hence, and I minded the calf that the pack had slain close to +the village a year ago, and I thought of the girl who went mazed +and useless about the place, having lost her wits through being +pixy led, as they said, long ago. The warnings seemed to me to be +true enough, now that all the old landmarks were lost to me, and +all the tracks were buried under the crisp snow. I did not know +when I had left the road from the village to the hilltop, or in +which direction it lay.</p> +<p>It was very silent in the aisles of the great beech trunks, for +the herds were in shelter. There was no sound of the swineherds' +horn, though the evening was coming on, and but for the frost it +was time for their charges to be taken homeward, and the woodmen's +axes were idle. Even the scream of some hawk high overhead had been +welcome to me, and the harsh cry of a jay that I scared was like +the voice of a friend.</p> +<p>It was the fault of none but myself that I was lost. I had +planned to go hunting alone in the woods while the old nurse, whose +care I was far beyond, slept after her midday meal before the fire. +So, over my warm woollen clothing I had donned the deerskin short +cloak that was made like my father's own hunting gear, and I had +taken my bow and arrows, and the little seax {<a name="EndNote1anc" +href="#EndNote1sym"><sup>i</sup></a>} that a thane's son may always +wear, and had crept away from the warm hall without a soul seeing +me. I had thought myself lucky in this, but by this time I began to +change my mind in all truth. Well it was for me that there was no +wind, so that I was spared the worst of the cold.</p> +<p>I went up the hill to the north of the village by the track +which the timber sleds make, climbing until I was on the crest, and +there I began to wander as the tracks of rabbit and squirrel led me +on. Sometimes I was set aside from the path by deep drifts that had +gathered in its hollows with the wind of yesterday, and so I left +it altogether in time. Overhead the sky was bright and clear as the +low sun of the month after Yule, the wolf month, can make it. I +wandered on for an hour or two without meeting with anything at +which to loose an arrow, and my ardour began to cool somewhat, so +that I thought of turning homewards. But then, what was to me a +wondrous quarry crossed my way as I stood for a moment on the edge +of a wide aisle of beech trees looking down it, and wondering if I +would not go even to its end and so return. Then at once the wild +longing for the chase woke again in me, and I forgot cold and time +and place and aught else in it.</p> +<p>Across the glade came slowly and lightly over the snow a great +red hare, looking against the white background bigger than any I +had ever set eyes on before. It paid no heed at all to me, even +when I raised my bow to set an arrow on the string with fingers +which trembled with eagerness and haste. Now and again it stopped +and seemed to listen for somewhat, and then loped on again and +stopped, seeming hardly to know which way it wished to go. Now it +came toward me, and then across, and yet again went from me, and +all as if I were not there.</p> +<p>It was thirty paces from me when I shot, and I was a fair +marksman, for a boy, at fifty paces. However, the arrow skimmed +just over its back, and it crouched for a second as it heard the +whistle of the feathers, and then leapt aside and on again in the +same way. But now it crossed the glade and passed behind some trees +before I was ready with a second arrow, and I ran forward to +recover the first, which was in the snow where it struck, hoping +thence to see the hare again.</p> +<p>When I turned with the arrow in my hand I saw what made the hare +pay no heed to me. There was a more terrible enemy than even man on +its track. Sniffing at my footprints where they had just crossed +those of the hare was a stoat, long and lithe and cruel. I knew it +would not leave its quarry until it had it fast by the throat, and +the hare knew it also by some instinct that is not to be fathomed, +for I suppose that no hare, save by the merest chance, ever escaped +that pursuer. The creature seemed puzzled by my footprint, and sat +up, turning its sharp eyes right and left until it spied me; but +when it did so it was not feared of me, but took up the trail of +the hare again. And by that time I was ready, and my hand was +steady, and the shaft sped and smote it fairly, and the hare's one +chance had come to it. I sprang forward with the whoop of the Saxon +hunter, and took up and admired my prey, not heeding its scent at +all. It was in good condition, and I would get Stuf, the +house-carle, who was a sworn ally of mine, to make me a pouch of +it, I thought.</p> +<p>I mind that this was the third wild thing that I had slain. One +of the others was a squirrel who stayed motionless on a bough to +stare at me, in summer time, and the second was a rabbit which Stuf +had shown me in its seat. This was quite a different business, and +I was proud of my skill with some little reason. I should have some +real wild hunting to talk of over the fire tonight.</p> +<p>Then I must follow up the hare, of course, and I thrust the long +body of the stoat through my girdle, so that its head hung one way +and its tail the other, and took up the trail of the hare where my +prey had left it. Now, I cannot tell how the mazed creature learned +that its worst foe was no longer after it, but so it must have +been, else it had circled slowly in lessening rings until the stoat +had it, and presently it would have begun to scream dolefully. But +I only saw it once again, and then it seemed to be listening at +longer spaces. Yet it took me a long way before it suddenly fled +altogether, as its footmarks told me. A forest-bred lad learns +those signs soon enough, if he is about with the woodmen in snow +time.</p> +<p>Then I turned to make my way home, following my own track for a +little way. That was crooked, and I went to take a straighter path, +and after that I was fairly lost.</p> +<p>Yet I held on, hoping every minute to come into some known glade +or sight, some familiar landmark, before the sun set. But I found +nought but new trees, and new views over unknown white country all +round me as I turned my steps hither and thither as one mark after +another drew me. Then the sun set and the short day was over, and +the grey twilight of snow weather came after the passing of the +warm red glow from the west, shadowless and still.</p> +<p>That was about the time when I was missed at home, for my father +came back from Chichester town, and straightway asked for me. And +when I came not for calling, nor yet for the short notes of the +horn which my father had always used to bring me to him, one ran +here and another there, seeking me in wonted places about the +village, until one minded that he had seen a boy, who must have +been myself, go up the hill track forestwards.</p> +<p>Then was fear enough for me, seeing that from our village more +than one child has wandered forth thus and been seen no more, and I +was the only son of the long-widowed thane, and the last of the +ancient line that went back to Ella, and beyond him even to Woden. +So in half an hour there was not a man left in the village, and all +the woods and hillsides rang with their calls to me, while in the +hall itself bided only the old nurse, who wept and wailed by the +hearth, and my father, whose tall form came and went across the +doorway, restless; for he waited here lest he should miss my coming +homeward. Up the steep street of the village the wives stood in the +doorways silent, and forgetting their ailments for once in +listening for the cries that should tell that I was found. If they +spoke at all, they said that I should not be seen again, for the +cold had driven the wolves close to the villages.</p> +<p>But I was by this time far beyond the reach of friendly voices, +on the edge of the great hill that falls sheer down through many a +score feet of hanging woods and thicket to the Lavington valley far +below, and there at last I knew for certain that I was lost +utterly, for this place or its like I had never seen before. Then I +stayed my feet, bewildered, for the sun was gone, and I had nothing +to tell me in which direction I was heading, for at that time the +stars told me nought, though there were enough out now to direct +any man who was used to the night. When I stood still I found that +I was growing deadly cold, and the weariness that I had so far +staved off began to creep over me, so that I longed to sleep.</p> +<p>And I suppose that I should have done so, and thereby met my +death shortly, but for a thing that roused me in an instant, and +set the warm blood coursing through me again.</p> +<p>There came a rustling in the undergrowth of the hillside below +me, and that was the most homely sound that I had heard since the +wild geese flew over me seaward with swish and whistle of broad +wings and call that I knew well. The silence of the great brown +owls that circled swiftly over me now and then was uncanny.</p> +<p>The rustling drew nearer, and then out into the open place under +the tall bare tree trunks where I stood trotted a grey beast that +was surely a shepherd's dog, for he stayed and looked back and +whined a little as if his master must be waited for. I thought that +I could hear the cracking of more branches once farther down the +hill.</p> +<p>Then I called to the dog, knowing that he and the shepherd would +not be far apart, and at the call the dog turned quickly toward me +and leaped back a yard, cowering a little with drooping tail. So I +called him again, and more loudly.</p> +<p>"Hither, lad! Hither, good dog!"</p> +<p>But the beast backed yet more from me, and I saw the dull gleam +of yellow teeth and heard him snarl as he did so, and then he +growled fiercely, so that I thought him sorely ill-tempered. But I +had no fear of dogs, and I called him again cheerily, and at that +he sank on his haunches and set back his head and howled and yelled +as I had never heard any dog give tongue before. And presently from +a long way off I heard the like howls, as if all the dogs of some +village answered him, and I thought their tongue was strange +also.</p> +<p>Then came the shout of a man, even as I expected, and there was +the noise of one who tears his way through briers and brambles in +haste; but at that shout the dog turned and fled like a grey shadow +into the farther thickets, and was gone.</p> +<p>"Who calls?" one said loudly, and from the hillside climbed +hastily into the open a tall man, bearded and strong, and with a +pleasant-looking, anxious face. He was dressed in leather like our +shepherds, and like them carried but quarterstaff and seax for +weapons. I suppose that I was in some shadow, for at first he did +not see me.</p> +<p>"Surely I heard a child's voice," he said out loud--"or was it +some pixy playing with the grey beast of the wood?"</p> +<p>"Here I am," I cried, running to him; "take me home, shepherd, +for I think that I am lost."</p> +<p>He caught me up in haste, looking round him the while.</p> +<p>"Child," he said, "how came you here--and to what were you +calling?"</p> +<p>"I was calling your dog," I answered, "but he is not friendly. +Does he look for a beating? for he ran away yonder when he heard +you coming."</p> +<p>"Ay, sorely beaten will that dog be if he comes near me just +now," the man said grimly. "Never mind him, but tell me how you +came here, and where you belong."</p> +<p>So I told him that I was Oswald, the son of Aldred, the thane of +Eastdean, thinking, of course, that all men would know of us, and +so I bade him take me home quickly.</p> +<p>"I have been hunting," I said, showing him my unsavoury prey, +which by this time was frozen stiff in my belt. "Then I followed +the hare this was after, and I cannot tell how far I have +come."</p> +<p>All this while the man had me in his strong arms, and he had +looked at the track of the dog in the snow, and now was walking +swiftly from it, through the beech trees, looking up at their +branches as if wondering at the way the great trunks shot up smooth +and bare from the snow at their roots before they reached the first +forking, fathoms skyward.</p> +<p>"I am a stranger, Oswald, the thane's son," he said. "I do not +rightly know in which direction your home may lie."</p> +<p>I know now that he was himself as lost as I, but that he did not +tell me, for my sake. It is an easy thing for a stranger to go +astray in the Andredsweald. But I could not tell him more than that +I knew that I had left the sea always behind me so long as I knew +where it lay. So he turned southwards at once when he heard that, +and went on swiftly. Then I heard the howl of his dog again, and I +laughed, for the other howls that answered him were nearer.</p> +<p>"Listen, shepherd," I said. "Your dog is making his comrades +howl for him, and the beating that is to come.</p> +<p>"Are you cold?"</p> +<p>For he had shivered suddenly, and his pace quickened. He had +heard the howl of the single wolf that has found its quarry, and +calls the answering pack to follow. But he did not tell me of my +mistake.</p> +<p>"I am not cold overmuch," he answered. "Let us run and warm +me."</p> +<p>Then he ran until we came to the top of a hill whence the last +glimmer of the sea over Selsea was plain before him, and there I +asked him to set me down lest I tired him.</p> +<p>"Nay, but you keep me warm," he said. "Tell me, are there oak +trees as one goes seaward?"</p> +<p>"Ay, many and great ones in some places."</p> +<p>Then he ran down the hill, and the sway of his even stride +lulled me so that I dozed a little. I roused when he stayed +suddenly.</p> +<p>"Sit here, Oswald, for a moment, and fear nought while I rest +me," he said in a strange voice.</p> +<p>We were halfway up a long slope and among fresh trees. Then he +lifted me and set me on the curved arm of a great oak tree, some +eight feet from the ground, asking me if I was safe there. And when +I laughed and answered that I was, he set his back against the +trunk, and drew his heavy seax, putting his staff alongside him, +where he could reach it at once if it was needed. It was light +enough, with the clear frosty starlight on the snow.</p> +<p>Then I heard the swift patter of feet over the crisp surface, +and the grey beast came and halted suddenly not three yards from +us, and on his haunches he sat up and howled, and I heard the +answering yells in no long space of time coming whence we had come. +His eyes glowed green with a strange light of their own as he +stared at my friend, and for a moment I looked to see him come +fawning to his master's feet.</p> +<p>Suddenly he gathered himself together, and sprung silently at +the throat of the man who waited him, and there was a flash of the +keen steel, and a sound as of the cleaving of soft wood, and the +beast was in a twitching heap at the man's feet. I knew what it was +at last, yet I could say nothing. The wolf was quite dead, with its +head cleft.</p> +<p>Swiftly my friend hewed the great head from the trunk and tore +one of the leather cross garterings from his leg, and so leapt at a +branch which hung above him and pulled it down. Then he bound the +head to its end with the thong and let it go, so that it dangled a +fathom and a half above him, and then he lifted me from my place +and ran as I had not thought any man could run, until he stayed at +the brow of the hill for sheer want of breath.</p> +<p>Behind us at that moment rose the sound as of hungry dogs that +fight over the food in their kennels, and my friend laughed under +his breath strangely.</p> +<p>"That will be a wild dance beneath the tree anon," he said, as +if to himself.</p> +<p>Then he said to me, "Are you frayed, bairn?" as he ran on +again.</p> +<p>"No," I answered, "You can smite well, shepherd."</p> +<p>"Needs must, sometime," he said. "Now, little one, have you a +mother waiting you at home?"</p> +<p>"No. Only father and old nurse."</p> +<p>"Nor brother or sister?"</p> +<p>"None at all," I said.</p> +<p>"An only child, and his father lonely," the man said. "Well, I +will chance it while the trees last. The head will stay them +awhile, maybe."</p> +<p>Now he went swiftly across the rolling woodlands, and again I +slept in his arms, but uneasily and with a haunting fear in my +dreaming that I should wake to see the wild eyes of the wolf +glaring across the snow on us again. So it happens that all I know +of the rest of that flight from Woden's pack has been told me by +others, so that I can say little thereof.</p> +<p>The howls of the pack as they stayed to fall on the carcass of +their fellow, after their wont, died away behind us, and before +they were heard again my friend had come across a half-frozen +brook, and for a furlong or more had crashed and waded through its +ice and water that our trail might be lost in it. Then he lit on +the path that a sounder of wild swine had made through the snow on +either side of it as they crossed it, and that he followed, in +hopes that the foe would leave us to chase the more accustomed +quarry. From that he leapt aside presently with a wondrous leap and +struck off away from it. He would leave nothing untried, though +indeed by this time he had reason to think that the pack had lost +us at the brook, for he heard no more of them.</p> +<p>So at last he came within sound of some far-off shouts of those +who were seeking me, and he guessed well what those shouts meant, +and turned in their direction. Had he not heard them I do not know +what place of refuge, save the trees, he would have found that +night, for he was then passing across the valley that winds down to +our home.</p> +<p>So it happened that when at last he saw the red light from the +door of our hall gleaming across the snow, for it had been left +open that perchance I might see it, he was close to the place, and +he came into the courtyard inside the stockading without meeting +any one, for he came from the side on which the village is not.</p> +<p>There I woke as the house dogs barked, and at first it was with +a cry of fear lest the wolves were on us again; but the fear passed +as I saw my father come quickly into the light of the doorway, and +heard his voice as he stilled the dogs and cried to ask if the boy +was found.</p> +<p>"Ay, Thane, he is here, and safe," my friend answered, and he +set me down in the midst of the court, while the dogs leapt and +fawned round me.</p> +<p>Then I ran to the arms that were held out for me, forgetting for +the moment the one who had brought me back to them, and left him +standing there.</p> +<p>Then the man who had saved me turned after one long look at that +meeting, and I think that he was going his way in silence, content +with that he had done, but my father saw it and called to him:</p> +<p>"Friend, stay, for I have not thanked you, and I hold that there +is reward due to you for what you have brought back to me."</p> +<p>"It was a chance meeting, Thane, and I am glad to have been of +use. No need to speak of reward, for it is indeed enough to have +seen the boy home safely."</p> +<p>"Why, then," said my father, "I cannot have a stranger pass my +hall at this time in the evening, when it is too late to reach the +town in safety. Here you must at least lodge for the night, or +Eastdean will be shamed. Your voice tells me that you are a +stranger--but maybe you have your men waiting for you at hand? +There will be room for them also."</p> +<p>For there was that in the tones of the voice of this man which +told my father that here he had no common wanderer.</p> +<p>"I am alone," my friend said. "But your men seek the little one +even yet in the forest. Will you not call them in?"</p> +<p>My father looked at the man for a moment, and smiled.</p> +<p>"Ay, I forgot in my joy. They are well-nigh as anxious as I have +been."</p> +<p>Then he took down the great horn that hung by the door, and +wound the homing call that brings all within its hearing back to +the hall, and its hoarse echoes went across the silent woods until +it was answered by the other horns that passed on the message until +the last sounds came but faintly to us. I heard men cheering also, +for they knew by the token that all was well. My father had me in +his arms all this time, standing in the door.</p> +<p>"There would have been sorrow enough had he been lost indeed," +my father said. "He is the last of the old line, and the fathers of +those men whom you hear have followed his fathers since the days of +Ella. Come in, and they will thank you also. Where did you find +him?"</p> +<p>Then as he turned and went into the hall the light flashed red +on my jerkin suddenly, and he cried, "Here is blood on his +clothing!--Is he hurt?"</p> +<p>"No," I said stoutly; "maybe it is the blood of the stoat I +slew, or else it has come off the shepherd's sleeves. He hewed off +the wolf's head and hung it on the tree."</p> +<p>Then my father understood what my peril had been--even that +which he and all the village had feared for me, and his face paled, +and he held out his hand to the man, drawing in his breath +sharply.</p> +<p>"Woden!" he cried, "what is this, friend? Are you hurt, +yourself? For the wolf must be slain ere his head can be hefted, as +we say."</p> +<p>"No hurt to any but the wolf," the man said, smiling a little. +"We did but meet with one who called the pack on us. So I even hung +his head on a tree, that the pack when it came might stay to leap +at it. They were all we had to fear, and maybe that saved us."</p> +<p>"I marvel that you are not even now in the tree, yourself--with +the boy."</p> +<p>"Nay, but the frost is cruel, and he would have been sorely +feared with the leaping and howls of the beasts. There were always +trees at hand as we fled, if needs were to take to them. It was in +my mind that it were best to try to get him home, or near it."</p> +<p>Then said my father, gripping the hand that met his: "There is +more that I would say, but I cannot set thoughts into words well. +Only, I know that I have a man before me. Tell me your name, that +neither I nor the boy may ever forget it."</p> +<p>"Here, in the Saxon lands, men call me Owen the Briton," he +answered simply.</p> +<p>"I thought your voice had somewhat of the Welsh tone," my father +said. "And your English is of Mercia. I have heard that there are +Britons in the fenland there."</p> +<p>"I am of West Wales, Thane, but I have bided long in +Mercia."</p> +<p>Then came my old nurse, and there were words enough for the +time. Her eyes were red with weeping, but it was all that my father +could do to prevent her scolding me soundly then and there for the +fright I had given her. But she set a great bowl of bread and milk +before me, and the men began to come in at that time, and they +stood in a ring round me and watched me eat it as if they had never +seen me before, while my father spoke aside of the flight to Owen +on the high place. But concerning his own story my father asked the +stranger no more until he chose to open the matter himself.</p> +<p>After supper there was all the tale to be told, and when that +was done the Welshman slept before the hall fire with the +house-carles, but my father had me with him in the closed chamber +beyond the high seat, for it seemed that he would not let me go +beyond his sight again yet.</p> +<p>Now, that is how Owen came to me at first, and the first thing +therefore that I owe to him is nothing less than life itself. And +from that time we have been, as I have said, together in all +things.</p> +<p>On the next morning my father made his guest take him back over +the ground we had crossed together, for no fresh snow had fallen, +and the footprints were plain to be followed almost from the gate +of the hall stockade. So they came at last to the tree, and on it +the head hung yet, but the body was clean gone. All round the tree +the snow was reddened and trampled by the fierce beasts who leapt +to reach the head, and the marks of their clawing was on the trunk, +where they had tried to climb it. From the footmarks it seemed that +there were eight or nine of them. Three great ones had left the +head and followed us presently as far as the brook, half a mile +away.</p> +<p>After that the two men went on to the place where Owen had found +me, and there my father, judging from the dress and loneliness of +the Briton that he might be able to help him somewhat, said:</p> +<p>"I do not know what your plans may be, but is there any reason +why you should not bide here and help me tend the life you have +kept for me?"</p> +<p>Then answered Owen: "You know nought of me, Thane. For all you +ken, I may be but an outlaw who is fleeing from justice."</p> +<p>"Do I know nought about you? I think that last night and what I +have seen today have told me much, and I have been held as a good +judge of a man. If so be that you were an outlaw, which I do not +think, what you have done is enough to inlaw you again with any +honest man--even had you taken a life, for you have saved one. Did +I know you were an outlaw I would see to your pardon. But maybe you +are on a journey that may not be hindered?"</p> +<p>Now Owen was silent for a little, and there came a shadow over +his face as he answered, slowly and with his eyes on the far +sea:</p> +<p>"No man's man am I, and I am but drifting Westward again at +random. Yet I can say in all truth, that I am no wanderer for ill +reason in any wise. I will tell you, Thane, here and alone, that +there are foes in my home for whose passing, in one way or another, +I must needs wait. Even now I was on my way to Bosham, where they +tell me are Western monks with whom I might bide for a time, if not +altogether. I was lost in the forest last night."</p> +<p>Now my father saw that some heavy sorrow of no common sort lay +beneath the quiet words of the man before him, and he forbore to +ask him more. Also, he deemed that in the Welsh land he would +surely rank as a thane, for his ways and words bespoke more than +his dress would tell. Therefore he said:</p> +<p>"Wait here with us for a while at least. There will be no more +welcome guest."</p> +<p>"Let me be of some use, rather," Owen answered. "If I bide with +you, Thane, and I thank you for the offer, let it be as I have +bided elsewhere from time to time--as one of the household, not as +an idle guest, if it were but to help the woodmen in the +forest."</p> +<p>"Why, that will be well. I need a forester, and it is plain that +you are a master of woodcraft. Let it be so. Yet I must tell you +one thing fairly, and that is, that I am what you would call a +heathen. I know that you are a good Christian man, for I saw you +sign your holy sign before you ate last night and this morning. Yet +I do not hate Christians."</p> +<p>"I had heard that all Sussex was turned to the faith," Owen +said.</p> +<p>"If one says that all the men have gone to market, one knows +that here and there one is excepted for good reason. It is not for +a thane of the line of Woden to give up the faith of his fathers +idly. I do not know what may be in the days to come, but here in +the Andredsweald some dozen of us will not leave the old gods. It +was the bidding of Ethelwalch the king that we should do so, but +that is not a matter wherein a king may meddle, as it seems to +us."</p> +<p>"I do not know why I should not bide with you, Thane, if so be +that there is no hindrance to my faith."</p> +<p>"That there will be none. Why, the most of my folk are Christian +enough. And if a man of the Britons did not honour his old faith it +would be as strange as if I honoured not that of my fathers. I have +no quarrel with the faith of any man, either king or thrall."</p> +<p>"Then I will be your forester, Thane, for such time as I may, +and I thank you."</p> +<p>"Nay, but the thanks are all on my side," answered my father. +"Now I shall know that the boy will have one with whom he may live +all day in the woods if he will, and I shall be content."</p> +<p>So Owen bided with us, half as honoured guest and half as +forester, and as time went on he was well loved by all who knew +him, for he was ever the same to each man about the place. As for +me, it was the best day that could have dawned when he found me in +the woods as a lost child. And that my father said also.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a>. HOW ALDRED THE THANE KEPT +HIS FAITH, AND OWEN FLED WITH OSWALD.</h2> +<p>Our Sussex was the last land in all England that was heathen. I +suppose that the last heathen thanes in Sussex were those whose +manors lay in the Andredsweald, as did ours. Most of these thanes +had held aloof from the faith because at the first coming of good +Bishop Wilfrith, some twelve years ago, those who had hearkened to +him were mostly thralls and freemen of the lower ranks, and they +would not follow their lead. Yet of these there were some, like my +father, who had no hatred, to say the least, of the Christian and +his creed, and did but need the words of one who could speak +rightly to them to turn altogether from the Asir.</p> +<p>Maybe the only man who was at this time really fierce against +the faith was Erpwald, the thane of Wisborough, some half-score +miles from us northwards across the forest. He had been the priest +of Woden in the old days, and indeed held himself so even now, +though secretly, for fear of Ina the Wessex king, who ruled our +land well and strongly. This Erpwald was no very good neighbour of +ours, as it happened, for he and my father had some old feud +concerning forest rights and the like which he had taken to heart +more than there was any occasion for, seeing that it was but such a +matter as most thanes have, unless they are unusually lucky, in a +place where boundaries are none. It is likely enough that but for +the easy ways of my father, who gave in to him so far as he could, +this feud would have been of trouble some time ago, for as the +power of Erpwald, as priest, waned he seemed to look more for power +in other ways. Yet in the end both the matter of the faith and the +matter of the feud seemed to work together in some way that brought +trouble enough on our house, which must be told; for it set Owen +and me out into the world together for a time, and because of it +there befell many happenings thereafter which have not all been sad +in their ending.</p> +<p>Owen had been with us for a year and a half when what I am going +to tell came to pass, and in that time my father had come to look +on him rather as a brother than as a guest, and the thought that he +might leave him at any time was one which he did not like to keep +in his mind.</p> +<p>That being so, it was not at all surprising that in this summer +my father had at last borne witness that he wished to become a +Christian altogether, and so it had come to pass that he and Owen +and I used to ride to Bosham, the little seacoast village beyond +Chichester town, to speak with Dicul, the good old Irish priest, +who yet bided there rather than in the new monastery which Wilfrith +built at Selsea, until we were taught all that was needful, and the +time came when we should be baptized.</p> +<p>That my father would have done here at Eastdean, that all his +people, who were Christians before him, should see and rejoice. Yet +it was not an easy matter for him as it had been for them, for now +he would stand alone among his fellows, the heathen thanes; and +most of all Erpwald the priest would be wroth with him for leaving +that which he had held so long. He must meet these men often +enough, and he knew that they would have biting words to hurl at +him, but that thought did not stay him for a moment. It was more +than likely that one or two more would follow him when once the old +circle was broken.</p> +<p>So on a certain day Dicul rode over from Bosham on his mule, and +early on the next morning he set up a little wooden cross by the +spring above the hall, and there my father and I and Stuf, the head +man of the house-carles, who had bided in the old faith for love of +my father, were baptized, Owen and one of the village freemen +standing sponsors for us, and that was a wondrous day to us all, as +I think. For when all was done my father gave their freedom to all +our thralls, for the sake of the freedom that had been given him, +and he promised that here, where he and they had been freed, a +church should be built of good forest oak, after the woodcutting of +the winter to come.</p> +<p>Then Dicul went his way homewards, with one of our men to lead +his mule and carry some few presents for his people to Bosham, and +after he was gone we had a quiet feasting in our hall until the +light was gone. And even as our feasting ended there came in a +swineherd from the forest with word that from the northward there +came a strong band of armed men through the forest, and he held it +right that my father should be warned thereof, for he feared they +were some banded outlaws, seeing that there was peace in the land. +That was no unlikely thing at all, for our forests shelter many, +and game being plentiful they live there well enough, if not +altogether at ease. As a rule they gave little trouble to us, and +at times in the winter we would even have men who were said to be +outlaws from far off working in the woods for us.</p> +<p>Yet now and then some leader would rise among them and gather +them into bands which waxed bold to harry cattle and even houses, +so that there might be truth in what the swineherd told. +Nevertheless my father thought of little danger but to the herds, +and so had them driven into the sheds from the home fields, and set +the men their watches as he had more than once done before in like +alarms.</p> +<p>Presently I was awakened, for I had gone to rest before the +message came, by the hoarse call of a horn and the savage barking +of the dogs. I heard the hall doors shut and open once or twice as +men passed in and out, and in the hall was the rattle of weapons as +the men took them from their places on the walls, but I heard no +voices raised more than usual. Then I got out of my bed and tried +to open the sliding doors that would let me out on the high place +from my father's chamber, where I always slept now, but I could not +move them. So I went back to my place and listened.</p> +<p>What was happening I must tell, therefore, as Owen has told me, +for I saw nothing to speak of.</p> +<p>As the horn was blown, one of the men who had been on guard came +into the hall hastily and spoke to my father.</p> +<p>"The house is beset, Lord. Stuf blew the horn and bade me tell +you. There are men all round the stockade."</p> +<p>"Outlaws?"</p> +<p>The man shook his head.</p> +<p>"We think not, Lord. But it is dark, and we cannot fairly see +them. We heard them call one 'Thane.' Nor are there any outland +voices among them, as there would be were they outlaws."</p> +<p>Then my father armed himself in haste and went out. The night +was very dark, and it was raining a little. Stuf had shut the +stockade gates, which were strong enough, and had reared a ladder +against the timbers that he might look over.</p> +<p>Close to the ladder stood Owen, armed also, for he had been out +to see that all was quiet and that the men were on guard.</p> +<p>"There are men everywhere," he said. "I would we had some +light."</p> +<p>"Heave a torch on the straw stack," my father answered; "there +will be enough then."</p> +<p>The stack was outside the stockade, and some twenty yards from +its corner. One of the men ran to the hall and brought a torch from +its socket on the wall, and handed it to Stuf, who threw it fairly +on the stack top, from the ladder. It blazed up fiercely as it went +through the air, and from the men who beset us there rose a howl as +they saw it. Several ran and tried to reach it with their spears, +but they were not in time. The first damp straws of the thatch +hissed for a moment, dried, and burst into flame, and then nought +could stop the burning. The red flames gathered brightness every +moment, lighting up two sides of the stockading, in the midst of +which the hall stood. Then an arrow clicked on Stuf's helm, and he +came down into shelter.</p> +<p>"This is a strange affair, Master," he said. "I have seen three +men whom I know well among them."</p> +<p>"Who are they?"</p> +<p>"Wisborough men--freemen of Erpwald's."</p> +<p>My father and Owen looked at one another. Words my father knew +he should have to put up with, after today, from Erpwald, but this +seemed token of more than words only.</p> +<p>Then came the blast of a horn from outside, and a strange voice +shouted that the thane must come and speak with those who called +him. So my father went to the gate and answered from within it:</p> +<p>"Here am I. What is all the trouble?"</p> +<p>"Open the gate, and you shall know."</p> +<p>"Not so, Thane," cried one of our men, who was peering through +the timbers of the stockade. "Now that I can see, I have counted +full fifty men, and they are waiting as if to rush in."</p> +<p>Then said my father:</p> +<p>"Maybe we will open the gate when we are sure you are friends. +One may be forgiven for doubting that when you come thus at +midnight to a peaceful house."</p> +<p>"We are friends or not, as you choose, Aldred," the voice +answered. "I am Erpwald, Woden's priest, and I am here to stay +wrong to the Asir of which I have heard."</p> +<p>"I will not pretend not to know what you mean, Erpwald," +answered my father. "But this, as it seems to me, is a matter that +concerns me most of all."</p> +<p>"If it concerns not Woden's priest, whom shall it concern?" +answered Erpwald. "It is true, then, that you have left the Asir to +follow the way of the thralls, led aside by that Welshman you have +with you?"</p> +<p>"It is true enough that I am a Christian," said my father +steadily. "As for leaving the Asir, that is not to be said of one +whose line goes back to Woden, his forefather. But I cannot worship +him any longer. Forefather of mine he may be, but not a god."</p> +<p>"Ho! that is all I needed to hear. Now, I will not mince matters +with you, Aldred. Either you give up this foolishness, or I am here +to make you do so."</p> +<p>Now, my father looked round at the men and saw that all the +house-carles and one or two from the village were in the courtyard, +fifteen of them altogether, besides himself and Owen. They were all +Christian men, and they stood in a sort of line behind him across +the closed gate with their faces set, listening.</p> +<p>"Don't suppose that there is any help coming to you from the +village," said the hard voice from outside. "There is a guard over +every house."</p> +<p>"Erpwald," said my father, "it is a new thing that any man +should be forced to quit his faith here in Sussex. Nor is it the +way of a thane to fall on a house at night in outlaw fashion. Ina +the king will have somewhat to say of this."</p> +<p>"If there is one left to tell him, that is," came back the +reply. "There will not be shortly, unless I have your word that +tomorrow you come to me at Wisborough and make such atonement to +the Asir as you may, quitting your new craze."</p> +<p>Then said Stuf, the leader of the house-carles, growling:</p> +<p>"That is out of the question, and he knows it. He means to fall +on us, else had he spoken to you elsewhere first, Thane. It seems +to me that here we shall die."</p> +<p>He looked round on his fellows, and they nodded, and one set his +helm more firmly on his head, and another tightened his belt, and +one or two signed the cross on their broad chests, but not one +paled, though they knew there was small hope for them if Erpwald +chose to storm the house. The court was light as day with the +flames of the stack by this time.</p> +<p>"What think you of this, Owen," my father said.</p> +<p>"That it is likely that we must seal our faith with our blood, +brother," he answered. "Yet I think that there is more in this than +heathenism, in some way."</p> +<p>"There is an old feud of no account," said my father, "but I +would not think hardly of Erpwald. After all, he was Woden's +priest, and is wroth, as I myself might have been. It is good to +die thus, and but for the boy I would be glad."</p> +<p>"I do not think that he will be harmed," said Owen, "even if the +worst comes to the worst."</p> +<p>"Well, if I fall, try to get him hence. After that maybe Erpwald +will be satisfied. I set him in your charge, brother, for once you +have saved him already. Fail me not."</p> +<p>Owen held out his hand and took his.</p> +<p>"I will not fail you," he said--"if I live after you."</p> +<p>Now from outside the voices began to be impatient, and Erpwald +had been crying to my father to be speedy, unheeded. But in the +midst of the growing shouts of the heathen my father turned to the +men and asked them if they were content to die with him for the +faith. And with one accord they said that they would.</p> +<p>Then with a thundering crash a great timber beam was hurled +against the gate, shaking its very posts with the force of the six +men who wielded it at a run, and in the silence that fell as they +drew back Erpwald cried:</p> +<p>"For the last time, Aldred, will you yield?"</p> +<p>But he had no answer, and after a short space the timber crashed +against the gate again and again. And across it waited our few, +silent and ready for its falling.</p> +<p>I heard all this in the closed chamber, and the red light of the +fire shone across the slit whence the light and fresh air came into +it, but it was too high for me to look out of. I got up and dressed +myself then, for no reason but that I must be doing something. I +waxed excited with the noise and flickering light, and no one came +near me. My old nurse was the only woman in the house, for the +married house-carles lived in the village, and I daresay she slept +through it all in her own loft. There was no thunderstorm that +could ever wake her.</p> +<p>At this time my father sent a few of the men to the back of the +house, that they might try at least to keep off the foe from +climbing the stockade and so falling on them in the rear. But the +timbers were high, and the ditch outside them full of water, and as +it happened there was no attack thence.</p> +<p>Erpwald watched the back indeed, but all his force was bent on +the gate.</p> +<p>It was not long before that fell, crashing inwards, and across +it strode the heathen priest into the gap. He was fully armed, and +wore the great golden ring of the temple--all that was left him of +his old surroundings since Ethelwalch the king, who sent Wilfrith +to us, had destroyed the building that stood with the image of +Woden in it hard by his house. Men used to take oath on that ring, +as do we on the Book of the Gospels, and they held it holier than +the oaken image of the god itself. I do not think that any man had +seen it since that time until this night.</p> +<p>Now Erpwald stood for a moment in the gate, with his men hard +behind him, expecting a rush at him, as it would seem. But our folk +stood firm in the line across the courtyard, shoulder to shoulder, +with my father and Owen before them. So they looked at one +another.</p> +<p>Then Erpwald slipped the golden ring from his arm and held it +up. There may have been some thought in his mind that my father was +hesitating yet.</p> +<p>"By the holy ring I adjure you, Aldred, for the last time, to +return to the Asir," he said loudly.</p> +<p>My father shook his head only, but Stuf the house-carle, who had +stood beside him at the font this morning, had another answer which +was strange enough.</p> +<p>"This for the ring!" he said.</p> +<p>And with that he hurled a throwing spear at it as it shone in +the firelight, with a true aim. The spear went through the ring +itself without harming the hand of the holder, and coming a little +slantwise, twitched it away from him and stuck in the timber of the +stockade whence the gatepost had been riven. The ring hung spinning +on the shaft safely enough, but to Erpwald it seemed that his +treasure had gone altogether, and he yelled with rage and sprang +forward. After him came his men, and in a moment the two parties +were hand to hand.</p> +<p>Then was fighting such as the gleemen sing of, with the light of +the red fire waxing and waning across the courtyard the while. The +strange lights and shadows it cast were to the advantage of our men +for a little while, but the numbers were too great against them for +that to be of much avail. Soon they who had not fallen were borne +back to the hall door, and there stood again, but my father was not +with them.</p> +<p>He fell at the first, as Owen tells me. Another has told me that +Owen stood across his body and would have fallen with him, but that +Stuf drew him away, calling on him to mind his promise concerning +me, and so he went back, still fighting, until he stood in the door +of the hall.</p> +<p>There Erpwald and his men stayed their hands, like a ring of +dogs that bay a boar. There was a little porch, so that they could +not get at him sideways, and needs must that they fell on him one +at a time. It seemed that not one cared to be the first to go near +the terrible Briton as he stood, in the plain arms and with the +heavy sword my father had given him, waiting for them. Well do I +know what he was like at that time, and I do not blame them. There +is no man better able to wield weapons than he, and they had learnt +it.</p> +<p>Then the light of the straw stack went out suddenly, as a stack +fire will, and the darkness seemed great. Yet from the well-lit +hall a path of light came past Owen and fell on his foes, so that +he could well see any man who was bold enough to come, and they +held back the more.</p> +<p>There were but six men of ours in the house behind Owen.</p> +<p>Then came Erpwald, leaning, sorely wounded, on one of his men, +and Owen spoke to him.</p> +<p>"You have wrought enough harm, Erpwald, for this once. Let the +rest of the household go in peace."</p> +<p>"Harm?" groaned the heathen. "Whose fault is it? How could I +think that the fool would have resisted?"</p> +<p>"As there are fifty men in the yard at this moment, it seems +that you were sure of it," answered Owen in a still voice. "If you +knew it not before, now at least you know that a Christian thinks +his faith worth dying for."</p> +<p>Now, whether it was his wound, or whether he saw that he had +gone too far, Erpwald bethought himself, and seemed minded to make +terms.</p> +<p>"I wish to slay no more," he said. "Yield yourselves quietly, +and no harm shall come to you."</p> +<p>"Let them not go, Thane," said one of his men, "else will they +be off to Ina, and there will be trouble. You mind what you +promised us."</p> +<p>Now, Owen heard this, and the words told him that he was right +in thinking that there was more than heathenry in the affair. It +seemed to him that the first thing was to save me, and that if he +could do that in any way nought else mattered much. It was plain +that no man was to be left to bring Ina on the priest for his ill +deeds.</p> +<p>"If that is all the trouble now," he said, therefore, "as we are +in your power you can make us promise what you like. Give us terms +at least; if not, come and end us and the matter at once."</p> +<p>One of the men flew at him on that, and bided where he fell, +across the doorway of the porch; none stirred to follow him.</p> +<p>"Swear that you will not go to Ina for a month's time with any +tales, and you and all shall go free," Erpwald said.</p> +<p>The man who had spoken before put in at once:</p> +<p>"What of the blood feud, Erpwald?--There is Aldred's son +yet."</p> +<p>At that the priest lost temper with his follower, and turned on +him savagely:</p> +<p>"Is it for men to war with children? What care I for a blood +feud? Can I not fend for myself? Hold your peace."</p> +<p>Then he said to Owen:</p> +<p>"They say that you are the child's foster-father now. If I give +him to you, will you swear that you or he shall cross my path no +more? You need not trouble to go to Ina, for he will not hearken to +a Briton in any case."</p> +<p>Owen reddened under the last, but for my sake he did not answer, +save to the first part of the saying.</p> +<p>"I will swear to take the child hence and let this matter be for +us as if it had not been," he said, seeing that it was the best he +could win for me.</p> +<p>What other thoughts were in his mind will be seen hereafter, but +I will say now that it was not all so hopeless as it seemed to +Erpwald.</p> +<p>"What of the other men," asked one or two of Erpwald's +following.</p> +<p>"They shall bide here, where we can keep an eye on them," the +priest answered. "They will not hurt us, nor we them, save only if +they try to make trouble."</p> +<p>Then some of our house-caries said in a low tone to Owen: +"Better to die with the master. Let us out and fall on them."</p> +<p>But he said: "This is for the boy's sake. Let me be, my +brothers; I have the thane's word to carry out."</p> +<p>Then they knew that he was right, but they bade him make Erpwald +swear to keep faith with them all.</p> +<p>So he spoke again with the priest, asking for honest pledges in +return for his own oath. Whereon from across the courtyard, where a +few wounded men lay--a voice weak with pain cried, with a strange +laugh:</p> +<p>"Get him the holy ring, that he may be well bound. It hangs +yonder where I put it, in the gateside timbers."</p> +<p>Erpwald glowered into the darkness, but he could see nothing of +the man who had spoken. But one of his men had seen the spear cast, +and knew what was meant, though the fight had set it out of his +mind. So he ran, and found the shaft easily in the darkness, and +took the ring from it, bringing it back to Erpwald.</p> +<p>"It is luck," he said. "Spear and ring alike have marked the +place for Woden."</p> +<p>"Hold your peace, fool," snarled Erpwald, with a sharp look at +Owen.</p> +<p>And at that Stuf laughed again, unheeded.</p> +<p>Then Owen swore as he had promised, on the cross hilt of his +sword, and Erpwald swore faith on the ring, and so the swords were +sheathed at last; and when they had disarmed all our men but Owen, +Erpwald's men took torches from the hall and went to tend the +wounded, who lay scattered everywhere inside the gate, and most +thickly where my father fell.</p> +<p>Owen went to that place, with a little hope yet that his friend +might live, but it was not so. Therefore he knelt beside him for a +little while, none hindering him, and so bade him farewell. Then he +went to Stuf, who was sorely hurt, but not in such wise that he +might not recover.</p> +<p>"What will you do with the child?" the man asked.</p> +<p>"Have no fear for him. I shall take him westward, where my own +people are. He shall be my son, and I think that all will be well +with him hereafter."</p> +<p>"I wit that you are not what you have seemed, Master," Stuf +said. "It will be well if you say so."</p> +<p>Then Owen bade him farewell also, and went to find me and get me +hence before the ale and mead of the house was broached by the +spoilers. And, as I have said, I was already dressed, and I ran to +his arms and asked what all the trouble was, and where my father +had gone, and the like. I think that last question was the hardest +that Owen ever had put to him, and he did not try to answer it +then. He told me that he and I must go to Chichester at once, at my +father's bidding; and I, being used to obey without question, was +pleased with the thought of the unaccustomed night journey. And +then Owen bethought him, and left me for a moment, going to the +chest where my father had his store of money. It was mine now, and +he took it for me.</p> +<p>It seemed strange to him that there was no ransacking of the +house, as one might have expected. Had the foe fired it he would +not have been surprised at all, but all was quiet in the hall, and +the voices of the men came mostly from the storehouses, whence he +could hear them rolling the casks into the courtyard; so he told me +to bide quietly here in the chamber for a few minutes, and went out +on the high place swiftly, closing the door after him, that I might +see nothing in the hall.</p> +<p>There he found Erpwald himself close at hand, sitting in my +father's own chair while the wound that Owen himself had given him +was being dressed. At the side of the great room sat the rest of +our men, downcast and wondering, and half a dozen of the foe stood +on guard at the door. It was plain that nought in the house was to +be meddled with.</p> +<p>Erpwald turned as he heard the sliding door open.</p> +<p>"Get you gone as soon as you may," he said sullenly.</p> +<p>"There is one thing that I must ask you, Erpwald," Owen said. +"It is what one may ask of one brave man concerning another. Let +Aldred's people bury him in all honour, as they will."</p> +<p>"There you ask too much, Welshman. But I will bury him myself in +all honour in the way that I think best. He shall have the burial +of a son of Woden for all his foolishness."</p> +<p>At least, there would be no dishonour to his friend in that, and +Owen thought it best to say no more, but he had one more boon, as +it were, to ask.</p> +<p>"Let me take a horse from the stable for the child," he said. +"We may have far to go."</p> +<p>He thought that he would have been met with rage at this, but it +was worth asking. However, Erpwald answered somewhat wearily, and +not looking at him:</p> +<p>"Take them all, if you will. I am no common reiver, and they are +not mine. The farther you go the better. But let me tell you, that +it will be safer for you not to make for Winchester and the king. I +shall have you watched."</p> +<p>"A plain warning not to be disregarded," answered Owen. "We +shall not need it."</p> +<p>Erpwald said no more, and Owen came back to me, closing the door +after him again. There was another door, seldom used, from this +chamber to the back of the house where the servants had their +quarters, and through that he took me, wrapped in such warm furs as +he could find. Then he went to the stables, and in the dark, for he +would not attract the notice of Erpwald's men, who were round the +ale in the courtyard, he saddled my forest pony, and another good +horse which he was wont to ride with my father at times. He did not +take the thane's own horse, as it would be known, and he would risk +no questions as to how he came by it.</p> +<p>Then we rode away by the back gate, and when the darkness closed +on us as we passed along the well-known road towards Chichester the +voices of the foe who revelled in our courtyard came loudly to us. +And I did but think it part of the rejoicing of that day as I +listened.</p> +<p>Through the warm summer rain we came before daylight had fully +broken to Bosham, not passing through Chichester, for the gates +would be closed. And just before the sun rose, Dicul the priest +came from his house to the little church and saw us sitting in the +porch, waiting him, while the horses cropped the grass on the +little green outside the churchyard, hobbled in forest fashion.</p> +<p>He bade us back to his house, and there I fell asleep +straightway, with the tiredness that comes suddenly to a child. And +Owen and he talked, and I know that he told him all that had +happened and what his own plans for me were, under the seal of +secrecy. And then he begged the good priest to tell me of my +loss.</p> +<p>So it came to pass that presently Dicul took me on his knee and +told me wonderful stories of the martyrs of old time, and of his +own land in times that are not so far off; and when it seemed to me +that indeed there is nought more wonderful and blessed than to give +life for the faith, he told me how my father had fallen at the +hands of heathen men, and was indeed a martyr himself. I do not +know that he could have done it more wisely or sweetly, for half +the sting was lost in the wonder of it all.</p> +<p>But he did not tell me who it was had slain my father, and that +I did not know for many a long day.</p> +<p>After that we ate with him, and he gave us some little store for +a journey, and so Owen and I rode on again, westward, homeless +indeed, but in no evil case.</p> +<p>Now, as one may suppose, Owen's first thought was to get me +beyond the reach of Erpwald, whose mood might change again, from +that in which he let us go with what we would, to that in which he +came on us. So all that day we went on steadily, sleeping the night +in a little wayside inn, and pushing on again in the early morning, +until Owen deemed it safe for us to draw rein somewhat, and for my +sake to travel slowly.</p> +<p>At this time he had no clear plan in his head for the ending of +our journey, nor was there need to make one at once. We had store +of money to last us for many a long day, what with my father's and +that which Owen had of his own, and we were well mounted, and what +few things we needed to seem but travellers indeed Owen bought in +some little town we passed through on the third day. After that we +went easily, seeing things that had nought in them but wonder and +delight for me.</p> +<p>Then at last we came in sight of the ancient town of Sarum on +its hill, and there we drew up on the wayside grass to let a little +train of churchmen pass us, and though I did not know it, that +little halt ended our wandering. In the midst of the train rode a +quiet looking priest, who sang softly to himself as his mule ambled +easily along, and he turned to give us his blessing as Owen +unhelmed when he passed abreast of us. Then his hand stayed as he +raised it, and I saw his face lighten suddenly, and he pulled up +the mule in haste, crying to Owen by name, and in the Welsh tongue. +And I saw the face of my foster-father flush red, and he leapt from +his horse and went to the side of the priest, setting his finger on +his lip for a moment as he did so.</p> +<p>Then the priest signed that his people should go on, and at once +they left him with us, and Owen bade me do reverence to Aldhelm, +the abbot of Malmesbury, before whom we stood. And after that they +talked long in Welsh, and that I could not follow, though indeed I +knew a fair smattering of it by this time, seeing that Owen would +have me learn from him, and we had used it a good deal in these few +days as we rode.</p> +<p>It seemed to me that Aldhelm was overjoyed to see Owen, and I +know now that those two were old friends of the closest at one +time, when they met in Owen's own land.</p> +<p>So from that meeting it came to pass that we found a home with +the good abbot at Malmesbury for a time, and there I learned much, +as one may suppose, while Owen trained me in arms, and the monks +taught me book learning, which I liked not at all, and only +suffered for love of Owen, who wished me to know all I might.</p> +<p>Then one day, after two years in quiet here, came Ina the king +with all his court to see the place and the new buildings that were +rising under the hand of Aldhelm and Owen, who had skill in such +matters, and then again was a change for us. It seems that +Ethelburga the queen took a fancy to me, and asked that I might be +with her as a page in the court, and that was so good a place for +the son of any thane in the land that Owen could not refuse, though +at first it seemed that we must be parted for a time.</p> +<p>But it was needful that the king should hear my story, that he +might have some surety as to who I was, and if I were worthy by +birth to be of his household, and Owen hardly knew how to tell him +without breaking his oath to Erpwald. Yet it was true that the +heathen thane had scoffed at him, rather than forbidden him to seek +Ina, though indeed it was plain that he meant to bind us from +making trouble for him in any way. But at last Owen said that if +the king would forbear to take revenge for a wrong done to me, he +might speak, and so after promise given he told all.</p> +<p>Very black grew the handsome face of the king as he heard.</p> +<p>"Am I often deceived thus?" he said. "I will even send some to +ask of all the ins and outs of such another case hereafter. This +Erpwald sent to me to say that Aldred and all his house had been +slain by outlaws, and that he himself had driven them off and I +believed him. After that I made over the Eastdean lands to him, and +I take it that they were what he wanted. Well, he has not lived +long to enjoy them, for he died not long ago, and now his brother +holds the lands after him, and I know that he at least is a worthy +man.</p> +<p>"Let it be. The child is my ward now, as an orphan, and I should +have had to set his estate in the hands of some one to hold till he +can take them. There will be no loss to him in the end."</p> +<p>Then he smiled and looked Owen in the face.</p> +<p>"I know you well, Owen, though it is plain that you would not +have it so. Mind you the day when I met Gerent at the Parrett +bridge? I do not often forget a face, and I saw you then, and asked +who you were. Now there is good and, as I hope, lasting peace +between our lands, thanks to the wisdom of our good Aldhelm here, +and I will ask you somewhat, for I know that you also wrought for +that peace while you might. Come to me, and be of the nobles who +guard me and mine, and so wait in honour until the time comes when +you may return to your place. Then you will be with the boy +also."</p> +<p>So it came to pass that we took leave of that good friend the +abbot, and went from Malmesbury in the train of Ina of Wessex. +Thereafter for six years I served Ethelburga the queen, being +trained in all wise as her own child, and after that I was one of +the athelings of the court in one post or another, but always with +the king when there was war on the long frontier of the Wessex +land.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a>. HOW KING INA'S FEAST WAS +MARRED, AND OF A VOW TAKEN BY OSWALD.</h2> +<p>At this time, when I take up my story again, I was two and +twenty, not very tall indeed, but square in the shoulder, and well +able to hold my own, at the least, with the athelings who were my +comrades, at the weapon play or any of our sports. It would have +been my own fault if I were not so, for there was no better warrior +in all Ina's following than Owen, and he taught me all I knew. And +that knowledge I had tested on the field more than once, for Ina +had no less trouble with his neighbours than any other king in +England, whether in matters of raiding to be stopped or tribute to +be enforced. Since I was too old to serve the queen as page any +longer I had been of his bodyguard, and where he went was not +always the safest place on a field for us who shielded him.</p> +<p>A court is always changing, as men come and go again to their +own places after some little service there, but Owen and I were of +those to whom the court was home altogether. Owen was the king's +marshal now, and I was in command of the house-carles, and had been +so for a year or more. It was no very heavy post, nor responsible +after all, for Ina's guard was the love of his people, and beyond +these warriors from the freemen who served as palace guard and +watch, were the athelings of the household, from whose number I had +been chosen for this post by right of longest service more than for +any other reason, as I think. I knew all the ins and outs of every +house where Ina went, and had nothing fresh to learn in the matter. +Still, if the men under me were few, the post had its own +privileges, and was always held to lead to somewhat higher, and I +was more than content therewith, for it kept me near Owen and the +king, whom I loved next to my foster father.</p> +<p>I do not think that by this time any one knew, save the king, +that I was not Owen's own son. I was wont to call him father +always, and I cannot be blamed, for he was foster father and +godfather to me, and well did he take the father's place to the +orphan whom he had saved. And I had forgotten Eastdean, save as one +keeps a memory of the home where one was a child. I never thought +of it as a place that should have been mine, for neither the king +nor Owen ever spoke to me concerning it. Sometimes, in remembrances +of my father, I would wonder into whose hands the manors had +passed, but rather in hopes that some day those who owned them now +would suffer me to see that the grave where he lay was honoured, +rather than as a matter which at all concerned me in any closer +way.</p> +<p>For, since I was but a child, the court had been my home, with +Owen as my father, and Ina the king as the loved guardian for whom +I would gladly give my life in need. All my training and thoughts +were centred here, not as what one calls a courtier at all, but as +one of the household who feared the king and queen no more than +Owen himself, and yet reverenced all three as those to whom all +homage was due since he could remember.</p> +<p>Thus things were with us at the end of the tenth year after we +left Aldhelm at Malmesbury, and now the court was at Glastonbury in +fair Somerset, keeping the Christmastide there in the place that is +the holiest in all England by reason of the coming thither of +Joseph of Arimathea, and the first preaching of the Gospel in our +land by him. It was not by any means the first time I had been in +the place, and here I had some good friends indeed; for Ina loved +the vale of Avalon well, and often came hither with a few of us, or +with the whole court, to the house which he had made that he might +watch the building of the wondrous church which he was raising over +the very spot where the little chapel of the saint had been in the +old days.</p> +<p>Fair is the place indeed, for it lies deep among green hills, +and from the westward slope where the church stands, at their foot +stretch great meres to lesser hills toward the sunset beyond. Very +pleasant are the trees and flowers of the rich meadows of the +island valley, and the wind comes but gently here even at Yuletide, +hardly ruffling the clear waters that have given the place its +name, "Inys Vitryn," and "Avalon" men called the place before we +Saxons came, by reason of those still meres and the wondrous +orchards which fear no frost among the hills that shelter them. The +summer seems to linger here after it has fled from the uplands.</p> +<p>There was a goodly company gathered in Ina's hall for the +twelfth night feasting. Truly, the hall was not so great as that in +the palace at Winchester, but it was all the brighter for that +reason. It was hard to get that great space well lighted and warmed +at times, when the wind blew cold under eaves and through narrow +windows; but here all was well lit and comfortable to look on and +to feel also, as one sat and feasted with the sweet sedges of the +mere banks deep under foot on the floor and the great fire in the +hall centre near enough to every one. I think that this hall in +Glastonbury was as pleasant as any that I know in all Wessex.</p> +<p>There was a great door midway in the southern side of the hall, +and as one entered, to right and left along that wall ran the +tables for the house-carles and other men of the lower ranks, and +for strangers who might come in to share the king's hospitality and +had no right to a higher place. Then at either end of the hall were +cross tables, where the thanes and their ladies had their places in +due order, above the franklins whose cross tables were next to +those of the house-carles. And then, right over against the south +wall and across the fire on the hearth, was the longest table of +all, and in the midst of that was the high place for the king and +queen and a few others. That dais was the only place where the +guests did not sit on both sides of the tables, for the king's +board stood open to the midst of the hall on its three low steps +that he might see and be seen by all his guests, and be fitly +served from in front.</p> +<p>On the hearth a great yule log burnt brightly, and all round the +wall were set torches in their sconces, so that the hall was very +bright. On the walls were the costly hangings that we took +everywhere with us, and above them shone the spare arms and helms +and shields of the house-carles, mixed with heads of boar and stag +and wolf from the Mendips and Quantocks where Ina hunted, each head +with its story. Up and down in the spaces between the tables +hurried the servants who tended the guests, so that the hall was +full of life and brightness from end to end. There was peace in all +Wessex at this time, and so here was a full gathering of guests to +the little town.</p> +<p>Ina and Ethelburga the queen were on the high place, and to +their left was Herewald, the Somerset ealdorman, who lived in +Glastonbury, and was a good friend of mine, as will be seen, with +his fair daughter Elfrida, and on the right of the king was Nunna, +his cousin, and his wife. Owen was next to Herewald, at one end of +the high place, and at the other end was Sigebald, the Dorset +ealdorman, under whom I had fought not so long ago. There were many +others of high rank in the west to the right and left of these +again at the long tables.</p> +<p>Indeed, there was but one whom I missed in all the gathering. My +old friend Aldhelm was gone. He died in the last year, after having +been Bishop of Sherborne for a little while. I missed him sorely, +as did every man who knew him.</p> +<p>I do not think that if one searched all England through there +could have been found a more noble looking group than that at Ina's +high table. It is well known that our king and queen were beyond +all others for royalty of look and ways, and I will venture to say +that neither of the ealdormen had their equals, save in Nunna, +anywhere. But it is not my word only, for it was a common saying, +that Owen seemed most royal next to the king himself. Grave he +always was, but with a ready smile and pleasant, in the right +place, and though he was now about five-and-forty he had changed +little to my eyes from what he was twelve years ago, when he saved +me from the wolves. He was one of those men who age but slowly.</p> +<p>One other on the high place I have not mentioned in this way. +That was Elfrida, the Somerset ealdorman's daughter, of whom it was +said that she was the fairest maiden in all Wessex. Certainly at +this time I for one would have agreed in that saying. She was two +years younger than I, if I dare say it, and it seemed to me that in +the last three years she had suddenly grown from the child that I +used to play with to a very stately lady, well fitted to take the +place of her mother, who used to be kind to me when I first came +here as the queen's somewhat mischievous page, and had but died a +year or so ago. I think that this feast was the first Elfrida and +her father had been present at since then, and at least, that was +the reason I heard given for her presence on the high place.</p> +<p>Now I must say where my place was in the hall, for it may make +more plain what happened hereafter. The young nobles of the court +who had no relatives present sat at one of the cross tables at the +king's right hand, and at the head of these tables was my seat by +reason of my post as captain of the house-carles. So I sat with my +back to the long chief table, with its occupants just behind me, +and to my left was the open space in the centre of the hall, so +that if I was needed, or had to go out for the change of guard or +other house-carle business, all that I had to do, being at one end +of the bench, was to get up and go my way without disturbing any +one. At the same time I could see all the hall before me, and a +half turn of the head would set my eyes on the king himself.</p> +<p>The door of the hall was closed when the king entered from his +own chambers and took his place, so that the cold, and the +draughts, which might eddy the smoke of fire and torches about the +guests too much, was kept out. But it was closed against weather +only, for any man might crave admittance to the king's ball at the +great feast, whether as wayfarer or messenger or suppliant, so that +he had good reason for asking hospitality. Several men had come in +thus as the feast went on, but none heeded the little bustle their +coming made, nor so much as turned to see where they were set at +the lower tables, except myself and perhaps Owen. There was +merriment enough in the hall, and room and plenty for all comers, +even as Ina loved to have it.</p> +<p>Now there is no need to tell aught of that feast, until the meat +was done and the tables were cleared for the most pleasant part of +the evening, when the servants, whether men or women, sat down at +their tables also, and the harp went round, with the cups, and men +sang in turn or told tales, each as he was best able to amuse the +rest. There was a little bustle while this clearance went on, and +men changed their seats to be nearer friends and the like, for the +careful state of the beginning of the feast was over in some +degree; but at last all was ready, and the great door, which had +been open for a few minutes as the servants took out into the +courtyard the great cauldrons and spits, was closed, and then there +fell a silence, for we waited for a custom of the king's.</p> +<p>Here at Ina's court we kept up the old custom of drinking the +first cup with all solemnity, and making some vows thereover. This +cup was, of course, to be drunk by the host, and after him by any +whom he would name, or would take a vow on him. In the old heathen +days this cup was called the "Bragi bowl," and the vows were made +in the names of the Asir, and mostly ended in fighting before the +year was over. We kept the old name yet, but now the vows were made +in the name of all the Saints, and if Ina or any other made one it +was sure to be of such sort that it would lead to some worthy deed +before long, wrought in all Christian wise. Maybe the last of the +old pattern of vow was made when Kentwine our king swore to clear +the Welsh from the Parrett River to the sea, and did it.</p> +<p>So when the time came we sat waiting, each with his horn or cup +before him, brimming with ale or cider or mead, as he chose, and +men turned in their seats that they might see the pleasant little +ceremony at the high place the better. As for me, I just turned in +my bench end so that my feet were clear of the table, on which my +arm and cup rested, and faced right down the hall, with, of course, +no one at all between me and the steps of the high place. For now +all had taken their seats except one cup bearer, who waited at the +lowest step with the king's golden cup in one hand, and in the +other a silver flagon of good Welsh wine to fill it withal. One +would say that this was but a matter of chance, but as it happened +presently it was well that I moved.</p> +<p>Now, in the hush was a little talk and laughter among those who +were nearest the king, and then I saw the queen smile and speak to +Elfrida, who blushed and looked well pleased, and then rose and +came daintily round the end of the king's board. There a thane who +sat at the table at the foot of the steps rose and handed her down +them to where the servant waited. Ina had asked her to hand him the +cup after the old fashion, she being the lady of the chief house in +Glastonbury next his own. There she took the cup from the man's +hand, and held it while he filled it heedfully. A little murmur +that was all of praise went round the hall, and her colour rose +again as she heard it, for it was not to be mistaken, and from the +lower tables the voices were outspoken enough in all honesty.</p> +<p>Then she went up the steps holding the cup, and the king smiled +on her as she came, and so she stood on the dais before the table +and held out the wine, and begged the king to drink the "Bragi +bowl" from her hands in her father's town.</p> +<p>The king bowed and smiled again, and rose up to take the cup +from this fair bearer, and at that moment there was a sort of +scuffle, unseemly enough, at the lower end of the hall near the +door, and gruff voices seemed to be hushed as Ina glanced up with +the cup yet untouched by his hand.</p> +<p>Then a man leapt from the hands of some who tried to hold him +back, and he strode across the hall past the fire and to the very +foot of the high place--as rough and unkempt a figure as ever +begged for food at a king's table, unarmed, and a thrall to all +seeming. And as he came he cried:</p> +<p>"Justice, Ina the king!--Justice!"</p> +<p>At that I and my men, who had sprung to our feet to hinder him, +sat down again, for a suppliant none of us might hinder at any +time. I did not remember seeing this man come in, but that was the +business of the hall steward, unless there was trouble that needed +the house-carles.</p> +<p>Ina frowned at this unmannerly coming at first, but his brow +cleared as he heard the cry of the man. He signed to Elfrida to +wait for a moment, and looked kindly at the thrall before him.</p> +<p>"Justice, Lord," the man said again.</p> +<p>"Justice you shall have, my poor churl," answered the king +gently. "But this is not quite the time to go into the matter. Sit +you down again, and presently you shall tell all to Owen the +marshal, and thus it will come to me, and you shall see me again in +the morning."</p> +<p>"Nay, but I will have justice here and now," the man said +doggedly, and yet with some sort of appeal in his voice.</p> +<p>"Is it so pressing? Well, then, speak on. Maybe the vow that I +shall make will be to see you righted."</p> +<p>And so the king sat down again, and the lady Elfrida waited, +resting one hand on the table at the end of the dais farthest from +me, and holding the golden cup yet in the other.</p> +<p>"What shall be done to the man who slays my brother?" the thrall +cried.</p> +<p>And the king answered:</p> +<p>"If he has slain him by craft, he shall die; but if in fair +fight and for what men deem reason, then he shall pay the full +weregild that is due according to my dooms."</p> +<p>Then said the man, and his voice minded me of Owen's in some +way:</p> +<p>"But and if he slew him openly in cold blood, for no wrong done +to himself?"</p> +<p>"A strange doing," said the king--"but he should die +therefor."</p> +<p>The king leant forward, with his elbow on the table to hear the +better, and the man was close to the lowest step to be near him. It +seemed that he was very wroth, for his right hand clutched the +front of his rough jerkin fiercely, and his voice was harsh and +shaking.</p> +<p>"It is your own word, Ina of Wessex, that the man who has slain +my brother in this wise shall die. Lo, you! I am Morgan of +Dyvnaint--and thus--"</p> +<p>There flashed from under the jerkin a long knife in the man's +hand, and at the king he leapt up the low steps. But two of us had +seen what was coming, and even as the brave maiden on his left +dashed the full cup of wine in the man's face, blinding him, I was +on him, so that the wine covered him and my tunic at once. I had +him by the neck, and he gripped the table, and his knife flashed +back at me wildly once, but I jerked him round and hurled him from +the dais with a mighty crash, and so followed him and held him +pinioned, while the cups and platters of the overturned table +rolled and clattered round us.</p> +<p>Then rose uproar enough, and the hall was full of flashing +swords. I mind that I heard the leathern peace thongs of one snap +as the thane who tried to draw it tugged at the hilt, forgetting +them. Soon I was in the midst of a half ring of men as I held the +man close to the great fire on the hearth with his face downward +and his right arm doubled under him. He never stirred, and I +thought he waited for me to loose my hold on him.</p> +<p>Then came the steady voice of Ina:</p> +<p>"Let none go forth from the hall. To your seats, my friends, for +there can be no more danger; and let the house-carles see to the +man."</p> +<p>Two of my men took charge of my captive, even as he lay, and I +stood up. Owen was close to me.</p> +<p>"The man is dead," he said in a strange voice.</p> +<p>"I doubt it," I answered, looking at him quickly, for the voice +startled me. Then I saw that my foster father's face was white and +drawn as with some trouble, and he was gazing in a still way at the +man whom the warriors yet held on the floor.</p> +<p>"His foot has been in the fire since you hove him there, yet he +has not stirred," he said.</p> +<p>Then I minded that I had indeed smelt the sharp smell of burning +leather, and had not heeded it. So I told the two men to draw the +thrall away and turn him over. As they did so we knew that he was +indeed dead, for the long knife was deep in his side, driven home +as he fell on it. And I saw that in the hilt of it was a wonderful +purple jewel set in gold. It was not the weapon of a thrall.</p> +<p>That Ina saw also, and he came down from the high place, and +stood and looked in the face of this one who would have slain him, +fixedly for a minute.</p> +<p>Then he said, speaking to Owen in a low voice:</p> +<p>"Justice has been done, as it seems to me. Justice from a higher +hand than mine, moreover."</p> +<p>Then he went back to his place, and standing there said in the +dead hush that was on us all:</p> +<p>"It would seem that this man thought that he had somewhat +against me, indeed, but I do not know him, or who his brother may +have been. Nor have I slain any man save in open field of battle at +any time, as all men know, save and except that I may be said to +have done so by the arm of the law. Yet even so, our Wessex dooms +are not such as take life but for the most plain cause, and that +seldom as may be. Is there any one here who has knowledge of this +man who calls himself Morgan of Dyvnaint? It seems to me that I +have heard the name before."</p> +<p>Now Owen had gone back to his place, and while one or two thanes +came forward and looked in the face of the man, whom they had not +yet seen plainly, he spoke to the king, and Ina seemed to wonder at +what he heard.</p> +<p>Then Herewald the ealdorman said:</p> +<p>"That is the name of one of the two Devon princes of the West +Welsh, cousins of Gerent the king. We have trouble with their men, +who raid our homesteads now and then."</p> +<p>At that a big man with a yellow moustache and long curling hair +rose from among the franklins and said loudly, in a voice which was +neither like that of a Briton nor a Saxon at all:</p> +<p>"Let me get a nearer look at him, and I will soon tell you if he +is what he claimed to be."</p> +<p>And with no more ceremony he came to where I and the two +house-carles yet stood, and looked and laughed a little to himself +as he did so.</p> +<p>"He is Morgan the prince, right enough," he said. "And I can +tell you all the trouble. Your sheriff hung his brother, Dewi, +three months since for cattle lifting and herdsman slaying on this +side Parrett River, somewhere by Puriton, where no Welshman should +be. I helped hunt the knaves at the time. The sheriff took him for +a common outlaw like his comrades, and it was in my mind that there +would be trouble. So I told the sheriff, and he said that if the +king himself got mixed up with outlaws and cattle thieves he must +even take his chance with the rest. And thereon I said--"</p> +<p>"Thanks, friend," said Ina. "The rest shall be for tomorrow. +Bide here tonight, that you may tell all at the morning."</p> +<p>The man made a courtly bow enough, and went back to his seat, +and then Ina bade Owen see to his lodgment, and after that the +thralls carried out the body. I went quietly and walked along the +lower tables, bidding my men see if more Welshmen were present, but +finding none, and then I found the hall steward wringing his hands, +with an ashy face, at the far end of the hall.</p> +<p>"Master Oswald," he said, almost weeping, "how that man came in +here I do not know. I saw him not until he rose up. None seem to +have seen him enter, but men have so shifted their places that it +seemed not strange to any near him that they had not seen him +before."</p> +<p>"Had you seen him you could not have turned him away," I said. +"He came as a suppliant, and the king's word is strict concerning +such at these times. Good Saxon enough he spoke, too, in the way of +many of our half Welsh border thralls. I do not think that you will +be blamed. Most likely he slipped in as the tables were cleared +just now. There was coming and going enough, and we have many +strangers here.</p> +<p>"Who is the yellow-haired man?"</p> +<p>"A chapman from the town. Some shipmaster whom the ealdorman +knows."</p> +<p>Now, after I was back in my place and the bustle was ended, +there fell an uneasy silence, for men knew not if the feast was to +go on. Many of the ladies had gone, with the queen, and Elfrida was +there no longer. But Ina stood up with a fresh cup in his hand, and +he smiled and said, while the eyes of all were on him:</p> +<p>"Friends, we have seen a strange thing, but you have also seen +the deeds of a brave maiden and a ready warrior to whom I am +beholden for my life, as is plain enough. Yet we will not let the +wild ways of our western neighbours mar the keeping of our holy +tide. Maybe there is more to be learnt of the matter, but if so +that can rest. Think now only of these two brave ones, I pray you, +for I have yet the Bragi bowl to drink, and it is not hard to say +whom I should pledge therein."</p> +<p>Then he looked round for Elfrida, not having noticed that she +had gone with the queen.</p> +<p>"Why," he said, "it was in my mind to pledge the lady first, but +I fear she has been fain to leave us. So I do not think that I can +do better than pledge both my helpers together, and then Oswald can +answer for the lady and himself at once."</p> +<p>He rose and held the cup high, and I rose also, not quite sure +if I were myself or some one else, with all the hall looking at +me.</p> +<p>"Drinc hael to the lady Elfrida, bravest and fairest in all the +land of Somerset!" he cried. "Drinc hael, Oswald the king's +thane--thane by right of ready and brave service just +rendered!"</p> +<p>Then he drank with his eyes on me, and there went up a sort of +cheer at his words, for men love to see any service rewarded on the +spot if it may be so. Now I was at a loss what to say, and the lady +should have been here to bring the cup to me in all formality. +Maybe I should have stood there silent and somewhat foolish, but +that the ealdorman, her father, helped me out.</p> +<p>"Come and do homage for the new rank, lad," he said in a low +voice.</p> +<p>He was at the lower table near me now, for the high table had +been broken and the king stood alone on the dais.</p> +<p>So I went to the steps, and bent one knee at their top, and +kissed the hand of the king, and then held out the hilt of my +sword, that he might seem to take it and give it me again. But he +bade me rise, and so he took off his own sword, which was a +wondrous one, and the token of the submission of some chief on the +Welsh border beyond Avon, and he girt it on me with his own +hands.</p> +<p>"You nigh gave your life for me, my thane," he said. "That man's +knife was perilously near you."</p> +<p>He touched my tunic with his hand, and I looked. Across it where +my heart beat was a long slit that I had not found out yet, where +the knife flew at me. That stroke must have been the man's bane, +because to reach me thus he had thrown his arm across his chest, +and so had fallen on his weapon.</p> +<p>Then I was going, I think, though indeed I hardly know what I +did at that moment, but the king stayed me, laughing.</p> +<p>"Do not think that I am going to let you off the cup, though. +Now you shall pledge me, and if you have any vow to make which is +fitting for a thane, make it and let us all hear it. But you have +also the lady to think of in your words."</p> +<p>Then there was a little rustle at the door which was on the high +place, and the queen returned with some of her ladies, hearing that +all was seemly again, and she stood smiling at these last words. +But Elfrida was not with her, and I was glad, else I had been more +mazed yet. So I plucked up heart and took the cup from the hand of +the king, trying to collect my thoughts into some sort of fitting +words.</p> +<p>"Drinc hael Cyning," I said, while my voice shook. "Here do I +vow before all the Saints and before this company--that I will do +my best to prove myself worthy of this honour that has been set on +me!"</p> +<p>"Why, Oswald," said the queen, "that is no sort of vow such as +you should make, for we know that already, and you have proved it +now if never before. And you have forgotten Elfrida."</p> +<p>Now, I thought to myself that the last thing that I was ever +likely to do was to forget that maiden, and with that a thought +came into my head, and as the queen was smiling at me, and every +one was waiting, I grew desperate, and must needs out with it.</p> +<p>"Now, I cannot do better than this," I said, finding my courage +all of a sudden. "Here do I add to my vow that so long as my life +shall last I will not again forget the Lady Elfrida. Nor will I be +content until I am held worthy by her to--to guard her all the rest +of my days."</p> +<p>With that I drained the cup, and while the thanes laughed and +cheered all round me, and Ina smiled as if well pleased enough, the +queen set her hand on my arm, smiling also, and said:</p> +<p>"That was well said, my thane, but for one turn of the words. +Why did you not tell us plainly that you mean to win her? We all +know what you mean."</p> +<p>Then I went to my place, and I glanced at Herewald, to see how +he would take all this. Somewhat seemed to have amused him +mightily, and his eyes brimmed with a jest as he looked at me. +Presently, when men forgot me in listening to the vow Ina made, +that he would add somewhat to the new Church in thankfulness for +this escape, the ealdorman came near me and whispered:</p> +<p>"You are a cautious youth, Oswald, for I never heard a man turn +a hint from a lady better in my life. Nevertheless, if you are not +careful, Ethelburga will wed you to Elfrida for all your +craft."</p> +<p>He laughed again, and said no more. But I was looking at Owen, +who seemed to have some thoughts of his own that were troubling him +sorely. He smiled and nodded, indeed, when he caught my eye, but +then he grew grave again directly, and afterwards his horn stood +before him on the table untasted, and his look seemed far away, +though round him men sang and all was merry.</p> +<p>However, as one may suppose, the merriment was not what it +should have been, and none wondered much when Ina rose and left the +table with a few pleasant parting words. He was never one to bide +long at a feast, and he knew, maybe, that the house-carles and +younger men would be more at ease when his presence was no longer +felt by them. With him went Owen and the ealdorman, and Nunna, at +some sign of his, and after they went I had to stand no little +banter concerning my vow, as may be supposed.</p> +<p>I was not sorry when a page came and bade me join the king in +his own chamber, though it was all good-natured and in no sort of +unkindness. I will not say that I did not enjoy it either. So I +went as I was bidden, and found that some sort of council was being +held, and that those four were looking grave over it. I supposed +they had some errand for me at first, but in no long time I knew +that what was on hand was nought more or less than the beginning of +parting between Owen and me.</p> +<p>I will make little of all that was said, though it was a long +matter, and heavy in the telling, and maybe tangled here and there +to me as I listened. I think that Ina understood that trouble fell +on me as I heard all, for he looked kindly on me from his great +chair, while Nunna sat on the table and was silent, stroking his +beard, as if thinking. But Owen drew me to the settle by him, and +bade me hearken while the king told me the tale I had to learn.</p> +<p>Then I heard how Owen, my foster father, was indeed a prince of +the old Cornish line that came from Arthur, and how his cousins, +Morgan and Dewi, had plotted to oust him from his place at the +right hand of Gerent the king, and had succeeded only too well, so +that he had had to fly. It matters not what their lies concerning +him had been, nor do I think that Owen knew all that had been said +against him, but Gerent had banished him, and so he had wandered to +Mercia, and thence after a year or two to Sussex, having heard of +the Irish monks of the old Western Church at Bosham. So he had met +with me, and thus he and I had come to Ina's court together.</p> +<p>And as I heard all, I knew that it had been for my sake that he +was content to serve as a simple forester at Eastdean, for Ina told +me that across the Severn among the other princes of the old Welsh +lands he would have been more than welcome. I could say nothing, +but I set my hand on his and left it there, and he smiled at me, +and grasped it.</p> +<p>"And now," said Ina, "your hand has in some sort avenged the old +wrong, for you have brought about the end of Morgan, who was Owen's +foe. But this is a matter we need to hear more concerning. Do you +bring us that stranger that he may tell us what he knows."</p> +<p>I went to the hall again, and found him easily enough, for all +men were looking at him. He was in the midst of the hall, juggling +in marvellous wise with a heavy woodman's axe, which he played with +as if it were a straw for lightness. Even as I entered from the +door on the high place he was whirling it for a mighty stroke which +seemed meant to cleave a horn cup which he had set on a stool +before him, and I wondered. But he stayed the stroke as suddenly as +if his great arms had been turned to steel, so that the axe edge +rested on the rim of the vessel without so much as notching it, and +at that all the onlookers cheered him.</p> +<p>"Now it may be known," said he, smiling broadly, "why men call +me Thorgils the axeman."</p> +<p>Then he threw the unhandy weapon into the air whirling, and +caught it as it came to hand again, so that it balanced on his +palm, and so he held it as I went to him, and told him the king +would speak with him.</p> +<p>Whereon he threw the axe at the doorpost, so that it stuck +there, and laughed at the new shout of applause, and so turned down +his sleeves and bade me lead him where I would.</p> +<p>He made a stiff, outlandish salute as he stood before Ina, and +the king returned it.</p> +<p>"I have sent for you now, friend, rather than wait for morning," +he said, "for it seems to me that we have business that must be +seen to with the first light. Will you tell us what you know of +this man who has been slain? I think you are no Welshman of +Cornwall."</p> +<p>"I am Thorgils the Norseman of Watchet, king," he answered. +"Thorgils the axeman, men call me, by reason, of some skill with +that weapon which your folk seem to hold in no repute, which is a +pity. Shipmaster am I by trade, and I am here to seek for cargo, +that I may make one more voyage this winter with the more profit, +having to cross to Dyfed, beyond the narrow sea, though it is late +in the year."</p> +<p>"I thought you might be a Dane from Tenby."</p> +<p>"The Welsh folk know the difference between us by this time," +Thorgils said, with a little laugh. "They call them 'black heathen' +and us 'white heathen,' though I don't know that they love us +better than they do them. By grace of Gerent the king, to be +politic, or by grace of axe play, to speak the truth, we have a +little port of our own here on this side the water, at the end of +the Quantocks, where we seek to bide peaceably with all men as +traders."</p> +<p>"Ay! I have heard of your town," said Ina. "Now, can tell us how +Morgan and his brother came to be in company with outlaws?"</p> +<p>"He fell out with Gerent over us, to begin with. I went with our +chiefs to Exeter when we first came seeking a home, to promise +tribute if we were left in peace in the place we had chosen. Gerent +was willing enough, but Morgan, who claims some sort of right over +the Devon end of the kingdom, was against our biding at all, and +there were words. However, Gerent and we had our way, and so we +thought to hear no more of the matter. But the next thing was that +Morgan gathered a force and tried to turn us out on his own +account, and had the worst of the affair. That angered Gerent, for +he lost some good men outside our stockades. And then other things +cropped up between them. I have heard that the old king found out +old lies told by Morgan concerning Owen the prince, whom men hope +to see again, but I know little of that. Anyway, Morgan and his +brother fled, and this is the end thereof. We heard too that he +plotted to take the throne, and it is likely."</p> +<p>"Thanks, friend," Ina said. "That is a plain tale, and all we +need to know. But what say men of Owen, whom you spoke of? Is it +known that he lives?"</p> +<p>"Oh ay. They say that you know more of him than any one. Men +have seen him here at Glastonbury. Moreover, Gerent came to Norton, +just across the Quantocks, yesterday, and it is thought that he +wants to send a message to you asking after him. There will be joy +in West Wales if he goes back to the right hand of the king, for +one would think that he was a fairy prince by the way he is spoken +of."</p> +<p>Thereat Ina smiled at Owen, and Thorgils saw it, and knew what +was meant in a moment. He turned to Owen with a quick look, and +said frankly:</p> +<p>"True enough, Prince, but I did not know that I spoke of a +listener. On my word, if you do go back, you will have hard work to +live up to what is expected of you. Maybe what is more to the point +is this, that Morgan has more friends than enough, and it is likely +that they will stick at little to avenge him.</p> +<p>"Howbeit," he added with a quaint smile, "it shall not be said +that Thorgils missed a chance. Prince, if you do go back to Gerent +you will be his right hand, as they say. Therefore I will ask you +at once to have us Norsemen in favour, so far as we need any. +Somewhat is due to the bearer of tidings, by all custom."</p> +<p>Ina laughed, and even Owen smiled at the ready Norseman, but +Herewald the ealdorman and I wondered at him, for he spoke as to +equals, with no sort of fear of the king on him, which was not +altogether the way of men who stood before Ina.</p> +<p>Then said Owen quietly:</p> +<p>"Friend, I think there is a favour I may ask you, rather. I have +bided away from my uncle, King Gerent, because I would not return +to him unasked, being somewhat proud, maybe. But now it seems to +King Ina and myself that needs must I go to him to take the news of +this death of Morgan myself. It is a matter that might easily turn +to a cause of war between Wessex and West Wales, for if the man +tried to slay our king in his own court, it may also be told that +here was slain a prince of Dyvnaint. There is full need that the +truth should reach the king before rumour makes the matter over +great. You have seen all, and are known to the Welsh court as a +friend. Come with me, therefore, tomorrow and tell the tale."</p> +<p>"That I will, Prince," Thorgils said. "You will be welcome; but +as I warn you, there will be need for care."</p> +<p>"You know somewhat of the ways of the Welsh court," said +Ina.</p> +<p>"Needs must, Lord King. I am a shipmaster, and every trader I +carry across the sea, sometimes to South Wales, and sometimes to +Bristol, and betimes so far as to Ireland, tells me all he has +learned. It were churlish not to listen, and then we need warning +against such attacks as that of Morgan. Moreover, one likes +somewhat to talk of."</p> +<p>"That is plain enough," said Nunna, laughing.</p> +<p>"Maybe I do talk too much," answered the Norseman. "It is a +failing in my family. But my sister is worse than I."</p> +<p>Then the king laughed again, and so dismissed the shipman, and +presently Owen bade me make all preparation for riding to Norton on +the morrow early. Ina would have us take a strong guard, and I +should bring them back, either with or without Owen, as things +went.</p> +<p>But little sleep had I that night, for I knew too well that from +henceforth my life and that of my foster father must lie apart, and +how far sundered we might be I could not tell. There was no love of +the Saxon in West Wales, nor of the Welshman in Wessex.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a>. HOW THE LADY ELFRIDA SPOKE +WITH OSWALD, AND OF THE MEETING WITH GERENT.</h2> +<p>Gerent, the king of the West Welsh, as we called him, ruled over +all the land of Devon and Cornwall, from the fens of the Tone and +Parrett Rivers to the Land's End. Only those wide fens, across +which he could not go, had kept our great King Kenwalch from +pushing Wessex yet westward, and along their line had been our +frontier since his days until, not long before Ina came to the +throne, Kentwine crossed them to the north and cleared the +marauding Welsh of the Quantock hills and forests from the river to +the sea, setting honest Saxon franklins here and there in the +new-won land, to keep it for him. It was out of those deep wooded +hills that Morgan had come on the raid that ended so badly for his +brother and himself, for the wasted country was yet a sort of +no-man's land, where outlaws found easy harbourage, coming mostly +from the Welsh side. It would not need much to set the tide of war +moving westward again, now that our men knew the fenland as well as +ever the British learned the secrets of the paths.</p> +<p>Now that the time seemed to have come for him to leave Ina, Owen +feared most of all that the long peace would end, for that would +mean the rending of old friendships and certain parting from me. +How much longer the peace would last was very doubtful, and men +said that it was only the wisdom of Aldhelm that had kept it so +well, and now he was dead. It was not so long since that a west +Welshman would not so much as eat with a Saxon, so great was the +hatred they had for us, though that had worn off more or less. +Maybe it would have passed altogether but that there were the +differences between the ways of the two Churches which were always +cropping up and making things bitter again, and those were the +troubles that Aldhelm, whom Gerent honoured, had most tried to +smooth away with some sort of success. Yet it was well known that +many of the Welsh priests and people were sorely against peace with +the men who followed the way of Austin of Canterbury.</p> +<p>As for me, I almost wondered that Ina seemed so ready to part +with Owen, but presently I saw that if Gerent owned him again, my +foster father would be a link between the two kingdoms, which would +make for peace in every way. But for all that, in my own heart was +a sort of half hope that in spite of what the Norseman had heard, +Owen would not be welcomed back to the west, else I should lose him +altogether. There was no intercourse between our courts, now that +Aldhelm was gone.</p> +<p>But in the morning, when I came to say some of this to Owen, he +smiled at me, and said:</p> +<p>"Wait, Oswald. Time enough for trouble when it comes. Maybe you +and I will be back here this evening, and if not, I hope that my +staying with my uncle will mean peace between our lands. Let it be +so till we have seen what may be our fortune at Norton."</p> +<p>So I tried to let the trouble pass, and indeed at the morning +meal I had my new rank to think of, for my comrades would not +forget it, nor would they let me do so. The first man to greet me +as thane was Thorgils the Norseman, too, and he went with me to see +to choosing men and horses for our journey, and I was glad of his +gossip, for it kept me from thinking overmuch of the heavier things +that had kept me waking.</p> +<p>He would guide us across the hills to Norton, where Gerent was; +for though we knew somewhat of the Quantocks, beyond them we did +not go. The palace where the king lay was an ancient Roman +stronghold, and had belonged to Morgan, who was dead; and though +Thorgils had heard that Gerent was there to seek Owen, it was more +likely that he had come to see that the outlawed brothers did not +gather any force against him in their own place. It was many a year +since he had been so near our border.</p> +<p>Presently Thorgils would go down the town to the inn where he +had bestowed his horse, and I went with him, having an hour left +before we started, rather than face any more banter concerning my +thanedom. It was almost in my mind to go to the ealdorman's house +to ask after Elfrida, but I forbore, being shy, I suppose, and so +left the Norseman to join us presently, and went back to the king's +hall by a short cut from the village, whereby I had a meeting which +was unlooked for altogether.</p> +<p>That way was a sort of stolen short cut across the king's +orchard, which some of us used at times in coming from village to +hall, for it lay between the two on the south side of the hall +where the ground sloped sunwards. And as I leapt over the fence I +was aware of a lady who was gathering some of the ruddy crab apples +from the ground under their bare tree, for the hot ale of the +wassail bowl, doubtless, for we leave them out to mellow with the +frost thus. She did not heed me as I came over the soft snow, and +when she did at last look up I saw that she was Elfrida. Just for a +moment I wished that I had gone round by the road, but there was no +escape for me now, for she had seen me. So I unbonneted and went to +meet her.</p> +<p>There was a little flush on her face when she saw me, but it was +not altogether one of pleasure, for when I wished her good morrow, +all that I had in return was a cold little bow and the few words +that needs must be spoken in answer. Whereat I felt somewhat +foolish; but it did not seem to me that I had done aught to deserve +quite so much coldness, not being a stranger by any means. So I +would even try to find the way to a better understanding, and I +thought that maybe the sight of me had brought back some of the +terror of last night.</p> +<p>"Now, I hope that the rough doings of the feast have not been +troublous to you, Lady Elfrida," I said, trying with as good a +grace as I could not to see her cold looks.</p> +<p>I saw that she did indeed shrink a little from them as I spoke, +even in the passing thought.</p> +<p>But she answered:</p> +<p>"Such things are best forgotten as soon as may be. I do not wish +to hear more of them."</p> +<p>"Nevertheless," I answered, "there are some who will not forget +them, and I fear that you must needs be ready to hear of your part +in them pretty often."</p> +<p>"Ay," she said somewhat bitterly, "I suppose that I am the talk +of the whole place now."</p> +<p>"If so, there would be many who would be glad to be spoken of as +you must needs be. There is nought but praise for you."</p> +<p>Then she turned on me, and the trouble was plain enough in a +moment.</p> +<p>"But for yourself, Thane, there would have been nought that I +could not have put up with. But little thought for me was there +when you made me the jest of your idle comrades over that foolish +cup of the king's."</p> +<p>That was a new way of looking at the matter, in all truth. I +supposed that a vow of fealty to any lady would have been taken by +her as somewhat on which to pride herself maybe, from whomsoever it +came. Which seemed to be foolishness in this fresh light. Still, it +came to me that her anger was not altogether fair, for I was the +one who had to stand the jesting, and not one of my honest comrades +so much as mentioned her name lightly in any wise.</p> +<p>"That was no jest of mine, Elfrida," I said gravely enough. "If +there is any jest at all that will come from my oath, it will be +that I have been foolish enough to vow fealty to one who despises +me. The last thing that I would do is anything that might hurt you. +And my vow stands fast, whether you scorn me or not, for if it was +made in a moment, it is not as if I had not had long years to think +on in which we have been good friends enough."</p> +<p>"Ay," she said, turning from me and reaching some apples that +yet hung on a sheltered bough, "I have heard the terms of that vow +from my father, more than once. You can keep it without +trouble."</p> +<p>"Have I your leave to try to keep it?"</p> +<p>"You have had full leave to be a good friend of ours all these +years, as you say, and I do not see that the vow binds you to more. +No one thinks that you are likely to forget last night, or any one +who took part in that cruel business. And if a friend will not help +to guard a lady--well, he would be just nidring, no more or +less."</p> +<p>Then she took up her basket, which was pretty full and no burden +for a lady, for she had picked fast and heedlessly as she spoke to +me, and so turned away.</p> +<p>"Nay, but surely you know that there was more than that meant," +I said lamely.</p> +<p>"No need to have haled my name into the matter at all," she +said.</p> +<p>And then, seeing that my eyes went to the basket, she smiled a +little, and held it to me with both hands.</p> +<p>"Well, if you meant some new sort of service, you can begin by +carrying this for me. I am going to the queen's bower."</p> +<p>I took it without a word, and we went silently together to the +door that led to the queen's end of the hall. There she stayed for +a moment with her hand on the latch.</p> +<p>But she had only a question to ask me:</p> +<p>"Do you go with your father to the Welsh king's court, as it is +said that he will go shortly?"</p> +<p>"We start together in an hour's time or thereabout," I answered, +wondering.</p> +<p>"Well then, take this to mind you of your vow," she said, and +threw a little bronze brooch, gilt and set with bright enamel, into +the basket, and so fled into the house, leaving me on the doorstep +with the apples.</p> +<p>I set them down there, and had a mind to leave the brooch also. +However, on second thoughts I took it, and went my way in a puzzled +state of mind. It certainly seemed that Elfrida was desperately +angry with me for reasons which were not easy to fathom, and yet +she had given me this--that is, if to have a thing thrown at one is +to have it given. But I was not going to quarrel with the manner of +a gift from Elfrida, and so I went on with it in my hand, and as I +turned the corner into a fresh path I also ran into the abbot of +the new minster, who was on his way to speak with Owen before he +set out. He had been a great friend of Bishop Aldhelm's, and I had +known him well since the old days of Malmesbury.</p> +<p>"So Oswald," he cried, "I have been looking for you, that I +might wish you all good in your thaneship. Why, some of us are +proud of you. And I, having known you since you were a child, feel +as if I had some sort of a share in your honours. But what is +amiss? One would look to see you the gayest of the gay, and it +seems as if the world had gone awry with you."</p> +<p>Now, the abbot was just the friend to whom I could tell my +present trouble without fear of being mocked, for he was wont to +stand to us boys of the court as the good friend who would help us +out of a scrape if he could, and make us feel ashamed thereof in +private afterward, in all kindliness. So I told him what was on my +mind, for he was at the feast last night.</p> +<p>"It is all that vow of mine," I said. "I have just met Elfrida, +and she is angry with me for naming her at all."</p> +<p>"Unfair," said the abbot. "You could not have helped it, seeing +that you were bidden to do so."</p> +<p>I had forgotten that, and it was possible that Elfrida did not +know it. So I said that I did not look for quite the scorn I had +met with, at all events. Whereon the abbot stayed in his walk and +asked more, trying to look grave as he heard me, and soon he had +all the story.</p> +<p>"So you carried the basket like any thrall, and had my Yuletide +gift to her in payment," he said, with his eyes twinkling; "I will +ask if she has lost it presently, and you will be avenged."</p> +<p>He laughed again, and then said more gravely, but with a smile +not far off:</p> +<p>"Go to, Oswald, don't ask me to make the ways of a damsel plain +to you, for that was more than Solomon himself could compass. But I +think I know what is wrong. Her father has been making a jest to +her of the way you worded your vow, laughing mightily after his +manner, and she is revenging herself on you. Never mind. Wait till +you come back from this journey, and then see how things are with +her. Now let us talk of your errand, for it is important."</p> +<p>Then we went slowly together, and he told me how that he had +foreseen for a long time that Owen would return to his uncle and +take his right place again. Also he told me that Morgan had a +strong party on his side, and that we might have trouble with them +if Owen was taken into favour again.</p> +<p>"As I hope he may be," he added with a sigh; "for I have seen +the war cloud drifting nearer every year under the guidance of +Morgan and his fellows."</p> +<p>Then we turned into the courtyard, and he went to speak to Owen +in the hall, turning with a last smile to bid me hide the brooch, +lest Elfrida should hear some jesting about that next. So I pinned +it under my cloak, and then went and donned my arms, and saw to all +things for the journey, both for Owen and myself; and so at last +the hour came when I led the men round to the great door of the +hall, and sent one to say that all was ready.</p> +<p>Now the king came forth, and with him was Owen. Ina wore his +everyday dress, but my foster father was fully armed, and as those +two stood there I thought that I had never seen a more kingly +looking pair, silent and thoughtful both, and with lines of care on +their foreheads, and both in their prime of life.</p> +<p>Behind me I heard Thorgils say to Godred, the chief house-carle: +"If there were choice, I would take the king that wears the war +gear. That is the only dress that to my mind fits a man who shall +lead warriors."</p> +<p>Now the king came and spoke with me, bidding me be on my guard +against any attack while we were at Norton, telling me plainly also +that he deemed that there was danger to both of us at the first, +somewhat in the way in which the abbot had already spoken to me. I +daresay the words were his, for he had been counselling Owen.</p> +<p>Then the queen came forth with her ladies, and there was an +honour for us, for she herself brought the stirrup cup to Owen, +bidding him farewell, at the same time that the king must needs +send Elfrida with another cup to me, saying that it was my due for +last night's omission. But there was no smile as she set it in my +hand, and she waited with head turned away until I gave it back to +her, as if she looked at Owen rather than any one else. Then it was +only a short word of farewell that she said to me, and yet it did +seem that her eyes were less grave than she would seem in face as +she turned back to the other ladies on the hall steps.</p> +<p>Then Owen unhelmed and turned his horse to the gates, and after +him we went clattering down the street. In a minute or two Thorgils +came alongside me.</p> +<p>"So that was the lady of the vow, surely. Well, you may be +excused for making it, though indeed it is rash to bind +oneself--nay, but it seems that this is one of those matters +whereon I must hold my tongue!"</p> +<p>For I had spurred my horse a little impatiently, and he +understood well enough. I did not altogether care that this +stranger should talk of my affairs--more particularly as they did +not seem to be going at all rightly. So he said no more of them, +but began to talk of himself gaily, while Owen rode alone at our +head, as he would sometimes if his thoughts were busy.</p> +<p>Presently he reined up and came alongside us, taking his part in +our talk in all cheerfulness. And from that time I had little +thought but of the pleasantness of the ride in the sharp winter air +and under the bright sun with him toward the new court which I had +often longed to see, with its strange ways, in the ancient +British-Roman palace that he had so often told me of.</p> +<p>So we rode along the ancient and grass-grown Roman road that +lies on the Polden ridge, hardly travelled save by a few chapmen, +since the old town they called Uxella was lost in the days of my +forefathers. The road had no ending now, as one may say, for beyond +the turning to the bridge across the Parrett for which we were +making it passed to nought but fen and mere where once had been the +city. All the wide waters on either side of the hills were hard +frozen, and southward, across to where we could see the blue hill +of ancient Camelot, the ice flashed black and steely under the red +low sun of midwinter. Before us the Quantocks lay purple and +deepest brown where the woods hid the snow that covered them. Over +us, too, went the long strings of wild geese, clanging in their +flight in search of open water--and it was the wolf month again, +and even so had they fled on that day when Owen found me in the +snow.</p> +<p>And therewith we fell into talk of Eastdean, and dimly enough I +recalled it all. I knew that an Erpwald held the place even yet, +but I cared not. It was but a pleasant memory by reason of the +coming of Owen, and I had no thought even to see the place again. +Only, as we talked it did seem to me that I would that I knew that +the grave of my father was honoured.</p> +<p>Then we left the old road, and crossed the ancient Parrett +bridge, where the Roman earthworks yet stood frowning as if they +would stay us. They were last held against Kenwalch, and now we +were in that no-man's land which he had won and wasted. Then we +climbed the long slope of the Quantocks, whence we might look back +over the land we had left, to see the Tor at Glastonbury +shouldering higher and higher above the lower Poldens, until the +height was reached and the swift descent toward Norton began. There +we could see all the wild Exmoor hills before us, with the sea away +to our right, and Thorgils shewed us where lay, under the very +headlands of the hills we were crossing, the place where his folk +had their haven. He said that he could see the very smoke from the +hearths, but maybe that was only because he knew where it ought to +be, and we laughed at him.</p> +<p>So we came to the outskirts of Norton, and all the way we had +seen no man. The hills were deserted, save by wild things, and of +them there was plenty. And now for the first time I saw men living +in houses built of stone from ground to roof, and that was strange +to me. We Saxons cannot abide aught but good timber. Here none of +us had ever come, and still some of the houses built after the +Roman fashion remained, surrounded, it is true, by mud hovels of +yesterday, as one might say, but yet very wonderful to me. Many a +time I had seen the ruined foundations of the like before, but one +does not care to go near them. The wastes our forefathers made of +the old towns they found here, and had no use for, lie deserted, +for they are haunted by all things uncanny, as any one knows. Maybe +that is because the old Roman gods have come back to their old +places, now that the churches are no longer standing.</p> +<p>Through the village we went, and then came to the walls of the +ancient stronghold, and they seemed as if they were but lately +raised, so strong were they and high. The gates were in their +places, and at them was a guard, and through them, for they stood +open, I could see the white walls and flat roof of the house, or +rather palace, which was either that of the Roman governor of the +place, or else had been rebuilt or restored from time to time in +exactly the same wise, so that it stood fair and lordly and fit for +a king's dwelling even yet. Maybe the wattled hovels of the thralls +that clustered round it inside the great earthworks were not what +would have been suffered in the days of those terrible men who made +the fortress, but I doubt not that they stood on the foundations of +the quarters of the soldiers who had held it for Rome.</p> +<p>The guard turned out in orderly wise as we came to the gates, +and they wore the Roman helm and corselet, and bore the heavy Roman +spear and short heavy sword. But that war gear I had seen before on +the other Welsh border, and I had a scar, moreover, that would tell +that I had been within reach of one weapon or the other. I knew +their tongue, too, almost as well as my own, for Owen had taught it +me, saying that I might need it at some time. It had already been +of use to the king in the frontier troubles, for I could interpret +for him, but I think that Owen had in his mind the coming of some +such day as this.</p> +<p>Now, Owen would have me speak to the guard and tell them our +errand, and I rode forward and did so. The short day was almost +over by this time; and the captain who came to meet me did not seem +to notice my Saxon arms in the shadow of the high rampart. Hearing +that we bore a message for the king, he sent a man to ask for +directions, and meanwhile we waited. I asked him if there was any +news, thinking it well to know for certain if aught had been heard +yet of the end of Morgan. News of that sort flies fast.</p> +<p>"No news at all," he answered. "What did you expect?"</p> +<p>"I had heard of the death of a prince, and do not know the +rights thereof."</p> +<p>"Why, where have you been? That is old news. It was only Dewi, +and he is no loss. The Saxon sheriff hung him, even as the king +said he would do to him an he caught him, so maybe it is the same +in the end. I have not heard that any one is sorry to lose +him."</p> +<p>He laughed, and if it was plain that Morgan's brother was not +loved, it was also plain that nought was known of the end of the +other prince yet. We were first with the tidings here, and that +might be as well.</p> +<p>Now a message came to bid us enter, and the steward who brought +it told us that we were to be lodged in some great guest chamber, +and that we should speak with the king shortly.</p> +<p>The men bided outside the walls, the captain leading them to a +long row of timber-built stables which stood close at hand by the +gate. Presently, when the horses were bestowed, they would be +brought to the guest hall; so Thorgils went with them, while the +steward led Owen and myself through the gate and to the palace, +which stood squarely in the midst of the fortress, with a space +between it and the other buildings which filled the area.</p> +<p>By daylight I knew afterwards that it was uncared for, and +somewhat dilapidated without, but in the falling dusk it looked all +that it should. We entered through a wide door, and passed a +guardroom where many men lounged, armed and unarmed, and then were +in a courtyard formed by the four sides of the building, +wonderfully paved, and with a frozen fountain in its midst. There +were windows all round the walls which bounded this court, and the +light shone red from them, very cheerfully, and already there was +bustle of men who crossed and passed through the palace making +ready for our reception. The steward led us to the northern wing of +the house across this court, and so took us into an antechamber, as +it seemed, warm and bright, with hanging lamps, and with painted +walls and many-patterned tiled floor, but for all its warmth with +no fire to be seen, which was strange enough to me.</p> +<p>And so soon as the bright light shone on Owen I saw the steward +start and gaze at him fixedly, and then as Owen smiled a little at +him he fell on his knees and cried softly some words of welcome, +with tears starting in his eyes.</p> +<p>"Oh my Lord," he said, "is it indeed you? This is a good day.--A +thousand welcomes!"</p> +<p>Owen raised him kindly, and set his finger on his lip.</p> +<p>"It is well that you have been the first to know me, friend," he +said. "Now hold your peace for a little while till we see what says +my uncle. I must have word with him at once, if it can be managed, +before others know me. It will be best."</p> +<p>"He waits you, Lord. It was his word that he would see the Saxon +alone."</p> +<p>Then he led us into another room like to that we left, but +larger, and with rich carpets on the tiled floor, and there sat +Gerent alone to wait us. I thought him a wonderful looking old man, +and most kingly, as he rose and bowed in return when we greeted +him. His hair was white, and his long beard even whiter, but his +eyes were bright. Purple and gold he wore, and those robes and the +golden circlet on his head shewed that he had put on the kingly +dress to meet with the messenger of a king.</p> +<p>Almost had Owen sprung toward him, but he forbore, and when the +king had taken his seat he went slowly to him, holding out a letter +which Ina had written for him, saying nothing. And Gerent took it +without a word or so much as a glance at the bearer from under his +heavy brows, and opened it.</p> +<p>Owen stood back by me, and we watched the face of the king as he +read. We saw his brows knit themselves fiercely at first, and then +as he went on they cleared until he seemed as calm as when he first +met us. But the flush that had come with the frown had not faded +when at last he looked keenly at us.</p> +<p>"Come nearer," he said in a harsh voice, speaking in fair Saxon. +"Know you what is written herein?"</p> +<p>"I know it," Owen said.</p> +<p>"Here Ina says that this is borne by one whom I know. Is it you +or this young warrior?"</p> +<p>Then Owen went forward and fell on one knee before the king, and +said in his own tongue--the tongue of Cornwall and of Devon:</p> +<p>"I am that one of whom Ina has spoken. Yet it is for Gerent to +say whether he will own that he knows me even yet."</p> +<p>I saw the king start as the voice of Owen came to him in the +familiar language, and he knitted his brows as one who tries to +recall somewhat forgotten, and he looked searchingly in the face of +the man who knelt before him, scanning every feature.</p> +<p>And at last he said in a hushed voice, not like the harsh tones +of but now:</p> +<p>"Can it be Owen?--Owen, the son of my sister? They said that one +like him served the Saxon, but I did not believe it. That is no +service for one of our line."</p> +<p>"What shall an exile do but serve whom he may, if the service be +an honoured one? Yet I will say that I wandered long, seeing and +learning, before there came to me a reason that I should serve Ina. +To you I might not return."</p> +<p>But the king was silent, and I thought that he was wroth, while +Owen bided yet there on his knee before him, waiting his word. And +when that came at last, it was not as I feared.</p> +<p>Slowly the king set forth his hand, and it shook as he did so. +He laid it on Owen's head, while the letter that was on his knees +fluttered unheeded to the floor as he bent forward and spoke +softly:</p> +<p>"Owen, Owen," he said, "I have forgotten nought. Forgive the old +blindness, and come and take your place again beside me."</p> +<p>And as Owen took the hand that would have raised him and kissed +it, the old king added in the voice of one from whom tears are not +so far:</p> +<p>"I have wearied for you, Owen, my nephew. Sorely did I wrong you +in my haste in the old days, and bitterly have I been punished. I +pray you forgive."</p> +<p>Then Owen rose, and it seemed to me that on the king the weight +of years had fallen suddenly, so that he had grown weak and needful +of the strong arm of the steadfast prince who stood before him, and +I took the arm of the steward and pulled him unresisting through +the doorway, so that what greeting those two might have for one +another should be their own.</p> +<p>Then said the steward to me as we looked at one another:</p> +<p>"This is the best day for us all that has been since the prince +who has come back left us. There will be joy through all +Cornwall."</p> +<p>But I knew that what I dreaded had come to pass, and that from +henceforth the way of the prince of Cornwall and of the house-carle +captain of Ina's court must lie apart, and I had no answer for +him.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a>. HOW OSWALD FELL INTO BAD +HANDS, AND FARED EVILLY, ON THE QUANTOCKS.</h2> +<p>It would be long for me to tell how presently Owen called me in +to speak with the king, and how he owned me as his foster son in +such wise that Gerent smiled on him, and spoke most kindly to me as +though I had indeed been a kinsman of his own. And then, after we +had spoken long together, Thorgils was sent for, and he told the +tale of the end of Morgan plainly and in few words, yet in such +skilful wise that as he spoke I could seem to see once more our +hall and myself and Elfrida at the dais, even as though I were an +onlooker.</p> +<p>"You are a skilful tale teller," the king said when he ended. +"You are one of the Norsemen from Watchet, as I am told."</p> +<p>"I am Thorgils the shipmaster, who came to speak with you two +years ago, when we first came here. Men say that I am no bad +sagaman."</p> +<p>"This is a good day for me," Gerent said, "and I will reward you +for your tale. Free shall the ship of Thorgils be from toil or +harbourage in all ports of our land from henceforward. I will see +that it is known."</p> +<p>"That is a good gift, Lord King," said the Norseman, and he +thanked Gerent well and heartily, and so went his way back to the +guest chambers with a glad heart.</p> +<p>Then Gerent said gravely:</p> +<p>"I suppose that there are men who would call all these things +the work of chance or fate. But it is fitting that vengeance on him +who wronged you should come from the hand of one whom you have +cared for. That has not come by chance; but I think it will be well +that it is not known here just at first whose was the hand that +slew Morgan."</p> +<p>"For fear of his friends?" asked Owen thoughtfully.</p> +<p>"Ay, for that reason. Overbearing and proud was he, but for all +that there are some who thought him the more princely because he +was so. And there are few who know that he did indeed try to end my +life, for I would not spread abroad the full shame of a prince of +our line. Men have thought that I would surely take him into favour +again, but that was not possible. Only, I would that he had met a +better ending."</p> +<p>The old king sighed, and was silent. Presently Owen said that I +must see to the men and horses, and I rose up to leave the chamber, +and then the king said:</p> +<p>"We shall see you again at the feast I am making for you all. +Then tomorrow you must take back as kingly a letter to Ina as he +wrote to me, and so return to Owen for as long as your king will +suffer you to bide with us."</p> +<p>So I went to the stables first of all, and there was Thorgils +bidding a Welsh groom to get out his horse while he took off the +arms that had been lent him from our armoury, for he was but half +armed when he came.</p> +<p>"There is no need to do that," I said; "for if Ina arms a man, +it is as a gift for service done, if he is not too proud to take +it. But are you not biding for the feast?"</p> +<p>"First of all," he said, laughing, "none ever knew a Norseman +too proud to accept good arms from a king. Thank Ina for me in all +form. And as to my going, seeing that tide waits for no man, if I +do not get home shortly I shall lose the tide I want for a bit of a +winter voyage I have on hand; wherefore I must go. Farewell, and +good luck to you. This business has turned out well, after all, and +a great man you will be in this land before long. Don't forget us +Norsemen when that comes about, and if ever you need a man at your +back, send for me. You might have a worse fence than my axe, and I +have a liking for you; farewell again."</p> +<p>I laughed and shook hands with him, and he swung himself into +the saddle and rode away.</p> +<p>There was high feasting that night in the guest hall of Norton, +as may be supposed. I sat on the left of the king, and Owen on his +right, while all the great men who could be summoned in the time +were present, and it was plain enough that the homecoming of their +lost prince was welcome to every one in all the hall. Not one dark +look was there as I scanned the bright company, and presently not +one refused to join in the great shout of welcome that rose when +Owen pledged them all.</p> +<p>It was a good welcome, and the face of the old king grew bright +as he heard it.</p> +<p>Then the harpers sang; I did not think their ways here so +pleasant as our own, where the harp goes round the hall, and every +man takes his turn to sing, or if he has no turn for song, tells +tale or asks riddle that shall please the guests. Certainly, these +Welsh folk were readier to talk than we, and maybe the meats were +more dainty and the wines finer than ours, and in truth the Welsh +mead was good and the Welsh ale mighty, but men seemed to care +little for the sport that should come after the meal was over. Yet +these harpers sang well, and from them I learnt more about my +foster father than he had ever cared to tell me, for they sang of +old deeds of his. Doubtless they made the most of them, for it +would seem from their songs that he had fought with Cornish giants +as an everyday thing, and that he had been the bane of more than +one dragon. But one knows how to sift the words of the gleeman's +song, and they told me at least that Owen had been a great champion +ere he left his home.</p> +<p>Still, I missed the bright fire on the hearth, and the ways of +the court were too stately for me here. Men seemed not to like the +cheerful noise of my honest house-carles, who jested and laughed as +they would have done in the hall of Ina, who loved to see and hear +that his men were merry. We should have thought that there was +something wrong if there had not been plenty of noise at the end of +the long tables below the salt.</p> +<p>Now, I will not say that there was not something very pleasant +in sitting here at the side of the king as the most honoured guest +next to my foster father, but there was a sadness at the back of it +all in the knowledge that it was likely that from henceforth our +ways must needs go apart more or less, and that I might see him +only from time to time. For I was Ina's man, and a Saxon, and it +could not be supposed that I should be welcome here. I knew that I +must go back to my place, and he must bide in his that he had found +again, and so there was the sorrow of parting to spoil what might +else have made me a trifle over proud.</p> +<p>Gerent did not stay long at the feast, nor did the ladies who +were present, and Owen and I stayed for but a little while after +they had gone. Then we were taken in all state to the room where we +should sleep, and so for the first time I was housed within stone +walls. There were a sort of wide benches along the walls covered +with skins and bright rugs for us to sleep on, but after I had +helped Owen to his night gear I took the coverings that were meant +for me and set them across the door on the floor and so slept. For +I had a fear of treachery and the friends of Morgan.</p> +<p>It was in my mind to talk for a while before rest came, but Owen +would not suffer me to do so, saying that it was best to sleep on +all the many things that happened before we thought much of what +was to be done next. So I wrapt myself in my rugs on the strangely +warm floor and went to sleep at once, being, as may be supposed, +fairly tired out with the long day and its doings. More than that +little space of time it seemed since we left Glastonbury, and even +my meeting with Elfrida was like a matter of long ago to me.</p> +<p>There was a bronze lamp burning with some scented oil, hanging +from the ceiling, which seemed so low after our open roofs, and we +had left it alight, as I thought it better to have even its glimmer +than darkness, here in this strange house. And presently I woke +with a feeling that this lamp had flared up in some way, shining +across my eyes, so that I sat up with a great start, grasping my +sword hastily. But the lamp burned quietly, and all that woke me +was the light of a square patch of bright moonlight from a high +window that was creeping across the broad chest of Owen as he +slept, and had come within range of my eyelids, for my face was +turned to him. The room was bright with it, and for a little I +watched the quiet sleeper, and then I too slept, and woke not again +until Owen roused me with the daylight from the same window falling +on his face.</p> +<p>"That is where I should have slept," I said, "for it is my place +to wake you, father."</p> +<p>He laughed, and said that it was his place in the old days, and +there was a sigh at the back of the laugh as he thought of those +times, and then we forgot the whole thing. Yet though it seems a +little matter in the telling, in no long time I was to mind that +waking in a strange way enough, and then I remembered.</p> +<p>We must part presently, as I found, at least for a little while. +There was no question but that Owen would stay at the court here, +and so Gerent had ready for me a letter which I should carry back +to Ina at once. He spoke very kindly to me at that time, giving me +a great golden bracelet from his own arm, that I might remember to +come back to bide for a time with him ere long. And then we broke +our fast, and my men were ready, and I parted from my foster father +in the bright morning light that made the white walls of the old +palace seem more wonderful to me than ever.</p> +<p>"Farewell, then, for a while," he said to me; "come back as soon +as Ina will spare you. There will be peace between him and Gerent +now, as I think."</p> +<p>Then came a man in haste from out of the gateway where we stood +yet, and he bore a last gift from Gerent to me. It was a beautiful +wide-winged falcon from the cliffs of Tintagel in the far west, +hooded and with the golden jesses that a king's bird may wear on +her talons.</p> +<p>"It is the word of the king," said the falconer, "that a thane +should ride with hawk on wrist if he bears a peaceful message. +Moreover, there will be full time on the homeward way for a flight +or two. Well trained she is, Master, and there is no better passage +hawk between here and Land's End."</p> +<p>That was a gift such as any man might be proud of, and I asked +Owen to thank the king for me. And so we parted with little sorrow +after all, for it was quite likely that I should be back here in a +day or two for yet a little while longer with him.</p> +<p>So I and my men were blithe as we rode in the still frosty air +across the Quantocks by the way we had come, and by and by, when we +gained the wilder crests, I began to look about me for some chance +of proving the good hawk that sat waiting my will on my wrist.</p> +<p>Soon I saw that the rattle and noise of men and horses spoiled a +good chance or two for me, for the black game fled to cover, and +once a roe sprang from its resting in the bushes by the side of the +track and was gone before I could unhood the bird.</p> +<p>"Ho, Wulf!" I cried to one of the men who was wont to act as +forester when Ina hunted, "let us ride aside for a space, and then +we will see what sort of training a Welshman can give a hawk."</p> +<p>So we put spurs to our horses and went on until they were a mile +behind us, and then we were on a ridge of hill whence a long wooded +combe sank northward to the dense forest land at the foot of the +hills, and there we rode slowly, questing for what might give us a +fair flight. Bustard there were on these hills, and herons also, +for below me I could see the bare branches of the tree tops on +which the broad-winged birds light at nesting time, twigless and +skeleton-like. For a while we saw nothing, however, and so rode +wide of the track, across the heather, until we found the woodland +before us, and had to make our way back to the road, which passed +through it. But before we came in sight of the road, from almost +under my feet, a hare bolted from a clump of long grass, and made +for the coverts. I cast off the hawk and shouted, but we were too +near the underwood, and it seemed that the hare would win to cover +in time to save herself.</p> +<p>Yet in a moment the hare was back again out of the cover, and +running along its edge in the open as though she had met with +somewhat that she feared even more than the winged terror which she +had so nearly baffled. And that was strange, for it is hard to get +a hare to stir from her seat if there is a hawk overhead, so that +sometimes men have even picked up the timid beast from her +place.</p> +<p>"There is a fox in the underwood, and she has seen him," I +cried, and then forgot all about the strangeness of the matter in +watching the stoop of the ready hawk, who waited only for one more +chance.</p> +<p>Not far did the hare win this time. The hawk swooped and took +her close to the edge of the wood, and I rode quickly to take the +bird again and give her her share of the quarry. And then, while my +eyes were fixed on her, and I was just about to dismount, I was +aware of something like a streak of light that flew from the +underwood toward me, and suddenly my horse reared wildly, and fell +back on me, pinning me to the ground.</p> +<p>At the same moment I heard Wulf roaring somewhat, and then he +was between me and the cover, and I saw him, through the dazedness +of my eyes with the fall, dismount and unsling his shield from his +back, with his eyes ever on the wood. Then an arrow struck the +ground close to me, and I heard another smite Wulf's shield with +the clap that no warrior can mistake. At that his steed took fright +and left us.</p> +<p>"Get my horn and wind it," I said, struggling to get free from +the horse. It was no mean bowman who had sent that first arrow, for +the poor beast never moved after it fell, and had spent its last +strength in rearing.</p> +<p>"That is crushed flat, Master," Wulf said between his teeth, and +he tried to lift the weight that was on me.</p> +<p>Then the arrows came thickly again, and he crouched over me with +the shield, behind the horse. It was lucky that I was almost +covered by it as I lay, for it was between me and the wood. I +writhed and struggled and at last I was free again, and Wulf helped +me to get my own shield from my back as I rose, and then we stood +back to back and looked for our foes.</p> +<p>"Morgan's people, I suppose," I said. "We should not have left +the men, for I knew that he was leagued with Quantock outlaws."</p> +<p>"A nidring set, too," said Wulf savagely. "Can't they show +themselves?"</p> +<p>As if the men had heard him, they came from the cover even as he +spoke. There were more than I could count after a few moments, for +they poured out in twos and threes from all along the edge of the +wood, and came cautiously toward us, in such wise as to surround +us. Wild looking men they were, with never a helm or mail shirt +among them, but they were all well armed enough with bow and spear +and seax, and more than one had swords.</p> +<p>Then I looked round to see if I could see my men coming, and my +heart sank. We were hidden from the road by the crest of the hill, +and I knew that the flight of the hawk had led us some way from it. +We could not be less than a full mile from them at the rate we had +ridden, and I did not think it likely that they had hurried after +us, for they would not spoil sport.</p> +<p>Now the men were round us in a ring that was closing quickly, +and Wulf and I had our swords out and were back to back facing +them. Not a word had been said on either side, and I was not going +to begin to talk to outlaws. If they had anything to say they might +say it. But they had not, and I knew that they would make a rush on +us directly.</p> +<p>One who seemed to be the leader whistled sharply, and the rush +came with a wild howl and flight of ill-aimed spears that were of +no harm. The circle was too close for a fair throw at us, lest the +weapon should go too far. I had time to catch one as it passed me, +and send it back with the Wessex war shout, and there was one man +less against us.</p> +<p>I think that I cut down one or two after that, and then I felt +Wulf reel and prop himself against me. Then I had a score of men +crowding on me, and they clogged my sword arm and gripped my shield +and tore it aside, and then from behind or at the side one smote me +on the head with a club or a stone hammer, and I went down. I heard +one cry that I was not to be slain, as I fell.</p> +<p>Then Wulf stood over me for a little while and fought all that +crowd, until he was on his knees at my side, and my senses were +coming back to me. Then he fell over me, and the men threw +themselves on me and pinioned me and thrust something into my mouth +and then bound me.</p> +<p>I knew that Wulf was slain at that time, and that he had given +his life for me. That was what he would have wished to do, but in +my heart there grew a wild rage with these men and with myself for +my carelessness that had led us into their hands.</p> +<p>Now they dragged me into the cover, and thither also they +brought Wulf and the fallen men, and for a little while all sat +silent, and soon I knew what they were waiting for. I heard the +voices of my men and the very click and rattle of their arms as +they trotted slowly through the wood along the road, and I tried to +shout to them, but the gag would not let me. So their sounds died +away beyond the hill, and after them crept some of the foe, to see +that they did not halt or turn back, as one may suppose. I thought +how that they had at least three miles to ride before they could +come to any place whence they could see that I and Wulf were not +before them, and then, when they missed us, how were they to begin +to seek us?</p> +<p>I suppose that my wits were sharpened with my danger, for I saw +one thing that might help them even while I was thinking this. My +hawk had gorged herself with her prey when the fight had turned +aside from her, and so she was sitting sleepily and contented on +the high bough of one of the trees that stood at the wood's edge. +And she still had her jesses on, so that my men would know her if +they caught sight of her by any chance.</p> +<p>Now the men who had me, being sure that all fear was past, began +to talk of what was to be done next, and they spoke in Welsh, +plainly thinking that I could not understand them. There were three +or four who seemed to take the lead under the one who had given the +signal for attack, and the rest gathered round them.</p> +<p>At first they were for killing me offhand as it seemed, but the +leader would not hear of that.</p> +<p>"Search him first, and let us see who he is," he said. "We may +have caught the wrong man, after all."</p> +<p>So they came to me and searched my pouch and thrust their grimy +hands into the front of my byrnie, and there they found the king's +letter, which they seized with a shout of delight. Then they took +my arms, wondering at the sword with its wondrous hilt. Only my +ring mail byrnie they could not take from me, as they feared to +untie my arms.</p> +<p>"Not much would I give for your life if this warrior got loose," +said one of them to that one who had the letter. "See how he glares +at you."</p> +<p>And true enough that was, moreover. I should surely have gone +berserk, like the men Thorgils told me of as we rode yesterday, had +I been able to get free for a moment.</p> +<p>They took my belongings to the leaders, and they asked for some +one who could read the letter, and there was none, even as I had +expected, so that I was glad.</p> +<p>"It does not matter much," the leader said; "doubtless it has a +deal of talk in it which would mean nought to us. We will have it +read the next time one of us goes to the church," and with that he +grinned, and the others laughed as at a good jest. "Let me look at +the sword he wore."</p> +<p>He looked and his eyes grew wide, and then he whistled a little +to himself. The others asked him what was amiss.</p> +<p>"If we have got Owen's son, we have taken Ina's own sword as +well," he said. "Many a time have I seen the king wear it before +the law got the best of me. It is not to be mistaken. Now, if we +are not careful we have a hornets' nest on us in good truth. Ina +does not give swords like this to men he cares nought for, and +there will be hue and cry enough after him, and that from Saxon and +Welsh alike."</p> +<p>"Kill him and have done. That is what we meant to do when we +laid up for him."</p> +<p>So said many growling voices, and I certainly thought that the +end was very near.</p> +<p>"Ay, and have ourselves hung in a row that will reach from here +to the bridge," the leader said coolly. "Mind you this, that with +the Welsh up against us we cannot get to Exmoor, and with the +Saxons out also we cannot win to the Mendips, as we have done +before now."</p> +<p>"There is the fen."</p> +<p>"And all the fenmen Owen's own men. Little safety is there in +that."</p> +<p>"But he slew Morgan, as they say."</p> +<p>"Worse luck for Morgan therefore. What is that to you and me, +when one comes to think of it?"</p> +<p>Now I began to understand the matter more or less. It seemed to +me that these were Morgan's outlaws, and that somehow they had +heard all the story. No doubt that was easy enough, for it would be +all over Norton before the night was very old after our coming. And +these outlaws have friends everywhere. So they had laid up for me, +and now the leader was frightened, as it would seem, or else he had +some other plan in his head. It did not seem that he had wished me +to be slain, from the first, if it could be helped. Maybe the +others had forced him to waylay me. A leader of outlaws has little +hold on his men.</p> +<p>"Let him swear to say nought of us, and let him go then," one of +the other leaders said in a surly way.</p> +<p>Then the chief got up and laughed at them all.</p> +<p>"There are six of us slain and a dozen with wounds, and we will +make him pay for that and for Morgan as well before we have done +with him. Now we must not bide here, or we shall have his men back +on us, seeking him. Let us get away, and I will think of somewhat +as we go. There is profit to be made out of this business, if I am +not mistaken."</p> +<p>Then they brought my man's horse, which they had caught, and set +me on it, making my feet fast under the girth. The men who had +fallen they hid in the bushes, and it troubled me more than aught +to think that Wulf should lie among them. My horse they dragged +into a hollow, and piled snow over him. Then they went swiftly down +the hillside into the deep combe, leaving only the trampled and +reddened snow to tell that there had been a fight.</p> +<p>I had a hope for a little while that the track they left would +be enough for my men to follow if they hit on it, but there was +little snow lying in the sheltered woodlands, and there the track +was lost. And these men scattered presently in all directions, so +that trace of them was none. Only the leader and some dozen men +stayed with me.</p> +<p>So they took me for many a long mile, always going seaward, +until we were in a deep valley that bent round among the hills +until its head was lost in their folds, and there was some sort of +a camp of these outlaws sheltered from any wind that ever blew, and +with a clear brook close at hand. All round on the hillsides was +the forest, but there was one landmark that I knew.</p> +<p>High over the valley's head rose a great hill, and on that was +an ancient camp. It was what they call the "Dinas," the refuge camp +of the Quantock side, which one can see from Glastonbury and all +the Mendips.</p> +<p>Here they took me from the horse and bound my feet afresh, and +took the gag from my mouth and set me against a tree, and so waited +until the band had gathered once more, lighting a great fire +meanwhile. Glad enough was I of its warmth, for it is cold work +riding bound through the frost.</p> +<p>When that was done the leader bade some of those with him fetch +the goods to this place, and catch some ponies ready against the +journey. I could not tell what this might mean, but I thought that +they had no intention of biding here, and I was sorry in a dull +way. It had yet been a hope that they might be tracked by my men +from the place of the fight.</p> +<p>After these men had gone hillward into the forest, others kept +coming in from one way or another until almost all seemed to have +returned.</p> +<p>One by one as these gathered, they came and looked at me, and +laughed, making rough jests at me, which I heeded not at all, if +they made my blood boil now and then. Once, indeed, their leader +shouted roughly to them to forbear, when some evil words came with +a hoarse gust of laughter to his ears, and they said under their +breath, chuckling as at a new jest:</p> +<p>"Evan has a mind to tell Tregoz that he treated the Saxon well," +and so left me. It seemed to me that I had heard that name at +Norton.</p> +<p>When the best part of the band had gathered again they lit +another fire fifty yards from me, and round it they talked and +wrangled for a good half hour. It was plain that they were speaking +about me and my fate, but I could hear little of what they +said.</p> +<p>The leader took not much part in the talk at first, but let the +rest have their say. And when they had talked themselves out, as it +were, he told them his plans. I could not hear them, but the rest +listened attentively enough, and at the end of his speech seemed to +agree, for they laughed and shouted and made not much comment.</p> +<p>Then the leaders got up and came and looked at me.</p> +<p>"Tell him what we are going to do with him, Evan," one said to +the chief.</p> +<p>So Evan spoke in the worst Saxon I had ever heard, and I thought +that it fitted his face well.</p> +<p>"No good glaring in that wise," he said; "if you are quiet no +harm will come to you. We are going to hold you as a hostage until +your Saxon master or your British father pay ransom for you, and +inlaw us again. That last is a notion of my own, for I am by way of +being an honest man. The rest do not care for anything but the +money we shall get for you from one side or the other, or maybe +from both. By and by, when we have you in a safe place, you shall +write a letter for us to use, and I will have you speak well of me +in it, so that it shall be plain that you owe your life to me, and +then I shall be safe. That is a matter between you and me, however. +None of these knaves ken a word of Saxon."</p> +<p>I suppose that I showed pretty plainly what I thought of this +sort of treachery to his comrades, for one of the others laughed at +me, and said:</p> +<p>"Speak him fair, Evan, speak him fair, else we shall have +trouble with him."</p> +<p>"I am just threatening him now," the villain said in +Welsh--"after that is time to give him a chance to behave himself," +and then he went on to me in Saxon: "Now, if you will give your +word to keep quiet and go with me as a friend I will trust you, but +if not--well, we must take you as we can. How do you prefer to +go?"</p> +<p>He waited for an answer, but I gave him none. I would not even +seem to treat with them.</p> +<p>"Don't say that I did not give you a chance," he said; "but if +you will go as a captive, that is your own fault."</p> +<p>And as I said nothing he turned away, and said to the rest:</p> +<p>"We shall have to bind him. He will not go quietly."</p> +<p>"How shall we get him on board as a captive?" one asked.</p> +<p>"That would be foolishness," Evan said; "the next thing would be +that every one would know who the captive that was taken out of +Watchet was. I have a better plan than that. We will tie him up +like a sorely wounded man, and so get him shipped carefully and +quietly with no questions asked."</p> +<p>"Well, then, there is no time to lose. We must be at the harbour +in four hours' time at the latest. Tide will serve shortly after +that," one of the others said. "What about the sword?--shall we +sell it to the Norsemen?"</p> +<p>"What! and so tell all the countryside what we have been +doing?--it is too well known a weapon. No, put it into one of the +bales of goods, and I can sell it safely to some prince on the +other side. No man dare wear it on this, but they will not know it +there, or will not care if they do. Now get a litter made, and +bring me some bandages."</p> +<p>It seemed to me to be plain that they would try to get me across +the channel into Wales, or maybe Ireland, and my heart sank. But +after all, Owen would gladly pay ransom for me, and that was the +one hope I had. And then I wondered what vessel they had ready, and +all of a sudden I minded that Thorgils had spoken of a winter +voyage that he was going to take on this tide, and my heart leapt. +It was likely that these men were going to sail with him, so I +might have a chance of swift rescue.</p> +<p>Now Evan went to work on me with the help of one of his men, who +seemed to know something of leech craft.</p> +<p>"This," said Evan, "is a poor friend of mine who has met with a +bad fall from his horse. His thigh is broken and his shoulder is +out. Also his jaw is broken, because the horse kicked him as he +lay. For the same reason he is stunned, and cannot move much. It is +a bad case altogether," and he grinned with glee at his own +pleasantry.</p> +<p>Then they fitted a long splint to my right leg from hip to +ankle, so that I was helpless as a babe in its swaddlings, and made +fast the other leg to that. They did not do more than loosen the +cords that bound me just enough to suffer them to pass the bandages +round until the splint was on, and the other men stood in a ring +and gibed at me all the time. After that they bandaged my right arm +across my chest as if for a slipped shoulder, but under the +bandages were cords that pinioned my elbows to one another across +my back, so that I could only move my left forearm. Evan said that +he would tie that also if need was, but it might pass now. I could +not reach my mouth with this free hand, if I did try to take out a +gag.</p> +<p>Next they bandaged my head and chin carefully, so that only my +eyes were to be seen. I suppose that I might be thankful that they +left my mouth uncovered more or less. And Evan said that he would +gag me by and by.</p> +<p>"No need to discomfort him more than this now," he added. "Maybe +he will be ready to promise silence when he has gone some time in +this rig."</p> +<p>By this time some had caught half a dozen hill ponies, and on +them they loaded several bales of goods, which I thought looked +like those of some robbed chapman, and I have reason to think that +they were such. They opened one of these, and in it they stowed my +sword and helm and the great gold ring that Gerent gave me. There +was some argument about this, but the leader said that it was +better to sell it for silver coin which they could use +anywhere.</p> +<p>Now Evan and two others dressed themselves afresh, and washed in +the brook. One would have taken them for decent traders when that +was done, for they were soberly clad in good blue cloth jerkins, +with clean white hose, and red garterings not too new. Good cloaks +they had also, and short seaxes in their belts. Only Evan had a +short Welsh sword, and the peace strings of that were tied round +the hilt. I wondered where the bodies of the honest men they had +taken these things from were hidden in the wild hills.</p> +<p>Half a dozen of the best clad of the other men took boar spears, +and so they were ready for a start, for all the world like the +chapmen they pretended to be. They put me into the litter they had +ready then, and four of the men were told off to bear me, +grumbling. It was only a length of sacking made fast to two stout +poles, and when they had hoisted me to their shoulders a blanket +was thrown over me, and a roll of cloth from one of the bales set +under my head, so that I might seem to be in comfort at least.</p> +<p>Then the band set out, and we went across the hills seaward and +to the west until we saw Watchet below us. There was a road +somewhere close at hand, as I gathered, for we stopped, and some of +the rabble crept onward to the crest of the hill and spied to see +if it was clear. It was so, and here all the band left us, and only +Evan and the other two seeming merchants went on with their +followers, who bore me and led the laden ponies. The road had no +travellers on it, as far as I could see, nor did we meet with a +soul until we were close into the little town that the Norsemen had +made for themselves at the mouth of a small river that runs between +hills to the sea.</p> +<p>Maybe there were two score houses in the place, wooden like +ours, but with strange carvings on the gable ends. And for fear, no +doubt, of the British, they had set a strong stockade all round the +place in a half circle from the stream to the harbour. There were +several long sheds for their ships at the edge of the water, and a +row of boats were lying on a sort of green round which the houses +stood with their ends and backs and fronts giving on it, as each +man had chosen to set his place.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a>. HOW OSWALD HAD AN UNEASY +VOYAGE AND A PERILOUS LANDING AT ITS END.</h2> +<p>I thought that Evan had forgotten to gag me, but before we went +to the gate of the stockade he came and did it well. I could not +see a soul near but my captors, and it would have been little or no +good to shout. So I bore it as well as I might, being helpless. +Then, within arrow shot of the gate, one of the men blew a harsh +horn, and we waited for a moment until a man, armed with an axe and +sword, lounged through the stockade and looked at us, and so made a +gesture that bid us enter, and went his way within. I hope that I +may never feel so helpless again as I did at the time when I passed +this man, who stared at me in silence, unable to call to him for +help.</p> +<p>Then we crossed the green without any one paying much heed to +us, though I saw the women at the doors pitying me, and so we came +to the wharf, alongside which a ship was lying. There were several +men at work on her decks, and it was plain that she was to sail on +this tide, for her red-and-brown striped sail was ready for +hoisting, and there was nothing left alongside to be stowed. She +was not yet afloat however, though the tide was fast rising.</p> +<p>Evan hailed one of the men, and he came ashore to him. The +bearers set down my litter and waited.</p> +<p>"Where is the shipmaster?" Evan asked.</p> +<p>The man jerked his thumb over his shoulder, and lifted his voice +and shouted "Ho Thorgils, here is the Welsh chapman."</p> +<p>I saw the head of my friend rise from under the gunwale +amidships, and when he saw who was waiting he also came ashore. +Evan met him at the gangway.</p> +<p>"I thought you were not coming, master chapman," he said. "A +little later and you had lost your voyage. Tide waits for no man, +and Thorgils sails with the tide he waits. Therefore Thorgils waits +for no man."</p> +<p>Just for a moment a thought came to me that Thorgils was in +league with the outlaws, and that was hard. But Evan's next words +told me that in this I was wrong. It would seem that the taking of +his ill-gotten goods across the channel had been planned by Evan +before he fell in with me, and maybe that already made plan was the +saving of my life, by putting the thought of an easy way to dispose +of me to some profit into the outlaw's head.</p> +<p>"I had been here earlier," he said, "but for a mischance to my +friend here. I want to take him with me, if you will suffer +it."</p> +<p>He pointed to me as he spoke, and Thorgils turned and looked at +me idly. I was some twenty yards from him as I lay, and I tried to +cry out to him as his eyes fell on me, but I could only fetch a +sort of groan, and I could not move at all.</p> +<p>"He seems pretty bad," said Thorgils, when he heard me. "What is +amiss with him? I can have no fevers or aught of that sort aboard, +with the young lady as passenger, moreover."</p> +<p>"There is nothing of that," Evan answered hastily. "It is but +the doing of a fall from his horse. The beast rolled on him, and he +has a broken thigh, slipped shoulder, and broken jaw, so that it +will be long before he is fit for aught again, as I fear. Now he +wants to get back to his wife and children at Lanphey, hard by +Pembroke, and our leech said that he would take no harm from the +voyage. It is calm enough, and not so cold but that we may hap him +up against it. If I may take him, I will pay well for his +passage."</p> +<p>Thorgils looked at me again for a moment.</p> +<p>"Well," he said, "if that is all, I do not mind. It would be +better if the after cabin was empty, but of course the princess has +that. There is room for him to be stowed comfortably enough under +the fore deck with your bales, however, and it will be warm there. +Ay, we will take the poor soul home, for his mind will be easier, +and that will help his healing. It is ill to be laid up in a +strange land. Get him on board as soon as you can, for there is but +an hour to wait for tide. I will ask no pay for his passage, for he +is but another bale of goods, as it were, swaddled up in that wise, +and I told you that I would take all you liked to bring for what we +agreed on."</p> +<p>Evan thanked him, and Thorgils laughed, turning away to go up +the town, and saying that he would be back anon. I groaned again as +he passed me, and he looked straight in my eyes, which were all +that he could see of me.</p> +<p>"Better on board than in that litter, poor fellow," he said +kindly; "it is a smooth sea, and we shall see Tenby in no long time +if this breeze holds."</p> +<p>He passed on with a nod and smile, and I could almost have wept +in my rage and despair. I could not have thought of anything more +cruel than this, and there was a sour grin on Evan's face, as if he +knew what was passing in my mind.</p> +<p>Now they lifted me once more and carried me to the ship, setting +me down amidships while they got the bales of goods on board. She +was a stout trading vessel, built for burden more than speed, but +she seemed light in the water, as though she had little cargo for +this voyage. She had raised decks fore and aft, and there were low +doors in the bulkheads below them that seemed to lead to some sort +of cabins. Under the forward of these decks the outlaws began to +stow their bales, the man who had called Thorgils ashore directing +them.</p> +<p>I lay just at the gangway, and a little on one side so as not to +block it, and I watched all that went on, helplessly. There was no +one near me, or I think that I should have made some desperate +effort to call a Norseman to my help. Maybe Evan thought me safer +here than nearer the place where all were busy, as yet, but +presently I heard voices on the wharf as if some newcomers were +drawing near, and Evan heard them also, and left his cargo to +hasten to my side. I saw that he looked anxious, and a little hope +of some fresh chance of escape stirred in me, though, as they had +carried me on board feet foremost, I could not see who came.</p> +<p>When they were close at hand their voices told me that one at +least was a lady, and that she and her companions were Welsh. I +supposed that this was the princess of whom I had heard Thorgils +speak just now. I should know in a moment, for the first footsteps +were on the long gangplank and pattering across it, while Evan +began to smile and bow profoundly.</p> +<p>Then there came past my litter, stepping daintily across the +planks, a most fair and noble lady, tall and black haired and +graceful, wrapped against the sea air in the rare beaver skins of +the Teifi River, and wonderful stuffs that the traders from the +east bring to Marazion, such as we Saxons seldom see but as +priceless booty, paid for with lives of men in war with West Wales +in days not long gone by.</p> +<p>She half turned as she saw me, and it gave me a little pang, as +it were, to see her draw her dress aside that it might by no means +touch me, no doubt with the same fear of fever that had been in the +mind of my friend at the first. But then she stayed and looked at +me and at Evan, who was yet cringing in some Welsh way of respect +as she passed. Her companions stopped on the gangplank, and they +were silent.</p> +<p>"Why is this sick man on the ship," she said to my captor, with +some little touch of haughtiness. "And why is he swathed thus? What +is wrong with him?"</p> +<p>Evan bowed again, and at once began his tale as he had told it +to Thorgils. But he did not say that I came from near Pembroke at +all. Now he named some other place whose name began with "Llan--" +as my home.</p> +<p>"The good shipmaster has suffered me to take him home, Lady, +subject to your consent," he ended. "I pray you let it be so."</p> +<p>Now the eyes of the princess had grown soft as she heard the +tale, and when Evan ended it there was pity in her voice as she +answered.</p> +<p>"Surely he may come, and if there is no fitting place for him he +shall even have the cabin to himself. I can be well content in +these warm things of mine on deck in this calm air, and he must +have all shelter."</p> +<p>"Nay, Lady, but there is the fore cabin, where he will be well +bestowed," Evan said hastily, beckoning at the same time to his +comrades that they might take me from this too unsafe place at +once.</p> +<p>He kept himself between me and her as much as he could all this +time, and I made no sign. It seemed to me that I could not, even in +my trouble, bring more pain to this soft-eyed princess by raising +the groan which was all that I could compass. What good would it +do? I could tell her nothing, and she could not dream of the true +reason that made me try to cry out. Maybe she would listen through +all the long hours to come to hear if the poor wretch she felt for +was yet in that dire pain that made him moan so terribly.</p> +<p>"Is he well bandaged?" she said, then. "It is ill if broken +bones are not closely set and splinted, and the ship will plunge +and rock presently."</p> +<p>Evan assured her with many words that all was well done, and yet +she lingered.</p> +<p>"I must see him well and softly bestowed in his place," she +said, half laughing, and turning to some who stood yet beyond my +range of sight. "Else I shall have no peace at all till we come to +land again."</p> +<p>Evan turned to me at that saying, to hide his face. He was +growing ashy pale, and the sweat was breaking out on his forehead. +And that made me glad to see, for he was being punished. Even yet +the princess might wish to see that my swathings were comfortable, +and if I once had my mouth freed for a moment all was lost to +him.</p> +<p>He signed to his comrades to lift me carefully, and then put a +bold face on the matter, and thanked the princess for her +kindness.</p> +<p>"Lady, I may be glad to beg a warm wrap or two from your store," +he said. "If it pleases you, we will shew you where he is to +lie."</p> +<p>So they went forward, I on my litter first, and the lady and her +people following. Evan knew well enough that little fault could be +found with the warm place that was ready for me among the bales +under the deck, and he was eager to get me out of sight before +Thorgils returned. They had made a place ready with some of the +softer bales for me to lie on, and there they lifted me from the +litter, very carefully indeed, that they might not have to +rearrange any of my bonds. Then the princess looked in through the +low doorway and seemed content.</p> +<p>"It is as well as one can expect on board a ship, I suppose," +she said, with a little sigh. "But I will send him somewhat to +cover him well."</p> +<p>And then she bade me farewell, bidding me be patient for the +little while of the voyage, and also adding that presently, when +she was at home, she would ask Govan the hermit to pray for me; and +so went her way, with the two maidens who were with her, and +followed by a couple of well-armed warriors, all of whom I could +see now for the first time.</p> +<p>Then Evan drew his hand over his forehead and cursed. As for the +other Welshmen, they looked at one another, saying nothing, but I +could see that they also had been fairly terrified. One of the men +of the princess came with a warm blanket to cover me, and he stayed +to see it put over me. It was as well that he did so, for Evan had +no time to see that my arm was yet loose, unless he had forgotten +that it ever had been so. Then they all went out, shutting the door +after them, and I was left to my thoughts, which were not +happy.</p> +<p>I began to blame myself as a fool for not trying to let the +princess see that all was not right. But still I could not lose +hope, for Thorgils might yet wish to see me, or the princess might +send her men to look in on me. There were more chances now than a +little while ago, as I thought.</p> +<p>I began to think over all that were possible, presently, and I +tried to get the gag from my mouth. I could not reach it with my +free hand, however, my elbows being too tightly fastened back even +after all the shaking of the journey. Then I thrust that free hand +and forearm well among the bandages across my chest, so that either +of my captors who thought of it might think that the other had +bound it, for I dared not try to loosen myself more yet. There +would be time for that when we were fairly at sea.</p> +<p>After that I lay still, and so spied the bale in which my sword +had been put, and that gave me some sort of hope by its nearness to +me, though indeed it did not seem likely that I should ever get +it.</p> +<p>I heard Thorgils come on board before very long, and I could +hear also the voice of the princess as she talked to him, though +with the length of the vessel between us, and the wash of the +ripples alongside in my ears, I did not make out if they spoke of +me. Evan spoke with them also, and it is likely that they did +so.</p> +<p>Presently I could tell by the sway of the ship that she was +afloat, and the men began to bustle about the deck overhead, while +Thorgils shouted some orders now and then. Soon the sides of the +ship grated along the wharf as she was hauled out, and then the +shore warps were hove on board with a thud above me. I felt the +lift of a little wave and heard the rattle of the halliards as the +sail was hoisted and the ship heeled a little, and then began the +cheerful wash and bubble of the wave at her bows as she went to +sea. The men hailed friends on shore with last jests and farewells, +and then fell to clearing up the shore litter from the decks.</p> +<p>Then Evan came and looked at me. Through the door I could see +the hills and the harbour beyond the high stern, and on that +Thorgils was steering, with his eyes on the vane at the masthead. +His men were coiling down ropes, and Evan's two men were sitting +under the weather gunwale aft, talking with the guards of the +princess. She was in the after cabin, I suppose, out of the way of +the wind, with her maidens. I could not see her.</p> +<p>"Art all well, friend?" said Evan, loudly enough for the nearest +Norseman to hear. "Well, that is good."</p> +<p>Then he sunk his voice to a whisper, and said: "That gag bides +in your mouth, let me tell you. I will risk no more calling to the +shipmaster."</p> +<p>He cast his eyes over me and grunted, and went out, leaving the +low door open so that he could see me at any time. It was plain +that he thought his men had fastened my arm.</p> +<p>Now I tried to get rid of the gag again, and I will say that the +outlaw knew how to manage that business. It filled my mouth, and +the bandage round the jaw held it firmly. In no way could I get it +out, or so much as loosen it enough to speak. And then I was worn +out, and the little heave of the ship lulled me, and I forgot my +troubles in sleep that came suddenly.</p> +<p>I was waked by the clapping to of the cabin door and the thunder +of the wind in the great square sail as the ship went on the other +tack. We had a fair breeze from the southwest over our quarter as +the tide set up channel, but now it had turned and Thorgils was +wearing ship. The new list of the deck flung the door to, and none +noticed it, for it was dark now except for the light of the rising +moon, and I suppose that the other noises of the ship prevented +Evan hearing that the door had closed.</p> +<p>I felt rested with the short sleep, and now seemed the time to +try to get free if ever. I got my left hand out of the bandages +where I had hidden it, and began to claw at my chin to try to free +it from the swathings that kept my mouth closed, but I could hardly +get at them, so tightly were my elbows lashed behind my back, and +it became plain that I must get them loose first if I could. It was +easy to get the bandages loose, but the knotted cord was a +different matter, for the men who tied it knew something of the +work, and the cord was not a new one and would not stretch.</p> +<p>Then I heard two of the Norseman talking close to the cabin +bulkhead.</p> +<p>"This is as good a passage as we shall ever make in the old +keel," one said; "but we shall not fetch Tenby on this tide. Will +Thorgils put in elsewhere, I wonder?"</p> +<p>"We could make the old landing place in an hour," was the +answer, "and we had better wait for tide there than box about in +the open channel in this cold. There is snow coming, I think."</p> +<p>I heard the man flap his arms across his chest, and the other +said:</p> +<p>"Where do these merchants want to get ashore? I expect that +Thorgils will do as they think best. He is pretty good +natured."</p> +<p>They went away, and it seemed that I might have an hour before +me. I was sure that if he had a chance Evan would land as soon as +he could, and at some other place than at the Danes' town if +possible, so that he might get me away without questions that might +be hard to answer.</p> +<p>So I strained at the cords which bound my elbows with all my +might, but I only hurt myself as the lashings drew tighter. I +twisted from side to side as I did this, and presently hit my elbow +hard against some metal fitting of the ship that seemed very sharp. +Just at first I did not heed this, but by and by, when I had fairly +tired myself with struggling, I minded it again, and so turned on +my side and set my free hand to work to find out what it was.</p> +<p>There was a stout post which came from beneath and through the +rough flooring of the cabin on which I lay, and went upward to the +deck. I daresay it was to make the cable fast to, but I could not +see that, nor did it matter to me what it might be for. But what I +had felt was a heavy angle iron that was bolted by one arm to the +post and by the other to a thick beam that crossed the ship from +side to side, so as to bind the two together. It had a sharp edge +on the part which crossed the floor, and it seemed to me as if it +had been set there on purpose, for if I could manage to reach it +rightly I might chafe through the cords at my back. Of course, +there was the chance of Evan coming in and seeing what I was at, +but I could keep my covering on me, maybe, and if Thorgils came, so +much the better. He would see that something was amiss.</p> +<p>It was no easy task to get myself in such wise that the cord was +fairly on the edge of the iron, but I did it at last, and, +moreover, I got the thick blanket that was over me to cover me +afresh. Then I started to try to chafe the cord through, and of +course I could only move a little at a time, and I could not be +sure that I was always rubbing it on the same place. And the great +post was sorely in my way, over my shoulder more or less, so that I +must needs hurt myself now and then against it. But as this seemed +my one chance I would not give up until I must.</p> +<p>Every now and then I stayed my sawing and had a great tug at the +cords, in hopes that they would give way, but at last I knew I must +saw them through almost to the last strand. It would have been easy +if I could keep at work on the same spot, but that was impossible, +for I could not see behind me, and the post kept shifting me as I +struck it.</p> +<p>I wondered now that I had seen nothing of Evan for so long. +Maybe if I had not been so busy the wonder would have passed, for I +should have been seasick as he was. There was some sea over on this +coast, and quite enough to upset a landsman. However, I was content +that he did not come, without caring to know why.</p> +<p>Then I became aware that the movement of the ship had changed in +some way. There was less of it, and the roll was longer. Soon I +heard Thorgils calling to his men, and then the creak of the blocks +and the thud of folds of canvas on deck told me that the sail was +lowered. After that the long oars rattled as they were run out, and +their even roll and click in the rowlocks seemed to say that they +were making up to some anchorage or wharf. The end of the voyage +was at hand, and I worked harder than ever at my bonds. I began to +fear that the cords would never chafe through enough for me to snap +them, and my heart fell terribly.</p> +<p>Now there was a shout from Thorgils, and his men stopped rowing. +I heard another shout from on shore, as it seemed, and the sound of +breakers on rocks was not so very distant as we slipped into smooth +water. The men trampled across the deck over my head and cast the +mooring ropes ashore, and then the ship scraped along a landing +stage of some sort and came to rest. I worked wildly at the +rope.</p> +<p>Judging from the voices I heard, there seemed to be a number of +people on shore, and soon I heard steps coming along the deck +towards the cabin door. Hastily I straightened myself, and got a +fold of my blanket over my free forearm just as it opened, and Evan +peered in. Past his shoulder I could see that it was bright +moonlight, and I had a glimpse of tall snow-covered cliffs that +towered over us.</p> +<p>"How goes it, friend?" he cried in a loud voice. "Hast slept +well? We are in your own land, and will be ashore soon."</p> +<p>That was for others to hear. Then he stood aside to let a little +more light into the cabin, and it seemed that he had no suspicions +that all was not as he would have it. He came inside and felt me +carelessly enough.</p> +<p>"Well," he said. "You are warm in here, and no mistake. If I +mistake not, you have been trying to wriggle out of these +bonds."</p> +<p>He set his hand under some of the lashings and pulled them +without uncovering me much, though it would not have mattered if he +had done so, as it was very dark in here.</p> +<p>As I knew only too well, they were fast as ever, and he +said:</p> +<p>"Well, we can tie a knot fairly. Presently we will loosen you a +bit--in the morning maybe."</p> +<p>He went and closed the door, and I fell to work again. He would +leave me now for a while.</p> +<p>There was a long talk from ship to shore before the gangplank +was run out, and presently Thorgils spoke to Evan, seemingly close +to the cabin door:</p> +<p>"Here's a bit of luck for your princess," he said. "Her father +is up in the camp yonder, with his guards behind him. Maybe there +is trouble with the Tenby Danefolk, or going to be some. It is as +well that we put in here. Now he bids us take the lady up to him +and bide to feast with him, Will you come with me?"</p> +<p>"I stay by my goods," answered Evan, with a laugh. "If there is +a levy in the camp there will be men who will need watching among +them."</p> +<p>"Why, then, we six Norsemen can go, and leave you to tend the +ship."</p> +<p>"That will be all right," said Evan, somewhat gladly, as I +thought; "so long as we are here you need have no fear. Every one +knows that a chapman will fight for his goods if need be. But a +Welshman will not meddle with a Welshman's goods."</p> +<p>"So long as he is there to mind them," laughed Thorgils. "Then +we can go. I do not know how soon we can be back, though."</p> +<p>"That is no matter. We are used to keeping watch."</p> +<p>"Ay. How is that hurt friend of yours after the voyage?"</p> +<p>"Well as one could expect," answered Evan, "He says he has slept +almost all the way. He is comfortable where he is."</p> +<p>They went aft, and soon I heard the princess speaking with them. +Then the well-known click and clash of armed men marching in order +came to me, as the chief sent a guard for his daughter. It was +terrible to hear the voices of honest men so close to me and to be +helpless, and I worked at the rope feverishly.</p> +<p>I heard the princess and her party leave the ship, and almost as +the last footstep left the deck one strand of the cord went. I +worked harder yet, with a great hope on me.</p> +<p>"Presently the Norsemen will be full of Howel's mead," I heard +Evan say to one of his men. "Then we will get ashore and leave +swiftly. I think we need not stay to pay Thorgils for the +voyage."</p> +<p>"Let us tell some of the shore men to bide here to help us," +said the other--"we have the Saxon to carry."</p> +<p>"That is a good thought."</p> +<p>They clattered over the plank ashore, and another strand of the +rope went at that time. I thought it was but one of another turn of +the line, however. Five minutes more of painful sawing and +straining and I felt another strand give way. That made three, and +now one of the two turns of line that held my arms could have but +one strand left, and that ought to be no more than I could break by +force. Then I wrestled with it with little care if my struggles as +I bent and strove made noise that might call attention to me, for +it was my last chance. The lines bruised and cut me sorely, even +through my mail, but I heeded that no more than I did the hardness +of the timbers against which I rolled; and at last it did snap, +with a suddenness that let my elbow fly against the iron that had +been my saving, almost forcing a cry from me.</p> +<p>I was yet bound to my splints, but with my arms free it was but +the work of a few seconds to cast off the last of my bonds, and +within five minutes after the strand had parted I was on my feet, +and rubbing and stretching my bruised and cramped limbs into life +again. Then I felt in the darkness for the bale that held my gear, +and found it and tore it open.</p> +<p>How good it was to gird the sword on me again, and to feel the +cold rim of the good helm round my hot forehead! I was myself +again, and as I slipped Gerent's gold ring on my arm I thought that +it was almost worth the bondage to know what pleasure can be in the +winning of freedom. I forgot that I was troubled with thirst and +hunger, having touched nothing since I broke my fast with Owen; +though, indeed, there was little matter in that, for I had done +well at that meal with the long ride before me, and one ought to be +able to go for a day and a night without food if need be, as a +warrior.</p> +<p>Still, I was not yet out of the trouble. Thorgils had gone to +some place that I knew nothing of, and I had yet to learn if there +was any hope from Evan's shore going, which might make things +easier or might not. I could hear no one moving about the ship, so +I pushed the door open for an inch or two, and looked out into the +moonlight, with my drawn sword ready in my hand.</p> +<p>We were in a strange place. The ship's bows were landward, so +that as I looked aft I could see that we lay just inside the mouth +of a little cove, whose guarding cliffs towered on either side of +the water for not less than ten-score feet above the fringe of +breakers, falling sheer to the water with hardly so much as a +jutting rock at their feet. There was no sign of house or man at +the hilltop, so that it was plain that we were not at Tenby.</p> +<p>Then I was able to see that we were alongside a sort of landing +place that was partly natural and partly hewn and smoothed from the +living rock into a sort of wharf at the foot of the cliff. From +this landing place a steep road, hewn with untold labour at some +ancient day, slanted sharply upward and toward the head of the cove +along the face of the rocks, which were somewhat less steep on this +side than across the water. I could not see the top of this road, +but no doubt it was that along which Thorgils and the princess had +gone, and no doubt also Evan thought to carry me up it before +long.</p> +<p>I had a hope that my friend would return too soon for that, but +it was a slender one. It was plain that he had gone too far for me +to call to him. Yet could I win clear of the ship I might find or +fight my way up after him, and that seemed easy with only these +three Welshmen against me, and they expecting no attack.</p> +<p>I looked for the two who were left if I slew Evan. One sat under +the weather gunwale, wrapped in a great cloak, and seemed to be +sleeping. The other was not far off on the landing place, watching +Evan, who was speaking with a dozen men at the foot of the +rock-hewn road. I suppose that the coming in of the ship had drawn +idlers from the camp I had heard of to see her, for they all had +arms of some sort.</p> +<p>This was bad, for it seemed certain that the whole crowd would +join with Evan in falling on me if he called on them. If I came +forth now I had full twenty yards to cover before I reached them +from the ship's side after I had settled with the men on watch. In +that space all would be ready for me, and they were too many for me +to cut through to the roadway. I thought too that I heard the +voices of more who came downward toward the ship, though I could +not see them whence I was.</p> +<p>Then it came into my mind that if there was any place where I +could hide myself on deck I would try to creep to it while none had +their eyes on the ship. Then Evan, as he went to the cabin to seek +me, would have to deal with me from the rear. But that I soon saw +was hopeless. The deck was clear of lumber big enough to shelter +me, and the moonlight was almost as bright as day on everything, +and all the clearer for the snow that covered all the land. So I +began to turn over many other plans in my mind, and at last it +seemed that the only thing was to wait in the cabin for the best +chance that offered. Most likely Evan would do even as he had said, +and try and get away at once, with all he could lay hands on. If +so, I thought it would be certain that in his hurry he would bring +all these men on board in order to get his goods, and maybe those +belonging to Thorgils also, out and away with all haste, and so I +could cut through them with a rush that must take them unawares, +and so win to the camp with none to hinder me. There might be +sentries who would stay me, but I should be within calling distance +of my friend. Moreover, a sentry would see that I was some sort of +a leader of men, and might help me. So I began to wish for Evan to +act, for my fingers itched to get one downward blow at him.</p> +<p>I had not long to wait. He finished his talk with the men, and +they all came to the ship, even as I had hoped. But only half of +them came on board, leaving the rest alongside on the rock so that +they might help the goods over the side. That was not all that I +could have wished, but I thought that I might get through them in +the surprise that was waiting for them. So I drew my sword, and for +want of shield wrapped the blanket from the floor round my left +arm, and stood by for the rush.</p> +<p>Evan walked in a leisurely way toward the door, talking to one +of the newcomers as he came. The rest straggled behind him.</p> +<p>"I wonder how my sick man fares now," he said, and set his hand +to the latch.</p> +<p>Then he opened the door and I shouted and sprung forth, aiming a +blow at him as I came. But I was not clear of the low deck, and my +sword smote the beam overhead so that I missed him, and he threw +himself on the deck out of reach of a second blow, howling. I was +sorry, but I could not stop, for I had to win to the shore and to +the road yet.</p> +<p>The other men shrank from me, and I went through them easily, +and so reached the shoreward gunwale. There I was stayed, for Evan +had never ceased to cry to his fellows to stop me, and there was a +row of ready swords waiting for me. And there were more men coming +down the path, Welshmen as I could see by their arms, and by their +white tunics which glimmered in the moonlight. So that was closed +to me, and it seemed that here I must fight my last fight.</p> +<p>Then as I could not go over the side I went to the high stern +and leapt on it, half hoping that the men on shore might not be +quick enough to stay me from a leap thence, but they were there +alongside before me. Evan was up now, and cheering on the men on +deck to attack me, but not seeming to care to lead them. They +gathered together and came aft to me slowly, planning, as it would +seem, how best to attack me, for the steering deck on which I was +raised me four feet or so above them. The men on shore could not +reach me at all unless I got too near the gunwale, when some of +them who had spears might easily end me.</p> +<p>Something alongside the ship caught my eyes, and I glanced at it +with a thought that here might be fresh foes. But it was only the +little boat that belonged to the ship. The wind had caught her, and +was drifting her at the length of her painter as if she wanted to +cross the cove to its far side. Perhaps the men saw that my eyes +were not on them for that moment, for they made a rush from the +deck to climb the steering platform.</p> +<p>Then I had a good fight for a few minutes, until I swept them +back to their place. Two had won to the deck beside me, and there +they stayed. Now I had a hope that the men on shore would come +round to the ship and leave the way clear for me, but Evan called +to them to bide where they were. He had not faced me yet, and I +bade him do so, telling him that this was his affair, and that it +was nidring to risk other men's lives to save his own skin. But +even that would not bring him on me.</p> +<p>Now the men whom I had seen coming down from the cliffs' top had +hurried to see what all the shouting meant, and I saw that they +were well-armed warriors and mostly spearsmen. Evan cried to them +to come and help, and they ranged up alongside. He told them that I +was a Norseman who had gone berserk, and must needs be slain.</p> +<p>"That is easily managed," said the leader. "Get to your bows, +men."</p> +<p>I saw half a dozen unslinging them, and I knew that without +shield I was done, and in that moment a thought came to me. I +suppose that danger sharpens one's wits, for I saw that in the +little boat was my last chance. I had not time to draw her to the +side, and so I cut her painter, which was fast to a cleat close to +me, and as I did so the first arrow missed my head.</p> +<p>Then I shouted and leapt from the high stern straight among the +crowd at Evan, felling one of his outlaw comrades as I lit on the +deck. But I could not reach him, and in a few seconds I should have +been surrounded. So I cleared a way to the seaward side and went +overboard, amid a howl from my foes. I thought that I should never +stop sinking, for I had forgotten my mail; but I came to the +surface close to the ship, and looked for the boat. She was +drifting gently away from me, and I knew that I should have all +that I could do to reach her before the bowmen got to work again +from the ship's deck. Some one threw an axe at me as I swam, which +was waste of a good weapon, and I hoped that it was not Thorgils' +best. Strange what thoughts come to a man when in a strait.</p> +<p>The water struck icy cold to me, and I felt that I could not +stand it long, but I gained on the boat with every stroke, though +it was hard work swimming in my mail and with a sword in my hand. I +got rid of the blanket that was hampering my left arm, and by that +time I was far enough from the ship for my foes to be puzzled by +it. The moonlight was bright on the water, but the little waves +tossed it so that it must have been hard for them to know which was +I and which the floating stuff. Certainly, the first arrows that +were shot when the bowmen got a chance at me from the ship or over +her were aimed at the blanket, for I heard them strike it. Then one +leapt from wave to wave past me.</p> +<p>I won to the boat just in time, for I could not have held on +much longer. The cold was numbing me, and if I stopped swimming I +must have sunk with the weight of mail. None of our old summer +tricks of floating and the like were of any use with that weight on +me. The arrows were coming thickly by that time, and I was glad to +get to the far side of the boat and rest my hand on the gunwale, +while I managed to sheathe my sword. The men could not see plainly +where I was, and the arrows pattered on the planks of the boat and +hissed into the water still, on the chance of hitting me. So I +thought it well to get out of range before I tried to get on board, +and so held the gunwale with one hand and paddled on with the +other, until the arrows began to fall short, and at last ceased. A +Welshman's bow has no long range, so that I had not far to go thus. +But all the while I feared most of all to hear the plash of oars +that would tell me that they had put off another boat in chase of +me.</p> +<p>A little later and I should have been helpless, as I found when +I tried to get into the boat. The cold was terrible, and it had +hold of my limbs in spite of the swimming. It was hard work +climbing over the bows, as I must needs do unless I wanted to +capsize the light craft as I had overset a fisher's canoe more than +once, by boarding her over the side, as we sported in the +Glastonbury meres in high summer; but I managed it, and was all the +better for the struggle, which set the blood coursing in my veins +again. Then I got out the oars and began to pull away from the +ship, with no care for direction so long as I could get away from +her.</p> +<p>The foe had no boat, for they were all clustered in the ship or +close to her on the rock, and there was a deal of noise going on +among them. When I was fairly out of their way, and I could no +longer make out their forms, I began to plan where I had best go, +and at first I thought of a little beach that I had seen on the far +side of the cove, thinking that I could get up what seemed a gorge +to the cliff's top, and so hide inland somewhere. But when I could +see right into the gorge, I found that it was steep and higher than +I thought. My foes would be able to meet me by the time I was at +the top.</p> +<p>There was no other place that I could see, for none could climb +from the foot of the cliffs elsewhere, since if he reached the +rocks he would have to stay where he leapt to them. So as there was +no help for it, I headed for the open sea. No doubt, I thought, I +should find some landing place along the coast before I had gone +far, and meanwhile I was getting a fair start of the enemy, who +would have to follow the windings of the cliffs if they cared to +come after me.</p> +<p>I pulled therefore for the eastern end of the cove, opposite to +the place where the ship lay, and so rounded the point and was out +in the open and tossing on the waves in a way that tried my rowing +sorely, for I am but a fresh-water boatman. Lucky it was for me +that there was little sea on, or I should have fared badly. Then I +pulled eastward, and against the tide also, but that was a thing +that I did not know.</p> +<p>The boat was wonderfully light and swift, and far less trouble +to send along than any other I had seen. There are no better +shipwrights than the Norsemen, and we Saxons have forgotten the +craft.</p> +<p>The terrible numbness passed off as I worked, but now the wind +grew cold, and the clouds were working up from the southwest +quickly, with wind overhead that was not felt here yet. I knew that +I must make some haven soon, or it was likely that I should be +frozen on the sea, but the great cliffs were like walls, and at +their feet was a fringe of angry foam everywhere. I could see no +hope as yet. Far away to the east of me a great headland seemed to +bar my way, but I did not think that I should ever reach it. And +all the while I looked to see the black forms of men on the cliffs +in the moonlight, but they did not come. That was good at +least.</p> +<p>Then at last my heart leapt, for I saw, as a turn of the cliffs +opened out to me, another white beach with a cleft of the rocks +running up from it, and I thought it best to take the chance it +gave me, for I feared the blinding snow that would be here soon, +and I felt that the sea was rising. If my foes were after me they +would have been seen before now, as they came to the edge of the +cliffs to spy me out, and anyway I dreaded them less than the +growing cold. Moreover, I thought that Evan would hardly get many +men to follow him on a chase of what he had told them was a madman, +and a dangerous one at that. He had his goods to see to also.</p> +<p>So I ran the boat into the black mouth of the gorge, and beached +her well by good chance. I had little time to lose, but I tied her +painter to a rock at the highest fringe of tide wrack, in hopes +that she might be safe. It was so dark here that I did not think +that Evan would see her from above. And then I began to climb up +the rugged path that led out of the gorge to the hilltops.</p> +<p>There were bones everywhere in it. Bones and skulls of droves of +cattle on all the strand above the tide mark for many score yards. +Their ribs stuck out from the snow everywhere, and the sightless +eye sockets grinned at me as I stumbled over them. But I had no +time to wonder how they came there, for I must get to the summit +before Evan and his men reached it by their way along the cliff. I +ate handfuls of the snow and quenched my thirst that was growing on +me again, and my strength began to come back to me as I hurried +upward. I was a better man when at last I reached the top of the +gorge than when I came ashore.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a>. HOW OSWALD CROSSED THE +DYFED CLIFFS, AND MET WITH FRIENDS.</h2> +<p>Now I halted before I lifted my head above the skyline, and +listened with a fear on me lest I should hear the sound of running +feet, and I was the more careful because I knew that the snow which +lay white and deep on all the open land might deaden any sounds +thereof. But I heard nothing save the wail of the wind overhead as +it rose in gusts. I wondered if Thorgils would be able to bide in +this little cove, or must needs put out to seek some other haven. +There seemed to be a swell setting into it.</p> +<p>So I crept yet farther up the path, crouching behind a point of +rock, and thence I saw a dark line on the snow that seemed to +promise a road, and that must surely lead to some house or village. +I went forward to it with all caution, and with my head over my +shoulder, as they say, but I saw no man. This track led east and +west, and was well trodden by cattle, but there were few footprints +of men on it, so far as I could see. So I turned into it, going +ever away from the ship, and hurrying. I had a thought that I heard +shouts behind me, but there was more wind here on the heights than +I had felt on the sea, or it was rising, and it sung strangely +round the bare points of rock that jutted up everywhere. Maybe it +was but that.</p> +<p>Inland I could see no sign of house or hut where I might find +food at least, but the cloud wrack had drifted across the moon, and +I could not see far now. It was a desolate coast, all unlike our +own.</p> +<p>Then I came to a place where the track crossed stony ground and +was lost in gathered snow. When I was across that I had lost the +road altogether, and had only the line of the cliffs to guide me to +what shelter I could not tell. And now a few flakes of snow +fluttered round me, and I held on hopelessly, thinking that surely +I should come to some place that would give me a lee of rock that I +could creep under.</p> +<p>Then the snow swooped down on me heavily, with a whirl and rush +of wind from the sea, and I tried to hurry yet more from the chill. +Then I was sure that I heard voices calling after me, and I ran, +not rightly knowing where to go, but judging that the coastline +would lead me to some fishers' village in the end. There seemed no +hope from the land I had seen.</p> +<p>Again the voices came--nay, but there was one voice only, and it +called me by my name: "Oswald, Oswald!"</p> +<p>I stopped and listened, for I thought of Thorgils. But the voice +was silent, and again I pressed on in the blinding snow, and at +once it came, wailing:</p> +<p>"Oswald, Oswald!"</p> +<p>It was behind me now and close at hand, and I turned with my +hand on my sword hilt. But there was nothing. Only the snow whirled +round me, and the wind sung in the rocks. I called softly, but +there was no answer, and I was called no more as I stood still.</p> +<p>"Oswald, Oswald!"</p> +<p>I had turned to go on my way when it came this time, and now I +could have sworn that I knew the voice, though whose it was I could +not say.</p> +<p>"Who calls me," I cried, facing round.</p> +<p>Then a chill that was not of cold wind and snow fell on me, for +there was silence, and into my mind crept the knowledge of where I +had last heard that voice. It was long years ago--at Eastdean in +half-forgotten Sussex.</p> +<p>"Father!" I cried. "Father!"</p> +<p>There was no reply, and I stood there for what seemed a long +time waiting one. I called again and again in vain.</p> +<p>"It is weakness," I said to myself at last, and turned.</p> +<p>At once the voice was wailing, with some wild terror as it +seemed, at my very shoulder, with its cry of my name, and I must +needs turn once more sharply:</p> +<p>"Oswald, Oswald!"</p> +<p>My foot struck a stone as I wheeled round, and it grated on +others and seemed to stop. But as I listened for the voice I heard +a crash, and yet another, and at last a far-off rumble that was +below my very feet, and I sprang with a cry away from the sound, +for I knew that I stood on the very brink of some gulf. And then +the snow ceased for a moment and the moon shone out from the break +in the clouds, and I saw that my last footprint whence the voice +had made me turn was on the edge of an awesome rift that cleft the +level surface on the downland, clean cut as by a sword stroke, +right athwart my path. Even in clear daylight I had hardly seen +that gulf until I was on its very brink, for I could almost have +leapt it, and nought marked its edge. And in its depths I heard the +crash and thunder of prisoned waves.</p> +<p>I do not know that I ever felt such terror as fell on me then. +It was the terror that comes of thinking what might have been, +after the danger is past, and that is the worst of all. I sank down +on the snow with my knees trembling, and I clutched at the grass +that I might not feel that I must even yet slip into that gulf that +was so close, though there was no slope of the ground toward it. +Sheer and sudden it gaped with sharp edges, as the mouth of some +monster that waited for prey.</p> +<p>There on the snow I believe that I should have bided to sleep +the sleep of the frozen, for I hardly dared to move. The snow +whirled round me again, but I did not heed it, and with a great +roar the wind rose and swept up the rift with a sound as of mighty +harps, but it did not rouse me. Only my father's voice came to me +again and called me, and I rose up shaking and followed it as it +came from time to time, until I was once more on the track that I +had lost.</p> +<p>There it left me, but the sadness that had been in its tones was +gone when it last came. And surely that was the touch of no +snowflake that lit on my hand for a moment and was gone.</p> +<p>Now I grew stronger, and the fear of the unseen was no longer on +me, and I battled onward with wind and snow for a long way. Thanks +to the wind, the track was kept clear of the snow, and I did not +lose it again until it led me to help that was unlooked for.</p> +<p>There came the sound of a bell to me, strange sounding indeed, +but a bell nevertheless, and I knew that somewhere close at hand +was surely some home of monks who would take me in with all +kindness. And presently the track led me nearer to the sound of the +sea, and at last bent sharply to the right and began to go +downhill, while the sound of the bell grew plainer above the roar +of nearer breakers yet. I felt that I was passing down such a gorge +as that up which I had come from the boat, but far narrower, for I +had not gone far before I could touch the rocky walls with either +hand. Then I came to steps, and they were steep, but below me still +sounded the bell, and the hoarse breakers were very near at hand. I +expected to see the lights of some little fishing village every +moment, but the wind that rushed up the narrow space between the +cliff walls and brought the salt spray with it almost blinded +me.</p> +<p>Suddenly the stairway turned so sharply that I almost fell, and +then I found my way downward barred by what seemed a great +rough-faced rock that was right across the gorge, if one may call a +mere cleft in the cliffs so, and barred my way, while the strange +bell sounded from beyond it. But it was sheltered under this +barrier, and I felt along it to find out where I had to climb over, +thinking that the stairway must lead up its face. But there was no +stair, and as I groped my hand came on cut stone, and when I felt +it I knew that I had come to a doorway, for I found the woodwork, +but in no way could I find how it opened.</p> +<p>I kicked on it, therefore, and shouted, but it seemed that none +heard. The bell went on and then stopped, and I thought I heard +footsteps on the far side of the barrier. They came nearer, and +then were almost at the door, paused for a moment, and then the +door was opened and the red light from a fire flashed out on me, +showing the tall form of a man in monk's dress in its opening.</p> +<p>"Come in, my son," said a grave voice, speaking Welsh, that had +no wonder in it, though one could hardly have expected to see an +armed and gold-bedecked Saxon here in the storm.</p> +<p>I stumbled into what I had thought a rock, and found when my +eyes grew used to the light that I was in a house built of great +stones, uncemented but wonderfully fitted together, and warm and +bright with the driftwood fire, though I heard the spray rattle on +the roof of flat stones, and the wind howled strangely around the +walls. Both ends of this house were of the living rock of the sides +of the gorge, and at one end seemed to be a sort of cave with a +narrow entrance.</p> +<p>The man who had bidden me in stood yet at the open door looking +out on his staircase, but he did not bide there long. With a sigh +he turned and closed the door and came in, hardly looking at me, +but turning toward the cave I had just noticed. He was an old man, +very old indeed, with a long white beard and pale face lined with +countless wrinkles, and he stooped a little as he walked. But his +face was calm and kind, though he did not smile at me, and I felt +that here I was safe with one of no common sort.</p> +<p>"Come, my son," he said, "it is the hour of prime. Glad am I to +have one with me after many days."</p> +<p>He waited for no answer, and I followed him for the few steps +that led to the rock cavern; and there was a tiny oratory with its +altar and cross, and wax lights already burning.</p> +<p>The old man knelt in his place and I knelt with him, and as he +began the office straightway I knew how worn out I was, and of a +sudden the lights danced before me and I reeled and fell with a +clatter and clash of arms on the rocky floor. I seemed to know that +the old man turned and looked and rose up from his knees hastily, +and I tried to say that I was sorry that I had broken the peace of +this holy place; but he answered in his soft voice:</p> +<p>"Why, poor lad, I should have seen that you were spent ere this. +The fault is mine."</p> +<p>He raised me gently, and seemed to search me for some wound. And +as he did so I came more to myself, and begged him to go on with +his office.</p> +<p>"First comes care of the afflicted, my son, and after that may +be prayer. In truth, to help the fainting is in itself a prayer, as +I think. Come to the fireside and tell me what is amiss."</p> +<p>"Fasting and fighting and freezing, father," I said, trying to +laugh.</p> +<p>"Are you wounded?" he asked quickly.</p> +<p>"No, not at all."</p> +<p>"That is well. It is a brave heart that will jest in such a case +as yours, for you are ice from head to foot. Well, I had better +hear your story, if you will tell it me, in the daylight. Now get +those wet garments off you and put on this. I will get you food, +and you shall sleep."</p> +<p>This was surely the last place where my foes would think of +looking for me, and the snow would hide every trace of my path. So +I made no delay, but took off my byrnie and garments. There was a +pool on the floor where I stood, for it was true enough that I had +been ice covered. Then I put on a rough warm brown frock with a +cord round the waist, so that I looked like a lay brother at +Glastonbury, and all the while I waxed more and more sleepy with +the comfort of the place. But I wiped my arms carefully while the +old priest was busy with a cauldron over the fire, and we were +ready at the same time.</p> +<p>Then I had a meal of some sort of stew that seemed the best I +ever tasted, and a long draught of good mead, while the host looked +on in grave content. And then he spread a heap of dry seaweed in a +corner near the fire, and blessed me and bid me sleep. Nor did I +need a second bidding, and I do not think that I can have stirred +from the time that I lay down to the moment when I woke with a +feeling on me that it was late in the daylight.</p> +<p>So it was, and I looked round for my kind host, but he was not +to be seen. Outside the wind was still strong, but not what it had +been, for the gale was sinking suddenly as it rose, and into the +one little window the sun shone brightly enough now and then as the +clouds fled across it. There was a bright fire on the hearth, and +over it hung a cauldron, whence steam rose merrily, and it was +plain that my friend of last night was not far off, so I lay still +and waited his return.</p> +<p>Then my eyes fell on my clothes and arms as they hung from pegs +in the walls over against me, and it seemed as if the steel of mail +and helm and sword had been newly burnished. Then I saw also that a +rent in my tunic, made when my horse fell, had been carefully +mended, and that no speck of the dust and mire I had gathered on my +garments from collar to hose was left. All had been tended as +carefully as if I had been at home, and I saw Elfrida's little +brooch shining where I had pinned it.</p> +<p>That took me back to Glastonbury in a moment, but I had to count +before I could be sure that it was but a matter of hours since I +took that gift in the orchard, rather than of months. And I +wondered if Owen knew yet that I was lost, or if my men sought me +still. Then my mind went to Evan, the chapman outlaw, and I thought +that by this time he would have given me up, and would be far away +by now, beyond the reach of Thorgils and his wrath.</p> +<p>Now the seaward door opened, and a swirl of spray from the +breakers on the rocks came in with my host, who set a great armful +of drift wood on the floor, closed it, and so turned to me.</p> +<p>"Good morrow, my son," he said. "How fare you after rest?"</p> +<p>"Well as can be, father," I answered, sitting up. "Stiff I am, +and maybe somewhat black and blue, but that is all. I have no hurt. +But surely I have slept long?"</p> +<p>"A matter of ten hours, my son, and that without stirring. You +needed it sorely, so I let you be. Now it is time for food, but +first you shall have a bath, and that will do wonders with the +soreness."</p> +<p>Thankful enough was I of the great tub of hot water he had ready +for me, and after it and a good meal I was a new man. My host said +nought till I had finished, and then it was I who broke the silence +between us.</p> +<p>"Father," I said, "I have much to thank you for. What may I call +you?"</p> +<p>"They name me Govan the Hermit, my son."</p> +<p>"I do not know how to say all I would, Father Govan," I went on, +"but I was in a sore strait last night, and but for your bell I +think I must have perished in the snow, or in some of the clefts of +these cliffs."</p> +<p>"I rang the bell for you, my son, though I knew not why. It came +on me that one was listening for some sign of help in the +storm."</p> +<p>"How could you know?" I asked in wonder.</p> +<p>Govan shook his head.</p> +<p>"I cannot tell. Men who bide alone as I bide have strange +bodings in their solitude. I have known the like come over me +before, and it has ever been a true warning."</p> +<p>Now it was my turn to be silent, for all this was beyond me. I +had heard of hermits before, but had never seen one. If all were +like this old man, too much has not been said of their holiness and +nearness to unseen things.</p> +<p>So for a little while we sat and looked into the fire, each on a +three-legged stool, opposite one another. Then at last he asked, +almost shyly, and as if he deemed himself overbold, how it was that +I had come to be on the cliffs. That meant in the end that he heard +all my story, of course, but my Welsh halted somewhat for want of +use, and it was troublesome to tell it. However, he heard me with +something more than patience, and when I ended he said:</p> +<p>"Now I know how it is that a Saxon speaks the tongue of Cornwall +here in Dyfed. You have had a noble fostering, Thane, for even here +we lamented for the loss of Owen the prince. We have seen him in +Pembroke in past years. You will be most welcome there with this +news, for Howel, our prince, loved him well. They are akin, +moreover. It will be well that you should go to him for help."</p> +<p>He rose up and went to the seaward door again, and I followed +him out. The sea was but just below us, for the tide was full, and +the breakers were yet thundering at the foot of the cliffs on +either hand. But I did not note that at first, for the thing which +held my eyes at once was a ship which was wallowing and plunging +past us eastward, under close reefed sail, and I knew her for the +vessel in which I had crossed. Thorgils had left the cove, and was +making for Tenby while he might. I should have to seek him +there.</p> +<p>"How far is it to the Danes' town, Father Govan?" I asked. +"Yonder goes my friend's ship."</p> +<p>"Half a day's ride, my son, and with peril for you all the way. +Our poor folk would take you for a Dane in those arms, and you have +no horse. Needs must that you seek Howel, and he will give you a +guard willingly."</p> +<p>Then he turned toward a great rock that lay on the beach, as if +it had fallen from the cliffs that towered above us.</p> +<p>"Here is the bell that you heard last night," he said.</p> +<p>He took a rounded stone that lay on the rock and struck it, and +I knew that the clear bell note that it gave out was indeed that +which had been my saving.</p> +<p>"Once I had a bell in the cote on the roof yonder," he said, +"but the Danes caught sight of it when they first passed this way, +and took it from me. Then as I sorrowed that the lonely shepherds +and fishers might no more hear its call, I seemed to see a vision +of an angel who bade me see what had been sent me instead. And when +I went out as the vision bade me, I could see nought but this rock +newly fallen, and was downcast. And so, from the cliff rolled a +little stone and smote it, and it rang, and I knew the gift. To my +hearing it has a sweeter voice than the bell made with hands."</p> +<p>Then he showed me his well, roofed in with flat stones because +the birds would wash in it, and so close to the sea salt that it +seemed altogether wonderful that the water was fresh and sweet. And +then I saw that the cell did indeed stretch from side to side of +the narrow cleft down which I had come, so that each end of the +building was of living rock.</p> +<p>"I built it with my own hands, my son," he said. "I cannot tell +how long ago that was, for time is nought to me, but it was many +years. Once I wore arms and had another name, but that also I care +not to recall."</p> +<p>Then there came footsteps from above us, and looking up I saw a +man in a rough fisher's dress coming in haste down the long flight +of rock-hewn steps that led from the cliff top down the cleft to +the door that I had found last night, and soon we heard him calling +to the hermit.</p> +<p>Govan left me, and went through the cell to speak with him, but +was back very shortly.</p> +<p>"Howel the prince is coming hither," he said. "The man you saw +has seen him on the way, and came to warn me to be at hand for him. +It is well for you, my son, as I am sure."</p> +<p>So we went together into the house, and I thought to arm myself, +but Govan smiled and asked me not to do so, saying that hither even +Howel would come without his weapons, in all likelihood.</p> +<p>I understood him, and did but see that my sword was in reach +before I sat down and waited for the coming of the Welsh prince, +and I thought that all I need ask him was for help to reach Tenby, +whither Thorgils must have gone. It was quite likely that Evan +might have raised the country against me in hopes of taking me +again. And maybe I would ask for justice on the said Evan. Also I +wanted to hear what had happened after my going.</p> +<p>It was not long that I had to wait. There came the tramp of +horses at the top of the gorge, and the sound of a voice or two, +and then the tread of an armed man came slowly down the stair, and +Govan went to meet him. I rose and waited for his entry.</p> +<p>Now there came in, following Govan, unhelmed as he had greeted +the holy man, a handsome, middle-aged warrior, black haired and +eyed and active looking. He wore the short heavy sword of the Roman +pattern, gold hilted and scabbarded, at his side, and the helm he +carried had a high plumed crest and hanging side pieces that seemed +like those pictured on the walls of Gerent's palace. He had no body +armour on, and his dress was plain enough, of white woollen stuff +with broad crimson borders, but round his neck was a wonderful +twisted collar of gold, and heavy golden bracelets rang as his arms +moved. I saw that his first glance went to me, and that his face +changed when he saw that I was not one of his own people, but a +foreigner, as he would hold me. I saw too that he noted my arms as +they hung on the wall behind me.</p> +<p>Govan saw it also, and made haste to tell him who I was.</p> +<p>"This is one who should be welcome to you, Prince, for the sake +of old days, for he has come by mischance from Dyvnaint, being +foster son of one of the princes of Gerent's court, though a Saxon +by birth. Nevertheless he speaks our tongue well. He will tell you +all that presently, and I think that he needs your help."</p> +<p>"I thought you one of our troublesome neighbours, the Danes," he +said, with a smile now in place of the look of doubt. "But if you +are from Dyvnaint there are many things that you can tell me. But I +have come here to see that all is well with Father Govan, for there +is talk of a mad Norseman who is roving the country, unless the +cold has ended him in the night. It is good to see that nought is +wrong here."</p> +<p>Now I stood apart, and Govan and his guest spoke together for a +few moments before my turn to tell Howel of my plight should come, +and almost the next thing that the prince said made me wonder that +I had not thought who he was at once. Of course, he was the father +of the kindly princess who had crossed the sea with Thorgils, and +had so nearly been the means of my earlier rescue.</p> +<p>"Nona, my daughter, is here at the cliff top, Father Govan," +Howel said. "She came home in the Norse ship last night, as we +planned; but tide failed for Tenby, and it chanced that the ship +had to put in at the old landing place. Now she wants to thank you +for your prayers for her, and also to beg them for some sick man +about whom she is troubling herself--some poor hurt knave of a +trader who crossed in the ship with her."</p> +<p>"I will go out and speak with her," Govan said, smiling. "It is +ever her way to think of the troubled."</p> +<p>"Tell her that I will not keep her long in the cold," Howel +said. "Bid her keep her horse walking, lest he take chill, if I may +ask as much, Father."</p> +<p>Govan threw his cowl over his head, and answered:</p> +<p>"I will tell her. Now, Prince, this friend of mine has come here +in a strange way, and I think he needs help that you can give +him."</p> +<p>He passed out of the cliffward door and went his way up the long +stairway. Then Howel asked me how he could help me.</p> +<p>"Tell me about Dyvnaint also, for when I was a boy I was long at +Gerent's court. Did not Govan say that you were fostered by one of +the princes? It is likely that I knew your foster father well, if +so; was he Morgan?"</p> +<p>"Not Morgan, but Owen," I answered, and at that Howel almost +started to his feet.</p> +<p>"Owen!" he cried. "Does he yet live? Surely we all thought him +dead, or else he had come hither to us when he was banished. I +loved him well in the old days, and glad I am that you are not +Morgan's charge. Tell me all about Owen. Is he home again?"</p> +<p>"Morgan is dead," I answered, feeling that here I had met with a +friend in all certainty. "And because of that, Owen is in his place +again, and I am here. It has all happened in this week, and to tell +you of it is to tell you all my trouble."</p> +<p>Now he was all impatience to hear, and I told him all that +needed to be told, until I came to the time when Owen was back at +Norton with the old king. Then he asked me some questions about +matters there, and in the midst of my answers sprang up.</p> +<p>"Why," he cried, "here I have forgotten the girl, and she ought +to be hearing all this, instead of sitting in the cold on the +cliff. She is Owen's goddaughter, moreover, and he was here only a +little time before he was banished. She can remember him well."</p> +<p>"Stay, though," he said, sitting down again. "There is your own +tale yet. Let us hear it. Maybe that is not altogether so +pleasant."</p> +<p>My own thought was that I was glad I might tell it without the +wondering eyes of the fair princess on me, being afraid in a sort +of way of having her think of me as the helpless sick man she had +pitied. So I hastened to tell all that story.</p> +<p>And when I came to the way in which Evan brought me, Howel's +eyes flashed savagely, and a black scowl came over his handsome +face, sudden as a thunderstorm in high summer.</p> +<p>"It will be a short shrift and a long rope for that Evan when I +catch him," he said. "He comes here every year, and I suppose that +the goods I have had from him at times have been plunder. I would +that you had ended him last night. Now he has got away in peace, +and is out of my reach, maybe, by this time. Well, how went +it?"</p> +<p>Then I told him the end of the tale, wondering how it was that +Thorgils had let him go. I asked the prince if he could explain +that for me.</p> +<p>"Not altogether," he said. "Evan sent to me to ask me for men to +guard the ship presently, after we began the feast, saying that he +was going ashore with his goods, and was responsible to the +shipmaster. I told Thorgils, and he said it was well. So I sent a +guard, and presently Evan came and spoke with Thorgils for a little +while, and drank a cup of wine, and so went his way. Next morning, +before he sailed, Thorgils came and grumbled about the loss of his +boat, saying that Evan had taken some sick friend of his ashore in +her, and that she had not come back. I paid him for it too, because +I like the man, and so does my daughter. He sailed, and then I +heard of the fight for the first time."</p> +<p>Howel laughed a little to himself.</p> +<p>"Master Evan must have paid my rascals well to keep up the story +of the sick man to Thorgils, for he said nothing to me of any +fight. Maybe, however, he never spoke to any of them, and it is +likely that they would not say much to him. And now, by the Round +Table! if you are not the mad Norseman they prated of to me when I +wanted to know who slew the two men, and if you are not the sick +man that Nona is so anxious about! Here, she must come and see +you!"</p> +<p>With that he got up and went to the door before I could stay +him, and called gaily to the princess, whose horse I could hear +stamping high above us.</p> +<p>"Ho, Nona, here is a friend of yours whom you will be glad to +see. Ask Father Govan to let you come hither, and bid the men take +your horse."</p> +<p>So I must make the best of it, and I will say that I felt +foolish enough. It was in my mind, though, that I owed many thanks +to the princess for all her kind thought for me as sick man. I had +already said as much to Howel. So I began to try to frame some sort +of speech for her. One never remembers how such speeches always +fail at the pinch.</p> +<p>The light footsteps came down the steps in no long time, and +then the princess entered, dressed much as yesterday, with a bright +colour from the wind, and looking round to see the promised +friend.</p> +<p>"I have kept you long, daughter," Howel said, taking her hand, +"but I have been hearing good news. Here is Oswald of Wessex, a +king's thane, but more than that to us, for he is the adopted son +of your own godfather, Owen of Cornwall, and he brings the best of +tidings of him."</p> +<p>Now the maiden's face flushed with pleasure, and she held out +her hand to me in frank welcome. Yet I saw a little wondering look +on her face as she let her eyes linger on mine for a moment, and +that puzzled me.</p> +<p>"You are most welcome, Thane," she said. "It is a wonderful +thing that here I should learn that my lost godfather yet lives. +You will come to Pembroke with us, and tell me of him there?"</p> +<p>Then Howel laughed as if he had a jest that would not keep, and +he cried: "Why, Nona, that is a mighty pretty speech, but surely +one asks a sick man of his health first."</p> +<p>She blushed a little, and glanced again at me.</p> +<p>"Surely the thane is not hurt?" she said.</p> +<p>"Yesterday he was, and that sorely. What was it, Thane?--Slipped +shoulder, broken thigh, and broken jaw? All of which a certain +maiden pitied most heartily, even to lending a blanket to the poor +man."</p> +<p>Then Nona blushed red, and I made haste to get rid of some of +the thanks that were heartfelt enough if they came unreadily to my +lips, and Howel laughed at both of us. I think that the princess +found her way out of the little constraint first, for she began to +smile merrily.</p> +<p>"There must be a story for me to hear about all this," she said. +"But I was sure that I had seen your eyes before. I was wondering +where it could have been."</p> +<p>"Well," said Howel, "I have sat with the thane for close on an +hour, and now I do not know what colour his eyes are."</p> +<p>"They were all that I could see of him, father," laughed the +princess, and then she put the matter aside. "Now we have been here +long enough, and good Govan shivers on the hilltop. Surely the +thane will ride home with us, and we can talk on the way."</p> +<p>Howel added at once that this was the best plan for me, and what +he was about to ask me himself.</p> +<p>"I know you will want to get home again as soon as may be," he +said. "No doubt Thorgils will take you at once. I will have word +sent to him at Tenby to stay for you."</p> +<p>"Father, you have forgotten," the princess said, somewhat +doubtfully, as I thought.</p> +<p>"Nay, but I have not," answered Howel grimly. "But honest +Thorgils is a white heathen, and those Tenby men are black heathen. +He does not come into our quarrels, and will heed me, if they will +not."</p> +<p>I minded that I had heard of trouble between the Tenby Danes and +this prince, and it seemed that he spoke of it again. However, that +I might hear by and by. So I thanked him, and said that I could +wish for nothing better than to be his guest until I could go on my +way hence.</p> +<p>Now the princess went to the cliff top and called Govan, while I +armed myself. The hermit came back, and I bade him farewell, with +many thanks for his kindnesses during the hours I had been with +him; and so I went from the little cell with the blessing of Govan +the Hermit on me, and that was a bright ending to hours which had +been dark enough. Govan the Saint, men call him, now that he has +gone from among them, and rightly do they give him that name, as I +think.</p> +<p>Howel dismounted one of his men, and set me on the horse in his +place, and then we rode to the camp at the landing place by the +track which had led me hither, passing the head of the rift from +which I had escaped, so that I saw its terrors in full daylight. +And they were even more awesome to me than as I hung on the brink +with the depths unknown below me. Then Howel told me how once a +hunter had come suddenly on that gulf with his horse at full +gallop, and had been forced to leap or court death by checking the +steed. He had cleared it in safety, but the terror of what he had +done bided with him, so that he died in no long time; I could well +believe it.</p> +<p>Then the princess told me many things of Govan, and among others +that the poor folk held that when the Danes came and stole the bell +from him he had been hidden from them in the rock wall of the +chapel, which had gaped to take him in, closing on him and setting +him free when danger was past. Certainly there was a cleft in the +rock wall of the chapel wall that had markings as of the ribs of a +man in its sides, and was just the height and width for one to +stand in, but Govan said nought to me about it when he told of the +taking of the bell. Danes also slew all these cattle whose bones I +had passed among.</p> +<p>Then we came in sight of the camp, over which the red dragon +banner of Wales floated, and Howel told me how it was that he had +met us there with his guards.</p> +<p>"Men saw Thorgils' ship from the lookout, and so I came here, +for they said that she could not make Tenby on this tide and must +needs come in here. Nona has been for three months with her +mother's folk in Cornwall--ay, she is half Cornish, and kin to +Gerent and Owen. I was married over there, at Isca, and Owen was at +the wedding as my best man, though he is ten years younger than I. +That is how he came to be the girl's godfather, you see. Now I +wanted her back, for it is lonely at Pembroke without her, and I am +apt to wax testy with folk if she is not near to keep things +straight. So I sent word by Thorgils six weeks ago that she was to +come back, and he was to bring her. I have had the men watching for +the ship ever since. Good it is to see her again, and she has +brought good news also, with yourself. I have a mind to keep you +with us awhile, and let the Norseman take back word of your +safety."</p> +<p>But I said that, however pleasant this would be, it seemed plain +that I must get back to Owen with all speed, to warn him of this +trouble that was somewhat more than brewing. It could not be +thought that I would send word and yet never move to his side to +help.</p> +<p>"If I might say what comes into my mind," said the fair +princess, "it seems almost better that none but Owen and yourself +know that the plot is found out, while you guard against it. The +traitors will be less careful if they deem that nought is known. +Thorgils is somewhat talkative, you know."</p> +<p>"That is right," said Howel. "I have a good counsellor here, +Thane, as you see. However, Thorgils will not sail today, for he +has just put in, and I know that he was complaining of some sort of +damage done, as the gale set a bit of a sea into the cove, and he +had some ado to keep clear of the rocks for a time. We will even +ride to Pembroke, and I will send for Thorgils that he may speak +with you."</p> +<p>And then he added grimly:</p> +<p>"Moreover, I will send men on the track of Evan, the chapman, +forthwith."</p> +<p>So we called out the guards from the camp, where there were +lines of huts with a greater building in the midst as if it were +often used thus, and so rode across the rolling land northwards +till we came to Pembroke. And there Howel of Dyfed dwelt in state +in such a palace as that of Gerent, for here again the hand of the +Saxon had never come, and the buildings bore the stamp of Imperial +Rome.</p> +<p>So once again I was lodged within stone walls, and with a roof +above me that I could touch with my hand, and I need not say how I +fared in all princely wise as the son of Owen. I suppose there +could be no more frank and friendly host than Howel of Dyfed.</p> +<p>Tired I was that night also, and I slept well. But once I woke +with a fear for Owen on me, for I had dreamed that I saw some man +creeping and spying along the wide ramparts of Norton stronghold. +And it seemed that the man had a bow in his hand.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a>. HOW OSWALD LOST A +HUNT, AND FOUND SOMEWHAT STRANGE IN CAERAU WOODS.</h2> +<p>I thought Pembroke a very pleasant place when I came to see it +in the fair winter's morning. The gale had passed, but it had +brought a thaw with it, and there was a softness in the air again, +and the light covering of snow had gone when I first looked abroad. +There had been no such heavy fall here as we had in Wessex beyond +the sea.</p> +<p>Maybe pleasant companionship had something to do with my thought +of the place, for none can deny that a good deal does depend on who +is with one. And, seeing that after the morning meal her father was +busy with his counsellors for a time, Nona the princess would shew +me all that was to be seen while we waited the coming of +Thorgils.</p> +<p>Whoever chose the place for the building of this palace +stronghold chose well, for it is set on a rocky tongue of land that +divides the waters of an inland branch of the winding Milford +Haven, so that nought but an easily defended ridge of hill gives +access to the fortress. All the tongue itself has sheer rock faces +to the water, and none might hope to scale them. They and the wall +across the one way from the mainland, as one may call it, make +Howel's home sure, and since the coming of the Danes into the land +he had strengthened what had fallen somewhat into decay in the long +years of peace that had passed.</p> +<p>We had never reached Dyfed, either from land or sea. So I saw +hawks and hounds, stables and guardrooms and all else, and at last +we walked on the terraced edge of the cliffs in the southern sun, +and there a man came and said that Thorgils the Norseman had +come.</p> +<p>"Oh," said Nona with a little laugh, "he knows not that you are +here! Let us see his face when he meets you!"</p> +<p>"The prince is busy," said the servant. "Is it your will that +the stranger should be brought here?"</p> +<p>"Yes, bring him. Tell him that I would speak with him, but say +nought of any other."</p> +<p>The man bowed and went his way, and the princess turned to me +with a new look of amusement on her face.</p> +<p>"Pull that cloak round you, Thane, and pay no heed to him when +he comes; we may have sport."</p> +<p>They had given me a long Welsh cloak of crimson, fur bordered, +and a cap to wear with it instead of my helm. And of course I had +not on my mail, though Ina's sword was at my side, and Gerent's +bracelet on my arm, setting off a strange medley of black-and-blue +bruises and red chafed places from the cords, moreover. So I +laughed, and did as she bade me, even as I saw Thorgils brought +round the palace toward us from the courtyard where they had taken +charge of his horse. There were two other men with him, tall, wiry +looking warriors, and all three were well armed, but in a fashion +which was neither Welsh nor Saxon, but more like the latter than +the former.</p> +<p>"Danes from Tenby," said Nona; "I know them both, and like them. +See what wondrous mail they have, and look at the sword hilt of the +elder man. That is Eric, the chief, and I think he comes to speak +with my father."</p> +<p>The two Danes hung back as they saw that Howel was not present, +but Thorgils unhelmed and came forward quickly, with the courtly +bow he knew how to make when he chose, as he saluted the princess. +Then he turned slightly to me with his stiff salute, and as I +nodded to him I saw him start and look keenly at me. Then he looked +away again, and tried to seem unheeding, but it was of no use; his +eyes came back to me.</p> +<p>"You seem to have met our friend before, Shipmaster," said Nona, +whose eyes were dancing.</p> +<p>"I cannot have done so, Princess," he answered. "But on my word, +I never saw so strange a likeness to one I do know."</p> +<p>"I trust that is a compliment to my friend," she said.</p> +<p>"Saving the presence of the one who is like the man I know, I +may say for certain that it is nought else to him."</p> +<p>I turned away somewhat smartly, for I wanted to laugh, and this +was getting personal. The princess was not unwilling, I think, that +it should be more so.</p> +<p>"Now you have offended the present, and I shall have to say that +the absent need not be so."</p> +<p>"Nor the present either, Princess. See here, Lord, the man you +are so wondrous like in face did the bravest deed I have seen for +many a day. Moreover, he saved the life of a king thereby. Shall I +tell thereof?"</p> +<p>Now this was a new tale to Nona, for, as may be supposed, I had +not said that it was myself who handled Morgan so roughly, as I +told the tale of his end. It would have seemed like boasting myself +somewhat, as I thought, so I did but say that he was dragged away +from the king in time. Nor had I spoken of Elfrida. The tale was +told hurriedly, and when it was done there had been no thought but +of Owen. It was greater news here that he lived than that Ina had +narrowly escaped.</p> +<p>So she glanced round at me in some surprise, and then turned +again to Thorgils.</p> +<p>"Some time you shall, for I love your songs. Not now, for we +have not time."</p> +<p>"Thanks, Lady. It will be a good song, and is shaping well in my +mind. There is a brave lady therein also."</p> +<p>"Well, you have not told us who the brave man is.</p> +<p>"Did I not know that Oswald, son of Owen the Cornish prince, was +by this time in Glastonbury, I should have said he was here, so +great is the likeness. It is a marvel.</p> +<p>"Now, Lord, you will forgive me, no doubt."</p> +<p>"Ay, freely," I said, turning round sharply. "That is, if your +friend has a sword as good as this," and I shewed him the gemmed +hilt of Ina's gift from beneath the folds of my great cloak.</p> +<p>He stared at it, and then at my face again, and I took off my +cap to him with a bow.</p> +<p>"It is strange that a shipmaster knows not his own passenger," I +said.</p> +<p>But he was dumb for a moment, and his mouth opened. Nona laughed +at him and clapped her hands with glee, and I must laugh also.</p> +<p>"By Baldur," he gasped, "if it is not Oswald, in the flesh! What +witchcraft brought you here? To my certain knowledge there is no +ship but mine afloat now in the Severn Sea."</p> +<p>"Why, then, I crossed with you, friend," I said.</p> +<p>"That you did not--" he began, but stopped short.</p> +<p>"Thorgils, Thorgils--the sick man!" cried Nona.</p> +<p>"Oh!" said Thorgils, "can you have been Evan's charge?"</p> +<p>"Ay. Mind you that it was your own word that there might be +danger from the friends of Morgan?"</p> +<p>Then I told him all, and he heard with growls and head shakings, +which but for the presence of the lady might have been hard sayings +concerning my captors.</p> +<p>But when I ended he said:</p> +<p>"If ever I catch the said Evan there will be a reckoning. All +the worse it will be for him that for these five years past I have +known him, and deemed him a decent and trustworthy man, for a Welsh +trader. I have fetched him back and forth with his goods twice or +thrice a year for all that time, and now I suppose he has made me a +carrier of stolen wares! Plague on him. I mind me now that betimes +I have thought he dealt in cast-off garments somewhat, but that was +not my affair. Now one knows how that was."</p> +<p>"I liked the man well, also," said the princess, with a sigh. +"He has come here every year, and betimes as he shewed me his +goods--not those you spoke of, Thorgils--it has seemed to me that +he was downcast, and as one who had sorrow in his heart. Maybe he +had, for his ill doings. He deserves to be punished, but yet I +would ask that--that if you lay hands on him you will be +merciful."</p> +<p>"He shewed little mercy to Oswald the thane," growled Thorgils. +"However, Princess, I think that you may be easy. He will not risk +aught, and we shall see him no more. But the knave would beguile +Loki. Never a word did I hear of any trouble, but he came and spoke +to me as I sat with your men yonder, and paid me his passage money, +and said he had asked for a guard for the ship as he wanted to be +away with the sick man. Also he said he would borrow the boat for +his easier passage ashore. I supposed she was smashed in the gale, +as she came not back, and Howel paid me for her when I +grumbled."</p> +<p>"I wonder he went near you," I said.</p> +<p>"Therein was craft. If he had not paid passage I would have let +every shipmaster beware of him, and he would have fared ill. He +thought you done for, no doubt, and so fell back on certainty, as +one may say. It is a marvel you escaped the great rifts in yon +cliffs in the storm. Now he will hear that you are none the worse, +and he will be sorry he paid me."</p> +<p>Thorgils laughed grimly, but Nona sighed at the downfall of the +man she had liked. As for myself, it mattered little what became of +him, so far as I was concerned. Howel's men were hunting him as I +knew, and I only hoped they might catch him, for then we might +learn more of the plotting that was on hand from him. He would tell +all to save his skin, no doubt.</p> +<p>But now I told Thorgils how I needed to be back in Norton with +all speed, and it sent a sort of chill through me to see him shake +his head.</p> +<p>"There is need, truly," he said, "and all that may be done I +will do. But yestermorn we found that we had sprung a plank or two +just above the waterline, as we were in a bad berth for shelter. I +made shift to get the ship to Tenby, but on one tack she leaks like +a basket, and she must be repaired. It will take all today, and +maybe tomorrow; but it shall be done, if we have to work double +tides, or to make a cobbler's job of it in haste. I must be off +therefore to see to it. But I hope, if wind will serve us we may +sail for home tomorrow night. Tide serves about midnight, and waits +for no man. You had better be with us betimes."</p> +<p>He saw that I seemed downcast, and added thoughtfully enough: +"It is in my mind that you need have little care yet. Gerent will +not let Owen out of his sight for some time, as I think, and danger +begins when he is abroad alone, and carelessly. Maybe not till he +is at Exeter."</p> +<p>Then he beckoned to the two Danes who were waiting him, and made +them known to me after they had saluted the princess. Eric the +chief was a fine old warrior, iron grey and strong, and the other +was his son, who bade fair to be like his father in time. He was a +sturdy young man, and wore his arms well. They shook hands with me +frankly, and from their words it was plain that Thorgils had told +my story at Tenby already.</p> +<p>"This is the sick man I told you of," he said now. "He turns out +to be a Thane of Glastonbury, and Evan had a hand in some plot of +the friends of Morgan. Took him by craft and brought him here for +ransom, doubtless. I had not thought that man such a knave, and +shall distrust my judgment of men sorely in future."</p> +<p>Then Nona asked them what they would with the prince, and Eric +told her.</p> +<p>"The deer are in the valleys, Lady, and we came to tell the +prince that we have harboured the great stag of twelve points in +the woods beyond Caerau. Will it please him to join our hunt?"</p> +<p>"Doubtless," she said. "Now there is no time to be lost, for the +day is high already."</p> +<p>"None the worse, Princess," said Eric. "The last snow is passing +hourly."</p> +<p>So we went round to the front of the palace toward the gates, +and there waited half a dozen more men and horses by a gathering of +men on foot with a pack of great hounds, the like of which I had +never seen. They were the Danish hounds, which had come hither with +their masters, and were big and strong enough for any quarry, even +were it the bear that yet lurked in the Welsh mountain wilds.</p> +<p>Then Howel came, and would have me mounted well, and in less +than half an hour we were riding eastward along the ancient way +they call the Ridgeway, which crowns the long hill between the sea +and the valleys where lie the windings of Milford Haven. And so we +went till we could see Tenby itself far off on its rocky ness, and +at that point left Thorgils to go his way, while we turned +northward into the inland valleys, and sought the deep combe where +they had harboured the stag.</p> +<p>The snow lay here and there yet, but it was almost gone, and the +going was somewhat heavy, but overhead the sky was soft and grey, +and the wind was pleasant if chill. North and west it was, and that +would be fair for our crossing, if only it would hold, as Thorgils +deemed that it surely would.</p> +<p>Now it was good to hear the horn and the cheer of the hunters as +they drew the deep cover for the deer, and the half-dozen couple of +hounds that were held back in leash while the rest were at their +work strained and whimpered to be with them. And at last the great +stag broke from the cover, in no haste, but in a sort of disdain of +those who had disturbed him, and after him came a few scurrying +hinds who huddled to him for safely. They trotted to another cover, +and after them streamed the hounds, and then the great stag was +driven alone from his hiding, and so the pack was laid on and we +were away.</p> +<p>He headed for the far waters of the haven I had seen glittering +from the hilltop, even as Howel told me was likely, and the pace +was fast at the first. So I settled myself to the work and rode as +one should ride on another man's horse, and a good one, moreover, +carefully enough. But these hills were easier than ours, for +heather was none, and the loose stones that trouble us on Mendips +and Quantocks were not to be seen. It was fair grass land mostly. +So I let my horse go, and in a little while had forgotten aught but +the sheer joy of the pace, and the cry of the great hounds, and the +full delight of such a run as one dreams of. Whereby I have little +more to tell thereof.</p> +<p>For a country may seem to be open enough as one looks down on it +from a height, but as one crosses it the difference in what has +seemed easy riding is soon plain. Long swells of rolling ground +rise as it were from nothing, and deep valleys that had been unseen +cross the path, and the clustered trees are found to be deep woods +as they are neared. Then the man who knows the country has the +advantage, and it is as well to follow him. But I was well mounted, +and the pace was good where the gale had thinned the snow, and it +came about that before I had time to think what Howel and Eric and +the Danes who were on horseback were doing I rode down one side of +a little cover, past which the deer had gone with the hounds close +on him, while the rest went on the other. I heard one shout, but it +did not come into my mind that it was to me, for I thought that +they needs must follow, and did not look round. Then I had to turn +off yet more to the right as the best way seemed to take me, and +meanwhile they were off to the left.</p> +<p>So when I was clear of the thicket and could see across the open +again I had lost them. Unless I could hear the hounds I had nothing +to guide me, and I drew rein and listened for them. As I heard +nothing I rode on until I had a stretch of open country before me, +but there I could see no more. Afterwards I learned that the deer +had turned and made for the hill again, but it did not seem likely +that he would do so with the waters of the haven so close at hand +as I could see them. It was more likely that he would head straight +for them, and so I spurred on once more in that direction. It was +certainly the best thing that I could do, and I had not far to go +before a mile of the open water was before me. But there was nought +on its banks but a row of patient herons, fishing or sleeping, and +the sight of them told me that no man had passed this way for many +a long hour.</p> +<p>I waited in that place for a few moments, to see if the deer +made for the refuge of the water from some cover that as yet hid +him from me, but he did not come. It was plain to me then that the +hunt had doubled back and that I was fairly thrown out, and I went +no farther. By this time Eric might be miles away, and I knew +nothing of the lie of the land, save that along the crest of the +Ridgeway ran the road from Tenby to Pembroke, and that once on that +road I could make my way back in no long time. That, as it seemed +to me, was the best thing that I could do, and I headed my horse at +once for the hill, going slowly, for it was no great distance, and +it was heavy going in the places where the snow had gathered in +drifts. I thought that maybe I should cross the track of the horses +and hounds, or hear Eric's horn before I had gone far, but I +reached the foot of the hill without doing either.</p> +<p>Then I came to a place where the land began to draw upward more +sharply, thickly timbered, with scattered rocks among the roots of +the trees. Fox and badger and wildcat had their hiding places here, +for I could trace them on all sides, and then I saw the track of a +wolf, and that minded me, as that track in snow ever must, of Owen +and the day when he came to my help at Eastdean. That is the +clearest memory I have of my childhood.</p> +<p>Then I thought that I heard the horn, and stopped to listen, nor +was it long before what I had heard came to my ears again. It was +not the sound of the horn, however, but somewhat strange to me, and +for a while I wondered what forest bird or beast had a note like +that.</p> +<p>For the third time I heard it, and now it was plainly like the +half-stifled cry of some one in pain among the trees to the right +of me, and not far distant either. So I rode toward the place +whence the cry seemed to come, and as I went I called. At that the +voice rose more often, with some sound of entreaty in its tone, and +it seemed to be trying to form words. I hastened then, crossing +more wolf tracks on the way, and then I struck the trail of many +men and a few horses; but these were not Eric's, for the hoof marks +were rather those of ponies than of his tall steeds. I followed +that track, for it seemed to lead toward the weary voice that I +heard, and so I came to a circle of great oaks with a clear space +of many paces wide between them, and there I found what I was +seeking. It was piteous enough.</p> +<p>A man was tied to the greatest of the trees, with knees to chin, +and bound ankles, while round his knees his hands were clasped and +fastened so that a stout stake was thrust through, under his knees +and over his elbows, trussing him helplessly. The cords that bound +him to the tree were round his body in such wise that he could by +no means fall on his side and so work himself free from the stake, +and round his mouth was a ragged cloth tied, but not closely enough +to prevent him from calling out as I heard him. I think that he +must have gnawed it from closer binding than I saw now. Across the +snow behind him the paws of some daring wolf had left marks as if +the beast had sniffed at his very back not so long since, and +surely but for the chance of my coming that way nought but his +bones had been left in that place by the pack before morning came +again.</p> +<p>It was a strange cry that this man gave when he saw me, for in +no way could I take it for a cry of joy for rescue. I could rather +think that he had raised the same when the wolf came near him. And +when I dismounted and led my horse after me toward him he seemed to +try to shrink from me, as if I also meant him harm. I thought that +the poor soul had surely gone distracted with the fear of the +forest beasts on him, so that he no longer knew friend from foe, +and I wondered how long he had been bound here in this lonely +place. I had seen no house or trace of men between here and +Tenby.</p> +<p>I hitched the bridle rein over a low bough, and leaving my horse +went toward him to set him loose, wondering who had left him here. +And as I drew my seax and went to cut the lashings he writhed +afresh and cried piteously for mercy in what sounded like bad Saxon +from behind the cloth across his face, as though he deemed that I +came to slay him. I did not notice the strangeness of his using my +own tongue here in the heart of a Welsh land at the time, but +thought he took me for one of those who had bound him.</p> +<p>"Fear not," I said, speaking in Welsh to comfort him.</p> +<p>And if anything, that seemed to terrify him yet more.</p> +<p>"Mercy, good Thane--mercy!" he mumbled from his half-stifled +lips.</p> +<p>Then it seemed to me that it was strange that he knew what I +was, and before I cut the bonds I took the cloth from his face, and +lo! the man was Evan the outlaw, my enemy!</p> +<p>That told me why he feared me in good truth, for he had need to +do so, and I stood back and looked at him with the bright weapon +still in my hand, and he cried and begged for mercy unceasingly. It +seemed but right that he should be bound helplessly as he had bound +me, yet he had not the bitterness of seeing a friend look on him +without knowing him as had I. It was a foe whom he saw, and that a +righteous one.</p> +<p>Then I was minded to turn away and leave him where he was, until +the foe from the forest looked on him for the last time, for it was +all that he deserved, and I set my seax back in my belt and turned +away to my horse with a great loathing of the man in my mind; and +seeing that, he begged for mercy again most pitiably.</p> +<p>That is a hard thing to hear unmoved, and I stayed and looked at +him again. My first wrath was leaving me as I saw the fullness of +the end of his plans, and I do not think that it is in me to be +utterly revengeful.</p> +<p>"What mercy can you hope from me!" I said coldly.</p> +<p>"None, Thane--none. But let me go hence with you. Better the +rope than these wild beasts. Or slay me now, and swiftly."</p> +<p>"Who, of all your friends, tied you here?" I asked him.</p> +<p>"Howel's men," he answered. "They took my goods at the ford of +Caerau yonder, and so brought me here and left me. That was early +this morning."</p> +<p>"I marvel that you bided in reach of any who might speak with +me," I said.</p> +<p>"My comrades left me, for fear of that same. I must hire ponies +to get the goods away. I thought you had died on the wild sea that +night."</p> +<p>"It seems to me that this is but justice on you. The goods you +have lost were stolen from honest men. And it were just if I left +you bound as you bound me."</p> +<p>Then the man said slowly: "Ay, it is justice. But will you treat +me even as I treated you, Thane?"</p> +<p>I looked at him in some wonder. The man's face had grown calm, +though it was yet grey and drawn, and this seemed as if he would +own his fault without excuse. I minded that Nona the princess and +her father, ay, and Thorgils, had said that they thought well of +Evan the merchant up till this time.</p> +<p>"Supposing I let you go--What then?" I said.</p> +<p>"First of all, I would tell you somewhat for which you will +thank me, Thane."</p> +<p>"Tell me that first," I said, not altogether believing that he +had anything which could be worth my hearing, but with a full mind +now to let him go.</p> +<p>Plainly, he had some sort of faith in me, or in the worth of +what he had to say, for he began eagerly:</p> +<p>"Thane, when we took you, it was Owen of Cornwall for whom we +waited. We were not minding you at all until we saw that we might +hurt him through you."</p> +<p>"That I suppose. I know that you laid wait for Owen the +prince."</p> +<p>"Ay, for you know the Welsh and heard all that we said. But +listen, Thane, this is it. Eight of the friends of Morgan had sworn +the death of Owen that morning, and it was the leader of them who +set us on. He was not there, for he waited on another road."</p> +<p>"Were you one of the eight?"</p> +<p>"That I am not," he said. "I and my men were but hired, as +Morgan was wont to hire us now and then. When we took you methought +that it was well for me, for through you I might be inlawed again, +even as I told you."</p> +<p>"Who was this leader?" I asked, heeding this last speech not at +all.</p> +<p>"Tregoz of the Dart, men call him, for he holds lands thereon. +Also there are these of the great men of Cornwall and +Dyvnaint."</p> +<p>He called over the names of the other seven, and I repeated them +that I should not forget. The only one that I had heard before was +that of Tregoz. The outlaws had spoken of him, and now I remembered +him as one of those who had seemed loudest in welcome to Owen when +he came to Norton. So I told Evan, and he nodded.</p> +<p>"I heard him boast of the same," he said, and I believed him for +the way in which he said it.</p> +<p>"How do they think to slay Owen, and wherefore?" I asked, and my +blood ran cold at the thought of the treachery that was round +him.</p> +<p>Doubtless this Tregoz was back at court.</p> +<p>"In any way that they may compass, and if in such a way as to +stir up war with Ina of Wessex so much the better, as they say. It +is revenge for the death of Morgan, and hatred of the Saxon, +mixed."</p> +<p>"Is there any more that I should know?"</p> +<p>"None, Thane. But I have broken no oath in telling you this, as +you might think. We outlaws were not bound, for there seemed no +need."</p> +<p>It was strange that he should care to tell me this, being what +he was. Once more I minded words of Thorgils--that the knave would +beguile Loki himself with fair words. Yet there was somewhat very +strange in all the looks and words of the man at this time. But I +would not talk longer with him, and I cut his bonds and freed +him.</p> +<p>He tried to rise and stretch his cramped limbs, groaning with +the pain of them as he did so. And that grew on him so that of a +sudden he swooned and fell all his length at my feet, and then I +found myself kneeling and chafing the hands of this one who had +bound me, so that he should come round the sooner. At last he +opened his eyes, and I fetched the horn of strong mead that Howel +had bidden his folk hang on my saddle bow when we rode out, and +that brought him to himself again. He sat up on the snow and +thanked me humbly.</p> +<p>"Now, what will you do?" I said. "Let me tell you that Thorgils +is after you, and that Howel has set a price on your head, or was +going to do so. And it is better that you cross the sea no more, +for if ever any one of the men of Gerent or Ina catch you your life +will be forfeit."</p> +<p>"I will get me to North Wales or Mercia, Thane, and there will I +live honestly, and that I will swear. Only, I will pray you not to +tell Howel that I am free."</p> +<p>"I am like to tell no man," I answered grimly. "For I should but +be called a soft-hearted fool for my pains."</p> +<p>"Yet shall you be glad that you freed me. Bid Owen the prince +look to the door before ever he opens it. Bid him wear his mail day +and night, and never ride unguarded. Let him have one whom he +trusts to sleep across his doorway, until Tregoz and his men are +all accounted for."</p> +<p>"Well, then," I said, "farewell--as well as you shall deserve +hereafter. You best know if you have one safe place left to you in +England or in Wales."</p> +<p>"I was not all so bad until the law hounded me forth from men," +he said. "I have yet places where I am held as an honest man."</p> +<p>Now I had enough of him, and I would not ask him more of himself +yet I will say that my heart softened somewhat toward him, for I +knew that here also he had been well thought of. Almost did I +forget how he had treated me, for now that seemed a grudge against +Tregoz. Maybe that was all foolishness on my part, but I am not +ashamed thereof today, as I was then.</p> +<p>"Stay, have you any weapon?" I said, as I was turning away. +"There are many ills that may befall an unarmed man in a wild +country."</p> +<p>"There was a seax here," he said, rising stiffly. "They left it +on the ground, that I might see help out of my reach, as it were. +Ay, here it is."</p> +<p>He took it up, and I knew that after all he had felt somewhat as +he had made me feel when I saw help close to me and might not have +it. I pitied him, for I knew well what his torture had been. Ay, +and I will tell this, that men may know how this terror burnt into +me. Many a time have I let a trapped rat go, because I would not +see the agony of dumb helplessness in anything. It frays me. There +is no wonder that I set Evan free.</p> +<p>I said no more, but left him staring after me with the seax in +his hand, and rode on my way, thinking most of all of the peril +that was about Owen, and longing to be back with him that I might +guard him. It seemed likely now that Gerent could take all these +men whose names I had heard without the least trouble, for they +could not deem that their plans were known. Ina would surely let me +bide with my foster father till danger to him was past.</p> +<p>So I came into the road that runs along the top of the Ridgeway, +and then I knew where I was. I could see the great ness of Tenby +far before me across the hills, and presently at a turn in the road +I saw Howel and Eric and his men ahead of me. They had taken the +stag, and knew that I should make my way back, and so troubled not +at all for me.</p> +<p>There Howel and I parted from the Danes, they going back to +Tenby, while we returned slowly to Pembroke. And when we came to +the palace yard we found a little train of horses and men there, as +though some new guests had come in lately.</p> +<p>"I know who these will be," said Howel. "You will have company +in your homeward crossing. Here is Dunwal of Devon, and his +daughter, who have been on pilgrimage to St. Davids, for +Christmastide. They knew that Nona returned at this time, and have +come hither on the chance of a passage home in the ship which +brought her. In good time they are, after all."</p> +<p>Presently I met these folk, and very courteous they were. Dunwal +was a tall, very dark, man, who chose to hold that he was beholden +to myself for the passage home, when he heard why I was sailing so +soon. And his daughter was like him in many ways, being perhaps the +very darkest damsel I have ever seen, though she was handsome +withal. With them was a priest of the old Western Church, a +Cornishman, with his outlandish tonsure. He was somewhat advanced +in years, and strangely wild looking at times, though silent. He +seemed to be Dunwal's chaplain, or else was a friend who had made +the pilgrimage with him. His name was Morfed, they told me.</p> +<p>I do not think that I should have noted him much, but that when +he heard my Saxon name he scowled heavily, and drew away from me; +and presently, when it came to pass that Howel told Dunwal the news +I had brought, I saw his eyes fixed on me in no friendly way as he +listened. Nor did he join with his friends in the words of gladness +for Owen's return, though indeed I had some thought that theirs +might have been warmer. It was almost as if something was held back +by the Devon man and his daughter, though why I should think so I +could not tell. At all events, their way of receiving the news was +not like that of Howel and Nona.</p> +<p>By and by, when we came to sit down at table in the largest room +of the palace, bright with fair linen, and silver and gold and +glass vessels before us, and soft and warm under foot with rugs on +the tiled floor which hardly needed them, as I thought, there was a +guest I was pleased to see. Thorgils had ridden from Tenby at the +bidding of the princess, as it seemed, and his first words to me +were of assurance that all went well for our sailing. The good ship +would be ready for the tide of the morrow night. Pleased enough +also he was with the chance of new passengers, as may be +supposed.</p> +<p>I do not think that I have ever sat at a feast whereat so few +were present at the high table, and there were no house-carles at +all. Truly, the room was not large enough for what we deem that a +king's board should be, but we seemed almost in private. There were +not more than thirty guests altogether, but it was pleasant for all +that. The princess was on the right of her father, and Mara, the +daughter of Dunwal, on his left, but I sat next to Nona, and Dunwal +to me again. On the other side of the prince were some of his own +nobles, and across the room sat Thorgils next to the Cornish +priest, among Welshmen of some lower rank. They seemed an +ill-assorted pair, but Thorgils was plainly trying to be friendly +with every one in reach of him, and soon I forgot him in the +pleasantness of all that went on at our table.</p> +<p>However, by and by Howel said to Nona suddenly, in a low +voice:</p> +<p>"Look yonder at the Norseman. He must be talking heathenry to +yon priest, for the good man seems well-nigh wild. What can we +do?"</p> +<p>Truly, the face of Morfed was black as thunder, while that of +the Norseman was shining with delight in some long-winded story he +was telling. The white-robed servants were clearing the tables at +this moment, and the prince's bard, a fine old harper with golden +collar and chain, was tuning his little gilded harp as if the time +for song had come.</p> +<p>"Make him sing," said Nona. "I bade him here tonight that he +might do so. He has some wondrous tale to tell us."</p> +<p>Howel beckoned to the harper, and signed to him, and the old man +rose at once and went to Thorgils. It was not the first time that +he had sung here, it was plain. Then I noted that the priest was +scowling fiercely at myself, and I wondered idly why. I supposed, +so far as I troubled to think thereof that he was one of those who +hated the very name of Saxon.</p> +<p>Now Thorgils took the harp without demur, smiling at the bard in +thanks, and so came forward into the space round which the tables +were set, while a silence fell on the company.</p> +<p>"If my song goeth not smoothly in the British tongue, Prince, +forgive me. I can but do my best. Truly, I have even now asked my +neighbour, Father Morfed, if it is fairly rendered, but I have not +had his answer yet."</p> +<p>He ran his hand over the already tuned strings, and lifted his +voice and began. It was not the first time that he had handled a +British harp, by any means, but if he played well he sang better. I +do not think that one need want to hear a finer voice than his; and +though he had seen fit to doubt his powers, his Welsh was as good +as mine, and maybe, by reason of constant use, far more easy.</p> +<p>And next moment I knew that he was going to sing nothing more or +less than of King Ina's Yule feast, and what happened thereat. He +had promised to tell the princess the story, and this was her +doing, of course. I could not stop him, and there I must sit and +listen to as highly coloured a tale as a poet could make of it. +Once he saw that I was growing red, and he grinned gently at me +across the harp, and worked up the struggle still more terribly. +And all the while Morfed the priest glowered at me, until at length +he rose and left the room.</p> +<p>I was glad enough when Thorgils ended that song, but Nona must +ask him for yet another, and that pleased him, of course, and he +began once more. This time he sang, to my great confusion, of the +drinking of the bowl, and of my vow, and I wished that I was +anywhere but in Pembroke, or that I could reach the three-legged +stool on which he was perched from under him. I never knew a man +easy while the gleemen sang his deeds, save Ina, who was used to +it, and never listened; and I knew not where to look, though maybe +more than half the folk present did not understand that I was the +hero of the song. Nevertheless, I had to put up with it, till he +ended with a verse or two of praise of our host and of the princess +who loved the songs of the bard, and so took his applause with a +happy smile and went and sat down, while Nona bade her maidens bear +a golden cup and wine to him.</p> +<p>Then the princess turned to me with a quiet smile that had some +mischief in it.</p> +<p>"This last is more than I had thought to hear, Thane," she said; +"you told us nought of yourself and the lady Elfrida when we rode +from the hermit's."</p> +<p>And so she must ask me many questions, under cover of some chant +which the old bard began, and she drew my tale from me easily +enough, and maybe learnt more than I thought I told her, for before +long she said:</p> +<p>"Then it seems that, after all, you are not so sure that the +lady is pleased with you for your vow?"</p> +<p>And in all honesty I was forced to own that I was not. I suppose +I showed pretty plainly that I thought myself aggrieved in the +matter, for the princess smiled at me.</p> +<p>"Wait till you see how she meets you when you return, Thane. No +need to despair till then."</p> +<p>It came into my mind to say that I did not much care how I was +met, but I forbore. Maybe it was not true. And then the princess +and the three or four other ladies who were present rose and left +the table, and thereafter we spoke of nought but sport and war, and +I need not tell of all that. But when I went to my chamber +presently, and the two pages were about to leave me to myself some +three hours or so after the princess left the board, one of them +lingered for a moment behind the other, and so handed me a folded +and sealed paper.</p> +<p>"I pray you read this, Thane," he said, and was gone.</p> +<p>It was written in a fair hand, that did not seem as that of any +inky-fingered lay brother, but as I read the few words that were +written I knew whose it was, for none but Nona would have written +it.</p> +<p>"Have a care, Thane. I have spoken with Mara, and I fear +trouble. Dunwal her father is, with Tregoz his brother, at the +right hand of the men who follow Morgan. Morfed the priest is a +hater of all that may make for peace with the Saxon. He is +well-nigh distraught with hatred of your kin."</p> +<p>Then there were a few words crossed out, and that was all. And +to tell the truth, it was quite enough. But as I came to think over +the matter, it seemed to me that until Dunwal knew that it was his +brother who had tried to get rid of me I need not fear him. As for +the priest, his hatred would hardly lead him to harm the son of +Owen.</p> +<p>So I slept none the less easily, but from my heart I thanked the +princess for the warning. It should not be my fault if Dunwal had +much power for harm when once I met Gerent.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a>. WHY IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR +OWEN TO SLEEP IN THE MOONLIGHT.</h2> +<p>It needs not that I should tell of the farewell of the next day. +I went from Pembroke with many messages for Owen, and a promise +that if I might ever come over with him I would do so. The princess +was busy with the lady who was to cross with Thorgils, and I did +not find one chance of telling her that I thanked her for her +warning, but I found the page who gave me the letter, and bade him +tell his mistress when we had gone that she had taught me to look +in the face of a fellow passenger, which would be token enough that +I understood.</p> +<p>Dunwal and his daughter had some few men and pack horses with +them, and one Cornish maiden who attended Mara, so that we were +quite a little train as we rode from Pembroke toward Tenby in the +late afternoon, with a score of Howel's guards to care for us in +all honour. Part of the way, too, Howel rode, and when we came to +the hill above the Caerau woods, and looked down on the winding +waters again, he said to me:</p> +<p>"I have forgotten to tell you that my men took Evan. By this +time he has met his deserts. I have done full justice on him."</p> +<p>"Thanks, Prince," I said with a shudder, as I minded what I had +saved the man from. "Did your men question him?"</p> +<p>Howel smote his thigh.</p> +<p>"Overhaste again!" he cried in vexation. "That should have been +done; but I bade them do justice on him straightway if they laid +hands on him. They did it."</p> +<p>I said no more, nor did the prince. It was in my mind that he +was blaming himself for somewhat more than carelessness. So +presently he must turn and leave us, and we bade him farewell with +all thanks for hospitality, and he bade me not forget Pembroke, and +went his way.</p> +<p>Then I found Dunwal pleasant enough as a companion, and so also +was Mara, and the few miles passed quickly, until we rode through +the gates of the strong stockade which bars the way to the Danes' +town across the narrow neck of the long sea-beaten tongue of cliff +they have chosen to set their place on. The sea is on either side, +and at the end is an island that they hold as their last refuge if +need is, while their ships are safe under one lee or the other from +any wind that blows.</p> +<p>Far down below us at the cliff's foot, as we rode through the +town, where the houses had been set anywise, like those at Watchet, +and were like them timber built, we could see to our left a little +wharf, and beside it the ship that waited us. And the wind was +fair, and the winter weather soft as one might wish it for the +crossing.</p> +<p>Now, so soon as Thorgils had seen the baggage of the Cornish +folk safely bestowed I had time for a word with him, taking him +apart and walking up the steep hill path from the haven for a +little way, as if to go to the town. And so I told him who this man +was, and what possible danger might be.</p> +<p>He heard with a long whistle of dismay:</p> +<p>"'Tis nigh as bad as crossing with Evan," he said--"but one is +warned. Let them have the after cabin, and do you take the forward +one; it will be safer. Leave me to see to him when we get to +Watchet, for it is in my mind that Gerent will want him. Moreover, +so long as he thinks that you fear him not he will be careless, and +I will watch him. He will want to learn more before he meddles with +you. As for the priest, I will tend him."</p> +<p>So we were content to leave the matter. Presently, when we were +at sea, I do not think that Dunwal or Morfed had spirit left to +care for aught. I know that I had not. I need not speak of that +voyage, save to say that it was speedy, and fair--to the mind of +Thorgils, at least.</p> +<p>At last I slept, nor did I wake till we had been alongside the +wharf at Watchet for two hours, being worn out. Then I found that +Dunwal and his party had gone already, and I wondered, with a mind +to be angry, whereat Thorgils laughed.</p> +<p>"I have even sent them on to Norton with a few of our men to +help him, and they will see that he goes there and nowhere else. +You will find him waiting. I did not want him to fall on you on the +road."</p> +<p>"What is the news?" I asked. "Have you heard aught?"</p> +<p>"The best, I think. Gerent is hunting Tregoz, and Owen has swept +up every outlaw from the Quantocks. Our folk helped him. Some of +them told all they knew when they were taken."</p> +<p>"Then," I said gladly, "Owen knows that I am safe."</p> +<p>"Not so certainly," Thorgils said. "None of our folk can say +that you crossed with me, and as this is the only ship afloat at +this time of the year there is doubt as to where you are. It will +be good for Owen to see you again. What a tale you have for him! On +my word, I envy you the telling."</p> +<p>"Well, then, ride with me to Norton straightway, and you shall +tell all and save me words. Owen shall thank you also for your care +for me."</p> +<p>"What, for letting you sit on my deck while the wind blew? Nay, +but there are no thanks needed between us. You and I have seen a +strange voyage together, and it has ended well. Maybe you and I +will see more sport yet side by side, for I think that we are good +comrades. Let us be going, then, for it was in my mind that I could +not rest until I had seen you safe to your journey's end."</p> +<p>Then I found that he had his own horses ready for us, and two +more men, well armed and mounted also, were waiting with them on +the green where I had been set down in the litter. So in a very +short time Thorgils had told his men all that he would have done +about the ship, and we were riding fast along the road to Norton, +while the thawing snow told of the going of the frost at last.</p> +<p>I had been gone but these few days, but each of them seemed like +a month to look back upon as I rode under the shadow of the hills +that I had last seen as a hopeless captive. It grew warm and soft +as the midday sun shone on us, and the road was muddy underfoot +with the chill water that had filled all the brooks again, but I +hardly noticed the change, so eager was I to be back. Glad enough I +was when we saw the village and the mighty earthworks above it, and +yet more glad when the guards at the gate told us that Owen was +even now in the palace.</p> +<p>I left Thorgils and his men to the care of the guard for the +time, while I went straightway to the entrance doors and asked for +speech with him.</p> +<p>"It is the word of the king that you shall have free admittance +into the palace and to himself at any time, Thane," the captain of +the guards said.</p> +<p>So I passed into the great chamber of the palace that was used +as audience hall for all comers, and also as the court of +justice.</p> +<p>The place was full of people, and those mostly nobles, so that I +had to stand in the doorway for a moment to see what was going on. +It was plainly somewhat out of the common, for there were guards +along one end of the room. It seemed as if there were a trial.</p> +<p>Gerent sat in the great chair which one might call his throne at +the upper end of the room, and beside him was Owen. I thought that +my foster father seemed pale and troubled in that first glance, but +I had every reason to know why this was so. Before these two stood +a man, with his back to me therefore, and for the moment I did not +recognise him. On either side of this man were guards, and it was +plainly he who was in trouble, if any one. Gerent was speaking to +him.</p> +<p>"Well," he said, "hither you have come as a guest, and as a +guest you shall be treated. But you must know that here within the +walls of the place you shall abide. If you will give your word to +do that I shall not have to keep you so closely."</p> +<p>"This is not what I had looked for from you, King Gerent," the +man said.</p> +<p>I knew the voice at once, for it was that of Dunwal, my fellow +passenger. So the treachery of his brother must be known, and he +was to be held here as a hostage, as one might say. Gerent's next +words told me that it was so.</p> +<p>"If there is any fault to be found, it is in the ways of your +brother. Blame him that I must needs have surety for his behaviour. +It cannot be suffered that he should go on plotting evil against +us, unchecked in some way."</p> +<p>Dunwal shrugged his shoulders, as if to say that all this was no +concern of his.</p> +<p>"Shall you hold my daughter as well?" he said. "I trust that +your caution will not make you go so far as that."</p> +<p>Gerent's eyes flashed at the tone and words, but he answered +very coldly:</p> +<p>"She will bide here also, and in all honour."</p> +<p>Then he beckoned to a noble who stood near him, and spoke to him +for a moment. It chanced that this was one of the very few whom I +knew here. His name was Jago, and I had often seen him at +Glastonbury, for he was a friend of our ealdorman, Elfrida's +father, holding somewhat the same post in Norton as my friend in +our town. Owen liked him well also, and he was certainly no friend +to Morgan and his party.</p> +<p>"Jago's wife will give your daughter all hospitality in his +house," Gerent said, turning again to Dunwal. "Have I your word as +to keeping within bounds during my pleasure?"</p> +<p>"Ay, you have it," answered Dunwal curtly.</p> +<p>Then I slipped out of the door quietly, and went to that room +where Owen and I waited on our first coming here, and I sent a +steward to tell him of my arrival. There is no need for me to tell +how he greeted me, or how I met him.</p> +<p>Then when those greetings were over I heard all that had been +going on, and my loss had made turmoil enough. My men had brought +back the news, having missed me very shortly, but it was long +before they found traces of me. The first thing that they saw was +my hawk, as I expected, and after that the bodies of the slain. As +I was not with them, they judged that I had escaped in some way, +but they lost the track of the feet in the woodlands, and so rode +back to Owen in all haste.</p> +<p>Then was a great gathering of men for the hunting of the +outlaws, for it would take a small army to search the wild hills +and woodlands of the Quantocks to any effect. The whole countryside +turned out gladly, and the Watchet Norsemen helped also.</p> +<p>In the end, on the next day they penned the outlaws into some +combe, and took most of them, and then all was told by them, so far +as they knew it. Gerent laid hands on four of the men who had sworn +the oath Evan told me of, that evening after some leading outlaw +had given their names, but Tregoz had escaped.</p> +<p>He had been one of the most active in the matter of the hunt, to +all seeming, and had ridden out with Owen and Jago and the rest. +Then he took advantage of some turn in the hills, when men began to +scatter, and was no more seen. Presently it was plain enough why +this was, when those who were taken were made to speak. Yet it +seemed that he was not so far off, for already an attack had been +made on Owen as he rode beyond the village, though it was no very +dangerous one. Now it was to be hoped that the danger from him was +past, for his brother had been taken the moment he rode into the +gate, and he would suffer if more harm was done.</p> +<p>Then I asked if our king had been told of all this, and I learnt +that he had heard at once, and had written back to Owen to say that +he would pay any ransom that might be asked for me if I yet lived, +as was hoped. The outlaws had told of Evan's plan, but it was not +known if I had been taken out of the country yet.</p> +<p>"All is well that ends well," Owen said; "but I asked Ina not to +say aught of the matter yet for a while. There is one at least in +Glastonbury who might be sorely terrified for you."</p> +<p>He laughed at my red face, for I knew that he meant Elfrida. It +was in my mind, however, that I wished she had heard, for then, +perhaps, she would have been sorry that she had not been kinder to +me--unless, indeed, she was glad that I was out of the way, in all +truth.</p> +<p>Then there was my own long tale to be told, and of course I told +Owen all. It was good to hear him say that he himself could have +done nought but free Evan.</p> +<p>Thereafter we sought Thorgils, who was happy in the guardroom, +and had seemingly been telling my tale there, for the men stared at +me somewhat. I do not suppose that it lost in the telling.</p> +<p>Owen thanked him for his help, and took him to see Gerent; which +saved me words, for the Norseman must needs tell how Evan had +brought me on board his ship, and so we even let him say all that +there was to be said.</p> +<p>After that Gerent loaded him with presents, and so let him go +well pleased.</p> +<p>I went out to his horse with him, and saw him start. His last +word as he parted from me was that if I needed a good axeman at my +back at any time I was to send for him, and so he went seaward, +singing to himself, with the men who had brought Dunwal hither +behind him.</p> +<p>After that there was more to say of Howel and his court. It +seemed that Gerent and Owen liked him well, and I wondered that +Owen had not sought him when the trouble fell on him. I think he +would not go to Dyfed as a disgraced man, for I know he could not +clear himself at the time.</p> +<p>Now at supper, presently, there was Dunwal, looking anxious, as +I thought, but trying not to shew it. His daughter Mara was there +also, and as it happened she sat next to me. I suppose the +seneschal set her there as we had crossed from Dyfed together, +unless she had asked it, or gone to that seat without asking. She +was very pleasant, talking of the troubles of the voyage, and so +went on to speak sadly enough of the greater trouble that had +waited her.</p> +<p>"I am glad the king has kept us, however," she said. "I can be +content with the court rather than with our wild Dartmoor, as you +may guess. But all these things are too hard for me, and how any +man can plot against so wonderful looking a prince as Owen passes +me. I cannot but think that there is some mistake, and that my +uncle has no hand in the affair. That will be proved ere long, I do +believe."</p> +<p>I answered that indeed I hoped that it would prove so, and then +asked for Morfed, the priest who had crossed with us, as I did not +see him among the other clergy at the table. She told me that he +had left them, on foot, at the gate of Watchet, making his way +westward, as she believed. He had only joined their party for +easier travelling in Dyfed.</p> +<p>Then she must needs ask me questions about Thorgils' song, and +specially of Elfrida. I had no mind to tell her much, but it is +hard to refuse to answer a lady who speaks in all friendly wise and +pleasantly, so that I had to tell her much the same that I told +Nona the princess, and began to wonder if every lady who had the +chance would be as curious to know all about what story there was. +And that was a true foreboding of mine, for so it was, until I grew +used to it. But all this minded me of Nona and her warning, and I +was half sorry that the priest had not come here, to be taken care +of with Dunwal.</p> +<p>After that night we saw little of these two. Mara went to the +house of Jago, and Dunwal kept to himself about the palace +boundaries within the old ramparts, and seemed to shun notice. As +for me, word went to Ina that all was well, and he sent a letter +back to say that it would please him to know that I was with Owen +for a time yet. So I bided with him, and for a time all went well, +for we heard nought of Tregoz in any way, while another of his +friends was taken and imprisoned in some western fortress of +Gerent's. Nor were there any more attacks made on Owen, so that +after a little while we went about, hunting and hawking, in all +freedom, for danger seemed to have passed with the taking of Dunwal +as hostage.</p> +<p>Then one day a guard from the gate brought me a folded paper, on +which my name was written in a fair hand, saying that it had been +left for me by a swineherd from the hill, who said that it was from +some mass priest whom I knew. The guard had let the man go away, +deeming that, of course, there was no need to keep him. Nor had +they asked who the priest might be, as it was said that I knew +him.</p> +<p>I took the letter idly and went to my stables with it in my +hand, and opened and read it as I walked.</p> +<p>"To Oswald, son of Owen.--It is not good to sleep in the +moonlight."</p> +<p>That was all it said, and there was no name at the end of it. I +thought it foolish enough, for every one knows that the cold white +light of the moon is held to be harmful for sleepers in the open +air. But I was not in the way of sleeping out in this early season +with its cold, though, of course, it was always possible that one +might be belated on the hills and have to make a night in the +heather of it when hunting on Exmoor or the Brendons. There was not +much moon left now, either.</p> +<p>So I showed the note to Owen presently, and he puzzled over it, +seeing that it could not have been sent for nothing. At last we +both thought that whoever wrote it, or had it written, knew that +some attack would be made on us with the next moon, when it would +be likely that we might be riding homeward by its light with no +care against foes. That might well be called "sleeping in the +moonlight" as things were; and at all events we were warned in +time. The trouble to me was that it seemed to say that danger was +not all past.</p> +<p>However, when there was no moon at all I forgot the letter for +the time, no more trouble cropping up, and but for a chance word I +think that it had not come into my mind again until we were out in +the moonlight at some time. As we sat at table one evening when the +moon was almost at the full again, some one spoke of moonstruck +men, and that minded me, and set me thinking. He said that once he +himself had had a sore pain in the face by reason of the moonlight +falling on it when he was asleep, and another told somewhat the +same, until the talk drifted away to other things and they forgot +it. But now I remembered how that at our first coming here I had +waked in the early hours and seen a patch of moonlight from a high +southern window on the outer wall of the palace passing across +Owen's breast as he slept. Then I was on the floor across the door, +but now I slept in the same place that Owen had that night, while +he was on the couch across the room and under the window. It was +possible, therefore, that the light did fall on my face, but I was +pretty sure that if so it would have waked me.</p> +<p>At all events, if the letter had aught to do with that, it was a +cumbrous way of letting me know that my bed was in a bad place for +quiet sleep. The only thing that seemed likely thus was that the +good priest who wrote had left the palace before he had remembered +to tell me how he had fared in that room once, and so sent back +word. There were many priests backward and forward here, as at +Glastonbury with Ina. Then it seemed plain that this was the +meaning of the whole thing, and so I would hang a cloak over the +window by and by.</p> +<p>And, of course, having settled the question in my own mind, I +forgot to do that, and was like to have paid dearly for +forgetting.</p> +<p>Two nights afterward, when the moon was at the full, I woke from +sleep suddenly with the surety that I heard my name called softly. +I was wide awake in a moment, and found the room bright with +moonlight that did indeed lie in a broad square right across my +chest on the furs that covered me. I glanced across to Owen, but he +was asleep, as there was full light enough to see, and then I +wondered why I seemed to have heard that call. In a few moments I +knew that, and also that the voice I heard was the one that had +come to me in sore danger before.</p> +<p>Idly and almost sleeping again I watched the light, to see if +indeed it was going to cross my face, and then a sudden shadow +flitted across it, and with a hiss and flick of feathers a long +arrow fled through the window and stuck in the plaster of the wall +not an inch above my chest, furrowing the fur of the white bearskin +over me, so close was it.</p> +<p>In a moment I was on the floor, with a call to Owen, and it was +well that I had the sense to swing myself clear from the light and +leap from the head of the bed, for even as my feet touched the +floor a second arrow came and struck fairly in the very place where +I had been, and stood quivering in the bedding.</p> +<p>Then was a yell from outside, and before Owen could stay me I +looked through the window, recklessly enough maybe, but with a +feeling that no more arrows would come now that the archer was +disturbed. It needed more than a careless aim to shoot so well into +that narrow slit. Across the window I could see the black line of +the earthworks against the light some fifty paces from the wall of +the palace, with no building between them on this side at all; and +on the rampart struggled two figures, wrestling fiercely in +silence. One was a man whose armour sparkled and gleamed under the +moon, and the other seemed to be unarmed, unless, indeed, that was +a broad knife he had in his hand. Then Owen pulled me aside.</p> +<p>"The sentry has him," he said, after a hurried glance. "Let us +out into the light, for there may be more on hand yet."</p> +<p>Now I hurried on my arms, but another look showed me nothing but +the bare top of the rampart. No sign of the men remained. I could +hear voices and the sounds of men running in the quiet, and I +thought these came from the guard, who were hurrying up from the +gate.</p> +<p>"The men have rolled into the ditch," I said. "I can see nothing +now."</p> +<p>Then we ran out, bidding the captain of the guard to stand to +arms as we passed through the great door of the palace, and so we +went round to the place whence the arrows had come. A score of men +from the gate were already clustered there on the earthworks, +talking fast as Welshmen will, but heedful to challenge us as we +came. I saw that they had somewhat on the ground in the midst of +them.</p> +<p>"Here is a strange affair, my Prince," one of them said, as he +held out his hand to help Owen up the earthworks.</p> +<p>The group stood aside for us to look on what they had found, and +that was a man, fully armed in the Welsh way of Gerent's guards, +but slain by the well-aimed blow of a strong seax that was yet left +where it had been driven home above the corselet. There was a war +bow and two more arrows lying at the foot of the rampart, as if +they had been wrested from the hand of the archer and flung there. +The men had not seen these, but I looked for them at once when I +saw that there was no bow on the slain man.</p> +<p>"Who is this?" Owen said gravely, and without looking closely as +yet.</p> +<p>"It is Tregoz of the Dart, whom the king seeks," one or two of +the men said at once.</p> +<p>I had known that it must be he in my own mind before the name +was spoken. There fell a silence on the rest as the name was told, +and all looked at my foster father. There was plainly some fault in +the watching of the rampart that had let the traitor find his way +here at all.</p> +<p>"Which of you was it who slew him?" asked Owen.</p> +<p>"None of us, Lord. We cannot tell who it may have been. Even the +sentry who keeps this beat is gone."</p> +<p>"Doubtless it was he who slew him, and is himself wounded in the +fosse. Look for him straightway."</p> +<p>There they hunted, but the man was not to be found. Nor was it +his weapon that had ended Tregoz.</p> +<p>Then Owen said in a voice that had grown very stern: "Who was +the sentry who should have been here?"</p> +<p>The men looked at one another, and the chief of them answered at +last that the man was from Dartmoor, one of such a name. And then +one looked more closely at the arms Tregoz wore, and cried out that +they were the very arms of the missing sentry, or so like them that +one must wait for daylight to say for certain that they were not +they.</p> +<p>It was plain enough then. In such arms Tregoz could well walk +through the village itself unnoticed, as one of the palace guards +would be, and so when the time came he would climb from some hiding +in the fosse and take the place of his countryman on the rampart, +and the watchful captain would see but a sentry there and deem that +all was well.</p> +<p>Yet this did not tell us who was the one who had wrestled with +and slain him, and Owen told what had been done, while I went and +brought the bow and arrows from the foot of the rampart, in hopes +that they might tell us by mark or make if more than Tregoz and the +sentry were in this business. Then I looked at my window, and, +though narrow, it was as fair a mark in the moonlight as one would +need. Without letting my shadow fall on the sleeper, it was +possible to see my couch and the white furs on it, though it would +be needful to raise the arm across the moonlight in the act of +shooting. It was all well planned, but it needed a first-rate +bowman.</p> +<p>"It was surely Tregoz who shot," one of the men said. "The +sentry who was here was a bungler with a bow. None whom we know but +Tregoz could have made sure of that mark, bright as the night is. +Well it was, Lord, that you were not sleeping in your wonted +place."</p> +<p>Owen glanced at me to warn me to say nothing, and bade the men +take the body to the guardroom. They were already cursing the +sentry who had brought shame on their ranks by leaguing himself +with a traitor, and it was plain that there was no need to bid them +lay hands on him if they could. That was a matter that concerned +their own honour.</p> +<p>So we left the guarding of the place in their hands, and they +doubled the watches from that time forward. Then we went and spoke +with the captain of the guard, who yet kept his post at the doors, +as none had called him.</p> +<p>"Maybe I am to blame," he said, when he heard all. "I should not +have left a Dartmoor man from the country whence Tregoz came to +keep watch there. I knew that he was thence, and thought no +harm."</p> +<p>"There is no blame to you," Owen said. "It is not possible to +look for such treachery among our own men."</p> +<p>Then we went into our room to show the captain what had been +done. And thence the two arrows had already been taken. The hole in +the plaster where the first struck was yet there, and the slit made +by the second in the tough hide of the bear was to be seen when I +turned over the fur, but who had taken them we could not tell. +Only, it was plain that here in the palace some one was in the plot +and had taken away what might be proof of who the archer had been, +not knowing, as I suppose, that the attempt had failed so utterly. +For an arrow will often prove a good witness, as men will use only +some special pattern that they are sure of, and will often mark +them that they may claim them and their own game in the woodlands +if they are found in some stricken beast that has got away for a +time. It was more than likely that Tregoz would have been careful +to use only such arrows as he knew well in a matter needing such +close shooting as this. Indeed, we afterwards found men who knew +the two shafts from the rampart as those of the Cornishman, without +doubt.</p> +<p>This I did not like at all, for the going of these arrows +brought the danger to our very door, as it were. Nor did the +captain, for he himself kept watch over us for the rest of that +night, and afterwards there was always a sentry in the passage that +led to our room.</p> +<p>We were silent as we lay down again, and sleep was long in +coming. I puzzled over all this, for beside the taking of the +arrows there was the question of who the slayer of Tregoz might be, +and who had written the letter that should have warned us.</p> +<p>In all truth, it was not good to sleep in the moonlight!</p> +<p>Somewhat of the same kind Owen was thinking, for of a sudden he +said to me: "Those arrows were meant for me, Oswald. Did you note +what the man said about my not sleeping in my wonted place?"</p> +<p>"Ay, but I did not know that you had slept on this side. Since I +came back, at least, you have not done so."</p> +<p>Owen smiled.</p> +<p>"No, I have not," he said; "but in the old days that was always +my place, and you will mind that there I slept on the night we +first were here together. That was of old habit, and I only shifted +to this side when you came back, because I knew that you would like +the first light to wake you. Every sentry who crosses the window on +the rampart can see in here if it is light within, but he could not +tell that we had changed places, for the face of the sleeper is +hidden."</p> +<p>Then he laughed a little, and added:</p> +<p>"In the old days when I was in charge of the palace this face of +the ramparts was always the best watched, because the men knew that +if I waked and did not see the shadow of the sentry pass and repass +as often as it should, he was certain to hear of it in the morning. +Tregoz would know that old jest. I suppose Dunwal may have had some +hand in taking the arrows hence."</p> +<p>"It is likely enough," I answered. "He will have to pay for his +brother's deed tomorrow, in all likelihood, also. But who wrote the +letter, and who slew Tregoz?"</p> +<p>Owen thought for a little while.</p> +<p>"Mara, Dunwal's daughter, is the most likely person to have +written," he said. "It would be like a woman to do so, and she +seems at least no enemy. Maybe the man was the sentry, after all, +and fled because he had given up his arms, and so was sharer in the +deed that he repented of. Or he may have been some friend of ours, +or foe of the Cornishman, who would not wait for the rough handling +of the guard when they found him there where he should not be. No +doubt we shall hear of him soon or late."</p> +<p>But we did not. There was no trace of him, or of the writer of +the letter. One may imagine the fury of Gerent when he heard all +this in the morning, but even his wrath could not make Dunwal speak +of aught that he might know. But for the pleading of Owen, the old +king would have hung him then and there, and all that my foster +father could gain for him was his life. Into the terrible old Roman +dungeon, pit-like, with only a round hole in the stone covering of +it through which a prisoner was lowered, he was thrown, and there +he bided all the time I was at Norton.</p> +<p>By all right the lands of these two fell again into the hands of +the king, and he would give them to Owen.</p> +<p>"Take them," he said, when Owen would not do so at first: "they +owe you amends. If you do not want them yourself, wait until you +sit in my seat, and then give them to Oswald, that he may have good +reason for leaving Ina for you."</p> +<p>So Owen held them for me, as it were, and was content. Some day +they might be mine, if not in the days of Ina, whom we loved.</p> +<p>But Gerent either forgot or cared not to think of Mara, Dunwal's +daughter, and she bided in the best house in the town, with Jago's +wife, none hindering her in anything. There was no more sign of +trouble now that Tregoz and his brother were out of the way.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a>. HOW THE EASTDEAN MANORS AND +SOMEWHAT MORE PASSED FROM OSWALD TO ERPWALD.</h2> +<p>I bided at Norton with Owen until the Lententide drew near, and +then I must needs go back to my place with Ina. Maybe I should have +gone before this, seeing that all was safe now, but our king had +been on progress about the country, to Chippenham, and so to +Reading and thence to London, and but half his guard was with him, +so that I was not needed. Now he was back at Glastonbury, and I +must join him there and go back to royal Winchester with him for +the Easter feast.</p> +<p>Owen and I also had been far westward at one time or another, in +this space, though there is little worth telling beyond that we +went even to the lands of Tregoz that had passed to him, and so +took possession of them. I could not see that any of the folk on +those lands, whether free or thrall, seemed other than glad that +Owen was their lord now. It was said that Tregoz was little loved. +We left a new steward in the great half-stone and half-timber +house, with house-carles enough to see that none harmed either him +or the place, and so came back to Norton.</p> +<p>Now, one may say that all this time, seeing that Glastonbury was +but so short a distance from Norton, I was a laggard lover not to +have ridden over to see Elfrida, and maybe it would be of little +use for me to deny it. However, I would have it remembered that +there was always fear for Owen in my mind if I was apart from him +at the first, and then there was this westward journey, and the +hunting in new places, and many other things, so that the time +slipped by all too quickly. Also, when it is easy to go to a place +one is apt to say that tomorrow will do, and, as every one knows, +tomorrow never comes. Nor had we said much of that damsel; if Owen +had not altogether forgotten my oath, he never spoke of it, nor did +I care to remind him. Nevertheless, whenever we spoke of Howel and +his daughter, Owen's godchild, I minded that the princess had +bidden me see how Elfrida greeted me when I came back, and it was +in my mind that she would be no less glad to see me after a long +absence.</p> +<p>That I should find out very shortly, but the thought troubled me +little. I will say that the parting from Owen was all that was of +consequence to me, for it was hard enough. I could not tell when we +should meet again, for I must go east and he west now, and +presently all Devon, and maybe Cornwall, would lie between us, even +when our court was at Glastonbury. It would be hard to see him at +all in the coming days, for not often was Gerent here. However, +partings must needs be, and we made the least of it, and so at last +we rode together to the old bridge that crosses the Parrett, and +there bade our last farewells, and went our ways, not looking +back.</p> +<p>It was a lonesome ride onward for me after all these days with +him, and I had not a word for my house-carles, who had ridden from +Glastonbury hither to meet me, for the first few miles. Then I +bethought myself, and drew rein a little and let them come up with +me, for I had ridden alone at their head for a while, and so heard +all the news of the court and whatever talk was going about the +place, and my mind left Norton and went on, as it were, before me +to Glastonbury and all that I should see there.</p> +<p>There was a warm welcome waiting for me from the many friends, +and best of all from the king himself. With him I sat long in his +chamber telling of my doings and of Owen, and hearing also of what +had been going on. At the last, when I was about to leave his +presence, he said:</p> +<p>"There is one matter that we must speak of tomorrow, for it is +weighty and needs thought. Let it bide now, for it is nought +unhappy, and so come to me at noon and we will speak thereof. Now +your friends will seek you, and I will not say more."</p> +<p>I left him then with a little wonder as to what this business +might be, but thought little of it, as it would very likely be a +matter of taking some men on some errand or the like house-carle +work, and then I bethought me that I would even go and see how +fared Elfrida. It was not unpleasant to think of taking her by +surprise, for I did not suppose that she had heard of my return +yet. At all events, she would have no chance of making up some +stiff greeting for me. Wherefore I went down the street with my +head in the air, making up my mind how I would greet her, and maybe +I thought of a dozen ways before I reached the ealdorman's +door.</p> +<p>His welcome was hearty enough at all events, but before I could +make up my mind to ask for Elfrida, who was not to be seen at +first, though I had counted on finding her at her wheel in the +great hall of the house, as was her wont in the afternoon, he had +wasted a long hour in hearing all that he could of my affairs, as +may be supposed. There had been some strange rumours flying about +since I was lost. I began to wish that I had brought Thorgils home +with me, for it was plain that I should have to go over all this +too often, and he cared not at all how many times he told the same +tale.</p> +<p>At last I was able to find a chance of asking how fared the lady +Elfrida, and at that the ealdorman laughed.</p> +<p>"What, has not all this put that foolishness out of your head?" +he said.</p> +<p>"No, it has not," I answered pretty shortly.</p> +<p>But all the same, the old thought that I had remembered her less +than I would have it known did flash across me for a moment.</p> +<p>"Well, I will send for her, and she will tell you for herself +how she fares."</p> +<p>He sent, and then in about half an hour she came, just as I was +thinking I would wait no longer. And if she had been stiff with me +in the orchard it was even more so now, and I did not seem to get +on with her at all. She said, indeed, that she was glad to see me +back, but in no way could I think that she looked more so than any +one else I had met.</p> +<p>So we talked a little, and then all of a sudden her father +said:</p> +<p>"Ho!--Here comes that South Saxon again."</p> +<p>Then at once a blush crept slowly over her fair face, and she +tried not to look toward the great door in vain, though no one came +in, and presently she was gone with but a few words to me. I did +not like this at all, but the ealdorman laughed at her and then at +me, the more that he saw that I was put out.</p> +<p>"Never mind, Oswald," he said. "That vow of yours pledged you to +no more than duty to any fair lady."</p> +<p>"Maybe it is just as well that it did not," I answered, trying +to laugh also.</p> +<p>"Ay, that is right. You were bound to say somewhat, and you did +it well. But it has not pleased the girl, nevertheless."</p> +<p>"I did think, at least, she would have been more glad to see +me."</p> +<p>"Trouble yourself not at all about the ways of damsels for the +next five years, or maybe ten, Oswald, my friend," said the +ealdorman. "So will you have an easier life, and maybe a longer +one."</p> +<p>Discontented enough I went away, and that same discontent lasted +for a full half-hour. At the end of that time I found myself +laughing at the antics of two boys who were sporting on a flooded +meadow in a great brew tub, while their mother threatened them with +a stick from the bank. It was my thought that a cake would have +fetched them back sooner than the stick, but maybe she knew best. +It was like a hen with ducklings.</p> +<p>Then I grew tired of loitering outside the town and nursing my +wounded pride, and when it began to rain I forgot it, and went back +to the palace and talked about the British warriors with Nunna and +some of the other young thanes until supper time.</p> +<p>Next morning I waited on the king as he had bidden me, finding +him in his chamber with a pile of great parchments and the like +before him. He bade me be seated, and I sat in the window seat +opposite him.</p> +<p>"It is no light matter that I have to speak of," he said, "but I +will get to the point straightway. What do you remember of your old +home, Eastdean?"</p> +<p>Now the thoughts of old days there that had sprung afresh in my +mind in the parting with Owen, made me ready to answer that at +once.</p> +<p>"Little, my King. I was but ten years old when we fled," I +answered therefore.</p> +<p>"That is likely. But would you go back there? As the Thane of +Eastdean, I mean; for I know that you would wish to see the place +where your father lies."</p> +<p>I could not answer him this at once, for it was indeed a matter +that needed thought. So I said, and he turned to his writings with +a nod and left me to myself.</p> +<p>In all these thoughts of mine, pleasant as they were with some +memories, it had never come to me to wish that the lands were mine +again. Save for that one thing of which Ina spoke, and for the +pleasantness of seeing old scenes again, I had never cared to go +back. Owen had not spoken of the lands that should have been mine +for years, and even as he talked with me and Gerent he had not +seemed to remember that old loss at all. Gerent had done so, saying +that I should be back there, but even that did not stir me now. I +was of the court, and here I had my place, and all my life was knit +with the ways of the atheling guard and the ordering of the +house-carles under Owen. If I were to turn from all this to become +a forest thane it would be banishment.</p> +<p>And then I thought of Owen, and how this would take me yet +farther from him. I would sooner, if I must be sent from Ina, go to +him and find what home I might on the lands of Tregoz in wild +Dartmoor. And then the thought of leaving Ina, who had cared for me +since I was a child, was almost as terrible.</p> +<p>"I would not leave you, my King," I said at last.</p> +<p>Ina looked up at me with a smile, but was silent, stroking his +beard as was his way when thinking, looking past me out of the +narrow window to the great Tor that towered beyond the new abbey +buildings.</p> +<p>"Think!" he said at last--"partings must come, and lands are not +to be had lightly. Erpwald's brother, who held Eastdean, is +dead."</p> +<p>"I need no lands," I answered. "The ways of a captain of your +house-carles are good to me, and I need no more. If I took those +lands from your hand, my King, needs must that I gave up all the +life with you. Sooner would I let the land go and bide with you. +Yet if I must needs take them, be it as you will."</p> +<p>"It is a great thing that you speak so lightly of giving up," he +answered gravely; "Erpwald, the heathen, was willing to risk his +life for those lands, and he held them dear. And a captain of the +king's house-carles will always look to be rewarded for service +with lands. In time you will seek the same."</p> +<p>"That time has not yet come to me, King Ina."</p> +<p>"Eastdean lies in my hand here," he said, taking up a parchment +with a great seal on it. "I may give it to whom I will, but you are +the lawful heir who should hold it from me. If it goes not to you, +it may be that one whom you would not shall have it."</p> +<p>Then I said, not seeing at all what the king would have me do, +but thinking that he deemed me foolish for not taking the lands +straightway:</p> +<p>"Let me bide with you even yet for a while. When the time comes +that I must leave you I must go to Owen, and neither he nor I care +for aught but to be here. He must leave you because of duty, and if +this is indeed choice with me, let me choose to stay. It is nought +to me who holds the lands, save only that it might be one who will +tend the grave of my father."</p> +<p>Then said Ina, looking into my face and smiling, as if well +pleased:</p> +<p>"The choice is free, my Thane, and I should be wrong if I did +not say that I am glad to hear you choose thus. I have missed you +in these days, and I have work here for you yet. It was in my mind +that thus you would choose, and I am glad. Let it be so. I need one +to take the place of Owen, as second in command of the household, +as one may say, and that you must do for me henceforward.</p> +<p>"Nay," he said quickly, raising his hand as I tried to find some +words of thanks for this honour; "you know the ways of Owen, and +men know you, and it will be as if there had been no change, and +that will mean that we shall have no grumbling in the palace, and +the right men will be sent to do what they are best fitted for--and +all that, so that there will be quiet about the court as ever. It +is a matter off my mind, let me tell you, and no thanks are +needed."</p> +<p>So he laughed and let me kiss his hand, patting me on the +shoulder as I rose, and then bade me sit down again. He had yet +more to say.</p> +<p>"With Erpwald who is dead, men would hold that you had a blood +feud. That is done with; but his son yet lives. I do not think it +is your way, or Owen's, to hold that a feud must be carried on in +the old heathen way of our forefathers."</p> +<p>"Most truly not," I said. "What ill has a son of Erpwald done to +me or mine?"</p> +<p>"None! Nay, rather has he done well, for I know that he has +honoured the grave of your father, and even now is ready to do what +he can to make amends for the old wrong. He brought me this."</p> +<p>He took up the parchment that he had shewn me before. It was a +grant of the manors of Eastdean to Erpwald, gained by those means +of utmost craft whereby the king thought that indeed the last of +our line had perished by other hands than those of the heathen +thane.</p> +<p>"Honest and straightforward and Christian-like is this young +Erpwald," the king said. "Well brought up by his Christian mother, +if not very ready or brilliant in his ways. Now he has learned how +his father came into the lands, and though he might well have held +them after his uncle on this grant, he has come hither to set the +matter in my hands. 'It is not fair,' quoth he, 'that I should hold +them if one is left of the line of Ella. I should not sleep easily +in my bed. Nevertheless, I will buy them if so be that one is left +to sell them to me.' So he sighed, for the place is his home."</p> +<p>"All these years it has been no trouble to me that Erpwald's +brother has held the place, my King. It will be no trouble to think +that a better Erpwald holds them yet."</p> +<p>"I do not think that he will be happy unless he deems that he +has paid some price--some weregild {<a name="EndNote2anc" href= +"#EndNote2sym"><sup>ii</sup></a>}, as one may say; for slow minds +as his hang closely to their thoughts when they are formed. See, +Oswald, I have thought of all this, and the young man has been here +for a fortnight. I brought him here from Winchester, where he +joined me. Let me tell you what I think."</p> +<p>"The matter is in your hands altogether, my King."</p> +<p>"As you have set it there," he said, smiling gently. "Now all +seems plain to me, and I will say that this is even what I thought +you would wish to do. How shall it be if we bid Erpwald, for the +deed of his father, to build a church in Eastdean and there to keep +a priest, that all men shall know how that the martyr is honoured, +and the land be the better for his death?"</p> +<p>Nought better than this could be, as I thought, and I told the +king so.</p> +<p>"Why, then," he said, "that is well. I shall have pleased both +parties, as I hope. I know you will meet him in all +friendliness."</p> +<p>Then he let me go, and it was with a light heart that I parted +from him. Now I knew that my father's grave and memory would be +held in more than common honour, and I was content.</p> +<p>Men would miss Owen sorely here, but, save for that, I had so +often acted for him in these last two years that my being +altogether in his place made little difference to any one, or even +to myself in a few days. That last was as well for myself, as it +seems to me, for I was not over proud, as I might have been had the +post been new to me. As it was, I do not think that there was any +jealousy over it, or at least I never found it out. My friends +rejoiced openly, and if any one wondered that the king should so +trust a man of my age, the answer that I had saved Ina's life was +enough to satisfy all.</p> +<p>My men drank my health in their quarters that night, and after I +got over the little strangeness of sitting on the high place next +to Nunna, things went on, save for the want of Owen about the +court, even as when he was the marshal and I but his squire, as it +were.</p> +<p>I saw young Erpwald for the first time soon after the king had +spoken of him to me, and I liked the look of him well enough. He +was some few years older than I, square and strong, with a round +red face and light hair, pleasant in smile, if not over wise +looking. One would say that he might be a good friend, but one +could hardly think of him as willingly the enemy of any man. Some +one made me known to him as the son of Owen, as was usual, and as +such would I be known to him for a while; but for some time I saw +little of him, not caring to seek his company, as indeed there was +no reason for me to do so.</p> +<p>The next thing that I heard of him was that he had made a great +friend of the ealdorman since he came here, being often at his +house. It was not so long before I met him there, though my pride, +which would not let me risk another rebuff, kept me away for some +days. I had an uneasy feeling that I should fare no better, and I +could find good reason enough to justify the thought in some ways, +as any one may see from what had happened before.</p> +<p>Maybe that was a token that my first feelings were cooling off, +and I do not think that there is much wonder if they were. It would +have been strange, and not altogether complimentary to the fair +damsel if, after the deed at the feast and the vow that I had to +make, I had not thought myself desperately in love with her at +last, after a good many years of friendship. But now there had +befallen the long days of peril and anxiety which had set her in +the background altogether, and I had had time to come to more sober +thoughts, as it were. Men have said that I aged more in that short +time than in the next ten years of my life, and it is likely. +Nevertheless, it needed but a word or two of kindness to bring me +to Elfrida's feet once for all, and but a little more coldness to +send me from her altogether.</p> +<p>So at last I went to her home to find out how I should fare, +thinking less of the matter than last time, and there she sat in +the hall, chatting merrily with Erpwald. That pleasantness stopped +when I came in, and after the first needful greetings Elfrida froze +again, and Erpwald fell silent, as if I was by no means welcome. I +could see that I was the third who spoils company. However, the +ealdorman came in directly, and I talked to him, and as we paid no +heed to those two they took up their talk once more, and presently +their words waxed low. Whereon the ealdorman glanced at them with a +sly grin and wink to me, and I understood.</p> +<p>So I went away, for that was enough. Of course, I was very +angry, by reason of the scratch to my pride; for it does hurt to +think that one is not wanted, and for a while I brooded over it +just as I had done the other day. Then it came to me that at least +I had no reason to be angry with Erpwald, who could know little or +anything about me, being a newcomer, and it was not his fault if +the girl made a tool of him to scare me away, and after that I +found my senses again, rather sooner than before, perhaps. It was +plain that the ealdorman took it for granted that I had no feeling +now in that direction, and so others would do the same, which was +comforting. So I supposed that there was no more to be said on the +subject by any one, unless Elfrida chose to have the matter out, +and set things on the old footing of frank friendliness again.</p> +<p>There I found that I was mistaken at once. Some one was coming +down the lane after me quickly, and then calling my name. I turned, +and there was Erpwald, with a very red face, trying to overtake me, +and I waited for him.</p> +<p>"A word with you, Thane," he said, out of breath.</p> +<p>"As many as you will. What is it?"</p> +<p>"Wait until I get my breath," he said. "One would think that you +were in a desperate hurry, by the pace you go. Plague on all such +fast walkers!"</p> +<p>That made me laugh, and he smiled across his broad face in +return.</p> +<p>"It is all very well to grin," he said, straightening his face +suddenly to a blankness; "but what I have to say concerns a mighty +serious matter."</p> +<p>"Well, then, get it done with," I answered, trying not to smile +yet more.</p> +<p>"I don't rightly know how to begin," he said in a hesitating +kind of way. "Words are as hard to manage as a drove of forest +swine, and I am a bad hand at talking. Can you not tell what I have +to say?"</p> +<p>"Not in the least," I answered.</p> +<p>It flashed across me that he might have found out who I was, +however, and wanted to speak of the old trouble.</p> +<p>"Well," he said at last, growing yet redder, "the Lady Elfrida +is angry that her name has been coupled with yours pretty much +lately."</p> +<p>He stopped with a long breath, and I knew what he was driving +at.</p> +<p>"She has told me as much herself already," I said solemnly.</p> +<p>He heaved a sigh of relief.</p> +<p>"But she did not tell me that," he said in a puzzled sort of +way. "Well, it must not go on, or--or else, that is, I shall have +to see that it does not."</p> +<p>"The worst of it is that I cannot help it," said I. "Did the +lady ask you to speak to me of the matter?"</p> +<p>"Why, no; she did not. Only, I thought that some one must. Of +course, I mean that I will fight you if it goes on."</p> +<p>"Of course," I said. "But I can in no wise stop it. Do you know +how it began?"</p> +<p>"Not altogether. How was it?"</p> +<p>"Really, that you had better ask some one else," I said, keeping +a grave face. "I think that it would have been fairer to me to have +done so first. But if there was any real blame to me, do you think +that the ealdorman would have been glad to see me just now? I think +that it was plain that he was so."</p> +<p>"I am an owl," Erpwald said. "Of course, he would not have been. +But did you come to see the ealdorman, or the lady?"</p> +<p>"Why, both of them, of course. I have known them for years."</p> +<p>He looked relieved when he heard that, and I thought that he +must be badly smitten already.</p> +<p>"Well, I will go and ask the ealdorman all about it," he said. +"Where shall I find you in an hour's time?"</p> +<p>"In my quarters," I answered; "but, of course, if you want to +fight me you will have to send a friend to talk to me."</p> +<p>"I will send the ealdorman himself."</p> +<p>"Best not, for he is the man who is charged with the stopping of +these affairs if he hears of them. Any atheling you meet will help +you in such a matter. It is an honour to be asked to do so. But +don't ever ask me to be your second if you have another affair, for +I also have to hinder these meetings if I can."</p> +<p>"Is there any one else I must not ask?" he said in a bewildered +way.</p> +<p>"Best not ask the abbot," I said, and I could not help +smiling.</p> +<p>"Now you are laughing at me, and that is too bad. How am I to +know your court ways?"</p> +<p>"Well, you will not have to fight me unless you really want to +pick a quarrel. So it does not matter. Get to the bottom of the +question, and then come and talk it over, and we will see what is +to be done."</p> +<p>He nodded and left me, and I had a good chuckle over the whole +business. It was not likely that Elfrida had set him on me, in the +least; but I suppose he had heard some jest of her father's, who +was one of those who will work anything that pleases them to the +last.</p> +<p>So I went my way, and saw to one or two things, and sat me down +in the room off the hall that had been Owen's, and presently +Erpwald came in, and I saw that he was in trouble.</p> +<p>"Well," I said, "how goes the quarrel?"</p> +<p>"I am a fool," he replied promptly. "The lady should be proud of +the affair, and the more it is talked of the better she should like +it. You are right in saying that it cannot be stopped. Why, there +is a gleeman down the street this minute singing the deeds of +Oswald and Elfrida. As for the vow you made, the ealdorman says +that it could not have been better done. Forgive me for troubling +you about it at all."</p> +<p>He held out his broad hand, and for a moment I hesitated about +taking it. He bore his father's name, but in a flash it came to me +that I was wrong. We were both children when the ill deed was +wrought, and I was no heathen to hold a blood feud against all the +family of the wrongdoer. He did not even know that one of us lived, +and, as the king had told me, I knew that he was prepared to make +amends.</p> +<p>So I took his hand frankly, and he had not noticed the moment's +slowness or, if he did, took it for the passing of vexation from my +mind.</p> +<p>"You will laugh at me again," he said, "but now I am in hot +water in all sooth. The lady will not speak to me at all."</p> +<p>I did laugh. I sat down on the edge of the table and tried to +stop it, but his red face was so rueful that I could not, and at +last he had to smile also.</p> +<p>"Why, what have you done?" I asked. "Now it is my turn to know +reasons why. Here is a new offence to be seen into."</p> +<p>"I only told her that I had spoken to you on the subject, and +was going to talk to the ealdorman, her father, if she would not +save me the trouble by telling me herself all about it."</p> +<p>"And then?"</p> +<p>"She got up and went away, tossing her head, without a word. So +I had a talk with the ealdorman, and learnt all; but after that I +tried to see her, and that black-haired Welsh maiden of hers told +me that she would not see me."</p> +<p>"It seems to me that you have had a bad day," I said. "But what +does it matter? You have done what seemed right, and if it is taken +in the wrong way you cannot help it."</p> +<p>"It does matter," he said. "If she is wroth with me, I don't +mind telling you that I am fit to hang myself. Could you not set +things right for me, somehow? You are an old friend."</p> +<p>"No, hardly; for I am not in favour there just now."</p> +<p>"Well, I shall go and try to get round the Welsh girl to speak +for me."</p> +<p>Now, that was a servant I had never heard of, and I thought I +knew all the household. So I could not tell him if that would be of +use, and he left me in some sort of desperation to try what he +could. He was very much in love.</p> +<p>Next day he came back beaming. Somehow the Welshwoman had +managed things for him, and all was well again. I had my own +thought that Elfrida was by no means unwilling to meet him halfway, +but I did not say so. I think I had fairly got over my feelings by +this time, but I must say that I felt a sort of half jealousy about +it. But the more I came to look on the South Saxon's round face, +and to think of him as Elfrida's favoured lover, the less I felt +it. It became a jest to watch the going of the affair, and I was +not the only one who found it so in a very short time.</p> +<p>Erpwald made no secret of his devotion. He minded me of a great +faithful stupid dog, whose trust was boundless and whose love was +worth having. One could lead him anywhere, but he was true +Sussex--he would not be driven an inch.</p> +<p>So Elfrida had a hopeless slave at her beck and call, and by and +by I was on the old footing, and we used to make much of my vow of +service to her.</p> +<p>"I would that I had made that vow," Erpwald said once.</p> +<p>"It is not too late now," answered the ealdorman, with his great +laugh; "but I do not think it is needed."</p> +<p>After me went Erpwald when he was not at the ealdorman's, and +Ina told me that he was glad to see that I harboured no thought of +revenge.</p> +<p>"Presently you will want to go to Eastdean to see that your +father's grave is well honoured, and this friendliness will help +you," he said. "And for his friend such a man as Erpwald will do +much. The church at Eastdean will be no poor one, and you will help +him choose the place. We could not have asked him to do anything +that has pleased him more."</p> +<p>One thing I feared was that when he found out who I was he would +be ill at ease with me, and I asked the king to tell him in the way +that seemed best to his wisdom, lest the knowledge should come by +chance from some one else.</p> +<p>So he did that, and in a day or two Erpwald came to me and told +me that he knew at last who I was, and we had a long talk together. +It was in his mind to try to make me take the lands again, and I +had hard work to make him believe that I was in earnest when I said +that I did not want them. And at the end I made him happy by +telling him that the king would let me go to Eastdean with him +before long, so that we could see to things together.</p> +<p>"Well," he said, "this is all very pleasant for me, and it is +common saying that you will be some sort of prince in West Wales +before long; but I shall ever feel that my family owes yours more +than I can repay."</p> +<p>After that he was a little uneasy with me for a time, but it +soon wore off, and we used to talk of our ride to Eastdean often +enough.</p> +<p>And then happened a thing that set me back into trouble about +Owen again. I had had many messages from him, as may be supposed, +and in all of them he said that there was no sign of danger, or +even of plotting against him.</p> +<p>One of my men brought me a written message one evening. A thrall +had left it at the gate for me. And when I asked from whom it came +I had the same answer that was given me when that other writing +warned me not to sleep in the moonlight, for it was said to come +from a priest whom I knew.</p> +<p>So when I glanced at the writing I was not surprised to see that +it was the same, though the sight of it gave me a cold shudder. +Somewhat the same also was the form in which the message ran:</p> +<p>"To Oswald, son of Owen.--It is not good to take wine from the +hand of a Briton."</p> +<p>Now, I had some reason to believe that Mara had written the +first note, as she seemed the only possible person to warn us of +the plots of her kin, and that was a very plain warning to Owen +rather than to myself, as it seemed. So I thought this might come +from the same hand, and be meant for him also, and that all the +more that there was not a stranger left in Glastonbury, now that +the feasting was over, much less a Welshman. But Owen had none but +Welsh round him, and it seemed to say that there was some plot +among them again. Maybe he would know who was meant by the +"Briton." Men have nicknames that seem foolish to any but those who +are in the jest of them. We used to call Erpwald the "Saxon" +sometimes, because he was not of Wessex, although we were as much +Saxon as he, or more so, according to our own pride.</p> +<p>I went straight down the street to the house of a man whom I +knew well, an honest franklin who had a good horse and knew the +border country from end to end, and I bade him ride with all speed +to Owen at Norton with the paper. He was to give it into his own +hand, and I made shift to scrawl a few words on the outside of it +that he might shew to my friend the captain of the guard, and so +win speedier entry to the palace. I did not send one of my own men, +because he would have been known as coming from me, while this man +was often in Norton about cattle and the like, and none would +wonder at seeing him.</p> +<p>I was easier when I saw him mount and ride away, but I was ill +content until the morning came and brought him back with tidings +that all was well, and that Owen would be on his guard.</p> +<p>Also, the franklin was to tell me that Gerent's court went to +Isca, which we call Exeter, in two days' time, and that Owen would +fain see me before he went westward, if I could come to him. There +seemed to be difficulty in persuading Gerent to let him return to +our court, even for a day now.</p> +<p>Whereon I went to Ina and told him of this new trouble, and he +bade me go. He thought that some fresh plot was being hatched in +Exeter, but both he and I wondered that the warning was not sent +direct to my foster father, rather than in this roundabout way +through my hands. He said the same thing to me that Howel had +spoken when I parted from him.</p> +<p>"These plotters will not think twice about striking at Owen +through you, if it seems the only way to reach him. And you mind +that the princess told you to have a care for yourself. Evan said +that if strife was stirred up between us and Gerent they would be +glad. If they slew you, my Thane, it is likely that there would be +trouble, unless Gerent is as wroth as I should be."</p> +<p>So I went with a few guards and spent the day and night with +Owen at Norton. I knew it was the last chance I should have of +seeing him for a long time, but we talked of the coming summer, +promising ourselves that journey together to see Howel. I told him +how things went with Elfrida and me, and he did not seem to wonder +much, nor to think it of any consequence. He laughed at me, and +told me to get over it as soon as I could, and that was all.</p> +<p>But this last warning he could no more understand than I. It was +his thought that it was meant for me rather than himself.</p> +<p>"You will have to take heed to any Welshman you meet," he said, +"and as you are warned that should be no very difficult matter. No +Briton can ever pretend to be a Saxon."</p> +<p>I do not think that there is more to be said of that meeting, +though indeed I would willingly dwell on it. Mayhap it will be +plain why I would do so presently, for I left him bright and happy +in his old place, with nought but the distance from the foster son +whom he loved to trouble him.</p> +<p>But when I rode away again the sorrow of that parting fell +heavily on me, and I could not shake it off. It seemed to me that I +would not see Owen again, though why it so seemed I could not tell. +If I had any thought of danger to myself I should have cared +little, so it was not that. I wonder if one can feel "fey" for +another man if he is dear to you as no other can be?</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a>. HOW ERPWALD FELL FROM +CHEDDAR CLIFFS; AND OF ANOTHER WARNING.</h2> +<p>In the coming week, after I had thus taken leave of Owen, my +friend Herewald, the ealdorman, would have a hunting party before +we all left him and Glastonbury for Winchester, and so it came to +pass that on the appointed day a dozen of us rode with a train of +men and hounds after us along the westward slopes of the Mendips in +the direction of Cheddar, rousing the red deer from the warm +woodlands of the combes where they love to hide. We had the +slow-hounds with us, and that, as it seems to me, is better sport +than with the swift gaze-hounds I rode after on the Welsh hills +with Eric. It is good to hear the deep notes of them as they light +on the scent of the quarry in the covers, and to see them puzzle +out a lost line in the open, and to ride with the crash and music +of the full pack ahead of one in the ears, as the deer doubles no +longer, but trusts to speed for escape.</p> +<p>Those who were with us were friends of mine and of the +ealdorman, and there were three ladies in the party--one of these +being, of course, Elfrida.</p> +<p>Erpwald was in close attendance on her, a matter which was taken +for granted by every one at this time. He was to go with the court +to Winchester, and thence he and I would ride to Eastdean.</p> +<p>So we hunted through the forenoon, taking one deer, and then +rode onward until we came to the place where the great Cheddar +gorge cleaves the Mendips across from summit to base, sheer and +terrible. The village lies at the foot of the gorge on the western +side of the hills, half sheltered between the first cliffs of the +vast chasm, but on the hillside above is a deep cover that climbs +upward to the summit, and it was said that a good deer had been +harboured there.</p> +<p>So presently, while the hounds were drawing this wood below us, +I and Elfrida and Erpwald found ourselves together and waiting on +the hilltop at the edge of the gorge. I was almost sorry to make a +third in that little party, but Erpwald knew nothing of the +country, and Elfrida had no more skill in matters of time and place +and distance than most ladies, which is not saying much, in all +truth, though I hardly should dare to set it down, save by way of +giving a reason for my presence with so well contented a party of +two.</p> +<p>Now, if there is one who has not seen this Cheddar gorge, I will +say that it is as if the mighty hills had been broken across as a +boy breaks a long loaf, or as if some giant had hewn a narrow gap +with the roughest pick that ever was handled. Our forefathers held +that Woden had indeed hewn it so, and we have tales that the evil +one himself cleft it in a night, and that the rocky islands of +Steep and Flat Holme, yonder in the mid channel, are the rubbish +which he hewed thence and cast there. Maybe the overhanging cliffs +are full four hundred feet high from the little white track which +winds at their foot, and from cliff top to cliff top is but a short +bow shot.</p> +<p>From where we waited one could look sheer down on the track +below us, and a man who was coming slowly along it seemed like a +rat in its run, so far off did he appear. At least, so said +Erpwald, who looked over, riding to the very edge. I had no wish to +do so, having been there before, and not altogether liking it.</p> +<p>Then he wanted Elfrida to look over also, and that frightened +her, and so we rode back and forth a little, for the wind was keen +on the hill, listening for sound of horn or hound in the cover.</p> +<p>One reason why we were so near the edge of the cliffs was that +Erpwald had not seen the place before, and had heard much of it; +and another was that as no deer could cross the gorge we should be +sure to have the hunt before us when one broke. There are tales of +hunted deer, ay, and of huntsmen also, going over the cliffs at +full speed, but that is likely only when the pace has been hot and +the danger is forgotten. I had no mind, either, to see some of +Herewald's young hounds cast themselves over in eagerness if they +chose to follow, as young ones will, the scent of some hill fox who +had his lair among the rocks and knew paths to safety on the face +of the cliffs, so that was yet another reason why we were in that +place, and I tell this because it is likely that some one may ask +how it was that I suffered my friends to bide in so perilous a +spot, seeing what happened presently.</p> +<p>It was not long before those two forgot me, and rode side by +side talking. Maybe I forgot them, for the last time I was on the +cliff tops was across the channel, and I minded the two with whom I +rode then--Howel and Nona.</p> +<p>Then suddenly the ringing of the horn roused us, and Erpwald +came toward me, thinking that, of course, Elfrida was close after +him, but with his eyes too intently watching the place where I had +said a deer was most likely to break cover to notice much else. I +was some twenty paces farther from the edge than they. The horses +pricked up their ears at the well-known sound, and stood with +lifted heads watching as eagerly as we.</p> +<p>Then there came a little cry from Elfrida as she bade her horse +stand, and I heard it trampling sharply, as if restive, behind us. +I turned in my saddle to see what was amiss, and what I saw made my +blood run cold, and the sweat broke out on my forehead in a +moment.</p> +<p>With the sound of the horn and the moving away of Erpwald the +horse had waxed restive, as horses will at a cover side when the +time to move on seems near. I think that it had probably reared a +little and that she had tried to check it, for now it was backing +slowly and uneasily toward the edge of that awesome cliff that was +but ten paces from its heels. Even now the girl was backing him yet +more in her efforts to make him stand still, and I dared not make a +move to catch the bridle lest he should swing round at once from me +and go over.</p> +<p>"Spur him, Elfrida. Let his head go, and spur him," I said as +quietly as I could, but so that she must needs hear.</p> +<p>It was all that I could do.</p> +<p>She spurred him, and then as he made a little leap forward, +checked him, and that was yet worse. Then I saw Erpwald, with an +ashy face, dismount and go hastily toward the edge behind her, +sidelong, and I swung my horse away from him, so that by chance +hers might follow me out of danger.</p> +<p>But that was useless. The brute was yet backing, and his heels +were almost on the brink. It seemed that his rider did not know how +near she was.</p> +<p>"Get off!" I said hoarsely. "Get off at once!"</p> +<p>Then she knew, but could only turn and look. The hinder hoofs +lost hold on the rocky edge as the horse made its first slip +backward, and even as the loosened stones rattled down, and it +lurched with one leg hanging over the gulf, Erpwald leapt forward +and tore Elfrida from the saddle, and half threw her toward me. I +do not remember when I dismounted, but I was there and grasped her +hand and dragged her back out of the way of the lashing fore +feet.</p> +<p>Then Erpwald was gone. The horse struggled wildly in one last +effort to save itself, and swept my friend over with it. There was +a rattle of stones, a silence, and then a dull crash in the depths +below.</p> +<p>One moment later and all three would have gone. I heard the +shout of the man on the track below, and I wondered in a dull way +if he had been killed also.</p> +<p>And now I had Elfrida to tend, for she had fainted. What she had +seen I could not tell, but I hoped that at least she knew nought +before Erpwald went. It was as if she had lost consciousness when +he reached her, for I saw the hand on the rein loosen helplessly. I +carried her back from the cliff and tried to bring her to herself, +vainly, though indeed I almost wished that she might remain as she +was until we were back in Glastonbury.</p> +<p>Then I wound my horn again and again to bring some to my help, +and I tried not to think of that which surely lay crushed on the +road below. There could be no hope for either man or horse.</p> +<p>Then came the sound of swift hoofs, and there was the ealdorman +and one or two others, coming in all haste to know what the urgent +call betokened, but by the time that he had dismounted and asked if +there was any hurt to his daughter I could only gasp and point +downward. My mouth was dry and parched, and I did not know how to +put into words the thing that had happened; but he saw that +Elfrida's horse was not there, and that Erpwald's ran loose with +mine, and he guessed.</p> +<p>"Over the cliff?" he said, whispering, and I nodded.</p> +<p>"Go and look," he gasped, and he knelt down and took Elfrida +from me.</p> +<p>The two who were with him were trying to catch the loose horses, +and we were alone for the moment. So I crept to the edge and looked +over, fearing what I should see. But I saw nothing but the bare +track winding there, and I remembered that the cliff overhung.</p> +<p>Then, as I scanned every rock and cranny below me a man came out +from under the overhang at the foot of the cliff and looked up. For +a moment my heart leapt, for I thought it was Erpwald. But it was +only the traveller we had seen, and he must have been looking at +what had rolled into the hollow that hid it from me. He glanced up +and caught sight of me.</p> +<p>"How did it happen?" he called up to me.</p> +<p>"Dead?" I called back, with a terror of what I knew would be his +answer.</p> +<p>Then he laughed at me.</p> +<p>"Do you expect a horse to be leather all through, Master? Of +course he is.--Saddle and all smashed to bits."</p> +<p>Then a dull anger took me that he thought of the horse only, as +it seemed, unless he was mazed as I was with it all.</p> +<p>"The man--the man," I said.</p> +<p>"There is no man here, Master. Did one fall?" he said in a new +voice, and he crossed to the other side of the gorge and scanned +the face of the cliff.</p> +<p>"He is not to be seen," he said. "Maybe he has caught +yonder."</p> +<p>He pointed to a ledge that was plain enough to me, but nowhere +near the place whence the fall was. There were no ledges to be seen +as I looked straight down, and I knew that this place was the most +sheer fall along all the length of the gorge.</p> +<p>Now three more of our party came up, and at once they rode down +to the village and so round to where the man stood. It seemed a +long time before they were there and talking to him.</p> +<p>"Ho, Oswald!"</p> +<p>Their voices came cheerfully enough, and I looked down at +them.</p> +<p>"There seem to be clefts here and there, and in one of those he +must needs be," they said. "We are going to the village to get a +cragsman with a rope, and will be with you anon."</p> +<p>There was at least hope in that, and I watched them ride swiftly +away. The ravens were gathering fast now, knowing that what fell +from above must needs be their prey, and two great eagles were +wheeling high overhead, waiting. I heard the kites screaming to one +another from above the eagles, and from the woods came the call of +the buzzards. They knew more than I.</p> +<p>Now the ealdorman could not bring Elfrida round, and he thought +it best to take her hence. So he had her lifted to him on his +horse, and went slowly and carefully down the hill toward the +village with her. I had told him all that had happened by this +time, and I was to bring word presently to him of how the search +went.</p> +<p>So I and those two friends who had first come sat there on the +cliff top waiting in silence for the coming of the man with his +ropes. All that could be said had been said.</p> +<p>Here and there on the face of the cliff some yew trees had +managed to find a holding, and their boughs were broken by the +passage of the horse at least through them. But there were no +shreds of clothing on them, as if Erpwald had reached them. That +might be because the weightier horse fell first. It seemed to me in +that moment of the fall that he was between the horse and the cliff +as he went over the edge, for the forefeet of the horse struck his +legs and threw him backward, and the last thing that I minded was +seeing his head against the horse's mane in some way. That last +glimpse will bide with me until I forget all things.</p> +<p>It seemed very long before our friends came back with the ropes. +Backwards and forwards in front of us flew untiringly two ravens, +now flying across the gorge, and then again almost brushing us with +their wings as they swept up the face of the cliff from below. We +thought they had a nest somewhere close at hand, for it was their +time.</p> +<p>"If Erpwald were dead," I said presently, "those birds would not +be so restless. It is hard to think that they know where he is and +how he fares; but at least they tell us that he is not yet prey for +them."</p> +<p>Backward and forward they swept, until my eyes grew dazed with +watching them, and then suddenly they both croaked their alarm +note, wheeled quickly away from the cliff's face, and fled across +the gorge and were gone.</p> +<p>Then was a rattle of stones, and a shout from some one in the +track below, and I started and saw a head slowly rising above the +edge of the cliff as if its owner had climbed up to us. White and +streaked with blood was the face, but it was not crushed or marred, +and it was Erpwald's.</p> +<p>"Lend me a hand," he said, as we stared at him, as one needs +must stare at one who comes back as it were from the grave. "My +head swims even yet."</p> +<p>I grasped his hand and helped him to the grass, and once there +he stood upright and shook himself, looking round in an astonished +way as he did so.</p> +<p>"No broken bones," he said. "Where is Elfrida? Is she all right? +I was rough with her, I fear, but I could not help it. Could I have +managed otherwise?"</p> +<p>"In no way better," I said, finding my tongue at length. "She +has gone to the village. But where have you been!"</p> +<p>"In a long hole just over here," he answered. "But how long has +she been gone?"</p> +<p>"How long do you think that you have been in your hole?"</p> +<p>"A few minutes. It cannot be long. Yet it must have been longer +than I thought, for the shadows are changed."</p> +<p>It was a full hour and a half since he fell, but I did not say +so, lest it should be some sort of shock to him. So I bade him sit +down while I saw to a cut there was on his head--the only sign of +hurt that he had.</p> +<p>"I thought that I was done for at first," he said.</p> +<p>"So thought I, until we found that you were not at the bottom. +Even now some of us have gone for ropes that we might search the +cliff for you. We could not see you anywhere, and there does not +seem to be any ledge here that could catch you."</p> +<p>"Why, you could have touched me with a spear all the time, if +you had known where to thrust it. I think I fainted, or somewhat +foolish of the sort. My head hit the rock as I went over. Also the +horse ground me between it and the cliff, so that all my breath +went. But that pushed me into the hole, and I will not grumble. At +least, I think that was it, but I cannot be sure. My senses +went."</p> +<p>He began to laugh, but suddenly turned to me with a new look on +his face.</p> +<p>"Oh, but was Elfrida feared for me?--What did she think?"</p> +<p>"She saw nought of it," I said. "I believe that she had fainted +with terror when you laid hold of her. The ealdorman came and took +her to the village, and I do not suppose she knows that you have +been lost."</p> +<p>"That is well," he said, with his great sigh. "Look over and see +my hole."</p> +<p>I did not care to look over again, and, moreover, knew that I +could not see it. I mind every jutting stone and twisted yew that +is on the cliff there, to this day. However, one of the others went +a little to one side, where Erpwald had appeared, and swung himself +to the tiny ledge that had given him foothold as he came up, and so +looked at the place. There was a long cleft between two layers of +rock which went back into the cliff's face for some depth, with a +little backward slope that had saved the helpless man from rolling +out again, and there was a raven's nest at one end of it. One may +see that cleft from below and across the gorge if one knows where +to look, but not by any means from above, by reason of the overhang +of the brink. It was plain that, as he thought, the horse's body, +or maybe its shoulder, thrust him into the cleft, but it was well +that he was senseless and so could not struggle, or he would have +surely missed it. It is his saying that he had no trouble in +getting into the place, but more in climbing out.</p> +<p>Now we called the good news to some of our people and the +villagers who were on the road below, and they broke into cheers as +they heard it. They could hardly believe that the man they had seen +on the edge just now was Erpwald himself. Then we went down to the +village, meeting the men with the ropes halfway, and so came to the +first houses of the street, where the ealdorman was standing +outside one of the better sort. He came to meet us, and I never saw +anything like the look on his face when he saw Erpwald and heard +his cheerful greeting. I told him how things ended.</p> +<p>"I have given a lot of trouble, as it seems" Erpwald said +humbly; "but I could not help it."</p> +<p>"Trouble!" said the ealdorman. "Had it not been for you there +would have been nought but trouble for me all the rest of my +life."</p> +<p>He took Erpwald's hand as he spoke and pressed it, but he would +not say more then. Maybe he could not. So he turned to me.</p> +<p>"It is all right, Oswald, for Elfrida is herself again, and she +saw nothing after she looked into the gulf below her. I have told +her nothing."</p> +<p>"Do not tell her anything, Ealdorman," Erpwald said. "No need to +say what a near thing it was, or that I handled her like a sack of +oats. She would never forgive me. But Oswald says it was all that I +could have done. It was a good thing that he was there to take +her."</p> +<p>"How are you going to account for the broken head, then?"</p> +<p>"Say I was thrown from my horse afterward, or somewhat of that +kind," he said. "Or, stay, these will do it. I have been birds' +nesting. I thought these would please her. One gets falls while +scrambling after the like."</p> +<p>He put his hand into his pouch as he spoke.</p> +<p>"Plague on it, one is broken," he said, bringing out a raven's +egg. "There were two in that place where I stopped falling."</p> +<p>The ealdorman and I stared at him in wonder. It amazed us that +in such a moment a man should think of this trifle. And now he was +turning his soiled pouch inside out and wiping it with a tuft of +grass, grumbling the while. It was plain that the danger had made +no impression on him.</p> +<p>"Were not you frightened when you found how nearly you had +fallen from the cliff?" I asked him.</p> +<p>"No; why should I be? I did not fall from it. I was feared +enough when I thought that I was going, and I thought I was at the +bottom when I came to myself. But as I had not gone so far, there +was an end."</p> +<p>I minded the story of the Huntsman's Leap, and how I had felt +when I knew my escape. It was plain that this forest-bred Erpwald, +with his cool head, and lack of power to picture what might have +been, would make a good warrior, so far as dogged fearlessness +goes, and that is a long way.</p> +<p>Now the ealdorman kept what else he might have to say until we +were at home, for it was time for us to be off. So we brushed +Erpwald down and hid his cut under a cap that the good franklin of +the house lent him, for his own was gone, as he said, to make a +bird's nest somewhere on the cliffs; and then Elfrida came from the +cottage, looking a little white and shaken with her fright, but +otherwise none the worse, and we started.</p> +<p>Erpwald kept out of her sight for a little while, but as we were +fairly on the way home it was not long before he found his way to +her side, and we let those two have their say out together.</p> +<p>One by one the friends who had joined us dropped out of the +party as their way led them aside, until by the time we reached the +ealdorman's house only half a dozen of us were left. Then Herewald +would have us come in for some cheer after the long day, but we +were tired and stained, and I must be back at the guardroom, and so +he bade his folk bring somewhat out here to us. There was a cask of +ale already set on the low wall by the gate for the men, and we sat +on our horses waiting, with a little crowd of thralls and children +round us, looking at the two good deer that we brought back. Then +the steward and some of the women of the house brought horns of ale +from the house for us.</p> +<p>One of the women came to me, and without seeing who she was, or +thinking of doing so, I reached out my hand for the horn that she +held up, and at that moment some one from behind seemed to run +against my horse's flank, and he lashed out and reared as if he was +hurt. My rein was loose, and I was bending carelessly over to take +the horn, and it was all that I could do to keep my seat for the +moment. As for the girl, she dropped the horn and ran from the +plunging horse into the doorway for safety.</p> +<p>Then I heard the sharp crack of a whip, and the voice of the +head huntsman speaking angrily:</p> +<p>"Out on you for a silly oaf!--What mean you by going near the +thane at all?"</p> +<p>The whip cracked again, and the long lash curled round the +shoulders of a ragged thrall, who tried in vain to escape it.</p> +<p>"On my word, I believe you did it on purpose!" the huntsman +cried, with a third shrewd lash that found its lodgment +rightly.</p> +<p>"Mercy, Master," mumbled the man, writhing; "it is this terrible +crossing of the eyes. I do not rightly see where I go."</p> +<p>I had quieted the horse by this time, and I held up my hand to +stay the lash from the thrall. Some one picked up the horn that the +girl had let fall.</p> +<p>"Let him be," I said. "It could but have been a chance, and he +is lucky not to have been kicked. See, he does squint most +amazingly."</p> +<p>"Ay," growled the huntsman, "so he does; but I never knew a +cross-eyed man before who had any trouble in walking straight +enough."</p> +<p>The thrall slunk away among his fellows. He was a +round-shouldered man with hay-coloured hair and a stubby beard of +the same, and he rubbed his shoulders with his elbows lifted as he +went. Then the steward gave me a fresh horn, and we said farewell +to our host and hostess, and Erpwald and I went our way.</p> +<p>"I thought that the horse would have knocked the Welsh girl +over," he said presently. "She was pretty nimble, however. That +churl must have kicked your horse sharply to make him plunge as he +did."</p> +<p>"Trod on his fetlock most likely," I answered. "Clumsy +knave."</p> +<p>"Well, that huntsman knows how to use a lash, at all events, and +he will have a care in future. But how my head does ache!"</p> +<p>"That is likely enough," I said, laughing. "It was a shrewd +knock, and it kept you in that hole for the longest hour and a half +I have ever known."</p> +<p>"It does take somewhat out of the common to hurt me much," he +said simply.</p> +<p>"Well, by tomorrow you will be famed all over Glastonbury as the +man who fell over Cheddar cliffs and escaped by reason of lighting +on the thickest part of him," I answered.</p> +<p>It was a poor jest enough, but it set him laughing. I did not +wish him to say more of what had just happened, for I was puzzled +about it, and wanted to get my thoughts to work. He had spoken of +the very thing that I had been warned of, for almost had I taken +the horn from the hand of a Briton--the Welsh girl of whom he spoke +once before. I had forgotten her, for I do not think that I had +ever seen her since she came here, until now. But at this moment I +seemed to have a feeling that her face was in some way familiar to +me, though only in that half-formed way that troubles one, and I +was trying to recall how this might be.</p> +<p>Erpwald went off to the guest chamber where he was lodged, and +presently I found our old leech and took him to see after him. He +went comfortably to sleep after his hurt had been dressed, and so I +left him. I will say at once that he felt no more trouble from +it.</p> +<p>Then I went to the stables to see how fared my horse after the +day's work, and found him enjoying his feed after grooming. I +looked him over, but I could see no mark to show where the man +might have hurt him. But as I was running my hand along the smooth +hock to feel for any bruise, my groom said to me:</p> +<p>"Have you had a roll in a thorn bush, Master?"</p> +<p>"No.--What makes you think I might have had one?"</p> +<p>"I found this in his flank when I rubbed him down, and it was +run thus far into him."</p> +<p>He held out a long stiff blackthorn spine, marking a full inch +on its length with his thumbnail.</p> +<p>"Enough to set a horse wild for a moment," he went on. "And +unless you had fallen, I could not think how it got there."</p> +<p>"In which flank was it?" I asked, taking the thorn from him.</p> +<p>"The near flank, Master."</p> +<p>That was where the thrall ran against him, and surely the +huntsman was not so far wrong when he said that he did so on +purpose. If so, it was done at the right moment to give me a heavy +fall, save for a bit of luck, or maybe horsemanship. It was a +strange business.</p> +<p>"I was through a thicket or two today," I said carelessly. +"Maybe I hit a branch in just the right way to drive it in. If we +were galloping he would not have noticed it. These little things +happen oddly sometimes."</p> +<p>Then the man began to tell me some other little mishaps to +horses that could not be explained, bustling about the while. And +before long I left the stables and went to my own quarters, with +the thorn yet in my hand. It had been cut from the bush, and not +broken, just as if it had been chosen. Now, if these hidden +plotters wanted to frighten me, I am bound to say that they +succeeded more or less. Was the giving of the horn by the Welsh +girl to be a signal to the thrall in some way? If there is one +thing that a man need not be ashamed to say that he fears, it is +treachery, and I seemed to be surrounded by it. Hardly could a +house-carle come to my door but it seemed to me that he must needs +bring one of these unlucky notes. It was just as well that I had +some unknown friend to write them to me, though I cannot say that I +had profited by them so far.</p> +<p>Now I sent two of my men to see if they could find the +cross-eyed thrall, but of course he was not to be laid hands on. +Only the people who had been at the ealdorman's door seemed to have +seen him, and they could not tell who or whence he was. He was so +easily known, however, that I thought I should be certain to have +him sooner or later. Such a squint as he had is not to be hidden, +and that made the wonder that he had dared to do this all the +greater.</p> +<p>I slept on it all, and woke with fewer fears on me, for I was +overwrought yesterday after all the terrible waiting on the cliff +and what went before. It was Sunday, moreover, and the early +services in the new church helped mightily to set a new face on +things. So when I had seen to the few duties of the morning, I went +down the street to ask after Elfrida, being anxious to hear that +her fright had done her no hurt. Erpwald had been there before me, +but I had missed him since.</p> +<p>Elfrida was well, and glad to see me. We sat and talked of +yesterday, and I found that Erpwald had said nothing of how he +saved her, and it was pleasant to tell her of it, while she +listened with eyes that sparkled. It was plain that I could have +found nothing that would please her better than to talk of him. So +I even told her how he had gone over the edge into the cleft, but +without saying that we feared for his life for so long. Then her +father came in, and at once she asked after some sick person.</p> +<p>"How goes it with him now," she said.</p> +<p>"Well enough, says the leech; but he had well-nigh died in the +night."</p> +<p>"What is it that ails him?--Can the leech tell that yet?"</p> +<p>"He has taken somewhat that has poisoned him," the ealdorman +answered. "The leech asked if he had eaten of mushrooms, or rather +toadstools, by mistake."</p> +<p>"But there are none about as yet."</p> +<p>Now I asked who the sick man was, and Herewald told me that he +was such an one who was with us yesterday. I minded him as one who +stood near me at the door when my horse reared. I thought that he +was the man who picked up my dropped horn, and I was sorry for him. +However, that was not much concern of mine, so we passed to other +talk for a little, and then Elfrida said:</p> +<p>"Are there any tidings of my maiden? I fear for her."</p> +<p>"None at all," the ealdorman said. "Here is a strange thing, +Oswald; for that girl whom you so nearly rode over last evening is +as clean gone as if she had never been. None saw her go, but when +supper time came she was nowhere to be found. Nor is there any +trace of her now."</p> +<p>I felt as if I had expected to hear that the Welsh girl had gone +as well as the thrall, and I cannot say that I was surprised; +though as they had failed in whatever they meant to compass this +time, I could not see why they should not have tried again.</p> +<p>"Whence came she," I asked as carelessly as I could. "Maybe she +has only gone home, fearing blame for dropping that horn."</p> +<p>"She has no home to go to, that we ken. She came from Jago at +Norton only a little while ago, and she would hardly try to get +back there across the hills alone. She is an orphan serf of his, +and I fear that she has been stolen away."</p> +<p>"She has not been here long, then?"</p> +<p>"She came when you were with Owen. Jago sent to ask if Elfrida +would take her in, she being worth having as a maid. His wife had +no place for her, but would that she was well cared for. So she +came with the first chapman who travelled this way."</p> +<p>Now as I thought of this girl, in a moment it flashed across me +where I had seen her before. It was on board the ship at Tenby, and +she came with Dunwal and his daughter Mara. I was certain of it, +though I had only seen her that once, for there I was in a strange +land, and so noticed things and people at which I should hardly +have glanced elsewhere. The Danish and British dress over there was +strange to me also.</p> +<p>Then, as soon as I had a chance I asked the ealdorman for a few +moments of private speech, and we went into his own chamber that +opened on the high place of the hall where we had been sitting. +There I told him all the trouble, for surely I needed all help that +I could find, and at the last I said:</p> +<p>"Mara, the daughter of Dunwal, was at guest quarters with +Jago."</p> +<p>Then I saw the face of my friend paling slowly under its ruddy +tan, and he rose and walked across the room once or twice, biting +his lip as though in wrath or sore trouble. I could not tell which +it was, but I thought that he was putting some new thought together +in his mind.</p> +<p>"It is plain enough," he said at last, staying his walk at a +side table. "I saw my sick man pick up that horn the girl dropped, +and he looked into it and laughed and drank from it, saying that it +was a pity to waste good stuff. See, here it is. The curl of it may +have kept a fair draught in it for him."</p> +<p>There were several horns standing in their silver or gilded +rests on the table at his elbow, and he held up that one which had +been brought to me, and then dropped it.</p> +<p>It fell with its mouth upward, rocking on the bend in its midst, +so that it might well have had a gill or two left in it, for it had +a twist as well as the curve in its length, which was somewhat +longer than usual.</p> +<p>"Poison!" he said in a low voice. "That a friend should be thus +treated at my own door, by my own servant! What shall I say to +you?"</p> +<p>"It is hard on you as on any one, Ealdorman," I answered. "But +the girl did not come from Jago. Mara sent her in some way. I am +sure it was she whom I saw at Tenby."</p> +<p>"Ay," he said, "one could not dream that a message seeming to +come from honest Jago was not in truth from him. The trick was sure +to be found out, and that soon, though."</p> +<p>"Not until the deed was done, maybe. This is the first chance +that the Welsh girl has had to hand me aught."</p> +<p>The ealdorman held his peace for a moment, and then he broke out +suddenly:</p> +<p>"By all the relics in Glastonbury, that thrall saved your life! +He is no fool either, for he knew that the horn must be spilt in +one way or the other, and it was worth while for you to run the +risk of a fall rather than that you should drink it. How had he +knowledge of what was to be done?"</p> +<p>"Whoever wrote the warning told him. It was a chance, however, +that we did not come into the house."</p> +<p>"There is some friend watching these traitors," said Herewald. +"I did not know the thrall, but so often men from the hill who have +followed us come here for the ale that they know will be going, +that I thought nothing of a stranger more or less. But why choose +my house for this deed?"</p> +<p>I knew well enough, and it was plain when I minded the ealdorman +that my vow was well known, and told, moreover, by Thorgils in +Mara's hearing. This was a house where I should often be, and when +Mara found out that Jago was a friend of Herewald of Glastonbury +the rest was easy.</p> +<p>"Well, I will send to Jago today, and find out what he knows. +That Cornish damsel must be better watched. Come, let us go and +tell the king."</p> +<p>So we went, and when Ina heard what we had to say he grew very +grave, and asked many questions before he told us what his thoughts +were.</p> +<p>"They have struck at Owen through you, my Thane, even as I +feared," he said. "I think that the matter of the land of Tregoz +has saved you, for I seem to see in this thrall one of his men who +hates him and will thwart his plans. There are yet men who will +carry out what he planned ere he died. Now I am glad that we soon +shall be gone from hence, and that is the first time that I have +been ready to leave Glastonbury."</p> +<p>Now I will say that when Herewald's messenger came back from +Norton it was even as we thought. Jago had no knowledge of the +Welsh girl, or her sending. But Mara was gone a fortnight or more +since, for Gerent had sent her father for safer keeping to the +terrible old castle of Tintagel on the wild shore, and she had +followed to be as near him as she might. Doubtless the girl might +be found there also in time.</p> +<p>So I had no more warnings, and in a few days the strain on my +mind wore off. I sent a message through Jago to Owen to tell him +what had happened, so that he should have less anxiety for his own +comfort, while he knew that I was shortly to be far hence.</p> +<p>Before that came about, however, Erpwald and Elfrida were +betrothed with all solemnity in the new church, for their wedding +was to be held here also in the summer, when all was ready for a +new mistress at Eastdean. So Erpwald rode with us to Winchester a +proud man, and by that time I thought I had forgotten that I ever +held myself entitled to the place he had won.</p> +<p>But I did not forget the plotting, and as the days wore on, and +my thoughts of it grew a little clearer, I began to wonder if the +thrall who saved me from the poisoned horn might not be the man who +slew Tregoz on the ramparts at Norton in the moonlight. I must say +that it went against the grain for me to believe that Mara had +aught to do with contriving my end through her maid, but unless +there was some crafty hand at work in the background, all +unsuspected, it seemed that there could be none else.</p> +<p>And then one day I found the little letter that Nona had sent +me. In that I was warned against Morfed the Cornish priest, and I +had forgotten him.</p> +<p>Now I will confess that two days after the Cheddar business I +took that little brooch that Elfrida had given me, and dropped it +into three fathoms of water as I rode by the mere one day. There +are foolishnesses one does not care to be reminded of.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a>. OF THE MESSAGE BROUGHT +BY JAGO, AND A MEETING IN DARTMOOR.</h2> +<p>As one may be sure, there was no danger for me at Winchester, +and if I had any anxiety at all it was for Owen, who had dangers +round him which I did not know. I had sent him word by that old +friend of his, Jago of Norton, how the last warning was justified, +and had heard from him that with the imprisonment of Dunwal his +last enemies seemed to have been removed or quieted. So I was more +at ease concerning him, and presently rode with Erpwald to Eastdean +in the fair May weather to see the beginning of that church which +should keep the memory of my father.</p> +<p>And all I will say concerning that is that when I came to visit +the old home once more I knew that I had chosen right. The life of +a forest thane was not for me, and Eastdean seemed to have nought +of pleasure for me, save in a sort of wonderment in seeing how my +dreams had kept so little of aught of the true look of the place. +In them it had grown and grown, as it were, and now I was +disappointed with it. I suppose that it is always so with what one +has not seen since childhood, and for me it was as well. I felt no +shadow of regret for the choice I had made.</p> +<p>So after the foundation was laid with all due rites, I went back +to the king and found him at Chippenham, for he was passing hither +and thither about his realm, as was his wont, biding for weeks or +maybe months here, and so elsewhere, to see that all went well. And +I knew that in Erpwald and his mother I left good and firm friends +behind me, and that all would be done as I should have wished. Ay, +and maybe better than I could have asked, for what Erpwald took in +hand in his plain single-heartedness was carried through without +stint.</p> +<p>Through Chippenham come the western chapmen and tin traders, and +so we had news from the court at Exeter that all was well and +quiet, and so I deemed that there was no more trouble to be feared. +It seemed as if Owen had taken his place, and that every foe was +stilled.</p> +<p>And yet there grew on me an uneasiness that arose from a strange +dream, or vision, if you will, that came to me one night and +haunted me thereafter, so soon as ever my eyes closed, so that I +grew to fear it somewhat. And yet there seemed nothing in it, as +one may say. It was a vision of a place, and no more, though it was +a place the like of which I had never seen.</p> +<p>I seemed to stand in a deep hollow in wild hills, and round me +closed high cliffs that shut out all but the sky, so that they +surrounded a lawn of fair turf, boulder strewn here and there, and +bright with greener patches that told of bog beneath the grass. In +the very midst of this lawn was a round pool of black, still water, +and across on the far side of that was set a menhir, one of those +tall standing stones that forgotten men of old were wont to rear +for rites that are past. It was on the very edge of the pool, as it +seemed, and was taller than any I had seen on our hills.</p> +<p>And when in my dream I had seen this strange place, always I +woke with the voice of Owen in my ears calling me. That was the +thing which made me uneasy more than that a dream should come +often.</p> +<p>Three times that dream and voice came to me, but I said nought +of it to any man. Then one day into the courtyard of the king's +hall rode men in haste from the westward, and when I was called out +to meet them the first man on whom my eyes rested was Jago of +Norton, and my heart fell. Dusty and stained he was with riding, +and his face was worn and hard, as with trouble, and he had no +smile for me.</p> +<p>"What news, friend?" I said, coming close to him as he +dismounted.</p> +<p>"As they took you, so have they taken Owen. We have lost +him."</p> +<p>"Is he slain?"</p> +<p>"We think not. He was wounded and borne away. We cannot trace +him or his captors. Gerent needs you, and I have a letter to your +king."</p> +<p>I asked him no more at this time, but I took him straightway to +Ina, travel stained as he was. He had but two men with him, and +they were Saxons he had asked for from Herewald the ealdorman as he +passed through Glastonbury in haste.</p> +<p>So Ina took the letter, and opened it, and as he read it his +face grew troubled, so that my fear that I had not yet heard the +worst grew on me. Then he handed it to me without a word.</p> +<p>"Gerent of the Britons, to Ina of Wessex.--I pray you send me +Oswald, Owen's foster son, for I need him sorely. On my head be it +if a hair of him is harmed. He who bears this is Jago, whom you +know, and he will tell my need and my loneliness. I pray you speed +him whom I ask for."</p> +<p>That was all written, and it seemed to me that more was not +needed. One could read between the lines, after what Jago had +said.</p> +<p>"What is the need for you?" Ina asked, as I gave him back the +letter.</p> +<p>"To seek for Owen, my father," I said. "Jago must tell what we +have to hear."</p> +<p>Then he told us, speaking in his own tongue, so that I had to +translate for the king now and then, and it was a heavy tale he +brought.</p> +<p>Owen had gone to some house that belonged to Tregoz, in the wild +edge of Dartmoor north of Exeter, and there men unknown had set on +the house and burnt it over him, slaying his men and sorely +wounding himself. Only one man had escaped to tell the tale, and he +was wounded and could tell little. And the deed was wrought in the +night, and into the night he had seen the men depart, bearing the +prince with them. But who and whence they were he could neither +tell nor guess.</p> +<p>Then Gerent had ridden in all haste to the house, and found even +as the wounded man had told, for all was still as the burners left +it. But no man of all the village, nor the shepherds on the hills, +could tell more. Owen was lost without trace left.</p> +<p>Then said Ina: "What more could be done by Oswald?--Will men +help a Saxon?"</p> +<p>"This must be between ourselves, King Ina," Jago said plainly. +"It is in my mind that if Oswald and I or some known lord of the +British will go to that place and sit there quietly with rewards in +our hands, we may learn much; for men fear Gerent the king in his +wrath, and they fled from his coming."</p> +<p>"So be it," said Ina. "Oswald shall go, and it seems to me that +every day is precious, so that he shall go at once. Is there +thought that Owen may be taken out of the country, as Oswald was +taken?"</p> +<p>"Every port and every fisher is watched, and has been so. For +that was the first thing we feared. And word has gone to Howel of +Dyfed and Mordred of Morganwg, farther up the channel, that they +should watch their shores also. Nought has been left undone that +may be done."</p> +<p>So it came to pass that on the next morning Jago and I rode away +together along the great road that leads westward to Exeter and +beyond, asking each train of chapmen whom we met if there was yet +news, and hearing nought but sorrow for the loss of the prince they +had hailed with such joy again. Nor did we draw rein, save to +change horses, till we clattered up the ancient paved street of the +city on its hill, and dismounted at the gates of the white palace +where Gerent waited me.</p> +<p>There the first man who came out to greet me was one whom I was +altogether glad to see, though his presence astonished me for a +moment. Howel of Dyfed passed from the great door and bade me +welcome.</p> +<p>"It is a different meeting from that which we had planned, +Thane," he said, somewhat sadly. "I am here to help you if I can; +for when we heard that Owen was lost much as you were, we came over +straightway, there being reasons of her own which would not let +Nona rest till we had sailed. Presently you will hear them from +herself, for she is here. Glad am I to see you."</p> +<p>"There is no fresh hope?" I asked, as we went in.</p> +<p>"None; but we hope much from you. At least, your coming will +cheer the old king, for he is well-nigh despairing."</p> +<p>Now I was prepared to see some change in Gerent by reason of all +this sorrow and trouble, but not for all that was plain when I +first set eyes on him presently. Old and shrunken he seemed, and +his voice was weary and dull. Yet there came a new light into his +eyes as he saw me, and he greeted me most kindly, bidding me, after +a few words of welcome, to rest and eat awhile after the long ride, +before we spoke together of troubles.</p> +<p>So in a little time I sought him again, and found him in a room +with warm sunlight streaming into it, making the strange pictured +walls bright and cheerful, and yet somewhat over close for one who +loves the open air or the free timbered roof that loses itself in +the smoke wreaths overhead, with the wind blowing through it as it +blows through the forest whence it was wrought, and with twitter of +birds to mind one of that also. Nevertheless, the old king in his +purple mantle with its golden hem over the white linen tunic, and +his little golden circlet on his curling white hair, seemed in +place there, even as I minded thinking that Owen in his British +array seemed in place.</p> +<p>Now Howel stood where Owen was wont to stand, and the only other +in the room was the lady, who rose from the king's side to greet +me.</p> +<p>And if her smile was a little sad, it was plain that Nona the +princess was glad as her father to see her guest again, and I will +say that to me the sight of her was like a bright gleam in the grey +of sadness that was over all things. It did not seem possible that +she and trouble could find place together.</p> +<p>So I greeted her, and she went back to her place quickly, for +hardly would Gerent wait for us to speak a few words before he +would talk of that which was in all his thoughts; and then came +Jago and stood at the door, guarding it as it were against +listeners.</p> +<p>Now the old king told me all that I had heard from his thane +already, and I must tell what I thought thereof, and that was +little enough beyond what I have said, and at last, when he seemed +to wait for me to ask him more, I put a question that had come into +my mind as I rode, and asked if there might be any chance of Morfed +the priest having a hand in the matter.</p> +<p>And at that the king's frown grew black, and he answered +fiercely:</p> +<p>"Morfed, the mad priest?--Ay, why had not I thought of him +before? Look you, Oswald, into my hall of justice he came, barefoot +and ragged from his wanderings, but a few days before Owen left me; +and before all the folk, high and low, who were gathered there he +cried out on all those who spoke for peace with the men who owned +the rule of Canterbury, and who held traffic with the Saxon who has +taken our lands. And Owen was for speaking him fair, seeing that he +was crazed, but I bade him be silent, telling the priest that what +was lost is lost, and there needed no more said thereof; and that +if the men of Austin and we differed it was not the part of +Christian men to make the difference wider, even as Owen and +Aldhelm were wont to say. And at that he raved, and threatened to +lay the heaviest ban of the Church on Owen, and on all who held +with him, and so he was taken from my presence, and I have seen him +no more. But he was a friend of Morgan."</p> +<p>"That is the priest who was with Dunwal, surely," Howel +said.</p> +<p>"The same," I answered--"and I was warned of him," and I looked +toward the princess, and she smiled a little and flushed.</p> +<p>"I mind how he glared at Oswald across my table," Howel said. +"But one need fear little from him, as I think. Who will heed a +crazy priest?"</p> +<p>"Many," answered Gerent. "The more because they deem him +inspired. I will have him taken and brought to me."</p> +<p>There fell a little uneasy silence after that outburst of the +king's, but I felt that I had not yet heard all that they would +tell me. So we waited for the old king to speak, and at last he +turned suddenly to the princess, setting his thin white hand on her +shoulder, and said:</p> +<p>"Now tell Oswald what foolishness brought you here, Nona, +daughter of Howel, that he may say what he thinks thereof."</p> +<p>"Maybe he also will think it foolishness, King Gerent," she said +in her low clear voice. "But however that may be, I will tell him, +for in what I have to say may be help. I cannot tell, but because +it might be so I begged my father to bring me hither. It was all +that I could do for my godfather."</p> +<p>There was just a little quiver in her lip as she said this, and +the fierce old king's face softened somewhat.</p> +<p>"Nay," he said, "I meant no unkindness. I forgot that it is not +right to speak to a child as to grown warriors. It is long since +there was a lady about the place who is one of us."</p> +<p>Then Nona smiled wanly, and set her hand on that of the old +king, and kept it there while she spoke.</p> +<p>"Indeed, Thane, it may be foolishness, and now perhaps as time +goes on it begins to seem so to me. Once, as I know now, on the +night when Owen first slept in his new house on the moor, I dreamed +that he was in sore danger, for I seemed to see shadows of men +creeping everywhere round the house that I have never set eyes on; +and again, on the next night, and that was the night of the +burning, I saw the house in flames, and men fought and fell around +it among the flickering shadows, but I did not seem to see Owen. +And then on the next night, soon after I first slept, I woke +trembling with the most strange dream of all. I think that the +light had hardly gone from the west, but the moon had not yet +risen. I dreamed that I stood at the end of a narrow valley, whose +sides were of tall cliffs of rough grey stone, and in the depth of +the valley I saw a great menhir standing on the farther side of a +black pool. And all the surface of the pool was rippling as if +somewhat had disturbed it, and set upright in the ground on this +side was a sword, like to that which King Ina gave you, Thane--ay, +that which you wear now, not like my father's swords. And I thought +that I heard one call on your name."</p> +<p>Now I heard Jago stifle a cry behind me, and as for myself I +stood silent, biting my lip that I might know that I was not +dreaming also, and I saw that Howel was looking at me in a +wondering way, while Gerent glowered at me. All the time that she +had been speaking, Nona had looked on the ground, in some fear lest +we should smile at this which had been called foolishness, and I +was glad when the king broke the silence with a short laugh.</p> +<p>"Well, Oswald, what think you of this? On my word, it seems that +you half believe in the foolishness that some hold concerning +dreams."</p> +<p>"I would not hold this so," said Howel,--"seeing that she has +dreamed of things that did take place, as we know too well."</p> +<p>"Fire and fighting? Things, forsooth, that every village girl on +the Saxon marches is frayed with every time she sleeps."</p> +<p>So said Gerent, and I answered him:</p> +<p>"Foolishness I cannot call this, either, Lord King. I also have +seen the same in the night watches. I have seen pool and menhir, +and the cliffs that hem them, even as the princess saw them. And I +woke with the voice of Owen in my ears."</p> +<p>"Dreams, dreams!" the old king said. "Go to, you do but tell me +these trifles to please me, and as if to give me hope that in such +an unheard-of place we shall find him whom we have lost. Say no +more, but go your ways on the morrow and search. And may you find +your dream valley and what is therein."</p> +<p>He rose up impatiently, and Howel gave him his arm from the +room. Jago followed him, and when the heavy curtain fell across the +doorway, Nona, who had risen with Gerent, turned to me.</p> +<p>"I am sure now that there we shall find Owen," she said, with a +new light of hope in her eyes. "And also I am sure that at the +bottom of all the matter is Morfed the priest."</p> +<p>"It was a needed warning against him that I had from your hand, +Princess," I said; "now let me thank you for it."</p> +<p>"I am glad you had it safely, for indeed I feared for you with +those people on the ship with you. What has become of them?"</p> +<p>I told her the fate of Dunwal, so far as I knew it. I did not +then know that Gerent had put an end to his plotting once for all +two days after Owen was lost. As for his daughter, I knew no more +than Jago told the ealdorman.</p> +<p>Then she said: "Now I would ask you to speak to my father, that +he would let me go with you to Dartmoor, that I may help you +search. I do not like to be far from him, but he says there may be +danger. Which makes me the more anxious not to leave him, as you +may suppose."</p> +<p>She smiled, but as I made no answer she went on:</p> +<p>"And maybe Owen will need nursing when you find him. They say he +was sorely wounded. Ay, I am sure we shall find him, else why did +we have these strange visions? And I think that were he not +disabled altogether he would have won to freedom in some way."</p> +<p>"It is that wounding that makes me fear the worst," I said in a +low voice; for indeed the thought of Owen as hurt, in the care, or +want of care, of those who hated him, was not easy to be borne. "It +is my fear that we shall be too late."</p> +<p>"Nay, but you must not fear that," she said quickly. "That is no +sort of mind in which you have to set to work. I will think rather +that they have carried him to some safe tending. There will be time +enough to dread the worst when it is certain. There was nought in +the dreams to make us think that he was dead."</p> +<p>The bright face and voice cheered me wonderfully, and for the +moment, at least, I felt sure that our search would not fail. Then +I tried to persuade her not to come with us. One could not say that +there was any safety, even for her, among the men who would harm +Owen, though I thought that none would be in the least likely to +fall on Howel. Rather, they would keep out of his way altogether. +In my own mind I wished that I was going alone, or with none but +Jago, though, on the other hand, it might be possible that men +would speak to him if they would not to me. And at last I did +persuade her to bide here until we had news, promising that if need +was she should come and see the place herself when all was +known.</p> +<p>"Well, maybe it is not so needful that I should go now," she +said. "I thought that I alone could tell my father when that valley +was found, but you know as much of it as I, and will be sure when +you stand in it."</p> +<p>And so we fell to talk of these visions which were so much +alike, and there was but one difference in them. In the dream of +the princess the pool had been ruffled, and mine was still as +glass. And that seemed strange, and we could make nothing of it. +Then Howel came back, and there is little more to say of the doings +of that evening. There was no feasting in Gerent's house now.</p> +<p>Very early in the next dawning Howel and I rode westward with +five score men of Gerent's best after us, into wilder country than +I had ever yet seen; and late in the evening we came to where the +countless folds of Dartmoor lie round the heads of Dart River. And +there Tregoz had set his house, and I think that it was the first +that had ever been in those wilds, save the huts of the villagers. +Only the hall of the place had been burnt, and there yet stood the +house of the steward on the village green, if one may call a meadow +that had a dozen huts round it by that name, and we bestowed +ourselves in the great room of that, while our men found places in +stables and outhouses and the huts. Every man of the place had fled +as they saw us coming, for the fear of Gerent was on them; but the +women and children remained, and they had heard of the son of Owen, +at least, since he and I were in Dartmoor in the spring. I had some +of them brought to me when we were rested, and told them that none +need fear aught, knowing that they would tell their menfolk.</p> +<p>And so it was, for after we had been quietly in the place for +two days the men were back and at their work again. I do not think +that even our Mendip miners were so wild as these people, and their +strange Welsh was hard for me and Howel to understand. I will say +that the whole matter seemed hopeless for a time, for no man would +say anything to us about it. If we spoke to a man, questioning him, +and presently wished to find him again, he was gone, and it would +be days ere he came back.</p> +<p>Some of our guards knew the country as well as most, and with +them we rode many a long mile into the hills during the first few +days, searching for the deepest valleys, and ever did I look to see +the great menhir before me as we came to bend after bend of the +hills. Circles of standing stones we found, and cromlechs, ruins of +ancient round stone huts where villages had been before men could +remember, and once we saw a menhir on the hillside; but that was +not what I sought, and none could tell us of the lost valley.</p> +<p>Yet it was in my mind as I questioned one or two that their +looks seemed to say that the description of the place was not +unknown to them, and if they would they could tell me more. At +last, when I came to know the speech better at the end of a week, I +thought that I would try another plan; I would trust to the +shepherds, and ride alone for once across the hills. I thought +that, even were I set upon, my horse would take me from danger more +quickly than hillmen could run, and Howel, unwillingly enough, +agreed that it seemed to be the only chance. Maybe the men would +speak more openly with me on the hillside and alone.</p> +<p>So I asked if there was any one could tell me where there were +menhirs in the valleys, and a shepherd said that he knew two or +three. So I rode with him at my side to one of these, but it was +not that which I sought; and, as I hoped, the man was more willing +to speak, and we got on well enough. We had not met with a soul all +day, but my hawk had taken two bustard after I saw the stone and +was disappointed. One of these as a gift to the shepherd had opened +his lips wonderfully, and we were talking as we rode in the dusk, +and were not so far from the village, of another stone that I was +to see next day, when I asked him if he had ever heard of the lost +valley of pool and menhir.</p> +<p>He did not answer, but shrunk to my side, looking round him +fearfully.</p> +<p>"What comes, Lord," he said, whispering;--"see yonder?"</p> +<p>He pointed across the bare hillside, and I looked but saw +nothing.</p> +<p>"I saw nought," I said. "Is it unlucky to speak of the +place?"</p> +<p>"I saw somewhat leap from yonder rock," he whispered; "it went +behind that other."</p> +<p>Plainly the man was terrified, and I asked him what he +feared.</p> +<p>"The good folk, Lord."</p> +<p>"Pixies?--Do they come when one speaks of the lost valley?"</p> +<p>"Speak lower, Lord,--lower! Look, yonder it is again!"</p> +<p>Then I also saw in the dusk the figure of a man who crept softly +from one great boulder to another, and without thinking of the +terror of the shepherd I spurred my horse, and rode straight for +the rock behind which the figure disappeared, having no mind to +have an arrow put into me at short range by one of the men of +Tregoz--or of Morfed--unawares.</p> +<p>The shepherd howled in fright when he was left, but I did not +heed him, and in a moment I was round the rock and almost on the +cowering man whom I had seen. He turned to fly, and I cried to him +to stop, but he only got another rock between me and him, for the +hillside was covered with them, and shrank behind it, so that I +could only see his wild eyes as he glared at me across it. He said +nothing, and I did not think that he was armed, so far as the dim +evening light would let me see.</p> +<p>"Why are you dogging me thus?" I cried; "come out, and no harm +will befall you."</p> +<p>I rode round, and he shifted as I did, so that he was between me +and the shepherd, and then I called to the latter that this was but +a man, and bade him come and help me to catch him. Whereon the man +looked swiftly over his shoulder and saw that he was fairly +trapped.</p> +<p>"Keep him back, Master," he said in a strange growling voice, +which was not that of a Dartmoor savage either in tone or speech. +"Keep him back, and we will talk together; I mean no harm."</p> +<p>But I had no need to tell the shepherd not to come, for he bided +where he was, being afraid; but I held up my hand to him as if to +bid him be still, lest the man should know that he would not help +me.</p> +<p>"Come out like a man," I said. "One would think that you were +some evildoer."</p> +<p>"Master, I will swear that I am not. Let that be, for I have +somewhat to tell you that you will be glad to hear."</p> +<p>"If that is true, why did you not come openly, instead of +waiting till I had you in a corner? Every one knows that there is +reward for news from any honest man."</p> +<p>"There are those who would take my life if they caught me, +Master. I have been seeking for speech with you alone all this day; +I hoped the shepherd would leave you hereabout for his home, and +then I would have come to you."</p> +<p>"Well," I said, "if you could tell me what I need to hear I will +hold you safe from any."</p> +<p>"Master, will you swear that?" said the man eagerly.</p> +<p>Then it came across me that maybe this was one of those who fell +on Owen, for one might well look for a traitor among so many.</p> +<p>So I answered cautiously: "Save and except you are one of those +who have wrought harm to the prince you shall be safe. If you are +one who has him alive and in keeping you shall be safe also."</p> +<p>"Master, you have promised, and it is well known that you keep +your word. I am your man henceforward, by reason of that promise. I +will give you a token that I have not harmed the prince."</p> +<p>"What have you to tell?"</p> +<p>"Master, they say that you seek the lost valley, of which none +will speak."</p> +<p>"That seems true; but speak up, and mouth not your words +so."</p> +<p>"Here was I born and bred, Master," said the man, still in the +same growling voice. "I know where the lost valley is hidden, +though none may go there save at peril of life. It is unlucky so +much as to speak thereof."</p> +<p>"Can you take me within sight of its place, so that I can find +it?" I asked, with a wild hope at last springing up in me.</p> +<p>"I can; and, Master, unluckier than I am I cannot be, so that +life is little to me. Into that place I will even go for you, and +risk what may befall me, if only you will find pardon for me. Only, +I do not know if you will find aught of Owen the prince there."</p> +<p>"You must be in a bad way, my poor churl," said I, "if things +are thus with you. But if you will help me to that place, and there +let me find what I may, there is naught that may not be forgiven +you. Even were it murder, I will pay the weregild for you, and you +shall have cause to say that the place has no ill luck for +you."</p> +<p>"Thane," said the man, in a new voice that was strangely +familiar to me, "you have spoken, and forgiven I shall surely +be."</p> +<p>Then he rose from behind the rock and came to my side, and took +my hand and kissed it again and again, and surely I had seen his +form before.</p> +<p>"Thane, I am Evan the outlaw, and my life is yours because you +forgave me a little once, and saved me from the wolves, giving that +life back to me when I knew it well nigh gone."</p> +<p>I looked at the pale hair and beard of the man, and wondered. +Evan's had been black as night.</p> +<p>"It is Evan's voice," I said; "but you have changed +strangely."</p> +<p>"Needs must I, Thane, with every man's hand against me, if I +would serve you and Owen the prince for your sake."</p> +<p>Then I looked round for my shepherd, but he had fled.</p> +<p>"Come to the house with me," I said. "I think that none will +know you, and if they do so I will answer for you."</p> +<p>"No, Thane; after tomorrow, seeing that even Howel sets such +store on finding the valley, as men tell me, I shall be safe even +from him. I think that you are the only one who will trust me +yet."</p> +<p>There I knew that he was most likely right. Had I not been +certain that he could have kept me from knowing him even yet, I +think that I might have been doubtful of him myself.</p> +<p>"As you will," I answered. "We can meet tomorrow. Now give me +that token by which I am to know that you have not harmed +Owen."</p> +<p>"It is right that you should not yet trust me," Evan said, as if +he read my thoughts, "for I do not deserve it. Here is one token: +'It is not good to sleep in the moonlight.' And I will give you yet +another, if I may, for, indeed, I would have you know that the +words I spoke yonder were true when I said that you should be glad +that you freed me, and that I have tried to serve you. That may be +known by the token of the blackthorn spine and the dog whip."</p> +<p>I reined up my horse in wonderment and stared at him, and he +came close to my side, so that I could see him plainly. And, lo! +his shoulders grew rounded, and his eyes crossed terribly, and they +bided so, and he mumbled the words he had said when the whip of the +huntsman fell on him.</p> +<p>Then he straightened himself again and looked timidly at me. He +was not like the man who had bound me so cruelly in Holford combe +on the Quantocks.</p> +<p>"Evan," I cried, "what you did for me at the ealdorman's gate is +enough to win any pardon you may need."</p> +<p>"It is wonderful that, after all, pardon should come from you, +Thane. Do you mind how I said to you that I hoped to win it +otherwise through you when we took you on the Quantocks? It is good +to feel as a free man once more."</p> +<p>"Free, and maybe honoured yet, Evan," I said; for I knew that he +had risked his life for me and Owen. "Presently you shall come with +me to Wessex, where none know you, and there shall be a fresh life +for you. It is in my mind that what you brought on me was as a last +hope."</p> +<p>"Ay, that is true, Thane."</p> +<p>And then I asked him to tell me all he knew of Owen, and of what +had happened here, and how it came about that he knew aught. And as +he told me it was plain that this was a true tale, for one could +feel it so.</p> +<p>He had followed Owen, keeping himself hidden, after I went to +Winchester, for there he knew that I was safe, and yet he would +serve me if he could. So from the hillside where he lay he had seen +the burning and the fight; and after Owen fell he followed them who +bore him away, till he lost them in a grey mist that rolled from +the hills and hid them in the darkness. Nor had he been able to +find trace of them again, though he had hunted far and wide.</p> +<p>And so he waited for my coming, being sure that I would not be +long. But he knew that they had gone toward what he called the lost +valley, if it was not likely that they would dare so much as look +into it.</p> +<p>"But," he said, "there was a priest with them, seeming to lead +them. Maybe he would dare."</p> +<p>Into my mind at once came the certainty that this must be +Morfed, but Evan knew nought of him. He had no more to tell me of +this.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a>. HOW OSWALD AND HOWEL +DARED THE SECRET OF THE MENHIR, AND MET A WIZARD.</h2> +<p>So we two rode on together over the wild hills, and talked of +what chance there might be of finding Owen on the morrow. He could +not tell me if his wounds were deep, for he was far off and +helpless, but he told me how he had fought, and that was even as I +had known he would.</p> +<p>Now the soft June darkness had fallen, and we were not a mile +from the first houses of the village. Soon, if they were alert, we +should meet the first outpost of our men who guarded us, and mayhap +it were better that Evan came no farther tonight. Yet I would know +somewhat of himself and the way in which he had helped me thus. So +I stayed my horse and dismounted for a few minutes.</p> +<p>"Tell me, Evan," I said, "how came you into trouble at the +first?"</p> +<p>"It is easy, Thane," he answered. "I was Evan the chapman, and +well known near and far in Cornwall and Dyvnaint as an honest man, +even as I have seemed yet beyond the water. Two years ago I slew +the steward of this Tregoz in the open market place of Isca, and +there was indeed little blame to me, for I did but protect my goods +which he would have taken by force, and smote too hard. Little +order was there in that market if the king was not there, and +Morgan and his friends were in the town. Men have taken heart again +since the coming back of Owen, for it was bad enough, as you may +suppose by what happened to me. So I fled, and then Tregoz had me +outlawed, with a price on my head, so that, being well known, I had +to take to Exmoor and herd with others in the same case. I knew +that no weregild, as the Saxon calls it, would be enough to save me +from the Cornishman.</p> +<p>"There I was the one who could sell the stolen goods across the +water, being held in good repute there, and I traded with the Norse +strangers who ferried me across. So it was that when Owen came I +was in Watchet, and there Tregoz saw me and laid hands on me. Then +he needed men to carry out that which he would do, and he had me +forth and spoke to me, saying that if I would manage the Quantock +outlaws for him he would forgive me and have me inlawed again. I +was to have been hanged that day, Thane, and so you will see that I +had no choice. Owen's coming saved me then."</p> +<p>Evan was not the first man whom I had known to be driven into +evil ways by misfortune and powerful enemies. I had little blame +for him. A man will do much to save his neck from the rope. But +this did not tell me how he knew the plans of Tregoz after I set +him free in Dyfed.</p> +<p>"Then you came back to the Cornishman after I freed you?" I +asked.</p> +<p>"That I did not, Thane, for the best of reasons. He would have +hanged me at once if he were in power, and I had not meant to let +him set eyes on me again in any case, for he was treacherous. I +came back round the head waters of the Severn, through Wessex, +where I was only a Weala, though, indeed, that is almost the same +as an outlaw there; and there, by reason of Gerent's seeking for +me, I changed my looks and watched for Tregoz, for I found that he +was yet about the place in hiding. Thralls know and tell these +things to men of their own sort, though they seem to know nothing +if you ask them, Thane."</p> +<p>"Then you wrote the letters?"</p> +<p>"I had them written by the old priest of Combwich by the Parrett +River, who will tell you that he did so. I took them myself to the +palaces for you."</p> +<p>"And was it you who slew Tregoz?"</p> +<p>"Ay, with that seax you gave me back at the Caerau wolf's den. I +heard that he had been speaking with a sentry, and thereafter I +followed him and heard his plan. I saw him change arms with the +sentry, and presently I fell on him, but the arrow had sped and I +feared I was too late. I had to cross the trench from the bushes +where I was hidden."</p> +<p>"But the poisoning at Glastonbury?--How did you know of +that?</p> +<p>"Easy it was to know of, but less easy to prevent. I lurked +round Glastonbury until I saw the girl, and knew that some fresh +trouble was on hand for you. I knew her, for I had seen to that at +Norton, that I might learn somewhat, if I could, while she attended +on the lady, the daughter of Dunwal. She met her master there once +or twice with messages, and it was by following her that I found +his hiding in the hills. It was not hard for me to get her to tell +me all that she had to do, for I made her think that I was in the +plotting. Then she found it harder than had been expected to serve +you, for she was kept about the lady. So she asked me, and I told +her to wait. I thought she would most likely lose her chance +altogether, and maybe but for your staying at the gate that day she +would have done so."</p> +<p>"It was not the first time that we have had half the household +outside serving a hunting party," I said.</p> +<p>"And each time I have been there, Thane, lest this should +happen. The girl told me that such times were her only chance, and +I said she had better wait for such a one again. I knew that in the +open I could in some way spill the horn, so that she would be +helpless and harmless afterward. Therefore I bade her not to try to +harm you in the house, for my own reasons, but told her that it +were safer for herself to wait for some stirrup cup chance, as it +were. That day I saw that it had come, and I cut a thorn from the +nearest bush and was ready. I could not reach the girl to stumble +against her."</p> +<p>I minded that Thorgils had said that this Evan could beguile +Loki himself with fair words, and I could well believe it. But he +did not do things by halves when he set himself a task, and I felt +that but for him I should certainly have been a victim--to Mara, or +to whom?"</p> +<p>"Who wrought this plot? Was it Mara, the Cornish lady?"</p> +<p>"I do not think so," he answered, shaking his head. "There is +one thing that the girl would never tell me. In no wise could I get +the name of the one who gave her the poison. I do not know where +she fled to, but it is likely that it was to that one."</p> +<p>"Some day you shall know how grateful I am for this, Evan," I +said. "Now I must go. Only one thing more.--Where do you +sleep?"</p> +<p>"Wheresoever I may, that I may be near you, Thane. Now meet me +tomorrow at this place, and we will go to the lost valley. After +that let me serve you for good and all if I may. I can do many +things for you, and you had my life in your hand and gave it back +to me; though indeed I know that it was hard for you to do so, +seeing that a thane is sorely wronged by being bound by such as +I."</p> +<p>"I can give you little, Evan; but I can, as I have said, find +you a place in the court, whence you may rise."</p> +<p>"Let me serve you, Master," he said earnestly. "I have served +myself for long enough, and it has not turned out well. If I please +you not, I will go where you bid me, but in anywise let me +try."</p> +<p>"As you will," I said. "I owe you well-nigh aught you can ask, +and this is little enough."</p> +<p>Then I shook hands with him and parted. It was a strange +meeting.</p> +<p>I went back to Howel with a mind that was full of what I might +find on the morrow, but with little hope that there would be +anything of sign that Owen yet lived. Howel was growing anxious for +me as the darkness fell, and was glad to greet me, and I suppose my +face told him somewhat.</p> +<p>"Why," he said, as I stepped into the firelight on the hearth of +the little house, "what is this? Have you heard news at last?"</p> +<p>"I have found one who will take us to the lost valley, but +nothing more. I have heard nought fresh, but that there was indeed +a priest with the men who took Owen away."</p> +<p>"Well, we guessed as much as that; but I tell you plainly, +Oswald, that I fear what may be in store for us in that place. Nona +is not the girl to fancy things, and I know that her dreams must +have been terrible to her. And then you also--"</p> +<p>"I fear, too," I said. "But I do not think that anything will be +worse than this long uncertainty. Well, that is to be seen. Now I +must tell you who it is that is to guide us, and maybe you will say +that it is a strange story enough. Have patience until you hear +all, however."</p> +<p>So I told him, beginning with the certainty that I had had some +friend at work for me, and then telling him at last that I had +found the man who had indeed saved me from these two dangers, and +would also have saved Owen if he could.</p> +<p>"Why, how is it that he kept himself hidden all the time?"</p> +<p>"For good reason enough, in which you have some share," I +answered, laughing. "It is none other than Evan the chapman."</p> +<p>"Evan!--How did he escape the Caerau wolves? I tell you that I +had him tied up for them--and hard words from Nona did I get +therefore when she knew. I was ashamed of myself for the thing +afterwards, and on my word I am glad he got away. But when I am +wroth I wax hasty, and things go hard with those who have angered +me. But he was a foe of yours."</p> +<p>"Laugh at me as you will," I said; "I made him my friend when I +cut his bonds in your woods."</p> +<p>He stared at me in wonder, and I told him what the hunting led +to. And then I also told of what had sent Evan among the outlaws, +and how he came to fall in with me.</p> +<p>"You are a better man than I, Oswald," he said thoughtfully, +when I ended. "I could not have let him go. I am glad that you did +it, and that for other reasons than that the deed has turned out to +be of use."</p> +<p>Then he would hear more, and when it came to the way in which +Evan had beguiled the Welsh servant he laughed.</p> +<p>"Surely he laid aside the squint when he made up to her, else +from your account he would not have been welcome. But he could +hardly have kept it up, lest the wind should change and it should +bide with him, as the old women say. Well, I used to like the man, +and so did Nona, and it is good to think that one was not so far +wrong."</p> +<p>Now we thought that on the morrow we would go with but half a +dozen men to the valley, if that would seem good to Evan. If he +thought more were needed it would be easy to call them to us from +the place where we were to meet him; and so we slept as well as the +thought of that search would let us, and it was a long night to me. +I think it was so for Howel also, for once in the night he stirred +and spoke my name softly, and finding that I waked he said:</p> +<p>"I know why that girl of Mara's would not tell who set her on +you. It is not like a maid to be sparing with her mistress' +secrets, and Morfed is at the back of it. It is his work, and he +laid a curse on the girl if she told who sent her. About the only +thing that would keep her quiet."</p> +<p>"Why would Morfed want to hurt me?"</p> +<p>"Plain enough is that. If you were slain, Gerent would hold Ina +responsible for Owen's sake, and Ina would blame Gerent, and there +would be a breach at the least in the peace that your bishop has +made."</p> +<p>Then we were silent, and presently sleep came to me, until the +first light crept into the house and woke me.</p> +<p>In an hour we were riding across the hills with Evan, for whom +we had brought a horse, and there were fifty men with us. We should +leave them at a place which Evan would show us, and so go on with +him without them. It was not so certain that we might not run into +the nest of the men who had taken Owen, though this would surely +not be in the lost valley.</p> +<p>Many a long mile Evan led us into the hills northwestward, and +far beyond where I had yet been. I cannot tell how far it was +altogether, for the way was winding, but I lost sight of all +landmarks that I knew, and ever the bare hills grew barer and yet +more wild, and I could understand that there were places where even +the shepherds never went.</p> +<p>At first we saw one or two of these watching us from a distance, +but soon we passed into utter loneliness, and nought but the cries +of the nesting curlew which we startled, and the wail of the plover +round our heads, broke the solemn stillness of the grey rocks on +every side. Even our men grew silent, and the ring of sword on +stirrup seemed too loud to be natural at last. We were all fully +armed, of course.</p> +<p>Then we came to a place where the hills drew together, and +doubled fold on fold under a cloud of hanging mist that hid their +heads, and as we rode, once Evan pointed silently to a rock, and I +looked and saw strange markings on it that had surely some meaning +in them, though I could not tell what it was. And when I looked at +him in question I saw that his face was growing pale and anxious, +so that I thought we must be near the place which we sought. So it +was, for after we had left that stone some two score fathoms behind +us, as we passed up a narrow valley, there opened out yet another, +wilder and more narrow still, and at its mouth he would have us +leave the men and go on with him.</p> +<p>Now, we had seen no man, but when it came to this, Howel +said:</p> +<p>"By all right of caution, we should have an outpost or two on +those ridges. If we are going into this place it will not do to be +trapped there."</p> +<p>So without question Evan pointed out places whence men could +watch well enough against any possible comers, but he told me that +we were close to the place we would see, and a call from our horns +would bring help at once if it were needed. Howel sent men by twos +to the hilltops, and the rest dismounted and waited where we stayed +them, while we three went on together up the valley. I bade one of +the men give Evan his spear, for he had none.</p> +<p>Grey and warm it was there, for the clouds hung overhead, and no +breeze could find its way into the depths of this place, and it was +very silent, but it was not the lost valley itself. And now Howel, +who had not yet so much as seemed to know Evan, rode alongside him +for a moment, and spoke kindly to him, telling him that he was glad +of all that I had told him, and at last asking him to forget that +which he had done to him in the woods of Dyfed. And that was much +for the proud prince to ask, as I think, and I held him the more +highly therefor in my mind.</p> +<p>And Evan replied by asking Howel to forget rather that he had +ever deserved death at his hands.</p> +<p>"It shall be seen that I am not ungrateful to the Thane, my +master, hereafter--if I may live after seeing this place," he +said.</p> +<p>"Is it so deadly, then?" asked Howel, speaking low in the hush +of the valley.</p> +<p>"It is said that those who see it must die--at least, of us who +ken the curse on it. I do not think that it will harm you or the +thane to see it, for you are not of this land at all. I have known +men see this valley by mischance, and they have died shortly, +crying out on the terror thereof. Yet none has ever told what he +saw therein."</p> +<p>Now it seemed to me that it was possible that such men died of +fear of what might be, as men who think they are accursed, whether +by witchcraft or in other ways, will die, being killed by the +trouble on their minds, and so I said to Evan:</p> +<p>"I will not take you into this place. Show us the way, and I +will go alone."</p> +<p>"No, Master," he said, in such wise that it was plain that there +was no turning him. "I am a Christian man, and I will not let old +heathen curses hold me back, now that there is good reason why I +should stand in that place. I will not be afraid thereof."</p> +<p>"Is the curse so old?" I asked.</p> +<p>"Old beyond memory," he said. "As old as what is in that +place."</p> +<p>"As the menhir, therefore."</p> +<p>"I do not know that there is a menhir, Thane. How know you?"</p> +<p>I reined up, and told him shortly. It was only fair that I +should do so. Then he said:</p> +<p>"The prince is dead, and maybe that he lies there will end the +curse. Come, we will see."</p> +<p>A few paces more, and suddenly the hillside seemed to open in a +ragged cleft that made another branching valley into the heart of +the left-hand hillside, so deep that it seemed rather to sink +downward from the mouth than to rise as a valley ever will. In all +truth, none would ever have found that place unless he sought for +it with a guide. I had not guessed that we were so near its +entrance.</p> +<p>I looked round the hills, but from here I could see not one of +our men on their watch posts, though one would have thought that +where they stood it would have been impossible to lose sight of +all. We were almost at the head of the wider valley along which we +had ridden.</p> +<p>Now I had thought to be the leader into the lost valley when we +came to it, but this Evan would not suffer. There was not room for +us to ride abreast into its depths, for the narrow bottom of the +cleft in the hills was littered with fallen boulders from the +steeps that bordered it, and through these we had to pick our way. +There was no path, nor was it possible to trace any mark of the +foot of man or horse that might have been there before us, and the +valley turned almost in a half circle, so that we could see no +distance before us.</p> +<p>Now, I know that Evan had a hard struggle with his fears, but +nevertheless, without drawing rein he led on, only turning to me +with one word that told me that we had found the place; and as he +turned I saw that his face was ashy pale, and as he rode on he +crossed himself again and again, and his lips moved in prayer.</p> +<p>Down the long curve of the valley we rode, and it ever narrowed +under rocky hills that grew at last to cliffs, and I knew that this +must be but the bed of a raging torrent in the winter, for the +stones that rattled under the horse hoofs were rounded, and here +and there were pools of clear water among them. Any moment now +might set us face to face with what I longed to see.</p> +<p>And when I saw Evan, ten paces ahead of me, straighten himself +in the saddle as if he would guard a blow from his face, and draw +rein, I knew that we were there, and I rode to his side and +looked.</p> +<p>Suddenly the valley had ended in the place which I had seen in +my vision--a rugged circle of cliffs, in whose only outlet, to all +seeming, we stood. And in the midst of that circle was the pool of +still, black water, and across that towered the tall menhir from a +green bank on which it stood facing me. All round the pool was +green grass, bright with the treacherous greenness that tells of +deep bog beneath it, and then fair turf, and beyond the turf the +rocky scree from the cliffs again. The menhir was full thrice a +man's height.</p> +<p>It was even as I had seen it. I knew every rock and patch of +green, and the very outline of the edge of the beetling crags that +had been so plain to me in the dream light ere Owen called me.</p> +<p>But I did not heed these things at the first. My eyes went to +the place where Nona the princess had seen the sword in the long +grass on the hither side of the pool's edge, but I could not see it +now. Then I must ride forward and search for it, and at that time +Howel was close to me, and together we rode yet a little farther +into the circle that the cliffs made, and as we drew closer to the +edge of the pool I scanned every inch of the ground, seeking the +sword which it seemed impossible that I should not find.</p> +<p>"It has gone," said Howel in a hushed voice.</p> +<p>And at that moment I saw a sparkle among the new grass at the +very edge of the bog that surrounded the pool, and I threw the +reins to the prince and sprang from my horse and went toward it. +The light was very dull here, though it was nigh midday now, and +indeed so high and overhanging were the cliffs that I do not think +the sun ever reached the surface of the pool, save at this high +midsummer, and then but as it passed athwart the narrow entrance, +which faced south. Then it would send its rays across the pool full +on the face of the menhir, as it seemed.</p> +<p>So I could see nought again until I was close to the spot whence +the spark shone, and then I caught it once more, and hastily I +cleared aside the rank grass with my spear butt, and lo! even as +she had seen it in dreams the sword of Owen was there, and it was +the gleam from the gem in its hilt, which no damp could dim, which +had caught my eye. But a little while longer and we should never +have seen even that, for the weapon was slowly sinking into the bog +in which its scabbard point had been set, and even as I stepped +forward a pace to reach it the black ooze rose round my foot, and +Evan, who was behind me, caught my hand and pulled me back from its +edge.</p> +<p>Then I turned with the sword in my hand, and I saw that his face +had found its colour again, and that his fears had left him, for he +had looked on the valley of the mighty curse and yet lived. His +horse was at his side, and he had sprung to help me, but I hardly +heeded him, for I had what I sought in my hand, and I held it up to +Howel without a word, and a sort of fresh hope began to rise in my +heart. Owen might not be so far from us.</p> +<p>"How came it there?" Howel said, wondering.</p> +<p>"Who can tell," I answered, turning over many possibilities in +my mind.</p> +<p>"One thing is certain," Evan said,--"no man set it in that place +meaningly, for there he must have known that it would be whelmed +soon or late."</p> +<p>"Nor could it have been dropped there," I answered. "None would +go so near the edge of the bog. It was surely thrown there. One +thought to hurl it into the pool. Yet if so he could have done it, +or would have tried again."</p> +<p>"Come, let us search the place," said Howel.</p> +<p>I hung the sword to my saddle bow, while Evan took the horses. +The leather scabbard was black with the bog water of the turf where +it had been set, but the blade within it was yet bright and +keen.</p> +<p>Then I and the prince together walked slowly round the edge of +the black pool on the broad stretch of grass between the bog around +it and the loosely piled stones of the cliffs' foot. Here and there +even this turf shook to our tread, as if it too were undermined +with bog, and we went warily, therefore, wishing that we had not +left our spears by the horses.</p> +<p>"One would call such a place as this 'the devil's cauldron' in +our land," said Howel. "I mislike it altogether."</p> +<p>Then he sprang back with a start, and clutched my arm and +pointed to the ground at his feet. The skull of a man grinned up at +us, half sunk in the green turf, and the ends of ribs shewed how he +to whom it had belonged lay. There went a cold chill through me as +I looked; but I saw that the bones were old, very old. They had +nought to do with our trouble, and what had been to others about +the loss of him who had died here was long past and forgotten, or +amended. But for the sake of what had been I was fain to unhelm for +a moment as we stepped past them.</p> +<p>So we went on silently until we were halfway to the menhir, and +then we saw that there was yet another way into this place, for +across the water a jutting wall of rock had hidden a gorge that had +surely been cleft by water, for down it came a little stream that +seemed to sink into the turf so soon as it reached it.</p> +<p>"That is what fills the pool," said I, "and it must find its way +hence underground like the stream at Cheddar. The pool may be +fathomless. I would that I could look into its depths."</p> +<p>"What may not be in yonder gorge?" said Howel. "We must go and +see."</p> +<p>So we came to the menhir's foot, and though the bog came almost +to it there was yet a little mound of turf on which it stood, and I +went to that to see if thence I could peer deeper into the dark +water, but I could not.</p> +<p>"Come," Howel said, "it is midday, and I for one would not be on +these hills on Midsummer Eve. Call me heathenish if you like, but +this is an unlucky night whereon to walk in the haunts of the good +folk."</p> +<p>I had forgotten that so it was, and even now I only smiled at +the prince, for my mind was full of other things as I followed him +toward the glen whence the stream came. And now I was sure that +here was growing more clearly a trace as of a seldom trodden path +toward its mouth. We passed a great flat rock, whereon were strange +markings and a hollowed basin, which stood behind the menhir near +the cliff, and to this the path led, but not beyond, from the glen. +Now we were almost in the opening, when both of us stopped and +looked at one another.</p> +<p>Surely there were footsteps coming among the rocks of the water +course before us. Steep and crooked as this was, we could hear +them, though as yet if it were a man or men who came we could not +see. I pulled the prince back into cover, where the rocks hid us +from any one who came down the stream, and I loosened my sword in +its sheath, for I could not be so sure that it might not be sorely +needed.</p> +<p>The rattle of stones came nearer, and I saw Evan hurrying to us. +He also had heard, and he had made shift to tie the horses to some +point of rock, and he ran with our spears in his hand to join +us.</p> +<p>"Get to the other side of the pool, Thane," he said. "It may be +the band of men who wrought the burning."</p> +<p>"No," I answered. "Listen. Maybe there are three or four men, +not more. I want to take one if I can. He shall tell me all he +knows of this place."</p> +<p>For I had made up my mind that one who would come here freely +must needs be of those who had brought Owen.</p> +<p>Then from the narrow portal of the glen passed quickly, looking +neither to the right nor left, a tall man, followed by two others, +and they seemed not to see us, but went straight toward the menhir +along that path I thought I had traced, and Howel and I stared at +them, speechless and motionless, for the like of them we had never +seen.</p> +<p>As for Evan, he reeled against the rock, and stared after them, +clutching it with both hands, so that his spear fell rattling along +the rocks.</p> +<p>"The Druids!" he gasped. "We are dead men."</p> +<p>At the sharp rattle the leader of the three men turned, and I +knew him. He was clad in a wonderful gold and white robe that swept +the ground, priest-like, but not that of any Christian, and his +hair was bound with a golden fillet with which oak leaves were +twisted, and in his ears were large earrings. On his bare right arm +was a coiled golden bracelet, and a heavy golden torque was round +his neck, and a great golden brooch knit up the folds of his +flowing white cloak on his right shoulder. But for all this strange +dress I knew him, and he was Morfed the priest, and I heard Howel +mutter the name also.</p> +<p>Then a word from Morfed caused the other two to turn, and they +saw us, and there flashed from under their robes--which were like +those of their leader, save for golden ornaments--a long knife in +the hand of each, and they made as if to fly on us.</p> +<p>Morfed held up his hand, and they stayed, glaring at us. I +listened for the coming of more of his followers down the water +course, but I heard none.</p> +<p>Then Morfed spoke a word or two to his men, and came toward us, +leaving them standing where they were, some twenty paces or less +behind him, and as he came his pale face shewed no sort of feeling +of any kind. His strange bright eyes seemed to look past us, as if +we were but stones at the path side.</p> +<p>"So it is the Saxon," he said, staying close before us. "Well, I +have waited for you, if I did not look to see you here. And this is +Howel of Dyfed. Surely a Briton knows that to break in on the rites +of the Druid is death? But Howel ever was rash. And this is the +outlaw. It is a true saying that he who sees this place shall die, +Evan."</p> +<p>Then said Howel boldly: "Briton I am, and therefore I know that +the rites of the Druid are banned by Holy Church. Wherefore does +one of her priests come in this heathen robe to such a place as +this on the eve of midsummer?"</p> +<p>"Seeing that none but the initiated may know what truth the +ancient faith holds, it is not for you to say that this is +heathenry, Prince," Morfed answered more quietly than I expected. +"Ask yon Saxon if his Yule feast is less sacred to him now because +it is not so long since that it was Woden's. Is tomorrow less +Midsummer Day because it is the day of St. John? Hold your peace +thereon, and go hence while I suffer you."</p> +<p>At that I glanced at the mouth of the valley whence we came, +half looking to see it blocked by men, but it was not. There was +nothing to stay us three armed men in this place, with but three +against us, and they well-nigh defenceless. Morfed saw that glance +and laughed.</p> +<p>"The Druid has other arms than those of steel," he said, and he +drew slowly from the wide cincture round his waist a little golden +sickle and balanced it in his hand before me, flashing it to and +fro.</p> +<p>Now I was sure that he was crazed in all truth, and I would +speak him fair that I might learn what he would tell me. Howel was +silent, seeming to look curiously at the golden toy in the priest's +hand, as it shifted restlessly backward and forward.</p> +<p>"We have come hither to pry into no ancient rites, Morfed," I +said. "Tell me what you know of Owen the prince, my foster father, +and we will go hence. I have seen that which tells me that he is +near, but there are yet things that I must learn of how he came and +where he lies."</p> +<p>But Morfed seemed to heed me not at all as I spoke. Only, he +kept moving the little sickle which Howel watched, and its +glancings drew my eyes to it in spite of myself, for overhead the +sky was clearing somewhat and the sun was trying to break through, +and the gold shone brightly.</p> +<p>"Midday," muttered the priest, "nigh midday, and what is to be +done against the morrow must be done, else will the tale of many a +thousand years be marred, and by me. Lo! the sun comes, and time +passes swiftly."</p> +<p>The sun did indeed shine out now as some cloud passed, and I saw +that its rays came slanting through the gap in the cliffs across +the pool, passing the menhir without lighting on it, but falling +now on the flat rock that was behind it, though not fully yet. Half +thereof was still in the shadow thrown by the hills.</p> +<p>Morfed glanced at that shadow, and his face changed, for I think +that he knew the time for some midday rite which we might not see +was near, and at that he seemed to make some resolve. He did not +turn from us, but he lifted his voice in a strange chant, and said +somewhat in Welsh that I could not understand, and as they heard it +his two followers placed themselves on either side of the flat rock +three paces behind him, and stood motionless. Then Morfed lifted +his arm and began to sing softly, swinging the sickle in time to +the song, with his eyes on us.</p> +<p>I thought that maybe he would sing to us the end of Owen, as +would Thorgils, but the tongue in which the words were spoken was +not the Welsh that I knew. I think now that it was the tongue of +the men who reared the menhir, and that which was the mother of the +tongue of Howel and Gerent alike. It was an uncanny song, and I +waxed uneasy as it went on, and the flashing sickle waved more +quickly before my eyes.</p> +<p>Soon the murmur of the song seemed to get into my brain, as it +were, and the sparkle of the gold in the sunlight wove itself into +strange circles of light before my eyes, widening and narrowing in +mystic curves that dazzled me, until at last I would look no +longer, and with an effort I turned my head and glanced at Howel to +ask if this foolishness should not be ended.</p> +<p>But he shook his head.</p> +<p>"Let him be," he said in a whisper. "It is ill to anger a crazed +man. Surely he will tell what we need soon."</p> +<p>But beside him Evan seemed to be shrinking as in terror. I +suppose the Briton has old memories of the Druids of past days +which yet bid him fear them.</p> +<p>"Hearken to me, and heed them not," sang Morfed in words that I +could understand. "Hearken, for you have much to learn."</p> +<p>That was true, and I turned to him. I supposed that he was in +truth about to speak to me as I would, and straightway the look of +Morfed was on my face, and the song went back to its old burden, +and the flashing sickle held my eyes with its circling, and I knew +that if I looked long I also must pass as it were from myself, as +had those two, and I wrenched my eyes from him.</p> +<p>Then a movement on the stone caught my gaze, and I saw that the +two men yet stood motionless, but across the sunlit patch which had +crept nearer the centre where the hollowed bowl was, a great adder, +greater than any I had ever seen, thick and spade-headed, had +coiled itself in shining folds peaceably and seeming not to heed +the men. Only its head was raised a little, and it swayed as in +time to the chant of the priest, while the long forked tongue +flickered forth now and then restlessly.</p> +<p>But Morfed went on with his song and his waving, seeming to try +to draw my look back to him, and I noted, as I glanced again at +him, that a shade of doubt crossed his face, and at that a new +thought came to me. Maybe if he saw that I feared him not he would +speak. So I looked in his eyes and bade him be silent and hearken +to what I said to him.</p> +<p>Some wave of anger flushed his face then, and he drew a pace +nearer to me, but he was not silent, and the waving sickle was not +still. Neither of these things troubled me any longer, and I looked +past them, in such wise that he might see that I meant him to obey +me, even as one will look at a sullen thrall who delays to carry +out an order given. A captain of warriors will know what signs to +watch for in a man's face well enough, and slowly and at last I saw +the look for which I waited steal across the face of the man before +me, and then I raised my hand and said:</p> +<p>"Be still, and answer me."</p> +<p>The song stopped, and the lifted sickle sank with the hand that +held it, and the eyes of Morfed left mine and sought the +ground.</p> +<p>"What will you?" he said. "Let me go, for it is time."</p> +<p>"When you have answered," I said sternly. "Tell me, where is +Owen?"</p> +<p>"In yonder pool," he said, as a child will answer its +teacher.</p> +<p>But if he answered as a child, his face was sullen as of a child +that is minded to rebel, and I knew that he would try not to tell +me aught.</p> +<p>"You lie," I said coldly. "Neither Christian priest nor Druid +would dare set a prince of Cornwall in an unhallowed grave. Tell me +the truth."</p> +<p>"Ay, I lied," he said, speaking in a strange voice that seemed +to come from him against his will. And then he spoke quickly, +without faltering or excuse. "I led the men who should slay the +despiser of the faith of his youth and friend of the Saxon, and we +came to the house and destroyed it, but they slew him not. Sorely +wounded he was, and yet they would not do my bidding and make an +end, but murmured at me. Then they bore him away into the hills, +saying that they would heal him of his hurts and thereafter win his +pardon, for he was ever forgiving, and it is true that I told them +not who it was they were to slay. I said that it was Oswald the +Saxon, who slew Morgan, and they were glad. I do not know how it +has come to pass that you are here. I hate you!"</p> +<p>"Speak on, Morfed," I said, for he had stayed his words on that, +and I bent all my mind into that command as it were, so that he +knew that I meant to be his master in this.</p> +<p>"Why should I not speak," he said dully. "Let me end quickly. +Ay, I went with them, thinking that he would die on the way, for he +was sorely wounded, and I mocked them and threatened them in vain. +I led them to this place, and when they knew it they fled, and left +him to me. Wherefore I brought him here, that I might see him +die--I and these two carried him on the litter the men made. Then +will I bury him in no hallowed grave, for I myself spoke the +uttermost ban of Holy Church against him, for that he had herded +with the men of the Saxons who follow Canterbury, and has wrought +for peace with them."</p> +<p>Then I knew at last that Owen was not dead, and I think that in +my gladness I lost my hold on Morfed, as it were, for I half forgot +him. And at that moment there came a little cry from one of the men +who waited by the flat altar stone, and both of them looked to +Morfed for some command, as if a time had come. The stone was in +full light now, and I noted that the shadow of the menhir was +creeping toward its base, but not yet quite pointing to it.</p> +<p>But Morfed did not answer the cry, and the great adder, roused +by it, moved restlessly in its coils, darting its long forked +tongue into the hollow of the stone as if it sought somewhat. Then +one of the men who seemed the younger took from under his robe a +golden flask and poured what looked like milk into the hollow, and +the creature lowered its head and lapped it thence.</p> +<p>At that cry Morfed started and half turned. But I had more to +ask him, and I spoke sternly. Behind me was a rattle of arms, as if +Howel would have stayed him.</p> +<p>"Morfed," I said, "you have yet to tell me where Owen, the +prince, is hidden. If you would finish what you are about here, +tell me straightway, or bid one of these men shew me, or we will +stay all this wizardry."</p> +<p>Maybe I spoke more boldly than I felt, for indeed the whole +business and the place made all seem uncanny. I know that my +comrades feared it all.</p> +<p>But now Morfed heeded my word no longer. Slowly at last he +turned away, and now he must needs look back toward the altar stone +and the menhir in turning, and the sight of them seemed to bring to +his mind what work he had here, so that in a moment I was +forgotten, and he sprang past me toward his attendants, one of whom +was pointing silently, but with a white face, to the shadow of the +menhir. And I saw that now it touched the stone and crept up on its +surface for an inch or less.</p> +<p>I suppose that tomorrow that shadow would be so much shorter, +and would not lie on the flat top of the stone at all. Then for a +little space the sun would seem to one at the back of the altar to +stand on the menhir's top, while all the stone and the bowl where +the adder lay was in full light, even as men say the sun seems to +stand on the great stone of Stonehenge on Midsummer Day at its +rising. I had seen that wonder once, and this minded me of it.</p> +<p>But what Morfed saw told him that midday had come and was +passing; and all that meant to him, beyond that the time for some +rite had been forgotten, I cannot tell. There came from his lips a +cry that was of terror and of sorrow as I thought, and the adder +lifted its head from its lapping and coiled itself menacingly.</p> +<p>He did not heed the creature, but threw abroad his hands +sunwards, and began to speak hurriedly in that tongue which I could +not follow; and as his words went on the faces of his men grew +haggard, and one of them wept openly. The younger threw the golden +vessel he had in his hand into the pool, and turned on me a look of +the most terrible hate, and his hand stole under his robes as if he +sought the knife I had seen him draw when they first came.</p> +<p>Now Howel and Evan were beside me, wondering, but spear in hand, +and I was glad. There was more than enmity in the look of these +men, and one to three has little chance. Whatever strange fears my +friends had felt passed with the sight of danger.</p> +<p>But while Morfed spoke his followers were still, listening to +him intently, until at last he seemed to dismiss them; and then +they turned from him with a strange deep reverence, and folded +their hands on their breasts, and came past where we stood, not +looking at us, but with their eyes on the ground as if they were +going back, up the water course whence they came. And at that I +thought they might be going to where Owen was, and that they would +harm him.</p> +<p>"Quick, Evan," I said; "follow them. See where they go."</p> +<p>"Ay, follow them," said Morfed. "Now I care not what +befalls."</p> +<p>And with that he raised his voice and called somewhat to the +men, and they quickened their pace into the glen. I did not +understand what they said in return, but somewhat in the words of +the ancient tongue they spoke was more plain to Howel, and he cried +to me hastily, hurrying after Evan.</p> +<p>"Guard you the priest here, and beware of him!"</p> +<p>Then he dashed up the water course into which Evan had already +disappeared, and I heard the feet of the four on the loose stone as +they climbed upward. I had almost a mind to follow them, for I +thought that their way led to Owen, but I dared not leave Morfed to +go elsewhere. This might only be a plan to lead us astray.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a>. HOW OSWALD FOUND WHAT HE +SOUGHT, AND RODE HOMEWARD WITH NONA THE PRINCESS.</h2> +<p>So I was left with Morfed the priest, and he did not offer to +follow his men, but stood and faced me with eyes that gleamed with +the fire of wrath or madness, or both. We waited, both of us, as I +think, to hear if any sound beyond the lessening footfalls came +from the water course, but they died away upward, and there was +still no word between us. Then I thought that I would try one more +plan with him.</p> +<p>"Morfed," I said, "take me to Owen, and I will pledge my word +that Gerent shall seek no revenge for what has been done by +you."</p> +<p>"What I have done!" he broke out. "I sought to rid the land of a +foe, and that was a deed worth doing. Know you what you have +done?--Through you is ended the tale of many a thousand years. The +time is past when I, the priest and Archdruid of this poor land, +should have done what has been done, since time untold, without +fail, against tomorrow's rites. That day, therefore, through you +shall be unobserved. It is strange that a mere Saxon warrior, with +no thought beyond his feasting and fighting, should set his will +against mine and prove the stronger. Now I wit well that this is +some fated day, and that herein lies some omen of what shall +be."</p> +<p>Then he turned a little from me, and looked at the shadow which +had passed altogether from the altar stone now, and half to himself +he said:</p> +<p>"I had thought that this menhir had fallen when this came to +pass. But maybe the old prophecy meant that not until it fell we +must cease our rites. But that was not how we read the words of old +time. If we read them wrong, what else have we mistaken?"</p> +<p>"Morfed," I broke in on his musings, "end this idle talk, and +tell me of Owen. Then I will go hence and leave you to work what +you will here. I had no wish to disturb your rites, whatsoever they +were. If aught has happened amiss, it was your own fault, not mine. +Your own deed brought me here."</p> +<p>But he paid not the least heed to me, and yet I thought that he +tried to put me off, as it were, by seeming wrapt in thoughts.</p> +<p>"Surely it should have fallen on this day that sees the end, +even as runs the ancient prophecy--'When the pool shall whelm the +stone, Druid rite and chant are done.' But it has not fallen, and +the end is not yet. But what shall amend this fault?"</p> +<p>I had listened for some sound from Howel and Evan, but since the +footsteps passed up the glen I had heard none until this moment. +Then came one cry from far upward, and silence thereafter. Morfed +heard it and looked up, setting at the same time his hand on the +edge of the altar stone.</p> +<p>The golden sickle flashed as he did so, and at that, swift as +the flash itself, the adder stiffened its coils, and its head flew +back, baring the long fangs, and twice it struck the hand +deeply.</p> +<p>"I am answered," Morfed said quietly. "My life shall amend."</p> +<p>But he never moved his hand, and the adder swiftly slid from off +the stone and sought some hiding place in the loose rocks at the +cliff foot, and the priest watched it go, motionless.</p> +<p>"Look you, Saxon," he said, lifting his eyes to me; "now I must +die, and with me ends the line of the Druids of this land of the +olden faith. Yonder in the Cymric land beyond the narrow sea whence +Howel came it shall not be lost. The hills shall keep it, and there +the slow mind of the Saxon shall not slay the old powers as you +have slain them in me. Now I know that nought but the power of the +cross shall avail on such minds as yours, for the lore of the older +days is not for you. See! This is an end, and now you in your +simpleness shall do one last thing for me."</p> +<p>I saw that the hand which yet rested on the altar was swelling +already, and was waxing fiery red with four black marks where the +fangs struck it. And I had a sort of pity for him, seeing him bear +this, which he deemed his punishment, bravely. Still, he had +answered nothing as to where Owen was.</p> +<p>"Morfed," I said, therefore--"if it is indeed the last hour for +you, make amends for another ill by telling me where Owen is, and I +will do what you ask me, if it is what I may do honestly and as a +Christian."</p> +<p>"Grave me a cross on yonder menhir in token that the days of the +Druid are numbered," he said softly, sitting down on the stone with +his head bowed, as if in deadly faintness.</p> +<p>Two steps took me to the menhir, and I drew my seax that I might +do as he asked me. It was a little thing, and Christian, and I +thought that maybe he had come to himself from the madness of which +men spoke. Yet though it seemed long that Howel was away, and I +longed to follow him, I dared not leave this man, seeing that for +all I knew Owen was somewhere close at hand, and it was not to be +known what this priest might do in his despair. Howel and Evan +might be following the men yet into some hiding place.</p> +<p>I set the point of my weapon to the stone and went to work, +graving the upright stem of the cross first, thinking that Morfed +would speak when he saw that I was indeed doing as he asked me. The +stone was softer than I expected, and surely was not of the granite +of the cliffs around, but had been brought from far, else I could +not have marked it at all. Yet I had to lean heavily on my seax as +I cut, and it was no light task, as I stood sidewise that I might +not lose sight of Morfed.</p> +<p>"I die," he said presently. "There will be none left who may +bring back the ancient secrets hither from the land of the Cymro. +See, this is an end."</p> +<p>He rose up, staggering a little, and cast the golden sickle from +him into the pool with a light eddying splash, as if it skimmed the +surface ere it sank, but I did not look at it, and that was well +for me. I saw his hand fly to his breast, as the hands of his men +had gone for their weapons when they first saw us, and I knew what +was coming.</p> +<p>Hardly had the golden toy touched the water when out flashed a +long dagger from his robes, and he flew on me, thinking, no doubt, +that I must needs turn my head to watch the fall of his sickle, and +I was ready for him. He was no warrior, and his hand was too high, +but he was a priest, and on him I would not use my weapon. I swung +aside from him, striking up his arm, and his blind rush carried him +against the menhir, so that the blow which was meant for me fell +thereon, scoring the stone deeply; and lo! his own hand ended with +that blow what I had begun, marking the cross-beam I had yet to +make, so that the holy sign was complete.</p> +<p>And I saw that in a flash, even as he reeled back from the +menhir and staggered. His foot splashed into the ooze of the bank +and went down; and with that he lost his footing altogether and +fell headlong into the pool, swaying as he went, across the front +of the menhir.</p> +<p>Now there was a shout and the sound of hurrying footsteps behind +me, but it was Howel's voice, and I did not turn. I leaned on the +menhir to try to catch the white robes that swirled below me, and +then I felt a heave and quaking in the turf on which I knelt as I +reached over the black water, and Howel cried out and dragged me +back roughly for a long fathom.</p> +<p>The menhir was falling. Slowly at first, and then more swiftly, +it bent forward over the pool, and then it gathered way suddenly, +and with a mighty crash it fell with all its towering height across +it--and across the last flash of the white robes of the man who yet +struggled therein.</p> +<p>For a moment the cross looked skyward, and then the wave swept +over the stone, and it was gone into the unknown depths that maybe +held so many secrets of the strange rites of those who had reared +it. Only where its foot had been planted was a pit to shew that +somewhat had been there, and that was slowly filling with the black +bog which had undermined the stone at last. The old prophecy had +come to pass, and there was indeed an end.</p> +<p>But I saw for a moment into that pit before it was filled, and +in it was laid open as it were a great stone chest, where the base +of the menhir had been to cover it, and in that were skulls and +bones of men, and among them the dull gleam of ancient gold and +flint.</p> +<p>The wild tumult of the water died away, and the ripples came, +and then the pool was glassy as before, but there was no sign of +movement in it, and now it was clear no longer. And still Howel and +I stared silently at that place whence the great stone had passed +like a dream.</p> +<p>"Nona saw it troubled," Howel said at last.</p> +<p>But I answered what was in my mind, with a sort of despair:</p> +<p>"He never told me where Owen lies."</p> +<p>"But I think we have found him, or nearly," Howel answered. +"Come with me. This is no place for us to bide in. Did you hear +those voices?"</p> +<p>I had heard the echoes from the rocks after the great crash, and +they were strange and wild enough, but I heard nothing more.</p> +<p>"I heard one shout some time since," I said, rising up from +where I still sat as Howel had left me.</p> +<p>"Nay, but the wailing when the stone fell," he said. "Wailing +from all around. Wailing as of the lost. Come hence, Oswald."</p> +<p>I do not know if the man of the more ancient race heard more +than I, mingled with those wild echoes, but I know that Howel the +prince feared little. Now he was afraid, even in the bright +sunlight, and owned it.</p> +<p>But the first shock had passed from me, and I looked for our +horses. They had gone. I think that the fall of the menhir scared +them, for they were yet tied where Evan left them, just before +that.</p> +<p>"Howel, the horses have broken loose and gone," I cried.</p> +<p>"Let them be," he said; "they will but go to the men down the +valley, and will be caught there. Come, we must get hence."</p> +<p>He fairly dragged me with him towards the glen, and it was not +until we were out of the circle of cliffs round the pool and +picking our way among the boulders of the water course, that he +spoke again.</p> +<p>"That is better," he said,--"one can breathe here. I do not care +if I never set eyes on that place again, and indeed I hope we need +not. Now we have to find Owen as quickly as we may."</p> +<p>"What of the two men?"</p> +<p>"One turned on us, and we slew him perforce. The other Evan has +tied up safely, though it took us all our time to catch him. I left +Evan trying to make him speak."</p> +<p>I wondered in what way he was trying, but the path grew steeper +and steeper, and the plash of water falling among the stones made +it hard to hear. We went on and on, ever upward, until the walls of +the narrow glen widened, and at last we were on a barren hillside, +across which the little stream found its way in a belt of green +grass and fern and bog from farther heights yet, and there I looked +for Evan. The path reappeared here again, and it went slanting +across the hill and over its shoulder, hardly more than a sheep +track as it was. And here lay the body of the slain man.</p> +<p>"Over the hill crest," Howel said, noting my look around. "The +man ran across this track. Did you hear what Morfed said to +them?"</p> +<p>"No, I heard him call, of course, but his tongue is unknown to +me."</p> +<p>"It was the ancient British, I think. I heard a word or two here +and there, but few of those we use yet. I heard more that are +written in our oldest writings, and few enough of them. But what he +said to his men was plain enough, happily. He bade them kill the +captive to amend the wrong done. I do not know what the wrong +was."</p> +<p>I knew then that Owen had had a narrow escape, and but for the +fleetness of foot of Evan he would surely have been slain. I told +Howel of what had passed while he was absent, and so we came to the +hilltop, and I saw a little below me the white robes of the +captive, and Evan sitting by him, resting on his spear. He rose up +as we came to him.</p> +<p>"Has he spoken, Evan?" I said.</p> +<p>"Ay, Master," he answered, with a grin that minded me of other +days with him. "He says he will take us to the place where Owen +lies, if we will promise to spare his life."</p> +<p>"We will promise that," I answered. "We will let him go his own +way after we have seen all that we need."</p> +<p>"Let me rise, then," the man said quietly. "I will shew you +all."</p> +<p>"Do not untie his hands, Evan, but let him walk," I said. "He is +not to be trusted, if he is like his master."</p> +<p>It was the elder of the two whom we had before us, and he seemed +downcast and harmless enough as we let him rise, though he was +unhurt. He had run on while the younger turned to stay the +pursuers, but Evan had caught him. He led us along the path, which +I suppose his own feet and those of Morfed had worn, unless it was +old as the menhir itself, and on the way he said suddenly:</p> +<p>"Let me ask one thing of you. Has the menhir fallen?"</p> +<p>"Ay, with the cross graven on it," I answered; and my words +checked a laugh that was on Evan's lips.</p> +<p>"I knew it. I heard the crash," the man said. "That is an end +therefore."</p> +<p>But Howel told the whole story as he had seen it take place, +from the time when Morfed flew at me, to the time when the waters +were still again; and as he heard, the man clenched his hands and +bowed his head and went on quickly, as if that would prevent his +hearing. After that he said nothing.</p> +<p>Then the path took us round the shoulder of a hill, and before +us was a rocky platform on the sunward slope which went steeply +down to another brook far below us. Far and wide from that platform +one could see over the heads of three streams, and across three +hill peaks that were right before us, and at the back of the level +place was a great cromlech made of one vast flat stone reared on +three others that were set in a triangle to uphold it. Seven good +feet from the ground its top was, and each of the three supporting +stones was some twelve feet long, so that it was like a house for +space within, and the two foremost stones were apart as a doorway. +And again beyond the cromlech was a hut, shaped like a beehive of +straw, built of many stones most wonderfully, both walls and roof. +There were things about this hut that seemed to tell that it was in +use, and even as our footsteps rang on the rocky platform, out of +its low doorway crept an ancient woman and stared at us wildly.</p> +<p>"What is this?" she screamed. "How should these unhallowed ones +come hither?"</p> +<p>"Silence, mother," our captive said. "All is done, and these men +come to take away the prince."</p> +<p>Then she saw that he was bound with Evan's belt, and at that she +screamed again, and a wild look came into her face, and with a +bound that was wonderful in one so old and bent she fled to the +cromlech, and climbed up the rearward stone in some way, perching +herself on the flat top, whence she glared at us.</p> +<p>"We will not harm you, mother," I said, seeing her terror.</p> +<p>And even as I spoke, from within the stone walls of the cromlech +came the voice that I longed to hear again, weak, indeed, but yet +that of Owen:</p> +<p>"Oswald, Oswald!"</p> +<p>Then I paid no more heed to the hag, but ran into the dark +place, and there indeed was my foster father, swathed in bandages, +and lying white and helpless on a rough couch, but yet with a +bright smile and greeting for me, and I went on my knees at his +side and answered him.</p> +<p>I will not say more of that meeting. Outside the old woman +cursed and reviled Howel and Evan and the captive in turns +unceasingly; but I heeded her no more than one heeds a starling +chattering on the roof in the early morning. I had all that I +sought, and aught else was as nothing to me.</p> +<p>After a little while Howel's face came into the doorway, and +Owen called him in. I saw the look of the prince change as he +marked the many swathings that told of Owen's sore hurts.</p> +<p>"Nay, but trouble not," Owen said, seeing this. "I am cut about +a bit, for certain, but not so badly that I may not be about again +soon. The old lady overhead has a shrewd tongue, but she is a +marvellous good leech. I have not fared so badly here, and I knew +Oswald would not rest until he found me."</p> +<p>"Now we must take you hence," I said. "Our men wait, and we can +no doubt get them here."</p> +<p>He smiled, being tired with the joy of seeing us and the +speaking, and I went out to Evan. The old woman still sat on the +cromlech, and when she saw me her voice rose afresh with more hard +words, which I would not notice.</p> +<p>"Evan," I said, "how shall we take the prince hence?"</p> +<p>"The litter they brought him on stands behind the hut yonder," +he answered; "for this man tells me so. Also he says that we are +not half a mile from our men, and that we can see one from just +above here."</p> +<p>So I sent him to bring them, telling him how the horses were +gone, so that we had no need to go back into the valley. To tell +the truth, I was as much relieved in my mind that we need not do so +as it was plain that he was. Then when he was gone I went back to +Owen, and he asked me if we had seen Morfed. I did not tell him +more than that we had done so, but that he was not here, one of his +two men having guided us, for the tale we must tell him by and by +might be better untold as yet.</p> +<p>"It does not matter," he said. "I cannot understand the man. At +one time I think that he was at the bottom of all the trouble, and +at another that he rescued me from the men who fell on the house. I +have seen little of him here until yesterday and today. There is a +man whom he calls 'the Bard,' who has tended me well enough with +the old dame, and another whom he names 'the Ovate,' whom I have +seen now and then--a younger man. I have set eyes on none but these +four since the men of the burning left me to them in the +hills."</p> +<p>We asked him how all that went, and he told us what he could +remember. He had waked from some sort of a swoon while he was being +carried, in the midst of many men, and again had come to himself +when his litter had been set down. At that time there was seemingly +a quarrel between Morfed and his two followers and these men, and +it ended by the many departing and leaving him to the priest. That +was, as I knew, when the hillmen would not come into the lost +valley.</p> +<p>"They set my sword beside me," he said. "Presently in the dark I +saw the gleam of a pool, and I made shift to throw it into the +water, so that no outlaw or Morgan's man should boast that he wore +it. Ina gave it me. One of the men saw me throw it, and was for +staying, but the other said he had heard the splash and that it was +gone. Morfed was not near at the time, having gone on. I heard him +singing somewhere beyond the water."</p> +<p>"I have found it, father," I said. "It was on the edge of the +pool, in long grass, and it helped us somewhat, for we knew you +were near. Now say if it is well to move you yet. We can bide here +with the men if not."</p> +<p>He laughed a little.</p> +<p>"I think so, but that is a question for the leech. Ask the dame. +Maybe she will answer if you speak her fair."</p> +<p>Howel went to do that, saying that maybe she would listen to a +Briton, for most of her wrath was concerning my Saxon arms. So +presently I heard her shrill voice growing calmer as Howel coaxed +her, and then there was a sound as if she climbed from her perch, +and Howel came back to us.</p> +<p>"We may take you, she says. Hither come the men in all haste +also, and we may get away from this place at once. These hills are +uncanny on Midsummer Eve, and I am glad that we have long daylight +before us."</p> +<p>Then said Owen:</p> +<p>"Oswald, I have not withal, but I would fain reward the bard and +the old woman for their care of me. I think that even at +Glastonbury there are none who would have healed these hurts of +mine more easily than she."</p> +<p>I had my own thoughts about the bard, but I said that I would +see to this, and went to him. The men were close at hand, and I saw +that they led our horses with them.</p> +<p>"Bard," I said, "Owen the prince speaks well of you. Is it true +that you would have slain him had you not been stayed on your +way?"</p> +<p>"I do not know, Lord," he answered. "When I was with Morfed, +needs must I do his bidding, even against my will. Yet, away from +him, I think that I should not have harmed the prince. I am a +Christian man, for all that you have seen."</p> +<p>"There was somewhat strangely heathenish in what I did see," I +said. "But I suppose that is all done with?"</p> +<p>"I might go across the sea to the British lands in the north or +in the south and learn to attain to druidship," he said. "But I +will not. What I know shall die with me. He who was the next to me +above, even Morfed, is gone, and he who was next below is gone +also. Druid and Ovate both. I am the only one of the old line left, +and I will be the last. Call me Bard no longer, I pray you."</p> +<p>"Well," I said, for there was that in the face of the man which +told me that he was in earnest, "I will believe you, and the more +that Owen trusts you."</p> +<p>I let loose his hands then, and he stretched his cramped arms +and thanked me. I minded well what that feeling was like.</p> +<p>"What would Morfed have done with the prince?" I asked.</p> +<p>"I do not know. I have heard him plan many things. I think that +if he had won him to his thoughts concerning the men of Canterbury +he would have taken him home. If not, I only know this, that he +would never have been seen in this land again. There was a thought +of carrying him even across the sea to the Britons in the south--in +Gaul. But of all things Morfed hoped that he would die here."</p> +<p>So I supposed, but I said no more, for Evan and the men reined +up close to us. There was joy enough among them all as Owen was +slowly and carefully laid on the rough litter. And we left those +two staring after us, silent. But I suppose that the terror of that +strange place will still lie on all the countryside, and I hold +that since the day when the wizards of old time reared the menhir +on that which it covered, with cruel rites and terrible words that +have bided in the minds of men as a terror will bide, no man but +such as Morfed has dared to pry into that valley lest the ancient +curse should fall on them--the curse of the Druid who would hide +his secrets. It may be, therefore, that it will not be known by the +folk that the menhir has fallen, even yet, for we who did know it +told them nought thereof.</p> +<p>As for that falling, it is the saying of Howel that it was +wrought by the might of the holy sign, and maybe he is not so far +wrong in a way. For if the slow creeping of the bog had at last +undermined the base of the tall stone so that it needed but little +to disturb its balance, no wind could reach it in that cliff-walled +place even in the wildest gale, and it is likely that no hand but +mine had touched it for long ages. I began, and the rush and blow +of Morfed ended, the work of overthrow, with the sign of might +complete. And Evan holds that but for the graving thereof he at +least were by this time a dead man.</p> +<p>It was late evening when we came to the village, with no harm to +Owen at all beyond tiredness, which a good sleep would amend; and +after that there is little that I need tell of Howel's going to +Exeter with the good news, and of his bringing back to us a litter +more fitted for the carrying of the hurt prince, and then the +welcome that was for us from Gerent.</p> +<p>When we were back with him, Owen passed into the loving hands of +Nona the princess, and I do not think that he had any cause to +regret his older leech of the beehive hut, skilful as she was, for +we who loved him saw him gain strength daily.</p> +<p>Now I found means to send a letter to Ina, by the tin traders +who were on the way to London, telling him that all was well, and +begging him to suffer me to bide with my foster father for a time +yet, as I knew indeed that I might, for my new place in the +household had few duties save at times of ceremony, and in war, +when I must lead the men of the household as the bearer of the +king's own banner. And as the days went on it grew plain to me that +there was somewhat amiss about the court here.</p> +<p>There was no dislike of myself, as I may truly say, among the +men of West Wales whom I met with, but there was a coldness now and +then which I could not altogether fathom, and that specially among +the priests. It seemed that while Gerent had forgotten that I was +aught but the son of Owen, who had brought him back, no one else +forgot that I was a Saxon, and that there was more in the +remembrance than should be in these times of peace. I could not +think that this was due to my share in the death of Morgan either, +for it was plain that not one of his friends was about the +court.</p> +<p>At last I spoke of this to Howel, and found that he also had +seen somewhat of the kind.</p> +<p>"I know it," he said. "If I am not very much mistaken, and I +ought to know the signs of coming trouble by this time, there is +somewhat brewing in the way of fresh enmity with your folk. It +comes from the priests."</p> +<p>"There are more of the way of thinking of Morfed, therefore," I +answered.</p> +<p>"And if that is so there may be more danger for Owen. It is well +known that he is for peace, and that Gerent will listen to him in +all things."</p> +<p>We talked of that for some time, not being at all easy yet +concerning the matter, after seeing how far some were willing to go +toward removing one who was in their way. I could not stay here +long, nor could Howel, and it was certain that Gerent could not +well guard Owen up to this time.</p> +<p>And at last Howel spoke the best counsel yet, after many plans +turned over between us.</p> +<p>"We will even take him to Dyfed, and nurse him to strength in +Pembroke. Then if aught is in the wind it will break out at once, +lest he should return and spoil all. Gerent will either have to bow +to the storm and fight, or else he will get the upper hand and +quiet things again. If he can do that last, at least till Owen is +back, all will be well. Owen will take things in hand then, and +will be master."</p> +<p>That was indeed a way out of the trouble, and therein Nona +helped us with Owen, so that at last he consented. I will say that +he knew little or nothing of possible trouble here, and we told him +nothing, for, in the first place, we had no certainty thereof, and +in the next, he was not strong enough to do anything against it if +we had.</p> +<p>When we came to ask Gerent if Howel might take him to Dyfed, we +found no difficulty at all, which surprised me not a little. I +think that the king knew that it was well for him to be across the +channel in all quiet.</p> +<p>So it came to pass that in a few days all was ready for our +going to Watchet to find Thorgils or some other shipmaster who +would take us over. We could wait at Norton until the time of +sailing came, if we might not cross at once, and thence I should go +back to Ina.</p> +<p>One may guess without any telling of mine what the parting with +Owen was for Gerent. As for myself, I was somewhat sorry to bid the +old king farewell, for I liked him, and he was ever most kind to +me. But I was not sorry to leave his court, by any means, for those +reasons of which I have spoken, and of them most of all for fear of +more plotting against Owen.</p> +<p>Now I will say that the ride to Watchet, slow and careful for +his sake who must yet travel in the litter, and in fair summer +weather, is one that I love to look back on. As may be supposed, by +this time I and the princess were very good friends, and it is +likely that I rode beside her for most of the way. We had many +things to talk of.</p> +<p>One thing I have not set down yet is, that it had been easy, +after what he had done for us, to win full pardon for Evan from +Gerent. Now he rode with me, well armed and stalwart, as my +servant, and one could hardly want a more likely looking one. And +Nona had some good words and friendly to say to him, which made him +hold his head higher yet after a time.</p> +<p>Presently, since I was on my way back to Glastonbury and +onwards, we must needs speak of Elfrida, and I told her how I had +fared when I came back from Dyfed. She laughed at me, and I laughed +at myself also; for now I knew at last that the old fancy had in +all truth passed from my mind.</p> +<p>So we came to Norton, and then sought Thorgils, and after that +it was a week before he was ready. I mind the wonder on the face of +the Norseman when he saw Evan at my heels on the day when his ship +came home and I met him on the wharf; but he was glad to see him +there.</p> +<p>"Faith," he said, "it has been a trouble to me that a man whom I +was wont to trust had turned out so ill. It shook my own belief in +my better judgment. I did think I knew a man when I saw him, until +then. So I was not far wrong after all. Now I will make a new song +of his deeds, and I do not think it will be a bad one."</p> +<p>Then it came to pass that one day, when the wind blew fair for +Tenby, I saw the ship draw away from me as her broad sail filled, +while on the deck was Owen in a great chair, and from his side Nona +waved to me, and Howel shouted that I must come over ere long and +fetch Owen home. Thorgils was steering, and he lifted his arm and +cried his parting words, and so I turned away, feeling lonely as a +man may feel for a little while. And presently I looked again +toward the ship, and I think that the last I saw of her was the +flutter of Nona's kerchief in the soft wind, and I vowed that +nought should hinder me from Dyfed when the time came.</p> +<p>Thereafter I rode to Glastonbury, and told Herewald what I +thought of the trouble that was surely brewing in the west; and he +said that he also had some reason to think that along his borders +men were getting more unruly, as if none tried to hinder them from +giving cause of offence to us.</p> +<p>"Well, if they will but keep quiet until this wedding is over it +will be a comfort," he said. "I should be more at ease if once +Elfrida was safely in Sussex."</p> +<p>Then I learned that the wedding was to be in a month's time or +so, and already there were preparations in hand for it. With all my +heart I hoped also that nought might mar it.</p> +<p>Then I passed on to the king at Winchester, and glad was he to +hear that we had indeed found Owen. But as he listened to what I +thought was coming on us from the west, he said:</p> +<p>"It is even what Owen and I foresaw with the death of Aldhelm. +This is a matter that not even Owen could have prevented, for it +comes of the jealousy of the priests. We will go to Glastonbury and +watch, and maybe we shall be in time for the wedding. But I will +not be the one to break the peace. If war there must be, it must +come from Gerent."</p> +<p>And so he mused for a while, and then said:</p> +<p>"Well, so it will be. And not before West Wales has tried her +failing force for the last time will there be a lasting peace."</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a>. HOW ERPWALD SAW HIS FIRST +FIGHT ON HIS WEDDING DAY.</h2> +<p>So we went to Glastonbury in a little time, and now it was as if +Yuletide had come again in high summer, so full was the little town +with guests who came to the wedding. Erpwald had come soon after +us, with a train of Sussex thanes, who were his neighbours and +would see him through the business, and take him and his bride home +again. Well loved were the ealdorman and his fair daughter, and +this was the first wedding in the new church, of which all the land +was proud.</p> +<p>Only Ina was somewhat uneasy, though he would not shew it. For +on all the Wessex border from Severn Sea to the Channel there was +unrest. It seemed that the hand of Gerent had altogether slackened +on his people, so that they did what they listed, and it was even +worse than it had been in the days of Morgan and his brother, for +at least they were answerable for what the men of Dyvnaint wrought +of harm. There was none to take their place here, while the old +king bided in Exeter or in Cornwall, and never came to Norton at +all now. So there was pillage and raiding across the Parrett, and +at last Ina had sent messages to Gerent concerning it.</p> +<p>A fortnight ago that was, and now the messengers had returned, +bearing word from Gerent that he himself would come and speak to +Ina of Wessex and answer him, and it was doubtful what that answer +meant. There might well be a menace of war therein, or it might +mean that he was only coming to Norton. It would not be the first +time that the two kings had met there and spoken with one another +in all friendliness concerning matters which might have been of +much trouble. And we heard at least of no gathering of forces by +the Welsh.</p> +<p>Yet Ina warned all the sheriffs of the Wessex borderland, and +could do no more. The levies would come up at once when the first +summons came.</p> +<p>All of which the ealdorman spoke to me of, but neither Erpwald +nor Elfrida knew that war was in the air. We did not tell them. +Thus we hoped to keep all knowledge that aught was unrestful from +them in their happiness, until at least they two were beyond the +sound of war, if it needs must come.</p> +<p>But it came to pass on the day before the wedding that all men +knew thereof in stern truth, and that was a hard time for many.</p> +<p>Erpwald and I sat on the bench before the ealdorman's house in +the late sunshine of the long July evening, talking of the morrow, +and of Eastdean, and aught else that came uppermost, so that it was +pleasant to think of, and before us we could see the long road that +goes up the slope of Polden hills and so westward toward the Devon +border. Along it came a wain or two laden high with the first rye +that was harvested that year, and a herd or two of lazy kine +finding their way to the byres for the evening milking. And then +beyond the wains rose a dust, and I saw the waggoners draw aside, +and the dust passed them, and the kine scattered wildly as it +neared them; and so down the peaceful road spurred a little company +of men who shouted as they came, never drawing rein or sparing spur +for all that the farm horses reared and plunged and the kine fled +terror stricken.</p> +<p>I think that I knew what it meant at once, but Erpwald laughed +and said: "More of our guests, belike. One rides fast to a bridal, +but they are over careless."</p> +<p>But I did not answer, for the hot pace of those who came never +slackened, and spurring and with loose rein they swept across the +bridge over the stream and so thundered toward us.</p> +<p>"Here is a hurry beyond a jest," said Erpwald, sitting up; +"somewhat is amiss, surely."</p> +<p>Never rode men in that wise but for life. In a minute they were +close, and one of them spied me and called to me, waving his arm +toward the palace and reeling in his saddle as he did so. His arm +was bandaged, and I saw that the spear his comrade next him bore +was reddened, and that the other two had leapt on their horses with +nought but the halter to guide them withal, as if in direst need +for haste. Not much longer could their horses last as it +seemed.</p> +<p>I sprang up and followed to the king's courtyard, leaving +Erpwald wondering, and a footpath brought me there almost as they +drew rein inside the gates. One of the horses staggered and fell as +soon as he stayed, and his rider was in little better plight. That +one who had beckoned to me knew me, and spoke at once, +breathless:</p> +<p>"Let us to the king, Thane. The Welsh--the Welsh!"</p> +<p>"An outlaw raid again?" I asked.</p> +<p>"Would I come hither in this wise for that?" the man +answered.</p> +<p>He was a sturdy franklin from the Quantock side of the +river--one whose father had been set there by Kenwalch.</p> +<p>"I can deal, and have dealt, with the like of them, but this is +war. They are on us in their thousands, and I have even been burnt +out for being a Saxon, by a raiding party."</p> +<p>"Whence?"</p> +<p>"From Norton," answered another of the men. "Gerent, their king, +is there with a host beyond counting. One fled from across the +hills and told us, and we believed him not till the raiders +came."</p> +<p>With that I took the men straightway to the king, bidding the +house-carles hold their peace awhile. And even as we talked with +this party, another man rode in from the Tone fenlands, and he had +seen the march of the West Welsh men, and knew that Gerent's force +was halted at Norton. A swift and sudden gathering, and a swift +march that was worthy of a good leader, else had we heard thereof +before this.</p> +<p>After that man came another, and yet another, till all the +courtyard was full of reeking horses and white-faced men, and the +ealdorman was sent for and Nunna; and in an hour or less the war +arrow was out, and the news was flying north and south and east, +with word that all Somerset was to be here on the morrow to hold +the land their forebears had won from those who came.</p> +<p>Presently with the quiet of knowing all done that might be done +on us, the ealdorman and I went down to his house.</p> +<p>"Here is an end of tomorrow's wedding," he said sadly. "I do not +know how Elfrida will take it, for it is not to be supposed that +Erpwald will hold back from the levy, though, indeed, if ever man +had excuse, he has it in full."</p> +<p>I knew that he would not, also, and said nothing. He was yet +sitting on the settle where I had left him waiting for me, with the +level sun in his face as it sank across the Poldens, and he looked +content with all things.</p> +<p>"What a coil and a clatter has been past me, surely," he said. +"I doubt there must be a raid over the border, from what I hear the +men shouting."</p> +<p>"More than that, friend," I said gravely, looking straight at +him. "The Welsh are on us in all earnest, and tomorrow we must meet +them somewhere yonder, where the sun is setting."</p> +<p>He looked at me, and his face flushed redder and redder.</p> +<p>"What, fighting in the air?" he said, with a sort of new +interest.</p> +<p>"War,--nothing more or less," answered Herewald with a +groan.</p> +<p>"I am in luck for once," he said, leaping up. "Let me go with +you, Oswald; for this is what I have never seen."</p> +<p>"Hold hard, son-in-law," cried the ealdorman. "What of the +wedding?"</p> +<p>His face fell, and he stared at us blankly, but his cheek +paled.</p> +<p>"Forgive me," he said. "I never can manage to keep more than one +thing in my head at a time. Here was I thinking of nought but that, +until this news came and drove out all else. Don't tell Elfrida +that I forgot it."</p> +<p>"Trouble enough for her without that," answered Herewald. "You +cannot hold back, maybe, though indeed, not one will think the +worse of you if you do so. We must tell Elfrida what has befallen, +however, and she must speak her mind on your doings. Come, let us +find her."</p> +<p>"Do you speak first, Ealdorman," I said, and he nodded and went +his way.</p> +<p>Erpwald and I followed him into the hall, and there stayed. He +was long gone thence to the bower where Elfrida sat with her +maidens preparing for the morrow.</p> +<p>"What will she say?" asked Erpwald presently.</p> +<p>"I think that she will bid you fight for the king, though it +will be hard for her to do so."</p> +<p>"I hope she will, though, indeed, I should like to think that it +will not be easy for her to send me away," said the lover, torn in +two ways. "How long will it take to settle with these Welsh?"</p> +<p>"I cannot tell," I said, shaking my head.</p> +<p>For, indeed, though I would not say it, a Welsh war is apt to be +a long affair if once they get among the hills.</p> +<p>"If we have the victory, I think that the wedding will not be +put off for so very long," I added to comfort him.</p> +<p>He walked back and forth across the hall until Herewald came +back, and then started toward him.</p> +<p>"Go yonder and speak with her," the ealdorman said, pointing to +the door whence he came.</p> +<p>Then he went hastily, and we two looked at one another.</p> +<p>"How is it with her?" I said.</p> +<p>"In the way of the girl who helped you slay Morgan," he said +grimly. "She would hold him nidring if he had not wished to +go."</p> +<p>We went to the door and looked out. All the road was dotted with +men from the nearer villages who came to the gathering, and as they +marched, each after the reeve of the place, they sang. And past the +hindmost of them came a single horseman hurrying. Another messenger +with the same news, doubtless.</p> +<p>Then there were footsteps across the hall behind us, and Elfrida +and Erpwald came to us. I stole one glance at her, and saw that she +hid her sorrow and pain well, though it was not without an effort. +She spoke fast, and seemingly in cheerful wise, as we turned to +her.</p> +<p>"Father, here is this Erpwald, who will go to the war, and I +cannot hold him back. What can you say to him?"</p> +<p>"Nought, surely. For if he will not listen to you, it is certain +that he will hearken to none else."</p> +<p>She laughed a little strained laugh, and turned to Erpwald.</p> +<p>"You must have your own way, as I can see plainly enough; and +our wedding must needs wait your pleasure. Even my father will not +help to keep you here."</p> +<p>"But, Elfrida--it was your own saying--" the poor lover went no +further, for he was beyond his depth altogether.</p> +<p>It would seem that this was not the way in which she had spoken +to him when they were alone. So I went to help him.</p> +<p>"We will take care of him, Elfrida," I said, trying to laugh; +"but I think that he is able to do that for himself fairly +well."</p> +<p>Then I was sorry that I had spoken, for it was a foolish speech, +seeing that it brought the thought of danger more closely to her +than was need, or maybe than she had let it come to her yet. She +turned into the half-darkness of the hall again, and after her went +Erpwald. The ealdorman and I went to the courtyard and left them, +feeling that we need say no more.</p> +<p>Then through the dusk that horseman whom we had noted clattered +up, and called in a great voice to us, asking if we knew where he +should find Oswald the marshal, and I answered him and went out +into the road to him. And there sat Thorgils, fully armed, on a +great horse that was white with foam, but had been carefully +ridden.</p> +<p>"Ho, comrade! have you heard the news?" he said, gripping my +hand.</p> +<p>"Twenty times in half an hour," I answered. "But is there +somewhat fresh?"</p> +<p>"Have any of your twenty told you that these knaves of Welsh +have broken peace with us, tried to burn Watchet town--and had +their heads broken?"</p> +<p>"News indeed, that," said I. "What more?"</p> +<p>"If you Saxons will stand by us, your kin, it may be worth your +while. Here have I ridden to tell you so."</p> +<p>Then I hurried him to the king, for this was a matter worth +hearing. Watchet was on Gerent's left flank, and a force there was +a gain to us indeed, if only by staying the force at Norton for a +day longer. We should have so much the more time in which to gather +the levies.</p> +<p>But, seeing that they were not yet gathered, it did not at first +seem possible to Ina that we could help to save the little town, +whose few men had beaten off today's attack, but would be surely +overwhelmed by numbers on the morrow if Gerent chose. But Thorgils +had not come hither without a plan in his head, and he set it +before the king plainly.</p> +<p>"Norton is on the southern end of the Quantocks, and Watchet is +at the northern end, as you know, King Ina. Between the two on the +hills is the great camp which any force can hold, but nought but a +great one can storm. If you will give me two hundred men, I will +have that camp by morning, and that will save Watchet, and maybe +hold back Gerent in such wise that he will not care to pass it +without retaking it. He will not know how few of us will be there, +and you will be able to choose your own ground for the fighting +while he bethinks him. There is but one road into Wessex across the +Quantocks, and we shall seem to menace that while we cover the way +to Watchet."</p> +<p>"So the camp is held?" asked Ina. "Gerent is before me +there."</p> +<p>"Held by the men we beat off from Watchet, King. One we took +tells us that they had no business to fall on our town, but turned +aside to do it. Gerent has little hold on some of his chiefs. Now +they are there with a fear of us and our axes on them, and if we +may fall on them unawares we can take the camp without trouble, as +I think."</p> +<p>"Oswald," said Ina, after a little thought, "how many horsemen +can you raise now?"</p> +<p>The town was full of horses by this time, and I thought that it +would not be hard to raise a hundred, and that in half an hour. +Maybe if we did go with Thorgils we should meet many more men on +the way to the levy also.</p> +<p>"Then you shall go with Thorgils," the king said. "It is a risk, +certainly, but it is worth it. We had held that camp, had we had +but a day's earlier warning, and that loss may be made good thus. +That outlaw of yours will know many a safe place of retreat for you +if need is. Good luck be with you."</p> +<p>He shook hands with us both, and we did not delay. His only +bidding was that we should hold the camp until we had word from +him, if we took it, and he was to learn thereof by signal.</p> +<p>So it came to pass that in an hour and a half Thorgils and I and +Erpwald, who would by no means let me go without him, and three of +his Sussex friends, rode across the causeway to the Polden hills in +the dusk, with a matter of six score men behind us, well armed and +mounted all--for these borderers have need to keep horse and arms +of the best, and those ever ready.</p> +<p>From the ealdorman's door Elfrida watched us go very bravely, +and the glimmer of her white dress was the lodestar that kept the +eyes of her lover turned backward while it might be seen. It +vanished suddenly, and he heaved a deep sigh, and I knew that she +had been fain to watch no longer lest her tears should be seen.</p> +<p>As we went along the Polden ridge we met flying men, and men who +came to the levy, and by twos and threes we added to our little +force, until we had a full hundred more than when we started.</p> +<p>Thorgils took us to a tidal ford that crosses the Parrett River +far below any bridge, which he thought would not yet be watched by +the Welsh. There is a steep hill fort that covers this ford, but on +it were no fires as of an outpost yet. Then we were a matter of +eight miles from the great camp on the highest ridge of the +Quantocks which we had to take, and we had ridden five-and-twenty +miles. I was glad that we had to wait an hour or more for the fall +of the tide before we could cross, for we rode fast thus far.</p> +<p>So we dismounted and watched the slow fall of the water, and we +planned what we would do presently; until at last we splashed +through the muddy ford, and rode on through dense forest land until +the great camp rose above us, a full thousand feet skyward, and we +saw the glow of the watch fires of those who held it. It seemed +almost impossible to scale this hill as we looked on its slope in +the darkness, but we reached its foot where the hill is steepest, +and held on northward yet, until we came to where there is a long +steady rise up to the very gate of the earthworks.</p> +<p>Now there should have been an outpost halfway along this slope +toward the camp, for whatever tribe of the Britons made the +stronghold had not forgotten to raise a little fort for one. But we +were in luck, for this outpost was not held, and we rode past it, +and knew that there was every chance now of our fairly surprising +the camp. The first grey of dawn was coming when I passed the word +to the men to close up, and told them what we were to do.</p> +<p>"We charge through the earthworks, for there is no barrier +across the gate, and spread out across the camp with all the noise +we can. Follow a flight for no long distance beyond the earthworks, +but scatter the Welsh."</p> +<p>So we rode on steadily until we were but a bow shot from the +trench, and yet no alarm was raised, for the foe watched hardly at +all, deeming that no Saxon force would think of crossing where we +crossed the river, or of coming on them from the north at all.</p> +<p>Then Thorgils and I and Erpwald rode forward, and I gave the +word to charge, and up the long smooth slope we went at the gallop, +with a heavy thunder of hoofs on the firm turf of the ancient +track. And that thunder was the first sign that the Welsh knew of +our coming.</p> +<p>I saw one come to the gateway and look, and then with a wild +howl throw himself into the outer ditch for safety, and the camp +roared with the alarm, and the dim white figures flocked to the +rampart, and through a storm of ill-aimed arrows we rode through +the unguarded gate and were on them.</p> +<p>"Ahoy!--Out, out!--Holy Cross!"</p> +<p>The war shouts of Norseman and South Saxon and Wessex men were +in startling medley together here, and that terrified the Welsh yet +more. It must have seemed to them that the Norsemen had called +unheard of allies to their help. There was no order or rallying +power among them.</p> +<p>We three were first through the gateway, and then we were riding +across the camp with levelled spears, over men and through the +fires, and a panic fell on the foe, so that without waiting to see +what our numbers were, in headlong terror they fled from the charge +over the ramparts and into the forests in the valleys on either +side beyond whence we came. I had no fear of their rallying thence +to any effect, for it would take them all their time to find their +leaders in the combes and the thick undergrowth that clothed their +sides. Once out of the camp, too, they could not see into it to +tell how few we were.</p> +<p>I suppose that there were some five hundred Welsh in the place. +I do not think that we harmed many of them in the hurry and the +dark, but we scared them terribly. Here and there one rolled under +the horses' hoofs, and we paid no heed to such as fell thus, and +they rose again and fled the faster. All but one, that is, so far +as I was concerned. I charged a man, and my spear missed him as he +leapt aside, and he struck at my horse as I passed him, and the +next moment I was rolling on the ground with the good steed, and +the man behind me had to leap over us as we lay. That was one of +the Sussex thanes, and he was no mean horseman or unready, luckily. +Then he chased my enemy out of the camp, and came back to see if I +were hurt. But I was not, and I bade him go on with the rest. We +were almost across the camp at this time.</p> +<p>"Take my horse rather," he said. "See, there is a bit of a stand +being made yonder."</p> +<p>There were yet some valiant and cooler-headed Welshmen whom the +panic had not carried away, and they were getting together to our +right. The camp was full three hundred paces across, and as we +spread over it our line had gaps here and there, so that some at +least had seen what our numbers were. They had passed into the camp +again over the earthworks, or had been passed by in the place by +us, and they were gathering round one who wore the crested helm and +gilded arms of a chief, and he was raving at the cowards who had +left him. Even now he had not more than a score of men with +him.</p> +<p>Our men were chasing the flying foe across the open hilltop now, +outside the camp, and there were but few left within its enclosure, +though I saw the dim forms of some who were turning back without +going beyond the rampart, and one of these was Erpwald. He also saw +the group of Welshmen, and called the other horsemen to him, and +even as the chief saw us two standing alone together, and led his +few toward us, the shout of the four or five who charged with my +friend stayed them, and they closed up to meet the new attack.</p> +<p>Then the Sussex thane, whose name was Algar, saw this, and again +urged me to take his horse, saying that it was not fitting for the +leader to be dismounted while work was yet in hand; but I saw a +thing that bade me forget him, and set me running at full speed +toward the Welshmen. Erpwald had ridden well ahead of his comrades, +and as his spear crossed those of the foe one of them stepped +forward before his chief and made a sweeping blow at the legs of +the horse with a long pole-axe. Down the horse came, and Erpwald +flew over its head into the midst of the enemy, overthrowing one or +two of them as if he had been a stone from a sling.</p> +<p>In a moment they closed over him, but I was there before they +could get clear of one another to slay him. I cut my way through +the turmoil before they knew I was on them, and stood over him +sword in hand, while the Welsh shrank back for a space with the +suddenness of my coming. There was Algar also hewing at them and +trying to reach my side, having dismounted, and those who followed +Erpwald were on them with their long spears. It was more as a +shouting than a fight for a moment or two, but Erpwald never moved, +being stunned, as it seemed. It was like to go hard with me for a +time, for my men could not reach me. Still, I held the Welsh back +from Erpwald and myself.</p> +<p>There was a great shout of "Ahoy," and I saw from beyond the +ring round me the rise and fall of a broad axe, and then Thorgils +was at my back, and close behind him was Evan. More of our men were +coming up fast to where they heard the noise; but the foe were +minded to make a good fight of it, and only to yield when there was +no shame in doing so.</p> +<p>"It is no bad thing to have a good axe at one's back," quoth +Thorgils in a gruff shout between his war cries as he hewed, and +with that I heard the said axe crash on a foe again.</p> +<p>Then I had the chief before me, and his men fell back a little +to make way for him to me. Our swords crossed, and I took his first +thrust fairly on the shield and returned it, wounding him a little, +and he set his teeth and flew at me, point foremost, with the +deadly thrust of the Roman weapon. That the shield met again, and I +struck out over his guard and he went down headlong. And at that +his men made a wild rush on me, yelling. At that time I saw +Thorgils, with a great smile on his face, smite one man to his +right with the axe edge, and another on his left with the blunt +back of the weapon as he swung it round, and Evan saved me from a +man who was coming on me from behind. That is all I know of the +fight, save that it seemed that I heard some cry for quarter, for +of a sudden I went down across Erpwald for no reason that I could +tell.</p> +<p>It was full daylight when I came round, and the first thing that +my eyes lit on was the broad face of Erpwald, who sat by my side +with a woebegone look that changed suddenly to a great grin when he +saw me stir and look at him. Then I saw Evan also watching me, with +his arm tied up, and I was fain to laugh at his solemn face of +trouble. Whereon from somewhere behind me Thorgils cried in his +great seafaring voice:</p> +<p>"There now, what did I tell you two owls? His head is too hard +to mind a bit of a knock like that."</p> +<p>Then he came and laughed at me, and I asked what sent me +over.</p> +<p>"The pole-axe man hit you with the flat of his unhandy weapon. +It is lucky for you that he was a bungler, however, for there is a +sore dint in your helm."</p> +<p>I sat up and looked round the camp. There was a knot of captives +in its midst, among whom was the chief I had fought, wounded, +indeed, but not badly, and our men were eating the enemy's +provender and laughing. A fire of green brushwood and heather was +sending a tall pillar of smoke into the air to tell the watchers on +the Poldens and at Watchet that we had done what we came to do. But +here we had to stay till we heard from Ina that we were to join +him, and for Erpwald's sake and Elfrida's I was not sorry.</p> +<p>He had seen his first fight, and nearly found his end therein. I +do not know how I could have looked Elfrida in the face again had +he indeed risen no more from that medley. But I thought that he +made more than enough of my coming to his rescue. It was only a +matter of holding back a crowd till help came.</p> +<p>"All very well to put it in that way, comrade," said Thorgils; +"but where does my axe come in? You are not fair, for, by Thor's +hammer, Erpwald, both of you had been mincemeat but for that."</p> +<p>"Nay," said I, laughing; "you and I were those who held back the +crowd. I could not have done it alone."</p> +<p>"But you did, though," the Norseman answered at once. +"Nevertheless, it was as well that I happened up in good time."</p> +<p>Now we rode across the nearer hills until we could see into the +fair valley which men call Taunton Deane since those days, and we +saw the answering fires which told us that all was well at Watchet, +for we had saved the little town. Not until Gerent learned how few +we were here would he dare to divide his forces. Far off to the +southward in the valley we could see the blue reek of his +campfires, and it would seem that he had not yet moved on the +Wessex border.</p> +<p>All the day we waited and watched, anxious and restless, but no +attack came on us here, and the smoke of the camp grew no thinner +at Norton. A few Norsemen rode up to us from Watchet, and they said +that no move was on hand yet, so far as they could tell. And at +last, as the sun was setting, and shone level on the slope of the +Poldens, above which the Tor of Glastonbury sent a waving wreath of +smoke into the air to bid Wessex gather against the ancient foe, we +saw the long line of sparkling helms and spear points as our host +marched from hill to causeway to the bridge that spans the Parrett. +Ina would hold the heights above Norton before morning.</p> +<p>But that made it the more needful that we should bide here till +we were sent for, seeing that we guarded the flank of our advance; +and hard it was to sit still and do it, with a battle pending +yonder. It was a long night to us, and hungry.</p> +<p>Early in the next morning there was heavy smoke on these hills +that told of burning on the line of our march, and there was more +away toward the far Blackdown hills, as if there were trouble +beyond Tone. And in the afternoon there fell a strange stillness on +the woods round us, and I wondered. There was never a buzzard or +kite, raven or crow, left in all the woodland, and then I minded +that overhead lately the birds of prey had all flown in one +direction, and that toward where Norton lay.</p> +<p>It was the cry of the kite and the voice of the songbirds that I +missed. The birds of prey had gone, and in the cover their little +quarry cowered in fear of the shadow of the broad wings which had +crossed them so often. Even now two of the great sea eagles were +sailing inland, and from these strange signs we knew for certain +that yonder a battlefield was spread for them, where Saxon and +Welsh strove for mastery in the fair valley. But we must pace the +hill crest, silent and moody, waiting for some sign that might tell +us of victory.</p> +<p>That came at last in the late afternoon. Slowly there gathered, +over the trees where Norton was, a haze that thickened into a +smoke, and that grew into heavy dun clouds which rose and drifted +even to the hilltops, for Norton was burning, and by that token we +knew that Ina was victor.</p> +<p>Presently there were flying men of the Welsh who could be seen +on the open hillsides, and some few came even up to this camp, and +we took them, and from them heard how the battle had gone. It had +been a terrible battle, from their account, but they knew little +more than that, and that they were beaten. I suppose that Ina +thought it best for us to hold this camp for the night, for here we +bided, chafing somewhat; and but for what we took from the Welsh, +hungry, until early morning. Then at last a mounted messenger came +to us, and we went to Norton.</p> +<p>There, indeed, was high praise waiting for us from Ina, for it +seemed that our work had checked the advance of Gerent, and had +given time for full gathering of the levies before he was over the +border. But now I learnt that there was another Welsh army in the +field, beyond the Tone River, and until we heard how it fared with +the Dorset levies in that direction it was doubtful if we might +hold that all was well yet. Gerent had not set everything on this +one attack, but had also marched on Langport across the Blackdown +hills. Thither Nunna had led what men he could be spared, and was +to meet the Dorset levies, whose ealdorman, Sigebald, had sent word +to Glastonbury, soon after I left there, to tell of this +attack.</p> +<p>In the late evening there were beacon fires on the Blackdown +hills, and a great one on the camp at Neroche which crowns and +guards the hills in that direction. And so presently through the +dusk one rode into Norton with word of the greatest battle that +Wessex had fought since men could remember, for Nunna had met the +foe on the way to Langport, and at last, after a mighty struggle +which had long seemed doubtful, had swept them back across the +hills whence they came, in full flight homeward. So there was full +victory for Wessex, but we had to pay a heavy price therefor. Nunna +had fallen in the hour of triumph, and Sigebald, the ealdorman, was +lost to Dorset also.</p> +<p>Presently we laid Nunna in his mound on the Blackdown hills +where he had fallen. There he bides as the foremost of Saxon +leaders in the new land we had won, and I do not think that it is +an unfitting place for such a one as he. It is certain that so long +as a Wessex man who minds the deeds of his fathers is left the name +of Nunna will be held in honour with that of the king; his +kinsman.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a>. OF MATTERS OF RANSOM, +AND OF FORGIVENESS ASKED AND GRANTED.</h2> +<p>Now I must needs tell somewhat of the way in which Ina won +Norton, for that had so much to do with my fortunes as it turned +out, seeing that all went well by reason of our holding the hill +fort, in which matter, indeed, Thorgils must have his full share of +praise.</p> +<p>Gerent halted in his march when the flying men from the camp +came in to him, telling him that we were in strong force on the +hill, and so our men crossed the Parrett unhindered, and won to the +long crest of the southward spurs of Quantocks, where the Welsh +gathered against Kenwalch in the old days and stayed his farther +conquest. There was some sort of an advance post by this time in +the Roman camp at Roborough, and Ina sent a few men to take it, and +that was easily done. Then Gerent heard that Ina was on him, and +went to meet him, and so the two armies met on the westward slope +of the hills above Norton, and there all day long the battle swayed +to and fro until the Welsh broke and fled back to the town itself. +Then was a long fight across the ramparts, and at last Ina took the +place, and so chased his enemy in hopeless rout across the moorland +westward yet, until there was no chance of any stand being +made.</p> +<p>But Gerent escaped, though it was said that it was sorely +against his will. I was told that the old king came to the battle +in a wonderful chariot drawn by four white horses, and that he +stood in it fully armed, bidding his nobles carry him to the +forefront of the fighting, but that they would not heed him. And +presently when they knew that all was lost they hurried him from +the field, though he cursed them, and even hewed at them with his +sword to stay them as they went.</p> +<p>Now Ina's camp was set within the walls of Norton among the yet +smoking ruins of the palace, where not one stone was left on +another; and the Dragon banner of Wessex floated side by side with +the White Horse of the sons of Hengist, where I had been wont to +see the Dragon of the line of Arthur.</p> +<p>All the afternoon of that day Ina sat and saw the long files of +captives pass before him, and I was there to question any he would, +for he knew little or none of the Welsh tongue.</p> +<p>Many of these captives were of high rank, men who had only +yielded when they must, and here and there I knew one of these by +sight. They would be held to ransom by their captors, and the rest, +freeman or thrall, as they had been, would be the slaves of those +who took them, save they also could pay for freedom. It was a sad +enough throng that passed under the shadow of the proud +banners.</p> +<p>At last I saw one whom I knew well, and whom the king knew, for +it was Jago. He stood in the line, looking neither to right nor +left, but taking his misfortune like a brave man.</p> +<p>"Here is Jago, the friend of Owen, whom you know, King Ina," I +said.</p> +<p>The king glanced up at the Welsh thane. There was no pride of +conquest in the face of Ina as he gazed at his captives, and when +one came as Jago came he looked little at him, lest he should seem +to exult.</p> +<p>"Take him, and do what you will with him, Oswald. We owe you +much again; if you see others for whom you would speak, tell me. I +will deal with friends of Owen as you will. That is known already, +and none will gainsay it."</p> +<p>I thanked the king quietly, but none the less heartily, and I +ran my eyes down the line, but I saw no more known faces. So I went +after Jago, who had passed on.</p> +<p>"Friend, you are free," I said. "That is the word of our king, +for the sake of old friendship."</p> +<p>He could not answer, but the light leapt into his eyes, and he +held out his hand to me. Then I took him to the tent which my +house-carles had pitched next the king's, where Nunna's should have +been, and bade him sit down there. Then I went out and brought up +my own prisoners, passing the commoners into the hands of the men +who had been with me, but keeping the chief until the last. Two of +the house-carles led him up, and his face had as black a scowl on +it as I had ever seen, and he looked sullenly at us.</p> +<p>"Who is he?" asked Ina, turning towards me.</p> +<p>I did not know, and, to tell the truth, had forgotten to ask him +in the waiting for news of Nunna. So I asked him his name with all +courtesy, and could win no answer from him but a blacker scowl than +ever. Judging from his arms, which were splendid, and of the half +Roman pattern that Howel wore, he might be of some note. I thought +Jago might know him, so I asked him.</p> +<p>"Mordred, prince of Morganwg {<a name="EndNote3anc" href= +"#EndNote3sym"><sup>iii</sup></a>}, from across the channel," he +answered, looking from the tent door. "He is a prize for whoever +took him. Gerent sent word to several of those princes, and his men +are somewhere in the country yet, I suppose. They came at Gerent's +invitation."</p> +<p>I went back to Ina, who had set the chief aside for the moment, +and when some other man's captives had passed, bound to a long +cord, my men brought him forward again.</p> +<p>"Ask him what brought him here," said Ina, when he heard who he +was.</p> +<p>"I have a mind not to answer you," Mordred growled, when I put +the question, "but seeing that there is no use in keeping silence, +I will tell you. I hate Saxons, and so when Gerent asked me I came +to help him."</p> +<p>"With your men?"</p> +<p>"A shipload of them. They are up in the hills yonder, where you +left them, I suppose; and they will be a trouble to you until they +get home, if they can. I am well quit of the cowards."</p> +<p>Now I began to understand how it was that this force went aside +to fall on Watchet, and had little heart in the defence of the +camp. They were strangers, who hated the name of the Northmen from +their own knowledge of them, and could not miss a chance of a fight +with them here. After that the men of Gerent who were with them at +the camp cared nought for their strange leader.</p> +<p>"Take him, and hold him to ransom, Oswald," Ina said, when I +told him all this. "From all I ever heard of Morganwg, he should be +some sort of reward for what you have done. I should set his price +high also, for he deserves it for coming here."</p> +<p>So I took Mordred to my tent, telling him that I must speak of +him of ransom.</p> +<p>"Ransom? Of course, that will be paid. What price do you set on +me?"</p> +<p>Now that was a question on which I had no thought ready, seeing +that I had never held any man of much rank to ransom before, and I +hesitated. At last I remembered what some great Mercian thane had +to pay to Owen some years ago, and I named that sum, which was good +enough for me and Erpwald and Thorgils to share between us.</p> +<p>Thereon his face flushed red, and he scowled fiercely at me.</p> +<p>"What!--Is that the value of a prince of Morganwg? It is ill to +insult a captive."</p> +<p>"Nay, Prince, there is no insult--"</p> +<p>"By St. Petroc, but there is, though! What will the men of +Morganwg--what will the Dyfed men say when they hear that the Saxon +holds one of the line of Arthur at the value of a hundred cows? Ay, +that is how I shall be known henceforth!--Mordred of the cows, +forsooth."</p> +<p>He was working himself up into a rage now, and even Jago from +the corner of the tent where he sat, dejectedly enough, began to +smile. I had spoken of fair coined silver, and I had some trouble +myself in keeping a grave face when this Welsh prince counted the +cost of cattle therein.</p> +<p>"Will you double the sum, Prince?" I asked in all good +faith.</p> +<p>"I will pay the ransom that is fitting for a prince of Morganwg +to pay when his foes have the advantage of him. The honour of the +Cymro is concerned."</p> +<p>"Ask him his value," said Jago in Saxon, knowing that Mordred +did not understand that tongue at all. "Never was so good a chance +of selling a man at his own price."</p> +<p>Then I could not help a smile, and Mordred waxed furious. He +turned on Jago with his fist clenched.</p> +<p>"Silence, you miserable--"</p> +<p>"Prince, Prince," I cried. "He did but bid me ask you what was +fitting."</p> +<p>"Well, then, do it," he cried, stamping impatiently, and glaring +at Jago yet.</p> +<p>It was plain that if he did not understand the Saxon he saw that +there was some jest.</p> +<p>"It is a hard matter for me to set a price on you, Prince," I +said gravely. "I have never held one of your rank to ransom before, +so that you will forgive seeming discourtesy if I have unwittingly +done what was not fitting in the matter. What would the men of your +land think worthy of you?"</p> +<p>"Once," he said slowly, "it was the ill luck of my--of some +forebear of mine to have to be ransomed. They paid so much for +him."</p> +<p>He named a sum in good Welsh gold that it had never come into my +mind to dream of. It was riches for all three of us. And I dared +not say that it was too much and somewhat like foolishness, for it +was his own valuation. So I held my peace.</p> +<p>"Not enough?" he asked, not angrily, but as if it would be an +honour to hear that I set him higher. "What more shall I add?"</p> +<p>"No more, Prince. I see that I have yet things to learn."</p> +<p>Truly, I had always heard that the tale of the golden tribute to +Rome from Britain had tempted my forebears here first of all, and +now I believed it. I suppose these Welsh princes had hoards which +had been carried from out of the way of us Saxons and Angles long +ago.</p> +<p>"Ay, you have," Mordred said grimly. "One day it shall be what +the worth of a British prince is in good cold steel, maybe. Now let +me have a messenger who shall take word to my people and bring back +what is needed."</p> +<p>He scowled when I mentioned Thorgils, but he knew him by repute +at least, and was willing to trust him, as I would do so. In the +end, therefore, it was he who took the signet ring and the letter +the prince had written and brought back the gold. Some of the coins +were of the days of Cunobelin, but the most of it was in bars and +rings and chains, wrought for traffic by weight.</p> +<p>Now I will say at once that neither of my comrades would share +in this ransom, though I thought that it was a matter between the +three of us, as leaders of the force that day.</p> +<p>"Not I," quoth Thorgils--"the man was your own private captive, +for you sent him down yourself. What do I want with that pile of +gold? I have enough and to spare already, and I should only hoard +it. Or else I should just give it back to you for a wedding present +by and by. What? Shaking your head? Well, what becomes of all my +songs if they end not in a wedding? Have a care, Oswald, and see +that you make up your mind in time."</p> +<p>So he went away, laughing at me, but afterward I did make him +promise that if he needed a new ship at any time he would tell me, +so that I might give him one for the sake of the first voyage in +the old vessel, and that pleased him well.</p> +<p>Now I told Ina this, being always accustomed to refer anything +to him, and he was not surprised to hear that the Norseman would +not take the gold.</p> +<p>"And if I may advise," he said, "I would not offer a share to +Erpwald; for, in the first place, he does not expect it, seeing +that the captive is yours only, by all right of war; and in the +next, he deems that you have already given him Eastdean, and he is +not so far wrong. So it would hurt him. He will be all the happier +now that he will know that you have withal to buy four Eastdeans, +if you will."</p> +<p>So against my will, as it were, that day made a rich man of me. +Presently I gave the wealth into the hand of Herewald the +ealdorman, and he so managed it, being a great trader in his way, +that it seemed to grow somewise, and I have a yearly sum therefrom +in ways that are hard to be understood by me, but which seem simple +enough to him.</p> +<p>I handed over Mordred to the Norsemen to keep until Thorgils +returned with the ransom, for before we could rest with the sword +in its scabbard again it was needful that all care should be taken +for the holding of the new land we had won, and Ina would see to +that himself. Here and there we had fighting, but the Welsh never +gathered again in force against us, and at last we held every town +and camp from sea to sea along the line of the hills that run from +Exmoor southwards, and there was our new border.</p> +<p>Jago went back to Exeter, seeing that his house was burnt at +Norton with the rest of the town, and I heard afterwards that there +he had found his wife, whom he had sent away when the certainty of +war arose. I was in no trouble for him, as he had houses +elsewhere.</p> +<p>But we sent Erpwald back to Glastonbury in all haste, and he was +in nowise loth to go, as may be supposed. One may also guess how he +was received there. Then, as soon as Ina came back with us all, the +ealdorman set to work to prepare afresh the wedding that was so +strangely and suddenly broken in upon, and it was likely to be +little less joyous that it had been so.</p> +<p>On the evening before the wedding the ealdorman came to me, when +the day's duties were over, and said that Elfrida wished to speak +to me. So I went, of course, not at all troubling that the +ealdorman could not tell me what was to be said, for there were +many things concerning tomorrow's arrangements with which I was +charged in one way or another.</p> +<p>So I found her waiting me alone, in that chamber off the hall +where her father and I spoke of the poisoning.</p> +<p>"I have not sent for you for nothing, Oswald," she said, +blushing a little as if it were a hard matter she had to speak of. +"There is somewhat on my mind that I must needs disburden."</p> +<p>"Open confession is good," I said, laughing--"what is it?</p> +<p>"Well--have you forgotten your vow of last Yuletide?"</p> +<p>"Not in the least. Would you have me do so? For that were +somewhat hard."</p> +<p>"No--but yes, in a way."</p> +<p>There she stopped for a moment, and I waited for her to go on, +not having any very clear notion of what was to come. She turned +away from me somewhat, letting her fingers play over one of the +tall horns on the table, when she spoke again.</p> +<p>"It has been in my mind that you--that maybe you thought that I +have been hard on you--in ways, since we spoke in the orchard."</p> +<p>So that was what troubled her, but I did not see why she should +have spoken of it, seeing that a lady has no need at all to justify +her ways in such a matter, surely.</p> +<p>"No," I answered, "that I never thought. If my vow displeased +you, or maybe rather if I displeased you thereafter, I had no +reason to blame any one but myself for the way in which it was +needful that I should be shewn that so it was. It was just the best +thing for me, for it cured me of divers kinds of +foolishnesses."</p> +<p>"That is what I would have heard you say," she said with a +light-hearted laugh enough, while her face cleared. "Now I can say +what I will. Do you know that you have kept your vow to the full +already?"</p> +<p>"Not at all. There are long years before you yet, as one may +hope."</p> +<p>"Ay, Oswald, and through you those years seem bright to look +forward to. See, through you has come Erpwald, and now you have +kept his life for me at risk of your own. All my life long I shall +thank you for those two things. Surely your vow is fulfilled, for +this will be lifelong service. There is more that I would say to +you, but I cannot."</p> +<p>She turned away again, weeping for very happiness, as I think, +that could not be told, and I had no word to speak that was worth +uttering, though I must say somewhat.</p> +<p>"It will be good to think of you two together--"</p> +<p>"In the place you have given us," she broke in on me. "Love and +a home for all my life! What more could your vow have wrought than +that? Let me go, Oswald, or I shall weep. It was a good day that +sent you to be my champion."</p> +<p>Then she stepped swiftly to me and kissed me once, and fled, and +I do not mind saying that I was glad that she had gone. Too much +thanks for things that had been done more or less by chance, and as +they came to hand as it were, without any special thought for any +one, are apt to make one feel discomforted.</p> +<p>The wedding on the morrow I have no skill to tell of, but as +every one has seen such a thing, that hardly matters. I will only +set down that never had I seen such a bright one, or so good a +company, there being all the more guests present because many who +came to the levies stayed on to do honour to the ealdorman and his +daughter. Elfrida looked all that a bride should, as I thought, and +also as the queen said in my hearing, so that I think I cannot be +wrong. I gave her Gerent's great gold armlet, having caused it to +be wrought into such a circlet for her hair as any thane's wife +might be well pleased to wear.</p> +<p>As for Erpwald, he was dazed and speechless with it all, but +none heeded him, though indeed he made a gallant groom, for that is +the usual way as regards the bridegroom at such times. Which is +perhaps all the more comfortable for him.</p> +<p>Then was pleasant feasting, and after it some of us who had been +Erpwald's closer friends here rode a little way with those two +wedded ones on the first stage of their homeward journey. The +Sussex thanes and their men were with them as guard, and they rode +on ahead and left us to take our leave.</p> +<p>And by and by, after a mile or two, the rest turned back with +gay farewells, and left me alone with the two, for they knew that I +was their nearest friend, and would let me be the last to speak +with them. We had not much to say, indeed, but there are thoughts, +and most of all, good wishes, that can be best read without +words.</p> +<p>"There is but one thing that I wish," Elfrida said at the very +last, even when I had turned my horse and was leaving them.</p> +<p>"What is that?" I asked, seeing that there was some little jest +coming.</p> +<p>"Only, that I had seen the Princess Nona."</p> +<p>I laughed, and so they were gone, and I went back to +Glastonbury, wondering if Elfrida guessed what my thoughts of that +lady might be. I had not said much of her to any one, except as one +must speak of people with whom one has been for a while.</p> +<p>Strangely enough had come to pass that which I vowed to do for +Elfrida, though not in the way which had been in my mind when I +drank the Bragi bowl. Presently, when I came back to the +ealdorman's house, I had to put up with some old jests concerning +that vow, which seemed to others to have come to naught, but they +did not hurt me.</p> +<p>Three days after the wedding Thorgils came to Glastonbury with +his charge, and glad enough I was to hand it to Herewald, as I have +already said, and to get the care of it off my mind. Yet I will say +that by this time there had come to me a knowledge concerning this +gold which was pleasant. Only the other day I had been but the +simple captain of house-carles, though I was also the friend of a +mighty king, and foster son of a prince indeed, and that had been +all that I needed or cared for. Lately there had come a new hope +into my life, and it was one that was far from me at that time. But +now, when the time came for me to go to Dyfed for Owen, I should go +with power to choose lands and a home for myself and for that one +whom I dared now to ask to share it. And that was the only reason +that I cared to think of the new riches at all. If that hope came +to naught I should certainly care for them or need them little +enough, for my home would be the court as ever.</p> +<p>Better to me than the gold was a letter from Owen. The honest +Norseman had gone out of his way to put in at Tenby, knowing that I +should be glad to have news thence, and not troubling about Mordred +who was waiting release, at all. So he had seen Owen, who was well +as might be, he said.</p> +<p>"With two holes in one thigh, and his left arm almost growing +again like a crab's claw. I do not think that he was in the least +surprised to hear of the war, nor indeed of its end. All he wanted +to know was of you, as it seemed, at least from me. So it was also +with Howel and the princess. It was good to see their faces when I +told them of the fight at the camp, and how you won glory there. +Nevertheless, I was half afraid that I made the fighting a bit too +fierce over Erpwald, for the princess turned pale enough in hearing +how you were knocked over. You ken that I am apt to make the most +of things when I am telling a story. My father was just the same, +and maybe my grandfather before that, for saga telling runs in the +family."</p> +<p>I laughed at him, but in my mind I thought of the day when I saw +Elfrida pale as she heard of Erpwald's danger at Cheddar, and I +wondered.</p> +<p>Then I turned to Owen's letter, and it was long and somewhat +sad, as may be supposed, for this war had a foreshadowing of long +parting between him and me. But he said that he had known it must +come, having full knowledge, before Morfed the priest took him, how +the war party were getting beyond control. Wherefore he saw that he +and I had been saved much sadness by his absence, and it remained +to be seen how we should fare when he returned. At least, we should +meet soon in Dyfed, for he mended apace.</p> +<p>I need not tell all of that letter, for it was mostly between us +twain. But in it were words for Ina concerning peace, such as an +ambassador from the British might well speak, and they helped +greatly toward settlement by and by. And so the letter ended with +greetings from Howel and Nona, and many words concerning their +kindness to him.</p> +<p>But when I spoke to Thorgils of crossing soon to bring Owen back +he shook his head.</p> +<p>"I suppose he has even made the best of things in the letter, +but if he can bear arms again by Yule it will be a wonder," he +said. "Yet he is well for so sorely wounded a man."</p> +<p>Then he promised that it should not be so long before I heard +news from Owen again, for he had yet to make several voyages before +the winter. And he kept his promise well, for I think that he made +one more than he would have done, for my sake solely, though he +will not own it, lest the long winter should seem lonesome to +me.</p> +<p>For I will say at once that Owen did not come back by Yule. All +that went on in the Cornish court I do not know, but it seemed that +Gerent thought it well that he should not return until the last +hope of victory over Wessex had passed from among his people; and +it may be that he did not wish it to be thought that Owen had any +hand in bringing about the peace which he must needs make. He would +see to that, and take all the blame thereof himself, caring nothing +for any man, if blame there should be from those who set the war on +foot.</p> +<p>So although I waited to hear from time to time as Thorgils came +and went, getting also word from him when some Danish ship crossed +to Watchet, nought was said of Owen's return. And I was not sorry, +for as things went I could not have gone to Dyfed to meet him.</p> +<p>There was the new land we had won to be tended, and for a time +the planning for that was heavy enough. All men know now how it +ended in the building of the mighty fortress of Taunton at the +southern end of the Quantock hills, to bar the passage from West to +East for all time. There is no mightier stronghold in all England +than this, at least of those built by Saxon hands, and there has +been none made like it since Hengist came to this land. It stands +some two miles from where the Romans set Norton, for they had the +same need to curb the wild British as have we, and the place they +chose for their ways of warfare needed little amending for +ours.</p> +<p>While that was building, Ina dwelt in the house of some great +British lord at the place we call South Petherton, not far off from +the fortress. As the place pleased him, presently he had a palace +built there for himself, which, as it turned out, Ethelburga the +queen never liked at all. However, that came about in after years. +All day long now he was at Taunton, taking pride in overseeing all, +so that there is no wonder that the place is strong.</p> +<p>As for me, I was with Herewald the ealdorman on the new boundary +line with the levies and the king's own following, guarding against +any new attack, and trying to win the Welsh to friendship. That was +mostly my work, as I knew the tongue, and they knew me as Owen's +foster son. We had some little trouble with them for a time, but +soon, as they came to know the justice of the king, and that he did +not mean to drive them from the land, they became content, and +indeed there were many who welcomed a strong hand over them.</p> +<p>Presently there would be Saxon lords over the manors as Ina +found men to hold them, but there would be no change beyond that. +Freeman should be freeman, and thrall thrall, as before, each in +his old holding undisturbed, with equal laws for Saxon and Briton +alike.</p> +<p>Now, one day when I came to the house of the king at Petherton +on some affairs I needed his word concerning, presently there came +a message to me that Ethelburga the queen would speak with me, and, +somewhat wondering, I was taken to her bower, and found her waiting +for me.</p> +<p>"Oswald," she said, after a few words of greeting, "there is one +who wronged you once, and has come to ask for your forgiveness. +What answer shall I give?"</p> +<p>"Lady," I said, "I can remember none who need forgiveness from +me now. Those who wrought ill against Owen have it already, or are +gone. I have no foes, so far as I know, myself, and truly no wrongs +unforgiven."</p> +<p>"Nay, but there is this one."</p> +<p>"Why then, my Queen, that one must needs be forgiven, seeing +that I know not of wrong to me."</p> +<p>I laughed a little, thinking of some fault of a servant, or of a +man of the guard, of which she had heard. But she went to a settle +hard by and swept aside a kerchief which lay on it as if by chance, +and under it were two war arrows. And I knew them at once for those +which had been shot into our window at Norton and had vanished.</p> +<p>Now I will say that the sight of these brought back at once some +of the old feeling against those who, like Tregoz, had sought +Owen's life and mine, and my face must needs show it.</p> +<p>"Ay," the queen said, seeing that, "these are indeed a token +that forgiveness is needed."</p> +<p>Then I remembered that there was but one who could come here +with these arrows, though how she had them I could not do more than +guess. It could be none other than Mara, the daughter of +Dunwal.</p> +<p>Then suddenly, from among the ladies at the end of the room, one +who was dressed in black rose up and came toward me, and she was +none other than Mara herself, thin and pale indeed, and with the +pride gone from her dark face. Her voice was very low as she spoke +to me, and her bright black eyes were dim with tears.</p> +<p>"I do not ask you to forgive my uncle, or indeed my father--for +what they planned and well-nigh wrought is past forgiveness," she +said, "Forget those things if it be possible, but forgive my part +in them."</p> +<p>"I have done that long ago, lady," I said in all truth.</p> +<p>I knew that she must have been made use of by the men in some +ways, but I did not think at all that she had wished ill as they +wished it, since I knew that Morfed had trained the Welsh girl to +the deed at Glastonbury.</p> +<p>"Ay," she said sadly. "But forgetfulness is not forgiveness. You +do not know how I carried messages between my father and uncle, +when one was in bondage and the other in hiding, so that their +plans were laid through me. I am guilty with them. Therefore I +would hear you say at least that you will try to forgive before I +pass from the world into the cloister where I may pray for them, +and for you also, if I may."</p> +<p>Then I said, with a great pity on me for this lady whom I had +known so proud and careless:</p> +<p>"Lady, I do forgive with all my heart. I do not think that you +could have stood aloof from your father, and I do not think that +you are so much to blame in all the trouble as you would seem to +make me believe. In all truth I do forgive."</p> +<p>She looked searchingly at me while I spoke, and what she saw in +my face was enough to tell her that she had all she needed, and +with one word of thanks she went back to the ladies, and one of +them took her from the room.</p> +<p>"She goes into my new nunnery at Glastonbury tomorrow, Oswald," +the queen said, "and now she will rest content. It was a good +chance that brought you here today, my Thane, for she had begged me +to send for you, and that I could hardly do, seeing that one knows +not where to find you from day to day. I could tell her truly that +I knew I could win your forgiveness: but that would not have been +enough for her, I think."</p> +<p>So Mara passed into the nunnery, and unless she has been one of +the veiled sisters whom one sees in their places at the time of +mass, I do not know that I have ever set eyes on her again. I do +not think that it was the saddest end for her.</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a>. HOW OSWALD FOUND A +HOME, AND OF THE LAST PERIL OF OWEN THE PRINCE.</h2> +<p>All that winter, and through the spring, men toiled at the great +fortress, but Ina went back presently to Glastonbury, or to others +of his houses, after his wont, now and then riding even from far to +us to see how all went. And I was fully busy in the new province, +for we made a roll of those who owned land there, that all might be +known to the king, and that matter was set in my hand for those +reasons which had made me useful already in quieting the country. +Moreover, the years at Malmesbury had made me able to write well, +and now I was glad that I had learnt, though indeed it went sorely +against the grain with me to do so at the time. Truly, I had to go +on this errand of the king's with sword in one hand and pen in the +other, but I daresay I did better, and fared less roughly, than +would one who could not speak to the British freemen in their own +tongue. At least, if a man was sullen when I came to him, he was, +as a rule, pretty friendly when I left, for he knew that no harm +was meant him, and that to be on this roll meant that on his lands +he was to bide in peace.</p> +<p>And I may not forget that Evan helped me greatly in the matter, +for he knew almost all of the best freemen.</p> +<p>When the walls were strong, in the midst of the new fortress +they built a good house for Ina, and we thought that he meant to +live here at times, for he had it fully furnished, even to the +rushes on the floor, after Easter. By that time I had leisure to +spend the holy season with the court at Glastonbury, for there was +peace everywhere. And there I had a visit from Thorgils, who +brought good news from across the sea. He had made his first voyage +of the year, and had seen Owen, who was himself again, if yet +weak.</p> +<p>He had not written to me, but sent word by the Norseman that he +did but wait for me to come for him, if I might. If not he would +come alone; but it seemed to him that we should have to part when +we reached this side of the channel, for he must go to Gerent at +once.</p> +<p>Next day Ina and the queen must needs pass to Taunton to see the +place, for he said that when I might go for Owen depended on its +readiness. So we rode with but a small train, meaning, after seeing +the fortress, to go on to Petherton for the night, which was quite +a usual plan with the king nowadays, since all this building was on +hand.</p> +<p>So we went round all the walls, and saw the new bridge across +the Tone River, and then went into the hall that stood, as I have +said, within the walls of the fortress itself. There all was ready +for the king, even to a fire on the hearth in the middle of the +great hall, which was fully as large as that at Glastonbury itself. +I had not seen this house of late, and now the king would have me +go all over it and tell him what I thought thereof.</p> +<p>Indeed, there was nought to say of it but good, for it would be +hard to find one better planned in all Wessex, as I think, whether +in the house itself, or about the buildings that were set along its +walls without for the thralls and workshops, or in the stables and +other outhouses. It was indeed such a house as any thane would be +proud to hold as his home.</p> +<p>Presently, therefore, after seeing all, the king and queen and I +stood by the hearth in the hall again, and Ina asked me my thoughts +of it. And I told him even as I have written, that all was well +done and completely.</p> +<p>"Why, then," he said, "let me come and stay here now and +then."</p> +<p>I laughed at that.</p> +<p>"I have heard, my King, of house-carles who led their masters, +but that is not our way. Where the king goes the household follows, +in Wessex."</p> +<p>He laughed also, for a moment.</p> +<p>"Long may it be so," he said. "Nevertheless, I think that I +shall have to be as a guest here now and then."</p> +<p>Then Ethelburga smiled at my puzzled face, and spoke in her +turn.</p> +<p>"Why, Oswald, it seems to me that you are the only man in all +Wessex who does not know who is to live here."</p> +<p>"It is always said that the king himself will make it one of his +palaces, lady," I answered.</p> +<p>Then Ina set his hand on my shoulder, and made no more secret of +what he meant.</p> +<p>"I want you to bide here, my Thane, and hold this unquiet land +for me. There is not one who can better rule it from this fortress +for me than yourself; and the house and all that is in it is yours, +if you will."</p> +<p>Then for a moment came over me that same feeling of loneliness +that had kept me from taking Eastdean again, and with it there was +the thought that I was not able to take so great a charge on +me.</p> +<p>"How can I do this, my King?" I said, not knowing how to put +into words all that I felt. "I am not strong enough for such a +post."</p> +<p>"Nay," he said gravely. "It is said of me that I do not do +things hastily, and it is a true word enough, seeing that I know +that I often lose a chance by over caution, maybe. Answer me a +question or two fairly, and I think you will see that I may ask you +to bide here."</p> +<p>Then he minded me that I alone of all his athelings knew this +Welsh tongue as if born thereto, and also that men knew me as the +son of Owen the prince, so that the Welsh would hardly hold me as a +stranger. That I had found out in these last months while I had +been numbering the freemen and their holdings; and as I went about +that business I had seen every one that was of any account, so that +already I knew all the land I had to rule better than any other. +That task, however, had been set me, as I know now, in preparation +for this post.</p> +<p>I had no answer to make against all this concerning myself, for +it was true enough, but I did not speak at once. It did not follow +that I could rule as I should, even with all this to help me, and I +knew it.</p> +<p>"What, is more needed?" Ina said. "Well, I at least have had a +letter from Owen by the hand of Thorgils yesterday. See what is +written in it."</p> +<p>He set the writing in my hand, and turned away while I read it. +It was meant for my sight as well as his, for he had written to +Owen concerning this post for me. And after I had read it all I +could say no more, for Owen told how he would help me in all ways +possible, and also that he knew how Gerent himself would be more +content in knowing that no stranger was to be over the land he had +lost.</p> +<p>So I gave the letter back to the king's hand, and said plainly: +"I think that I may not hold back from what you ask me, my King, +after all that Owen says. Nevertheless I--"</p> +<p>"But I am certain that you will do well," said Ina. "Now I shall +miss my captain about the court, but I need him here. So you must +even stay. There is Owen on the west to help you keep the peace in +one way, and Herewald on the east to help you with the levies if +need be. Fear not, therefore. It is in my mind that you will have +an easier time here than any other I could have bethought me of, if +I had tried."</p> +<p>Then, as in duty bound, I knelt and kissed the hand of the king +in token of homage, and he smiled at me contented.</p> +<p>"You will be the first ealdorman of Devon, Oswald, when the +Witan meets," he said; for it needed the word of the council of the +thanes to give me the rank that was fitting.</p> +<p>Then when I rose up and stood somewhat mazed with the suddenness +of it all, Ethelburga the queen, who had stood by smiling at me now +and then, said: "This is your hall, Oswald, remember. But it needs +one thing yet. You were wrong when you said it was complete."</p> +<p>I looked round and saw nothing wanting, from the hangings on the +wall to the pile of skins on the high place seats.</p> +<p>"There are the pegs for the arms of the house-carles," I said, +"but no arms thereon yet. That will soon be mended. And I have to +set up a head or two of game, to make all homely, maybe?"</p> +<p>"More than that, Oswald," she said, laughing. "Strange how dense +a man can be! It is a mistress who is needed. Else the women of +Devon will have no friend at court."</p> +<p>I laughed, a little foolishly, perhaps, not having any answer at +all, and Ina smiled and went out into the court by himself, saying +that he would not meddle with such matters. So I was left to the +queen by the hearth.</p> +<p>"Jesting apart, Oswald," she said, "I had hoped that vow of +yours would have led to somewhat, and whose fault it was that +nought came of it I do not know. However, no harm seems to have +been done, and that may pass, though indeed Elfrida was a favourite +of mine. But see to it that next time you are no laggard. Now, when +are you going to Dyfed?"</p> +<p>Then I suppose my face told some tale against me, for the queen +laughed softly.</p> +<p>"Soon, Oswald?"</p> +<p>I could not pretend to misunderstand her then, but when it was +put to me so plainly it did not seem to me all so certain that my +suit would fare better than my vow. I had no fear once that the +last would not have been welcome, and was mistaken enough. Now, +perhaps because I was in real earnest, I did doubt altogether.</p> +<p>"What, do you fear that there is no favour for you, my Thane?" +Ethelburga said, with a smile lingering round the corners of her +mouth.</p> +<p>"I do not see how there can be," I answered. "I am not worthy. +It is one thing for the princess to be friendly with me, and +another for her to suffer me to look so high."</p> +<p>I spoke plainly to the queen, as I was ever wont since I was a +child in her train and she the kindly lady to whose hand I looked +for all things, and from whom all my earlier happinesses had come. +She was ever the same, and I know well that her name will be +remembered as one of our best hereafter. It was almost therefore as +mother to son that she spoke to me, rather than as mistress to +servant.</p> +<p>"But you had no doubts at all concerning Elfrida."</p> +<p>"That was foolishness, my Queen, and I see it now. This is +different altogether."</p> +<p>"I know it, and it was my fault in a way. Still, you were then +but the landless house-carle captain, and yet you dared to look up +to the daughter of the ealdorman. Now you are the Thane of Taunton, +and to be the first ealdorman of Saxon Devon, with house and riches +at your back, moreover. And she of whom you think is but the +daughter of a Welsh princelet."</p> +<p>"Nay, my Queen, but she is Nona."</p> +<p>"Go your ways, Oswald," the queen said, laughing--"of a surety +you are in earnest this time. Nay, but I will jest no more, and +will wish you all speed to Pembroke. If there is no welcome, and +more, for you there, I am mistaken, for you deserve all you +wish."</p> +<p>So we spoke no more, but joined the king. Presently, when I came +to think of what the queen had said of my changed rank and all +that, I saw that she was right, and it heartened me somewhat. Not +that I thought it would make any difference to Nona, but that it +surely must to Howel, which was a great matter after all.</p> +<p>In a week Ina gathered the Witan of Somerset here to Taunton, +first that the last stone of the fortress should be laid with all +solemnity and due rites, even as the foundation had been laid with +the blessing of Holy Church on it, and then that he might take +counsel for the holding of the new land. Then in full Witan I did +homage and took the oaths that were fitting, and so the king girt +my sword on me afresh as I sat at the foot of his throne as the +first ealdorman of Devon; and the Witan confirmed his choice, also +making sure to me all dues that should come to the man who held the +rank. They seemed well satisfied with the king's choice of me, and +that was a good thing, for I will say that I had somewhat feared +jealousy here and there. I do not think that their approval was due +to any special merit of my own at all, but it was plain that I +stood in a halfway place, as it were, between the two courts in a +way that was in itself enough to make the choice good policy.</p> +<p>After that Ina bade me go to Dyfed, while he was yet in the +west, and would set all things in train for me, choosing my +house-carles, and setting such men as I could work well with in +places of trust in the land. There was much for the king to do +yet.</p> +<p>"Therefore take what time you will, Oswald," he said kindly. +"You will be busy enough when you come back, and I can trust you +not to overstay your time. If Owen can come to speak with me bring +him, but that is doubtful yet."</p> +<p>One may suppose that I did not delay then. I sent Evan to +Thorgils, and asked him to give me a passage over, and so had a +fortnight to wait for him, as he was on his way from some voyage +westward at the time. Then a fair summer sailing and a welcome from +the Danefolk at Tenby, where we put in rather than make for the +long tidal waters of Milford Haven against a southwest breeze.</p> +<p>There the Danes must needs set themselves in array in all +holiday gear that I might ride to Pembroke as a prince's foster +son, with a better following than Evan and my half-dozen +house-carles, and I rode with fifty men after me, so that the guard +at the palace gates might have thought that Ina himself had come to +see Owen, and there was bustle of welcome enough.</p> +<p>And so there were wonderful greetings for me, from Owen first, +and afterward from Howel and from Nona, and I will not say much of +them. If one knows what it is to see a father whom one had left +weak and ill, strong and well and fully himself again; if one has +met a good friend after absence; if one knows what it may be to see +again the one who is dearest in thought, there is no need for me to +try and tell the greeting, and if not, I could not make it +understood. Let it be therefore. It was all that I looked for, and +I was more than content.</p> +<p>And yet, for all that, it was a long week before I dared to tell +Nona that which I would, and how I did so is another thing that I +cannot set down. Maybe all that I need say is that I need not have +feared, and that the new hall at Taunton waited for its mistress +from that hour forward.</p> +<p>And so at length I knew that I must be away, and I rode to Tenby +to see Thorgils, and found him in the haven, begrimed and happy, +with men and boys round him at work on the ship everywhere, +painting and scraping in such wise that I hardly knew her. From +stem to stern she was bright green instead of her sea-stained rusty +black, and a broad gilt band ran along her side below the oar +ports. A great red and gold dragon from one of the warships of the +Danes reared its crest on the stem head, while its tail curved in +red and gold over the stern post, and even the mast was painted in +red and white bands, and had a new gilt dog vane at its head.</p> +<p>"Here is finery, comrade," I said. "What is the meaning +thereof?"</p> +<p>"Well, if you know not, no man knows. I have a new coat for +tomorrow's wedding, and it is only fit that the ship that takes +home the bride should have one also. Wherefore the old craft will +be somewhat to sing about by the time I have done with her."</p> +<p>Then he showed me a new red-striped sail that Eric had given +him, and an awning for the after deck which the women of the town +had wrought for the shelter of the princess whom they loved. It +seemed like a good speeding to Nona and to me.</p> +<p>And so it was at the end of a fortnight thereafter. It would be +long to tell of the morrow's wedding, and then of days at Pembroke +before we sailed, passed all too quickly for me. But at last we +stood with Owen on the deck of the good ship while all the shore +buzzed with folk, Welsh and Danish alike, who watched us pass from +Dyfed to the Devon coast, cheering and waving with mighty goodwill, +and only Howel seemed lonely as he sat on his white horse, still +and yet smiling, with his men round him, where the cliff looks over +the inner harbour, to see the last for many days of the daughter he +had trusted to my keeping.</p> +<p>We cleared the harbour, and then where she had been lying under +the island flew toward us under thirty oars the best longship that +Eric owned, for it was his word that as the Danes had seen me into +Pembroke by land, so they would see Nona from the shore with a +king's following by sea, and that was well done indeed. The old +chief himself was steering in full arms, and all the rowers were in +their mail and helms, flashing and sparkling wondrously in the sun +as they swung in time to the rowing song as they came. And all down +the gangway amidships between the rowers stood the armed men who +should take their places when their turn came, full sixty warriors, +well armed and mail clad as if they had need to guard us across the +sea.</p> +<p>I suppose that there is no more wonderful sight than such a ship +as this, fresh from her winter quarters, and with her full crew of +three men to an oar in all array for war, and Owen and I gazed at +her in all delight. As for my princess, she had more thought for +the kindliness of the chief in thus troubling himself and his men, +I think, for she could not know the pleasure it gave each man of +the Danes to feel his arms on him and the good ship swinging under +him again after long months ashore.</p> +<p>"There is another ship in the offing," I said to Thorgils +presently, when we, with the Dane just astern of us, were some five +miles from land and had ceased to look back to Tenby. Nona had gone +into the cabin away from the wind, which came a little chill from +the east on the open sea, and maybe also that she felt the chill of +parting from her father more than she would have us know.</p> +<p>"Ay," he said, looking at the far vessel under his hand, "I do +not make out what she is--but if she is a trader--well, our Danes +are likely to get some reward for their trouble. They will not have +come out for nothing."</p> +<p>I laughed, for any trader in the Severn sea knew that he must be +ready to pay more than harbour dues if he had the ill luck to meet +with the Danes. They would make him pay for freedom, but would not +harm him unless he was foolish enough to fight.</p> +<p>So we held on, and the strange sail, which was seemingly beating +up channel against the wind, put about and headed for us somewhat +sooner than Thorgils expected.</p> +<p>"She is making mighty short boards," he said. "She should surely +have headed over to the coast yet awhile. Would have fetched a bit +of a breeze off the land there, maybe."</p> +<p>Thorgils watched this vessel curiously, for there were things +about her which seemed to puzzle him. The men, too, were beginning +to talk of her and watch her. And presently I saw that our consort, +the Dane, had slackened her speed, so that there was a mile of +water between us astern.</p> +<p>"Oh ay," said Thorgils, as I spoke of this, "they mean to pick +her up when we have passed her. They can overhaul her as they +like."</p> +<p>Now we drew near to the strange ship, and it seemed to Owen and +me, as we stood side by side on the after deck beside Thorgils at +the helm, that we saw here and there among the men on her deck the +sparkle of arms as she lifted and swayed to the waves. She was a +long black ship, not like the Dane at all, and her sail was three +cornered on a long tapering yard, quite unlike ours, which was +square. Thorgils said that she was a trader from the far south, a +foreigner, even from so far as Spain, though why she was here he +could not tell. Mostly such never came round the Land's End.</p> +<p>"She wants to speak with us," he said presently. "I suppose she +has lost herself in strange waters."</p> +<p>The vessel was right across our bows now, some half mile away, +and her tall sail was flapping in the wind as she hove to. Thorgils +put the helm down so as to pass to windward of her, and as he did +so the sail of the stranger filled again, and she headed as if +waiting to sail with us for a while. Now we could see that many of +her crew, which did not seem large, were armed, and I thought +little of that, seeing that there were Danes about. But Thorgils +waxed silent, and sent a man to the masthead suddenly, for some +reason which was not plain to me.</p> +<p>No sooner was the man there than he shouted somewhat in broad +Norse sea language, which made our skipper start and knit his +brows.</p> +<p>"How many?" he asked.</p> +<p>"Like to herrings in a barrel.--More than I can tell," the +masthead man answered.</p> +<p>Then Thorgils turned to us.</p> +<p>"This is more than I can fully fathom," he said, leaning on the +helm a little, so that the ship edged up a trifle closer to the +wind steadily. "She has her weather gunwale packed with men, who +are hiding under it--armed men. On my word, it is well that Eric is +with us."</p> +<p>Owen and I looked at one another. If I had been alone, or with +him only, I think I should have rejoiced in this seeming chance of +a fight at sea, but with Nona and her maidens on board there was a +sort of terror for me in what all this might mean.</p> +<p>No honest vessel hid her men thus, and waited for the coming of +two strangers.</p> +<p>"Get your arms on, prince and comrade," said Thorgils. "It is in +my mind that these are desperate folk of sorts. We are pranked up +with that dragon like any longship, and here is Eric astern of us, +and yet there is some look of fighting in the hiding of these men. +Will they face two of us, or what is it?"</p> +<p>"We may not fight with the lady on board, Thorgils," Owen said +under his breath. "If so be we can get away from them we must. Yet +it will be the first time that Oswald and I have thought of +flying."</p> +<p>"There is no merit in staying for a fight if there is need why +one should be out of it," Thorgils said. "See, she is going to try +to get to windward of us, and now will be a bit of a sailing +match."</p> +<p>Then he called one of the men, and he came aft and took a pole +with a round red board on its top from where it hung along the +gunwale, and, standing on the stern rail with his arm round the +high stern post, waved it slowly. He was signalling to Eric as +Thorgils bade him.</p> +<p>The ship forged up into the wind closer and closer, and the +spray flew over her bows as she met the sea. But the strange vessel +was no less weatherly, and kept pace with us, and now Eric was +bearing down on us more or less, sailing a little more free than +we, though he also had to luff somewhat to keep near us, taking a +long slant across our course as we sailed now.</p> +<p>I sent Evan for our arms, for the men were arming silently. They +were in the chests in the fore cabin where I had once been bound, +and Nona knew nought of possible trouble on hand. To keep her from +it altogether I went to the low door of her rude shelter before I +put on my mail, and looked in, telling her to keep the cabin closed +against the spray that was flying, and had a bright smile for my +thought. Then I went back to the deck and armed, and all the while +the two ships reached to windward, but even in that little time I +saw that the stranger had gained on us. The man was at work +signalling to Eric again.</p> +<p>"We shall know if he means fighting in no long time," said +Thorgils to me. "If he does I think that he is going to be +surprised."</p> +<p>"How?"</p> +<p>"Well, unless every man on board is clean witless they must deem +us both harmless. Maybe they have heard of a wedding party that is +to cross and are waiting for us. Otherwise it seems impossible that +they will face us and the Dane as well."</p> +<p>Now Eric was back on his old tack, and passing astern of us. I +saw the glint of his oar blades, which had been run out from their +ports ready to take the water if need was presently.</p> +<p>And then we knew that his help would be wanted. Suddenly the +strange ship's head flew up into the wind and she was round on the +other tack, paying off wonderfully quickly; and as she did so, from +under her gunwale, where they could be hidden no longer, rose the +armed men, seeming to crowd her deck in a moment. She was full of +them from stem to stern, and our men shouted. She had won well to +windward of us.</p> +<p>But Thorgils had known what was coming, and had kept his quick +eye on the helmsman of the stranger. Even as her helm went down for +the luff his went up and the men sprang to the sheets, and we were +tearing across her bows even as her sail filled on the new tack, +and heading away lift by lift toward Eric. And Eric hove to to meet +us, and his sail fell and his oars flashed out and took the water, +and he made for us like the sea dragon his ship seemed.</p> +<p>"Down with you men under cover!" roared Thorgils. "Arrows, +comrade!--Down with you!"</p> +<p>The strange ship was only a bow shot from us, if a long one yet, +but she was overhauling us apace.</p> +<p>I saw her men forward bending their bows, and the Norsemen of +our crew came aft with my men under the break of the deck on which +we stood, where they were in cover. Evan ran to me with his shield +up.</p> +<p>"Evan," I cried, "shield Thorgils." And I set myself before Owen +with my own shield raised to cover him, and he laughed at me +grimly.</p> +<p>He set his own alongside mine, and we three stood covering +Thorgils. The Norseman's face was set and watchful, but his blue +eyes danced under the knit brows, and I do believe that he was +enjoying the sport.</p> +<p>Ay, and so would I but for her who was so close to me. It was +the first time I had known aught but joy in battle, and what all my +strange new thoughts were I cannot say. I would not pass through +that time again for worlds.</p> +<p>Then the first arrow fled from the enemy toward us, falling +short by a yard or two, and at that there came one who looked like +a chief, and stood on the high bows and hailed us in Welsh.</p> +<p>At sight of him Evan cried out, and Owen started.</p> +<p>"Daffyd of Carnbre, Morfed's kinsman," Owen said to me quietly. +"This is the last of the crew who followed Morgan."</p> +<p>"Likewise the last of Daffyd," Thorgils growled grimly. +"Look!"</p> +<p>But I could not. Now the arrow storm swept on us, and all the +air seemed dark with shafts which dimpled the sea like a hailstorm, +and clanged on our shields and smote the decks with a sharp click +from end to end of the vessel. Even at that time I saw that some of +the arrows were British, but more of some outland make with cruelly +barbed heads. One or two went near my helm, and I had several in my +shield, but none of us were hurt.</p> +<p>I had to watch them for the sake of Thorgils, who was unmailed, +and I could not look where he pointed ahead of us.</p> +<p>Then of a sudden the arrows ceased to rain on us, and there went +a cry as of terror from the decks of our enemy. The wild war song +of the Tenby Danes rose ahead of us, and I turned and looked. Eric +was close on us, and his men had risen from under the gunwales, +where they too had been hiding until the foe was in their grasp, +and now the dragon was on her prey, and that prey knew it. And yet +Evan had need to shield me as I turned, for the chief whom they +called Daffyd was urging his men to shoot, and himself snatched a +bow and loosed an arrow at us harmlessly.</p> +<p>It was wonderful. Under the sweep of the thirty long oars the +dragon ship tore past us, hurling the white foam from her sharp +bows, while the thunder of war song and breaking wave and rolling +oars filled my ears and set our men leaping and cheering as they +saw her. Eric was on the high forecastle, and he waved his broad +axe at us gleefully, and all along the decks the fighting men stood +above the armed rowers; one shielding the toiler, and one with bent +bow ready, steady as oaks on the reeling deck, and cheering us also +with lifted weapons.</p> +<p>The foe saw, and her oars ran out too late. The dragon met her, +and thus, checking her speed as she passed her, swept her crowded +deck with arrows at half range; and yet the foe held on after us, +for the men of Daffyd and of Morgan were bent on ending Owen if +they themselves must die. The arrows were about us again, and Eric +must turn and be back to our help. It seemed that the foe would be +on us before that help could come.</p> +<p>I did not know the handiness of the longship under oars. She was +about even as I looked again from the foe to her. And her sail was +hoisted, and under that and oars alike she was back on the foe; and +then the men of Daffyd forgot him and us in the greater business of +caring for themselves, and left him raving on the foredeck, to seek +shelter while they might.</p> +<p>Then I suppose the helmsman was shot, for the ship luffed +helplessly, and in a moment the stem of the viking was crashing on +her quarter, and the grappling irons were fast to her. Thorgils +laughed and luffed at once.</p> +<p>"Somewhat to sing of," he said cheerfully, as he hove to to +watch the fight.</p> +<p>That it was in all truth. We were but a bow shot off, and could +see it all. We heard the ships grinding together, and we heard the +shout of the Danes and the outland yells of the Welsh, and we saw +the vikings swarming on board while the axes flashed and the war +song rose again.</p> +<p>"Eric has a mind to pay them for nigh spoiling a wedding +voyage," quoth our Norseman.</p> +<p>It was no long fight, for I suppose that there are men of no +race who can stand before the Northmen at sea, at least since we +have forgotten the old ship craft of our forefathers. From stem to +stern Eric led his men, sweeping all before him, some foemen even +leaping overboard out of the way of the terrible axes, and so +meeting another death. I think that the Welsh chief Daffyd was the +last to fall before old Eric himself. And then was a great cheer +from the two ships, and after it silence.</p> +<p>Then Eric hailed us, and Thorgils ran out his oars, and we went +alongside the Danish ship. And at that time Nona came from the +cabin, and called me, looking wonderingly at the arrows that +littered the deck at her feet.</p> +<p>"Oswald, what is it all?--Do the good Danes leave us?"</p> +<p>Then she saw my mail, and paled a little.</p> +<p>"Fighting! and I not with you?" she cried. "Is any one +hurt?"</p> +<p>But I went to her side and told her how things had gone, asking +her to bide in the shelter yet, for we had things to see that were +not for her. And so she went back again and closed the door, being +assured that the danger had passed.</p> +<p>We went on board the Danish ship, for there was not enough sea +to prevent our lying gunwale to gunwale for a moment. Both Owen and +I would find out if possible how all this came about. There was a +row of captives on the deck of the enemy waiting question, and I +looked down on them from beside Eric.</p> +<p>Swarthy men and black haired they were, speaking no tongue which +we knew, and one of them was black as his hair. I had never seen a +black man before, and he seemed uncanny. The Danes were staring at +him also, and he was grinning at them with white teeth through +thick lips in all unconcern. Many of these men had chains on their +legs, and this black among them.</p> +<p>"Chained to the oar benches they were, poor thralls," Eric said. +"We could not bide that, so we cut them free. Then they fell on +their lords and rent them."</p> +<p>Owen shuddered. He had seen the southern galleys before, and +knew why no man was left alive of the foreigners who had fought. +Our kin do not slay the wounded. But there were some Britons left +among the captives, and one of them cried to Owen by name for +mercy.</p> +<p>We had that man on board the Dane and questioned him, and learnt +all. He had no reason to hide aught when he was promised +safety.</p> +<p>Daffyd had heard that we were to cross from Tenby, having had +all the doings of Owen spied upon since the winter. Then he learned +that when I came over Owen was to return, and therefore he had my +doings watched also. He hired this foreign ship in Marazion, where +she put in for trade just as he was wondering how to compass our +end on the journey, promising her fierce crew gold of his own and +all plunder there might be, if they would help him to an easy +revenge. So they came into the Severn sea, and lay for a fortnight +or more under Lundy Island, watching for us as a cat watches for a +mouse, and getting news now and then from Welsh fishers from +Milford Haven.</p> +<p>It was from them that Daffyd learned of my wedding, and so it +came to pass that neither he nor the strangers thought for a moment +that our two ships held aught but passengers and much plunder, with +a princess to hold to ransom, moreover, for the taking. They took +no account of the few house-carles we might have with us, and even +I knew nought of the crossing of the armed Danish ship with us, +which was planned so that it came as a pleasant surprise to us all. +Thorgils was right, and it had been a terrible one for them.</p> +<p>So the plunder fell to Eric, and it was worth having. There was +the ship and arms and captives, and the gold of Daffyd, and that of +the traders, moreover, with some strange and precious woven goods +from southern looms, silken and woollen, which yet remained in the +hold, wondrous to look on.</p> +<p>Now, in halting words enough I went to thank Eric and his men +for that which he had done for me and mine, which indeed was more +than I knew how to put into words.</p> +<p>"Hold on, comrade," he said, staying me. "I will tell you +somewhat. Good friends enough we are with Howel nowadays, but it +was not always so. It was the doing of your fair princess that +things came not to blows between us at one time, for we held that +he was unreasonable in some matter of scatt {<a name="EndNote4anc" +href="#EndNote4sym"><sup>iv</sup></a>} to be paid. She settled that +matter for us with wise words, and we hold that to her we owe it +that we are in Tenby today. Howel could starve us out any time he +chose. And that the prince will own to you if you ask him, being an +honest man, if hasty. We shall miss Nona the princess sorely--good +luck to her."</p> +<p>Then he must needs have all the bales of rich goods set on board +our ship, as a wedding present to Nona, and so set a crew on board +the prize, and she left us, heading homewards to Tenby. We went +back to our own ship at once after this was done, but Eric would +see us safely to Watchet before he was satisfied, and so we took up +the quiet passage again, little harmed enough. Eric had a few +wounded men, but we had not suffered from the arrows.</p> +<p>Presently the stars came out, and Nona and I sat with Owen under +the awning in the quiet of the calm sea, while the men rowed under +the shadow of the sail that held a little wind enough to help them +homeward, and we went over all the things that the day had brought +us. And Owen said:</p> +<p>"Now you may be at rest concerning me, Oswald, for there is not +one left to lift a hand against me of whom I need think twice. +Daffyd was the last of the crew to which Morgan and Tregoz and +Dunwal belonged, for Gerent has the rest in ward safely; and there +they will bide, if I know aught of him, until I have to beg him to +set them free beyond the shores of Cornwall."</p> +<p>I will say now that this was true, for thence forward no man +lifted hand or voice against my foster father. The war and its +hopeless ending quieted the men whom Morfed had led, and there was +peace, in which men turned to Owen as the one who could keep it, +and had given wise counsel which was once disregarded.</p> +<p>So it came to pass that I took home Nona with me, and set her as +princess in the hall at Taunton amid the rejoicing of all the Welsh +folk who were under me; for, as Ethelburga the queen had said, they +knew that they had a friend in her. And here we have bided ever +since, and are happy in home and friends and work, for all seems to +have gone well with us. And as to those good friends of ours, there +may yet be a little to tell before I set the pen aside.</p> +<p>Owen passed to Exeter at the time we came home, for he would see +his uncle before he went to speak with Ina. But presently he was +back with us at Taunton, bearing with him a wondrous present for +the bride from Gerent, and good and friendly words for me which +promised well for the peace of the border, at least while he lived. +And seeing that he lives yet, with Owen at his right hand, that has +been a long time.</p> +<p>Now Owen comes and goes, and none think it strange that he is +most friendly with Ina, for men have learnt that in the peace of +the two realms is happiness.</p> +<p>Presently Jago came back to Norton, for I needed some British +adviser at hand, for Evan, faithful and well trusted as he is as +our honest steward, and able to tell me of the needs of the people, +knows nought of the greater laws and ways, and Herewald minded me +of him. They had ever been good friends, and I could fully trust +him. So he rebuilt his house at Norton, where the land lay waste +round the old Roman walls which our Saxons hate, and there he is +now, helping me mightily with his knowledge of the Welsh customs, +which I do not wish to interfere with more than needful.</p> +<p>For, in the wisdom of Ina, we did not follow the old plan of +driving out and enslaving all the Welsh folk in this new-won land, +as had been the rule in the days of the first coming of our +forefathers when Saxons were few. Those manors whose owners had +fallen or would not bide under the new rule, Ina gave to thanes of +his own, and the men of Somerset and Dorset took what land they +would where the freeman had left them, but all others he left under +new and even-handed laws in peace.</p> +<p>So I had to content the men of both races as well as I could, +and men say that I wrought well. At least, I have had no murmuring, +and I may deem that they are right.</p> +<p>As one may suppose, there is no more welcome guest in our hall +than Thorgils, and at times he brings Eric or some other Tenby Dane +with him if a ship happens to cross hither. Once a year also he +brings Howel, and there is feasting in our hall, Saxon and +Norseman, Briton of the west and Briton from over sea together in +all good fellowship.</p> +<p>One evening it came to pass that Thorgils sat in our hall, which +was bright with the strange stuffs that came from the ship of +Daffyd, and we talked of the old ship a little, after he had sung +to us. And then I said idly:</p> +<p>"She must be getting old, comrade. When am I to give you that +new craft we once spoke of?"</p> +<p>Whereon he looked at Nona suddenly, and said:</p> +<p>"I mind that old promise. But now there is a ship of another +sort that will be a better present. I will ask for that."</p> +<p>"What is it?"</p> +<p>"Build us a church at Watchet, and set there a priest who shall +teach us the way of the Christian. We have seen you forego a blood +feud and do well to the innocent man whom our faith would have +bidden you slay, and it is good. We know you for a brave warrior, +and your faith has not taken the might from your heart as we were +told it must. Only let the priest be a Saxon."</p> +<p>Then he added, as if thinking aloud:</p> +<p>"Ay, Odin and Thor and the rest of the Asir are far off from us +here. Our old faith falls from us, and we are ready for the new. +Let it be soon."</p> +<p>There I think that the hand of Nona wrought, for the Norse folk +fairly worshipped her. So it was not long before that good friend +of mine, the Abbot of Glastonbury, found me the right man, and one +day thereafter Nona and I stood sponsors for Thorgils and one or +two more whom we knew well, at the font in the new church which the +gold of Mordred built instead of the ship, and soon all the little +town was Christian in more than name.</p> +<p>There is happiness at Eastdean, and we meet with Erpwald and +Elfrida at the house of her father now and then, and they have been +here also. But I have never had time to go to Eastdean again, +though it is a promise that we will do so when we may.</p> +<p>It is the word of Ina my master that all things go well where I +bear rule for him, and I fear little blame, if little praise may be +for me, when Owen comes to us from time to time. If there is any +praise, it is due to my fair British princess, who is my best +adviser in all things.</p> +<p>So there is peace; and some day, and that no distant one, there +will grow up here a new race in the west, wrought of the blood of +Saxon and Briton and Norseman; and the men of that Devon and +Somerset that shall be, will have the doggedness of the Saxon and +the fire of the Welsh and the boldness of the Norse, to be first of +all England, maybe, in peace and in war, on shore and at sea. And +that will have been brought to pass by the wisdom of Ina, whose +even laws are held the wisest that the race of Hengist has ever +known.</p> +<p>It is in my mind that the lesson of the wisdom of equal rights +for all men, whether conquered or conqueror, is one that will bide +with us in the days to come, and be our pride.</p> +<p>Now it seems that I have told my story so far as any will care +to hear it. But if there has been aught worth telling it has +centered round that one who took me from the jaws of the wild wolf +in the Andredsweald. First in my heart, and first in the hearts of +his people now at last, must be set the name of my foster father, +Owen--the Prince of Cornwall.</p> +<p>THE END.</p> +<h2><a name="NOTES">NOTES</a>.</h2> +<p><a name="EndNote1sym" href="#EndNote1anc">i</a> The national +weapon. A heavy blade between sword and dagger, with curved back +and straight edge, fitted for almost any use.</p> +<p><a name="EndNote2sym" href="#EndNote2anc">ii</a> The fine to be +paid in amends for an open "manslaying" in quarrel or feud.</p> +<p><a name="EndNote3sym" href="#EndNote3anc">iii</a> The ancient +Welsh province now represented by the county of Glarnorgan.</p> +<p><a name="EndNote4sym" href="#EndNote4anc">iv</a> Tribute due to +an overlord by the settlers.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Prince of Cornwall, by Charles W. 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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 www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Prince of Cornwall + A Story of Glastonbury and the West in the Days of Ina of Wessex + +Author: Charles W. Whistler + +Release Date: August 29, 2004 [EBook #13315] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCE OF CORNWALL *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + + A PRINCE OF CORNWALL: + +A Story of Glastonbury and the West in the Days of Ina of Wessex; +by Charles W. Whistler. + + PREFACE. + + CHAPTER I. HOW OWEN OF CORNWALL WANDERED TO SUSSEX, AND WHY HE BIDED + THERE. + + CHAPTER II. HOW ALDRED THE THANE KEPT HIS FAITH, AND OWEN FLED WITH + OSWALD. + + CHAPTER III. HOW KING INA'S FEAST WAS MARRED, AND OF A VOW TAKEN BY + OSWALD. + + CHAPTER IV. HOW THE LADY ELFRIDA SPOKE WITH OSWALD, AND OF THE MEETING + WITH GERENT. + + CHAPTER V. HOW OSWALD FELL INTO BAD HANDS, AND FARED EVILLY, ON THE + QUANTOCKS. + + CHAPTER VI. HOW OSWALD HAD AN UNEASY VOYAGE AND A PERILOUS LANDING AT + ITS END. + + CHAPTER VII. HOW OSWALD CROSSED THE DYFED CLIFFS, AND MET WITH FRIENDS. + + CHAPTER VIII. HOW OSWALD LOST A HUNT, AND FOUND SOMEWHAT STRANGE IN + CAERAU WOODS. + + CHAPTER IX. WHY IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR OWEN TO SLEEP IN THE MOONLIGHT. + + CHAPTER X. HOW THE EASTDEAN MANORS AND SOMEWHAT MORE PASSED FROM + OSWALD TO ERPWALD. + + CHAPTER XI. HOW ERPWALD FELL FROM CHEDDAR CLIFFS; AND OF ANOTHER + WARNING. + + CHAPTER XII. OF THE MESSAGE BROUGHT BY JAGO, AND A MEETING IN + DARTMOOR. + + CHAPTER XIII. HOW OSWALD AND HOWEL DARED THE SECRET OF THE MENHIR, AND + MET A WIZARD. + + CHAPTER XIV. HOW OSWALD FOUND WHAT HE SOUGHT, AND RODE HOMEWARD WITH + NONA THE PRINCESS. + + CHAPTER XV. HOW ERPWALD SAW HIS FIRST FIGHT ON HIS WEDDING DAY. + + CHAPTER XVI. OF MATTERS OF RANSOM, AND OF FORGIVENESS ASKED AND + GRANTED. + + CHAPTER XVII. HOW OSWALD FOUND A HOME, AND OF THE LAST PERIL OF OWEN + THE PRINCE. + + NOTES. + + + +PREFACE. + + +A few words of preface may save footnotes to a story which deals +with the half-forgotten days when the power of a British prince had +yet to be reckoned with by the Wessex kings as they slowly and +steadily pushed their frontier westward. + +The authority for the historical basis of the story is the +Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which gives A.D. 710 as the year of the +defeat of Gerent, king of the West Welsh, by Ina of Wessex and his +kinsman Nunna. This date is therefore approximately that of the +events of the tale. + +With regard to the topography of the Wessex frontier involved, +although it practically explains itself in the course of the story, +it may be as well to remind a reader that West Wales was the last +British kingdom south of the Severn Sea, the name being, of course, +given by Wessex men to distinguish it from the Welsh principalities +in what we now call Wales, to their north. In the days of Ina it +comprised Cornwall and the present Devon and also the half of +Somerset westward of the north and south line of the river Parrett +and Quantock Hills. Practically this old British "Dyvnaint" +represented the ancient Roman province of Damnonia, shrinking as it +was under successive advances of the Saxons from the boundary which +it once had along the Mendips and Selwood Forest. Ina's victory +over Gerent set the Dyvnaint frontier yet westward, to the line of +the present county of Somerset, which represents the limit of his +conquest, the new addition to the territory of the clan of the +Sumorsaetas long being named as "Devon in Wessex" by the +chroniclers rather than as Somerset. + +The terms "Devon" or "Dyvnaint," as they are respectively used by +Saxon or Briton in the course of the story, will therefore be +understood to imply the ancient territory before its limitation by +the boundaries of the modern counties, which practically took their +rise from the wars of Ina. + +With regard to names, I have not thought it worth while to use the +archaic, if more correct, forms for those of well-known places. It +seems unnecessary to write, for instance, "Glaestingabyrig" for +Glastonbury, or "Penbroch" for Pembroke. I have treated proper +names in the same way, keeping, for example, the more familiar +latinised "Ina" rather than the Saxon "Ine," as being more nearly +the correct pronunciation than might otherwise be used without the +hint given by a footnote. + +The exact spot where Wessex and West Wales met in the battle +between Ina and Gerent is not certain, though it is known to have +been on the line of the hills to the west of the Parrett, and +possibly, according to an identification deduced from the Welsh +"Llywarch Hen," in the neighbourhood of Langport. Local tradition +and legend place a battle also at the ancient Roman fortress of +Norton Fitzwarren, which Ina certainly superseded by his own +stronghold at Taunton after the victory. As Nunna is named as +leader of the Saxons, together with the king himself, it seems most +likely that there were two columns acting against the Welsh advance +on the north and south of the Tone River, and that therefore there +were battles at each place. On the Blackdown Hills beyond Langport +a barrow was known until quite lately as "Noon's barrow," and it +would mark at least the line of flight of the Welsh; and if not the +burial place of the Saxon leader, who is supposed to have fallen, +must have been raised by him over his comrades. + +The line taken by the story will not be far wrong, therefore, as in +any case the Blackdown and Quantock strongholds must have been +taken by the Saxons to guard against flank attacks, from whichever +side of the Tone the British advance was made. + +The course of the story hangs to some extent on the influence of +the old feud between the British and Saxon Churches, which dated +from the days of Augustine and his attempt to compel the adoption +of Western customs by the followers of the Church which had its +rise from the East. There is no doubt that the death of the wise +and peacemaking Aldhelm of Sherborne let the smouldering enmity +loose afresh, with the result of setting Gerent in motion against +his powerful neighbour. Ina's victory was decisive, Gerent being +the last king of the West Welsh named in the chronicles, and we +hear of little further trouble from the West until A.D. 835, when +the Cornish joined with a new-come fleet of Danes in an +unsuccessful raid on Wessex. + +Ina's new policy with the conquered Welsh is historic and well +known. Even in the will of King Alfred, two hundred years later, +some of the best towns in west Somerset and Dorset are spoken of as +"Among the Welsh kin," and there is yet full evidence, in both +dialect and physique, of strongly marked British descent among the +population west of the Parrett. + +There is growing evidence that very early settlements of Northmen, +either Norse or Danish, or both, contemporary with the well-known +occupation of towns, and even districts, on the opposite shores of +South Wales, existed on the northern coast of Somerset and Devon. +Both races are named by the Welsh and Irish chroniclers in their +accounts of the expulsion of these settlers from Wales in A.D. 795, +and the name of the old west country port of Watchet being claimed +as of Norse origin, I have not hesitated to place the Norsemen +there. + +Owen and Oswald, Howel and Thorgils, and those others of their +friends and foes beyond the few whose names have already been +mentioned as given in the chronicles, are of course only historic +in so far as they may find their counterparts in the men of the +older records of our forefathers. If I have too early or late +introduced Govan the hermit, whose rock-hewn cell yet remains near +the old Danish landing place on the wild Pembrokeshire coast +between Tenby and the mouth of Milford Haven, perhaps I may be +forgiven. I have not been able to verify his date, but a saint is +of all time, and if Govan himself had passed thence, one would +surely have taken his place to welcome a wanderer in the way and in +the name of the man who made the refuge. + +CHAS. W. WHISTLER. + +STOCKLAND, 1904. + + + +CHAPTER I. HOW OWEN OF CORNWALL WANDERED TO SUSSEX, AND WHY HE BIDED THERE. + + +The title which stands at the head of this story is not my own. It +belongs to one whose name must come very often into that which I +have to tell, for it is through him that I am what I may be, and it +is because of him that there is anything worth telling of my doings +at all. Hereafter it will be seen, as I think, that I could do no +less than set his name in the first place in some way, if indeed +the story must be mostly concerning myself. Maybe it will seem +strange that I, a South Saxon of the line of Ella, had aught at all +to do with a West Welshman--a Cornishman, that is--of the race and +line of Arthur, in the days when the yet unforgotten hatred between +our peoples was at its highest; and so it was in truth, at first. +Not so much so was it after the beginning, however. It would be +stranger yet if I were not at the very outset to own all that is +due from me to him. Lonely was I when he first came to me, and +lonely together, in a way, have he and I been for long years that +for me, at least, have had no unhappiness in them, for we have been +all to each other. + +I have said that I was lonely when he first came to me, and I must +tell how that was. I suppose that the most lonesome place in the +world is the wide sea, and after that a bare hilltop; but next to +these in loneliness I would set the glades of a beech forest in +midwinter silence, when the snow lies deep on the ground under +boughs that are too stiff to rustle in the wind, and the birds are +dumb, and the ice has stilled the brooks. Set a lost child amid the +bare grey tree trunks of such a winter forest, in the dead silence +of a great frost, with no track near him but that which his own +random feet have made across the snow, and I think that there can +be nought lonelier than he to be thought of: and in the depth of +the forest there is peril to the lonely. + +I had no fear of the forest till that day when I was lost therein, +for the nearer glades round our village had been my playground ever +since I could remember, and before I knew that fear therein might +be. That was not so long a time, however, save that the years of a +child are long years; for at this time, when I first learned the +full wildness of the woods of the great Andredsweald and knew what +loneliness was, I was only ten years old. Since I could run alone +my old nurse had tried to fray me from wandering out of sight of +those who tended me, with tales of wolf and bear and pixy, lest I +should stray and be lost, but I had not heeded her much. Maybe I +had proved so many of her tales to be but pretence that, as I began +to think for myself, I deemed them all to be so. + +But now I was lost in the forest, and what had been a playground +was become a vast and desolate land for me, and all the things that +I had ever heard of what dangers lurked within it, came back to my +mind. I remembered that the grey wolf's skin on which I slept had +come hence, and I minded the calf that the pack had slain close to +the village a year ago, and I thought of the girl who went mazed +and useless about the place, having lost her wits through being +pixy led, as they said, long ago. The warnings seemed to me to be +true enough, now that all the old landmarks were lost to me, and +all the tracks were buried under the crisp snow. I did not know +when I had left the road from the village to the hilltop, or in +which direction it lay. + +It was very silent in the aisles of the great beech trunks, for the +herds were in shelter. There was no sound of the swineherds' horn, +though the evening was coming on, and but for the frost it was time +for their charges to be taken homeward, and the woodmen's axes were +idle. Even the scream of some hawk high overhead had been welcome +to me, and the harsh cry of a jay that I scared was like the voice +of a friend. + +It was the fault of none but myself that I was lost. I had planned +to go hunting alone in the woods while the old nurse, whose care I +was far beyond, slept after her midday meal before the fire. So, +over my warm woollen clothing I had donned the deerskin short cloak +that was made like my father's own hunting gear, and I had taken my +bow and arrows, and the little seax {i} that a thane's son may +always wear, and had crept away from the warm hall without a soul +seeing me. I had thought myself lucky in this, but by this time I +began to change my mind in all truth. Well it was for me that there +was no wind, so that I was spared the worst of the cold. + +I went up the hill to the north of the village by the track which +the timber sleds make, climbing until I was on the crest, and there +I began to wander as the tracks of rabbit and squirrel led me on. +Sometimes I was set aside from the path by deep drifts that had +gathered in its hollows with the wind of yesterday, and so I left +it altogether in time. Overhead the sky was bright and clear as the +low sun of the month after Yule, the wolf month, can make it. I +wandered on for an hour or two without meeting with anything at +which to loose an arrow, and my ardour began to cool somewhat, so +that I thought of turning homewards. But then, what was to me a +wondrous quarry crossed my way as I stood for a moment on the edge +of a wide aisle of beech trees looking down it, and wondering if I +would not go even to its end and so return. Then at once the wild +longing for the chase woke again in me, and I forgot cold and time +and place and aught else in it. + +Across the glade came slowly and lightly over the snow a great red +hare, looking against the white background bigger than any I had +ever set eyes on before. It paid no heed at all to me, even when I +raised my bow to set an arrow on the string with fingers which +trembled with eagerness and haste. Now and again it stopped and +seemed to listen for somewhat, and then loped on again and stopped, +seeming hardly to know which way it wished to go. Now it came +toward me, and then across, and yet again went from me, and all as +if I were not there. + +It was thirty paces from me when I shot, and I was a fair marksman, +for a boy, at fifty paces. However, the arrow skimmed just over its +back, and it crouched for a second as it heard the whistle of the +feathers, and then leapt aside and on again in the same way. But +now it crossed the glade and passed behind some trees before I was +ready with a second arrow, and I ran forward to recover the first, +which was in the snow where it struck, hoping thence to see the +hare again. + +When I turned with the arrow in my hand I saw what made the hare +pay no heed to me. There was a more terrible enemy than even man on +its track. Sniffing at my footprints where they had just crossed +those of the hare was a stoat, long and lithe and cruel. I knew it +would not leave its quarry until it had it fast by the throat, and +the hare knew it also by some instinct that is not to be fathomed, +for I suppose that no hare, save by the merest chance, ever escaped +that pursuer. The creature seemed puzzled by my footprint, and sat +up, turning its sharp eyes right and left until it spied me; but +when it did so it was not feared of me, but took up the trail of +the hare again. And by that time I was ready, and my hand was +steady, and the shaft sped and smote it fairly, and the hare's one +chance had come to it. I sprang forward with the whoop of the Saxon +hunter, and took up and admired my prey, not heeding its scent at +all. It was in good condition, and I would get Stuf, the +house-carle, who was a sworn ally of mine, to make me a pouch of +it, I thought. + +I mind that this was the third wild thing that I had slain. One of +the others was a squirrel who stayed motionless on a bough to stare +at me, in summer time, and the second was a rabbit which Stuf had +shown me in its seat. This was quite a different business, and I +was proud of my skill with some little reason. I should have some +real wild hunting to talk of over the fire tonight. + +Then I must follow up the hare, of course, and I thrust the long +body of the stoat through my girdle, so that its head hung one way +and its tail the other, and took up the trail of the hare where my +prey had left it. Now, I cannot tell how the mazed creature learned +that its worst foe was no longer after it, but so it must have +been, else it had circled slowly in lessening rings until the stoat +had it, and presently it would have begun to scream dolefully. But +I only saw it once again, and then it seemed to be listening at +longer spaces. Yet it took me a long way before it suddenly fled +altogether, as its footmarks told me. A forest-bred lad learns +those signs soon enough, if he is about with the woodmen in snow +time. + +Then I turned to make my way home, following my own track for a +little way. That was crooked, and I went to take a straighter path, +and after that I was fairly lost. + +Yet I held on, hoping every minute to come into some known glade or +sight, some familiar landmark, before the sun set. But I found +nought but new trees, and new views over unknown white country all +round me as I turned my steps hither and thither as one mark after +another drew me. Then the sun set and the short day was over, and +the grey twilight of snow weather came after the passing of the +warm red glow from the west, shadowless and still. + +That was about the time when I was missed at home, for my father +came back from Chichester town, and straightway asked for me. And +when I came not for calling, nor yet for the short notes of the +horn which my father had always used to bring me to him, one ran +here and another there, seeking me in wonted places about the +village, until one minded that he had seen a boy, who must have +been myself, go up the hill track forestwards. + +Then was fear enough for me, seeing that from our village more than +one child has wandered forth thus and been seen no more, and I was +the only son of the long-widowed thane, and the last of the ancient +line that went back to Ella, and beyond him even to Woden. So in +half an hour there was not a man left in the village, and all the +woods and hillsides rang with their calls to me, while in the hall +itself bided only the old nurse, who wept and wailed by the hearth, +and my father, whose tall form came and went across the doorway, +restless; for he waited here lest he should miss my coming +homeward. Up the steep street of the village the wives stood in the +doorways silent, and forgetting their ailments for once in +listening for the cries that should tell that I was found. If they +spoke at all, they said that I should not be seen again, for the +cold had driven the wolves close to the villages. + +But I was by this time far beyond the reach of friendly voices, on +the edge of the great hill that falls sheer down through many a +score feet of hanging woods and thicket to the Lavington valley far +below, and there at last I knew for certain that I was lost +utterly, for this place or its like I had never seen before. Then I +stayed my feet, bewildered, for the sun was gone, and I had nothing +to tell me in which direction I was heading, for at that time the +stars told me nought, though there were enough out now to direct +any man who was used to the night. When I stood still I found that +I was growing deadly cold, and the weariness that I had so far +staved off began to creep over me, so that I longed to sleep. + +And I suppose that I should have done so, and thereby met my death +shortly, but for a thing that roused me in an instant, and set the +warm blood coursing through me again. + +There came a rustling in the undergrowth of the hillside below me, +and that was the most homely sound that I had heard since the wild +geese flew over me seaward with swish and whistle of broad wings +and call that I knew well. The silence of the great brown owls that +circled swiftly over me now and then was uncanny. + +The rustling drew nearer, and then out into the open place under +the tall bare tree trunks where I stood trotted a grey beast that +was surely a shepherd's dog, for he stayed and looked back and +whined a little as if his master must be waited for. I thought that +I could hear the cracking of more branches once farther down the +hill. + +Then I called to the dog, knowing that he and the shepherd would +not be far apart, and at the call the dog turned quickly toward me +and leaped back a yard, cowering a little with drooping tail. So I +called him again, and more loudly. + +"Hither, lad! Hither, good dog!" + +But the beast backed yet more from me, and I saw the dull gleam of +yellow teeth and heard him snarl as he did so, and then he growled +fiercely, so that I thought him sorely ill-tempered. But I had no +fear of dogs, and I called him again cheerily, and at that he sank +on his haunches and set back his head and howled and yelled as I +had never heard any dog give tongue before. And presently from a +long way off I heard the like howls, as if all the dogs of some +village answered him, and I thought their tongue was strange also. + +Then came the shout of a man, even as I expected, and there was the +noise of one who tears his way through briers and brambles in +haste; but at that shout the dog turned and fled like a grey shadow +into the farther thickets, and was gone. + +"Who calls?" one said loudly, and from the hillside climbed hastily +into the open a tall man, bearded and strong, and with a +pleasant-looking, anxious face. He was dressed in leather like our +shepherds, and like them carried but quarterstaff and seax for +weapons. I suppose that I was in some shadow, for at first he did +not see me. + +"Surely I heard a child's voice," he said out loud--"or was it some +pixy playing with the grey beast of the wood?" + +"Here I am," I cried, running to him; "take me home, shepherd, for +I think that I am lost." + +He caught me up in haste, looking round him the while. + +"Child," he said, "how came you here--and to what were you +calling?" + +"I was calling your dog," I answered, "but he is not friendly. Does +he look for a beating? for he ran away yonder when he heard you +coming." + +"Ay, sorely beaten will that dog be if he comes near me just now," +the man said grimly. "Never mind him, but tell me how you came +here, and where you belong." + +So I told him that I was Oswald, the son of Aldred, the thane of +Eastdean, thinking, of course, that all men would know of us, and +so I bade him take me home quickly. + +"I have been hunting," I said, showing him my unsavoury prey, which +by this time was frozen stiff in my belt. "Then I followed the hare +this was after, and I cannot tell how far I have come." + +All this while the man had me in his strong arms, and he had looked +at the track of the dog in the snow, and now was walking swiftly +from it, through the beech trees, looking up at their branches as +if wondering at the way the great trunks shot up smooth and bare +from the snow at their roots before they reached the first forking, +fathoms skyward. + +"I am a stranger, Oswald, the thane's son," he said. "I do not +rightly know in which direction your home may lie." + +I know now that he was himself as lost as I, but that he did not +tell me, for my sake. It is an easy thing for a stranger to go +astray in the Andredsweald. But I could not tell him more than that +I knew that I had left the sea always behind me so long as I knew +where it lay. So he turned southwards at once when he heard that, +and went on swiftly. Then I heard the howl of his dog again, and I +laughed, for the other howls that answered him were nearer. + +"Listen, shepherd," I said. "Your dog is making his comrades howl +for him, and the beating that is to come. + +"Are you cold?" + +For he had shivered suddenly, and his pace quickened. He had heard +the howl of the single wolf that has found its quarry, and calls +the answering pack to follow. But he did not tell me of my mistake. + +"I am not cold overmuch," he answered. "Let us run and warm me." + +Then he ran until we came to the top of a hill whence the last +glimmer of the sea over Selsea was plain before him, and there I +asked him to set me down lest I tired him. + +"Nay, but you keep me warm," he said. "Tell me, are there oak trees +as one goes seaward?" + +"Ay, many and great ones in some places." + +Then he ran down the hill, and the sway of his even stride lulled +me so that I dozed a little. I roused when he stayed suddenly. + +"Sit here, Oswald, for a moment, and fear nought while I rest me," +he said in a strange voice. + +We were halfway up a long slope and among fresh trees. Then he +lifted me and set me on the curved arm of a great oak tree, some +eight feet from the ground, asking me if I was safe there. And when +I laughed and answered that I was, he set his back against the +trunk, and drew his heavy seax, putting his staff alongside him, +where he could reach it at once if it was needed. It was light +enough, with the clear frosty starlight on the snow. + +Then I heard the swift patter of feet over the crisp surface, and +the grey beast came and halted suddenly not three yards from us, +and on his haunches he sat up and howled, and I heard the answering +yells in no long space of time coming whence we had come. His eyes +glowed green with a strange light of their own as he stared at my +friend, and for a moment I looked to see him come fawning to his +master's feet. + +Suddenly he gathered himself together, and sprung silently at the +throat of the man who waited him, and there was a flash of the keen +steel, and a sound as of the cleaving of soft wood, and the beast +was in a twitching heap at the man's feet. I knew what it was at +last, yet I could say nothing. The wolf was quite dead, with its +head cleft. + +Swiftly my friend hewed the great head from the trunk and tore one +of the leather cross garterings from his leg, and so leapt at a +branch which hung above him and pulled it down. Then he bound the +head to its end with the thong and let it go, so that it dangled a +fathom and a half above him, and then he lifted me from my place +and ran as I had not thought any man could run, until he stayed at +the brow of the hill for sheer want of breath. + +Behind us at that moment rose the sound as of hungry dogs that +fight over the food in their kennels, and my friend laughed under +his breath strangely. + +"That will be a wild dance beneath the tree anon," he said, as if +to himself. + +Then he said to me, "Are you frayed, bairn?" as he ran on again. + +"No," I answered, "You can smite well, shepherd." + +"Needs must, sometime," he said. "Now, little one, have you a +mother waiting you at home?" + +"No. Only father and old nurse." + +"Nor brother or sister?" + +"None at all," I said. + +"An only child, and his father lonely," the man said. "Well, I will +chance it while the trees last. The head will stay them awhile, +maybe." + +Now he went swiftly across the rolling woodlands, and again I slept +in his arms, but uneasily and with a haunting fear in my dreaming +that I should wake to see the wild eyes of the wolf glaring across +the snow on us again. So it happens that all I know of the rest of +that flight from Woden's pack has been told me by others, so that I +can say little thereof. + +The howls of the pack as they stayed to fall on the carcass of +their fellow, after their wont, died away behind us, and before +they were heard again my friend had come across a half-frozen +brook, and for a furlong or more had crashed and waded through its +ice and water that our trail might be lost in it. Then he lit on +the path that a sounder of wild swine had made through the snow on +either side of it as they crossed it, and that he followed, in +hopes that the foe would leave us to chase the more accustomed +quarry. From that he leapt aside presently with a wondrous leap and +struck off away from it. He would leave nothing untried, though +indeed by this time he had reason to think that the pack had lost +us at the brook, for he heard no more of them. + +So at last he came within sound of some far-off shouts of those who +were seeking me, and he guessed well what those shouts meant, and +turned in their direction. Had he not heard them I do not know what +place of refuge, save the trees, he would have found that night, +for he was then passing across the valley that winds down to our +home. + +So it happened that when at last he saw the red light from the door +of our hall gleaming across the snow, for it had been left open +that perchance I might see it, he was close to the place, and he +came into the courtyard inside the stockading without meeting any +one, for he came from the side on which the village is not. + +There I woke as the house dogs barked, and at first it was with a +cry of fear lest the wolves were on us again; but the fear passed +as I saw my father come quickly into the light of the doorway, and +heard his voice as he stilled the dogs and cried to ask if the boy +was found. + +"Ay, Thane, he is here, and safe," my friend answered, and he set +me down in the midst of the court, while the dogs leapt and fawned +round me. + +Then I ran to the arms that were held out for me, forgetting for +the moment the one who had brought me back to them, and left him +standing there. + +Then the man who had saved me turned after one long look at that +meeting, and I think that he was going his way in silence, content +with that he had done, but my father saw it and called to him: + +"Friend, stay, for I have not thanked you, and I hold that there is +reward due to you for what you have brought back to me." + +"It was a chance meeting, Thane, and I am glad to have been of use. +No need to speak of reward, for it is indeed enough to have seen +the boy home safely." + +"Why, then," said my father, "I cannot have a stranger pass my hall +at this time in the evening, when it is too late to reach the town +in safety. Here you must at least lodge for the night, or Eastdean +will be shamed. Your voice tells me that you are a stranger--but +maybe you have your men waiting for you at hand? There will be room +for them also." + +For there was that in the tones of the voice of this man which told +my father that here he had no common wanderer. + +"I am alone," my friend said. "But your men seek the little one +even yet in the forest. Will you not call them in?" + +My father looked at the man for a moment, and smiled. + +"Ay, I forgot in my joy. They are well-nigh as anxious as I have +been." + +Then he took down the great horn that hung by the door, and wound +the homing call that brings all within its hearing back to the +hall, and its hoarse echoes went across the silent woods until it +was answered by the other horns that passed on the message until +the last sounds came but faintly to us. I heard men cheering also, +for they knew by the token that all was well. My father had me in +his arms all this time, standing in the door. + +"There would have been sorrow enough had he been lost indeed," my +father said. "He is the last of the old line, and the fathers of +those men whom you hear have followed his fathers since the days of +Ella. Come in, and they will thank you also. Where did you find +him?" + +Then as he turned and went into the hall the light flashed red on +my jerkin suddenly, and he cried, "Here is blood on his +clothing!--Is he hurt?" + +"No," I said stoutly; "maybe it is the blood of the stoat I slew, +or else it has come off the shepherd's sleeves. He hewed off the +wolf's head and hung it on the tree." + +Then my father understood what my peril had been--even that which +he and all the village had feared for me, and his face paled, and +he held out his hand to the man, drawing in his breath sharply. + +"Woden!" he cried, "what is this, friend? Are you hurt, yourself? +For the wolf must be slain ere his head can be hefted, as we say." + +"No hurt to any but the wolf," the man said, smiling a little. "We +did but meet with one who called the pack on us. So I even hung his +head on a tree, that the pack when it came might stay to leap at +it. They were all we had to fear, and maybe that saved us." + +"I marvel that you are not even now in the tree, yourself--with the +boy." + +"Nay, but the frost is cruel, and he would have been sorely feared +with the leaping and howls of the beasts. There were always trees +at hand as we fled, if needs were to take to them. It was in my +mind that it were best to try to get him home, or near it." + +Then said my father, gripping the hand that met his: "There is more +that I would say, but I cannot set thoughts into words well. Only, +I know that I have a man before me. Tell me your name, that neither +I nor the boy may ever forget it." + +"Here, in the Saxon lands, men call me Owen the Briton," he +answered simply. + +"I thought your voice had somewhat of the Welsh tone," my father +said. "And your English is of Mercia. I have heard that there are +Britons in the fenland there." + +"I am of West Wales, Thane, but I have bided long in Mercia." + +Then came my old nurse, and there were words enough for the time. +Her eyes were red with weeping, but it was all that my father could +do to prevent her scolding me soundly then and there for the fright +I had given her. But she set a great bowl of bread and milk before +me, and the men began to come in at that time, and they stood in a +ring round me and watched me eat it as if they had never seen me +before, while my father spoke aside of the flight to Owen on the +high place. But concerning his own story my father asked the +stranger no more until he chose to open the matter himself. + +After supper there was all the tale to be told, and when that was +done the Welshman slept before the hall fire with the house-carles, +but my father had me with him in the closed chamber beyond the high +seat, for it seemed that he would not let me go beyond his sight +again yet. + +Now, that is how Owen came to me at first, and the first thing +therefore that I owe to him is nothing less than life itself. And +from that time we have been, as I have said, together in all +things. + +On the next morning my father made his guest take him back over the +ground we had crossed together, for no fresh snow had fallen, and +the footprints were plain to be followed almost from the gate of +the hall stockade. So they came at last to the tree, and on it the +head hung yet, but the body was clean gone. All round the tree the +snow was reddened and trampled by the fierce beasts who leapt to +reach the head, and the marks of their clawing was on the trunk, +where they had tried to climb it. From the footmarks it seemed that +there were eight or nine of them. Three great ones had left the +head and followed us presently as far as the brook, half a mile +away. + +After that the two men went on to the place where Owen had found +me, and there my father, judging from the dress and loneliness of +the Briton that he might be able to help him somewhat, said: + +"I do not know what your plans may be, but is there any reason why +you should not bide here and help me tend the life you have kept +for me?" + +Then answered Owen: "You know nought of me, Thane. For all you ken, +I may be but an outlaw who is fleeing from justice." + +"Do I know nought about you? I think that last night and what I +have seen today have told me much, and I have been held as a good +judge of a man. If so be that you were an outlaw, which I do not +think, what you have done is enough to inlaw you again with any +honest man--even had you taken a life, for you have saved one. Did +I know you were an outlaw I would see to your pardon. But maybe you +are on a journey that may not be hindered?" + +Now Owen was silent for a little, and there came a shadow over his +face as he answered, slowly and with his eyes on the far sea: + +"No man's man am I, and I am but drifting Westward again at random. +Yet I can say in all truth, that I am no wanderer for ill reason in +any wise. I will tell you, Thane, here and alone, that there are +foes in my home for whose passing, in one way or another, I must +needs wait. Even now I was on my way to Bosham, where they tell me +are Western monks with whom I might bide for a time, if not +altogether. I was lost in the forest last night." + +Now my father saw that some heavy sorrow of no common sort lay +beneath the quiet words of the man before him, and he forbore to +ask him more. Also, he deemed that in the Welsh land he would +surely rank as a thane, for his ways and words bespoke more than +his dress would tell. Therefore he said: + +"Wait here with us for a while at least. There will be no more +welcome guest." + +"Let me be of some use, rather," Owen answered. "If I bide with +you, Thane, and I thank you for the offer, let it be as I have +bided elsewhere from time to time--as one of the household, not as +an idle guest, if it were but to help the woodmen in the forest." + +"Why, that will be well. I need a forester, and it is plain that +you are a master of woodcraft. Let it be so. Yet I must tell you +one thing fairly, and that is, that I am what you would call a +heathen. I know that you are a good Christian man, for I saw you +sign your holy sign before you ate last night and this morning. Yet +I do not hate Christians." + +"I had heard that all Sussex was turned to the faith," Owen said. + +"If one says that all the men have gone to market, one knows that +here and there one is excepted for good reason. It is not for a +thane of the line of Woden to give up the faith of his fathers +idly. I do not know what may be in the days to come, but here in +the Andredsweald some dozen of us will not leave the old gods. It +was the bidding of Ethelwalch the king that we should do so, but +that is not a matter wherein a king may meddle, as it seems to us." + +"I do not know why I should not bide with you, Thane, if so be that +there is no hindrance to my faith." + +"That there will be none. Why, the most of my folk are Christian +enough. And if a man of the Britons did not honour his old faith it +would be as strange as if I honoured not that of my fathers. I have +no quarrel with the faith of any man, either king or thrall." + +"Then I will be your forester, Thane, for such time as I may, and I +thank you." + +"Nay, but the thanks are all on my side," answered my father. "Now +I shall know that the boy will have one with whom he may live all +day in the woods if he will, and I shall be content." + +So Owen bided with us, half as honoured guest and half as forester, +and as time went on he was well loved by all who knew him, for he +was ever the same to each man about the place. As for me, it was +the best day that could have dawned when he found me in the woods +as a lost child. And that my father said also. + + + +CHAPTER II. HOW ALDRED THE THANE KEPT HIS FAITH, AND OWEN FLED WITH OSWALD. + + +Our Sussex was the last land in all England that was heathen. I +suppose that the last heathen thanes in Sussex were those whose +manors lay in the Andredsweald, as did ours. Most of these thanes +had held aloof from the faith because at the first coming of good +Bishop Wilfrith, some twelve years ago, those who had hearkened to +him were mostly thralls and freemen of the lower ranks, and they +would not follow their lead. Yet of these there were some, like my +father, who had no hatred, to say the least, of the Christian and +his creed, and did but need the words of one who could speak +rightly to them to turn altogether from the Asir. + +Maybe the only man who was at this time really fierce against the +faith was Erpwald, the thane of Wisborough, some half-score miles +from us northwards across the forest. He had been the priest of +Woden in the old days, and indeed held himself so even now, though +secretly, for fear of Ina the Wessex king, who ruled our land well +and strongly. This Erpwald was no very good neighbour of ours, as +it happened, for he and my father had some old feud concerning +forest rights and the like which he had taken to heart more than +there was any occasion for, seeing that it was but such a matter as +most thanes have, unless they are unusually lucky, in a place where +boundaries are none. It is likely enough that but for the easy ways +of my father, who gave in to him so far as he could, this feud +would have been of trouble some time ago, for as the power of +Erpwald, as priest, waned he seemed to look more for power in other +ways. Yet in the end both the matter of the faith and the matter of +the feud seemed to work together in some way that brought trouble +enough on our house, which must be told; for it set Owen and me out +into the world together for a time, and because of it there befell +many happenings thereafter which have not all been sad in their +ending. + +Owen had been with us for a year and a half when what I am going to +tell came to pass, and in that time my father had come to look on +him rather as a brother than as a guest, and the thought that he +might leave him at any time was one which he did not like to keep +in his mind. + +That being so, it was not at all surprising that in this summer my +father had at last borne witness that he wished to become a +Christian altogether, and so it had come to pass that he and Owen +and I used to ride to Bosham, the little seacoast village beyond +Chichester town, to speak with Dicul, the good old Irish priest, +who yet bided there rather than in the new monastery which Wilfrith +built at Selsea, until we were taught all that was needful, and the +time came when we should be baptized. + +That my father would have done here at Eastdean, that all his +people, who were Christians before him, should see and rejoice. Yet +it was not an easy matter for him as it had been for them, for now +he would stand alone among his fellows, the heathen thanes; and +most of all Erpwald the priest would be wroth with him for leaving +that which he had held so long. He must meet these men often +enough, and he knew that they would have biting words to hurl at +him, but that thought did not stay him for a moment. It was more +than likely that one or two more would follow him when once the old +circle was broken. + +So on a certain day Dicul rode over from Bosham on his mule, and +early on the next morning he set up a little wooden cross by the +spring above the hall, and there my father and I and Stuf, the head +man of the house-carles, who had bided in the old faith for love of +my father, were baptized, Owen and one of the village freemen +standing sponsors for us, and that was a wondrous day to us all, as +I think. For when all was done my father gave their freedom to all +our thralls, for the sake of the freedom that had been given him, +and he promised that here, where he and they had been freed, a +church should be built of good forest oak, after the woodcutting of +the winter to come. + +Then Dicul went his way homewards, with one of our men to lead his +mule and carry some few presents for his people to Bosham, and +after he was gone we had a quiet feasting in our hall until the +light was gone. And even as our feasting ended there came in a +swineherd from the forest with word that from the northward there +came a strong band of armed men through the forest, and he held it +right that my father should be warned thereof, for he feared they +were some banded outlaws, seeing that there was peace in the land. +That was no unlikely thing at all, for our forests shelter many, +and game being plentiful they live there well enough, if not +altogether at ease. As a rule they gave little trouble to us, and +at times in the winter we would even have men who were said to be +outlaws from far off working in the woods for us. + +Yet now and then some leader would rise among them and gather them +into bands which waxed bold to harry cattle and even houses, so +that there might be truth in what the swineherd told. Nevertheless +my father thought of little danger but to the herds, and so had +them driven into the sheds from the home fields, and set the men +their watches as he had more than once done before in like alarms. + +Presently I was awakened, for I had gone to rest before the message +came, by the hoarse call of a horn and the savage barking of the +dogs. I heard the hall doors shut and open once or twice as men +passed in and out, and in the hall was the rattle of weapons as the +men took them from their places on the walls, but I heard no voices +raised more than usual. Then I got out of my bed and tried to open +the sliding doors that would let me out on the high place from my +father's chamber, where I always slept now, but I could not move +them. So I went back to my place and listened. + +What was happening I must tell, therefore, as Owen has told me, for +I saw nothing to speak of. + +As the horn was blown, one of the men who had been on guard came +into the hall hastily and spoke to my father. + +"The house is beset, Lord. Stuf blew the horn and bade me tell you. +There are men all round the stockade." + +"Outlaws?" + +The man shook his head. + +"We think not, Lord. But it is dark, and we cannot fairly see them. +We heard them call one 'Thane.' Nor are there any outland voices +among them, as there would be were they outlaws." + +Then my father armed himself in haste and went out. The night was +very dark, and it was raining a little. Stuf had shut the stockade +gates, which were strong enough, and had reared a ladder against +the timbers that he might look over. + +Close to the ladder stood Owen, armed also, for he had been out to +see that all was quiet and that the men were on guard. + +"There are men everywhere," he said. "I would we had some light." + +"Heave a torch on the straw stack," my father answered; "there will +be enough then." + +The stack was outside the stockade, and some twenty yards from its +corner. One of the men ran to the hall and brought a torch from its +socket on the wall, and handed it to Stuf, who threw it fairly on +the stack top, from the ladder. It blazed up fiercely as it went +through the air, and from the men who beset us there rose a howl as +they saw it. Several ran and tried to reach it with their spears, +but they were not in time. The first damp straws of the thatch +hissed for a moment, dried, and burst into flame, and then nought +could stop the burning. The red flames gathered brightness every +moment, lighting up two sides of the stockading, in the midst of +which the hall stood. Then an arrow clicked on Stuf's helm, and he +came down into shelter. + +"This is a strange affair, Master," he said. "I have seen three men +whom I know well among them." + +"Who are they?" + +"Wisborough men--freemen of Erpwald's." + +My father and Owen looked at one another. Words my father knew he +should have to put up with, after today, from Erpwald, but this +seemed token of more than words only. + +Then came the blast of a horn from outside, and a strange voice +shouted that the thane must come and speak with those who called +him. So my father went to the gate and answered from within it: + +"Here am I. What is all the trouble?" + +"Open the gate, and you shall know." + +"Not so, Thane," cried one of our men, who was peering through the +timbers of the stockade. "Now that I can see, I have counted full +fifty men, and they are waiting as if to rush in." + +Then said my father: + +"Maybe we will open the gate when we are sure you are friends. One +may be forgiven for doubting that when you come thus at midnight to +a peaceful house." + +"We are friends or not, as you choose, Aldred," the voice answered. +"I am Erpwald, Woden's priest, and I am here to stay wrong to the +Asir of which I have heard." + +"I will not pretend not to know what you mean, Erpwald," answered +my father. "But this, as it seems to me, is a matter that concerns +me most of all." + +"If it concerns not Woden's priest, whom shall it concern?" +answered Erpwald. "It is true, then, that you have left the Asir to +follow the way of the thralls, led aside by that Welshman you have +with you?" + +"It is true enough that I am a Christian," said my father steadily. +"As for leaving the Asir, that is not to be said of one whose line +goes back to Woden, his forefather. But I cannot worship him any +longer. Forefather of mine he may be, but not a god." + +"Ho! that is all I needed to hear. Now, I will not mince matters +with you, Aldred. Either you give up this foolishness, or I am here +to make you do so." + +Now, my father looked round at the men and saw that all the +house-carles and one or two from the village were in the courtyard, +fifteen of them altogether, besides himself and Owen. They were all +Christian men, and they stood in a sort of line behind him across +the closed gate with their faces set, listening. + +"Don't suppose that there is any help coming to you from the +village," said the hard voice from outside. "There is a guard over +every house." + +"Erpwald," said my father, "it is a new thing that any man should +be forced to quit his faith here in Sussex. Nor is it the way of a +thane to fall on a house at night in outlaw fashion. Ina the king +will have somewhat to say of this." + +"If there is one left to tell him, that is," came back the reply. +"There will not be shortly, unless I have your word that tomorrow +you come to me at Wisborough and make such atonement to the Asir as +you may, quitting your new craze." + +Then said Stuf, the leader of the house-carles, growling: + +"That is out of the question, and he knows it. He means to fall on +us, else had he spoken to you elsewhere first, Thane. It seems to +me that here we shall die." + +He looked round on his fellows, and they nodded, and one set his +helm more firmly on his head, and another tightened his belt, and +one or two signed the cross on their broad chests, but not one +paled, though they knew there was small hope for them if Erpwald +chose to storm the house. The court was light as day with the +flames of the stack by this time. + +"What think you of this, Owen," my father said. + +"That it is likely that we must seal our faith with our blood, +brother," he answered. "Yet I think that there is more in this than +heathenism, in some way." + +"There is an old feud of no account," said my father, "but I would +not think hardly of Erpwald. After all, he was Woden's priest, and +is wroth, as I myself might have been. It is good to die thus, and +but for the boy I would be glad." + +"I do not think that he will be harmed," said Owen, "even if the +worst comes to the worst." + +"Well, if I fall, try to get him hence. After that maybe Erpwald +will be satisfied. I set him in your charge, brother, for once you +have saved him already. Fail me not." + +Owen held out his hand and took his. + +"I will not fail you," he said--"if I live after you." + +Now from outside the voices began to be impatient, and Erpwald had +been crying to my father to be speedy, unheeded. But in the midst +of the growing shouts of the heathen my father turned to the men +and asked them if they were content to die with him for the faith. +And with one accord they said that they would. + +Then with a thundering crash a great timber beam was hurled against +the gate, shaking its very posts with the force of the six men who +wielded it at a run, and in the silence that fell as they drew back +Erpwald cried: + +"For the last time, Aldred, will you yield?" + +But he had no answer, and after a short space the timber crashed +against the gate again and again. And across it waited our few, +silent and ready for its falling. + +I heard all this in the closed chamber, and the red light of the +fire shone across the slit whence the light and fresh air came into +it, but it was too high for me to look out of. I got up and dressed +myself then, for no reason but that I must be doing something. I +waxed excited with the noise and flickering light, and no one came +near me. My old nurse was the only woman in the house, for the +married house-carles lived in the village, and I daresay she slept +through it all in her own loft. There was no thunderstorm that +could ever wake her. + +At this time my father sent a few of the men to the back of the +house, that they might try at least to keep off the foe from +climbing the stockade and so falling on them in the rear. But the +timbers were high, and the ditch outside them full of water, and as +it happened there was no attack thence. + +Erpwald watched the back indeed, but all his force was bent on the +gate. + +It was not long before that fell, crashing inwards, and across it +strode the heathen priest into the gap. He was fully armed, and +wore the great golden ring of the temple--all that was left him of +his old surroundings since Ethelwalch the king, who sent Wilfrith +to us, had destroyed the building that stood with the image of +Woden in it hard by his house. Men used to take oath on that ring, +as do we on the Book of the Gospels, and they held it holier than +the oaken image of the god itself. I do not think that any man had +seen it since that time until this night. + +Now Erpwald stood for a moment in the gate, with his men hard +behind him, expecting a rush at him, as it would seem. But our folk +stood firm in the line across the courtyard, shoulder to shoulder, +with my father and Owen before them. So they looked at one another. + +Then Erpwald slipped the golden ring from his arm and held it up. +There may have been some thought in his mind that my father was +hesitating yet. + +"By the holy ring I adjure you, Aldred, for the last time, to +return to the Asir," he said loudly. + +My father shook his head only, but Stuf the house-carle, who had +stood beside him at the font this morning, had another answer which +was strange enough. + +"This for the ring!" he said. + +And with that he hurled a throwing spear at it as it shone in the +firelight, with a true aim. The spear went through the ring itself +without harming the hand of the holder, and coming a little +slantwise, twitched it away from him and stuck in the timber of the +stockade whence the gatepost had been riven. The ring hung spinning +on the shaft safely enough, but to Erpwald it seemed that his +treasure had gone altogether, and he yelled with rage and sprang +forward. After him came his men, and in a moment the two parties +were hand to hand. + +Then was fighting such as the gleemen sing of, with the light of +the red fire waxing and waning across the courtyard the while. The +strange lights and shadows it cast were to the advantage of our men +for a little while, but the numbers were too great against them for +that to be of much avail. Soon they who had not fallen were borne +back to the hall door, and there stood again, but my father was not +with them. + +He fell at the first, as Owen tells me. Another has told me that +Owen stood across his body and would have fallen with him, but that +Stuf drew him away, calling on him to mind his promise concerning +me, and so he went back, still fighting, until he stood in the door +of the hall. + +There Erpwald and his men stayed their hands, like a ring of dogs +that bay a boar. There was a little porch, so that they could not +get at him sideways, and needs must that they fell on him one at a +time. It seemed that not one cared to be the first to go near the +terrible Briton as he stood, in the plain arms and with the heavy +sword my father had given him, waiting for them. Well do I know +what he was like at that time, and I do not blame them. There is no +man better able to wield weapons than he, and they had learnt it. + +Then the light of the straw stack went out suddenly, as a stack +fire will, and the darkness seemed great. Yet from the well-lit +hall a path of light came past Owen and fell on his foes, so that +he could well see any man who was bold enough to come, and they +held back the more. + +There were but six men of ours in the house behind Owen. + +Then came Erpwald, leaning, sorely wounded, on one of his men, and +Owen spoke to him. + +"You have wrought enough harm, Erpwald, for this once. Let the rest +of the household go in peace." + +"Harm?" groaned the heathen. "Whose fault is it? How could I think +that the fool would have resisted?" + +"As there are fifty men in the yard at this moment, it seems that +you were sure of it," answered Owen in a still voice. "If you knew +it not before, now at least you know that a Christian thinks his +faith worth dying for." + +Now, whether it was his wound, or whether he saw that he had gone +too far, Erpwald bethought himself, and seemed minded to make +terms. + +"I wish to slay no more," he said. "Yield yourselves quietly, and +no harm shall come to you." + +"Let them not go, Thane," said one of his men, "else will they be +off to Ina, and there will be trouble. You mind what you promised +us." + +Now, Owen heard this, and the words told him that he was right in +thinking that there was more than heathenry in the affair. It +seemed to him that the first thing was to save me, and that if he +could do that in any way nought else mattered much. It was plain +that no man was to be left to bring Ina on the priest for his ill +deeds. + +"If that is all the trouble now," he said, therefore, "as we are in +your power you can make us promise what you like. Give us terms at +least; if not, come and end us and the matter at once." + +One of the men flew at him on that, and bided where he fell, across +the doorway of the porch; none stirred to follow him. + +"Swear that you will not go to Ina for a month's time with any +tales, and you and all shall go free," Erpwald said. + +The man who had spoken before put in at once: + +"What of the blood feud, Erpwald?--There is Aldred's son yet." + +At that the priest lost temper with his follower, and turned on him +savagely: + +"Is it for men to war with children? What care I for a blood feud? +Can I not fend for myself? Hold your peace." + +Then he said to Owen: + +"They say that you are the child's foster-father now. If I give him +to you, will you swear that you or he shall cross my path no more? +You need not trouble to go to Ina, for he will not hearken to a +Briton in any case." + +Owen reddened under the last, but for my sake he did not answer, +save to the first part of the saying. + +"I will swear to take the child hence and let this matter be for us +as if it had not been," he said, seeing that it was the best he +could win for me. + +What other thoughts were in his mind will be seen hereafter, but I +will say now that it was not all so hopeless as it seemed to +Erpwald. + +"What of the other men," asked one or two of Erpwald's following. + +"They shall bide here, where we can keep an eye on them," the +priest answered. "They will not hurt us, nor we them, save only if +they try to make trouble." + +Then some of our house-caries said in a low tone to Owen: "Better +to die with the master. Let us out and fall on them." + +But he said: "This is for the boy's sake. Let me be, my brothers; I +have the thane's word to carry out." + +Then they knew that he was right, but they bade him make Erpwald +swear to keep faith with them all. + +So he spoke again with the priest, asking for honest pledges in +return for his own oath. Whereon from across the courtyard, where a +few wounded men lay--a voice weak with pain cried, with a strange +laugh: + +"Get him the holy ring, that he may be well bound. It hangs yonder +where I put it, in the gateside timbers." + +Erpwald glowered into the darkness, but he could see nothing of the +man who had spoken. But one of his men had seen the spear cast, and +knew what was meant, though the fight had set it out of his mind. +So he ran, and found the shaft easily in the darkness, and took the +ring from it, bringing it back to Erpwald. + +"It is luck," he said. "Spear and ring alike have marked the place +for Woden." + +"Hold your peace, fool," snarled Erpwald, with a sharp look at +Owen. + +And at that Stuf laughed again, unheeded. + +Then Owen swore as he had promised, on the cross hilt of his sword, +and Erpwald swore faith on the ring, and so the swords were +sheathed at last; and when they had disarmed all our men but Owen, +Erpwald's men took torches from the hall and went to tend the +wounded, who lay scattered everywhere inside the gate, and most +thickly where my father fell. + +Owen went to that place, with a little hope yet that his friend +might live, but it was not so. Therefore he knelt beside him for a +little while, none hindering him, and so bade him farewell. Then he +went to Stuf, who was sorely hurt, but not in such wise that he +might not recover. + +"What will you do with the child?" the man asked. + +"Have no fear for him. I shall take him westward, where my own +people are. He shall be my son, and I think that all will be well +with him hereafter." + +"I wit that you are not what you have seemed, Master," Stuf said. +"It will be well if you say so." + +Then Owen bade him farewell also, and went to find me and get me +hence before the ale and mead of the house was broached by the +spoilers. And, as I have said, I was already dressed, and I ran to +his arms and asked what all the trouble was, and where my father +had gone, and the like. I think that last question was the hardest +that Owen ever had put to him, and he did not try to answer it +then. He told me that he and I must go to Chichester at once, at my +father's bidding; and I, being used to obey without question, was +pleased with the thought of the unaccustomed night journey. And +then Owen bethought him, and left me for a moment, going to the +chest where my father had his store of money. It was mine now, and +he took it for me. + +It seemed strange to him that there was no ransacking of the house, +as one might have expected. Had the foe fired it he would not have +been surprised at all, but all was quiet in the hall, and the +voices of the men came mostly from the storehouses, whence he could +hear them rolling the casks into the courtyard; so he told me to +bide quietly here in the chamber for a few minutes, and went out on +the high place swiftly, closing the door after him, that I might +see nothing in the hall. + +There he found Erpwald himself close at hand, sitting in my +father's own chair while the wound that Owen himself had given him +was being dressed. At the side of the great room sat the rest of +our men, downcast and wondering, and half a dozen of the foe stood +on guard at the door. It was plain that nought in the house was to +be meddled with. + +Erpwald turned as he heard the sliding door open. + +"Get you gone as soon as you may," he said sullenly. + +"There is one thing that I must ask you, Erpwald," Owen said. "It +is what one may ask of one brave man concerning another. Let +Aldred's people bury him in all honour, as they will." + +"There you ask too much, Welshman. But I will bury him myself in +all honour in the way that I think best. He shall have the burial +of a son of Woden for all his foolishness." + +At least, there would be no dishonour to his friend in that, and +Owen thought it best to say no more, but he had one more boon, as +it were, to ask. + +"Let me take a horse from the stable for the child," he said. "We +may have far to go." + +He thought that he would have been met with rage at this, but it +was worth asking. However, Erpwald answered somewhat wearily, and +not looking at him: + +"Take them all, if you will. I am no common reiver, and they are +not mine. The farther you go the better. But let me tell you, that +it will be safer for you not to make for Winchester and the king. I +shall have you watched." + +"A plain warning not to be disregarded," answered Owen. "We shall +not need it." + +Erpwald said no more, and Owen came back to me, closing the door +after him again. There was another door, seldom used, from this +chamber to the back of the house where the servants had their +quarters, and through that he took me, wrapped in such warm furs as +he could find. Then he went to the stables, and in the dark, for he +would not attract the notice of Erpwald's men, who were round the +ale in the courtyard, he saddled my forest pony, and another good +horse which he was wont to ride with my father at times. He did not +take the thane's own horse, as it would be known, and he would risk +no questions as to how he came by it. + +Then we rode away by the back gate, and when the darkness closed on +us as we passed along the well-known road towards Chichester the +voices of the foe who revelled in our courtyard came loudly to us. +And I did but think it part of the rejoicing of that day as I +listened. + +Through the warm summer rain we came before daylight had fully +broken to Bosham, not passing through Chichester, for the gates +would be closed. And just before the sun rose, Dicul the priest +came from his house to the little church and saw us sitting in the +porch, waiting him, while the horses cropped the grass on the +little green outside the churchyard, hobbled in forest fashion. + +He bade us back to his house, and there I fell asleep straightway, +with the tiredness that comes suddenly to a child. And Owen and he +talked, and I know that he told him all that had happened and what +his own plans for me were, under the seal of secrecy. And then he +begged the good priest to tell me of my loss. + +So it came to pass that presently Dicul took me on his knee and +told me wonderful stories of the martyrs of old time, and of his +own land in times that are not so far off; and when it seemed to me +that indeed there is nought more wonderful and blessed than to give +life for the faith, he told me how my father had fallen at the +hands of heathen men, and was indeed a martyr himself. I do not +know that he could have done it more wisely or sweetly, for half +the sting was lost in the wonder of it all. + +But he did not tell me who it was had slain my father, and that I +did not know for many a long day. + +After that we ate with him, and he gave us some little store for a +journey, and so Owen and I rode on again, westward, homeless +indeed, but in no evil case. + +Now, as one may suppose, Owen's first thought was to get me beyond +the reach of Erpwald, whose mood might change again, from that in +which he let us go with what we would, to that in which he came on +us. So all that day we went on steadily, sleeping the night in a +little wayside inn, and pushing on again in the early morning, +until Owen deemed it safe for us to draw rein somewhat, and for my +sake to travel slowly. + +At this time he had no clear plan in his head for the ending of our +journey, nor was there need to make one at once. We had store of +money to last us for many a long day, what with my father's and +that which Owen had of his own, and we were well mounted, and what +few things we needed to seem but travellers indeed Owen bought in +some little town we passed through on the third day. After that we +went easily, seeing things that had nought in them but wonder and +delight for me. + +Then at last we came in sight of the ancient town of Sarum on its +hill, and there we drew up on the wayside grass to let a little +train of churchmen pass us, and though I did not know it, that +little halt ended our wandering. In the midst of the train rode a +quiet looking priest, who sang softly to himself as his mule ambled +easily along, and he turned to give us his blessing as Owen +unhelmed when he passed abreast of us. Then his hand stayed as he +raised it, and I saw his face lighten suddenly, and he pulled up +the mule in haste, crying to Owen by name, and in the Welsh tongue. +And I saw the face of my foster-father flush red, and he leapt from +his horse and went to the side of the priest, setting his finger on +his lip for a moment as he did so. + +Then the priest signed that his people should go on, and at once +they left him with us, and Owen bade me do reverence to Aldhelm, +the abbot of Malmesbury, before whom we stood. And after that they +talked long in Welsh, and that I could not follow, though indeed I +knew a fair smattering of it by this time, seeing that Owen would +have me learn from him, and we had used it a good deal in these few +days as we rode. + +It seemed to me that Aldhelm was overjoyed to see Owen, and I know +now that those two were old friends of the closest at one time, +when they met in Owen's own land. + +So from that meeting it came to pass that we found a home with the +good abbot at Malmesbury for a time, and there I learned much, as +one may suppose, while Owen trained me in arms, and the monks +taught me book learning, which I liked not at all, and only +suffered for love of Owen, who wished me to know all I might. + +Then one day, after two years in quiet here, came Ina the king with +all his court to see the place and the new buildings that were +rising under the hand of Aldhelm and Owen, who had skill in such +matters, and then again was a change for us. It seems that +Ethelburga the queen took a fancy to me, and asked that I might be +with her as a page in the court, and that was so good a place for +the son of any thane in the land that Owen could not refuse, though +at first it seemed that we must be parted for a time. + +But it was needful that the king should hear my story, that he +might have some surety as to who I was, and if I were worthy by +birth to be of his household, and Owen hardly knew how to tell him +without breaking his oath to Erpwald. Yet it was true that the +heathen thane had scoffed at him, rather than forbidden him to seek +Ina, though indeed it was plain that he meant to bind us from +making trouble for him in any way. But at last Owen said that if +the king would forbear to take revenge for a wrong done to me, he +might speak, and so after promise given he told all. + +Very black grew the handsome face of the king as he heard. + +"Am I often deceived thus?" he said. "I will even send some to ask +of all the ins and outs of such another case hereafter. This +Erpwald sent to me to say that Aldred and all his house had been +slain by outlaws, and that he himself had driven them off and I +believed him. After that I made over the Eastdean lands to him, and +I take it that they were what he wanted. Well, he has not lived +long to enjoy them, for he died not long ago, and now his brother +holds the lands after him, and I know that he at least is a worthy +man. + +"Let it be. The child is my ward now, as an orphan, and I should +have had to set his estate in the hands of some one to hold till he +can take them. There will be no loss to him in the end." + +Then he smiled and looked Owen in the face. + +"I know you well, Owen, though it is plain that you would not have +it so. Mind you the day when I met Gerent at the Parrett bridge? I +do not often forget a face, and I saw you then, and asked who you +were. Now there is good and, as I hope, lasting peace between our +lands, thanks to the wisdom of our good Aldhelm here, and I will +ask you somewhat, for I know that you also wrought for that peace +while you might. Come to me, and be of the nobles who guard me and +mine, and so wait in honour until the time comes when you may +return to your place. Then you will be with the boy also." + +So it came to pass that we took leave of that good friend the +abbot, and went from Malmesbury in the train of Ina of Wessex. +Thereafter for six years I served Ethelburga the queen, being +trained in all wise as her own child, and after that I was one of +the athelings of the court in one post or another, but always with +the king when there was war on the long frontier of the Wessex +land. + + + +CHAPTER III. HOW KING INA'S FEAST WAS MARRED, AND OF A VOW TAKEN BY OSWALD. + + +At this time, when I take up my story again, I was two and twenty, +not very tall indeed, but square in the shoulder, and well able to +hold my own, at the least, with the athelings who were my comrades, +at the weapon play or any of our sports. It would have been my own +fault if I were not so, for there was no better warrior in all +Ina's following than Owen, and he taught me all I knew. And that +knowledge I had tested on the field more than once, for Ina had no +less trouble with his neighbours than any other king in England, +whether in matters of raiding to be stopped or tribute to be +enforced. Since I was too old to serve the queen as page any longer +I had been of his bodyguard, and where he went was not always the +safest place on a field for us who shielded him. + +A court is always changing, as men come and go again to their own +places after some little service there, but Owen and I were of +those to whom the court was home altogether. Owen was the king's +marshal now, and I was in command of the house-carles, and had been +so for a year or more. It was no very heavy post, nor responsible +after all, for Ina's guard was the love of his people, and beyond +these warriors from the freemen who served as palace guard and +watch, were the athelings of the household, from whose number I had +been chosen for this post by right of longest service more than for +any other reason, as I think. I knew all the ins and outs of every +house where Ina went, and had nothing fresh to learn in the matter. +Still, if the men under me were few, the post had its own +privileges, and was always held to lead to somewhat higher, and I +was more than content therewith, for it kept me near Owen and the +king, whom I loved next to my foster father. + +I do not think that by this time any one knew, save the king, that +I was not Owen's own son. I was wont to call him father always, and +I cannot be blamed, for he was foster father and godfather to me, +and well did he take the father's place to the orphan whom he had +saved. And I had forgotten Eastdean, save as one keeps a memory of +the home where one was a child. I never thought of it as a place +that should have been mine, for neither the king nor Owen ever +spoke to me concerning it. Sometimes, in remembrances of my father, +I would wonder into whose hands the manors had passed, but rather +in hopes that some day those who owned them now would suffer me to +see that the grave where he lay was honoured, rather than as a +matter which at all concerned me in any closer way. + +For, since I was but a child, the court had been my home, with Owen +as my father, and Ina the king as the loved guardian for whom I +would gladly give my life in need. All my training and thoughts +were centred here, not as what one calls a courtier at all, but as +one of the household who feared the king and queen no more than +Owen himself, and yet reverenced all three as those to whom all +homage was due since he could remember. + +Thus things were with us at the end of the tenth year after we left +Aldhelm at Malmesbury, and now the court was at Glastonbury in fair +Somerset, keeping the Christmastide there in the place that is the +holiest in all England by reason of the coming thither of Joseph of +Arimathea, and the first preaching of the Gospel in our land by +him. It was not by any means the first time I had been in the +place, and here I had some good friends indeed; for Ina loved the +vale of Avalon well, and often came hither with a few of us, or +with the whole court, to the house which he had made that he might +watch the building of the wondrous church which he was raising over +the very spot where the little chapel of the saint had been in the +old days. + +Fair is the place indeed, for it lies deep among green hills, and +from the westward slope where the church stands, at their foot +stretch great meres to lesser hills toward the sunset beyond. Very +pleasant are the trees and flowers of the rich meadows of the +island valley, and the wind comes but gently here even at Yuletide, +hardly ruffling the clear waters that have given the place its +name, "Inys Vitryn," and "Avalon" men called the place before we +Saxons came, by reason of those still meres and the wondrous +orchards which fear no frost among the hills that shelter them. The +summer seems to linger here after it has fled from the uplands. + +There was a goodly company gathered in Ina's hall for the twelfth +night feasting. Truly, the hall was not so great as that in the +palace at Winchester, but it was all the brighter for that reason. +It was hard to get that great space well lighted and warmed at +times, when the wind blew cold under eaves and through narrow +windows; but here all was well lit and comfortable to look on and +to feel also, as one sat and feasted with the sweet sedges of the +mere banks deep under foot on the floor and the great fire in the +hall centre near enough to every one. I think that this hall in +Glastonbury was as pleasant as any that I know in all Wessex. + +There was a great door midway in the southern side of the hall, and +as one entered, to right and left along that wall ran the tables +for the house-carles and other men of the lower ranks, and for +strangers who might come in to share the king's hospitality and had +no right to a higher place. Then at either end of the hall were +cross tables, where the thanes and their ladies had their places in +due order, above the franklins whose cross tables were next to +those of the house-carles. And then, right over against the south +wall and across the fire on the hearth, was the longest table of +all, and in the midst of that was the high place for the king and +queen and a few others. That dais was the only place where the +guests did not sit on both sides of the tables, for the king's +board stood open to the midst of the hall on its three low steps +that he might see and be seen by all his guests, and be fitly +served from in front. + +On the hearth a great yule log burnt brightly, and all round the +wall were set torches in their sconces, so that the hall was very +bright. On the walls were the costly hangings that we took +everywhere with us, and above them shone the spare arms and helms +and shields of the house-carles, mixed with heads of boar and stag +and wolf from the Mendips and Quantocks where Ina hunted, each head +with its story. Up and down in the spaces between the tables +hurried the servants who tended the guests, so that the hall was +full of life and brightness from end to end. There was peace in all +Wessex at this time, and so here was a full gathering of guests to +the little town. + +Ina and Ethelburga the queen were on the high place, and to their +left was Herewald, the Somerset ealdorman, who lived in +Glastonbury, and was a good friend of mine, as will be seen, with +his fair daughter Elfrida, and on the right of the king was Nunna, +his cousin, and his wife. Owen was next to Herewald, at one end of +the high place, and at the other end was Sigebald, the Dorset +ealdorman, under whom I had fought not so long ago. There were many +others of high rank in the west to the right and left of these +again at the long tables. + +Indeed, there was but one whom I missed in all the gathering. My +old friend Aldhelm was gone. He died in the last year, after having +been Bishop of Sherborne for a little while. I missed him sorely, +as did every man who knew him. + +I do not think that if one searched all England through there could +have been found a more noble looking group than that at Ina's high +table. It is well known that our king and queen were beyond all +others for royalty of look and ways, and I will venture to say that +neither of the ealdormen had their equals, save in Nunna, anywhere. +But it is not my word only, for it was a common saying, that Owen +seemed most royal next to the king himself. Grave he always was, +but with a ready smile and pleasant, in the right place, and though +he was now about five-and-forty he had changed little to my eyes +from what he was twelve years ago, when he saved me from the +wolves. He was one of those men who age but slowly. + +One other on the high place I have not mentioned in this way. That +was Elfrida, the Somerset ealdorman's daughter, of whom it was said +that she was the fairest maiden in all Wessex. Certainly at this +time I for one would have agreed in that saying. She was two years +younger than I, if I dare say it, and it seemed to me that in the +last three years she had suddenly grown from the child that I used +to play with to a very stately lady, well fitted to take the place +of her mother, who used to be kind to me when I first came here as +the queen's somewhat mischievous page, and had but died a year or +so ago. I think that this feast was the first Elfrida and her +father had been present at since then, and at least, that was the +reason I heard given for her presence on the high place. + +Now I must say where my place was in the hall, for it may make more +plain what happened hereafter. The young nobles of the court who +had no relatives present sat at one of the cross tables at the +king's right hand, and at the head of these tables was my seat by +reason of my post as captain of the house-carles. So I sat with my +back to the long chief table, with its occupants just behind me, +and to my left was the open space in the centre of the hall, so +that if I was needed, or had to go out for the change of guard or +other house-carle business, all that I had to do, being at one end +of the bench, was to get up and go my way without disturbing any +one. At the same time I could see all the hall before me, and a +half turn of the head would set my eyes on the king himself. + +The door of the hall was closed when the king entered from his own +chambers and took his place, so that the cold, and the draughts, +which might eddy the smoke of fire and torches about the guests too +much, was kept out. But it was closed against weather only, for any +man might crave admittance to the king's ball at the great feast, +whether as wayfarer or messenger or suppliant, so that he had good +reason for asking hospitality. Several men had come in thus as the +feast went on, but none heeded the little bustle their coming made, +nor so much as turned to see where they were set at the lower +tables, except myself and perhaps Owen. There was merriment enough +in the hall, and room and plenty for all comers, even as Ina loved +to have it. + +Now there is no need to tell aught of that feast, until the meat +was done and the tables were cleared for the most pleasant part of +the evening, when the servants, whether men or women, sat down at +their tables also, and the harp went round, with the cups, and men +sang in turn or told tales, each as he was best able to amuse the +rest. There was a little bustle while this clearance went on, and +men changed their seats to be nearer friends and the like, for the +careful state of the beginning of the feast was over in some +degree; but at last all was ready, and the great door, which had +been open for a few minutes as the servants took out into the +courtyard the great cauldrons and spits, was closed, and then there +fell a silence, for we waited for a custom of the king's. + +Here at Ina's court we kept up the old custom of drinking the first +cup with all solemnity, and making some vows thereover. This cup +was, of course, to be drunk by the host, and after him by any whom +he would name, or would take a vow on him. In the old heathen days +this cup was called the "Bragi bowl," and the vows were made in the +names of the Asir, and mostly ended in fighting before the year was +over. We kept the old name yet, but now the vows were made in the +name of all the Saints, and if Ina or any other made one it was +sure to be of such sort that it would lead to some worthy deed +before long, wrought in all Christian wise. Maybe the last of the +old pattern of vow was made when Kentwine our king swore to clear +the Welsh from the Parrett River to the sea, and did it. + +So when the time came we sat waiting, each with his horn or cup +before him, brimming with ale or cider or mead, as he chose, and +men turned in their seats that they might see the pleasant little +ceremony at the high place the better. As for me, I just turned in +my bench end so that my feet were clear of the table, on which my +arm and cup rested, and faced right down the hall, with, of course, +no one at all between me and the steps of the high place. For now +all had taken their seats except one cup bearer, who waited at the +lowest step with the king's golden cup in one hand, and in the +other a silver flagon of good Welsh wine to fill it withal. One +would say that this was but a matter of chance, but as it happened +presently it was well that I moved. + +Now, in the hush was a little talk and laughter among those who +were nearest the king, and then I saw the queen smile and speak to +Elfrida, who blushed and looked well pleased, and then rose and +came daintily round the end of the king's board. There a thane who +sat at the table at the foot of the steps rose and handed her down +them to where the servant waited. Ina had asked her to hand him the +cup after the old fashion, she being the lady of the chief house in +Glastonbury next his own. There she took the cup from the man's +hand, and held it while he filled it heedfully. A little murmur +that was all of praise went round the hall, and her colour rose +again as she heard it, for it was not to be mistaken, and from the +lower tables the voices were outspoken enough in all honesty. + +Then she went up the steps holding the cup, and the king smiled on +her as she came, and so she stood on the dais before the table and +held out the wine, and begged the king to drink the "Bragi bowl" +from her hands in her father's town. + +The king bowed and smiled again, and rose up to take the cup from +this fair bearer, and at that moment there was a sort of scuffle, +unseemly enough, at the lower end of the hall near the door, and +gruff voices seemed to be hushed as Ina glanced up with the cup yet +untouched by his hand. + +Then a man leapt from the hands of some who tried to hold him back, +and he strode across the hall past the fire and to the very foot of +the high place--as rough and unkempt a figure as ever begged for +food at a king's table, unarmed, and a thrall to all seeming. And +as he came he cried: + +"Justice, Ina the king!--Justice!" + +At that I and my men, who had sprung to our feet to hinder him, sat +down again, for a suppliant none of us might hinder at any time. I +did not remember seeing this man come in, but that was the business +of the hall steward, unless there was trouble that needed the +house-carles. + +Ina frowned at this unmannerly coming at first, but his brow +cleared as he heard the cry of the man. He signed to Elfrida to +wait for a moment, and looked kindly at the thrall before him. + +"Justice, Lord," the man said again. + +"Justice you shall have, my poor churl," answered the king gently. +"But this is not quite the time to go into the matter. Sit you down +again, and presently you shall tell all to Owen the marshal, and +thus it will come to me, and you shall see me again in the +morning." + +"Nay, but I will have justice here and now," the man said doggedly, +and yet with some sort of appeal in his voice. + +"Is it so pressing? Well, then, speak on. Maybe the vow that I +shall make will be to see you righted." + +And so the king sat down again, and the lady Elfrida waited, +resting one hand on the table at the end of the dais farthest from +me, and holding the golden cup yet in the other. + +"What shall be done to the man who slays my brother?" the thrall +cried. + +And the king answered: + +"If he has slain him by craft, he shall die; but if in fair fight +and for what men deem reason, then he shall pay the full weregild +that is due according to my dooms." + +Then said the man, and his voice minded me of Owen's in some way: + +"But and if he slew him openly in cold blood, for no wrong done to +himself?" + +"A strange doing," said the king--"but he should die therefor." + +The king leant forward, with his elbow on the table to hear the +better, and the man was close to the lowest step to be near him. It +seemed that he was very wroth, for his right hand clutched the +front of his rough jerkin fiercely, and his voice was harsh and +shaking. + +"It is your own word, Ina of Wessex, that the man who has slain my +brother in this wise shall die. Lo, you! I am Morgan of +Dyvnaint--and thus--" + +There flashed from under the jerkin a long knife in the man's hand, +and at the king he leapt up the low steps. But two of us had seen +what was coming, and even as the brave maiden on his left dashed +the full cup of wine in the man's face, blinding him, I was on him, +so that the wine covered him and my tunic at once. I had him by the +neck, and he gripped the table, and his knife flashed back at me +wildly once, but I jerked him round and hurled him from the dais +with a mighty crash, and so followed him and held him pinioned, +while the cups and platters of the overturned table rolled and +clattered round us. + +Then rose uproar enough, and the hall was full of flashing swords. +I mind that I heard the leathern peace thongs of one snap as the +thane who tried to draw it tugged at the hilt, forgetting them. +Soon I was in the midst of a half ring of men as I held the man +close to the great fire on the hearth with his face downward and +his right arm doubled under him. He never stirred, and I thought he +waited for me to loose my hold on him. + +Then came the steady voice of Ina: + +"Let none go forth from the hall. To your seats, my friends, for +there can be no more danger; and let the house-carles see to the +man." + +Two of my men took charge of my captive, even as he lay, and I +stood up. Owen was close to me. + +"The man is dead," he said in a strange voice. + +"I doubt it," I answered, looking at him quickly, for the voice +startled me. Then I saw that my foster father's face was white and +drawn as with some trouble, and he was gazing in a still way at the +man whom the warriors yet held on the floor. + +"His foot has been in the fire since you hove him there, yet he has +not stirred," he said. + +Then I minded that I had indeed smelt the sharp smell of burning +leather, and had not heeded it. So I told the two men to draw the +thrall away and turn him over. As they did so we knew that he was +indeed dead, for the long knife was deep in his side, driven home +as he fell on it. And I saw that in the hilt of it was a wonderful +purple jewel set in gold. It was not the weapon of a thrall. + +That Ina saw also, and he came down from the high place, and stood +and looked in the face of this one who would have slain him, +fixedly for a minute. + +Then he said, speaking to Owen in a low voice: + +"Justice has been done, as it seems to me. Justice from a higher +hand than mine, moreover." + +Then he went back to his place, and standing there said in the dead +hush that was on us all: + +"It would seem that this man thought that he had somewhat against +me, indeed, but I do not know him, or who his brother may have +been. Nor have I slain any man save in open field of battle at any +time, as all men know, save and except that I may be said to have +done so by the arm of the law. Yet even so, our Wessex dooms are +not such as take life but for the most plain cause, and that seldom +as may be. Is there any one here who has knowledge of this man who +calls himself Morgan of Dyvnaint? It seems to me that I have heard +the name before." + +Now Owen had gone back to his place, and while one or two thanes +came forward and looked in the face of the man, whom they had not +yet seen plainly, he spoke to the king, and Ina seemed to wonder at +what he heard. + +Then Herewald the ealdorman said: + +"That is the name of one of the two Devon princes of the West +Welsh, cousins of Gerent the king. We have trouble with their men, +who raid our homesteads now and then." + +At that a big man with a yellow moustache and long curling hair +rose from among the franklins and said loudly, in a voice which was +neither like that of a Briton nor a Saxon at all: + +"Let me get a nearer look at him, and I will soon tell you if he is +what he claimed to be." + +And with no more ceremony he came to where I and the two +house-carles yet stood, and looked and laughed a little to himself +as he did so. + +"He is Morgan the prince, right enough," he said. "And I can tell +you all the trouble. Your sheriff hung his brother, Dewi, three +months since for cattle lifting and herdsman slaying on this side +Parrett River, somewhere by Puriton, where no Welshman should be. I +helped hunt the knaves at the time. The sheriff took him for a +common outlaw like his comrades, and it was in my mind that there +would be trouble. So I told the sheriff, and he said that if the +king himself got mixed up with outlaws and cattle thieves he must +even take his chance with the rest. And thereon I said--" + +"Thanks, friend," said Ina. "The rest shall be for tomorrow. Bide +here tonight, that you may tell all at the morning." + +The man made a courtly bow enough, and went back to his seat, and +then Ina bade Owen see to his lodgment, and after that the thralls +carried out the body. I went quietly and walked along the lower +tables, bidding my men see if more Welshmen were present, but +finding none, and then I found the hall steward wringing his hands, +with an ashy face, at the far end of the hall. + +"Master Oswald," he said, almost weeping, "how that man came in +here I do not know. I saw him not until he rose up. None seem to +have seen him enter, but men have so shifted their places that it +seemed not strange to any near him that they had not seen him +before." + +"Had you seen him you could not have turned him away," I said. "He +came as a suppliant, and the king's word is strict concerning such +at these times. Good Saxon enough he spoke, too, in the way of many +of our half Welsh border thralls. I do not think that you will be +blamed. Most likely he slipped in as the tables were cleared just +now. There was coming and going enough, and we have many strangers +here. + +"Who is the yellow-haired man?" + +"A chapman from the town. Some shipmaster whom the ealdorman +knows." + +Now, after I was back in my place and the bustle was ended, there +fell an uneasy silence, for men knew not if the feast was to go on. +Many of the ladies had gone, with the queen, and Elfrida was there +no longer. But Ina stood up with a fresh cup in his hand, and he +smiled and said, while the eyes of all were on him: + +"Friends, we have seen a strange thing, but you have also seen the +deeds of a brave maiden and a ready warrior to whom I am beholden +for my life, as is plain enough. Yet we will not let the wild ways +of our western neighbours mar the keeping of our holy tide. Maybe +there is more to be learnt of the matter, but if so that can rest. +Think now only of these two brave ones, I pray you, for I have yet +the Bragi bowl to drink, and it is not hard to say whom I should +pledge therein." + +Then he looked round for Elfrida, not having noticed that she had +gone with the queen. + +"Why," he said, "it was in my mind to pledge the lady first, but I +fear she has been fain to leave us. So I do not think that I can do +better than pledge both my helpers together, and then Oswald can +answer for the lady and himself at once." + +He rose and held the cup high, and I rose also, not quite sure if I +were myself or some one else, with all the hall looking at me. + +"Drinc hael to the lady Elfrida, bravest and fairest in all the +land of Somerset!" he cried. "Drinc hael, Oswald the king's +thane--thane by right of ready and brave service just rendered!" + +Then he drank with his eyes on me, and there went up a sort of +cheer at his words, for men love to see any service rewarded on the +spot if it may be so. Now I was at a loss what to say, and the lady +should have been here to bring the cup to me in all formality. +Maybe I should have stood there silent and somewhat foolish, but +that the ealdorman, her father, helped me out. + +"Come and do homage for the new rank, lad," he said in a low voice. + +He was at the lower table near me now, for the high table had been +broken and the king stood alone on the dais. + +So I went to the steps, and bent one knee at their top, and kissed +the hand of the king, and then held out the hilt of my sword, that +he might seem to take it and give it me again. But he bade me rise, +and so he took off his own sword, which was a wondrous one, and the +token of the submission of some chief on the Welsh border beyond +Avon, and he girt it on me with his own hands. + +"You nigh gave your life for me, my thane," he said. "That man's +knife was perilously near you." + +He touched my tunic with his hand, and I looked. Across it where my +heart beat was a long slit that I had not found out yet, where the +knife flew at me. That stroke must have been the man's bane, +because to reach me thus he had thrown his arm across his chest, +and so had fallen on his weapon. + +Then I was going, I think, though indeed I hardly know what I did +at that moment, but the king stayed me, laughing. + +"Do not think that I am going to let you off the cup, though. Now +you shall pledge me, and if you have any vow to make which is +fitting for a thane, make it and let us all hear it. But you have +also the lady to think of in your words." + +Then there was a little rustle at the door which was on the high +place, and the queen returned with some of her ladies, hearing that +all was seemly again, and she stood smiling at these last words. +But Elfrida was not with her, and I was glad, else I had been more +mazed yet. So I plucked up heart and took the cup from the hand of +the king, trying to collect my thoughts into some sort of fitting +words. + +"Drinc hael Cyning," I said, while my voice shook. "Here do I vow +before all the Saints and before this company--that I will do my +best to prove myself worthy of this honour that has been set on +me!" + +"Why, Oswald," said the queen, "that is no sort of vow such as you +should make, for we know that already, and you have proved it now +if never before. And you have forgotten Elfrida." + +Now, I thought to myself that the last thing that I was ever likely +to do was to forget that maiden, and with that a thought came into +my head, and as the queen was smiling at me, and every one was +waiting, I grew desperate, and must needs out with it. + +"Now, I cannot do better than this," I said, finding my courage all +of a sudden. "Here do I add to my vow that so long as my life shall +last I will not again forget the Lady Elfrida. Nor will I be +content until I am held worthy by her to--to guard her all the rest +of my days." + +With that I drained the cup, and while the thanes laughed and +cheered all round me, and Ina smiled as if well pleased enough, the +queen set her hand on my arm, smiling also, and said: + +"That was well said, my thane, but for one turn of the words. Why +did you not tell us plainly that you mean to win her? We all know +what you mean." + +Then I went to my place, and I glanced at Herewald, to see how he +would take all this. Somewhat seemed to have amused him mightily, +and his eyes brimmed with a jest as he looked at me. Presently, +when men forgot me in listening to the vow Ina made, that he would +add somewhat to the new Church in thankfulness for this escape, the +ealdorman came near me and whispered: + +"You are a cautious youth, Oswald, for I never heard a man turn a +hint from a lady better in my life. Nevertheless, if you are not +careful, Ethelburga will wed you to Elfrida for all your craft." + +He laughed again, and said no more. But I was looking at Owen, who +seemed to have some thoughts of his own that were troubling him +sorely. He smiled and nodded, indeed, when he caught my eye, but +then he grew grave again directly, and afterwards his horn stood +before him on the table untasted, and his look seemed far away, +though round him men sang and all was merry. + +However, as one may suppose, the merriment was not what it should +have been, and none wondered much when Ina rose and left the table +with a few pleasant parting words. He was never one to bide long at +a feast, and he knew, maybe, that the house-carles and younger men +would be more at ease when his presence was no longer felt by them. +With him went Owen and the ealdorman, and Nunna, at some sign of +his, and after they went I had to stand no little banter concerning +my vow, as may be supposed. + +I was not sorry when a page came and bade me join the king in his +own chamber, though it was all good-natured and in no sort of +unkindness. I will not say that I did not enjoy it either. So I +went as I was bidden, and found that some sort of council was being +held, and that those four were looking grave over it. I supposed +they had some errand for me at first, but in no long time I knew +that what was on hand was nought more or less than the beginning of +parting between Owen and me. + +I will make little of all that was said, though it was a long +matter, and heavy in the telling, and maybe tangled here and there +to me as I listened. I think that Ina understood that trouble fell +on me as I heard all, for he looked kindly on me from his great +chair, while Nunna sat on the table and was silent, stroking his +beard, as if thinking. But Owen drew me to the settle by him, and +bade me hearken while the king told me the tale I had to learn. + +Then I heard how Owen, my foster father, was indeed a prince of the +old Cornish line that came from Arthur, and how his cousins, Morgan +and Dewi, had plotted to oust him from his place at the right hand +of Gerent the king, and had succeeded only too well, so that he had +had to fly. It matters not what their lies concerning him had been, +nor do I think that Owen knew all that had been said against him, +but Gerent had banished him, and so he had wandered to Mercia, and +thence after a year or two to Sussex, having heard of the Irish +monks of the old Western Church at Bosham. So he had met with me, +and thus he and I had come to Ina's court together. + +And as I heard all, I knew that it had been for my sake that he was +content to serve as a simple forester at Eastdean, for Ina told me +that across the Severn among the other princes of the old Welsh +lands he would have been more than welcome. I could say nothing, +but I set my hand on his and left it there, and he smiled at me, +and grasped it. + +"And now," said Ina, "your hand has in some sort avenged the old +wrong, for you have brought about the end of Morgan, who was Owen's +foe. But this is a matter we need to hear more concerning. Do you +bring us that stranger that he may tell us what he knows." + +I went to the hall again, and found him easily enough, for all men +were looking at him. He was in the midst of the hall, juggling in +marvellous wise with a heavy woodman's axe, which he played with as +if it were a straw for lightness. Even as I entered from the door +on the high place he was whirling it for a mighty stroke which +seemed meant to cleave a horn cup which he had set on a stool +before him, and I wondered. But he stayed the stroke as suddenly as +if his great arms had been turned to steel, so that the axe edge +rested on the rim of the vessel without so much as notching it, and +at that all the onlookers cheered him. + +"Now it may be known," said he, smiling broadly, "why men call me +Thorgils the axeman." + +Then he threw the unhandy weapon into the air whirling, and caught +it as it came to hand again, so that it balanced on his palm, and +so he held it as I went to him, and told him the king would speak +with him. + +Whereon he threw the axe at the doorpost, so that it stuck there, +and laughed at the new shout of applause, and so turned down his +sleeves and bade me lead him where I would. + +He made a stiff, outlandish salute as he stood before Ina, and the +king returned it. + +"I have sent for you now, friend, rather than wait for morning," he +said, "for it seems to me that we have business that must be seen +to with the first light. Will you tell us what you know of this man +who has been slain? I think you are no Welshman of Cornwall." + +"I am Thorgils the Norseman of Watchet, king," he answered. +"Thorgils the axeman, men call me, by reason, of some skill with +that weapon which your folk seem to hold in no repute, which is a +pity. Shipmaster am I by trade, and I am here to seek for cargo, +that I may make one more voyage this winter with the more profit, +having to cross to Dyfed, beyond the narrow sea, though it is late +in the year." + +"I thought you might be a Dane from Tenby." + +"The Welsh folk know the difference between us by this time," +Thorgils said, with a little laugh. "They call them 'black heathen' +and us 'white heathen,' though I don't know that they love us +better than they do them. By grace of Gerent the king, to be +politic, or by grace of axe play, to speak the truth, we have a +little port of our own here on this side the water, at the end of +the Quantocks, where we seek to bide peaceably with all men as +traders." + +"Ay! I have heard of your town," said Ina. "Now, can tell us how +Morgan and his brother came to be in company with outlaws?" + +"He fell out with Gerent over us, to begin with. I went with our +chiefs to Exeter when we first came seeking a home, to promise +tribute if we were left in peace in the place we had chosen. Gerent +was willing enough, but Morgan, who claims some sort of right over +the Devon end of the kingdom, was against our biding at all, and +there were words. However, Gerent and we had our way, and so we +thought to hear no more of the matter. But the next thing was that +Morgan gathered a force and tried to turn us out on his own +account, and had the worst of the affair. That angered Gerent, for +he lost some good men outside our stockades. And then other things +cropped up between them. I have heard that the old king found out +old lies told by Morgan concerning Owen the prince, whom men hope +to see again, but I know little of that. Anyway, Morgan and his +brother fled, and this is the end thereof. We heard too that he +plotted to take the throne, and it is likely." + +"Thanks, friend," Ina said. "That is a plain tale, and all we need +to know. But what say men of Owen, whom you spoke of? Is it known +that he lives?" + +"Oh ay. They say that you know more of him than any one. Men have +seen him here at Glastonbury. Moreover, Gerent came to Norton, just +across the Quantocks, yesterday, and it is thought that he wants to +send a message to you asking after him. There will be joy in West +Wales if he goes back to the right hand of the king, for one would +think that he was a fairy prince by the way he is spoken of." + +Thereat Ina smiled at Owen, and Thorgils saw it, and knew what was +meant in a moment. He turned to Owen with a quick look, and said +frankly: + +"True enough, Prince, but I did not know that I spoke of a +listener. On my word, if you do go back, you will have hard work to +live up to what is expected of you. Maybe what is more to the point +is this, that Morgan has more friends than enough, and it is likely +that they will stick at little to avenge him. + +"Howbeit," he added with a quaint smile, "it shall not be said that +Thorgils missed a chance. Prince, if you do go back to Gerent you +will be his right hand, as they say. Therefore I will ask you at +once to have us Norsemen in favour, so far as we need any. Somewhat +is due to the bearer of tidings, by all custom." + +Ina laughed, and even Owen smiled at the ready Norseman, but +Herewald the ealdorman and I wondered at him, for he spoke as to +equals, with no sort of fear of the king on him, which was not +altogether the way of men who stood before Ina. + +Then said Owen quietly: + +"Friend, I think there is a favour I may ask you, rather. I have +bided away from my uncle, King Gerent, because I would not return +to him unasked, being somewhat proud, maybe. But now it seems to +King Ina and myself that needs must I go to him to take the news of +this death of Morgan myself. It is a matter that might easily turn +to a cause of war between Wessex and West Wales, for if the man +tried to slay our king in his own court, it may also be told that +here was slain a prince of Dyvnaint. There is full need that the +truth should reach the king before rumour makes the matter over +great. You have seen all, and are known to the Welsh court as a +friend. Come with me, therefore, tomorrow and tell the tale." + +"That I will, Prince," Thorgils said. "You will be welcome; but as +I warn you, there will be need for care." + +"You know somewhat of the ways of the Welsh court," said Ina. + +"Needs must, Lord King. I am a shipmaster, and every trader I carry +across the sea, sometimes to South Wales, and sometimes to Bristol, +and betimes so far as to Ireland, tells me all he has learned. It +were churlish not to listen, and then we need warning against such +attacks as that of Morgan. Moreover, one likes somewhat to talk +of." + +"That is plain enough," said Nunna, laughing. + +"Maybe I do talk too much," answered the Norseman. "It is a failing +in my family. But my sister is worse than I." + +Then the king laughed again, and so dismissed the shipman, and +presently Owen bade me make all preparation for riding to Norton on +the morrow early. Ina would have us take a strong guard, and I +should bring them back, either with or without Owen, as things +went. + +But little sleep had I that night, for I knew too well that from +henceforth my life and that of my foster father must lie apart, and +how far sundered we might be I could not tell. There was no love of +the Saxon in West Wales, nor of the Welshman in Wessex. + + + +CHAPTER IV. HOW THE LADY ELFRIDA SPOKE WITH OSWALD, AND OF THE MEETING WITH +GERENT. + + +Gerent, the king of the West Welsh, as we called him, ruled over +all the land of Devon and Cornwall, from the fens of the Tone and +Parrett Rivers to the Land's End. Only those wide fens, across +which he could not go, had kept our great King Kenwalch from +pushing Wessex yet westward, and along their line had been our +frontier since his days until, not long before Ina came to the +throne, Kentwine crossed them to the north and cleared the +marauding Welsh of the Quantock hills and forests from the river to +the sea, setting honest Saxon franklins here and there in the +new-won land, to keep it for him. It was out of those deep wooded +hills that Morgan had come on the raid that ended so badly for his +brother and himself, for the wasted country was yet a sort of +no-man's land, where outlaws found easy harbourage, coming mostly +from the Welsh side. It would not need much to set the tide of war +moving westward again, now that our men knew the fenland as well as +ever the British learned the secrets of the paths. + +Now that the time seemed to have come for him to leave Ina, Owen +feared most of all that the long peace would end, for that would +mean the rending of old friendships and certain parting from me. +How much longer the peace would last was very doubtful, and men +said that it was only the wisdom of Aldhelm that had kept it so +well, and now he was dead. It was not so long since that a west +Welshman would not so much as eat with a Saxon, so great was the +hatred they had for us, though that had worn off more or less. +Maybe it would have passed altogether but that there were the +differences between the ways of the two Churches which were always +cropping up and making things bitter again, and those were the +troubles that Aldhelm, whom Gerent honoured, had most tried to +smooth away with some sort of success. Yet it was well known that +many of the Welsh priests and people were sorely against peace with +the men who followed the way of Austin of Canterbury. + +As for me, I almost wondered that Ina seemed so ready to part with +Owen, but presently I saw that if Gerent owned him again, my foster +father would be a link between the two kingdoms, which would make +for peace in every way. But for all that, in my own heart was a +sort of half hope that in spite of what the Norseman had heard, +Owen would not be welcomed back to the west, else I should lose him +altogether. There was no intercourse between our courts, now that +Aldhelm was gone. + +But in the morning, when I came to say some of this to Owen, he +smiled at me, and said: + +"Wait, Oswald. Time enough for trouble when it comes. Maybe you and +I will be back here this evening, and if not, I hope that my +staying with my uncle will mean peace between our lands. Let it be +so till we have seen what may be our fortune at Norton." + +So I tried to let the trouble pass, and indeed at the morning meal +I had my new rank to think of, for my comrades would not forget it, +nor would they let me do so. The first man to greet me as thane was +Thorgils the Norseman, too, and he went with me to see to choosing +men and horses for our journey, and I was glad of his gossip, for +it kept me from thinking overmuch of the heavier things that had +kept me waking. + +He would guide us across the hills to Norton, where Gerent was; for +though we knew somewhat of the Quantocks, beyond them we did not +go. The palace where the king lay was an ancient Roman stronghold, +and had belonged to Morgan, who was dead; and though Thorgils had +heard that Gerent was there to seek Owen, it was more likely that +he had come to see that the outlawed brothers did not gather any +force against him in their own place. It was many a year since he +had been so near our border. + +Presently Thorgils would go down the town to the inn where he had +bestowed his horse, and I went with him, having an hour left before +we started, rather than face any more banter concerning my +thanedom. It was almost in my mind to go to the ealdorman's house +to ask after Elfrida, but I forbore, being shy, I suppose, and so +left the Norseman to join us presently, and went back to the king's +hall by a short cut from the village, whereby I had a meeting which +was unlooked for altogether. + +That way was a sort of stolen short cut across the king's orchard, +which some of us used at times in coming from village to hall, for +it lay between the two on the south side of the hall where the +ground sloped sunwards. And as I leapt over the fence I was aware +of a lady who was gathering some of the ruddy crab apples from the +ground under their bare tree, for the hot ale of the wassail bowl, +doubtless, for we leave them out to mellow with the frost thus. She +did not heed me as I came over the soft snow, and when she did at +last look up I saw that she was Elfrida. Just for a moment I wished +that I had gone round by the road, but there was no escape for me +now, for she had seen me. So I unbonneted and went to meet her. + +There was a little flush on her face when she saw me, but it was +not altogether one of pleasure, for when I wished her good morrow, +all that I had in return was a cold little bow and the few words +that needs must be spoken in answer. Whereat I felt somewhat +foolish; but it did not seem to me that I had done aught to deserve +quite so much coldness, not being a stranger by any means. So I +would even try to find the way to a better understanding, and I +thought that maybe the sight of me had brought back some of the +terror of last night. + +"Now, I hope that the rough doings of the feast have not been +troublous to you, Lady Elfrida," I said, trying with as good a +grace as I could not to see her cold looks. + +I saw that she did indeed shrink a little from them as I spoke, +even in the passing thought. + +But she answered: + +"Such things are best forgotten as soon as may be. I do not wish to +hear more of them." + +"Nevertheless," I answered, "there are some who will not forget +them, and I fear that you must needs be ready to hear of your part +in them pretty often." + +"Ay," she said somewhat bitterly, "I suppose that I am the talk of +the whole place now." + +"If so, there would be many who would be glad to be spoken of as +you must needs be. There is nought but praise for you." + +Then she turned on me, and the trouble was plain enough in a +moment. + +"But for yourself, Thane, there would have been nought that I could +not have put up with. But little thought for me was there when you +made me the jest of your idle comrades over that foolish cup of the +king's." + +That was a new way of looking at the matter, in all truth. I +supposed that a vow of fealty to any lady would have been taken by +her as somewhat on which to pride herself maybe, from whomsoever it +came. Which seemed to be foolishness in this fresh light. Still, it +came to me that her anger was not altogether fair, for I was the +one who had to stand the jesting, and not one of my honest comrades +so much as mentioned her name lightly in any wise. + +"That was no jest of mine, Elfrida," I said gravely enough. "If +there is any jest at all that will come from my oath, it will be +that I have been foolish enough to vow fealty to one who despises +me. The last thing that I would do is anything that might hurt you. +And my vow stands fast, whether you scorn me or not, for if it was +made in a moment, it is not as if I had not had long years to think +on in which we have been good friends enough." + +"Ay," she said, turning from me and reaching some apples that yet +hung on a sheltered bough, "I have heard the terms of that vow from +my father, more than once. You can keep it without trouble." + +"Have I your leave to try to keep it?" + +"You have had full leave to be a good friend of ours all these +years, as you say, and I do not see that the vow binds you to more. +No one thinks that you are likely to forget last night, or any one +who took part in that cruel business. And if a friend will not help +to guard a lady--well, he would be just nidring, no more or less." + +Then she took up her basket, which was pretty full and no burden +for a lady, for she had picked fast and heedlessly as she spoke to +me, and so turned away. + +"Nay, but surely you know that there was more than that meant," I +said lamely. + +"No need to have haled my name into the matter at all," she said. + +And then, seeing that my eyes went to the basket, she smiled a +little, and held it to me with both hands. + +"Well, if you meant some new sort of service, you can begin by +carrying this for me. I am going to the queen's bower." + +I took it without a word, and we went silently together to the door +that led to the queen's end of the hall. There she stayed for a +moment with her hand on the latch. + +But she had only a question to ask me: + +"Do you go with your father to the Welsh king's court, as it is +said that he will go shortly?" + +"We start together in an hour's time or thereabout," I answered, +wondering. + +"Well then, take this to mind you of your vow," she said, and threw +a little bronze brooch, gilt and set with bright enamel, into the +basket, and so fled into the house, leaving me on the doorstep with +the apples. + +I set them down there, and had a mind to leave the brooch also. +However, on second thoughts I took it, and went my way in a puzzled +state of mind. It certainly seemed that Elfrida was desperately +angry with me for reasons which were not easy to fathom, and yet +she had given me this--that is, if to have a thing thrown at one is +to have it given. But I was not going to quarrel with the manner of +a gift from Elfrida, and so I went on with it in my hand, and as I +turned the corner into a fresh path I also ran into the abbot of +the new minster, who was on his way to speak with Owen before he +set out. He had been a great friend of Bishop Aldhelm's, and I had +known him well since the old days of Malmesbury. + +"So Oswald," he cried, "I have been looking for you, that I might +wish you all good in your thaneship. Why, some of us are proud of +you. And I, having known you since you were a child, feel as if I +had some sort of a share in your honours. But what is amiss? One +would look to see you the gayest of the gay, and it seems as if the +world had gone awry with you." + +Now, the abbot was just the friend to whom I could tell my present +trouble without fear of being mocked, for he was wont to stand to +us boys of the court as the good friend who would help us out of a +scrape if he could, and make us feel ashamed thereof in private +afterward, in all kindliness. So I told him what was on my mind, +for he was at the feast last night. + +"It is all that vow of mine," I said. "I have just met Elfrida, and +she is angry with me for naming her at all." + +"Unfair," said the abbot. "You could not have helped it, seeing +that you were bidden to do so." + +I had forgotten that, and it was possible that Elfrida did not know +it. So I said that I did not look for quite the scorn I had met +with, at all events. Whereon the abbot stayed in his walk and asked +more, trying to look grave as he heard me, and soon he had all the +story. + +"So you carried the basket like any thrall, and had my Yuletide +gift to her in payment," he said, with his eyes twinkling; "I will +ask if she has lost it presently, and you will be avenged." + +He laughed again, and then said more gravely, but with a smile not +far off: + +"Go to, Oswald, don't ask me to make the ways of a damsel plain to +you, for that was more than Solomon himself could compass. But I +think I know what is wrong. Her father has been making a jest to +her of the way you worded your vow, laughing mightily after his +manner, and she is revenging herself on you. Never mind. Wait till +you come back from this journey, and then see how things are with +her. Now let us talk of your errand, for it is important." + +Then we went slowly together, and he told me how that he had +foreseen for a long time that Owen would return to his uncle and +take his right place again. Also he told me that Morgan had a +strong party on his side, and that we might have trouble with them +if Owen was taken into favour again. + +"As I hope he may be," he added with a sigh; "for I have seen the +war cloud drifting nearer every year under the guidance of Morgan +and his fellows." + +Then we turned into the courtyard, and he went to speak to Owen in +the hall, turning with a last smile to bid me hide the brooch, lest +Elfrida should hear some jesting about that next. So I pinned it +under my cloak, and then went and donned my arms, and saw to all +things for the journey, both for Owen and myself; and so at last +the hour came when I led the men round to the great door of the +hall, and sent one to say that all was ready. + +Now the king came forth, and with him was Owen. Ina wore his +everyday dress, but my foster father was fully armed, and as those +two stood there I thought that I had never seen a more kingly +looking pair, silent and thoughtful both, and with lines of care on +their foreheads, and both in their prime of life. + +Behind me I heard Thorgils say to Godred, the chief house-carle: +"If there were choice, I would take the king that wears the war +gear. That is the only dress that to my mind fits a man who shall +lead warriors." + +Now the king came and spoke with me, bidding me be on my guard +against any attack while we were at Norton, telling me plainly also +that he deemed that there was danger to both of us at the first, +somewhat in the way in which the abbot had already spoken to me. I +daresay the words were his, for he had been counselling Owen. + +Then the queen came forth with her ladies, and there was an honour +for us, for she herself brought the stirrup cup to Owen, bidding +him farewell, at the same time that the king must needs send +Elfrida with another cup to me, saying that it was my due for last +night's omission. But there was no smile as she set it in my hand, +and she waited with head turned away until I gave it back to her, +as if she looked at Owen rather than any one else. Then it was only +a short word of farewell that she said to me, and yet it did seem +that her eyes were less grave than she would seem in face as she +turned back to the other ladies on the hall steps. + +Then Owen unhelmed and turned his horse to the gates, and after him +we went clattering down the street. In a minute or two Thorgils +came alongside me. + +"So that was the lady of the vow, surely. Well, you may be excused +for making it, though indeed it is rash to bind oneself--nay, but +it seems that this is one of those matters whereon I must hold my +tongue!" + +For I had spurred my horse a little impatiently, and he understood +well enough. I did not altogether care that this stranger should +talk of my affairs--more particularly as they did not seem to be +going at all rightly. So he said no more of them, but began to talk +of himself gaily, while Owen rode alone at our head, as he would +sometimes if his thoughts were busy. + +Presently he reined up and came alongside us, taking his part in +our talk in all cheerfulness. And from that time I had little +thought but of the pleasantness of the ride in the sharp winter air +and under the bright sun with him toward the new court which I had +often longed to see, with its strange ways, in the ancient +British-Roman palace that he had so often told me of. + +So we rode along the ancient and grass-grown Roman road that lies +on the Polden ridge, hardly travelled save by a few chapmen, since +the old town they called Uxella was lost in the days of my +forefathers. The road had no ending now, as one may say, for beyond +the turning to the bridge across the Parrett for which we were +making it passed to nought but fen and mere where once had been the +city. All the wide waters on either side of the hills were hard +frozen, and southward, across to where we could see the blue hill +of ancient Camelot, the ice flashed black and steely under the red +low sun of midwinter. Before us the Quantocks lay purple and +deepest brown where the woods hid the snow that covered them. Over +us, too, went the long strings of wild geese, clanging in their +flight in search of open water--and it was the wolf month again, +and even so had they fled on that day when Owen found me in the +snow. + +And therewith we fell into talk of Eastdean, and dimly enough I +recalled it all. I knew that an Erpwald held the place even yet, +but I cared not. It was but a pleasant memory by reason of the +coming of Owen, and I had no thought even to see the place again. +Only, as we talked it did seem to me that I would that I knew that +the grave of my father was honoured. + +Then we left the old road, and crossed the ancient Parrett bridge, +where the Roman earthworks yet stood frowning as if they would stay +us. They were last held against Kenwalch, and now we were in that +no-man's land which he had won and wasted. Then we climbed the long +slope of the Quantocks, whence we might look back over the land we +had left, to see the Tor at Glastonbury shouldering higher and +higher above the lower Poldens, until the height was reached and +the swift descent toward Norton began. There we could see all the +wild Exmoor hills before us, with the sea away to our right, and +Thorgils shewed us where lay, under the very headlands of the hills +we were crossing, the place where his folk had their haven. He said +that he could see the very smoke from the hearths, but maybe that +was only because he knew where it ought to be, and we laughed at +him. + +So we came to the outskirts of Norton, and all the way we had seen +no man. The hills were deserted, save by wild things, and of them +there was plenty. And now for the first time I saw men living in +houses built of stone from ground to roof, and that was strange to +me. We Saxons cannot abide aught but good timber. Here none of us +had ever come, and still some of the houses built after the Roman +fashion remained, surrounded, it is true, by mud hovels of +yesterday, as one might say, but yet very wonderful to me. Many a +time I had seen the ruined foundations of the like before, but one +does not care to go near them. The wastes our forefathers made of +the old towns they found here, and had no use for, lie deserted, +for they are haunted by all things uncanny, as any one knows. Maybe +that is because the old Roman gods have come back to their old +places, now that the churches are no longer standing. + +Through the village we went, and then came to the walls of the +ancient stronghold, and they seemed as if they were but lately +raised, so strong were they and high. The gates were in their +places, and at them was a guard, and through them, for they stood +open, I could see the white walls and flat roof of the house, or +rather palace, which was either that of the Roman governor of the +place, or else had been rebuilt or restored from time to time in +exactly the same wise, so that it stood fair and lordly and fit for +a king's dwelling even yet. Maybe the wattled hovels of the thralls +that clustered round it inside the great earthworks were not what +would have been suffered in the days of those terrible men who made +the fortress, but I doubt not that they stood on the foundations of +the quarters of the soldiers who had held it for Rome. + +The guard turned out in orderly wise as we came to the gates, and +they wore the Roman helm and corselet, and bore the heavy Roman +spear and short heavy sword. But that war gear I had seen before on +the other Welsh border, and I had a scar, moreover, that would tell +that I had been within reach of one weapon or the other. I knew +their tongue, too, almost as well as my own, for Owen had taught it +me, saying that I might need it at some time. It had already been +of use to the king in the frontier troubles, for I could interpret +for him, but I think that Owen had in his mind the coming of some +such day as this. + +Now, Owen would have me speak to the guard and tell them our +errand, and I rode forward and did so. The short day was almost +over by this time; and the captain who came to meet me did not seem +to notice my Saxon arms in the shadow of the high rampart. Hearing +that we bore a message for the king, he sent a man to ask for +directions, and meanwhile we waited. I asked him if there was any +news, thinking it well to know for certain if aught had been heard +yet of the end of Morgan. News of that sort flies fast. + +"No news at all," he answered. "What did you expect?" + +"I had heard of the death of a prince, and do not know the rights +thereof." + +"Why, where have you been? That is old news. It was only Dewi, and +he is no loss. The Saxon sheriff hung him, even as the king said he +would do to him an he caught him, so maybe it is the same in the +end. I have not heard that any one is sorry to lose him." + +He laughed, and if it was plain that Morgan's brother was not +loved, it was also plain that nought was known of the end of the +other prince yet. We were first with the tidings here, and that +might be as well. + +Now a message came to bid us enter, and the steward who brought it +told us that we were to be lodged in some great guest chamber, and +that we should speak with the king shortly. + +The men bided outside the walls, the captain leading them to a long +row of timber-built stables which stood close at hand by the gate. +Presently, when the horses were bestowed, they would be brought to +the guest hall; so Thorgils went with them, while the steward led +Owen and myself through the gate and to the palace, which stood +squarely in the midst of the fortress, with a space between it and +the other buildings which filled the area. + +By daylight I knew afterwards that it was uncared for, and somewhat +dilapidated without, but in the falling dusk it looked all that it +should. We entered through a wide door, and passed a guardroom +where many men lounged, armed and unarmed, and then were in a +courtyard formed by the four sides of the building, wonderfully +paved, and with a frozen fountain in its midst. There were windows +all round the walls which bounded this court, and the light shone +red from them, very cheerfully, and already there was bustle of men +who crossed and passed through the palace making ready for our +reception. The steward led us to the northern wing of the house +across this court, and so took us into an antechamber, as it +seemed, warm and bright, with hanging lamps, and with painted walls +and many-patterned tiled floor, but for all its warmth with no fire +to be seen, which was strange enough to me. + +And so soon as the bright light shone on Owen I saw the steward +start and gaze at him fixedly, and then as Owen smiled a little at +him he fell on his knees and cried softly some words of welcome, +with tears starting in his eyes. + +"Oh my Lord," he said, "is it indeed you? This is a good day.--A +thousand welcomes!" + +Owen raised him kindly, and set his finger on his lip. + +"It is well that you have been the first to know me, friend," he +said. "Now hold your peace for a little while till we see what says +my uncle. I must have word with him at once, if it can be managed, +before others know me. It will be best." + +"He waits you, Lord. It was his word that he would see the Saxon +alone." + +Then he led us into another room like to that we left, but larger, +and with rich carpets on the tiled floor, and there sat Gerent +alone to wait us. I thought him a wonderful looking old man, and +most kingly, as he rose and bowed in return when we greeted him. +His hair was white, and his long beard even whiter, but his eyes +were bright. Purple and gold he wore, and those robes and the +golden circlet on his head shewed that he had put on the kingly +dress to meet with the messenger of a king. + +Almost had Owen sprung toward him, but he forbore, and when the +king had taken his seat he went slowly to him, holding out a letter +which Ina had written for him, saying nothing. And Gerent took it +without a word or so much as a glance at the bearer from under his +heavy brows, and opened it. + +Owen stood back by me, and we watched the face of the king as he +read. We saw his brows knit themselves fiercely at first, and then +as he went on they cleared until he seemed as calm as when he first +met us. But the flush that had come with the frown had not faded +when at last he looked keenly at us. + +"Come nearer," he said in a harsh voice, speaking in fair Saxon. +"Know you what is written herein?" + +"I know it," Owen said. + +"Here Ina says that this is borne by one whom I know. Is it you or +this young warrior?" + +Then Owen went forward and fell on one knee before the king, and +said in his own tongue--the tongue of Cornwall and of Devon: + +"I am that one of whom Ina has spoken. Yet it is for Gerent to say +whether he will own that he knows me even yet." + +I saw the king start as the voice of Owen came to him in the +familiar language, and he knitted his brows as one who tries to +recall somewhat forgotten, and he looked searchingly in the face of +the man who knelt before him, scanning every feature. + +And at last he said in a hushed voice, not like the harsh tones of +but now: + +"Can it be Owen?--Owen, the son of my sister? They said that one +like him served the Saxon, but I did not believe it. That is no +service for one of our line." + +"What shall an exile do but serve whom he may, if the service be an +honoured one? Yet I will say that I wandered long, seeing and +learning, before there came to me a reason that I should serve Ina. +To you I might not return." + +But the king was silent, and I thought that he was wroth, while +Owen bided yet there on his knee before him, waiting his word. And +when that came at last, it was not as I feared. + +Slowly the king set forth his hand, and it shook as he did so. He +laid it on Owen's head, while the letter that was on his knees +fluttered unheeded to the floor as he bent forward and spoke +softly: + +"Owen, Owen," he said, "I have forgotten nought. Forgive the old +blindness, and come and take your place again beside me." + +And as Owen took the hand that would have raised him and kissed it, +the old king added in the voice of one from whom tears are not so +far: + +"I have wearied for you, Owen, my nephew. Sorely did I wrong you in +my haste in the old days, and bitterly have I been punished. I pray +you forgive." + +Then Owen rose, and it seemed to me that on the king the weight of +years had fallen suddenly, so that he had grown weak and needful of +the strong arm of the steadfast prince who stood before him, and I +took the arm of the steward and pulled him unresisting through the +doorway, so that what greeting those two might have for one another +should be their own. + +Then said the steward to me as we looked at one another: + +"This is the best day for us all that has been since the prince who +has come back left us. There will be joy through all Cornwall." + +But I knew that what I dreaded had come to pass, and that from +henceforth the way of the prince of Cornwall and of the house-carle +captain of Ina's court must lie apart, and I had no answer for him. + + + +CHAPTER V. HOW OSWALD FELL INTO BAD HANDS, AND FARED EVILLY, ON THE +QUANTOCKS. + + +It would be long for me to tell how presently Owen called me in to +speak with the king, and how he owned me as his foster son in such +wise that Gerent smiled on him, and spoke most kindly to me as +though I had indeed been a kinsman of his own. And then, after we +had spoken long together, Thorgils was sent for, and he told the +tale of the end of Morgan plainly and in few words, yet in such +skilful wise that as he spoke I could seem to see once more our +hall and myself and Elfrida at the dais, even as though I were an +onlooker. + +"You are a skilful tale teller," the king said when he ended. "You +are one of the Norsemen from Watchet, as I am told." + +"I am Thorgils the shipmaster, who came to speak with you two years +ago, when we first came here. Men say that I am no bad sagaman." + +"This is a good day for me," Gerent said, "and I will reward you +for your tale. Free shall the ship of Thorgils be from toil or +harbourage in all ports of our land from henceforward. I will see +that it is known." + +"That is a good gift, Lord King," said the Norseman, and he thanked +Gerent well and heartily, and so went his way back to the guest +chambers with a glad heart. + +Then Gerent said gravely: + +"I suppose that there are men who would call all these things the +work of chance or fate. But it is fitting that vengeance on him who +wronged you should come from the hand of one whom you have cared +for. That has not come by chance; but I think it will be well that +it is not known here just at first whose was the hand that slew +Morgan." + +"For fear of his friends?" asked Owen thoughtfully. + +"Ay, for that reason. Overbearing and proud was he, but for all +that there are some who thought him the more princely because he +was so. And there are few who know that he did indeed try to end my +life, for I would not spread abroad the full shame of a prince of +our line. Men have thought that I would surely take him into favour +again, but that was not possible. Only, I would that he had met a +better ending." + +The old king sighed, and was silent. Presently Owen said that I +must see to the men and horses, and I rose up to leave the chamber, +and then the king said: + +"We shall see you again at the feast I am making for you all. Then +tomorrow you must take back as kingly a letter to Ina as he wrote +to me, and so return to Owen for as long as your king will suffer +you to bide with us." + +So I went to the stables first of all, and there was Thorgils +bidding a Welsh groom to get out his horse while he took off the +arms that had been lent him from our armoury, for he was but half +armed when he came. + +"There is no need to do that," I said; "for if Ina arms a man, it +is as a gift for service done, if he is not too proud to take it. +But are you not biding for the feast?" + +"First of all," he said, laughing, "none ever knew a Norseman too +proud to accept good arms from a king. Thank Ina for me in all +form. And as to my going, seeing that tide waits for no man, if I +do not get home shortly I shall lose the tide I want for a bit of a +winter voyage I have on hand; wherefore I must go. Farewell, and +good luck to you. This business has turned out well, after all, and +a great man you will be in this land before long. Don't forget us +Norsemen when that comes about, and if ever you need a man at your +back, send for me. You might have a worse fence than my axe, and I +have a liking for you; farewell again." + +I laughed and shook hands with him, and he swung himself into the +saddle and rode away. + +There was high feasting that night in the guest hall of Norton, as +may be supposed. I sat on the left of the king, and Owen on his +right, while all the great men who could be summoned in the time +were present, and it was plain enough that the homecoming of their +lost prince was welcome to every one in all the hall. Not one dark +look was there as I scanned the bright company, and presently not +one refused to join in the great shout of welcome that rose when +Owen pledged them all. + +It was a good welcome, and the face of the old king grew bright as +he heard it. + +Then the harpers sang; I did not think their ways here so pleasant +as our own, where the harp goes round the hall, and every man takes +his turn to sing, or if he has no turn for song, tells tale or asks +riddle that shall please the guests. Certainly, these Welsh folk +were readier to talk than we, and maybe the meats were more dainty +and the wines finer than ours, and in truth the Welsh mead was good +and the Welsh ale mighty, but men seemed to care little for the +sport that should come after the meal was over. Yet these harpers +sang well, and from them I learnt more about my foster father than +he had ever cared to tell me, for they sang of old deeds of his. +Doubtless they made the most of them, for it would seem from their +songs that he had fought with Cornish giants as an everyday thing, +and that he had been the bane of more than one dragon. But one +knows how to sift the words of the gleeman's song, and they told me +at least that Owen had been a great champion ere he left his home. + +Still, I missed the bright fire on the hearth, and the ways of the +court were too stately for me here. Men seemed not to like the +cheerful noise of my honest house-carles, who jested and laughed as +they would have done in the hall of Ina, who loved to see and hear +that his men were merry. We should have thought that there was +something wrong if there had not been plenty of noise at the end of +the long tables below the salt. + +Now, I will not say that there was not something very pleasant in +sitting here at the side of the king as the most honoured guest +next to my foster father, but there was a sadness at the back of it +all in the knowledge that it was likely that from henceforth our +ways must needs go apart more or less, and that I might see him +only from time to time. For I was Ina's man, and a Saxon, and it +could not be supposed that I should be welcome here. I knew that I +must go back to my place, and he must bide in his that he had found +again, and so there was the sorrow of parting to spoil what might +else have made me a trifle over proud. + +Gerent did not stay long at the feast, nor did the ladies who were +present, and Owen and I stayed for but a little while after they +had gone. Then we were taken in all state to the room where we +should sleep, and so for the first time I was housed within stone +walls. There were a sort of wide benches along the walls covered +with skins and bright rugs for us to sleep on, but after I had +helped Owen to his night gear I took the coverings that were meant +for me and set them across the door on the floor and so slept. For +I had a fear of treachery and the friends of Morgan. + +It was in my mind to talk for a while before rest came, but Owen +would not suffer me to do so, saying that it was best to sleep on +all the many things that happened before we thought much of what +was to be done next. So I wrapt myself in my rugs on the strangely +warm floor and went to sleep at once, being, as may be supposed, +fairly tired out with the long day and its doings. More than that +little space of time it seemed since we left Glastonbury, and even +my meeting with Elfrida was like a matter of long ago to me. + +There was a bronze lamp burning with some scented oil, hanging from +the ceiling, which seemed so low after our open roofs, and we had +left it alight, as I thought it better to have even its glimmer +than darkness, here in this strange house. And presently I woke +with a feeling that this lamp had flared up in some way, shining +across my eyes, so that I sat up with a great start, grasping my +sword hastily. But the lamp burned quietly, and all that woke me +was the light of a square patch of bright moonlight from a high +window that was creeping across the broad chest of Owen as he +slept, and had come within range of my eyelids, for my face was +turned to him. The room was bright with it, and for a little I +watched the quiet sleeper, and then I too slept, and woke not again +until Owen roused me with the daylight from the same window falling +on his face. + +"That is where I should have slept," I said, "for it is my place to +wake you, father." + +He laughed, and said that it was his place in the old days, and +there was a sigh at the back of the laugh as he thought of those +times, and then we forgot the whole thing. Yet though it seems a +little matter in the telling, in no long time I was to mind that +waking in a strange way enough, and then I remembered. + +We must part presently, as I found, at least for a little while. +There was no question but that Owen would stay at the court here, +and so Gerent had ready for me a letter which I should carry back +to Ina at once. He spoke very kindly to me at that time, giving me +a great golden bracelet from his own arm, that I might remember to +come back to bide for a time with him ere long. And then we broke +our fast, and my men were ready, and I parted from my foster father +in the bright morning light that made the white walls of the old +palace seem more wonderful to me than ever. + +"Farewell, then, for a while," he said to me; "come back as soon as +Ina will spare you. There will be peace between him and Gerent now, +as I think." + +Then came a man in haste from out of the gateway where we stood +yet, and he bore a last gift from Gerent to me. It was a beautiful +wide-winged falcon from the cliffs of Tintagel in the far west, +hooded and with the golden jesses that a king's bird may wear on +her talons. + +"It is the word of the king," said the falconer, "that a thane +should ride with hawk on wrist if he bears a peaceful message. +Moreover, there will be full time on the homeward way for a flight +or two. Well trained she is, Master, and there is no better passage +hawk between here and Land's End." + +That was a gift such as any man might be proud of, and I asked Owen +to thank the king for me. And so we parted with little sorrow after +all, for it was quite likely that I should be back here in a day or +two for yet a little while longer with him. + +So I and my men were blithe as we rode in the still frosty air +across the Quantocks by the way we had come, and by and by, when we +gained the wilder crests, I began to look about me for some chance +of proving the good hawk that sat waiting my will on my wrist. + +Soon I saw that the rattle and noise of men and horses spoiled a +good chance or two for me, for the black game fled to cover, and +once a roe sprang from its resting in the bushes by the side of the +track and was gone before I could unhood the bird. + +"Ho, Wulf!" I cried to one of the men who was wont to act as +forester when Ina hunted, "let us ride aside for a space, and then +we will see what sort of training a Welshman can give a hawk." + +So we put spurs to our horses and went on until they were a mile +behind us, and then we were on a ridge of hill whence a long wooded +combe sank northward to the dense forest land at the foot of the +hills, and there we rode slowly, questing for what might give us a +fair flight. Bustard there were on these hills, and herons also, +for below me I could see the bare branches of the tree tops on +which the broad-winged birds light at nesting time, twigless and +skeleton-like. For a while we saw nothing, however, and so rode +wide of the track, across the heather, until we found the woodland +before us, and had to make our way back to the road, which passed +through it. But before we came in sight of the road, from almost +under my feet, a hare bolted from a clump of long grass, and made +for the coverts. I cast off the hawk and shouted, but we were too +near the underwood, and it seemed that the hare would win to cover +in time to save herself. + +Yet in a moment the hare was back again out of the cover, and +running along its edge in the open as though she had met with +somewhat that she feared even more than the winged terror which she +had so nearly baffled. And that was strange, for it is hard to get +a hare to stir from her seat if there is a hawk overhead, so that +sometimes men have even picked up the timid beast from her place. + +"There is a fox in the underwood, and she has seen him," I cried, +and then forgot all about the strangeness of the matter in watching +the stoop of the ready hawk, who waited only for one more chance. + +Not far did the hare win this time. The hawk swooped and took her +close to the edge of the wood, and I rode quickly to take the bird +again and give her her share of the quarry. And then, while my eyes +were fixed on her, and I was just about to dismount, I was aware of +something like a streak of light that flew from the underwood +toward me, and suddenly my horse reared wildly, and fell back on +me, pinning me to the ground. + +At the same moment I heard Wulf roaring somewhat, and then he was +between me and the cover, and I saw him, through the dazedness of +my eyes with the fall, dismount and unsling his shield from his +back, with his eyes ever on the wood. Then an arrow struck the +ground close to me, and I heard another smite Wulf's shield with +the clap that no warrior can mistake. At that his steed took fright +and left us. + +"Get my horn and wind it," I said, struggling to get free from the +horse. It was no mean bowman who had sent that first arrow, for the +poor beast never moved after it fell, and had spent its last +strength in rearing. + +"That is crushed flat, Master," Wulf said between his teeth, and he +tried to lift the weight that was on me. + +Then the arrows came thickly again, and he crouched over me with +the shield, behind the horse. It was lucky that I was almost +covered by it as I lay, for it was between me and the wood. I +writhed and struggled and at last I was free again, and Wulf helped +me to get my own shield from my back as I rose, and then we stood +back to back and looked for our foes. + +"Morgan's people, I suppose," I said. "We should not have left the +men, for I knew that he was leagued with Quantock outlaws." + +"A nidring set, too," said Wulf savagely. "Can't they show +themselves?" + +As if the men had heard him, they came from the cover even as he +spoke. There were more than I could count after a few moments, for +they poured out in twos and threes from all along the edge of the +wood, and came cautiously toward us, in such wise as to surround +us. Wild looking men they were, with never a helm or mail shirt +among them, but they were all well armed enough with bow and spear +and seax, and more than one had swords. + +Then I looked round to see if I could see my men coming, and my +heart sank. We were hidden from the road by the crest of the hill, +and I knew that the flight of the hawk had led us some way from it. +We could not be less than a full mile from them at the rate we had +ridden, and I did not think it likely that they had hurried after +us, for they would not spoil sport. + +Now the men were round us in a ring that was closing quickly, and +Wulf and I had our swords out and were back to back facing them. +Not a word had been said on either side, and I was not going to +begin to talk to outlaws. If they had anything to say they might +say it. But they had not, and I knew that they would make a rush on +us directly. + +One who seemed to be the leader whistled sharply, and the rush came +with a wild howl and flight of ill-aimed spears that were of no +harm. The circle was too close for a fair throw at us, lest the +weapon should go too far. I had time to catch one as it passed me, +and send it back with the Wessex war shout, and there was one man +less against us. + +I think that I cut down one or two after that, and then I felt Wulf +reel and prop himself against me. Then I had a score of men +crowding on me, and they clogged my sword arm and gripped my shield +and tore it aside, and then from behind or at the side one smote me +on the head with a club or a stone hammer, and I went down. I heard +one cry that I was not to be slain, as I fell. + +Then Wulf stood over me for a little while and fought all that +crowd, until he was on his knees at my side, and my senses were +coming back to me. Then he fell over me, and the men threw +themselves on me and pinioned me and thrust something into my mouth +and then bound me. + +I knew that Wulf was slain at that time, and that he had given his +life for me. That was what he would have wished to do, but in my +heart there grew a wild rage with these men and with myself for my +carelessness that had led us into their hands. + +Now they dragged me into the cover, and thither also they brought +Wulf and the fallen men, and for a little while all sat silent, and +soon I knew what they were waiting for. I heard the voices of my +men and the very click and rattle of their arms as they trotted +slowly through the wood along the road, and I tried to shout to +them, but the gag would not let me. So their sounds died away +beyond the hill, and after them crept some of the foe, to see that +they did not halt or turn back, as one may suppose. I thought how +that they had at least three miles to ride before they could come +to any place whence they could see that I and Wulf were not before +them, and then, when they missed us, how were they to begin to seek +us? + +I suppose that my wits were sharpened with my danger, for I saw one +thing that might help them even while I was thinking this. My hawk +had gorged herself with her prey when the fight had turned aside +from her, and so she was sitting sleepily and contented on the high +bough of one of the trees that stood at the wood's edge. And she +still had her jesses on, so that my men would know her if they +caught sight of her by any chance. + +Now the men who had me, being sure that all fear was past, began to +talk of what was to be done next, and they spoke in Welsh, plainly +thinking that I could not understand them. There were three or four +who seemed to take the lead under the one who had given the signal +for attack, and the rest gathered round them. + +At first they were for killing me offhand as it seemed, but the +leader would not hear of that. + +"Search him first, and let us see who he is," he said. "We may have +caught the wrong man, after all." + +So they came to me and searched my pouch and thrust their grimy +hands into the front of my byrnie, and there they found the king's +letter, which they seized with a shout of delight. Then they took +my arms, wondering at the sword with its wondrous hilt. Only my +ring mail byrnie they could not take from me, as they feared to +untie my arms. + +"Not much would I give for your life if this warrior got loose," +said one of them to that one who had the letter. "See how he glares +at you." + +And true enough that was, moreover. I should surely have gone +berserk, like the men Thorgils told me of as we rode yesterday, had +I been able to get free for a moment. + +They took my belongings to the leaders, and they asked for some one +who could read the letter, and there was none, even as I had +expected, so that I was glad. + +"It does not matter much," the leader said; "doubtless it has a +deal of talk in it which would mean nought to us. We will have it +read the next time one of us goes to the church," and with that he +grinned, and the others laughed as at a good jest. "Let me look at +the sword he wore." + +He looked and his eyes grew wide, and then he whistled a little to +himself. The others asked him what was amiss. + +"If we have got Owen's son, we have taken Ina's own sword as well," +he said. "Many a time have I seen the king wear it before the law +got the best of me. It is not to be mistaken. Now, if we are not +careful we have a hornets' nest on us in good truth. Ina does not +give swords like this to men he cares nought for, and there will be +hue and cry enough after him, and that from Saxon and Welsh alike." + +"Kill him and have done. That is what we meant to do when we laid +up for him." + +So said many growling voices, and I certainly thought that the end +was very near. + +"Ay, and have ourselves hung in a row that will reach from here to +the bridge," the leader said coolly. "Mind you this, that with the +Welsh up against us we cannot get to Exmoor, and with the Saxons +out also we cannot win to the Mendips, as we have done before now." + +"There is the fen." + +"And all the fenmen Owen's own men. Little safety is there in +that." + +"But he slew Morgan, as they say." + +"Worse luck for Morgan therefore. What is that to you and me, when +one comes to think of it?" + +Now I began to understand the matter more or less. It seemed to me +that these were Morgan's outlaws, and that somehow they had heard +all the story. No doubt that was easy enough, for it would be all +over Norton before the night was very old after our coming. And +these outlaws have friends everywhere. So they had laid up for me, +and now the leader was frightened, as it would seem, or else he had +some other plan in his head. It did not seem that he had wished me +to be slain, from the first, if it could be helped. Maybe the +others had forced him to waylay me. A leader of outlaws has little +hold on his men. + +"Let him swear to say nought of us, and let him go then," one of +the other leaders said in a surly way. + +Then the chief got up and laughed at them all. + +"There are six of us slain and a dozen with wounds, and we will +make him pay for that and for Morgan as well before we have done +with him. Now we must not bide here, or we shall have his men back +on us, seeking him. Let us get away, and I will think of somewhat +as we go. There is profit to be made out of this business, if I am +not mistaken." + +Then they brought my man's horse, which they had caught, and set me +on it, making my feet fast under the girth. The men who had fallen +they hid in the bushes, and it troubled me more than aught to think +that Wulf should lie among them. My horse they dragged into a +hollow, and piled snow over him. Then they went swiftly down the +hillside into the deep combe, leaving only the trampled and +reddened snow to tell that there had been a fight. + +I had a hope for a little while that the track they left would be +enough for my men to follow if they hit on it, but there was little +snow lying in the sheltered woodlands, and there the track was +lost. And these men scattered presently in all directions, so that +trace of them was none. Only the leader and some dozen men stayed +with me. + +So they took me for many a long mile, always going seaward, until +we were in a deep valley that bent round among the hills until its +head was lost in their folds, and there was some sort of a camp of +these outlaws sheltered from any wind that ever blew, and with a +clear brook close at hand. All round on the hillsides was the +forest, but there was one landmark that I knew. + +High over the valley's head rose a great hill, and on that was an +ancient camp. It was what they call the "Dinas," the refuge camp of +the Quantock side, which one can see from Glastonbury and all the +Mendips. + +Here they took me from the horse and bound my feet afresh, and took +the gag from my mouth and set me against a tree, and so waited +until the band had gathered once more, lighting a great fire +meanwhile. Glad enough was I of its warmth, for it is cold work +riding bound through the frost. + +When that was done the leader bade some of those with him fetch the +goods to this place, and catch some ponies ready against the +journey. I could not tell what this might mean, but I thought that +they had no intention of biding here, and I was sorry in a dull +way. It had yet been a hope that they might be tracked by my men +from the place of the fight. + +After these men had gone hillward into the forest, others kept +coming in from one way or another until almost all seemed to have +returned. + +One by one as these gathered, they came and looked at me, and +laughed, making rough jests at me, which I heeded not at all, if +they made my blood boil now and then. Once, indeed, their leader +shouted roughly to them to forbear, when some evil words came with +a hoarse gust of laughter to his ears, and they said under their +breath, chuckling as at a new jest: + +"Evan has a mind to tell Tregoz that he treated the Saxon well," +and so left me. It seemed to me that I had heard that name at +Norton. + +When the best part of the band had gathered again they lit another +fire fifty yards from me, and round it they talked and wrangled for +a good half hour. It was plain that they were speaking about me and +my fate, but I could hear little of what they said. + +The leader took not much part in the talk at first, but let the +rest have their say. And when they had talked themselves out, as it +were, he told them his plans. I could not hear them, but the rest +listened attentively enough, and at the end of his speech seemed to +agree, for they laughed and shouted and made not much comment. + +Then the leaders got up and came and looked at me. + +"Tell him what we are going to do with him, Evan," one said to the +chief. + +So Evan spoke in the worst Saxon I had ever heard, and I thought +that it fitted his face well. + +"No good glaring in that wise," he said; "if you are quiet no harm +will come to you. We are going to hold you as a hostage until your +Saxon master or your British father pay ransom for you, and inlaw +us again. That last is a notion of my own, for I am by way of being +an honest man. The rest do not care for anything but the money we +shall get for you from one side or the other, or maybe from both. +By and by, when we have you in a safe place, you shall write a +letter for us to use, and I will have you speak well of me in it, +so that it shall be plain that you owe your life to me, and then I +shall be safe. That is a matter between you and me, however. None +of these knaves ken a word of Saxon." + +I suppose that I showed pretty plainly what I thought of this sort +of treachery to his comrades, for one of the others laughed at me, +and said: + +"Speak him fair, Evan, speak him fair, else we shall have trouble +with him." + +"I am just threatening him now," the villain said in Welsh--"after +that is time to give him a chance to behave himself," and then he +went on to me in Saxon: "Now, if you will give your word to keep +quiet and go with me as a friend I will trust you, but if +not--well, we must take you as we can. How do you prefer to go?" + +He waited for an answer, but I gave him none. I would not even seem +to treat with them. + +"Don't say that I did not give you a chance," he said; "but if you +will go as a captive, that is your own fault." + +And as I said nothing he turned away, and said to the rest: + +"We shall have to bind him. He will not go quietly." + +"How shall we get him on board as a captive?" one asked. + +"That would be foolishness," Evan said; "the next thing would be +that every one would know who the captive that was taken out of +Watchet was. I have a better plan than that. We will tie him up +like a sorely wounded man, and so get him shipped carefully and +quietly with no questions asked." + +"Well, then, there is no time to lose. We must be at the harbour in +four hours' time at the latest. Tide will serve shortly after +that," one of the others said. "What about the sword?--shall we +sell it to the Norsemen?" + +"What! and so tell all the countryside what we have been doing?--it +is too well known a weapon. No, put it into one of the bales of +goods, and I can sell it safely to some prince on the other side. +No man dare wear it on this, but they will not know it there, or +will not care if they do. Now get a litter made, and bring me some +bandages." + +It seemed to me to be plain that they would try to get me across +the channel into Wales, or maybe Ireland, and my heart sank. But +after all, Owen would gladly pay ransom for me, and that was the +one hope I had. And then I wondered what vessel they had ready, and +all of a sudden I minded that Thorgils had spoken of a winter +voyage that he was going to take on this tide, and my heart leapt. +It was likely that these men were going to sail with him, so I +might have a chance of swift rescue. + +Now Evan went to work on me with the help of one of his men, who +seemed to know something of leech craft. + +"This," said Evan, "is a poor friend of mine who has met with a bad +fall from his horse. His thigh is broken and his shoulder is out. +Also his jaw is broken, because the horse kicked him as he lay. For +the same reason he is stunned, and cannot move much. It is a bad +case altogether," and he grinned with glee at his own pleasantry. + +Then they fitted a long splint to my right leg from hip to ankle, +so that I was helpless as a babe in its swaddlings, and made fast +the other leg to that. They did not do more than loosen the cords +that bound me just enough to suffer them to pass the bandages round +until the splint was on, and the other men stood in a ring and +gibed at me all the time. After that they bandaged my right arm +across my chest as if for a slipped shoulder, but under the +bandages were cords that pinioned my elbows to one another across +my back, so that I could only move my left forearm. Evan said that +he would tie that also if need was, but it might pass now. I could +not reach my mouth with this free hand, if I did try to take out a +gag. + +Next they bandaged my head and chin carefully, so that only my eyes +were to be seen. I suppose that I might be thankful that they left +my mouth uncovered more or less. And Evan said that he would gag me +by and by. + +"No need to discomfort him more than this now," he added. "Maybe he +will be ready to promise silence when he has gone some time in this +rig." + +By this time some had caught half a dozen hill ponies, and on them +they loaded several bales of goods, which I thought looked like +those of some robbed chapman, and I have reason to think that they +were such. They opened one of these, and in it they stowed my sword +and helm and the great gold ring that Gerent gave me. There was +some argument about this, but the leader said that it was better to +sell it for silver coin which they could use anywhere. + +Now Evan and two others dressed themselves afresh, and washed in +the brook. One would have taken them for decent traders when that +was done, for they were soberly clad in good blue cloth jerkins, +with clean white hose, and red garterings not too new. Good cloaks +they had also, and short seaxes in their belts. Only Evan had a +short Welsh sword, and the peace strings of that were tied round +the hilt. I wondered where the bodies of the honest men they had +taken these things from were hidden in the wild hills. + +Half a dozen of the best clad of the other men took boar spears, +and so they were ready for a start, for all the world like the +chapmen they pretended to be. They put me into the litter they had +ready then, and four of the men were told off to bear me, +grumbling. It was only a length of sacking made fast to two stout +poles, and when they had hoisted me to their shoulders a blanket +was thrown over me, and a roll of cloth from one of the bales set +under my head, so that I might seem to be in comfort at least. + +Then the band set out, and we went across the hills seaward and to +the west until we saw Watchet below us. There was a road somewhere +close at hand, as I gathered, for we stopped, and some of the +rabble crept onward to the crest of the hill and spied to see if it +was clear. It was so, and here all the band left us, and only Evan +and the other two seeming merchants went on with their followers, +who bore me and led the laden ponies. The road had no travellers on +it, as far as I could see, nor did we meet with a soul until we +were close into the little town that the Norsemen had made for +themselves at the mouth of a small river that runs between hills to +the sea. + +Maybe there were two score houses in the place, wooden like ours, +but with strange carvings on the gable ends. And for fear, no +doubt, of the British, they had set a strong stockade all round the +place in a half circle from the stream to the harbour. There were +several long sheds for their ships at the edge of the water, and a +row of boats were lying on a sort of green round which the houses +stood with their ends and backs and fronts giving on it, as each +man had chosen to set his place. + + + +CHAPTER VI. HOW OSWALD HAD AN UNEASY VOYAGE AND A PERILOUS LANDING AT ITS +END. + + +I thought that Evan had forgotten to gag me, but before we went to +the gate of the stockade he came and did it well. I could not see a +soul near but my captors, and it would have been little or no good +to shout. So I bore it as well as I might, being helpless. Then, +within arrow shot of the gate, one of the men blew a harsh horn, +and we waited for a moment until a man, armed with an axe and +sword, lounged through the stockade and looked at us, and so made a +gesture that bid us enter, and went his way within. I hope that I +may never feel so helpless again as I did at the time when I passed +this man, who stared at me in silence, unable to call to him for +help. + +Then we crossed the green without any one paying much heed to us, +though I saw the women at the doors pitying me, and so we came to +the wharf, alongside which a ship was lying. There were several men +at work on her decks, and it was plain that she was to sail on this +tide, for her red-and-brown striped sail was ready for hoisting, +and there was nothing left alongside to be stowed. She was not yet +afloat however, though the tide was fast rising. + +Evan hailed one of the men, and he came ashore to him. The bearers +set down my litter and waited. + +"Where is the shipmaster?" Evan asked. + +The man jerked his thumb over his shoulder, and lifted his voice +and shouted "Ho Thorgils, here is the Welsh chapman." + +I saw the head of my friend rise from under the gunwale amidships, +and when he saw who was waiting he also came ashore. Evan met him +at the gangway. + +"I thought you were not coming, master chapman," he said. "A little +later and you had lost your voyage. Tide waits for no man, and +Thorgils sails with the tide he waits. Therefore Thorgils waits for +no man." + +Just for a moment a thought came to me that Thorgils was in league +with the outlaws, and that was hard. But Evan's next words told me +that in this I was wrong. It would seem that the taking of his +ill-gotten goods across the channel had been planned by Evan before +he fell in with me, and maybe that already made plan was the saving +of my life, by putting the thought of an easy way to dispose of me +to some profit into the outlaw's head. + +"I had been here earlier," he said, "but for a mischance to my +friend here. I want to take him with me, if you will suffer it." + +He pointed to me as he spoke, and Thorgils turned and looked at me +idly. I was some twenty yards from him as I lay, and I tried to cry +out to him as his eyes fell on me, but I could only fetch a sort of +groan, and I could not move at all. + +"He seems pretty bad," said Thorgils, when he heard me. "What is +amiss with him? I can have no fevers or aught of that sort aboard, +with the young lady as passenger, moreover." + +"There is nothing of that," Evan answered hastily. "It is but the +doing of a fall from his horse. The beast rolled on him, and he has +a broken thigh, slipped shoulder, and broken jaw, so that it will +be long before he is fit for aught again, as I fear. Now he wants +to get back to his wife and children at Lanphey, hard by Pembroke, +and our leech said that he would take no harm from the voyage. It +is calm enough, and not so cold but that we may hap him up against +it. If I may take him, I will pay well for his passage." + +Thorgils looked at me again for a moment. + +"Well," he said, "if that is all, I do not mind. It would be better +if the after cabin was empty, but of course the princess has that. +There is room for him to be stowed comfortably enough under the +fore deck with your bales, however, and it will be warm there. Ay, +we will take the poor soul home, for his mind will be easier, and +that will help his healing. It is ill to be laid up in a strange +land. Get him on board as soon as you can, for there is but an hour +to wait for tide. I will ask no pay for his passage, for he is but +another bale of goods, as it were, swaddled up in that wise, and I +told you that I would take all you liked to bring for what we +agreed on." + +Evan thanked him, and Thorgils laughed, turning away to go up the +town, and saying that he would be back anon. I groaned again as he +passed me, and he looked straight in my eyes, which were all that +he could see of me. + +"Better on board than in that litter, poor fellow," he said kindly; +"it is a smooth sea, and we shall see Tenby in no long time if this +breeze holds." + +He passed on with a nod and smile, and I could almost have wept in +my rage and despair. I could not have thought of anything more +cruel than this, and there was a sour grin on Evan's face, as if he +knew what was passing in my mind. + +Now they lifted me once more and carried me to the ship, setting me +down amidships while they got the bales of goods on board. She was +a stout trading vessel, built for burden more than speed, but she +seemed light in the water, as though she had little cargo for this +voyage. She had raised decks fore and aft, and there were low doors +in the bulkheads below them that seemed to lead to some sort of +cabins. Under the forward of these decks the outlaws began to stow +their bales, the man who had called Thorgils ashore directing them. + +I lay just at the gangway, and a little on one side so as not to +block it, and I watched all that went on, helplessly. There was no +one near me, or I think that I should have made some desperate +effort to call a Norseman to my help. Maybe Evan thought me safer +here than nearer the place where all were busy, as yet, but +presently I heard voices on the wharf as if some newcomers were +drawing near, and Evan heard them also, and left his cargo to +hasten to my side. I saw that he looked anxious, and a little hope +of some fresh chance of escape stirred in me, though, as they had +carried me on board feet foremost, I could not see who came. + +When they were close at hand their voices told me that one at least +was a lady, and that she and her companions were Welsh. I supposed +that this was the princess of whom I had heard Thorgils speak just +now. I should know in a moment, for the first footsteps were on the +long gangplank and pattering across it, while Evan began to smile +and bow profoundly. + +Then there came past my litter, stepping daintily across the +planks, a most fair and noble lady, tall and black haired and +graceful, wrapped against the sea air in the rare beaver skins of +the Teifi River, and wonderful stuffs that the traders from the +east bring to Marazion, such as we Saxons seldom see but as +priceless booty, paid for with lives of men in war with West Wales +in days not long gone by. + +She half turned as she saw me, and it gave me a little pang, as it +were, to see her draw her dress aside that it might by no means +touch me, no doubt with the same fear of fever that had been in the +mind of my friend at the first. But then she stayed and looked at +me and at Evan, who was yet cringing in some Welsh way of respect +as she passed. Her companions stopped on the gangplank, and they +were silent. + +"Why is this sick man on the ship," she said to my captor, with +some little touch of haughtiness. "And why is he swathed thus? What +is wrong with him?" + +Evan bowed again, and at once began his tale as he had told it to +Thorgils. But he did not say that I came from near Pembroke at all. +Now he named some other place whose name began with "Llan--" as my +home. + +"The good shipmaster has suffered me to take him home, Lady, +subject to your consent," he ended. "I pray you let it be so." + +Now the eyes of the princess had grown soft as she heard the tale, +and when Evan ended it there was pity in her voice as she answered. + +"Surely he may come, and if there is no fitting place for him he +shall even have the cabin to himself. I can be well content in +these warm things of mine on deck in this calm air, and he must +have all shelter." + +"Nay, Lady, but there is the fore cabin, where he will be well +bestowed," Evan said hastily, beckoning at the same time to his +comrades that they might take me from this too unsafe place at +once. + +He kept himself between me and her as much as he could all this +time, and I made no sign. It seemed to me that I could not, even in +my trouble, bring more pain to this soft-eyed princess by raising +the groan which was all that I could compass. What good would it +do? I could tell her nothing, and she could not dream of the true +reason that made me try to cry out. Maybe she would listen through +all the long hours to come to hear if the poor wretch she felt for +was yet in that dire pain that made him moan so terribly. + +"Is he well bandaged?" she said, then. "It is ill if broken bones +are not closely set and splinted, and the ship will plunge and rock +presently." + +Evan assured her with many words that all was well done, and yet +she lingered. + +"I must see him well and softly bestowed in his place," she said, +half laughing, and turning to some who stood yet beyond my range of +sight. "Else I shall have no peace at all till we come to land +again." + +Evan turned to me at that saying, to hide his face. He was growing +ashy pale, and the sweat was breaking out on his forehead. And that +made me glad to see, for he was being punished. Even yet the +princess might wish to see that my swathings were comfortable, and +if I once had my mouth freed for a moment all was lost to him. + +He signed to his comrades to lift me carefully, and then put a bold +face on the matter, and thanked the princess for her kindness. + +"Lady, I may be glad to beg a warm wrap or two from your store," he +said. "If it pleases you, we will shew you where he is to lie." + +So they went forward, I on my litter first, and the lady and her +people following. Evan knew well enough that little fault could be +found with the warm place that was ready for me among the bales +under the deck, and he was eager to get me out of sight before +Thorgils returned. They had made a place ready with some of the +softer bales for me to lie on, and there they lifted me from the +litter, very carefully indeed, that they might not have to +rearrange any of my bonds. Then the princess looked in through the +low doorway and seemed content. + +"It is as well as one can expect on board a ship, I suppose," she +said, with a little sigh. "But I will send him somewhat to cover +him well." + +And then she bade me farewell, bidding me be patient for the little +while of the voyage, and also adding that presently, when she was +at home, she would ask Govan the hermit to pray for me; and so went +her way, with the two maidens who were with her, and followed by a +couple of well-armed warriors, all of whom I could see now for the +first time. + +Then Evan drew his hand over his forehead and cursed. As for the +other Welshmen, they looked at one another, saying nothing, but I +could see that they also had been fairly terrified. One of the men +of the princess came with a warm blanket to cover me, and he stayed +to see it put over me. It was as well that he did so, for Evan had +no time to see that my arm was yet loose, unless he had forgotten +that it ever had been so. Then they all went out, shutting the door +after them, and I was left to my thoughts, which were not happy. + +I began to blame myself as a fool for not trying to let the +princess see that all was not right. But still I could not lose +hope, for Thorgils might yet wish to see me, or the princess might +send her men to look in on me. There were more chances now than a +little while ago, as I thought. + +I began to think over all that were possible, presently, and I +tried to get the gag from my mouth. I could not reach it with my +free hand, however, my elbows being too tightly fastened back even +after all the shaking of the journey. Then I thrust that free hand +and forearm well among the bandages across my chest, so that either +of my captors who thought of it might think that the other had +bound it, for I dared not try to loosen myself more yet. There +would be time for that when we were fairly at sea. + +After that I lay still, and so spied the bale in which my sword had +been put, and that gave me some sort of hope by its nearness to me, +though indeed it did not seem likely that I should ever get it. + +I heard Thorgils come on board before very long, and I could hear +also the voice of the princess as she talked to him, though with +the length of the vessel between us, and the wash of the ripples +alongside in my ears, I did not make out if they spoke of me. Evan +spoke with them also, and it is likely that they did so. + +Presently I could tell by the sway of the ship that she was afloat, +and the men began to bustle about the deck overhead, while Thorgils +shouted some orders now and then. Soon the sides of the ship grated +along the wharf as she was hauled out, and then the shore warps +were hove on board with a thud above me. I felt the lift of a +little wave and heard the rattle of the halliards as the sail was +hoisted and the ship heeled a little, and then began the cheerful +wash and bubble of the wave at her bows as she went to sea. The men +hailed friends on shore with last jests and farewells, and then +fell to clearing up the shore litter from the decks. + +Then Evan came and looked at me. Through the door I could see the +hills and the harbour beyond the high stern, and on that Thorgils +was steering, with his eyes on the vane at the masthead. His men +were coiling down ropes, and Evan's two men were sitting under the +weather gunwale aft, talking with the guards of the princess. She +was in the after cabin, I suppose, out of the way of the wind, with +her maidens. I could not see her. + +"Art all well, friend?" said Evan, loudly enough for the nearest +Norseman to hear. "Well, that is good." + +Then he sunk his voice to a whisper, and said: "That gag bides in +your mouth, let me tell you. I will risk no more calling to the +shipmaster." + +He cast his eyes over me and grunted, and went out, leaving the low +door open so that he could see me at any time. It was plain that he +thought his men had fastened my arm. + +Now I tried to get rid of the gag again, and I will say that the +outlaw knew how to manage that business. It filled my mouth, and +the bandage round the jaw held it firmly. In no way could I get it +out, or so much as loosen it enough to speak. And then I was worn +out, and the little heave of the ship lulled me, and I forgot my +troubles in sleep that came suddenly. + +I was waked by the clapping to of the cabin door and the thunder of +the wind in the great square sail as the ship went on the other +tack. We had a fair breeze from the southwest over our quarter as +the tide set up channel, but now it had turned and Thorgils was +wearing ship. The new list of the deck flung the door to, and none +noticed it, for it was dark now except for the light of the rising +moon, and I suppose that the other noises of the ship prevented +Evan hearing that the door had closed. + +I felt rested with the short sleep, and now seemed the time to try +to get free if ever. I got my left hand out of the bandages where I +had hidden it, and began to claw at my chin to try to free it from +the swathings that kept my mouth closed, but I could hardly get at +them, so tightly were my elbows lashed behind my back, and it +became plain that I must get them loose first if I could. It was +easy to get the bandages loose, but the knotted cord was a +different matter, for the men who tied it knew something of the +work, and the cord was not a new one and would not stretch. + +Then I heard two of the Norseman talking close to the cabin +bulkhead. + +"This is as good a passage as we shall ever make in the old keel," +one said; "but we shall not fetch Tenby on this tide. Will Thorgils +put in elsewhere, I wonder?" + +"We could make the old landing place in an hour," was the answer, +"and we had better wait for tide there than box about in the open +channel in this cold. There is snow coming, I think." + +I heard the man flap his arms across his chest, and the other said: + +"Where do these merchants want to get ashore? I expect that +Thorgils will do as they think best. He is pretty good natured." + +They went away, and it seemed that I might have an hour before me. +I was sure that if he had a chance Evan would land as soon as he +could, and at some other place than at the Danes' town if possible, +so that he might get me away without questions that might be hard +to answer. + +So I strained at the cords which bound my elbows with all my might, +but I only hurt myself as the lashings drew tighter. I twisted from +side to side as I did this, and presently hit my elbow hard against +some metal fitting of the ship that seemed very sharp. Just at +first I did not heed this, but by and by, when I had fairly tired +myself with struggling, I minded it again, and so turned on my side +and set my free hand to work to find out what it was. + +There was a stout post which came from beneath and through the +rough flooring of the cabin on which I lay, and went upward to the +deck. I daresay it was to make the cable fast to, but I could not +see that, nor did it matter to me what it might be for. But what I +had felt was a heavy angle iron that was bolted by one arm to the +post and by the other to a thick beam that crossed the ship from +side to side, so as to bind the two together. It had a sharp edge +on the part which crossed the floor, and it seemed to me as if it +had been set there on purpose, for if I could manage to reach it +rightly I might chafe through the cords at my back. Of course, +there was the chance of Evan coming in and seeing what I was at, +but I could keep my covering on me, maybe, and if Thorgils came, so +much the better. He would see that something was amiss. + +It was no easy task to get myself in such wise that the cord was +fairly on the edge of the iron, but I did it at last, and, +moreover, I got the thick blanket that was over me to cover me +afresh. Then I started to try to chafe the cord through, and of +course I could only move a little at a time, and I could not be +sure that I was always rubbing it on the same place. And the great +post was sorely in my way, over my shoulder more or less, so that I +must needs hurt myself now and then against it. But as this seemed +my one chance I would not give up until I must. + +Every now and then I stayed my sawing and had a great tug at the +cords, in hopes that they would give way, but at last I knew I must +saw them through almost to the last strand. It would have been easy +if I could keep at work on the same spot, but that was impossible, +for I could not see behind me, and the post kept shifting me as I +struck it. + +I wondered now that I had seen nothing of Evan for so long. Maybe +if I had not been so busy the wonder would have passed, for I +should have been seasick as he was. There was some sea over on this +coast, and quite enough to upset a landsman. However, I was content +that he did not come, without caring to know why. + +Then I became aware that the movement of the ship had changed in +some way. There was less of it, and the roll was longer. Soon I +heard Thorgils calling to his men, and then the creak of the blocks +and the thud of folds of canvas on deck told me that the sail was +lowered. After that the long oars rattled as they were run out, and +their even roll and click in the rowlocks seemed to say that they +were making up to some anchorage or wharf. The end of the voyage +was at hand, and I worked harder than ever at my bonds. I began to +fear that the cords would never chafe through enough for me to snap +them, and my heart fell terribly. + +Now there was a shout from Thorgils, and his men stopped rowing. I +heard another shout from on shore, as it seemed, and the sound of +breakers on rocks was not so very distant as we slipped into smooth +water. The men trampled across the deck over my head and cast the +mooring ropes ashore, and then the ship scraped along a landing +stage of some sort and came to rest. I worked wildly at the rope. + +Judging from the voices I heard, there seemed to be a number of +people on shore, and soon I heard steps coming along the deck +towards the cabin door. Hastily I straightened myself, and got a +fold of my blanket over my free forearm just as it opened, and Evan +peered in. Past his shoulder I could see that it was bright +moonlight, and I had a glimpse of tall snow-covered cliffs that +towered over us. + +"How goes it, friend?" he cried in a loud voice. "Hast slept well? +We are in your own land, and will be ashore soon." + +That was for others to hear. Then he stood aside to let a little +more light into the cabin, and it seemed that he had no suspicions +that all was not as he would have it. He came inside and felt me +carelessly enough. + +"Well," he said. "You are warm in here, and no mistake. If I +mistake not, you have been trying to wriggle out of these bonds." + +He set his hand under some of the lashings and pulled them without +uncovering me much, though it would not have mattered if he had +done so, as it was very dark in here. + +As I knew only too well, they were fast as ever, and he said: + +"Well, we can tie a knot fairly. Presently we will loosen you a +bit--in the morning maybe." + +He went and closed the door, and I fell to work again. He would +leave me now for a while. + +There was a long talk from ship to shore before the gangplank was +run out, and presently Thorgils spoke to Evan, seemingly close to +the cabin door: + +"Here's a bit of luck for your princess," he said. "Her father is +up in the camp yonder, with his guards behind him. Maybe there is +trouble with the Tenby Danefolk, or going to be some. It is as well +that we put in here. Now he bids us take the lady up to him and +bide to feast with him, Will you come with me?" + +"I stay by my goods," answered Evan, with a laugh. "If there is a +levy in the camp there will be men who will need watching among +them." + +"Why, then, we six Norsemen can go, and leave you to tend the +ship." + +"That will be all right," said Evan, somewhat gladly, as I thought; +"so long as we are here you need have no fear. Every one knows that +a chapman will fight for his goods if need be. But a Welshman will +not meddle with a Welshman's goods." + +"So long as he is there to mind them," laughed Thorgils. "Then we +can go. I do not know how soon we can be back, though." + +"That is no matter. We are used to keeping watch." + +"Ay. How is that hurt friend of yours after the voyage?" + +"Well as one could expect," answered Evan, "He says he has slept +almost all the way. He is comfortable where he is." + +They went aft, and soon I heard the princess speaking with them. +Then the well-known click and clash of armed men marching in order +came to me, as the chief sent a guard for his daughter. It was +terrible to hear the voices of honest men so close to me and to be +helpless, and I worked at the rope feverishly. + +I heard the princess and her party leave the ship, and almost as +the last footstep left the deck one strand of the cord went. I +worked harder yet, with a great hope on me. + +"Presently the Norsemen will be full of Howel's mead," I heard Evan +say to one of his men. "Then we will get ashore and leave swiftly. +I think we need not stay to pay Thorgils for the voyage." + +"Let us tell some of the shore men to bide here to help us," said +the other--"we have the Saxon to carry." + +"That is a good thought." + +They clattered over the plank ashore, and another strand of the +rope went at that time. I thought it was but one of another turn of +the line, however. Five minutes more of painful sawing and +straining and I felt another strand give way. That made three, and +now one of the two turns of line that held my arms could have but +one strand left, and that ought to be no more than I could break by +force. Then I wrestled with it with little care if my struggles as +I bent and strove made noise that might call attention to me, for +it was my last chance. The lines bruised and cut me sorely, even +through my mail, but I heeded that no more than I did the hardness +of the timbers against which I rolled; and at last it did snap, +with a suddenness that let my elbow fly against the iron that had +been my saving, almost forcing a cry from me. + +I was yet bound to my splints, but with my arms free it was but the +work of a few seconds to cast off the last of my bonds, and within +five minutes after the strand had parted I was on my feet, and +rubbing and stretching my bruised and cramped limbs into life +again. Then I felt in the darkness for the bale that held my gear, +and found it and tore it open. + +How good it was to gird the sword on me again, and to feel the cold +rim of the good helm round my hot forehead! I was myself again, and +as I slipped Gerent's gold ring on my arm I thought that it was +almost worth the bondage to know what pleasure can be in the +winning of freedom. I forgot that I was troubled with thirst and +hunger, having touched nothing since I broke my fast with Owen; +though, indeed, there was little matter in that, for I had done +well at that meal with the long ride before me, and one ought to be +able to go for a day and a night without food if need be, as a +warrior. + +Still, I was not yet out of the trouble. Thorgils had gone to some +place that I knew nothing of, and I had yet to learn if there was +any hope from Evan's shore going, which might make things easier or +might not. I could hear no one moving about the ship, so I pushed +the door open for an inch or two, and looked out into the +moonlight, with my drawn sword ready in my hand. + +We were in a strange place. The ship's bows were landward, so that +as I looked aft I could see that we lay just inside the mouth of a +little cove, whose guarding cliffs towered on either side of the +water for not less than ten-score feet above the fringe of +breakers, falling sheer to the water with hardly so much as a +jutting rock at their feet. There was no sign of house or man at +the hilltop, so that it was plain that we were not at Tenby. + +Then I was able to see that we were alongside a sort of landing +place that was partly natural and partly hewn and smoothed from the +living rock into a sort of wharf at the foot of the cliff. From +this landing place a steep road, hewn with untold labour at some +ancient day, slanted sharply upward and toward the head of the cove +along the face of the rocks, which were somewhat less steep on this +side than across the water. I could not see the top of this road, +but no doubt it was that along which Thorgils and the princess had +gone, and no doubt also Evan thought to carry me up it before long. + +I had a hope that my friend would return too soon for that, but it +was a slender one. It was plain that he had gone too far for me to +call to him. Yet could I win clear of the ship I might find or +fight my way up after him, and that seemed easy with only these +three Welshmen against me, and they expecting no attack. + +I looked for the two who were left if I slew Evan. One sat under +the weather gunwale, wrapped in a great cloak, and seemed to be +sleeping. The other was not far off on the landing place, watching +Evan, who was speaking with a dozen men at the foot of the +rock-hewn road. I suppose that the coming in of the ship had drawn +idlers from the camp I had heard of to see her, for they all had +arms of some sort. + +This was bad, for it seemed certain that the whole crowd would join +with Evan in falling on me if he called on them. If I came forth +now I had full twenty yards to cover before I reached them from the +ship's side after I had settled with the men on watch. In that +space all would be ready for me, and they were too many for me to +cut through to the roadway. I thought too that I heard the voices +of more who came downward toward the ship, though I could not see +them whence I was. + +Then it came into my mind that if there was any place where I could +hide myself on deck I would try to creep to it while none had their +eyes on the ship. Then Evan, as he went to the cabin to seek me, +would have to deal with me from the rear. But that I soon saw was +hopeless. The deck was clear of lumber big enough to shelter me, +and the moonlight was almost as bright as day on everything, and +all the clearer for the snow that covered all the land. So I began +to turn over many other plans in my mind, and at last it seemed +that the only thing was to wait in the cabin for the best chance +that offered. Most likely Evan would do even as he had said, and +try and get away at once, with all he could lay hands on. If so, I +thought it would be certain that in his hurry he would bring all +these men on board in order to get his goods, and maybe those +belonging to Thorgils also, out and away with all haste, and so I +could cut through them with a rush that must take them unawares, +and so win to the camp with none to hinder me. There might be +sentries who would stay me, but I should be within calling distance +of my friend. Moreover, a sentry would see that I was some sort of +a leader of men, and might help me. So I began to wish for Evan to +act, for my fingers itched to get one downward blow at him. + +I had not long to wait. He finished his talk with the men, and they +all came to the ship, even as I had hoped. But only half of them +came on board, leaving the rest alongside on the rock so that they +might help the goods over the side. That was not all that I could +have wished, but I thought that I might get through them in the +surprise that was waiting for them. So I drew my sword, and for +want of shield wrapped the blanket from the floor round my left +arm, and stood by for the rush. + +Evan walked in a leisurely way toward the door, talking to one of +the newcomers as he came. The rest straggled behind him. + +"I wonder how my sick man fares now," he said, and set his hand to +the latch. + +Then he opened the door and I shouted and sprung forth, aiming a +blow at him as I came. But I was not clear of the low deck, and my +sword smote the beam overhead so that I missed him, and he threw +himself on the deck out of reach of a second blow, howling. I was +sorry, but I could not stop, for I had to win to the shore and to +the road yet. + +The other men shrank from me, and I went through them easily, and +so reached the shoreward gunwale. There I was stayed, for Evan had +never ceased to cry to his fellows to stop me, and there was a row +of ready swords waiting for me. And there were more men coming down +the path, Welshmen as I could see by their arms, and by their white +tunics which glimmered in the moonlight. So that was closed to me, +and it seemed that here I must fight my last fight. + +Then as I could not go over the side I went to the high stern and +leapt on it, half hoping that the men on shore might not be quick +enough to stay me from a leap thence, but they were there alongside +before me. Evan was up now, and cheering on the men on deck to +attack me, but not seeming to care to lead them. They gathered +together and came aft to me slowly, planning, as it would seem, how +best to attack me, for the steering deck on which I was raised me +four feet or so above them. The men on shore could not reach me at +all unless I got too near the gunwale, when some of them who had +spears might easily end me. + +Something alongside the ship caught my eyes, and I glanced at it +with a thought that here might be fresh foes. But it was only the +little boat that belonged to the ship. The wind had caught her, and +was drifting her at the length of her painter as if she wanted to +cross the cove to its far side. Perhaps the men saw that my eyes +were not on them for that moment, for they made a rush from the +deck to climb the steering platform. + +Then I had a good fight for a few minutes, until I swept them back +to their place. Two had won to the deck beside me, and there they +stayed. Now I had a hope that the men on shore would come round to +the ship and leave the way clear for me, but Evan called to them to +bide where they were. He had not faced me yet, and I bade him do +so, telling him that this was his affair, and that it was nidring +to risk other men's lives to save his own skin. But even that would +not bring him on me. + +Now the men whom I had seen coming down from the cliffs' top had +hurried to see what all the shouting meant, and I saw that they +were well-armed warriors and mostly spearsmen. Evan cried to them +to come and help, and they ranged up alongside. He told them that I +was a Norseman who had gone berserk, and must needs be slain. + +"That is easily managed," said the leader. "Get to your bows, men." + +I saw half a dozen unslinging them, and I knew that without shield +I was done, and in that moment a thought came to me. I suppose that +danger sharpens one's wits, for I saw that in the little boat was +my last chance. I had not time to draw her to the side, and so I +cut her painter, which was fast to a cleat close to me, and as I +did so the first arrow missed my head. + +Then I shouted and leapt from the high stern straight among the +crowd at Evan, felling one of his outlaw comrades as I lit on the +deck. But I could not reach him, and in a few seconds I should have +been surrounded. So I cleared a way to the seaward side and went +overboard, amid a howl from my foes. I thought that I should never +stop sinking, for I had forgotten my mail; but I came to the +surface close to the ship, and looked for the boat. She was +drifting gently away from me, and I knew that I should have all +that I could do to reach her before the bowmen got to work again +from the ship's deck. Some one threw an axe at me as I swam, which +was waste of a good weapon, and I hoped that it was not Thorgils' +best. Strange what thoughts come to a man when in a strait. + +The water struck icy cold to me, and I felt that I could not stand +it long, but I gained on the boat with every stroke, though it was +hard work swimming in my mail and with a sword in my hand. I got +rid of the blanket that was hampering my left arm, and by that time +I was far enough from the ship for my foes to be puzzled by it. The +moonlight was bright on the water, but the little waves tossed it +so that it must have been hard for them to know which was I and +which the floating stuff. Certainly, the first arrows that were +shot when the bowmen got a chance at me from the ship or over her +were aimed at the blanket, for I heard them strike it. Then one +leapt from wave to wave past me. + +I won to the boat just in time, for I could not have held on much +longer. The cold was numbing me, and if I stopped swimming I must +have sunk with the weight of mail. None of our old summer tricks of +floating and the like were of any use with that weight on me. The +arrows were coming thickly by that time, and I was glad to get to +the far side of the boat and rest my hand on the gunwale, while I +managed to sheathe my sword. The men could not see plainly where I +was, and the arrows pattered on the planks of the boat and hissed +into the water still, on the chance of hitting me. So I thought it +well to get out of range before I tried to get on board, and so +held the gunwale with one hand and paddled on with the other, until +the arrows began to fall short, and at last ceased. A Welshman's +bow has no long range, so that I had not far to go thus. But all +the while I feared most of all to hear the plash of oars that would +tell me that they had put off another boat in chase of me. + +A little later and I should have been helpless, as I found when I +tried to get into the boat. The cold was terrible, and it had hold +of my limbs in spite of the swimming. It was hard work climbing +over the bows, as I must needs do unless I wanted to capsize the +light craft as I had overset a fisher's canoe more than once, by +boarding her over the side, as we sported in the Glastonbury meres +in high summer; but I managed it, and was all the better for the +struggle, which set the blood coursing in my veins again. Then I +got out the oars and began to pull away from the ship, with no care +for direction so long as I could get away from her. + +The foe had no boat, for they were all clustered in the ship or +close to her on the rock, and there was a deal of noise going on +among them. When I was fairly out of their way, and I could no +longer make out their forms, I began to plan where I had best go, +and at first I thought of a little beach that I had seen on the far +side of the cove, thinking that I could get up what seemed a gorge +to the cliff's top, and so hide inland somewhere. But when I could +see right into the gorge, I found that it was steep and higher than +I thought. My foes would be able to meet me by the time I was at +the top. + +There was no other place that I could see, for none could climb +from the foot of the cliffs elsewhere, since if he reached the +rocks he would have to stay where he leapt to them. So as there was +no help for it, I headed for the open sea. No doubt, I thought, I +should find some landing place along the coast before I had gone +far, and meanwhile I was getting a fair start of the enemy, who +would have to follow the windings of the cliffs if they cared to +come after me. + +I pulled therefore for the eastern end of the cove, opposite to the +place where the ship lay, and so rounded the point and was out in +the open and tossing on the waves in a way that tried my rowing +sorely, for I am but a fresh-water boatman. Lucky it was for me +that there was little sea on, or I should have fared badly. Then I +pulled eastward, and against the tide also, but that was a thing +that I did not know. + +The boat was wonderfully light and swift, and far less trouble to +send along than any other I had seen. There are no better +shipwrights than the Norsemen, and we Saxons have forgotten the +craft. + +The terrible numbness passed off as I worked, but now the wind grew +cold, and the clouds were working up from the southwest quickly, +with wind overhead that was not felt here yet. I knew that I must +make some haven soon, or it was likely that I should be frozen on +the sea, but the great cliffs were like walls, and at their feet +was a fringe of angry foam everywhere. I could see no hope as yet. +Far away to the east of me a great headland seemed to bar my way, +but I did not think that I should ever reach it. And all the while +I looked to see the black forms of men on the cliffs in the +moonlight, but they did not come. That was good at least. + +Then at last my heart leapt, for I saw, as a turn of the cliffs +opened out to me, another white beach with a cleft of the rocks +running up from it, and I thought it best to take the chance it +gave me, for I feared the blinding snow that would be here soon, +and I felt that the sea was rising. If my foes were after me they +would have been seen before now, as they came to the edge of the +cliffs to spy me out, and anyway I dreaded them less than the +growing cold. Moreover, I thought that Evan would hardly get many +men to follow him on a chase of what he had told them was a madman, +and a dangerous one at that. He had his goods to see to also. + +So I ran the boat into the black mouth of the gorge, and beached +her well by good chance. I had little time to lose, but I tied her +painter to a rock at the highest fringe of tide wrack, in hopes +that she might be safe. It was so dark here that I did not think +that Evan would see her from above. And then I began to climb up +the rugged path that led out of the gorge to the hilltops. + +There were bones everywhere in it. Bones and skulls of droves of +cattle on all the strand above the tide mark for many score yards. +Their ribs stuck out from the snow everywhere, and the sightless +eye sockets grinned at me as I stumbled over them. But I had no +time to wonder how they came there, for I must get to the summit +before Evan and his men reached it by their way along the cliff. I +ate handfuls of the snow and quenched my thirst that was growing on +me again, and my strength began to come back to me as I hurried +upward. I was a better man when at last I reached the top of the +gorge than when I came ashore. + + + +CHAPTER VII. HOW OSWALD CROSSED THE DYFED CLIFFS, AND MET WITH FRIENDS. + + +Now I halted before I lifted my head above the skyline, and +listened with a fear on me lest I should hear the sound of running +feet, and I was the more careful because I knew that the snow which +lay white and deep on all the open land might deaden any sounds +thereof. But I heard nothing save the wail of the wind overhead as +it rose in gusts. I wondered if Thorgils would be able to bide in +this little cove, or must needs put out to seek some other haven. +There seemed to be a swell setting into it. + +So I crept yet farther up the path, crouching behind a point of +rock, and thence I saw a dark line on the snow that seemed to +promise a road, and that must surely lead to some house or village. +I went forward to it with all caution, and with my head over my +shoulder, as they say, but I saw no man. This track led east and +west, and was well trodden by cattle, but there were few footprints +of men on it, so far as I could see. So I turned into it, going +ever away from the ship, and hurrying. I had a thought that I heard +shouts behind me, but there was more wind here on the heights than +I had felt on the sea, or it was rising, and it sung strangely +round the bare points of rock that jutted up everywhere. Maybe it +was but that. + +Inland I could see no sign of house or hut where I might find food +at least, but the cloud wrack had drifted across the moon, and I +could not see far now. It was a desolate coast, all unlike our own. + +Then I came to a place where the track crossed stony ground and was +lost in gathered snow. When I was across that I had lost the road +altogether, and had only the line of the cliffs to guide me to what +shelter I could not tell. And now a few flakes of snow fluttered +round me, and I held on hopelessly, thinking that surely I should +come to some place that would give me a lee of rock that I could +creep under. + +Then the snow swooped down on me heavily, with a whirl and rush of +wind from the sea, and I tried to hurry yet more from the chill. +Then I was sure that I heard voices calling after me, and I ran, +not rightly knowing where to go, but judging that the coastline +would lead me to some fishers' village in the end. There seemed no +hope from the land I had seen. + +Again the voices came--nay, but there was one voice only, and it +called me by my name: "Oswald, Oswald!" + +I stopped and listened, for I thought of Thorgils. But the voice +was silent, and again I pressed on in the blinding snow, and at +once it came, wailing: + +"Oswald, Oswald!" + +It was behind me now and close at hand, and I turned with my hand +on my sword hilt. But there was nothing. Only the snow whirled +round me, and the wind sung in the rocks. I called softly, but +there was no answer, and I was called no more as I stood still. + +"Oswald, Oswald!" + +I had turned to go on my way when it came this time, and now I +could have sworn that I knew the voice, though whose it was I could +not say. + +"Who calls me," I cried, facing round. + +Then a chill that was not of cold wind and snow fell on me, for +there was silence, and into my mind crept the knowledge of where I +had last heard that voice. It was long years ago--at Eastdean in +half-forgotten Sussex. + +"Father!" I cried. "Father!" + +There was no reply, and I stood there for what seemed a long time +waiting one. I called again and again in vain. + +"It is weakness," I said to myself at last, and turned. + +At once the voice was wailing, with some wild terror as it seemed, +at my very shoulder, with its cry of my name, and I must needs turn +once more sharply: + +"Oswald, Oswald!" + +My foot struck a stone as I wheeled round, and it grated on others +and seemed to stop. But as I listened for the voice I heard a +crash, and yet another, and at last a far-off rumble that was below +my very feet, and I sprang with a cry away from the sound, for I +knew that I stood on the very brink of some gulf. And then the snow +ceased for a moment and the moon shone out from the break in the +clouds, and I saw that my last footprint whence the voice had made +me turn was on the edge of an awesome rift that cleft the level +surface on the downland, clean cut as by a sword stroke, right +athwart my path. Even in clear daylight I had hardly seen that gulf +until I was on its very brink, for I could almost have leapt it, +and nought marked its edge. And in its depths I heard the crash and +thunder of prisoned waves. + +I do not know that I ever felt such terror as fell on me then. It +was the terror that comes of thinking what might have been, after +the danger is past, and that is the worst of all. I sank down on +the snow with my knees trembling, and I clutched at the grass that +I might not feel that I must even yet slip into that gulf that was +so close, though there was no slope of the ground toward it. Sheer +and sudden it gaped with sharp edges, as the mouth of some monster +that waited for prey. + +There on the snow I believe that I should have bided to sleep the +sleep of the frozen, for I hardly dared to move. The snow whirled +round me again, but I did not heed it, and with a great roar the +wind rose and swept up the rift with a sound as of mighty harps, +but it did not rouse me. Only my father's voice came to me again +and called me, and I rose up shaking and followed it as it came +from time to time, until I was once more on the track that I had +lost. + +There it left me, but the sadness that had been in its tones was +gone when it last came. And surely that was the touch of no +snowflake that lit on my hand for a moment and was gone. + +Now I grew stronger, and the fear of the unseen was no longer on +me, and I battled onward with wind and snow for a long way. Thanks +to the wind, the track was kept clear of the snow, and I did not +lose it again until it led me to help that was unlooked for. + +There came the sound of a bell to me, strange sounding indeed, but +a bell nevertheless, and I knew that somewhere close at hand was +surely some home of monks who would take me in with all kindness. +And presently the track led me nearer to the sound of the sea, and +at last bent sharply to the right and began to go downhill, while +the sound of the bell grew plainer above the roar of nearer +breakers yet. I felt that I was passing down such a gorge as that +up which I had come from the boat, but far narrower, for I had not +gone far before I could touch the rocky walls with either hand. +Then I came to steps, and they were steep, but below me still +sounded the bell, and the hoarse breakers were very near at hand. I +expected to see the lights of some little fishing village every +moment, but the wind that rushed up the narrow space between the +cliff walls and brought the salt spray with it almost blinded me. + +Suddenly the stairway turned so sharply that I almost fell, and +then I found my way downward barred by what seemed a great +rough-faced rock that was right across the gorge, if one may call a +mere cleft in the cliffs so, and barred my way, while the strange +bell sounded from beyond it. But it was sheltered under this +barrier, and I felt along it to find out where I had to climb over, +thinking that the stairway must lead up its face. But there was no +stair, and as I groped my hand came on cut stone, and when I felt +it I knew that I had come to a doorway, for I found the woodwork, +but in no way could I find how it opened. + +I kicked on it, therefore, and shouted, but it seemed that none +heard. The bell went on and then stopped, and I thought I heard +footsteps on the far side of the barrier. They came nearer, and +then were almost at the door, paused for a moment, and then the +door was opened and the red light from a fire flashed out on me, +showing the tall form of a man in monk's dress in its opening. + +"Come in, my son," said a grave voice, speaking Welsh, that had no +wonder in it, though one could hardly have expected to see an armed +and gold-bedecked Saxon here in the storm. + +I stumbled into what I had thought a rock, and found when my eyes +grew used to the light that I was in a house built of great stones, +uncemented but wonderfully fitted together, and warm and bright +with the driftwood fire, though I heard the spray rattle on the +roof of flat stones, and the wind howled strangely around the +walls. Both ends of this house were of the living rock of the sides +of the gorge, and at one end seemed to be a sort of cave with a +narrow entrance. + +The man who had bidden me in stood yet at the open door looking out +on his staircase, but he did not bide there long. With a sigh he +turned and closed the door and came in, hardly looking at me, but +turning toward the cave I had just noticed. He was an old man, very +old indeed, with a long white beard and pale face lined with +countless wrinkles, and he stooped a little as he walked. But his +face was calm and kind, though he did not smile at me, and I felt +that here I was safe with one of no common sort. + +"Come, my son," he said, "it is the hour of prime. Glad am I to +have one with me after many days." + +He waited for no answer, and I followed him for the few steps that +led to the rock cavern; and there was a tiny oratory with its altar +and cross, and wax lights already burning. + +The old man knelt in his place and I knelt with him, and as he +began the office straightway I knew how worn out I was, and of a +sudden the lights danced before me and I reeled and fell with a +clatter and clash of arms on the rocky floor. I seemed to know that +the old man turned and looked and rose up from his knees hastily, +and I tried to say that I was sorry that I had broken the peace of +this holy place; but he answered in his soft voice: + +"Why, poor lad, I should have seen that you were spent ere this. +The fault is mine." + +He raised me gently, and seemed to search me for some wound. And as +he did so I came more to myself, and begged him to go on with his +office. + +"First comes care of the afflicted, my son, and after that may be +prayer. In truth, to help the fainting is in itself a prayer, as I +think. Come to the fireside and tell me what is amiss." + +"Fasting and fighting and freezing, father," I said, trying to +laugh. + +"Are you wounded?" he asked quickly. + +"No, not at all." + +"That is well. It is a brave heart that will jest in such a case as +yours, for you are ice from head to foot. Well, I had better hear +your story, if you will tell it me, in the daylight. Now get those +wet garments off you and put on this. I will get you food, and you +shall sleep." + +This was surely the last place where my foes would think of looking +for me, and the snow would hide every trace of my path. So I made +no delay, but took off my byrnie and garments. There was a pool on +the floor where I stood, for it was true enough that I had been ice +covered. Then I put on a rough warm brown frock with a cord round +the waist, so that I looked like a lay brother at Glastonbury, and +all the while I waxed more and more sleepy with the comfort of the +place. But I wiped my arms carefully while the old priest was busy +with a cauldron over the fire, and we were ready at the same time. + +Then I had a meal of some sort of stew that seemed the best I ever +tasted, and a long draught of good mead, while the host looked on +in grave content. And then he spread a heap of dry seaweed in a +corner near the fire, and blessed me and bid me sleep. Nor did I +need a second bidding, and I do not think that I can have stirred +from the time that I lay down to the moment when I woke with a +feeling on me that it was late in the daylight. + +So it was, and I looked round for my kind host, but he was not to +be seen. Outside the wind was still strong, but not what it had +been, for the gale was sinking suddenly as it rose, and into the +one little window the sun shone brightly enough now and then as the +clouds fled across it. There was a bright fire on the hearth, and +over it hung a cauldron, whence steam rose merrily, and it was +plain that my friend of last night was not far off, so I lay still +and waited his return. + +Then my eyes fell on my clothes and arms as they hung from pegs in +the walls over against me, and it seemed as if the steel of mail +and helm and sword had been newly burnished. Then I saw also that a +rent in my tunic, made when my horse fell, had been carefully +mended, and that no speck of the dust and mire I had gathered on my +garments from collar to hose was left. All had been tended as +carefully as if I had been at home, and I saw Elfrida's little +brooch shining where I had pinned it. + +That took me back to Glastonbury in a moment, but I had to count +before I could be sure that it was but a matter of hours since I +took that gift in the orchard, rather than of months. And I +wondered if Owen knew yet that I was lost, or if my men sought me +still. Then my mind went to Evan, the chapman outlaw, and I thought +that by this time he would have given me up, and would be far away +by now, beyond the reach of Thorgils and his wrath. + +Now the seaward door opened, and a swirl of spray from the breakers +on the rocks came in with my host, who set a great armful of drift +wood on the floor, closed it, and so turned to me. + +"Good morrow, my son," he said. "How fare you after rest?" + +"Well as can be, father," I answered, sitting up. "Stiff I am, and +maybe somewhat black and blue, but that is all. I have no hurt. But +surely I have slept long?" + +"A matter of ten hours, my son, and that without stirring. You +needed it sorely, so I let you be. Now it is time for food, but +first you shall have a bath, and that will do wonders with the +soreness." + +Thankful enough was I of the great tub of hot water he had ready +for me, and after it and a good meal I was a new man. My host said +nought till I had finished, and then it was I who broke the silence +between us. + +"Father," I said, "I have much to thank you for. What may I call +you?" + +"They name me Govan the Hermit, my son." + +"I do not know how to say all I would, Father Govan," I went on, +"but I was in a sore strait last night, and but for your bell I +think I must have perished in the snow, or in some of the clefts of +these cliffs." + +"I rang the bell for you, my son, though I knew not why. It came on +me that one was listening for some sign of help in the storm." + +"How could you know?" I asked in wonder. + +Govan shook his head. + +"I cannot tell. Men who bide alone as I bide have strange bodings +in their solitude. I have known the like come over me before, and +it has ever been a true warning." + +Now it was my turn to be silent, for all this was beyond me. I had +heard of hermits before, but had never seen one. If all were like +this old man, too much has not been said of their holiness and +nearness to unseen things. + +So for a little while we sat and looked into the fire, each on a +three-legged stool, opposite one another. Then at last he asked, +almost shyly, and as if he deemed himself overbold, how it was that +I had come to be on the cliffs. That meant in the end that he heard +all my story, of course, but my Welsh halted somewhat for want of +use, and it was troublesome to tell it. However, he heard me with +something more than patience, and when I ended he said: + +"Now I know how it is that a Saxon speaks the tongue of Cornwall +here in Dyfed. You have had a noble fostering, Thane, for even here +we lamented for the loss of Owen the prince. We have seen him in +Pembroke in past years. You will be most welcome there with this +news, for Howel, our prince, loved him well. They are akin, +moreover. It will be well that you should go to him for help." + +He rose up and went to the seaward door again, and I followed him +out. The sea was but just below us, for the tide was full, and the +breakers were yet thundering at the foot of the cliffs on either +hand. But I did not note that at first, for the thing which held my +eyes at once was a ship which was wallowing and plunging past us +eastward, under close reefed sail, and I knew her for the vessel in +which I had crossed. Thorgils had left the cove, and was making for +Tenby while he might. I should have to seek him there. + +"How far is it to the Danes' town, Father Govan?" I asked. "Yonder +goes my friend's ship." + +"Half a day's ride, my son, and with peril for you all the way. Our +poor folk would take you for a Dane in those arms, and you have no +horse. Needs must that you seek Howel, and he will give you a guard +willingly." + +Then he turned toward a great rock that lay on the beach, as if it +had fallen from the cliffs that towered above us. + +"Here is the bell that you heard last night," he said. + +He took a rounded stone that lay on the rock and struck it, and I +knew that the clear bell note that it gave out was indeed that +which had been my saving. + +"Once I had a bell in the cote on the roof yonder," he said, "but +the Danes caught sight of it when they first passed this way, and +took it from me. Then as I sorrowed that the lonely shepherds and +fishers might no more hear its call, I seemed to see a vision of an +angel who bade me see what had been sent me instead. And when I +went out as the vision bade me, I could see nought but this rock +newly fallen, and was downcast. And so, from the cliff rolled a +little stone and smote it, and it rang, and I knew the gift. To my +hearing it has a sweeter voice than the bell made with hands." + +Then he showed me his well, roofed in with flat stones because the +birds would wash in it, and so close to the sea salt that it seemed +altogether wonderful that the water was fresh and sweet. And then I +saw that the cell did indeed stretch from side to side of the +narrow cleft down which I had come, so that each end of the +building was of living rock. + +"I built it with my own hands, my son," he said. "I cannot tell how +long ago that was, for time is nought to me, but it was many years. +Once I wore arms and had another name, but that also I care not to +recall." + +Then there came footsteps from above us, and looking up I saw a man +in a rough fisher's dress coming in haste down the long flight of +rock-hewn steps that led from the cliff top down the cleft to the +door that I had found last night, and soon we heard him calling to +the hermit. + +Govan left me, and went through the cell to speak with him, but was +back very shortly. + +"Howel the prince is coming hither," he said. "The man you saw has +seen him on the way, and came to warn me to be at hand for him. It +is well for you, my son, as I am sure." + +So we went together into the house, and I thought to arm myself, +but Govan smiled and asked me not to do so, saying that hither even +Howel would come without his weapons, in all likelihood. + +I understood him, and did but see that my sword was in reach before +I sat down and waited for the coming of the Welsh prince, and I +thought that all I need ask him was for help to reach Tenby, +whither Thorgils must have gone. It was quite likely that Evan +might have raised the country against me in hopes of taking me +again. And maybe I would ask for justice on the said Evan. Also I +wanted to hear what had happened after my going. + +It was not long that I had to wait. There came the tramp of horses +at the top of the gorge, and the sound of a voice or two, and then +the tread of an armed man came slowly down the stair, and Govan +went to meet him. I rose and waited for his entry. + +Now there came in, following Govan, unhelmed as he had greeted the +holy man, a handsome, middle-aged warrior, black haired and eyed +and active looking. He wore the short heavy sword of the Roman +pattern, gold hilted and scabbarded, at his side, and the helm he +carried had a high plumed crest and hanging side pieces that seemed +like those pictured on the walls of Gerent's palace. He had no body +armour on, and his dress was plain enough, of white woollen stuff +with broad crimson borders, but round his neck was a wonderful +twisted collar of gold, and heavy golden bracelets rang as his arms +moved. I saw that his first glance went to me, and that his face +changed when he saw that I was not one of his own people, but a +foreigner, as he would hold me. I saw too that he noted my arms as +they hung on the wall behind me. + +Govan saw it also, and made haste to tell him who I was. + +"This is one who should be welcome to you, Prince, for the sake of +old days, for he has come by mischance from Dyvnaint, being foster +son of one of the princes of Gerent's court, though a Saxon by +birth. Nevertheless he speaks our tongue well. He will tell you all +that presently, and I think that he needs your help." + +"I thought you one of our troublesome neighbours, the Danes," he +said, with a smile now in place of the look of doubt. "But if you +are from Dyvnaint there are many things that you can tell me. But I +have come here to see that all is well with Father Govan, for there +is talk of a mad Norseman who is roving the country, unless the +cold has ended him in the night. It is good to see that nought is +wrong here." + +Now I stood apart, and Govan and his guest spoke together for a few +moments before my turn to tell Howel of my plight should come, and +almost the next thing that the prince said made me wonder that I +had not thought who he was at once. Of course, he was the father of +the kindly princess who had crossed the sea with Thorgils, and had +so nearly been the means of my earlier rescue. + +"Nona, my daughter, is here at the cliff top, Father Govan," Howel +said. "She came home in the Norse ship last night, as we planned; +but tide failed for Tenby, and it chanced that the ship had to put +in at the old landing place. Now she wants to thank you for your +prayers for her, and also to beg them for some sick man about whom +she is troubling herself--some poor hurt knave of a trader who +crossed in the ship with her." + +"I will go out and speak with her," Govan said, smiling. "It is +ever her way to think of the troubled." + +"Tell her that I will not keep her long in the cold," Howel said. +"Bid her keep her horse walking, lest he take chill, if I may ask +as much, Father." + +Govan threw his cowl over his head, and answered: + +"I will tell her. Now, Prince, this friend of mine has come here in +a strange way, and I think he needs help that you can give him." + +He passed out of the cliffward door and went his way up the long +stairway. Then Howel asked me how he could help me. + +"Tell me about Dyvnaint also, for when I was a boy I was long at +Gerent's court. Did not Govan say that you were fostered by one of +the princes? It is likely that I knew your foster father well, if +so; was he Morgan?" + +"Not Morgan, but Owen," I answered, and at that Howel almost +started to his feet. + +"Owen!" he cried. "Does he yet live? Surely we all thought him +dead, or else he had come hither to us when he was banished. I +loved him well in the old days, and glad I am that you are not +Morgan's charge. Tell me all about Owen. Is he home again?" + +"Morgan is dead," I answered, feeling that here I had met with a +friend in all certainty. "And because of that, Owen is in his place +again, and I am here. It has all happened in this week, and to tell +you of it is to tell you all my trouble." + +Now he was all impatience to hear, and I told him all that needed +to be told, until I came to the time when Owen was back at Norton +with the old king. Then he asked me some questions about matters +there, and in the midst of my answers sprang up. + +"Why," he cried, "here I have forgotten the girl, and she ought to +be hearing all this, instead of sitting in the cold on the cliff. +She is Owen's goddaughter, moreover, and he was here only a little +time before he was banished. She can remember him well." + +"Stay, though," he said, sitting down again. "There is your own +tale yet. Let us hear it. Maybe that is not altogether so +pleasant." + +My own thought was that I was glad I might tell it without the +wondering eyes of the fair princess on me, being afraid in a sort +of way of having her think of me as the helpless sick man she had +pitied. So I hastened to tell all that story. + +And when I came to the way in which Evan brought me, Howel's eyes +flashed savagely, and a black scowl came over his handsome face, +sudden as a thunderstorm in high summer. + +"It will be a short shrift and a long rope for that Evan when I +catch him," he said. "He comes here every year, and I suppose that +the goods I have had from him at times have been plunder. I would +that you had ended him last night. Now he has got away in peace, +and is out of my reach, maybe, by this time. Well, how went it?" + +Then I told him the end of the tale, wondering how it was that +Thorgils had let him go. I asked the prince if he could explain +that for me. + +"Not altogether," he said. "Evan sent to me to ask me for men to +guard the ship presently, after we began the feast, saying that he +was going ashore with his goods, and was responsible to the +shipmaster. I told Thorgils, and he said it was well. So I sent a +guard, and presently Evan came and spoke with Thorgils for a little +while, and drank a cup of wine, and so went his way. Next morning, +before he sailed, Thorgils came and grumbled about the loss of his +boat, saying that Evan had taken some sick friend of his ashore in +her, and that she had not come back. I paid him for it too, because +I like the man, and so does my daughter. He sailed, and then I +heard of the fight for the first time." + +Howel laughed a little to himself. + +"Master Evan must have paid my rascals well to keep up the story of +the sick man to Thorgils, for he said nothing to me of any fight. +Maybe, however, he never spoke to any of them, and it is likely +that they would not say much to him. And now, by the Round Table! +if you are not the mad Norseman they prated of to me when I wanted +to know who slew the two men, and if you are not the sick man that +Nona is so anxious about! Here, she must come and see you!" + +With that he got up and went to the door before I could stay him, +and called gaily to the princess, whose horse I could hear stamping +high above us. + +"Ho, Nona, here is a friend of yours whom you will be glad to see. +Ask Father Govan to let you come hither, and bid the men take your +horse." + +So I must make the best of it, and I will say that I felt foolish +enough. It was in my mind, though, that I owed many thanks to the +princess for all her kind thought for me as sick man. I had already +said as much to Howel. So I began to try to frame some sort of +speech for her. One never remembers how such speeches always fail +at the pinch. + +The light footsteps came down the steps in no long time, and then +the princess entered, dressed much as yesterday, with a bright +colour from the wind, and looking round to see the promised friend. + +"I have kept you long, daughter," Howel said, taking her hand, "but +I have been hearing good news. Here is Oswald of Wessex, a king's +thane, but more than that to us, for he is the adopted son of your +own godfather, Owen of Cornwall, and he brings the best of tidings +of him." + +Now the maiden's face flushed with pleasure, and she held out her +hand to me in frank welcome. Yet I saw a little wondering look on +her face as she let her eyes linger on mine for a moment, and that +puzzled me. + +"You are most welcome, Thane," she said. "It is a wonderful thing +that here I should learn that my lost godfather yet lives. You will +come to Pembroke with us, and tell me of him there?" + +Then Howel laughed as if he had a jest that would not keep, and he +cried: "Why, Nona, that is a mighty pretty speech, but surely one +asks a sick man of his health first." + +She blushed a little, and glanced again at me. + +"Surely the thane is not hurt?" she said. + +"Yesterday he was, and that sorely. What was it, Thane?--Slipped +shoulder, broken thigh, and broken jaw? All of which a certain +maiden pitied most heartily, even to lending a blanket to the poor +man." + +Then Nona blushed red, and I made haste to get rid of some of the +thanks that were heartfelt enough if they came unreadily to my +lips, and Howel laughed at both of us. I think that the princess +found her way out of the little constraint first, for she began to +smile merrily. + +"There must be a story for me to hear about all this," she said. +"But I was sure that I had seen your eyes before. I was wondering +where it could have been." + +"Well," said Howel, "I have sat with the thane for close on an +hour, and now I do not know what colour his eyes are." + +"They were all that I could see of him, father," laughed the +princess, and then she put the matter aside. "Now we have been here +long enough, and good Govan shivers on the hilltop. Surely the +thane will ride home with us, and we can talk on the way." + +Howel added at once that this was the best plan for me, and what he +was about to ask me himself. + +"I know you will want to get home again as soon as may be," he +said. "No doubt Thorgils will take you at once. I will have word +sent to him at Tenby to stay for you." + +"Father, you have forgotten," the princess said, somewhat +doubtfully, as I thought. + +"Nay, but I have not," answered Howel grimly. "But honest Thorgils +is a white heathen, and those Tenby men are black heathen. He does +not come into our quarrels, and will heed me, if they will not." + +I minded that I had heard of trouble between the Tenby Danes and +this prince, and it seemed that he spoke of it again. However, that +I might hear by and by. So I thanked him, and said that I could +wish for nothing better than to be his guest until I could go on my +way hence. + +Now the princess went to the cliff top and called Govan, while I +armed myself. The hermit came back, and I bade him farewell, with +many thanks for his kindnesses during the hours I had been with +him; and so I went from the little cell with the blessing of Govan +the Hermit on me, and that was a bright ending to hours which had +been dark enough. Govan the Saint, men call him, now that he has +gone from among them, and rightly do they give him that name, as I +think. + +Howel dismounted one of his men, and set me on the horse in his +place, and then we rode to the camp at the landing place by the +track which had led me hither, passing the head of the rift from +which I had escaped, so that I saw its terrors in full daylight. +And they were even more awesome to me than as I hung on the brink +with the depths unknown below me. Then Howel told me how once a +hunter had come suddenly on that gulf with his horse at full +gallop, and had been forced to leap or court death by checking the +steed. He had cleared it in safety, but the terror of what he had +done bided with him, so that he died in no long time; I could well +believe it. + +Then the princess told me many things of Govan, and among others +that the poor folk held that when the Danes came and stole the bell +from him he had been hidden from them in the rock wall of the +chapel, which had gaped to take him in, closing on him and setting +him free when danger was past. Certainly there was a cleft in the +rock wall of the chapel wall that had markings as of the ribs of a +man in its sides, and was just the height and width for one to +stand in, but Govan said nought to me about it when he told of the +taking of the bell. Danes also slew all these cattle whose bones I +had passed among. + +Then we came in sight of the camp, over which the red dragon banner +of Wales floated, and Howel told me how it was that he had met us +there with his guards. + +"Men saw Thorgils' ship from the lookout, and so I came here, for +they said that she could not make Tenby on this tide and must needs +come in here. Nona has been for three months with her mother's folk +in Cornwall--ay, she is half Cornish, and kin to Gerent and Owen. I +was married over there, at Isca, and Owen was at the wedding as my +best man, though he is ten years younger than I. That is how he +came to be the girl's godfather, you see. Now I wanted her back, +for it is lonely at Pembroke without her, and I am apt to wax testy +with folk if she is not near to keep things straight. So I sent +word by Thorgils six weeks ago that she was to come back, and he +was to bring her. I have had the men watching for the ship ever +since. Good it is to see her again, and she has brought good news +also, with yourself. I have a mind to keep you with us awhile, and +let the Norseman take back word of your safety." + +But I said that, however pleasant this would be, it seemed plain +that I must get back to Owen with all speed, to warn him of this +trouble that was somewhat more than brewing. It could not be +thought that I would send word and yet never move to his side to +help. + +"If I might say what comes into my mind," said the fair princess, +"it seems almost better that none but Owen and yourself know that +the plot is found out, while you guard against it. The traitors +will be less careful if they deem that nought is known. Thorgils is +somewhat talkative, you know." + +"That is right," said Howel. "I have a good counsellor here, Thane, +as you see. However, Thorgils will not sail today, for he has just +put in, and I know that he was complaining of some sort of damage +done, as the gale set a bit of a sea into the cove, and he had some +ado to keep clear of the rocks for a time. We will even ride to +Pembroke, and I will send for Thorgils that he may speak with you." + +And then he added grimly: + +"Moreover, I will send men on the track of Evan, the chapman, +forthwith." + +So we called out the guards from the camp, where there were lines +of huts with a greater building in the midst as if it were often +used thus, and so rode across the rolling land northwards till we +came to Pembroke. And there Howel of Dyfed dwelt in state in such a +palace as that of Gerent, for here again the hand of the Saxon had +never come, and the buildings bore the stamp of Imperial Rome. + +So once again I was lodged within stone walls, and with a roof +above me that I could touch with my hand, and I need not say how I +fared in all princely wise as the son of Owen. I suppose there +could be no more frank and friendly host than Howel of Dyfed. + +Tired I was that night also, and I slept well. But once I woke with +a fear for Owen on me, for I had dreamed that I saw some man +creeping and spying along the wide ramparts of Norton stronghold. +And it seemed that the man had a bow in his hand. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. HOW OSWALD LOST A HUNT, AND FOUND SOMEWHAT STRANGE IN CAERAU +WOODS. + + +I thought Pembroke a very pleasant place when I came to see it in +the fair winter's morning. The gale had passed, but it had brought +a thaw with it, and there was a softness in the air again, and the +light covering of snow had gone when I first looked abroad. There +had been no such heavy fall here as we had in Wessex beyond the +sea. + +Maybe pleasant companionship had something to do with my thought of +the place, for none can deny that a good deal does depend on who is +with one. And, seeing that after the morning meal her father was +busy with his counsellors for a time, Nona the princess would shew +me all that was to be seen while we waited the coming of Thorgils. + +Whoever chose the place for the building of this palace stronghold +chose well, for it is set on a rocky tongue of land that divides +the waters of an inland branch of the winding Milford Haven, so +that nought but an easily defended ridge of hill gives access to +the fortress. All the tongue itself has sheer rock faces to the +water, and none might hope to scale them. They and the wall across +the one way from the mainland, as one may call it, make Howel's +home sure, and since the coming of the Danes into the land he had +strengthened what had fallen somewhat into decay in the long years +of peace that had passed. + +We had never reached Dyfed, either from land or sea. So I saw hawks +and hounds, stables and guardrooms and all else, and at last we +walked on the terraced edge of the cliffs in the southern sun, and +there a man came and said that Thorgils the Norseman had come. + +"Oh," said Nona with a little laugh, "he knows not that you are +here! Let us see his face when he meets you!" + +"The prince is busy," said the servant. "Is it your will that the +stranger should be brought here?" + +"Yes, bring him. Tell him that I would speak with him, but say +nought of any other." + +The man bowed and went his way, and the princess turned to me with +a new look of amusement on her face. + +"Pull that cloak round you, Thane, and pay no heed to him when he +comes; we may have sport." + +They had given me a long Welsh cloak of crimson, fur bordered, and +a cap to wear with it instead of my helm. And of course I had not +on my mail, though Ina's sword was at my side, and Gerent's +bracelet on my arm, setting off a strange medley of black-and-blue +bruises and red chafed places from the cords, moreover. So I +laughed, and did as she bade me, even as I saw Thorgils brought +round the palace toward us from the courtyard where they had taken +charge of his horse. There were two other men with him, tall, wiry +looking warriors, and all three were well armed, but in a fashion +which was neither Welsh nor Saxon, but more like the latter than +the former. + +"Danes from Tenby," said Nona; "I know them both, and like them. +See what wondrous mail they have, and look at the sword hilt of the +elder man. That is Eric, the chief, and I think he comes to speak +with my father." + +The two Danes hung back as they saw that Howel was not present, but +Thorgils unhelmed and came forward quickly, with the courtly bow he +knew how to make when he chose, as he saluted the princess. Then he +turned slightly to me with his stiff salute, and as I nodded to him +I saw him start and look keenly at me. Then he looked away again, +and tried to seem unheeding, but it was of no use; his eyes came +back to me. + +"You seem to have met our friend before, Shipmaster," said Nona, +whose eyes were dancing. + +"I cannot have done so, Princess," he answered. "But on my word, I +never saw so strange a likeness to one I do know." + +"I trust that is a compliment to my friend," she said. + +"Saving the presence of the one who is like the man I know, I may +say for certain that it is nought else to him." + +I turned away somewhat smartly, for I wanted to laugh, and this was +getting personal. The princess was not unwilling, I think, that it +should be more so. + +"Now you have offended the present, and I shall have to say that +the absent need not be so." + +"Nor the present either, Princess. See here, Lord, the man you are +so wondrous like in face did the bravest deed I have seen for many +a day. Moreover, he saved the life of a king thereby. Shall I tell +thereof?" + +Now this was a new tale to Nona, for, as may be supposed, I had not +said that it was myself who handled Morgan so roughly, as I told +the tale of his end. It would have seemed like boasting myself +somewhat, as I thought, so I did but say that he was dragged away +from the king in time. Nor had I spoken of Elfrida. The tale was +told hurriedly, and when it was done there had been no thought but +of Owen. It was greater news here that he lived than that Ina had +narrowly escaped. + +So she glanced round at me in some surprise, and then turned again +to Thorgils. + +"Some time you shall, for I love your songs. Not now, for we have +not time." + +"Thanks, Lady. It will be a good song, and is shaping well in my +mind. There is a brave lady therein also." + +"Well, you have not told us who the brave man is. + +"Did I not know that Oswald, son of Owen the Cornish prince, was by +this time in Glastonbury, I should have said he was here, so great +is the likeness. It is a marvel. + +"Now, Lord, you will forgive me, no doubt." + +"Ay, freely," I said, turning round sharply. "That is, if your +friend has a sword as good as this," and I shewed him the gemmed +hilt of Ina's gift from beneath the folds of my great cloak. + +He stared at it, and then at my face again, and I took off my cap +to him with a bow. + +"It is strange that a shipmaster knows not his own passenger," I +said. + +But he was dumb for a moment, and his mouth opened. Nona laughed at +him and clapped her hands with glee, and I must laugh also. + +"By Baldur," he gasped, "if it is not Oswald, in the flesh! What +witchcraft brought you here? To my certain knowledge there is no +ship but mine afloat now in the Severn Sea." + +"Why, then, I crossed with you, friend," I said. + +"That you did not--" he began, but stopped short. + +"Thorgils, Thorgils--the sick man!" cried Nona. + +"Oh!" said Thorgils, "can you have been Evan's charge?" + +"Ay. Mind you that it was your own word that there might be danger +from the friends of Morgan?" + +Then I told him all, and he heard with growls and head shakings, +which but for the presence of the lady might have been hard sayings +concerning my captors. + +But when I ended he said: + +"If ever I catch the said Evan there will be a reckoning. All the +worse it will be for him that for these five years past I have +known him, and deemed him a decent and trustworthy man, for a Welsh +trader. I have fetched him back and forth with his goods twice or +thrice a year for all that time, and now I suppose he has made me a +carrier of stolen wares! Plague on him. I mind me now that betimes +I have thought he dealt in cast-off garments somewhat, but that was +not my affair. Now one knows how that was." + +"I liked the man well, also," said the princess, with a sigh. "He +has come here every year, and betimes as he shewed me his +goods--not those you spoke of, Thorgils--it has seemed to me that +he was downcast, and as one who had sorrow in his heart. Maybe he +had, for his ill doings. He deserves to be punished, but yet I +would ask that--that if you lay hands on him you will be merciful." + +"He shewed little mercy to Oswald the thane," growled Thorgils. +"However, Princess, I think that you may be easy. He will not risk +aught, and we shall see him no more. But the knave would beguile +Loki. Never a word did I hear of any trouble, but he came and spoke +to me as I sat with your men yonder, and paid me his passage money, +and said he had asked for a guard for the ship as he wanted to be +away with the sick man. Also he said he would borrow the boat for +his easier passage ashore. I supposed she was smashed in the gale, +as she came not back, and Howel paid me for her when I grumbled." + +"I wonder he went near you," I said. + +"Therein was craft. If he had not paid passage I would have let +every shipmaster beware of him, and he would have fared ill. He +thought you done for, no doubt, and so fell back on certainty, as +one may say. It is a marvel you escaped the great rifts in yon +cliffs in the storm. Now he will hear that you are none the worse, +and he will be sorry he paid me." + +Thorgils laughed grimly, but Nona sighed at the downfall of the man +she had liked. As for myself, it mattered little what became of +him, so far as I was concerned. Howel's men were hunting him as I +knew, and I only hoped they might catch him, for then we might +learn more of the plotting that was on hand from him. He would tell +all to save his skin, no doubt. + +But now I told Thorgils how I needed to be back in Norton with all +speed, and it sent a sort of chill through me to see him shake his +head. + +"There is need, truly," he said, "and all that may be done I will +do. But yestermorn we found that we had sprung a plank or two just +above the waterline, as we were in a bad berth for shelter. I made +shift to get the ship to Tenby, but on one tack she leaks like a +basket, and she must be repaired. It will take all today, and maybe +tomorrow; but it shall be done, if we have to work double tides, or +to make a cobbler's job of it in haste. I must be off therefore to +see to it. But I hope, if wind will serve us we may sail for home +tomorrow night. Tide serves about midnight, and waits for no man. +You had better be with us betimes." + +He saw that I seemed downcast, and added thoughtfully enough: "It +is in my mind that you need have little care yet. Gerent will not +let Owen out of his sight for some time, as I think, and danger +begins when he is abroad alone, and carelessly. Maybe not till he +is at Exeter." + +Then he beckoned to the two Danes who were waiting him, and made +them known to me after they had saluted the princess. Eric the +chief was a fine old warrior, iron grey and strong, and the other +was his son, who bade fair to be like his father in time. He was a +sturdy young man, and wore his arms well. They shook hands with me +frankly, and from their words it was plain that Thorgils had told +my story at Tenby already. + +"This is the sick man I told you of," he said now. "He turns out to +be a Thane of Glastonbury, and Evan had a hand in some plot of the +friends of Morgan. Took him by craft and brought him here for +ransom, doubtless. I had not thought that man such a knave, and +shall distrust my judgment of men sorely in future." + +Then Nona asked them what they would with the prince, and Eric told +her. + +"The deer are in the valleys, Lady, and we came to tell the prince +that we have harboured the great stag of twelve points in the woods +beyond Caerau. Will it please him to join our hunt?" + +"Doubtless," she said. "Now there is no time to be lost, for the +day is high already." + +"None the worse, Princess," said Eric. "The last snow is passing +hourly." + +So we went round to the front of the palace toward the gates, and +there waited half a dozen more men and horses by a gathering of men +on foot with a pack of great hounds, the like of which I had never +seen. They were the Danish hounds, which had come hither with their +masters, and were big and strong enough for any quarry, even were +it the bear that yet lurked in the Welsh mountain wilds. + +Then Howel came, and would have me mounted well, and in less than +half an hour we were riding eastward along the ancient way they +call the Ridgeway, which crowns the long hill between the sea and +the valleys where lie the windings of Milford Haven. And so we went +till we could see Tenby itself far off on its rocky ness, and at +that point left Thorgils to go his way, while we turned northward +into the inland valleys, and sought the deep combe where they had +harboured the stag. + +The snow lay here and there yet, but it was almost gone, and the +going was somewhat heavy, but overhead the sky was soft and grey, +and the wind was pleasant if chill. North and west it was, and that +would be fair for our crossing, if only it would hold, as Thorgils +deemed that it surely would. + +Now it was good to hear the horn and the cheer of the hunters as +they drew the deep cover for the deer, and the half-dozen couple of +hounds that were held back in leash while the rest were at their +work strained and whimpered to be with them. And at last the great +stag broke from the cover, in no haste, but in a sort of disdain of +those who had disturbed him, and after him came a few scurrying +hinds who huddled to him for safely. They trotted to another cover, +and after them streamed the hounds, and then the great stag was +driven alone from his hiding, and so the pack was laid on and we +were away. + +He headed for the far waters of the haven I had seen glittering +from the hilltop, even as Howel told me was likely, and the pace +was fast at the first. So I settled myself to the work and rode as +one should ride on another man's horse, and a good one, moreover, +carefully enough. But these hills were easier than ours, for +heather was none, and the loose stones that trouble us on Mendips +and Quantocks were not to be seen. It was fair grass land mostly. +So I let my horse go, and in a little while had forgotten aught but +the sheer joy of the pace, and the cry of the great hounds, and the +full delight of such a run as one dreams of. Whereby I have little +more to tell thereof. + +For a country may seem to be open enough as one looks down on it +from a height, but as one crosses it the difference in what has +seemed easy riding is soon plain. Long swells of rolling ground +rise as it were from nothing, and deep valleys that had been unseen +cross the path, and the clustered trees are found to be deep woods +as they are neared. Then the man who knows the country has the +advantage, and it is as well to follow him. But I was well mounted, +and the pace was good where the gale had thinned the snow, and it +came about that before I had time to think what Howel and Eric and +the Danes who were on horseback were doing I rode down one side of +a little cover, past which the deer had gone with the hounds close +on him, while the rest went on the other. I heard one shout, but it +did not come into my mind that it was to me, for I thought that +they needs must follow, and did not look round. Then I had to turn +off yet more to the right as the best way seemed to take me, and +meanwhile they were off to the left. + +So when I was clear of the thicket and could see across the open +again I had lost them. Unless I could hear the hounds I had nothing +to guide me, and I drew rein and listened for them. As I heard +nothing I rode on until I had a stretch of open country before me, +but there I could see no more. Afterwards I learned that the deer +had turned and made for the hill again, but it did not seem likely +that he would do so with the waters of the haven so close at hand +as I could see them. It was more likely that he would head straight +for them, and so I spurred on once more in that direction. It was +certainly the best thing that I could do, and I had not far to go +before a mile of the open water was before me. But there was nought +on its banks but a row of patient herons, fishing or sleeping, and +the sight of them told me that no man had passed this way for many +a long hour. + +I waited in that place for a few moments, to see if the deer made +for the refuge of the water from some cover that as yet hid him +from me, but he did not come. It was plain to me then that the hunt +had doubled back and that I was fairly thrown out, and I went no +farther. By this time Eric might be miles away, and I knew nothing +of the lie of the land, save that along the crest of the Ridgeway +ran the road from Tenby to Pembroke, and that once on that road I +could make my way back in no long time. That, as it seemed to me, +was the best thing that I could do, and I headed my horse at once +for the hill, going slowly, for it was no great distance, and it +was heavy going in the places where the snow had gathered in +drifts. I thought that maybe I should cross the track of the horses +and hounds, or hear Eric's horn before I had gone far, but I +reached the foot of the hill without doing either. + +Then I came to a place where the land began to draw upward more +sharply, thickly timbered, with scattered rocks among the roots of +the trees. Fox and badger and wildcat had their hiding places here, +for I could trace them on all sides, and then I saw the track of a +wolf, and that minded me, as that track in snow ever must, of Owen +and the day when he came to my help at Eastdean. That is the +clearest memory I have of my childhood. + +Then I thought that I heard the horn, and stopped to listen, nor +was it long before what I had heard came to my ears again. It was +not the sound of the horn, however, but somewhat strange to me, and +for a while I wondered what forest bird or beast had a note like +that. + +For the third time I heard it, and now it was plainly like the +half-stifled cry of some one in pain among the trees to the right +of me, and not far distant either. So I rode toward the place +whence the cry seemed to come, and as I went I called. At that the +voice rose more often, with some sound of entreaty in its tone, and +it seemed to be trying to form words. I hastened then, crossing +more wolf tracks on the way, and then I struck the trail of many +men and a few horses; but these were not Eric's, for the hoof marks +were rather those of ponies than of his tall steeds. I followed +that track, for it seemed to lead toward the weary voice that I +heard, and so I came to a circle of great oaks with a clear space +of many paces wide between them, and there I found what I was +seeking. It was piteous enough. + +A man was tied to the greatest of the trees, with knees to chin, +and bound ankles, while round his knees his hands were clasped and +fastened so that a stout stake was thrust through, under his knees +and over his elbows, trussing him helplessly. The cords that bound +him to the tree were round his body in such wise that he could by +no means fall on his side and so work himself free from the stake, +and round his mouth was a ragged cloth tied, but not closely enough +to prevent him from calling out as I heard him. I think that he +must have gnawed it from closer binding than I saw now. Across the +snow behind him the paws of some daring wolf had left marks as if +the beast had sniffed at his very back not so long since, and +surely but for the chance of my coming that way nought but his +bones had been left in that place by the pack before morning came +again. + +It was a strange cry that this man gave when he saw me, for in no +way could I take it for a cry of joy for rescue. I could rather +think that he had raised the same when the wolf came near him. And +when I dismounted and led my horse after me toward him he seemed to +try to shrink from me, as if I also meant him harm. I thought that +the poor soul had surely gone distracted with the fear of the +forest beasts on him, so that he no longer knew friend from foe, +and I wondered how long he had been bound here in this lonely +place. I had seen no house or trace of men between here and Tenby. + +I hitched the bridle rein over a low bough, and leaving my horse +went toward him to set him loose, wondering who had left him here. +And as I drew my seax and went to cut the lashings he writhed +afresh and cried piteously for mercy in what sounded like bad Saxon +from behind the cloth across his face, as though he deemed that I +came to slay him. I did not notice the strangeness of his using my +own tongue here in the heart of a Welsh land at the time, but +thought he took me for one of those who had bound him. + +"Fear not," I said, speaking in Welsh to comfort him. + +And if anything, that seemed to terrify him yet more. + +"Mercy, good Thane--mercy!" he mumbled from his half-stifled lips. + +Then it seemed to me that it was strange that he knew what I was, +and before I cut the bonds I took the cloth from his face, and lo! +the man was Evan the outlaw, my enemy! + +That told me why he feared me in good truth, for he had need to do +so, and I stood back and looked at him with the bright weapon still +in my hand, and he cried and begged for mercy unceasingly. It +seemed but right that he should be bound helplessly as he had bound +me, yet he had not the bitterness of seeing a friend look on him +without knowing him as had I. It was a foe whom he saw, and that a +righteous one. + +Then I was minded to turn away and leave him where he was, until +the foe from the forest looked on him for the last time, for it was +all that he deserved, and I set my seax back in my belt and turned +away to my horse with a great loathing of the man in my mind; and +seeing that, he begged for mercy again most pitiably. + +That is a hard thing to hear unmoved, and I stayed and looked at +him again. My first wrath was leaving me as I saw the fullness of +the end of his plans, and I do not think that it is in me to be +utterly revengeful. + +"What mercy can you hope from me!" I said coldly. + +"None, Thane--none. But let me go hence with you. Better the rope +than these wild beasts. Or slay me now, and swiftly." + +"Who, of all your friends, tied you here?" I asked him. + +"Howel's men," he answered. "They took my goods at the ford of +Caerau yonder, and so brought me here and left me. That was early +this morning." + +"I marvel that you bided in reach of any who might speak with me," +I said. + +"My comrades left me, for fear of that same. I must hire ponies to +get the goods away. I thought you had died on the wild sea that +night." + +"It seems to me that this is but justice on you. The goods you have +lost were stolen from honest men. And it were just if I left you +bound as you bound me." + +Then the man said slowly: "Ay, it is justice. But will you treat me +even as I treated you, Thane?" + +I looked at him in some wonder. The man's face had grown calm, +though it was yet grey and drawn, and this seemed as if he would +own his fault without excuse. I minded that Nona the princess and +her father, ay, and Thorgils, had said that they thought well of +Evan the merchant up till this time. + +"Supposing I let you go--What then?" I said. + +"First of all, I would tell you somewhat for which you will thank +me, Thane." + +"Tell me that first," I said, not altogether believing that he had +anything which could be worth my hearing, but with a full mind now +to let him go. + +Plainly, he had some sort of faith in me, or in the worth of what +he had to say, for he began eagerly: + +"Thane, when we took you, it was Owen of Cornwall for whom we +waited. We were not minding you at all until we saw that we might +hurt him through you." + +"That I suppose. I know that you laid wait for Owen the prince." + +"Ay, for you know the Welsh and heard all that we said. But listen, +Thane, this is it. Eight of the friends of Morgan had sworn the +death of Owen that morning, and it was the leader of them who set +us on. He was not there, for he waited on another road." + +"Were you one of the eight?" + +"That I am not," he said. "I and my men were but hired, as Morgan +was wont to hire us now and then. When we took you methought that +it was well for me, for through you I might be inlawed again, even +as I told you." + +"Who was this leader?" I asked, heeding this last speech not at +all. + +"Tregoz of the Dart, men call him, for he holds lands thereon. Also +there are these of the great men of Cornwall and Dyvnaint." + +He called over the names of the other seven, and I repeated them +that I should not forget. The only one that I had heard before was +that of Tregoz. The outlaws had spoken of him, and now I remembered +him as one of those who had seemed loudest in welcome to Owen when +he came to Norton. So I told Evan, and he nodded. + +"I heard him boast of the same," he said, and I believed him for +the way in which he said it. + +"How do they think to slay Owen, and wherefore?" I asked, and my +blood ran cold at the thought of the treachery that was round him. + +Doubtless this Tregoz was back at court. + +"In any way that they may compass, and if in such a way as to stir +up war with Ina of Wessex so much the better, as they say. It is +revenge for the death of Morgan, and hatred of the Saxon, mixed." + +"Is there any more that I should know?" + +"None, Thane. But I have broken no oath in telling you this, as you +might think. We outlaws were not bound, for there seemed no need." + +It was strange that he should care to tell me this, being what he +was. Once more I minded words of Thorgils--that the knave would +beguile Loki himself with fair words. Yet there was somewhat very +strange in all the looks and words of the man at this time. But I +would not talk longer with him, and I cut his bonds and freed him. + +He tried to rise and stretch his cramped limbs, groaning with the +pain of them as he did so. And that grew on him so that of a sudden +he swooned and fell all his length at my feet, and then I found +myself kneeling and chafing the hands of this one who had bound me, +so that he should come round the sooner. At last he opened his +eyes, and I fetched the horn of strong mead that Howel had bidden +his folk hang on my saddle bow when we rode out, and that brought +him to himself again. He sat up on the snow and thanked me humbly. + +"Now, what will you do?" I said. "Let me tell you that Thorgils is +after you, and that Howel has set a price on your head, or was +going to do so. And it is better that you cross the sea no more, +for if ever any one of the men of Gerent or Ina catch you your life +will be forfeit." + +"I will get me to North Wales or Mercia, Thane, and there will I +live honestly, and that I will swear. Only, I will pray you not to +tell Howel that I am free." + +"I am like to tell no man," I answered grimly. "For I should but be +called a soft-hearted fool for my pains." + +"Yet shall you be glad that you freed me. Bid Owen the prince look +to the door before ever he opens it. Bid him wear his mail day and +night, and never ride unguarded. Let him have one whom he trusts to +sleep across his doorway, until Tregoz and his men are all +accounted for." + +"Well, then," I said, "farewell--as well as you shall deserve +hereafter. You best know if you have one safe place left to you in +England or in Wales." + +"I was not all so bad until the law hounded me forth from men," he +said. "I have yet places where I am held as an honest man." + +Now I had enough of him, and I would not ask him more of himself +yet I will say that my heart softened somewhat toward him, for I +knew that here also he had been well thought of. Almost did I +forget how he had treated me, for now that seemed a grudge against +Tregoz. Maybe that was all foolishness on my part, but I am not +ashamed thereof today, as I was then. + +"Stay, have you any weapon?" I said, as I was turning away. "There +are many ills that may befall an unarmed man in a wild country." + +"There was a seax here," he said, rising stiffly. "They left it on +the ground, that I might see help out of my reach, as it were. Ay, +here it is." + +He took it up, and I knew that after all he had felt somewhat as he +had made me feel when I saw help close to me and might not have it. +I pitied him, for I knew well what his torture had been. Ay, and I +will tell this, that men may know how this terror burnt into me. +Many a time have I let a trapped rat go, because I would not see +the agony of dumb helplessness in anything. It frays me. There is +no wonder that I set Evan free. + +I said no more, but left him staring after me with the seax in his +hand, and rode on my way, thinking most of all of the peril that +was about Owen, and longing to be back with him that I might guard +him. It seemed likely now that Gerent could take all these men +whose names I had heard without the least trouble, for they could +not deem that their plans were known. Ina would surely let me bide +with my foster father till danger to him was past. + +So I came into the road that runs along the top of the Ridgeway, +and then I knew where I was. I could see the great ness of Tenby +far before me across the hills, and presently at a turn in the road +I saw Howel and Eric and his men ahead of me. They had taken the +stag, and knew that I should make my way back, and so troubled not +at all for me. + +There Howel and I parted from the Danes, they going back to Tenby, +while we returned slowly to Pembroke. And when we came to the +palace yard we found a little train of horses and men there, as +though some new guests had come in lately. + +"I know who these will be," said Howel. "You will have company in +your homeward crossing. Here is Dunwal of Devon, and his daughter, +who have been on pilgrimage to St. Davids, for Christmastide. They +knew that Nona returned at this time, and have come hither on the +chance of a passage home in the ship which brought her. In good +time they are, after all." + +Presently I met these folk, and very courteous they were. Dunwal +was a tall, very dark, man, who chose to hold that he was beholden +to myself for the passage home, when he heard why I was sailing so +soon. And his daughter was like him in many ways, being perhaps the +very darkest damsel I have ever seen, though she was handsome +withal. With them was a priest of the old Western Church, a +Cornishman, with his outlandish tonsure. He was somewhat advanced +in years, and strangely wild looking at times, though silent. He +seemed to be Dunwal's chaplain, or else was a friend who had made +the pilgrimage with him. His name was Morfed, they told me. + +I do not think that I should have noted him much, but that when he +heard my Saxon name he scowled heavily, and drew away from me; and +presently, when it came to pass that Howel told Dunwal the news I +had brought, I saw his eyes fixed on me in no friendly way as he +listened. Nor did he join with his friends in the words of gladness +for Owen's return, though indeed I had some thought that theirs +might have been warmer. It was almost as if something was held back +by the Devon man and his daughter, though why I should think so I +could not tell. At all events, their way of receiving the news was +not like that of Howel and Nona. + +By and by, when we came to sit down at table in the largest room of +the palace, bright with fair linen, and silver and gold and glass +vessels before us, and soft and warm under foot with rugs on the +tiled floor which hardly needed them, as I thought, there was a +guest I was pleased to see. Thorgils had ridden from Tenby at the +bidding of the princess, as it seemed, and his first words to me +were of assurance that all went well for our sailing. The good ship +would be ready for the tide of the morrow night. Pleased enough +also he was with the chance of new passengers, as may be supposed. + +I do not think that I have ever sat at a feast whereat so few were +present at the high table, and there were no house-carles at all. +Truly, the room was not large enough for what we deem that a king's +board should be, but we seemed almost in private. There were not +more than thirty guests altogether, but it was pleasant for all +that. The princess was on the right of her father, and Mara, the +daughter of Dunwal, on his left, but I sat next to Nona, and Dunwal +to me again. On the other side of the prince were some of his own +nobles, and across the room sat Thorgils next to the Cornish +priest, among Welshmen of some lower rank. They seemed an +ill-assorted pair, but Thorgils was plainly trying to be friendly +with every one in reach of him, and soon I forgot him in the +pleasantness of all that went on at our table. + +However, by and by Howel said to Nona suddenly, in a low voice: + +"Look yonder at the Norseman. He must be talking heathenry to yon +priest, for the good man seems well-nigh wild. What can we do?" + +Truly, the face of Morfed was black as thunder, while that of the +Norseman was shining with delight in some long-winded story he was +telling. The white-robed servants were clearing the tables at this +moment, and the prince's bard, a fine old harper with golden collar +and chain, was tuning his little gilded harp as if the time for +song had come. + +"Make him sing," said Nona. "I bade him here tonight that he might +do so. He has some wondrous tale to tell us." + +Howel beckoned to the harper, and signed to him, and the old man +rose at once and went to Thorgils. It was not the first time that +he had sung here, it was plain. Then I noted that the priest was +scowling fiercely at myself, and I wondered idly why. I supposed, +so far as I troubled to think thereof that he was one of those who +hated the very name of Saxon. + +Now Thorgils took the harp without demur, smiling at the bard in +thanks, and so came forward into the space round which the tables +were set, while a silence fell on the company. + +"If my song goeth not smoothly in the British tongue, Prince, +forgive me. I can but do my best. Truly, I have even now asked my +neighbour, Father Morfed, if it is fairly rendered, but I have not +had his answer yet." + +He ran his hand over the already tuned strings, and lifted his +voice and began. It was not the first time that he had handled a +British harp, by any means, but if he played well he sang better. I +do not think that one need want to hear a finer voice than his; and +though he had seen fit to doubt his powers, his Welsh was as good +as mine, and maybe, by reason of constant use, far more easy. + +And next moment I knew that he was going to sing nothing more or +less than of King Ina's Yule feast, and what happened thereat. He +had promised to tell the princess the story, and this was her +doing, of course. I could not stop him, and there I must sit and +listen to as highly coloured a tale as a poet could make of it. +Once he saw that I was growing red, and he grinned gently at me +across the harp, and worked up the struggle still more terribly. +And all the while Morfed the priest glowered at me, until at length +he rose and left the room. + +I was glad enough when Thorgils ended that song, but Nona must ask +him for yet another, and that pleased him, of course, and he began +once more. This time he sang, to my great confusion, of the +drinking of the bowl, and of my vow, and I wished that I was +anywhere but in Pembroke, or that I could reach the three-legged +stool on which he was perched from under him. I never knew a man +easy while the gleemen sang his deeds, save Ina, who was used to +it, and never listened; and I knew not where to look, though maybe +more than half the folk present did not understand that I was the +hero of the song. Nevertheless, I had to put up with it, till he +ended with a verse or two of praise of our host and of the princess +who loved the songs of the bard, and so took his applause with a +happy smile and went and sat down, while Nona bade her maidens bear +a golden cup and wine to him. + +Then the princess turned to me with a quiet smile that had some +mischief in it. + +"This last is more than I had thought to hear, Thane," she said; +"you told us nought of yourself and the lady Elfrida when we rode +from the hermit's." + +And so she must ask me many questions, under cover of some chant +which the old bard began, and she drew my tale from me easily +enough, and maybe learnt more than I thought I told her, for before +long she said: + +"Then it seems that, after all, you are not so sure that the lady +is pleased with you for your vow?" + +And in all honesty I was forced to own that I was not. I suppose I +showed pretty plainly that I thought myself aggrieved in the +matter, for the princess smiled at me. + +"Wait till you see how she meets you when you return, Thane. No +need to despair till then." + +It came into my mind to say that I did not much care how I was met, +but I forbore. Maybe it was not true. And then the princess and the +three or four other ladies who were present rose and left the +table, and thereafter we spoke of nought but sport and war, and I +need not tell of all that. But when I went to my chamber presently, +and the two pages were about to leave me to myself some three hours +or so after the princess left the board, one of them lingered for a +moment behind the other, and so handed me a folded and sealed +paper. + +"I pray you read this, Thane," he said, and was gone. + +It was written in a fair hand, that did not seem as that of any +inky-fingered lay brother, but as I read the few words that were +written I knew whose it was, for none but Nona would have written +it. + +"Have a care, Thane. I have spoken with Mara, and I fear trouble. +Dunwal her father is, with Tregoz his brother, at the right hand of +the men who follow Morgan. Morfed the priest is a hater of all that +may make for peace with the Saxon. He is well-nigh distraught with +hatred of your kin." + +Then there were a few words crossed out, and that was all. And to +tell the truth, it was quite enough. But as I came to think over +the matter, it seemed to me that until Dunwal knew that it was his +brother who had tried to get rid of me I need not fear him. As for +the priest, his hatred would hardly lead him to harm the son of +Owen. + +So I slept none the less easily, but from my heart I thanked the +princess for the warning. It should not be my fault if Dunwal had +much power for harm when once I met Gerent. + + + +CHAPTER IX. WHY IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR OWEN TO SLEEP IN THE MOONLIGHT. + + +It needs not that I should tell of the farewell of the next day. I +went from Pembroke with many messages for Owen, and a promise that +if I might ever come over with him I would do so. The princess was +busy with the lady who was to cross with Thorgils, and I did not +find one chance of telling her that I thanked her for her warning, +but I found the page who gave me the letter, and bade him tell his +mistress when we had gone that she had taught me to look in the +face of a fellow passenger, which would be token enough that I +understood. + +Dunwal and his daughter had some few men and pack horses with them, +and one Cornish maiden who attended Mara, so that we were quite a +little train as we rode from Pembroke toward Tenby in the late +afternoon, with a score of Howel's guards to care for us in all +honour. Part of the way, too, Howel rode, and when we came to the +hill above the Caerau woods, and looked down on the winding waters +again, he said to me: + +"I have forgotten to tell you that my men took Evan. By this time +he has met his deserts. I have done full justice on him." + +"Thanks, Prince," I said with a shudder, as I minded what I had +saved the man from. "Did your men question him?" + +Howel smote his thigh. + +"Overhaste again!" he cried in vexation. "That should have been +done; but I bade them do justice on him straightway if they laid +hands on him. They did it." + +I said no more, nor did the prince. It was in my mind that he was +blaming himself for somewhat more than carelessness. So presently +he must turn and leave us, and we bade him farewell with all thanks +for hospitality, and he bade me not forget Pembroke, and went his +way. + +Then I found Dunwal pleasant enough as a companion, and so also was +Mara, and the few miles passed quickly, until we rode through the +gates of the strong stockade which bars the way to the Danes' town +across the narrow neck of the long sea-beaten tongue of cliff they +have chosen to set their place on. The sea is on either side, and +at the end is an island that they hold as their last refuge if need +is, while their ships are safe under one lee or the other from any +wind that blows. + +Far down below us at the cliff's foot, as we rode through the town, +where the houses had been set anywise, like those at Watchet, and +were like them timber built, we could see to our left a little +wharf, and beside it the ship that waited us. And the wind was +fair, and the winter weather soft as one might wish it for the +crossing. + +Now, so soon as Thorgils had seen the baggage of the Cornish folk +safely bestowed I had time for a word with him, taking him apart +and walking up the steep hill path from the haven for a little way, +as if to go to the town. And so I told him who this man was, and +what possible danger might be. + +He heard with a long whistle of dismay: + +"'Tis nigh as bad as crossing with Evan," he said--"but one is +warned. Let them have the after cabin, and do you take the forward +one; it will be safer. Leave me to see to him when we get to +Watchet, for it is in my mind that Gerent will want him. Moreover, +so long as he thinks that you fear him not he will be careless, and +I will watch him. He will want to learn more before he meddles with +you. As for the priest, I will tend him." + +So we were content to leave the matter. Presently, when we were at +sea, I do not think that Dunwal or Morfed had spirit left to care +for aught. I know that I had not. I need not speak of that voyage, +save to say that it was speedy, and fair--to the mind of Thorgils, +at least. + +At last I slept, nor did I wake till we had been alongside the +wharf at Watchet for two hours, being worn out. Then I found that +Dunwal and his party had gone already, and I wondered, with a mind +to be angry, whereat Thorgils laughed. + +"I have even sent them on to Norton with a few of our men to help +him, and they will see that he goes there and nowhere else. You +will find him waiting. I did not want him to fall on you on the +road." + +"What is the news?" I asked. "Have you heard aught?" + +"The best, I think. Gerent is hunting Tregoz, and Owen has swept up +every outlaw from the Quantocks. Our folk helped him. Some of them +told all they knew when they were taken." + +"Then," I said gladly, "Owen knows that I am safe." + +"Not so certainly," Thorgils said. "None of our folk can say that +you crossed with me, and as this is the only ship afloat at this +time of the year there is doubt as to where you are. It will be +good for Owen to see you again. What a tale you have for him! On my +word, I envy you the telling." + +"Well, then, ride with me to Norton straightway, and you shall tell +all and save me words. Owen shall thank you also for your care for +me." + +"What, for letting you sit on my deck while the wind blew? Nay, but +there are no thanks needed between us. You and I have seen a +strange voyage together, and it has ended well. Maybe you and I +will see more sport yet side by side, for I think that we are good +comrades. Let us be going, then, for it was in my mind that I could +not rest until I had seen you safe to your journey's end." + +Then I found that he had his own horses ready for us, and two more +men, well armed and mounted also, were waiting with them on the +green where I had been set down in the litter. So in a very short +time Thorgils had told his men all that he would have done about +the ship, and we were riding fast along the road to Norton, while +the thawing snow told of the going of the frost at last. + +I had been gone but these few days, but each of them seemed like a +month to look back upon as I rode under the shadow of the hills +that I had last seen as a hopeless captive. It grew warm and soft +as the midday sun shone on us, and the road was muddy underfoot +with the chill water that had filled all the brooks again, but I +hardly noticed the change, so eager was I to be back. Glad enough I +was when we saw the village and the mighty earthworks above it, and +yet more glad when the guards at the gate told us that Owen was +even now in the palace. + +I left Thorgils and his men to the care of the guard for the time, +while I went straightway to the entrance doors and asked for speech +with him. + +"It is the word of the king that you shall have free admittance +into the palace and to himself at any time, Thane," the captain of +the guards said. + +So I passed into the great chamber of the palace that was used as +audience hall for all comers, and also as the court of justice. + +The place was full of people, and those mostly nobles, so that I +had to stand in the doorway for a moment to see what was going on. +It was plainly somewhat out of the common, for there were guards +along one end of the room. It seemed as if there were a trial. + +Gerent sat in the great chair which one might call his throne at +the upper end of the room, and beside him was Owen. I thought that +my foster father seemed pale and troubled in that first glance, but +I had every reason to know why this was so. Before these two stood +a man, with his back to me therefore, and for the moment I did not +recognise him. On either side of this man were guards, and it was +plainly he who was in trouble, if any one. Gerent was speaking to +him. + +"Well," he said, "hither you have come as a guest, and as a guest +you shall be treated. But you must know that here within the walls +of the place you shall abide. If you will give your word to do that +I shall not have to keep you so closely." + +"This is not what I had looked for from you, King Gerent," the man +said. + +I knew the voice at once, for it was that of Dunwal, my fellow +passenger. So the treachery of his brother must be known, and he +was to be held here as a hostage, as one might say. Gerent's next +words told me that it was so. + +"If there is any fault to be found, it is in the ways of your +brother. Blame him that I must needs have surety for his behaviour. +It cannot be suffered that he should go on plotting evil against +us, unchecked in some way." + +Dunwal shrugged his shoulders, as if to say that all this was no +concern of his. + +"Shall you hold my daughter as well?" he said. "I trust that your +caution will not make you go so far as that." + +Gerent's eyes flashed at the tone and words, but he answered very +coldly: + +"She will bide here also, and in all honour." + +Then he beckoned to a noble who stood near him, and spoke to him +for a moment. It chanced that this was one of the very few whom I +knew here. His name was Jago, and I had often seen him at +Glastonbury, for he was a friend of our ealdorman, Elfrida's +father, holding somewhat the same post in Norton as my friend in +our town. Owen liked him well also, and he was certainly no friend +to Morgan and his party. + +"Jago's wife will give your daughter all hospitality in his house," +Gerent said, turning again to Dunwal. "Have I your word as to +keeping within bounds during my pleasure?" + +"Ay, you have it," answered Dunwal curtly. + +Then I slipped out of the door quietly, and went to that room where +Owen and I waited on our first coming here, and I sent a steward to +tell him of my arrival. There is no need for me to tell how he +greeted me, or how I met him. + +Then when those greetings were over I heard all that had been going +on, and my loss had made turmoil enough. My men had brought back +the news, having missed me very shortly, but it was long before +they found traces of me. The first thing that they saw was my hawk, +as I expected, and after that the bodies of the slain. As I was not +with them, they judged that I had escaped in some way, but they +lost the track of the feet in the woodlands, and so rode back to +Owen in all haste. + +Then was a great gathering of men for the hunting of the outlaws, +for it would take a small army to search the wild hills and +woodlands of the Quantocks to any effect. The whole countryside +turned out gladly, and the Watchet Norsemen helped also. + +In the end, on the next day they penned the outlaws into some +combe, and took most of them, and then all was told by them, so far +as they knew it. Gerent laid hands on four of the men who had sworn +the oath Evan told me of, that evening after some leading outlaw +had given their names, but Tregoz had escaped. + +He had been one of the most active in the matter of the hunt, to +all seeming, and had ridden out with Owen and Jago and the rest. +Then he took advantage of some turn in the hills, when men began to +scatter, and was no more seen. Presently it was plain enough why +this was, when those who were taken were made to speak. Yet it +seemed that he was not so far off, for already an attack had been +made on Owen as he rode beyond the village, though it was no very +dangerous one. Now it was to be hoped that the danger from him was +past, for his brother had been taken the moment he rode into the +gate, and he would suffer if more harm was done. + +Then I asked if our king had been told of all this, and I learnt +that he had heard at once, and had written back to Owen to say that +he would pay any ransom that might be asked for me if I yet lived, +as was hoped. The outlaws had told of Evan's plan, but it was not +known if I had been taken out of the country yet. + +"All is well that ends well," Owen said; "but I asked Ina not to +say aught of the matter yet for a while. There is one at least in +Glastonbury who might be sorely terrified for you." + +He laughed at my red face, for I knew that he meant Elfrida. It was +in my mind, however, that I wished she had heard, for then, +perhaps, she would have been sorry that she had not been kinder to +me--unless, indeed, she was glad that I was out of the way, in all +truth. + +Then there was my own long tale to be told, and of course I told +Owen all. It was good to hear him say that he himself could have +done nought but free Evan. + +Thereafter we sought Thorgils, who was happy in the guardroom, and +had seemingly been telling my tale there, for the men stared at me +somewhat. I do not suppose that it lost in the telling. + +Owen thanked him for his help, and took him to see Gerent; which +saved me words, for the Norseman must needs tell how Evan had +brought me on board his ship, and so we even let him say all that +there was to be said. + +After that Gerent loaded him with presents, and so let him go well +pleased. + +I went out to his horse with him, and saw him start. His last word +as he parted from me was that if I needed a good axeman at my back +at any time I was to send for him, and so he went seaward, singing +to himself, with the men who had brought Dunwal hither behind him. + +After that there was more to say of Howel and his court. It seemed +that Gerent and Owen liked him well, and I wondered that Owen had +not sought him when the trouble fell on him. I think he would not +go to Dyfed as a disgraced man, for I know he could not clear +himself at the time. + +Now at supper, presently, there was Dunwal, looking anxious, as I +thought, but trying not to shew it. His daughter Mara was there +also, and as it happened she sat next to me. I suppose the +seneschal set her there as we had crossed from Dyfed together, +unless she had asked it, or gone to that seat without asking. She +was very pleasant, talking of the troubles of the voyage, and so +went on to speak sadly enough of the greater trouble that had +waited her. + +"I am glad the king has kept us, however," she said. "I can be +content with the court rather than with our wild Dartmoor, as you +may guess. But all these things are too hard for me, and how any +man can plot against so wonderful looking a prince as Owen passes +me. I cannot but think that there is some mistake, and that my +uncle has no hand in the affair. That will be proved ere long, I do +believe." + +I answered that indeed I hoped that it would prove so, and then +asked for Morfed, the priest who had crossed with us, as I did not +see him among the other clergy at the table. She told me that he +had left them, on foot, at the gate of Watchet, making his way +westward, as she believed. He had only joined their party for +easier travelling in Dyfed. + +Then she must needs ask me questions about Thorgils' song, and +specially of Elfrida. I had no mind to tell her much, but it is +hard to refuse to answer a lady who speaks in all friendly wise and +pleasantly, so that I had to tell her much the same that I told +Nona the princess, and began to wonder if every lady who had the +chance would be as curious to know all about what story there was. +And that was a true foreboding of mine, for so it was, until I grew +used to it. But all this minded me of Nona and her warning, and I +was half sorry that the priest had not come here, to be taken care +of with Dunwal. + +After that night we saw little of these two. Mara went to the house +of Jago, and Dunwal kept to himself about the palace boundaries +within the old ramparts, and seemed to shun notice. As for me, word +went to Ina that all was well, and he sent a letter back to say +that it would please him to know that I was with Owen for a time +yet. So I bided with him, and for a time all went well, for we +heard nought of Tregoz in any way, while another of his friends was +taken and imprisoned in some western fortress of Gerent's. Nor were +there any more attacks made on Owen, so that after a little while +we went about, hunting and hawking, in all freedom, for danger +seemed to have passed with the taking of Dunwal as hostage. + +Then one day a guard from the gate brought me a folded paper, on +which my name was written in a fair hand, saying that it had been +left for me by a swineherd from the hill, who said that it was from +some mass priest whom I knew. The guard had let the man go away, +deeming that, of course, there was no need to keep him. Nor had +they asked who the priest might be, as it was said that I knew him. + +I took the letter idly and went to my stables with it in my hand, +and opened and read it as I walked. + +"To Oswald, son of Owen.--It is not good to sleep in the +moonlight." + +That was all it said, and there was no name at the end of it. I +thought it foolish enough, for every one knows that the cold white +light of the moon is held to be harmful for sleepers in the open +air. But I was not in the way of sleeping out in this early season +with its cold, though, of course, it was always possible that one +might be belated on the hills and have to make a night in the +heather of it when hunting on Exmoor or the Brendons. There was not +much moon left now, either. + +So I showed the note to Owen presently, and he puzzled over it, +seeing that it could not have been sent for nothing. At last we +both thought that whoever wrote it, or had it written, knew that +some attack would be made on us with the next moon, when it would +be likely that we might be riding homeward by its light with no +care against foes. That might well be called "sleeping in the +moonlight" as things were; and at all events we were warned in +time. The trouble to me was that it seemed to say that danger was +not all past. + +However, when there was no moon at all I forgot the letter for the +time, no more trouble cropping up, and but for a chance word I +think that it had not come into my mind again until we were out in +the moonlight at some time. As we sat at table one evening when the +moon was almost at the full again, some one spoke of moonstruck +men, and that minded me, and set me thinking. He said that once he +himself had had a sore pain in the face by reason of the moonlight +falling on it when he was asleep, and another told somewhat the +same, until the talk drifted away to other things and they forgot +it. But now I remembered how that at our first coming here I had +waked in the early hours and seen a patch of moonlight from a high +southern window on the outer wall of the palace passing across +Owen's breast as he slept. Then I was on the floor across the door, +but now I slept in the same place that Owen had that night, while +he was on the couch across the room and under the window. It was +possible, therefore, that the light did fall on my face, but I was +pretty sure that if so it would have waked me. + +At all events, if the letter had aught to do with that, it was a +cumbrous way of letting me know that my bed was in a bad place for +quiet sleep. The only thing that seemed likely thus was that the +good priest who wrote had left the palace before he had remembered +to tell me how he had fared in that room once, and so sent back +word. There were many priests backward and forward here, as at +Glastonbury with Ina. Then it seemed plain that this was the +meaning of the whole thing, and so I would hang a cloak over the +window by and by. + +And, of course, having settled the question in my own mind, I +forgot to do that, and was like to have paid dearly for forgetting. + +Two nights afterward, when the moon was at the full, I woke from +sleep suddenly with the surety that I heard my name called softly. +I was wide awake in a moment, and found the room bright with +moonlight that did indeed lie in a broad square right across my +chest on the furs that covered me. I glanced across to Owen, but he +was asleep, as there was full light enough to see, and then I +wondered why I seemed to have heard that call. In a few moments I +knew that, and also that the voice I heard was the one that had +come to me in sore danger before. + +Idly and almost sleeping again I watched the light, to see if +indeed it was going to cross my face, and then a sudden shadow +flitted across it, and with a hiss and flick of feathers a long +arrow fled through the window and stuck in the plaster of the wall +not an inch above my chest, furrowing the fur of the white bearskin +over me, so close was it. + +In a moment I was on the floor, with a call to Owen, and it was +well that I had the sense to swing myself clear from the light and +leap from the head of the bed, for even as my feet touched the +floor a second arrow came and struck fairly in the very place where +I had been, and stood quivering in the bedding. + +Then was a yell from outside, and before Owen could stay me I +looked through the window, recklessly enough maybe, but with a +feeling that no more arrows would come now that the archer was +disturbed. It needed more than a careless aim to shoot so well into +that narrow slit. Across the window I could see the black line of +the earthworks against the light some fifty paces from the wall of +the palace, with no building between them on this side at all; and +on the rampart struggled two figures, wrestling fiercely in +silence. One was a man whose armour sparkled and gleamed under the +moon, and the other seemed to be unarmed, unless, indeed, that was +a broad knife he had in his hand. Then Owen pulled me aside. + +"The sentry has him," he said, after a hurried glance. "Let us out +into the light, for there may be more on hand yet." + +Now I hurried on my arms, but another look showed me nothing but +the bare top of the rampart. No sign of the men remained. I could +hear voices and the sounds of men running in the quiet, and I +thought these came from the guard, who were hurrying up from the +gate. + +"The men have rolled into the ditch," I said. "I can see nothing +now." + +Then we ran out, bidding the captain of the guard to stand to arms +as we passed through the great door of the palace, and so we went +round to the place whence the arrows had come. A score of men from +the gate were already clustered there on the earthworks, talking +fast as Welshmen will, but heedful to challenge us as we came. I +saw that they had somewhat on the ground in the midst of them. + +"Here is a strange affair, my Prince," one of them said, as he held +out his hand to help Owen up the earthworks. + +The group stood aside for us to look on what they had found, and +that was a man, fully armed in the Welsh way of Gerent's guards, +but slain by the well-aimed blow of a strong seax that was yet left +where it had been driven home above the corselet. There was a war +bow and two more arrows lying at the foot of the rampart, as if +they had been wrested from the hand of the archer and flung there. +The men had not seen these, but I looked for them at once when I +saw that there was no bow on the slain man. + +"Who is this?" Owen said gravely, and without looking closely as +yet. + +"It is Tregoz of the Dart, whom the king seeks," one or two of the +men said at once. + +I had known that it must be he in my own mind before the name was +spoken. There fell a silence on the rest as the name was told, and +all looked at my foster father. There was plainly some fault in the +watching of the rampart that had let the traitor find his way here +at all. + +"Which of you was it who slew him?" asked Owen. + +"None of us, Lord. We cannot tell who it may have been. Even the +sentry who keeps this beat is gone." + +"Doubtless it was he who slew him, and is himself wounded in the +fosse. Look for him straightway." + +There they hunted, but the man was not to be found. Nor was it his +weapon that had ended Tregoz. + +Then Owen said in a voice that had grown very stern: "Who was the +sentry who should have been here?" + +The men looked at one another, and the chief of them answered at +last that the man was from Dartmoor, one of such a name. And then +one looked more closely at the arms Tregoz wore, and cried out that +they were the very arms of the missing sentry, or so like them that +one must wait for daylight to say for certain that they were not +they. + +It was plain enough then. In such arms Tregoz could well walk +through the village itself unnoticed, as one of the palace guards +would be, and so when the time came he would climb from some hiding +in the fosse and take the place of his countryman on the rampart, +and the watchful captain would see but a sentry there and deem that +all was well. + +Yet this did not tell us who was the one who had wrestled with and +slain him, and Owen told what had been done, while I went and +brought the bow and arrows from the foot of the rampart, in hopes +that they might tell us by mark or make if more than Tregoz and the +sentry were in this business. Then I looked at my window, and, +though narrow, it was as fair a mark in the moonlight as one would +need. Without letting my shadow fall on the sleeper, it was +possible to see my couch and the white furs on it, though it would +be needful to raise the arm across the moonlight in the act of +shooting. It was all well planned, but it needed a first-rate +bowman. + +"It was surely Tregoz who shot," one of the men said. "The sentry +who was here was a bungler with a bow. None whom we know but Tregoz +could have made sure of that mark, bright as the night is. Well it +was, Lord, that you were not sleeping in your wonted place." + +Owen glanced at me to warn me to say nothing, and bade the men take +the body to the guardroom. They were already cursing the sentry who +had brought shame on their ranks by leaguing himself with a +traitor, and it was plain that there was no need to bid them lay +hands on him if they could. That was a matter that concerned their +own honour. + +So we left the guarding of the place in their hands, and they +doubled the watches from that time forward. Then we went and spoke +with the captain of the guard, who yet kept his post at the doors, +as none had called him. + +"Maybe I am to blame," he said, when he heard all. "I should not +have left a Dartmoor man from the country whence Tregoz came to +keep watch there. I knew that he was thence, and thought no harm." + +"There is no blame to you," Owen said. "It is not possible to look +for such treachery among our own men." + +Then we went into our room to show the captain what had been done. +And thence the two arrows had already been taken. The hole in the +plaster where the first struck was yet there, and the slit made by +the second in the tough hide of the bear was to be seen when I +turned over the fur, but who had taken them we could not tell. +Only, it was plain that here in the palace some one was in the plot +and had taken away what might be proof of who the archer had been, +not knowing, as I suppose, that the attempt had failed so utterly. +For an arrow will often prove a good witness, as men will use only +some special pattern that they are sure of, and will often mark +them that they may claim them and their own game in the woodlands +if they are found in some stricken beast that has got away for a +time. It was more than likely that Tregoz would have been careful +to use only such arrows as he knew well in a matter needing such +close shooting as this. Indeed, we afterwards found men who knew +the two shafts from the rampart as those of the Cornishman, without +doubt. + +This I did not like at all, for the going of these arrows brought +the danger to our very door, as it were. Nor did the captain, for +he himself kept watch over us for the rest of that night, and +afterwards there was always a sentry in the passage that led to our +room. + +We were silent as we lay down again, and sleep was long in coming. +I puzzled over all this, for beside the taking of the arrows there +was the question of who the slayer of Tregoz might be, and who had +written the letter that should have warned us. + +In all truth, it was not good to sleep in the moonlight! + +Somewhat of the same kind Owen was thinking, for of a sudden he +said to me: "Those arrows were meant for me, Oswald. Did you note +what the man said about my not sleeping in my wonted place?" + +"Ay, but I did not know that you had slept on this side. Since I +came back, at least, you have not done so." + +Owen smiled. + +"No, I have not," he said; "but in the old days that was always my +place, and you will mind that there I slept on the night we first +were here together. That was of old habit, and I only shifted to +this side when you came back, because I knew that you would like +the first light to wake you. Every sentry who crosses the window on +the rampart can see in here if it is light within, but he could not +tell that we had changed places, for the face of the sleeper is +hidden." + +Then he laughed a little, and added: + +"In the old days when I was in charge of the palace this face of +the ramparts was always the best watched, because the men knew that +if I waked and did not see the shadow of the sentry pass and repass +as often as it should, he was certain to hear of it in the morning. +Tregoz would know that old jest. I suppose Dunwal may have had some +hand in taking the arrows hence." + +"It is likely enough," I answered. "He will have to pay for his +brother's deed tomorrow, in all likelihood, also. But who wrote the +letter, and who slew Tregoz?" + +Owen thought for a little while. + +"Mara, Dunwal's daughter, is the most likely person to have +written," he said. "It would be like a woman to do so, and she +seems at least no enemy. Maybe the man was the sentry, after all, +and fled because he had given up his arms, and so was sharer in the +deed that he repented of. Or he may have been some friend of ours, +or foe of the Cornishman, who would not wait for the rough handling +of the guard when they found him there where he should not be. No +doubt we shall hear of him soon or late." + +But we did not. There was no trace of him, or of the writer of the +letter. One may imagine the fury of Gerent when he heard all this +in the morning, but even his wrath could not make Dunwal speak of +aught that he might know. But for the pleading of Owen, the old +king would have hung him then and there, and all that my foster +father could gain for him was his life. Into the terrible old Roman +dungeon, pit-like, with only a round hole in the stone covering of +it through which a prisoner was lowered, he was thrown, and there +he bided all the time I was at Norton. + +By all right the lands of these two fell again into the hands of +the king, and he would give them to Owen. + +"Take them," he said, when Owen would not do so at first: "they owe +you amends. If you do not want them yourself, wait until you sit in +my seat, and then give them to Oswald, that he may have good reason +for leaving Ina for you." + +So Owen held them for me, as it were, and was content. Some day +they might be mine, if not in the days of Ina, whom we loved. + +But Gerent either forgot or cared not to think of Mara, Dunwal's +daughter, and she bided in the best house in the town, with Jago's +wife, none hindering her in anything. There was no more sign of +trouble now that Tregoz and his brother were out of the way. + + + +CHAPTER X. HOW THE EASTDEAN MANORS AND SOMEWHAT MORE PASSED FROM OSWALD TO +ERPWALD. + + +I bided at Norton with Owen until the Lententide drew near, and +then I must needs go back to my place with Ina. Maybe I should have +gone before this, seeing that all was safe now, but our king had +been on progress about the country, to Chippenham, and so to +Reading and thence to London, and but half his guard was with him, +so that I was not needed. Now he was back at Glastonbury, and I +must join him there and go back to royal Winchester with him for +the Easter feast. + +Owen and I also had been far westward at one time or another, in +this space, though there is little worth telling beyond that we +went even to the lands of Tregoz that had passed to him, and so +took possession of them. I could not see that any of the folk on +those lands, whether free or thrall, seemed other than glad that +Owen was their lord now. It was said that Tregoz was little loved. +We left a new steward in the great half-stone and half-timber +house, with house-carles enough to see that none harmed either him +or the place, and so came back to Norton. + +Now, one may say that all this time, seeing that Glastonbury was +but so short a distance from Norton, I was a laggard lover not to +have ridden over to see Elfrida, and maybe it would be of little +use for me to deny it. However, I would have it remembered that +there was always fear for Owen in my mind if I was apart from him +at the first, and then there was this westward journey, and the +hunting in new places, and many other things, so that the time +slipped by all too quickly. Also, when it is easy to go to a place +one is apt to say that tomorrow will do, and, as every one knows, +tomorrow never comes. Nor had we said much of that damsel; if Owen +had not altogether forgotten my oath, he never spoke of it, nor did +I care to remind him. Nevertheless, whenever we spoke of Howel and +his daughter, Owen's godchild, I minded that the princess had +bidden me see how Elfrida greeted me when I came back, and it was +in my mind that she would be no less glad to see me after a long +absence. + +That I should find out very shortly, but the thought troubled me +little. I will say that the parting from Owen was all that was of +consequence to me, for it was hard enough. I could not tell when we +should meet again, for I must go east and he west now, and +presently all Devon, and maybe Cornwall, would lie between us, even +when our court was at Glastonbury. It would be hard to see him at +all in the coming days, for not often was Gerent here. However, +partings must needs be, and we made the least of it, and so at last +we rode together to the old bridge that crosses the Parrett, and +there bade our last farewells, and went our ways, not looking back. + +It was a lonesome ride onward for me after all these days with him, +and I had not a word for my house-carles, who had ridden from +Glastonbury hither to meet me, for the first few miles. Then I +bethought myself, and drew rein a little and let them come up with +me, for I had ridden alone at their head for a while, and so heard +all the news of the court and whatever talk was going about the +place, and my mind left Norton and went on, as it were, before me +to Glastonbury and all that I should see there. + +There was a warm welcome waiting for me from the many friends, and +best of all from the king himself. With him I sat long in his +chamber telling of my doings and of Owen, and hearing also of what +had been going on. At the last, when I was about to leave his +presence, he said: + +"There is one matter that we must speak of tomorrow, for it is +weighty and needs thought. Let it bide now, for it is nought +unhappy, and so come to me at noon and we will speak thereof. Now +your friends will seek you, and I will not say more." + +I left him then with a little wonder as to what this business might +be, but thought little of it, as it would very likely be a matter +of taking some men on some errand or the like house-carle work, and +then I bethought me that I would even go and see how fared Elfrida. +It was not unpleasant to think of taking her by surprise, for I did +not suppose that she had heard of my return yet. At all events, she +would have no chance of making up some stiff greeting for me. +Wherefore I went down the street with my head in the air, making up +my mind how I would greet her, and maybe I thought of a dozen ways +before I reached the ealdorman's door. + +His welcome was hearty enough at all events, but before I could +make up my mind to ask for Elfrida, who was not to be seen at +first, though I had counted on finding her at her wheel in the +great hall of the house, as was her wont in the afternoon, he had +wasted a long hour in hearing all that he could of my affairs, as +may be supposed. There had been some strange rumours flying about +since I was lost. I began to wish that I had brought Thorgils home +with me, for it was plain that I should have to go over all this +too often, and he cared not at all how many times he told the same +tale. + +At last I was able to find a chance of asking how fared the lady +Elfrida, and at that the ealdorman laughed. + +"What, has not all this put that foolishness out of your head?" he +said. + +"No, it has not," I answered pretty shortly. + +But all the same, the old thought that I had remembered her less +than I would have it known did flash across me for a moment. + +"Well, I will send for her, and she will tell you for herself how +she fares." + +He sent, and then in about half an hour she came, just as I was +thinking I would wait no longer. And if she had been stiff with me +in the orchard it was even more so now, and I did not seem to get +on with her at all. She said, indeed, that she was glad to see me +back, but in no way could I think that she looked more so than any +one else I had met. + +So we talked a little, and then all of a sudden her father said: + +"Ho!--Here comes that South Saxon again." + +Then at once a blush crept slowly over her fair face, and she tried +not to look toward the great door in vain, though no one came in, +and presently she was gone with but a few words to me. I did not +like this at all, but the ealdorman laughed at her and then at me, +the more that he saw that I was put out. + +"Never mind, Oswald," he said. "That vow of yours pledged you to no +more than duty to any fair lady." + +"Maybe it is just as well that it did not," I answered, trying to +laugh also. + +"Ay, that is right. You were bound to say somewhat, and you did it +well. But it has not pleased the girl, nevertheless." + +"I did think, at least, she would have been more glad to see me." + +"Trouble yourself not at all about the ways of damsels for the next +five years, or maybe ten, Oswald, my friend," said the ealdorman. +"So will you have an easier life, and maybe a longer one." + +Discontented enough I went away, and that same discontent lasted +for a full half-hour. At the end of that time I found myself +laughing at the antics of two boys who were sporting on a flooded +meadow in a great brew tub, while their mother threatened them with +a stick from the bank. It was my thought that a cake would have +fetched them back sooner than the stick, but maybe she knew best. +It was like a hen with ducklings. + +Then I grew tired of loitering outside the town and nursing my +wounded pride, and when it began to rain I forgot it, and went back +to the palace and talked about the British warriors with Nunna and +some of the other young thanes until supper time. + +Next morning I waited on the king as he had bidden me, finding him +in his chamber with a pile of great parchments and the like before +him. He bade me be seated, and I sat in the window seat opposite +him. + +"It is no light matter that I have to speak of," he said, "but I +will get to the point straightway. What do you remember of your old +home, Eastdean?" + +Now the thoughts of old days there that had sprung afresh in my +mind in the parting with Owen, made me ready to answer that at +once. + +"Little, my King. I was but ten years old when we fled," I answered +therefore. + +"That is likely. But would you go back there? As the Thane of +Eastdean, I mean; for I know that you would wish to see the place +where your father lies." + +I could not answer him this at once, for it was indeed a matter +that needed thought. So I said, and he turned to his writings with +a nod and left me to myself. + +In all these thoughts of mine, pleasant as they were with some +memories, it had never come to me to wish that the lands were mine +again. Save for that one thing of which Ina spoke, and for the +pleasantness of seeing old scenes again, I had never cared to go +back. Owen had not spoken of the lands that should have been mine +for years, and even as he talked with me and Gerent he had not +seemed to remember that old loss at all. Gerent had done so, saying +that I should be back there, but even that did not stir me now. I +was of the court, and here I had my place, and all my life was knit +with the ways of the atheling guard and the ordering of the +house-carles under Owen. If I were to turn from all this to become +a forest thane it would be banishment. + +And then I thought of Owen, and how this would take me yet farther +from him. I would sooner, if I must be sent from Ina, go to him and +find what home I might on the lands of Tregoz in wild Dartmoor. And +then the thought of leaving Ina, who had cared for me since I was a +child, was almost as terrible. + +"I would not leave you, my King," I said at last. + +Ina looked up at me with a smile, but was silent, stroking his +beard as was his way when thinking, looking past me out of the +narrow window to the great Tor that towered beyond the new abbey +buildings. + +"Think!" he said at last--"partings must come, and lands are not to +be had lightly. Erpwald's brother, who held Eastdean, is dead." + +"I need no lands," I answered. "The ways of a captain of your +house-carles are good to me, and I need no more. If I took those +lands from your hand, my King, needs must that I gave up all the +life with you. Sooner would I let the land go and bide with you. +Yet if I must needs take them, be it as you will." + +"It is a great thing that you speak so lightly of giving up," he +answered gravely; "Erpwald, the heathen, was willing to risk his +life for those lands, and he held them dear. And a captain of the +king's house-carles will always look to be rewarded for service +with lands. In time you will seek the same." + +"That time has not yet come to me, King Ina." + +"Eastdean lies in my hand here," he said, taking up a parchment +with a great seal on it. "I may give it to whom I will, but you are +the lawful heir who should hold it from me. If it goes not to you, +it may be that one whom you would not shall have it." + +Then I said, not seeing at all what the king would have me do, but +thinking that he deemed me foolish for not taking the lands +straightway: + +"Let me bide with you even yet for a while. When the time comes +that I must leave you I must go to Owen, and neither he nor I care +for aught but to be here. He must leave you because of duty, and if +this is indeed choice with me, let me choose to stay. It is nought +to me who holds the lands, save only that it might be one who will +tend the grave of my father." + +Then said Ina, looking into my face and smiling, as if well +pleased: + +"The choice is free, my Thane, and I should be wrong if I did not +say that I am glad to hear you choose thus. I have missed you in +these days, and I have work here for you yet. It was in my mind +that thus you would choose, and I am glad. Let it be so. I need one +to take the place of Owen, as second in command of the household, +as one may say, and that you must do for me henceforward. + +"Nay," he said quickly, raising his hand as I tried to find some +words of thanks for this honour; "you know the ways of Owen, and +men know you, and it will be as if there had been no change, and +that will mean that we shall have no grumbling in the palace, and +the right men will be sent to do what they are best fitted for--and +all that, so that there will be quiet about the court as ever. It +is a matter off my mind, let me tell you, and no thanks are +needed." + +So he laughed and let me kiss his hand, patting me on the shoulder +as I rose, and then bade me sit down again. He had yet more to say. + +"With Erpwald who is dead, men would hold that you had a blood +feud. That is done with; but his son yet lives. I do not think it +is your way, or Owen's, to hold that a feud must be carried on in +the old heathen way of our forefathers." + +"Most truly not," I said. "What ill has a son of Erpwald done to me +or mine?" + +"None! Nay, rather has he done well, for I know that he has +honoured the grave of your father, and even now is ready to do what +he can to make amends for the old wrong. He brought me this." + +He took up the parchment that he had shewn me before. It was a +grant of the manors of Eastdean to Erpwald, gained by those means +of utmost craft whereby the king thought that indeed the last of +our line had perished by other hands than those of the heathen +thane. + +"Honest and straightforward and Christian-like is this young +Erpwald," the king said. "Well brought up by his Christian mother, +if not very ready or brilliant in his ways. Now he has learned how +his father came into the lands, and though he might well have held +them after his uncle on this grant, he has come hither to set the +matter in my hands. 'It is not fair,' quoth he, 'that I should hold +them if one is left of the line of Ella. I should not sleep easily +in my bed. Nevertheless, I will buy them if so be that one is left +to sell them to me.' So he sighed, for the place is his home." + +"All these years it has been no trouble to me that Erpwald's +brother has held the place, my King. It will be no trouble to think +that a better Erpwald holds them yet." + +"I do not think that he will be happy unless he deems that he has +paid some price--some weregild {ii}, as one may say; for slow +minds as his hang closely to their thoughts when they are formed. +See, Oswald, I have thought of all this, and the young man has been +here for a fortnight. I brought him here from Winchester, where he +joined me. Let me tell you what I think." + +"The matter is in your hands altogether, my King." + +"As you have set it there," he said, smiling gently. "Now all seems +plain to me, and I will say that this is even what I thought you +would wish to do. How shall it be if we bid Erpwald, for the deed +of his father, to build a church in Eastdean and there to keep a +priest, that all men shall know how that the martyr is honoured, +and the land be the better for his death?" + +Nought better than this could be, as I thought, and I told the king +so. + +"Why, then," he said, "that is well. I shall have pleased both +parties, as I hope. I know you will meet him in all friendliness." + +Then he let me go, and it was with a light heart that I parted from +him. Now I knew that my father's grave and memory would be held in +more than common honour, and I was content. + +Men would miss Owen sorely here, but, save for that, I had so often +acted for him in these last two years that my being altogether in +his place made little difference to any one, or even to myself in a +few days. That last was as well for myself, as it seems to me, for +I was not over proud, as I might have been had the post been new to +me. As it was, I do not think that there was any jealousy over it, +or at least I never found it out. My friends rejoiced openly, and +if any one wondered that the king should so trust a man of my age, +the answer that I had saved Ina's life was enough to satisfy all. + +My men drank my health in their quarters that night, and after I +got over the little strangeness of sitting on the high place next +to Nunna, things went on, save for the want of Owen about the +court, even as when he was the marshal and I but his squire, as it +were. + +I saw young Erpwald for the first time soon after the king had +spoken of him to me, and I liked the look of him well enough. He +was some few years older than I, square and strong, with a round +red face and light hair, pleasant in smile, if not over wise +looking. One would say that he might be a good friend, but one +could hardly think of him as willingly the enemy of any man. Some +one made me known to him as the son of Owen, as was usual, and as +such would I be known to him for a while; but for some time I saw +little of him, not caring to seek his company, as indeed there was +no reason for me to do so. + +The next thing that I heard of him was that he had made a great +friend of the ealdorman since he came here, being often at his +house. It was not so long before I met him there, though my pride, +which would not let me risk another rebuff, kept me away for some +days. I had an uneasy feeling that I should fare no better, and I +could find good reason enough to justify the thought in some ways, +as any one may see from what had happened before. + +Maybe that was a token that my first feelings were cooling off, and +I do not think that there is much wonder if they were. It would +have been strange, and not altogether complimentary to the fair +damsel if, after the deed at the feast and the vow that I had to +make, I had not thought myself desperately in love with her at +last, after a good many years of friendship. But now there had +befallen the long days of peril and anxiety which had set her in +the background altogether, and I had had time to come to more sober +thoughts, as it were. Men have said that I aged more in that short +time than in the next ten years of my life, and it is likely. +Nevertheless, it needed but a word or two of kindness to bring me +to Elfrida's feet once for all, and but a little more coldness to +send me from her altogether. + +So at last I went to her home to find out how I should fare, +thinking less of the matter than last time, and there she sat in +the hall, chatting merrily with Erpwald. That pleasantness stopped +when I came in, and after the first needful greetings Elfrida froze +again, and Erpwald fell silent, as if I was by no means welcome. I +could see that I was the third who spoils company. However, the +ealdorman came in directly, and I talked to him, and as we paid no +heed to those two they took up their talk once more, and presently +their words waxed low. Whereon the ealdorman glanced at them with a +sly grin and wink to me, and I understood. + +So I went away, for that was enough. Of course, I was very angry, +by reason of the scratch to my pride; for it does hurt to think +that one is not wanted, and for a while I brooded over it just as I +had done the other day. Then it came to me that at least I had no +reason to be angry with Erpwald, who could know little or anything +about me, being a newcomer, and it was not his fault if the girl +made a tool of him to scare me away, and after that I found my +senses again, rather sooner than before, perhaps. It was plain that +the ealdorman took it for granted that I had no feeling now in that +direction, and so others would do the same, which was comforting. +So I supposed that there was no more to be said on the subject by +any one, unless Elfrida chose to have the matter out, and set +things on the old footing of frank friendliness again. + +There I found that I was mistaken at once. Some one was coming down +the lane after me quickly, and then calling my name. I turned, and +there was Erpwald, with a very red face, trying to overtake me, and +I waited for him. + +"A word with you, Thane," he said, out of breath. + +"As many as you will. What is it?" + +"Wait until I get my breath," he said. "One would think that you +were in a desperate hurry, by the pace you go. Plague on all such +fast walkers!" + +That made me laugh, and he smiled across his broad face in return. + +"It is all very well to grin," he said, straightening his face +suddenly to a blankness; "but what I have to say concerns a mighty +serious matter." + +"Well, then, get it done with," I answered, trying not to smile yet +more. + +"I don't rightly know how to begin," he said in a hesitating kind +of way. "Words are as hard to manage as a drove of forest swine, +and I am a bad hand at talking. Can you not tell what I have to +say?" + +"Not in the least," I answered. + +It flashed across me that he might have found out who I was, +however, and wanted to speak of the old trouble. + +"Well," he said at last, growing yet redder, "the Lady Elfrida is +angry that her name has been coupled with yours pretty much +lately." + +He stopped with a long breath, and I knew what he was driving at. + +"She has told me as much herself already," I said solemnly. + +He heaved a sigh of relief. + +"But she did not tell me that," he said in a puzzled sort of way. +"Well, it must not go on, or--or else, that is, I shall have to see +that it does not." + +"The worst of it is that I cannot help it," said I. "Did the lady +ask you to speak to me of the matter?" + +"Why, no; she did not. Only, I thought that some one must. Of +course, I mean that I will fight you if it goes on." + +"Of course," I said. "But I can in no wise stop it. Do you know how +it began?" + +"Not altogether. How was it?" + +"Really, that you had better ask some one else," I said, keeping a +grave face. "I think that it would have been fairer to me to have +done so first. But if there was any real blame to me, do you think +that the ealdorman would have been glad to see me just now? I think +that it was plain that he was so." + +"I am an owl," Erpwald said. "Of course, he would not have been. +But did you come to see the ealdorman, or the lady?" + +"Why, both of them, of course. I have known them for years." + +He looked relieved when he heard that, and I thought that he must +be badly smitten already. + +"Well, I will go and ask the ealdorman all about it," he said. +"Where shall I find you in an hour's time?" + +"In my quarters," I answered; "but, of course, if you want to fight +me you will have to send a friend to talk to me." + +"I will send the ealdorman himself." + +"Best not, for he is the man who is charged with the stopping of +these affairs if he hears of them. Any atheling you meet will help +you in such a matter. It is an honour to be asked to do so. But +don't ever ask me to be your second if you have another affair, for +I also have to hinder these meetings if I can." + +"Is there any one else I must not ask?" he said in a bewildered +way. + +"Best not ask the abbot," I said, and I could not help smiling. + +"Now you are laughing at me, and that is too bad. How am I to know +your court ways?" + +"Well, you will not have to fight me unless you really want to pick +a quarrel. So it does not matter. Get to the bottom of the +question, and then come and talk it over, and we will see what is +to be done." + +He nodded and left me, and I had a good chuckle over the whole +business. It was not likely that Elfrida had set him on me, in the +least; but I suppose he had heard some jest of her father's, who +was one of those who will work anything that pleases them to the +last. + +So I went my way, and saw to one or two things, and sat me down in +the room off the hall that had been Owen's, and presently Erpwald +came in, and I saw that he was in trouble. + +"Well," I said, "how goes the quarrel?" + +"I am a fool," he replied promptly. "The lady should be proud of +the affair, and the more it is talked of the better she should like +it. You are right in saying that it cannot be stopped. Why, there +is a gleeman down the street this minute singing the deeds of +Oswald and Elfrida. As for the vow you made, the ealdorman says +that it could not have been better done. Forgive me for troubling +you about it at all." + +He held out his broad hand, and for a moment I hesitated about +taking it. He bore his father's name, but in a flash it came to me +that I was wrong. We were both children when the ill deed was +wrought, and I was no heathen to hold a blood feud against all the +family of the wrongdoer. He did not even know that one of us lived, +and, as the king had told me, I knew that he was prepared to make +amends. + +So I took his hand frankly, and he had not noticed the moment's +slowness or, if he did, took it for the passing of vexation from my +mind. + +"You will laugh at me again," he said, "but now I am in hot water +in all sooth. The lady will not speak to me at all." + +I did laugh. I sat down on the edge of the table and tried to stop +it, but his red face was so rueful that I could not, and at last he +had to smile also. + +"Why, what have you done?" I asked. "Now it is my turn to know +reasons why. Here is a new offence to be seen into." + +"I only told her that I had spoken to you on the subject, and was +going to talk to the ealdorman, her father, if she would not save +me the trouble by telling me herself all about it." + +"And then?" + +"She got up and went away, tossing her head, without a word. So I +had a talk with the ealdorman, and learnt all; but after that I +tried to see her, and that black-haired Welsh maiden of hers told +me that she would not see me." + +"It seems to me that you have had a bad day," I said. "But what +does it matter? You have done what seemed right, and if it is taken +in the wrong way you cannot help it." + +"It does matter," he said. "If she is wroth with me, I don't mind +telling you that I am fit to hang myself. Could you not set things +right for me, somehow? You are an old friend." + +"No, hardly; for I am not in favour there just now." + +"Well, I shall go and try to get round the Welsh girl to speak for +me." + +Now, that was a servant I had never heard of, and I thought I knew +all the household. So I could not tell him if that would be of use, +and he left me in some sort of desperation to try what he could. He +was very much in love. + +Next day he came back beaming. Somehow the Welshwoman had managed +things for him, and all was well again. I had my own thought that +Elfrida was by no means unwilling to meet him halfway, but I did +not say so. I think I had fairly got over my feelings by this time, +but I must say that I felt a sort of half jealousy about it. But +the more I came to look on the South Saxon's round face, and to +think of him as Elfrida's favoured lover, the less I felt it. It +became a jest to watch the going of the affair, and I was not the +only one who found it so in a very short time. + +Erpwald made no secret of his devotion. He minded me of a great +faithful stupid dog, whose trust was boundless and whose love was +worth having. One could lead him anywhere, but he was true +Sussex--he would not be driven an inch. + +So Elfrida had a hopeless slave at her beck and call, and by and by +I was on the old footing, and we used to make much of my vow of +service to her. + +"I would that I had made that vow," Erpwald said once. + +"It is not too late now," answered the ealdorman, with his great +laugh; "but I do not think it is needed." + +After me went Erpwald when he was not at the ealdorman's, and Ina +told me that he was glad to see that I harboured no thought of +revenge. + +"Presently you will want to go to Eastdean to see that your +father's grave is well honoured, and this friendliness will help +you," he said. "And for his friend such a man as Erpwald will do +much. The church at Eastdean will be no poor one, and you will help +him choose the place. We could not have asked him to do anything +that has pleased him more." + +One thing I feared was that when he found out who I was he would be +ill at ease with me, and I asked the king to tell him in the way +that seemed best to his wisdom, lest the knowledge should come by +chance from some one else. + +So he did that, and in a day or two Erpwald came to me and told me +that he knew at last who I was, and we had a long talk together. It +was in his mind to try to make me take the lands again, and I had +hard work to make him believe that I was in earnest when I said +that I did not want them. And at the end I made him happy by +telling him that the king would let me go to Eastdean with him +before long, so that we could see to things together. + +"Well," he said, "this is all very pleasant for me, and it is +common saying that you will be some sort of prince in West Wales +before long; but I shall ever feel that my family owes yours more +than I can repay." + +After that he was a little uneasy with me for a time, but it soon +wore off, and we used to talk of our ride to Eastdean often enough. + +And then happened a thing that set me back into trouble about Owen +again. I had had many messages from him, as may be supposed, and in +all of them he said that there was no sign of danger, or even of +plotting against him. + +One of my men brought me a written message one evening. A thrall +had left it at the gate for me. And when I asked from whom it came +I had the same answer that was given me when that other writing +warned me not to sleep in the moonlight, for it was said to come +from a priest whom I knew. + +So when I glanced at the writing I was not surprised to see that it +was the same, though the sight of it gave me a cold shudder. +Somewhat the same also was the form in which the message ran: + +"To Oswald, son of Owen.--It is not good to take wine from the hand +of a Briton." + +Now, I had some reason to believe that Mara had written the first +note, as she seemed the only possible person to warn us of the +plots of her kin, and that was a very plain warning to Owen rather +than to myself, as it seemed. So I thought this might come from the +same hand, and be meant for him also, and that all the more that +there was not a stranger left in Glastonbury, now that the feasting +was over, much less a Welshman. But Owen had none but Welsh round +him, and it seemed to say that there was some plot among them +again. Maybe he would know who was meant by the "Briton." Men have +nicknames that seem foolish to any but those who are in the jest of +them. We used to call Erpwald the "Saxon" sometimes, because he was +not of Wessex, although we were as much Saxon as he, or more so, +according to our own pride. + +I went straight down the street to the house of a man whom I knew +well, an honest franklin who had a good horse and knew the border +country from end to end, and I bade him ride with all speed to Owen +at Norton with the paper. He was to give it into his own hand, and +I made shift to scrawl a few words on the outside of it that he +might shew to my friend the captain of the guard, and so win +speedier entry to the palace. I did not send one of my own men, +because he would have been known as coming from me, while this man +was often in Norton about cattle and the like, and none would +wonder at seeing him. + +I was easier when I saw him mount and ride away, but I was ill +content until the morning came and brought him back with tidings +that all was well, and that Owen would be on his guard. + +Also, the franklin was to tell me that Gerent's court went to Isca, +which we call Exeter, in two days' time, and that Owen would fain +see me before he went westward, if I could come to him. There +seemed to be difficulty in persuading Gerent to let him return to +our court, even for a day now. + +Whereon I went to Ina and told him of this new trouble, and he bade +me go. He thought that some fresh plot was being hatched in Exeter, +but both he and I wondered that the warning was not sent direct to +my foster father, rather than in this roundabout way through my +hands. He said the same thing to me that Howel had spoken when I +parted from him. + +"These plotters will not think twice about striking at Owen through +you, if it seems the only way to reach him. And you mind that the +princess told you to have a care for yourself. Evan said that if +strife was stirred up between us and Gerent they would be glad. If +they slew you, my Thane, it is likely that there would be trouble, +unless Gerent is as wroth as I should be." + +So I went with a few guards and spent the day and night with Owen +at Norton. I knew it was the last chance I should have of seeing +him for a long time, but we talked of the coming summer, promising +ourselves that journey together to see Howel. I told him how things +went with Elfrida and me, and he did not seem to wonder much, nor +to think it of any consequence. He laughed at me, and told me to +get over it as soon as I could, and that was all. + +But this last warning he could no more understand than I. It was +his thought that it was meant for me rather than himself. + +"You will have to take heed to any Welshman you meet," he said, +"and as you are warned that should be no very difficult matter. No +Briton can ever pretend to be a Saxon." + +I do not think that there is more to be said of that meeting, +though indeed I would willingly dwell on it. Mayhap it will be +plain why I would do so presently, for I left him bright and happy +in his old place, with nought but the distance from the foster son +whom he loved to trouble him. + +But when I rode away again the sorrow of that parting fell heavily +on me, and I could not shake it off. It seemed to me that I would +not see Owen again, though why it so seemed I could not tell. If I +had any thought of danger to myself I should have cared little, so +it was not that. I wonder if one can feel "fey" for another man if +he is dear to you as no other can be? + + + +CHAPTER XI. HOW ERPWALD FELL FROM CHEDDAR CLIFFS; AND OF ANOTHER WARNING. + + +In the coming week, after I had thus taken leave of Owen, my friend +Herewald, the ealdorman, would have a hunting party before we all +left him and Glastonbury for Winchester, and so it came to pass +that on the appointed day a dozen of us rode with a train of men +and hounds after us along the westward slopes of the Mendips in the +direction of Cheddar, rousing the red deer from the warm woodlands +of the combes where they love to hide. We had the slow-hounds with +us, and that, as it seems to me, is better sport than with the +swift gaze-hounds I rode after on the Welsh hills with Eric. It is +good to hear the deep notes of them as they light on the scent of +the quarry in the covers, and to see them puzzle out a lost line in +the open, and to ride with the crash and music of the full pack +ahead of one in the ears, as the deer doubles no longer, but trusts +to speed for escape. + +Those who were with us were friends of mine and of the ealdorman, +and there were three ladies in the party--one of these being, of +course, Elfrida. + +Erpwald was in close attendance on her, a matter which was taken +for granted by every one at this time. He was to go with the court +to Winchester, and thence he and I would ride to Eastdean. + +So we hunted through the forenoon, taking one deer, and then rode +onward until we came to the place where the great Cheddar gorge +cleaves the Mendips across from summit to base, sheer and terrible. +The village lies at the foot of the gorge on the western side of +the hills, half sheltered between the first cliffs of the vast +chasm, but on the hillside above is a deep cover that climbs upward +to the summit, and it was said that a good deer had been harboured +there. + +So presently, while the hounds were drawing this wood below us, I +and Elfrida and Erpwald found ourselves together and waiting on the +hilltop at the edge of the gorge. I was almost sorry to make a +third in that little party, but Erpwald knew nothing of the +country, and Elfrida had no more skill in matters of time and place +and distance than most ladies, which is not saying much, in all +truth, though I hardly should dare to set it down, save by way of +giving a reason for my presence with so well contented a party of +two. + +Now, if there is one who has not seen this Cheddar gorge, I will +say that it is as if the mighty hills had been broken across as a +boy breaks a long loaf, or as if some giant had hewn a narrow gap +with the roughest pick that ever was handled. Our forefathers held +that Woden had indeed hewn it so, and we have tales that the evil +one himself cleft it in a night, and that the rocky islands of +Steep and Flat Holme, yonder in the mid channel, are the rubbish +which he hewed thence and cast there. Maybe the overhanging cliffs +are full four hundred feet high from the little white track which +winds at their foot, and from cliff top to cliff top is but a short +bow shot. + +From where we waited one could look sheer down on the track below +us, and a man who was coming slowly along it seemed like a rat in +its run, so far off did he appear. At least, so said Erpwald, who +looked over, riding to the very edge. I had no wish to do so, +having been there before, and not altogether liking it. + +Then he wanted Elfrida to look over also, and that frightened her, +and so we rode back and forth a little, for the wind was keen on +the hill, listening for sound of horn or hound in the cover. + +One reason why we were so near the edge of the cliffs was that +Erpwald had not seen the place before, and had heard much of it; +and another was that as no deer could cross the gorge we should be +sure to have the hunt before us when one broke. There are tales of +hunted deer, ay, and of huntsmen also, going over the cliffs at +full speed, but that is likely only when the pace has been hot and +the danger is forgotten. I had no mind, either, to see some of +Herewald's young hounds cast themselves over in eagerness if they +chose to follow, as young ones will, the scent of some hill fox who +had his lair among the rocks and knew paths to safety on the face +of the cliffs, so that was yet another reason why we were in that +place, and I tell this because it is likely that some one may ask +how it was that I suffered my friends to bide in so perilous a +spot, seeing what happened presently. + +It was not long before those two forgot me, and rode side by side +talking. Maybe I forgot them, for the last time I was on the cliff +tops was across the channel, and I minded the two with whom I rode +then--Howel and Nona. + +Then suddenly the ringing of the horn roused us, and Erpwald came +toward me, thinking that, of course, Elfrida was close after him, +but with his eyes too intently watching the place where I had said +a deer was most likely to break cover to notice much else. I was +some twenty paces farther from the edge than they. The horses +pricked up their ears at the well-known sound, and stood with +lifted heads watching as eagerly as we. + +Then there came a little cry from Elfrida as she bade her horse +stand, and I heard it trampling sharply, as if restive, behind us. +I turned in my saddle to see what was amiss, and what I saw made my +blood run cold, and the sweat broke out on my forehead in a moment. + +With the sound of the horn and the moving away of Erpwald the horse +had waxed restive, as horses will at a cover side when the time to +move on seems near. I think that it had probably reared a little +and that she had tried to check it, for now it was backing slowly +and uneasily toward the edge of that awesome cliff that was but ten +paces from its heels. Even now the girl was backing him yet more in +her efforts to make him stand still, and I dared not make a move to +catch the bridle lest he should swing round at once from me and go +over. + +"Spur him, Elfrida. Let his head go, and spur him," I said as +quietly as I could, but so that she must needs hear. + +It was all that I could do. + +She spurred him, and then as he made a little leap forward, checked +him, and that was yet worse. Then I saw Erpwald, with an ashy face, +dismount and go hastily toward the edge behind her, sidelong, and I +swung my horse away from him, so that by chance hers might follow +me out of danger. + +But that was useless. The brute was yet backing, and his heels were +almost on the brink. It seemed that his rider did not know how near +she was. + +"Get off!" I said hoarsely. "Get off at once!" + +Then she knew, but could only turn and look. The hinder hoofs lost +hold on the rocky edge as the horse made its first slip backward, +and even as the loosened stones rattled down, and it lurched with +one leg hanging over the gulf, Erpwald leapt forward and tore +Elfrida from the saddle, and half threw her toward me. I do not +remember when I dismounted, but I was there and grasped her hand +and dragged her back out of the way of the lashing fore feet. + +Then Erpwald was gone. The horse struggled wildly in one last +effort to save itself, and swept my friend over with it. There was +a rattle of stones, a silence, and then a dull crash in the depths +below. + +One moment later and all three would have gone. I heard the shout +of the man on the track below, and I wondered in a dull way if he +had been killed also. + +And now I had Elfrida to tend, for she had fainted. What she had +seen I could not tell, but I hoped that at least she knew nought +before Erpwald went. It was as if she had lost consciousness when +he reached her, for I saw the hand on the rein loosen helplessly. I +carried her back from the cliff and tried to bring her to herself, +vainly, though indeed I almost wished that she might remain as she +was until we were back in Glastonbury. + +Then I wound my horn again and again to bring some to my help, and +I tried not to think of that which surely lay crushed on the road +below. There could be no hope for either man or horse. + +Then came the sound of swift hoofs, and there was the ealdorman and +one or two others, coming in all haste to know what the urgent call +betokened, but by the time that he had dismounted and asked if +there was any hurt to his daughter I could only gasp and point +downward. My mouth was dry and parched, and I did not know how to +put into words the thing that had happened; but he saw that +Elfrida's horse was not there, and that Erpwald's ran loose with +mine, and he guessed. + +"Over the cliff?" he said, whispering, and I nodded. + +"Go and look," he gasped, and he knelt down and took Elfrida from +me. + +The two who were with him were trying to catch the loose horses, +and we were alone for the moment. So I crept to the edge and looked +over, fearing what I should see. But I saw nothing but the bare +track winding there, and I remembered that the cliff overhung. + +Then, as I scanned every rock and cranny below me a man came out +from under the overhang at the foot of the cliff and looked up. For +a moment my heart leapt, for I thought it was Erpwald. But it was +only the traveller we had seen, and he must have been looking at +what had rolled into the hollow that hid it from me. He glanced up +and caught sight of me. + +"How did it happen?" he called up to me. + +"Dead?" I called back, with a terror of what I knew would be his +answer. + +Then he laughed at me. + +"Do you expect a horse to be leather all through, Master? Of course +he is.--Saddle and all smashed to bits." + +Then a dull anger took me that he thought of the horse only, as it +seemed, unless he was mazed as I was with it all. + +"The man--the man," I said. + +"There is no man here, Master. Did one fall?" he said in a new +voice, and he crossed to the other side of the gorge and scanned +the face of the cliff. + +"He is not to be seen," he said. "Maybe he has caught yonder." + +He pointed to a ledge that was plain enough to me, but nowhere near +the place whence the fall was. There were no ledges to be seen as I +looked straight down, and I knew that this place was the most sheer +fall along all the length of the gorge. + +Now three more of our party came up, and at once they rode down to +the village and so round to where the man stood. It seemed a long +time before they were there and talking to him. + +"Ho, Oswald!" + +Their voices came cheerfully enough, and I looked down at them. + +"There seem to be clefts here and there, and in one of those he +must needs be," they said. "We are going to the village to get a +cragsman with a rope, and will be with you anon." + +There was at least hope in that, and I watched them ride swiftly +away. The ravens were gathering fast now, knowing that what fell +from above must needs be their prey, and two great eagles were +wheeling high overhead, waiting. I heard the kites screaming to one +another from above the eagles, and from the woods came the call of +the buzzards. They knew more than I. + +Now the ealdorman could not bring Elfrida round, and he thought it +best to take her hence. So he had her lifted to him on his horse, +and went slowly and carefully down the hill toward the village with +her. I had told him all that had happened by this time, and I was +to bring word presently to him of how the search went. + +So I and those two friends who had first come sat there on the +cliff top waiting in silence for the coming of the man with his +ropes. All that could be said had been said. + +Here and there on the face of the cliff some yew trees had managed +to find a holding, and their boughs were broken by the passage of +the horse at least through them. But there were no shreds of +clothing on them, as if Erpwald had reached them. That might be +because the weightier horse fell first. It seemed to me in that +moment of the fall that he was between the horse and the cliff as +he went over the edge, for the forefeet of the horse struck his +legs and threw him backward, and the last thing that I minded was +seeing his head against the horse's mane in some way. That last +glimpse will bide with me until I forget all things. + +It seemed very long before our friends came back with the ropes. +Backwards and forwards in front of us flew untiringly two ravens, +now flying across the gorge, and then again almost brushing us with +their wings as they swept up the face of the cliff from below. We +thought they had a nest somewhere close at hand, for it was their +time. + +"If Erpwald were dead," I said presently, "those birds would not be +so restless. It is hard to think that they know where he is and how +he fares; but at least they tell us that he is not yet prey for +them." + +Backward and forward they swept, until my eyes grew dazed with +watching them, and then suddenly they both croaked their alarm +note, wheeled quickly away from the cliff's face, and fled across +the gorge and were gone. + +Then was a rattle of stones, and a shout from some one in the track +below, and I started and saw a head slowly rising above the edge of +the cliff as if its owner had climbed up to us. White and streaked +with blood was the face, but it was not crushed or marred, and it +was Erpwald's. + +"Lend me a hand," he said, as we stared at him, as one needs must +stare at one who comes back as it were from the grave. "My head +swims even yet." + +I grasped his hand and helped him to the grass, and once there he +stood upright and shook himself, looking round in an astonished way +as he did so. + +"No broken bones," he said. "Where is Elfrida? Is she all right? I +was rough with her, I fear, but I could not help it. Could I have +managed otherwise?" + +"In no way better," I said, finding my tongue at length. "She has +gone to the village. But where have you been!" + +"In a long hole just over here," he answered. "But how long has she +been gone?" + +"How long do you think that you have been in your hole?" + +"A few minutes. It cannot be long. Yet it must have been longer +than I thought, for the shadows are changed." + +It was a full hour and a half since he fell, but I did not say so, +lest it should be some sort of shock to him. So I bade him sit down +while I saw to a cut there was on his head--the only sign of hurt +that he had. + +"I thought that I was done for at first," he said. + +"So thought I, until we found that you were not at the bottom. Even +now some of us have gone for ropes that we might search the cliff +for you. We could not see you anywhere, and there does not seem to +be any ledge here that could catch you." + +"Why, you could have touched me with a spear all the time, if you +had known where to thrust it. I think I fainted, or somewhat +foolish of the sort. My head hit the rock as I went over. Also the +horse ground me between it and the cliff, so that all my breath +went. But that pushed me into the hole, and I will not grumble. At +least, I think that was it, but I cannot be sure. My senses went." + +He began to laugh, but suddenly turned to me with a new look on his +face. + +"Oh, but was Elfrida feared for me?--What did she think?" + +"She saw nought of it," I said. "I believe that she had fainted +with terror when you laid hold of her. The ealdorman came and took +her to the village, and I do not suppose she knows that you have +been lost." + +"That is well," he said, with his great sigh. "Look over and see my +hole." + +I did not care to look over again, and, moreover, knew that I could +not see it. I mind every jutting stone and twisted yew that is on +the cliff there, to this day. However, one of the others went a +little to one side, where Erpwald had appeared, and swung himself +to the tiny ledge that had given him foothold as he came up, and so +looked at the place. There was a long cleft between two layers of +rock which went back into the cliff's face for some depth, with a +little backward slope that had saved the helpless man from rolling +out again, and there was a raven's nest at one end of it. One may +see that cleft from below and across the gorge if one knows where +to look, but not by any means from above, by reason of the overhang +of the brink. It was plain that, as he thought, the horse's body, +or maybe its shoulder, thrust him into the cleft, but it was well +that he was senseless and so could not struggle, or he would have +surely missed it. It is his saying that he had no trouble in +getting into the place, but more in climbing out. + +Now we called the good news to some of our people and the villagers +who were on the road below, and they broke into cheers as they +heard it. They could hardly believe that the man they had seen on +the edge just now was Erpwald himself. Then we went down to the +village, meeting the men with the ropes halfway, and so came to the +first houses of the street, where the ealdorman was standing +outside one of the better sort. He came to meet us, and I never saw +anything like the look on his face when he saw Erpwald and heard +his cheerful greeting. I told him how things ended. + +"I have given a lot of trouble, as it seems" Erpwald said humbly; +"but I could not help it." + +"Trouble!" said the ealdorman. "Had it not been for you there would +have been nought but trouble for me all the rest of my life." + +He took Erpwald's hand as he spoke and pressed it, but he would not +say more then. Maybe he could not. So he turned to me. + +"It is all right, Oswald, for Elfrida is herself again, and she saw +nothing after she looked into the gulf below her. I have told her +nothing." + +"Do not tell her anything, Ealdorman," Erpwald said. "No need to +say what a near thing it was, or that I handled her like a sack of +oats. She would never forgive me. But Oswald says it was all that I +could have done. It was a good thing that he was there to take +her." + +"How are you going to account for the broken head, then?" + +"Say I was thrown from my horse afterward, or somewhat of that +kind," he said. "Or, stay, these will do it. I have been birds' +nesting. I thought these would please her. One gets falls while +scrambling after the like." + +He put his hand into his pouch as he spoke. + +"Plague on it, one is broken," he said, bringing out a raven's egg. +"There were two in that place where I stopped falling." + +The ealdorman and I stared at him in wonder. It amazed us that in +such a moment a man should think of this trifle. And now he was +turning his soiled pouch inside out and wiping it with a tuft of +grass, grumbling the while. It was plain that the danger had made +no impression on him. + +"Were not you frightened when you found how nearly you had fallen +from the cliff?" I asked him. + +"No; why should I be? I did not fall from it. I was feared enough +when I thought that I was going, and I thought I was at the bottom +when I came to myself. But as I had not gone so far, there was an +end." + +I minded the story of the Huntsman's Leap, and how I had felt when +I knew my escape. It was plain that this forest-bred Erpwald, with +his cool head, and lack of power to picture what might have been, +would make a good warrior, so far as dogged fearlessness goes, and +that is a long way. + +Now the ealdorman kept what else he might have to say until we were +at home, for it was time for us to be off. So we brushed Erpwald +down and hid his cut under a cap that the good franklin of the +house lent him, for his own was gone, as he said, to make a bird's +nest somewhere on the cliffs; and then Elfrida came from the +cottage, looking a little white and shaken with her fright, but +otherwise none the worse, and we started. + +Erpwald kept out of her sight for a little while, but as we were +fairly on the way home it was not long before he found his way to +her side, and we let those two have their say out together. + +One by one the friends who had joined us dropped out of the party +as their way led them aside, until by the time we reached the +ealdorman's house only half a dozen of us were left. Then Herewald +would have us come in for some cheer after the long day, but we +were tired and stained, and I must be back at the guardroom, and so +he bade his folk bring somewhat out here to us. There was a cask of +ale already set on the low wall by the gate for the men, and we sat +on our horses waiting, with a little crowd of thralls and children +round us, looking at the two good deer that we brought back. Then +the steward and some of the women of the house brought horns of ale +from the house for us. + +One of the women came to me, and without seeing who she was, or +thinking of doing so, I reached out my hand for the horn that she +held up, and at that moment some one from behind seemed to run +against my horse's flank, and he lashed out and reared as if he was +hurt. My rein was loose, and I was bending carelessly over to take +the horn, and it was all that I could do to keep my seat for the +moment. As for the girl, she dropped the horn and ran from the +plunging horse into the doorway for safety. + +Then I heard the sharp crack of a whip, and the voice of the head +huntsman speaking angrily: + +"Out on you for a silly oaf!--What mean you by going near the thane +at all?" + +The whip cracked again, and the long lash curled round the +shoulders of a ragged thrall, who tried in vain to escape it. + +"On my word, I believe you did it on purpose!" the huntsman cried, +with a third shrewd lash that found its lodgment rightly. + +"Mercy, Master," mumbled the man, writhing; "it is this terrible +crossing of the eyes. I do not rightly see where I go." + +I had quieted the horse by this time, and I held up my hand to stay +the lash from the thrall. Some one picked up the horn that the girl +had let fall. + +"Let him be," I said. "It could but have been a chance, and he is +lucky not to have been kicked. See, he does squint most amazingly." + +"Ay," growled the huntsman, "so he does; but I never knew a +cross-eyed man before who had any trouble in walking straight +enough." + +The thrall slunk away among his fellows. He was a round-shouldered +man with hay-coloured hair and a stubby beard of the same, and he +rubbed his shoulders with his elbows lifted as he went. Then the +steward gave me a fresh horn, and we said farewell to our host and +hostess, and Erpwald and I went our way. + +"I thought that the horse would have knocked the Welsh girl over," +he said presently. "She was pretty nimble, however. That churl must +have kicked your horse sharply to make him plunge as he did." + +"Trod on his fetlock most likely," I answered. "Clumsy knave." + +"Well, that huntsman knows how to use a lash, at all events, and he +will have a care in future. But how my head does ache!" + +"That is likely enough," I said, laughing. "It was a shrewd knock, +and it kept you in that hole for the longest hour and a half I have +ever known." + +"It does take somewhat out of the common to hurt me much," he said +simply. + +"Well, by tomorrow you will be famed all over Glastonbury as the +man who fell over Cheddar cliffs and escaped by reason of lighting +on the thickest part of him," I answered. + +It was a poor jest enough, but it set him laughing. I did not wish +him to say more of what had just happened, for I was puzzled about +it, and wanted to get my thoughts to work. He had spoken of the +very thing that I had been warned of, for almost had I taken the +horn from the hand of a Briton--the Welsh girl of whom he spoke +once before. I had forgotten her, for I do not think that I had +ever seen her since she came here, until now. But at this moment I +seemed to have a feeling that her face was in some way familiar to +me, though only in that half-formed way that troubles one, and I +was trying to recall how this might be. + +Erpwald went off to the guest chamber where he was lodged, and +presently I found our old leech and took him to see after him. He +went comfortably to sleep after his hurt had been dressed, and so I +left him. I will say at once that he felt no more trouble from it. + +Then I went to the stables to see how fared my horse after the +day's work, and found him enjoying his feed after grooming. I +looked him over, but I could see no mark to show where the man +might have hurt him. But as I was running my hand along the smooth +hock to feel for any bruise, my groom said to me: + +"Have you had a roll in a thorn bush, Master?" + +"No.--What makes you think I might have had one?" + +"I found this in his flank when I rubbed him down, and it was run +thus far into him." + +He held out a long stiff blackthorn spine, marking a full inch on +its length with his thumbnail. + +"Enough to set a horse wild for a moment," he went on. "And unless +you had fallen, I could not think how it got there." + +"In which flank was it?" I asked, taking the thorn from him. + +"The near flank, Master." + +That was where the thrall ran against him, and surely the huntsman +was not so far wrong when he said that he did so on purpose. If so, +it was done at the right moment to give me a heavy fall, save for a +bit of luck, or maybe horsemanship. It was a strange business. + +"I was through a thicket or two today," I said carelessly. "Maybe I +hit a branch in just the right way to drive it in. If we were +galloping he would not have noticed it. These little things happen +oddly sometimes." + +Then the man began to tell me some other little mishaps to horses +that could not be explained, bustling about the while. And before +long I left the stables and went to my own quarters, with the thorn +yet in my hand. It had been cut from the bush, and not broken, just +as if it had been chosen. Now, if these hidden plotters wanted to +frighten me, I am bound to say that they succeeded more or less. +Was the giving of the horn by the Welsh girl to be a signal to the +thrall in some way? If there is one thing that a man need not be +ashamed to say that he fears, it is treachery, and I seemed to be +surrounded by it. Hardly could a house-carle come to my door but it +seemed to me that he must needs bring one of these unlucky notes. +It was just as well that I had some unknown friend to write them to +me, though I cannot say that I had profited by them so far. + +Now I sent two of my men to see if they could find the cross-eyed +thrall, but of course he was not to be laid hands on. Only the +people who had been at the ealdorman's door seemed to have seen +him, and they could not tell who or whence he was. He was so easily +known, however, that I thought I should be certain to have him +sooner or later. Such a squint as he had is not to be hidden, and +that made the wonder that he had dared to do this all the greater. + +I slept on it all, and woke with fewer fears on me, for I was +overwrought yesterday after all the terrible waiting on the cliff +and what went before. It was Sunday, moreover, and the early +services in the new church helped mightily to set a new face on +things. So when I had seen to the few duties of the morning, I went +down the street to ask after Elfrida, being anxious to hear that +her fright had done her no hurt. Erpwald had been there before me, +but I had missed him since. + +Elfrida was well, and glad to see me. We sat and talked of +yesterday, and I found that Erpwald had said nothing of how he +saved her, and it was pleasant to tell her of it, while she +listened with eyes that sparkled. It was plain that I could have +found nothing that would please her better than to talk of him. So +I even told her how he had gone over the edge into the cleft, but +without saying that we feared for his life for so long. Then her +father came in, and at once she asked after some sick person. + +"How goes it with him now," she said. + +"Well enough, says the leech; but he had well-nigh died in the +night." + +"What is it that ails him?--Can the leech tell that yet?" + +"He has taken somewhat that has poisoned him," the ealdorman +answered. "The leech asked if he had eaten of mushrooms, or rather +toadstools, by mistake." + +"But there are none about as yet." + +Now I asked who the sick man was, and Herewald told me that he was +such an one who was with us yesterday. I minded him as one who +stood near me at the door when my horse reared. I thought that he +was the man who picked up my dropped horn, and I was sorry for him. +However, that was not much concern of mine, so we passed to other +talk for a little, and then Elfrida said: + +"Are there any tidings of my maiden? I fear for her." + +"None at all," the ealdorman said. "Here is a strange thing, +Oswald; for that girl whom you so nearly rode over last evening is +as clean gone as if she had never been. None saw her go, but when +supper time came she was nowhere to be found. Nor is there any +trace of her now." + +I felt as if I had expected to hear that the Welsh girl had gone as +well as the thrall, and I cannot say that I was surprised; though +as they had failed in whatever they meant to compass this time, I +could not see why they should not have tried again. + +"Whence came she," I asked as carelessly as I could. "Maybe she has +only gone home, fearing blame for dropping that horn." + +"She has no home to go to, that we ken. She came from Jago at +Norton only a little while ago, and she would hardly try to get +back there across the hills alone. She is an orphan serf of his, +and I fear that she has been stolen away." + +"She has not been here long, then?" + +"She came when you were with Owen. Jago sent to ask if Elfrida +would take her in, she being worth having as a maid. His wife had +no place for her, but would that she was well cared for. So she +came with the first chapman who travelled this way." + +Now as I thought of this girl, in a moment it flashed across me +where I had seen her before. It was on board the ship at Tenby, and +she came with Dunwal and his daughter Mara. I was certain of it, +though I had only seen her that once, for there I was in a strange +land, and so noticed things and people at which I should hardly +have glanced elsewhere. The Danish and British dress over there was +strange to me also. + +Then, as soon as I had a chance I asked the ealdorman for a few +moments of private speech, and we went into his own chamber that +opened on the high place of the hall where we had been sitting. +There I told him all the trouble, for surely I needed all help that +I could find, and at the last I said: + +"Mara, the daughter of Dunwal, was at guest quarters with Jago." + +Then I saw the face of my friend paling slowly under its ruddy tan, +and he rose and walked across the room once or twice, biting his +lip as though in wrath or sore trouble. I could not tell which it +was, but I thought that he was putting some new thought together in +his mind. + +"It is plain enough," he said at last, staying his walk at a side +table. "I saw my sick man pick up that horn the girl dropped, and +he looked into it and laughed and drank from it, saying that it was +a pity to waste good stuff. See, here it is. The curl of it may +have kept a fair draught in it for him." + +There were several horns standing in their silver or gilded rests +on the table at his elbow, and he held up that one which had been +brought to me, and then dropped it. + +It fell with its mouth upward, rocking on the bend in its midst, so +that it might well have had a gill or two left in it, for it had a +twist as well as the curve in its length, which was somewhat longer +than usual. + +"Poison!" he said in a low voice. "That a friend should be thus +treated at my own door, by my own servant! What shall I say to +you?" + +"It is hard on you as on any one, Ealdorman," I answered. "But the +girl did not come from Jago. Mara sent her in some way. I am sure +it was she whom I saw at Tenby." + +"Ay," he said, "one could not dream that a message seeming to come +from honest Jago was not in truth from him. The trick was sure to +be found out, and that soon, though." + +"Not until the deed was done, maybe. This is the first chance that +the Welsh girl has had to hand me aught." + +The ealdorman held his peace for a moment, and then he broke out +suddenly: + +"By all the relics in Glastonbury, that thrall saved your life! He +is no fool either, for he knew that the horn must be spilt in one +way or the other, and it was worth while for you to run the risk of +a fall rather than that you should drink it. How had he knowledge +of what was to be done?" + +"Whoever wrote the warning told him. It was a chance, however, that +we did not come into the house." + +"There is some friend watching these traitors," said Herewald. "I +did not know the thrall, but so often men from the hill who have +followed us come here for the ale that they know will be going, +that I thought nothing of a stranger more or less. But why choose +my house for this deed?" + +I knew well enough, and it was plain when I minded the ealdorman +that my vow was well known, and told, moreover, by Thorgils in +Mara's hearing. This was a house where I should often be, and when +Mara found out that Jago was a friend of Herewald of Glastonbury +the rest was easy. + +"Well, I will send to Jago today, and find out what he knows. That +Cornish damsel must be better watched. Come, let us go and tell the +king." + +So we went, and when Ina heard what we had to say he grew very +grave, and asked many questions before he told us what his thoughts +were. + +"They have struck at Owen through you, my Thane, even as I feared," +he said. "I think that the matter of the land of Tregoz has saved +you, for I seem to see in this thrall one of his men who hates him +and will thwart his plans. There are yet men who will carry out +what he planned ere he died. Now I am glad that we soon shall be +gone from hence, and that is the first time that I have been ready +to leave Glastonbury." + +Now I will say that when Herewald's messenger came back from Norton +it was even as we thought. Jago had no knowledge of the Welsh girl, +or her sending. But Mara was gone a fortnight or more since, for +Gerent had sent her father for safer keeping to the terrible old +castle of Tintagel on the wild shore, and she had followed to be as +near him as she might. Doubtless the girl might be found there also +in time. + +So I had no more warnings, and in a few days the strain on my mind +wore off. I sent a message through Jago to Owen to tell him what +had happened, so that he should have less anxiety for his own +comfort, while he knew that I was shortly to be far hence. + +Before that came about, however, Erpwald and Elfrida were betrothed +with all solemnity in the new church, for their wedding was to be +held here also in the summer, when all was ready for a new mistress +at Eastdean. So Erpwald rode with us to Winchester a proud man, and +by that time I thought I had forgotten that I ever held myself +entitled to the place he had won. + +But I did not forget the plotting, and as the days wore on, and my +thoughts of it grew a little clearer, I began to wonder if the +thrall who saved me from the poisoned horn might not be the man who +slew Tregoz on the ramparts at Norton in the moonlight. I must say +that it went against the grain for me to believe that Mara had +aught to do with contriving my end through her maid, but unless +there was some crafty hand at work in the background, all +unsuspected, it seemed that there could be none else. + +And then one day I found the little letter that Nona had sent me. +In that I was warned against Morfed the Cornish priest, and I had +forgotten him. + +Now I will confess that two days after the Cheddar business I took +that little brooch that Elfrida had given me, and dropped it into +three fathoms of water as I rode by the mere one day. There are +foolishnesses one does not care to be reminded of. + + + +CHAPTER XII. OF THE MESSAGE BROUGHT BY JAGO, AND A MEETING IN DARTMOOR. + + +As one may be sure, there was no danger for me at Winchester, and +if I had any anxiety at all it was for Owen, who had dangers round +him which I did not know. I had sent him word by that old friend of +his, Jago of Norton, how the last warning was justified, and had +heard from him that with the imprisonment of Dunwal his last +enemies seemed to have been removed or quieted. So I was more at +ease concerning him, and presently rode with Erpwald to Eastdean in +the fair May weather to see the beginning of that church which +should keep the memory of my father. + +And all I will say concerning that is that when I came to visit the +old home once more I knew that I had chosen right. The life of a +forest thane was not for me, and Eastdean seemed to have nought of +pleasure for me, save in a sort of wonderment in seeing how my +dreams had kept so little of aught of the true look of the place. +In them it had grown and grown, as it were, and now I was +disappointed with it. I suppose that it is always so with what one +has not seen since childhood, and for me it was as well. I felt no +shadow of regret for the choice I had made. + +So after the foundation was laid with all due rites, I went back to +the king and found him at Chippenham, for he was passing hither and +thither about his realm, as was his wont, biding for weeks or maybe +months here, and so elsewhere, to see that all went well. And I +knew that in Erpwald and his mother I left good and firm friends +behind me, and that all would be done as I should have wished. Ay, +and maybe better than I could have asked, for what Erpwald took in +hand in his plain single-heartedness was carried through without +stint. + +Through Chippenham come the western chapmen and tin traders, and so +we had news from the court at Exeter that all was well and quiet, +and so I deemed that there was no more trouble to be feared. It +seemed as if Owen had taken his place, and that every foe was +stilled. + +And yet there grew on me an uneasiness that arose from a strange +dream, or vision, if you will, that came to me one night and +haunted me thereafter, so soon as ever my eyes closed, so that I +grew to fear it somewhat. And yet there seemed nothing in it, as +one may say. It was a vision of a place, and no more, though it was +a place the like of which I had never seen. + +I seemed to stand in a deep hollow in wild hills, and round me +closed high cliffs that shut out all but the sky, so that they +surrounded a lawn of fair turf, boulder strewn here and there, and +bright with greener patches that told of bog beneath the grass. In +the very midst of this lawn was a round pool of black, still water, +and across on the far side of that was set a menhir, one of those +tall standing stones that forgotten men of old were wont to rear +for rites that are past. It was on the very edge of the pool, as it +seemed, and was taller than any I had seen on our hills. + +And when in my dream I had seen this strange place, always I woke +with the voice of Owen in my ears calling me. That was the thing +which made me uneasy more than that a dream should come often. + +Three times that dream and voice came to me, but I said nought of +it to any man. Then one day into the courtyard of the king's hall +rode men in haste from the westward, and when I was called out to +meet them the first man on whom my eyes rested was Jago of Norton, +and my heart fell. Dusty and stained he was with riding, and his +face was worn and hard, as with trouble, and he had no smile for +me. + +"What news, friend?" I said, coming close to him as he dismounted. + +"As they took you, so have they taken Owen. We have lost him." + +"Is he slain?" + +"We think not. He was wounded and borne away. We cannot trace him +or his captors. Gerent needs you, and I have a letter to your +king." + +I asked him no more at this time, but I took him straightway to +Ina, travel stained as he was. He had but two men with him, and +they were Saxons he had asked for from Herewald the ealdorman as he +passed through Glastonbury in haste. + +So Ina took the letter, and opened it, and as he read it his face +grew troubled, so that my fear that I had not yet heard the worst +grew on me. Then he handed it to me without a word. + +"Gerent of the Britons, to Ina of Wessex.--I pray you send me +Oswald, Owen's foster son, for I need him sorely. On my head be it +if a hair of him is harmed. He who bears this is Jago, whom you +know, and he will tell my need and my loneliness. I pray you speed +him whom I ask for." + +That was all written, and it seemed to me that more was not needed. +One could read between the lines, after what Jago had said. + +"What is the need for you?" Ina asked, as I gave him back the +letter. + +"To seek for Owen, my father," I said. "Jago must tell what we have +to hear." + +Then he told us, speaking in his own tongue, so that I had to +translate for the king now and then, and it was a heavy tale he +brought. + +Owen had gone to some house that belonged to Tregoz, in the wild +edge of Dartmoor north of Exeter, and there men unknown had set on +the house and burnt it over him, slaying his men and sorely +wounding himself. Only one man had escaped to tell the tale, and he +was wounded and could tell little. And the deed was wrought in the +night, and into the night he had seen the men depart, bearing the +prince with them. But who and whence they were he could neither +tell nor guess. + +Then Gerent had ridden in all haste to the house, and found even as +the wounded man had told, for all was still as the burners left it. +But no man of all the village, nor the shepherds on the hills, +could tell more. Owen was lost without trace left. + +Then said Ina: "What more could be done by Oswald?--Will men help a +Saxon?" + +"This must be between ourselves, King Ina," Jago said plainly. "It +is in my mind that if Oswald and I or some known lord of the +British will go to that place and sit there quietly with rewards in +our hands, we may learn much; for men fear Gerent the king in his +wrath, and they fled from his coming." + +"So be it," said Ina. "Oswald shall go, and it seems to me that +every day is precious, so that he shall go at once. Is there +thought that Owen may be taken out of the country, as Oswald was +taken?" + +"Every port and every fisher is watched, and has been so. For that +was the first thing we feared. And word has gone to Howel of Dyfed +and Mordred of Morganwg, farther up the channel, that they should +watch their shores also. Nought has been left undone that may be +done." + +So it came to pass that on the next morning Jago and I rode away +together along the great road that leads westward to Exeter and +beyond, asking each train of chapmen whom we met if there was yet +news, and hearing nought but sorrow for the loss of the prince they +had hailed with such joy again. Nor did we draw rein, save to +change horses, till we clattered up the ancient paved street of the +city on its hill, and dismounted at the gates of the white palace +where Gerent waited me. + +There the first man who came out to greet me was one whom I was +altogether glad to see, though his presence astonished me for a +moment. Howel of Dyfed passed from the great door and bade me +welcome. + +"It is a different meeting from that which we had planned, Thane," +he said, somewhat sadly. "I am here to help you if I can; for when +we heard that Owen was lost much as you were, we came over +straightway, there being reasons of her own which would not let +Nona rest till we had sailed. Presently you will hear them from +herself, for she is here. Glad am I to see you." + +"There is no fresh hope?" I asked, as we went in. + +"None; but we hope much from you. At least, your coming will cheer +the old king, for he is well-nigh despairing." + +Now I was prepared to see some change in Gerent by reason of all +this sorrow and trouble, but not for all that was plain when I +first set eyes on him presently. Old and shrunken he seemed, and +his voice was weary and dull. Yet there came a new light into his +eyes as he saw me, and he greeted me most kindly, bidding me, after +a few words of welcome, to rest and eat awhile after the long ride, +before we spoke together of troubles. + +So in a little time I sought him again, and found him in a room +with warm sunlight streaming into it, making the strange pictured +walls bright and cheerful, and yet somewhat over close for one who +loves the open air or the free timbered roof that loses itself in +the smoke wreaths overhead, with the wind blowing through it as it +blows through the forest whence it was wrought, and with twitter of +birds to mind one of that also. Nevertheless, the old king in his +purple mantle with its golden hem over the white linen tunic, and +his little golden circlet on his curling white hair, seemed in +place there, even as I minded thinking that Owen in his British +array seemed in place. + +Now Howel stood where Owen was wont to stand, and the only other in +the room was the lady, who rose from the king's side to greet me. + +And if her smile was a little sad, it was plain that Nona the +princess was glad as her father to see her guest again, and I will +say that to me the sight of her was like a bright gleam in the grey +of sadness that was over all things. It did not seem possible that +she and trouble could find place together. + +So I greeted her, and she went back to her place quickly, for +hardly would Gerent wait for us to speak a few words before he +would talk of that which was in all his thoughts; and then came +Jago and stood at the door, guarding it as it were against +listeners. + +Now the old king told me all that I had heard from his thane +already, and I must tell what I thought thereof, and that was +little enough beyond what I have said, and at last, when he seemed +to wait for me to ask him more, I put a question that had come into +my mind as I rode, and asked if there might be any chance of Morfed +the priest having a hand in the matter. + +And at that the king's frown grew black, and he answered fiercely: + +"Morfed, the mad priest?--Ay, why had not I thought of him before? +Look you, Oswald, into my hall of justice he came, barefoot and +ragged from his wanderings, but a few days before Owen left me; and +before all the folk, high and low, who were gathered there he cried +out on all those who spoke for peace with the men who owned the +rule of Canterbury, and who held traffic with the Saxon who has +taken our lands. And Owen was for speaking him fair, seeing that he +was crazed, but I bade him be silent, telling the priest that what +was lost is lost, and there needed no more said thereof; and that +if the men of Austin and we differed it was not the part of +Christian men to make the difference wider, even as Owen and +Aldhelm were wont to say. And at that he raved, and threatened to +lay the heaviest ban of the Church on Owen, and on all who held +with him, and so he was taken from my presence, and I have seen him +no more. But he was a friend of Morgan." + +"That is the priest who was with Dunwal, surely," Howel said. + +"The same," I answered--"and I was warned of him," and I looked +toward the princess, and she smiled a little and flushed. + +"I mind how he glared at Oswald across my table," Howel said. "But +one need fear little from him, as I think. Who will heed a crazy +priest?" + +"Many," answered Gerent. "The more because they deem him inspired. +I will have him taken and brought to me." + +There fell a little uneasy silence after that outburst of the +king's, but I felt that I had not yet heard all that they would +tell me. So we waited for the old king to speak, and at last he +turned suddenly to the princess, setting his thin white hand on her +shoulder, and said: + +"Now tell Oswald what foolishness brought you here, Nona, daughter +of Howel, that he may say what he thinks thereof." + +"Maybe he also will think it foolishness, King Gerent," she said in +her low clear voice. "But however that may be, I will tell him, for +in what I have to say may be help. I cannot tell, but because it +might be so I begged my father to bring me hither. It was all that +I could do for my godfather." + +There was just a little quiver in her lip as she said this, and the +fierce old king's face softened somewhat. + +"Nay," he said, "I meant no unkindness. I forgot that it is not +right to speak to a child as to grown warriors. It is long since +there was a lady about the place who is one of us." + +Then Nona smiled wanly, and set her hand on that of the old king, +and kept it there while she spoke. + +"Indeed, Thane, it may be foolishness, and now perhaps as time goes +on it begins to seem so to me. Once, as I know now, on the night +when Owen first slept in his new house on the moor, I dreamed that +he was in sore danger, for I seemed to see shadows of men creeping +everywhere round the house that I have never set eyes on; and +again, on the next night, and that was the night of the burning, I +saw the house in flames, and men fought and fell around it among +the flickering shadows, but I did not seem to see Owen. And then on +the next night, soon after I first slept, I woke trembling with the +most strange dream of all. I think that the light had hardly gone +from the west, but the moon had not yet risen. I dreamed that I +stood at the end of a narrow valley, whose sides were of tall +cliffs of rough grey stone, and in the depth of the valley I saw a +great menhir standing on the farther side of a black pool. And all +the surface of the pool was rippling as if somewhat had disturbed +it, and set upright in the ground on this side was a sword, like to +that which King Ina gave you, Thane--ay, that which you wear now, +not like my father's swords. And I thought that I heard one call on +your name." + +Now I heard Jago stifle a cry behind me, and as for myself I stood +silent, biting my lip that I might know that I was not dreaming +also, and I saw that Howel was looking at me in a wondering way, +while Gerent glowered at me. All the time that she had been +speaking, Nona had looked on the ground, in some fear lest we +should smile at this which had been called foolishness, and I was +glad when the king broke the silence with a short laugh. + +"Well, Oswald, what think you of this? On my word, it seems that +you half believe in the foolishness that some hold concerning +dreams." + +"I would not hold this so," said Howel,--"seeing that she has +dreamed of things that did take place, as we know too well." + +"Fire and fighting? Things, forsooth, that every village girl on +the Saxon marches is frayed with every time she sleeps." + +So said Gerent, and I answered him: + +"Foolishness I cannot call this, either, Lord King. I also have +seen the same in the night watches. I have seen pool and menhir, +and the cliffs that hem them, even as the princess saw them. And I +woke with the voice of Owen in my ears." + +"Dreams, dreams!" the old king said. "Go to, you do but tell me +these trifles to please me, and as if to give me hope that in such +an unheard-of place we shall find him whom we have lost. Say no +more, but go your ways on the morrow and search. And may you find +your dream valley and what is therein." + +He rose up impatiently, and Howel gave him his arm from the room. +Jago followed him, and when the heavy curtain fell across the +doorway, Nona, who had risen with Gerent, turned to me. + +"I am sure now that there we shall find Owen," she said, with a new +light of hope in her eyes. "And also I am sure that at the bottom +of all the matter is Morfed the priest." + +"It was a needed warning against him that I had from your hand, +Princess," I said; "now let me thank you for it." + +"I am glad you had it safely, for indeed I feared for you with +those people on the ship with you. What has become of them?" + +I told her the fate of Dunwal, so far as I knew it. I did not then +know that Gerent had put an end to his plotting once for all two +days after Owen was lost. As for his daughter, I knew no more than +Jago told the ealdorman. + +Then she said: "Now I would ask you to speak to my father, that he +would let me go with you to Dartmoor, that I may help you search. I +do not like to be far from him, but he says there may be danger. +Which makes me the more anxious not to leave him, as you may +suppose." + +She smiled, but as I made no answer she went on: + +"And maybe Owen will need nursing when you find him. They say he +was sorely wounded. Ay, I am sure we shall find him, else why did +we have these strange visions? And I think that were he not +disabled altogether he would have won to freedom in some way." + +"It is that wounding that makes me fear the worst," I said in a low +voice; for indeed the thought of Owen as hurt, in the care, or want +of care, of those who hated him, was not easy to be borne. "It is +my fear that we shall be too late." + +"Nay, but you must not fear that," she said quickly. "That is no +sort of mind in which you have to set to work. I will think rather +that they have carried him to some safe tending. There will be time +enough to dread the worst when it is certain. There was nought in +the dreams to make us think that he was dead." + +The bright face and voice cheered me wonderfully, and for the +moment, at least, I felt sure that our search would not fail. Then +I tried to persuade her not to come with us. One could not say that +there was any safety, even for her, among the men who would harm +Owen, though I thought that none would be in the least likely to +fall on Howel. Rather, they would keep out of his way altogether. +In my own mind I wished that I was going alone, or with none but +Jago, though, on the other hand, it might be possible that men +would speak to him if they would not to me. And at last I did +persuade her to bide here until we had news, promising that if need +was she should come and see the place herself when all was known. + +"Well, maybe it is not so needful that I should go now," she said. +"I thought that I alone could tell my father when that valley was +found, but you know as much of it as I, and will be sure when you +stand in it." + +And so we fell to talk of these visions which were so much alike, +and there was but one difference in them. In the dream of the +princess the pool had been ruffled, and mine was still as glass. +And that seemed strange, and we could make nothing of it. Then +Howel came back, and there is little more to say of the doings of +that evening. There was no feasting in Gerent's house now. + +Very early in the next dawning Howel and I rode westward with five +score men of Gerent's best after us, into wilder country than I had +ever yet seen; and late in the evening we came to where the +countless folds of Dartmoor lie round the heads of Dart River. And +there Tregoz had set his house, and I think that it was the first +that had ever been in those wilds, save the huts of the villagers. +Only the hall of the place had been burnt, and there yet stood the +house of the steward on the village green, if one may call a meadow +that had a dozen huts round it by that name, and we bestowed +ourselves in the great room of that, while our men found places in +stables and outhouses and the huts. Every man of the place had fled +as they saw us coming, for the fear of Gerent was on them; but the +women and children remained, and they had heard of the son of Owen, +at least, since he and I were in Dartmoor in the spring. I had some +of them brought to me when we were rested, and told them that none +need fear aught, knowing that they would tell their menfolk. + +And so it was, for after we had been quietly in the place for two +days the men were back and at their work again. I do not think that +even our Mendip miners were so wild as these people, and their +strange Welsh was hard for me and Howel to understand. I will say +that the whole matter seemed hopeless for a time, for no man would +say anything to us about it. If we spoke to a man, questioning him, +and presently wished to find him again, he was gone, and it would +be days ere he came back. + +Some of our guards knew the country as well as most, and with them +we rode many a long mile into the hills during the first few days, +searching for the deepest valleys, and ever did I look to see the +great menhir before me as we came to bend after bend of the hills. +Circles of standing stones we found, and cromlechs, ruins of +ancient round stone huts where villages had been before men could +remember, and once we saw a menhir on the hillside; but that was +not what I sought, and none could tell us of the lost valley. + +Yet it was in my mind as I questioned one or two that their looks +seemed to say that the description of the place was not unknown to +them, and if they would they could tell me more. At last, when I +came to know the speech better at the end of a week, I thought that +I would try another plan; I would trust to the shepherds, and ride +alone for once across the hills. I thought that, even were I set +upon, my horse would take me from danger more quickly than hillmen +could run, and Howel, unwillingly enough, agreed that it seemed to +be the only chance. Maybe the men would speak more openly with me +on the hillside and alone. + +So I asked if there was any one could tell me where there were +menhirs in the valleys, and a shepherd said that he knew two or +three. So I rode with him at my side to one of these, but it was +not that which I sought; and, as I hoped, the man was more willing +to speak, and we got on well enough. We had not met with a soul all +day, but my hawk had taken two bustard after I saw the stone and +was disappointed. One of these as a gift to the shepherd had opened +his lips wonderfully, and we were talking as we rode in the dusk, +and were not so far from the village, of another stone that I was +to see next day, when I asked him if he had ever heard of the lost +valley of pool and menhir. + +He did not answer, but shrunk to my side, looking round him +fearfully. + +"What comes, Lord," he said, whispering;--"see yonder?" + +He pointed across the bare hillside, and I looked but saw nothing. + +"I saw nought," I said. "Is it unlucky to speak of the place?" + +"I saw somewhat leap from yonder rock," he whispered; "it went +behind that other." + +Plainly the man was terrified, and I asked him what he feared. + +"The good folk, Lord." + +"Pixies?--Do they come when one speaks of the lost valley?" + +"Speak lower, Lord,--lower! Look, yonder it is again!" + +Then I also saw in the dusk the figure of a man who crept softly +from one great boulder to another, and without thinking of the +terror of the shepherd I spurred my horse, and rode straight for +the rock behind which the figure disappeared, having no mind to +have an arrow put into me at short range by one of the men of +Tregoz--or of Morfed--unawares. + +The shepherd howled in fright when he was left, but I did not heed +him, and in a moment I was round the rock and almost on the +cowering man whom I had seen. He turned to fly, and I cried to him +to stop, but he only got another rock between me and him, for the +hillside was covered with them, and shrank behind it, so that I +could only see his wild eyes as he glared at me across it. He said +nothing, and I did not think that he was armed, so far as the dim +evening light would let me see. + +"Why are you dogging me thus?" I cried; "come out, and no harm will +befall you." + +I rode round, and he shifted as I did, so that he was between me +and the shepherd, and then I called to the latter that this was but +a man, and bade him come and help me to catch him. Whereon the man +looked swiftly over his shoulder and saw that he was fairly +trapped. + +"Keep him back, Master," he said in a strange growling voice, which +was not that of a Dartmoor savage either in tone or speech. "Keep +him back, and we will talk together; I mean no harm." + +But I had no need to tell the shepherd not to come, for he bided +where he was, being afraid; but I held up my hand to him as if to +bid him be still, lest the man should know that he would not help +me. + +"Come out like a man," I said. "One would think that you were some +evildoer." + +"Master, I will swear that I am not. Let that be, for I have +somewhat to tell you that you will be glad to hear." + +"If that is true, why did you not come openly, instead of waiting +till I had you in a corner? Every one knows that there is reward +for news from any honest man." + +"There are those who would take my life if they caught me, Master. +I have been seeking for speech with you alone all this day; I hoped +the shepherd would leave you hereabout for his home, and then I +would have come to you." + +"Well," I said, "if you could tell me what I need to hear I will +hold you safe from any." + +"Master, will you swear that?" said the man eagerly. + +Then it came across me that maybe this was one of those who fell on +Owen, for one might well look for a traitor among so many. + +So I answered cautiously: "Save and except you are one of those who +have wrought harm to the prince you shall be safe. If you are one +who has him alive and in keeping you shall be safe also." + +"Master, you have promised, and it is well known that you keep your +word. I am your man henceforward, by reason of that promise. I will +give you a token that I have not harmed the prince." + +"What have you to tell?" + +"Master, they say that you seek the lost valley, of which none will +speak." + +"That seems true; but speak up, and mouth not your words so." + +"Here was I born and bred, Master," said the man, still in the same +growling voice. "I know where the lost valley is hidden, though +none may go there save at peril of life. It is unlucky so much as +to speak thereof." + +"Can you take me within sight of its place, so that I can find it?" +I asked, with a wild hope at last springing up in me. + +"I can; and, Master, unluckier than I am I cannot be, so that life +is little to me. Into that place I will even go for you, and risk +what may befall me, if only you will find pardon for me. Only, I do +not know if you will find aught of Owen the prince there." + +"You must be in a bad way, my poor churl," said I, "if things are +thus with you. But if you will help me to that place, and there let +me find what I may, there is naught that may not be forgiven you. +Even were it murder, I will pay the weregild for you, and you shall +have cause to say that the place has no ill luck for you." + +"Thane," said the man, in a new voice that was strangely familiar +to me, "you have spoken, and forgiven I shall surely be." + +Then he rose from behind the rock and came to my side, and took my +hand and kissed it again and again, and surely I had seen his form +before. + +"Thane, I am Evan the outlaw, and my life is yours because you +forgave me a little once, and saved me from the wolves, giving that +life back to me when I knew it well nigh gone." + +I looked at the pale hair and beard of the man, and wondered. +Evan's had been black as night. + +"It is Evan's voice," I said; "but you have changed strangely." + +"Needs must I, Thane, with every man's hand against me, if I would +serve you and Owen the prince for your sake." + +Then I looked round for my shepherd, but he had fled. + +"Come to the house with me," I said. "I think that none will know +you, and if they do so I will answer for you." + +"No, Thane; after tomorrow, seeing that even Howel sets such store +on finding the valley, as men tell me, I shall be safe even from +him. I think that you are the only one who will trust me yet." + +There I knew that he was most likely right. Had I not been certain +that he could have kept me from knowing him even yet, I think that +I might have been doubtful of him myself. + +"As you will," I answered. "We can meet tomorrow. Now give me that +token by which I am to know that you have not harmed Owen." + +"It is right that you should not yet trust me," Evan said, as if he +read my thoughts, "for I do not deserve it. Here is one token: 'It +is not good to sleep in the moonlight.' And I will give you yet +another, if I may, for, indeed, I would have you know that the +words I spoke yonder were true when I said that you should be glad +that you freed me, and that I have tried to serve you. That may be +known by the token of the blackthorn spine and the dog whip." + +I reined up my horse in wonderment and stared at him, and he came +close to my side, so that I could see him plainly. And, lo! his +shoulders grew rounded, and his eyes crossed terribly, and they +bided so, and he mumbled the words he had said when the whip of the +huntsman fell on him. + +Then he straightened himself again and looked timidly at me. He was +not like the man who had bound me so cruelly in Holford combe on +the Quantocks. + +"Evan," I cried, "what you did for me at the ealdorman's gate is +enough to win any pardon you may need." + +"It is wonderful that, after all, pardon should come from you, +Thane. Do you mind how I said to you that I hoped to win it +otherwise through you when we took you on the Quantocks? It is good +to feel as a free man once more." + +"Free, and maybe honoured yet, Evan," I said; for I knew that he +had risked his life for me and Owen. "Presently you shall come with +me to Wessex, where none know you, and there shall be a fresh life +for you. It is in my mind that what you brought on me was as a last +hope." + +"Ay, that is true, Thane." + +And then I asked him to tell me all he knew of Owen, and of what +had happened here, and how it came about that he knew aught. And as +he told me it was plain that this was a true tale, for one could +feel it so. + +He had followed Owen, keeping himself hidden, after I went to +Winchester, for there he knew that I was safe, and yet he would +serve me if he could. So from the hillside where he lay he had seen +the burning and the fight; and after Owen fell he followed them who +bore him away, till he lost them in a grey mist that rolled from +the hills and hid them in the darkness. Nor had he been able to +find trace of them again, though he had hunted far and wide. + +And so he waited for my coming, being sure that I would not be +long. But he knew that they had gone toward what he called the lost +valley, if it was not likely that they would dare so much as look +into it. + +"But," he said, "there was a priest with them, seeming to lead +them. Maybe he would dare." + +Into my mind at once came the certainty that this must be Morfed, +but Evan knew nought of him. He had no more to tell me of this. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. HOW OSWALD AND HOWEL DARED THE SECRET OF THE MENHIR, AND MET +A WIZARD. + + +So we two rode on together over the wild hills, and talked of what +chance there might be of finding Owen on the morrow. He could not +tell me if his wounds were deep, for he was far off and helpless, +but he told me how he had fought, and that was even as I had known +he would. + +Now the soft June darkness had fallen, and we were not a mile from +the first houses of the village. Soon, if they were alert, we +should meet the first outpost of our men who guarded us, and mayhap +it were better that Evan came no farther tonight. Yet I would know +somewhat of himself and the way in which he had helped me thus. So +I stayed my horse and dismounted for a few minutes. + +"Tell me, Evan," I said, "how came you into trouble at the first?" + +"It is easy, Thane," he answered. "I was Evan the chapman, and well +known near and far in Cornwall and Dyvnaint as an honest man, even +as I have seemed yet beyond the water. Two years ago I slew the +steward of this Tregoz in the open market place of Isca, and there +was indeed little blame to me, for I did but protect my goods which +he would have taken by force, and smote too hard. Little order was +there in that market if the king was not there, and Morgan and his +friends were in the town. Men have taken heart again since the +coming back of Owen, for it was bad enough, as you may suppose by +what happened to me. So I fled, and then Tregoz had me outlawed, +with a price on my head, so that, being well known, I had to take +to Exmoor and herd with others in the same case. I knew that no +weregild, as the Saxon calls it, would be enough to save me from +the Cornishman. + +"There I was the one who could sell the stolen goods across the +water, being held in good repute there, and I traded with the Norse +strangers who ferried me across. So it was that when Owen came I +was in Watchet, and there Tregoz saw me and laid hands on me. Then +he needed men to carry out that which he would do, and he had me +forth and spoke to me, saying that if I would manage the Quantock +outlaws for him he would forgive me and have me inlawed again. I +was to have been hanged that day, Thane, and so you will see that I +had no choice. Owen's coming saved me then." + +Evan was not the first man whom I had known to be driven into evil +ways by misfortune and powerful enemies. I had little blame for +him. A man will do much to save his neck from the rope. But this +did not tell me how he knew the plans of Tregoz after I set him +free in Dyfed. + +"Then you came back to the Cornishman after I freed you?" I asked. + +"That I did not, Thane, for the best of reasons. He would have +hanged me at once if he were in power, and I had not meant to let +him set eyes on me again in any case, for he was treacherous. I +came back round the head waters of the Severn, through Wessex, +where I was only a Weala, though, indeed, that is almost the same +as an outlaw there; and there, by reason of Gerent's seeking for +me, I changed my looks and watched for Tregoz, for I found that he +was yet about the place in hiding. Thralls know and tell these +things to men of their own sort, though they seem to know nothing +if you ask them, Thane." + +"Then you wrote the letters?" + +"I had them written by the old priest of Combwich by the Parrett +River, who will tell you that he did so. I took them myself to the +palaces for you." + +"And was it you who slew Tregoz?" + +"Ay, with that seax you gave me back at the Caerau wolf's den. I +heard that he had been speaking with a sentry, and thereafter I +followed him and heard his plan. I saw him change arms with the +sentry, and presently I fell on him, but the arrow had sped and I +feared I was too late. I had to cross the trench from the bushes +where I was hidden." + +"But the poisoning at Glastonbury?--How did you know of that? + +"Easy it was to know of, but less easy to prevent. I lurked round +Glastonbury until I saw the girl, and knew that some fresh trouble +was on hand for you. I knew her, for I had seen to that at Norton, +that I might learn somewhat, if I could, while she attended on the +lady, the daughter of Dunwal. She met her master there once or +twice with messages, and it was by following her that I found his +hiding in the hills. It was not hard for me to get her to tell me +all that she had to do, for I made her think that I was in the +plotting. Then she found it harder than had been expected to serve +you, for she was kept about the lady. So she asked me, and I told +her to wait. I thought she would most likely lose her chance +altogether, and maybe but for your staying at the gate that day she +would have done so." + +"It was not the first time that we have had half the household +outside serving a hunting party," I said. + +"And each time I have been there, Thane, lest this should happen. +The girl told me that such times were her only chance, and I said +she had better wait for such a one again. I knew that in the open I +could in some way spill the horn, so that she would be helpless and +harmless afterward. Therefore I bade her not to try to harm you in +the house, for my own reasons, but told her that it were safer for +herself to wait for some stirrup cup chance, as it were. That day I +saw that it had come, and I cut a thorn from the nearest bush and +was ready. I could not reach the girl to stumble against her." + +I minded that Thorgils had said that this Evan could beguile Loki +himself with fair words, and I could well believe it. But he did +not do things by halves when he set himself a task, and I felt that +but for him I should certainly have been a victim--to Mara, or to +whom?" + +"Who wrought this plot? Was it Mara, the Cornish lady?" + +"I do not think so," he answered, shaking his head. "There is one +thing that the girl would never tell me. In no wise could I get the +name of the one who gave her the poison. I do not know where she +fled to, but it is likely that it was to that one." + +"Some day you shall know how grateful I am for this, Evan," I said. +"Now I must go. Only one thing more.--Where do you sleep?" + +"Wheresoever I may, that I may be near you, Thane. Now meet me +tomorrow at this place, and we will go to the lost valley. After +that let me serve you for good and all if I may. I can do many +things for you, and you had my life in your hand and gave it back +to me; though indeed I know that it was hard for you to do so, +seeing that a thane is sorely wronged by being bound by such as I." + +"I can give you little, Evan; but I can, as I have said, find you a +place in the court, whence you may rise." + +"Let me serve you, Master," he said earnestly. "I have served +myself for long enough, and it has not turned out well. If I please +you not, I will go where you bid me, but in anywise let me try." + +"As you will," I said. "I owe you well-nigh aught you can ask, and +this is little enough." + +Then I shook hands with him and parted. It was a strange meeting. + +I went back to Howel with a mind that was full of what I might find +on the morrow, but with little hope that there would be anything of +sign that Owen yet lived. Howel was growing anxious for me as the +darkness fell, and was glad to greet me, and I suppose my face told +him somewhat. + +"Why," he said, as I stepped into the firelight on the hearth of +the little house, "what is this? Have you heard news at last?" + +"I have found one who will take us to the lost valley, but nothing +more. I have heard nought fresh, but that there was indeed a priest +with the men who took Owen away." + +"Well, we guessed as much as that; but I tell you plainly, Oswald, +that I fear what may be in store for us in that place. Nona is not +the girl to fancy things, and I know that her dreams must have been +terrible to her. And then you also--" + +"I fear, too," I said. "But I do not think that anything will be +worse than this long uncertainty. Well, that is to be seen. Now I +must tell you who it is that is to guide us, and maybe you will say +that it is a strange story enough. Have patience until you hear +all, however." + +So I told him, beginning with the certainty that I had had some +friend at work for me, and then telling him at last that I had +found the man who had indeed saved me from these two dangers, and +would also have saved Owen if he could. + +"Why, how is it that he kept himself hidden all the time?" + +"For good reason enough, in which you have some share," I answered, +laughing. "It is none other than Evan the chapman." + +"Evan!--How did he escape the Caerau wolves? I tell you that I had +him tied up for them--and hard words from Nona did I get therefore +when she knew. I was ashamed of myself for the thing afterwards, +and on my word I am glad he got away. But when I am wroth I wax +hasty, and things go hard with those who have angered me. But he +was a foe of yours." + +"Laugh at me as you will," I said; "I made him my friend when I cut +his bonds in your woods." + +He stared at me in wonder, and I told him what the hunting led to. +And then I also told of what had sent Evan among the outlaws, and +how he came to fall in with me. + +"You are a better man than I, Oswald," he said thoughtfully, when I +ended. "I could not have let him go. I am glad that you did it, and +that for other reasons than that the deed has turned out to be of +use." + +Then he would hear more, and when it came to the way in which Evan +had beguiled the Welsh servant he laughed. + +"Surely he laid aside the squint when he made up to her, else from +your account he would not have been welcome. But he could hardly +have kept it up, lest the wind should change and it should bide +with him, as the old women say. Well, I used to like the man, and +so did Nona, and it is good to think that one was not so far +wrong." + +Now we thought that on the morrow we would go with but half a dozen +men to the valley, if that would seem good to Evan. If he thought +more were needed it would be easy to call them to us from the place +where we were to meet him; and so we slept as well as the thought +of that search would let us, and it was a long night to me. I think +it was so for Howel also, for once in the night he stirred and +spoke my name softly, and finding that I waked he said: + +"I know why that girl of Mara's would not tell who set her on you. +It is not like a maid to be sparing with her mistress' secrets, and +Morfed is at the back of it. It is his work, and he laid a curse on +the girl if she told who sent her. About the only thing that would +keep her quiet." + +"Why would Morfed want to hurt me?" + +"Plain enough is that. If you were slain, Gerent would hold Ina +responsible for Owen's sake, and Ina would blame Gerent, and there +would be a breach at the least in the peace that your bishop has +made." + +Then we were silent, and presently sleep came to me, until the +first light crept into the house and woke me. + +In an hour we were riding across the hills with Evan, for whom we +had brought a horse, and there were fifty men with us. We should +leave them at a place which Evan would show us, and so go on with +him without them. It was not so certain that we might not run into +the nest of the men who had taken Owen, though this would surely +not be in the lost valley. + +Many a long mile Evan led us into the hills northwestward, and far +beyond where I had yet been. I cannot tell how far it was +altogether, for the way was winding, but I lost sight of all +landmarks that I knew, and ever the bare hills grew barer and yet +more wild, and I could understand that there were places where even +the shepherds never went. + +At first we saw one or two of these watching us from a distance, +but soon we passed into utter loneliness, and nought but the cries +of the nesting curlew which we startled, and the wail of the plover +round our heads, broke the solemn stillness of the grey rocks on +every side. Even our men grew silent, and the ring of sword on +stirrup seemed too loud to be natural at last. We were all fully +armed, of course. + +Then we came to a place where the hills drew together, and doubled +fold on fold under a cloud of hanging mist that hid their heads, +and as we rode, once Evan pointed silently to a rock, and I looked +and saw strange markings on it that had surely some meaning in +them, though I could not tell what it was. And when I looked at him +in question I saw that his face was growing pale and anxious, so +that I thought we must be near the place which we sought. So it +was, for after we had left that stone some two score fathoms behind +us, as we passed up a narrow valley, there opened out yet another, +wilder and more narrow still, and at its mouth he would have us +leave the men and go on with him. + +Now, we had seen no man, but when it came to this, Howel said: + +"By all right of caution, we should have an outpost or two on those +ridges. If we are going into this place it will not do to be +trapped there." + +So without question Evan pointed out places whence men could watch +well enough against any possible comers, but he told me that we +were close to the place we would see, and a call from our horns +would bring help at once if it were needed. Howel sent men by twos +to the hilltops, and the rest dismounted and waited where we stayed +them, while we three went on together up the valley. I bade one of +the men give Evan his spear, for he had none. + +Grey and warm it was there, for the clouds hung overhead, and no +breeze could find its way into the depths of this place, and it was +very silent, but it was not the lost valley itself. And now Howel, +who had not yet so much as seemed to know Evan, rode alongside him +for a moment, and spoke kindly to him, telling him that he was glad +of all that I had told him, and at last asking him to forget that +which he had done to him in the woods of Dyfed. And that was much +for the proud prince to ask, as I think, and I held him the more +highly therefor in my mind. + +And Evan replied by asking Howel to forget rather that he had ever +deserved death at his hands. + +"It shall be seen that I am not ungrateful to the Thane, my master, +hereafter--if I may live after seeing this place," he said. + +"Is it so deadly, then?" asked Howel, speaking low in the hush of +the valley. + +"It is said that those who see it must die--at least, of us who ken +the curse on it. I do not think that it will harm you or the thane +to see it, for you are not of this land at all. I have known men +see this valley by mischance, and they have died shortly, crying +out on the terror thereof. Yet none has ever told what he saw +therein." + +Now it seemed to me that it was possible that such men died of fear +of what might be, as men who think they are accursed, whether by +witchcraft or in other ways, will die, being killed by the trouble +on their minds, and so I said to Evan: + +"I will not take you into this place. Show us the way, and I will +go alone." + +"No, Master," he said, in such wise that it was plain that there +was no turning him. "I am a Christian man, and I will not let old +heathen curses hold me back, now that there is good reason why I +should stand in that place. I will not be afraid thereof." + +"Is the curse so old?" I asked. + +"Old beyond memory," he said. "As old as what is in that place." + +"As the menhir, therefore." + +"I do not know that there is a menhir, Thane. How know you?" + +I reined up, and told him shortly. It was only fair that I should +do so. Then he said: + +"The prince is dead, and maybe that he lies there will end the +curse. Come, we will see." + +A few paces more, and suddenly the hillside seemed to open in a +ragged cleft that made another branching valley into the heart of +the left-hand hillside, so deep that it seemed rather to sink +downward from the mouth than to rise as a valley ever will. In all +truth, none would ever have found that place unless he sought for +it with a guide. I had not guessed that we were so near its +entrance. + +I looked round the hills, but from here I could see not one of our +men on their watch posts, though one would have thought that where +they stood it would have been impossible to lose sight of all. We +were almost at the head of the wider valley along which we had +ridden. + +Now I had thought to be the leader into the lost valley when we +came to it, but this Evan would not suffer. There was not room for +us to ride abreast into its depths, for the narrow bottom of the +cleft in the hills was littered with fallen boulders from the +steeps that bordered it, and through these we had to pick our way. +There was no path, nor was it possible to trace any mark of the +foot of man or horse that might have been there before us, and the +valley turned almost in a half circle, so that we could see no +distance before us. + +Now, I know that Evan had a hard struggle with his fears, but +nevertheless, without drawing rein he led on, only turning to me +with one word that told me that we had found the place; and as he +turned I saw that his face was ashy pale, and as he rode on he +crossed himself again and again, and his lips moved in prayer. + +Down the long curve of the valley we rode, and it ever narrowed +under rocky hills that grew at last to cliffs, and I knew that this +must be but the bed of a raging torrent in the winter, for the +stones that rattled under the horse hoofs were rounded, and here +and there were pools of clear water among them. Any moment now +might set us face to face with what I longed to see. + +And when I saw Evan, ten paces ahead of me, straighten himself in +the saddle as if he would guard a blow from his face, and draw +rein, I knew that we were there, and I rode to his side and looked. + +Suddenly the valley had ended in the place which I had seen in my +vision--a rugged circle of cliffs, in whose only outlet, to all +seeming, we stood. And in the midst of that circle was the pool of +still, black water, and across that towered the tall menhir from a +green bank on which it stood facing me. All round the pool was +green grass, bright with the treacherous greenness that tells of +deep bog beneath it, and then fair turf, and beyond the turf the +rocky scree from the cliffs again. The menhir was full thrice a +man's height. + +It was even as I had seen it. I knew every rock and patch of green, +and the very outline of the edge of the beetling crags that had +been so plain to me in the dream light ere Owen called me. + +But I did not heed these things at the first. My eyes went to the +place where Nona the princess had seen the sword in the long grass +on the hither side of the pool's edge, but I could not see it now. +Then I must ride forward and search for it, and at that time Howel +was close to me, and together we rode yet a little farther into the +circle that the cliffs made, and as we drew closer to the edge of +the pool I scanned every inch of the ground, seeking the sword +which it seemed impossible that I should not find. + +"It has gone," said Howel in a hushed voice. + +And at that moment I saw a sparkle among the new grass at the very +edge of the bog that surrounded the pool, and I threw the reins to +the prince and sprang from my horse and went toward it. The light +was very dull here, though it was nigh midday now, and indeed so +high and overhanging were the cliffs that I do not think the sun +ever reached the surface of the pool, save at this high midsummer, +and then but as it passed athwart the narrow entrance, which faced +south. Then it would send its rays across the pool full on the face +of the menhir, as it seemed. + +So I could see nought again until I was close to the spot whence +the spark shone, and then I caught it once more, and hastily I +cleared aside the rank grass with my spear butt, and lo! even as +she had seen it in dreams the sword of Owen was there, and it was +the gleam from the gem in its hilt, which no damp could dim, which +had caught my eye. But a little while longer and we should never +have seen even that, for the weapon was slowly sinking into the bog +in which its scabbard point had been set, and even as I stepped +forward a pace to reach it the black ooze rose round my foot, and +Evan, who was behind me, caught my hand and pulled me back from its +edge. + +Then I turned with the sword in my hand, and I saw that his face +had found its colour again, and that his fears had left him, for he +had looked on the valley of the mighty curse and yet lived. His +horse was at his side, and he had sprung to help me, but I hardly +heeded him, for I had what I sought in my hand, and I held it up to +Howel without a word, and a sort of fresh hope began to rise in my +heart. Owen might not be so far from us. + +"How came it there?" Howel said, wondering. + +"Who can tell," I answered, turning over many possibilities in my +mind. + +"One thing is certain," Evan said,--"no man set it in that place +meaningly, for there he must have known that it would be whelmed +soon or late." + +"Nor could it have been dropped there," I answered. "None would go +so near the edge of the bog. It was surely thrown there. One +thought to hurl it into the pool. Yet if so he could have done it, +or would have tried again." + +"Come, let us search the place," said Howel. + +I hung the sword to my saddle bow, while Evan took the horses. The +leather scabbard was black with the bog water of the turf where it +had been set, but the blade within it was yet bright and keen. + +Then I and the prince together walked slowly round the edge of the +black pool on the broad stretch of grass between the bog around it +and the loosely piled stones of the cliffs' foot. Here and there +even this turf shook to our tread, as if it too were undermined +with bog, and we went warily, therefore, wishing that we had not +left our spears by the horses. + +"One would call such a place as this 'the devil's cauldron' in our +land," said Howel. "I mislike it altogether." + +Then he sprang back with a start, and clutched my arm and pointed +to the ground at his feet. The skull of a man grinned up at us, +half sunk in the green turf, and the ends of ribs shewed how he to +whom it had belonged lay. There went a cold chill through me as I +looked; but I saw that the bones were old, very old. They had +nought to do with our trouble, and what had been to others about +the loss of him who had died here was long past and forgotten, or +amended. But for the sake of what had been I was fain to unhelm for +a moment as we stepped past them. + +So we went on silently until we were halfway to the menhir, and +then we saw that there was yet another way into this place, for +across the water a jutting wall of rock had hidden a gorge that had +surely been cleft by water, for down it came a little stream that +seemed to sink into the turf so soon as it reached it. + +"That is what fills the pool," said I, "and it must find its way +hence underground like the stream at Cheddar. The pool may be +fathomless. I would that I could look into its depths." + +"What may not be in yonder gorge?" said Howel. "We must go and +see." + +So we came to the menhir's foot, and though the bog came almost to +it there was yet a little mound of turf on which it stood, and I +went to that to see if thence I could peer deeper into the dark +water, but I could not. + +"Come," Howel said, "it is midday, and I for one would not be on +these hills on Midsummer Eve. Call me heathenish if you like, but +this is an unlucky night whereon to walk in the haunts of the good +folk." + +I had forgotten that so it was, and even now I only smiled at the +prince, for my mind was full of other things as I followed him +toward the glen whence the stream came. And now I was sure that +here was growing more clearly a trace as of a seldom trodden path +toward its mouth. We passed a great flat rock, whereon were strange +markings and a hollowed basin, which stood behind the menhir near +the cliff, and to this the path led, but not beyond, from the glen. +Now we were almost in the opening, when both of us stopped and +looked at one another. + +Surely there were footsteps coming among the rocks of the water +course before us. Steep and crooked as this was, we could hear +them, though as yet if it were a man or men who came we could not +see. I pulled the prince back into cover, where the rocks hid us +from any one who came down the stream, and I loosened my sword in +its sheath, for I could not be so sure that it might not be sorely +needed. + +The rattle of stones came nearer, and I saw Evan hurrying to us. He +also had heard, and he had made shift to tie the horses to some +point of rock, and he ran with our spears in his hand to join us. + +"Get to the other side of the pool, Thane," he said. "It may be the +band of men who wrought the burning." + +"No," I answered. "Listen. Maybe there are three or four men, not +more. I want to take one if I can. He shall tell me all he knows of +this place." + +For I had made up my mind that one who would come here freely must +needs be of those who had brought Owen. + +Then from the narrow portal of the glen passed quickly, looking +neither to the right nor left, a tall man, followed by two others, +and they seemed not to see us, but went straight toward the menhir +along that path I thought I had traced, and Howel and I stared at +them, speechless and motionless, for the like of them we had never +seen. + +As for Evan, he reeled against the rock, and stared after them, +clutching it with both hands, so that his spear fell rattling along +the rocks. + +"The Druids!" he gasped. "We are dead men." + +At the sharp rattle the leader of the three men turned, and I knew +him. He was clad in a wonderful gold and white robe that swept the +ground, priest-like, but not that of any Christian, and his hair +was bound with a golden fillet with which oak leaves were twisted, +and in his ears were large earrings. On his bare right arm was a +coiled golden bracelet, and a heavy golden torque was round his +neck, and a great golden brooch knit up the folds of his flowing +white cloak on his right shoulder. But for all this strange dress I +knew him, and he was Morfed the priest, and I heard Howel mutter +the name also. + +Then a word from Morfed caused the other two to turn, and they saw +us, and there flashed from under their robes--which were like those +of their leader, save for golden ornaments--a long knife in the +hand of each, and they made as if to fly on us. + +Morfed held up his hand, and they stayed, glaring at us. I listened +for the coming of more of his followers down the water course, but +I heard none. + +Then Morfed spoke a word or two to his men, and came toward us, +leaving them standing where they were, some twenty paces or less +behind him, and as he came his pale face shewed no sort of feeling +of any kind. His strange bright eyes seemed to look past us, as if +we were but stones at the path side. + +"So it is the Saxon," he said, staying close before us. "Well, I +have waited for you, if I did not look to see you here. And this is +Howel of Dyfed. Surely a Briton knows that to break in on the rites +of the Druid is death? But Howel ever was rash. And this is the +outlaw. It is a true saying that he who sees this place shall die, +Evan." + +Then said Howel boldly: "Briton I am, and therefore I know that the +rites of the Druid are banned by Holy Church. Wherefore does one of +her priests come in this heathen robe to such a place as this on +the eve of midsummer?" + +"Seeing that none but the initiated may know what truth the ancient +faith holds, it is not for you to say that this is heathenry, +Prince," Morfed answered more quietly than I expected. "Ask yon +Saxon if his Yule feast is less sacred to him now because it is not +so long since that it was Woden's. Is tomorrow less Midsummer Day +because it is the day of St. John? Hold your peace thereon, and go +hence while I suffer you." + +At that I glanced at the mouth of the valley whence we came, half +looking to see it blocked by men, but it was not. There was nothing +to stay us three armed men in this place, with but three against +us, and they well-nigh defenceless. Morfed saw that glance and +laughed. + +"The Druid has other arms than those of steel," he said, and he +drew slowly from the wide cincture round his waist a little golden +sickle and balanced it in his hand before me, flashing it to and +fro. + +Now I was sure that he was crazed in all truth, and I would speak +him fair that I might learn what he would tell me. Howel was +silent, seeming to look curiously at the golden toy in the priest's +hand, as it shifted restlessly backward and forward. + +"We have come hither to pry into no ancient rites, Morfed," I said. +"Tell me what you know of Owen the prince, my foster father, and we +will go hence. I have seen that which tells me that he is near, but +there are yet things that I must learn of how he came and where he +lies." + +But Morfed seemed to heed me not at all as I spoke. Only, he kept +moving the little sickle which Howel watched, and its glancings +drew my eyes to it in spite of myself, for overhead the sky was +clearing somewhat and the sun was trying to break through, and the +gold shone brightly. + +"Midday," muttered the priest, "nigh midday, and what is to be done +against the morrow must be done, else will the tale of many a +thousand years be marred, and by me. Lo! the sun comes, and time +passes swiftly." + +The sun did indeed shine out now as some cloud passed, and I saw +that its rays came slanting through the gap in the cliffs across +the pool, passing the menhir without lighting on it, but falling +now on the flat rock that was behind it, though not fully yet. Half +thereof was still in the shadow thrown by the hills. + +Morfed glanced at that shadow, and his face changed, for I think +that he knew the time for some midday rite which we might not see +was near, and at that he seemed to make some resolve. He did not +turn from us, but he lifted his voice in a strange chant, and said +somewhat in Welsh that I could not understand, and as they heard it +his two followers placed themselves on either side of the flat rock +three paces behind him, and stood motionless. Then Morfed lifted +his arm and began to sing softly, swinging the sickle in time to +the song, with his eyes on us. + +I thought that maybe he would sing to us the end of Owen, as would +Thorgils, but the tongue in which the words were spoken was not the +Welsh that I knew. I think now that it was the tongue of the men +who reared the menhir, and that which was the mother of the tongue +of Howel and Gerent alike. It was an uncanny song, and I waxed +uneasy as it went on, and the flashing sickle waved more quickly +before my eyes. + +Soon the murmur of the song seemed to get into my brain, as it +were, and the sparkle of the gold in the sunlight wove itself into +strange circles of light before my eyes, widening and narrowing in +mystic curves that dazzled me, until at last I would look no +longer, and with an effort I turned my head and glanced at Howel to +ask if this foolishness should not be ended. + +But he shook his head. + +"Let him be," he said in a whisper. "It is ill to anger a crazed +man. Surely he will tell what we need soon." + +But beside him Evan seemed to be shrinking as in terror. I suppose +the Briton has old memories of the Druids of past days which yet +bid him fear them. + +"Hearken to me, and heed them not," sang Morfed in words that I +could understand. "Hearken, for you have much to learn." + +That was true, and I turned to him. I supposed that he was in truth +about to speak to me as I would, and straightway the look of Morfed +was on my face, and the song went back to its old burden, and the +flashing sickle held my eyes with its circling, and I knew that if +I looked long I also must pass as it were from myself, as had those +two, and I wrenched my eyes from him. + +Then a movement on the stone caught my gaze, and I saw that the two +men yet stood motionless, but across the sunlit patch which had +crept nearer the centre where the hollowed bowl was, a great adder, +greater than any I had ever seen, thick and spade-headed, had +coiled itself in shining folds peaceably and seeming not to heed +the men. Only its head was raised a little, and it swayed as in +time to the chant of the priest, while the long forked tongue +flickered forth now and then restlessly. + +But Morfed went on with his song and his waving, seeming to try to +draw my look back to him, and I noted, as I glanced again at him, +that a shade of doubt crossed his face, and at that a new thought +came to me. Maybe if he saw that I feared him not he would speak. +So I looked in his eyes and bade him be silent and hearken to what +I said to him. + +Some wave of anger flushed his face then, and he drew a pace nearer +to me, but he was not silent, and the waving sickle was not still. +Neither of these things troubled me any longer, and I looked past +them, in such wise that he might see that I meant him to obey me, +even as one will look at a sullen thrall who delays to carry out an +order given. A captain of warriors will know what signs to watch +for in a man's face well enough, and slowly and at last I saw the +look for which I waited steal across the face of the man before me, +and then I raised my hand and said: + +"Be still, and answer me." + +The song stopped, and the lifted sickle sank with the hand that +held it, and the eyes of Morfed left mine and sought the ground. + +"What will you?" he said. "Let me go, for it is time." + +"When you have answered," I said sternly. "Tell me, where is Owen?" + +"In yonder pool," he said, as a child will answer its teacher. + +But if he answered as a child, his face was sullen as of a child +that is minded to rebel, and I knew that he would try not to tell +me aught. + +"You lie," I said coldly. "Neither Christian priest nor Druid would +dare set a prince of Cornwall in an unhallowed grave. Tell me the +truth." + +"Ay, I lied," he said, speaking in a strange voice that seemed to +come from him against his will. And then he spoke quickly, without +faltering or excuse. "I led the men who should slay the despiser of +the faith of his youth and friend of the Saxon, and we came to the +house and destroyed it, but they slew him not. Sorely wounded he +was, and yet they would not do my bidding and make an end, but +murmured at me. Then they bore him away into the hills, saying that +they would heal him of his hurts and thereafter win his pardon, for +he was ever forgiving, and it is true that I told them not who it +was they were to slay. I said that it was Oswald the Saxon, who +slew Morgan, and they were glad. I do not know how it has come to +pass that you are here. I hate you!" + +"Speak on, Morfed," I said, for he had stayed his words on that, +and I bent all my mind into that command as it were, so that he +knew that I meant to be his master in this. + +"Why should I not speak," he said dully. "Let me end quickly. Ay, I +went with them, thinking that he would die on the way, for he was +sorely wounded, and I mocked them and threatened them in vain. I +led them to this place, and when they knew it they fled, and left +him to me. Wherefore I brought him here, that I might see him +die--I and these two carried him on the litter the men made. Then +will I bury him in no hallowed grave, for I myself spoke the +uttermost ban of Holy Church against him, for that he had herded +with the men of the Saxons who follow Canterbury, and has wrought +for peace with them." + +Then I knew at last that Owen was not dead, and I think that in my +gladness I lost my hold on Morfed, as it were, for I half forgot +him. And at that moment there came a little cry from one of the men +who waited by the flat altar stone, and both of them looked to +Morfed for some command, as if a time had come. The stone was in +full light now, and I noted that the shadow of the menhir was +creeping toward its base, but not yet quite pointing to it. + +But Morfed did not answer the cry, and the great adder, roused by +it, moved restlessly in its coils, darting its long forked tongue +into the hollow of the stone as if it sought somewhat. Then one of +the men who seemed the younger took from under his robe a golden +flask and poured what looked like milk into the hollow, and the +creature lowered its head and lapped it thence. + +At that cry Morfed started and half turned. But I had more to ask +him, and I spoke sternly. Behind me was a rattle of arms, as if +Howel would have stayed him. + +"Morfed," I said, "you have yet to tell me where Owen, the prince, +is hidden. If you would finish what you are about here, tell me +straightway, or bid one of these men shew me, or we will stay all +this wizardry." + +Maybe I spoke more boldly than I felt, for indeed the whole +business and the place made all seem uncanny. I know that my +comrades feared it all. + +But now Morfed heeded my word no longer. Slowly at last he turned +away, and now he must needs look back toward the altar stone and +the menhir in turning, and the sight of them seemed to bring to his +mind what work he had here, so that in a moment I was forgotten, +and he sprang past me toward his attendants, one of whom was +pointing silently, but with a white face, to the shadow of the +menhir. And I saw that now it touched the stone and crept up on its +surface for an inch or less. + +I suppose that tomorrow that shadow would be so much shorter, and +would not lie on the flat top of the stone at all. Then for a +little space the sun would seem to one at the back of the altar to +stand on the menhir's top, while all the stone and the bowl where +the adder lay was in full light, even as men say the sun seems to +stand on the great stone of Stonehenge on Midsummer Day at its +rising. I had seen that wonder once, and this minded me of it. + +But what Morfed saw told him that midday had come and was passing; +and all that meant to him, beyond that the time for some rite had +been forgotten, I cannot tell. There came from his lips a cry that +was of terror and of sorrow as I thought, and the adder lifted its +head from its lapping and coiled itself menacingly. + +He did not heed the creature, but threw abroad his hands sunwards, +and began to speak hurriedly in that tongue which I could not +follow; and as his words went on the faces of his men grew haggard, +and one of them wept openly. The younger threw the golden vessel he +had in his hand into the pool, and turned on me a look of the most +terrible hate, and his hand stole under his robes as if he sought +the knife I had seen him draw when they first came. + +Now Howel and Evan were beside me, wondering, but spear in hand, +and I was glad. There was more than enmity in the look of these +men, and one to three has little chance. Whatever strange fears my +friends had felt passed with the sight of danger. + +But while Morfed spoke his followers were still, listening to him +intently, until at last he seemed to dismiss them; and then they +turned from him with a strange deep reverence, and folded their +hands on their breasts, and came past where we stood, not looking +at us, but with their eyes on the ground as if they were going +back, up the water course whence they came. And at that I thought +they might be going to where Owen was, and that they would harm +him. + +"Quick, Evan," I said; "follow them. See where they go." + +"Ay, follow them," said Morfed. "Now I care not what befalls." + +And with that he raised his voice and called somewhat to the men, +and they quickened their pace into the glen. I did not understand +what they said in return, but somewhat in the words of the ancient +tongue they spoke was more plain to Howel, and he cried to me +hastily, hurrying after Evan. + +"Guard you the priest here, and beware of him!" + +Then he dashed up the water course into which Evan had already +disappeared, and I heard the feet of the four on the loose stone as +they climbed upward. I had almost a mind to follow them, for I +thought that their way led to Owen, but I dared not leave Morfed to +go elsewhere. This might only be a plan to lead us astray. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. HOW OSWALD FOUND WHAT HE SOUGHT, AND RODE HOMEWARD WITH NONA +THE PRINCESS. + + +So I was left with Morfed the priest, and he did not offer to +follow his men, but stood and faced me with eyes that gleamed with +the fire of wrath or madness, or both. We waited, both of us, as I +think, to hear if any sound beyond the lessening footfalls came +from the water course, but they died away upward, and there was +still no word between us. Then I thought that I would try one more +plan with him. + +"Morfed," I said, "take me to Owen, and I will pledge my word that +Gerent shall seek no revenge for what has been done by you." + +"What I have done!" he broke out. "I sought to rid the land of a +foe, and that was a deed worth doing. Know you what you have +done?--Through you is ended the tale of many a thousand years. The +time is past when I, the priest and Archdruid of this poor land, +should have done what has been done, since time untold, without +fail, against tomorrow's rites. That day, therefore, through you +shall be unobserved. It is strange that a mere Saxon warrior, with +no thought beyond his feasting and fighting, should set his will +against mine and prove the stronger. Now I wit well that this is +some fated day, and that herein lies some omen of what shall be." + +Then he turned a little from me, and looked at the shadow which had +passed altogether from the altar stone now, and half to himself he +said: + +"I had thought that this menhir had fallen when this came to pass. +But maybe the old prophecy meant that not until it fell we must +cease our rites. But that was not how we read the words of old +time. If we read them wrong, what else have we mistaken?" + +"Morfed," I broke in on his musings, "end this idle talk, and tell +me of Owen. Then I will go hence and leave you to work what you +will here. I had no wish to disturb your rites, whatsoever they +were. If aught has happened amiss, it was your own fault, not mine. +Your own deed brought me here." + +But he paid not the least heed to me, and yet I thought that he +tried to put me off, as it were, by seeming wrapt in thoughts. + +"Surely it should have fallen on this day that sees the end, even +as runs the ancient prophecy--'When the pool shall whelm the stone, +Druid rite and chant are done.' But it has not fallen, and the end +is not yet. But what shall amend this fault?" + +I had listened for some sound from Howel and Evan, but since the +footsteps passed up the glen I had heard none until this moment. +Then came one cry from far upward, and silence thereafter. Morfed +heard it and looked up, setting at the same time his hand on the +edge of the altar stone. + +The golden sickle flashed as he did so, and at that, swift as the +flash itself, the adder stiffened its coils, and its head flew +back, baring the long fangs, and twice it struck the hand deeply. + +"I am answered," Morfed said quietly. "My life shall amend." + +But he never moved his hand, and the adder swiftly slid from off +the stone and sought some hiding place in the loose rocks at the +cliff foot, and the priest watched it go, motionless. + +"Look you, Saxon," he said, lifting his eyes to me; "now I must +die, and with me ends the line of the Druids of this land of the +olden faith. Yonder in the Cymric land beyond the narrow sea whence +Howel came it shall not be lost. The hills shall keep it, and there +the slow mind of the Saxon shall not slay the old powers as you +have slain them in me. Now I know that nought but the power of the +cross shall avail on such minds as yours, for the lore of the older +days is not for you. See! This is an end, and now you in your +simpleness shall do one last thing for me." + +I saw that the hand which yet rested on the altar was swelling +already, and was waxing fiery red with four black marks where the +fangs struck it. And I had a sort of pity for him, seeing him bear +this, which he deemed his punishment, bravely. Still, he had +answered nothing as to where Owen was. + +"Morfed," I said, therefore--"if it is indeed the last hour for +you, make amends for another ill by telling me where Owen is, and I +will do what you ask me, if it is what I may do honestly and as a +Christian." + +"Grave me a cross on yonder menhir in token that the days of the +Druid are numbered," he said softly, sitting down on the stone with +his head bowed, as if in deadly faintness. + +Two steps took me to the menhir, and I drew my seax that I might do +as he asked me. It was a little thing, and Christian, and I thought +that maybe he had come to himself from the madness of which men +spoke. Yet though it seemed long that Howel was away, and I longed +to follow him, I dared not leave this man, seeing that for all I +knew Owen was somewhere close at hand, and it was not to be known +what this priest might do in his despair. Howel and Evan might be +following the men yet into some hiding place. + +I set the point of my weapon to the stone and went to work, graving +the upright stem of the cross first, thinking that Morfed would +speak when he saw that I was indeed doing as he asked me. The stone +was softer than I expected, and surely was not of the granite of +the cliffs around, but had been brought from far, else I could not +have marked it at all. Yet I had to lean heavily on my seax as I +cut, and it was no light task, as I stood sidewise that I might not +lose sight of Morfed. + +"I die," he said presently. "There will be none left who may bring +back the ancient secrets hither from the land of the Cymro. See, +this is an end." + +He rose up, staggering a little, and cast the golden sickle from +him into the pool with a light eddying splash, as if it skimmed the +surface ere it sank, but I did not look at it, and that was well +for me. I saw his hand fly to his breast, as the hands of his men +had gone for their weapons when they first saw us, and I knew what +was coming. + +Hardly had the golden toy touched the water when out flashed a long +dagger from his robes, and he flew on me, thinking, no doubt, that +I must needs turn my head to watch the fall of his sickle, and I +was ready for him. He was no warrior, and his hand was too high, +but he was a priest, and on him I would not use my weapon. I swung +aside from him, striking up his arm, and his blind rush carried him +against the menhir, so that the blow which was meant for me fell +thereon, scoring the stone deeply; and lo! his own hand ended with +that blow what I had begun, marking the cross-beam I had yet to +make, so that the holy sign was complete. + +And I saw that in a flash, even as he reeled back from the menhir +and staggered. His foot splashed into the ooze of the bank and went +down; and with that he lost his footing altogether and fell +headlong into the pool, swaying as he went, across the front of the +menhir. + +Now there was a shout and the sound of hurrying footsteps behind +me, but it was Howel's voice, and I did not turn. I leaned on the +menhir to try to catch the white robes that swirled below me, and +then I felt a heave and quaking in the turf on which I knelt as I +reached over the black water, and Howel cried out and dragged me +back roughly for a long fathom. + +The menhir was falling. Slowly at first, and then more swiftly, it +bent forward over the pool, and then it gathered way suddenly, and +with a mighty crash it fell with all its towering height across +it--and across the last flash of the white robes of the man who yet +struggled therein. + +For a moment the cross looked skyward, and then the wave swept over +the stone, and it was gone into the unknown depths that maybe held +so many secrets of the strange rites of those who had reared it. +Only where its foot had been planted was a pit to shew that +somewhat had been there, and that was slowly filling with the black +bog which had undermined the stone at last. The old prophecy had +come to pass, and there was indeed an end. + +But I saw for a moment into that pit before it was filled, and in +it was laid open as it were a great stone chest, where the base of +the menhir had been to cover it, and in that were skulls and bones +of men, and among them the dull gleam of ancient gold and flint. + +The wild tumult of the water died away, and the ripples came, and +then the pool was glassy as before, but there was no sign of +movement in it, and now it was clear no longer. And still Howel and +I stared silently at that place whence the great stone had passed +like a dream. + +"Nona saw it troubled," Howel said at last. + +But I answered what was in my mind, with a sort of despair: + +"He never told me where Owen lies." + +"But I think we have found him, or nearly," Howel answered. "Come +with me. This is no place for us to bide in. Did you hear those +voices?" + +I had heard the echoes from the rocks after the great crash, and +they were strange and wild enough, but I heard nothing more. + +"I heard one shout some time since," I said, rising up from where I +still sat as Howel had left me. + +"Nay, but the wailing when the stone fell," he said. "Wailing from +all around. Wailing as of the lost. Come hence, Oswald." + +I do not know if the man of the more ancient race heard more than +I, mingled with those wild echoes, but I know that Howel the prince +feared little. Now he was afraid, even in the bright sunlight, and +owned it. + +But the first shock had passed from me, and I looked for our +horses. They had gone. I think that the fall of the menhir scared +them, for they were yet tied where Evan left them, just before +that. + +"Howel, the horses have broken loose and gone," I cried. + +"Let them be," he said; "they will but go to the men down the +valley, and will be caught there. Come, we must get hence." + +He fairly dragged me with him towards the glen, and it was not +until we were out of the circle of cliffs round the pool and +picking our way among the boulders of the water course, that he +spoke again. + +"That is better," he said,--"one can breathe here. I do not care if +I never set eyes on that place again, and indeed I hope we need +not. Now we have to find Owen as quickly as we may." + +"What of the two men?" + +"One turned on us, and we slew him perforce. The other Evan has +tied up safely, though it took us all our time to catch him. I left +Evan trying to make him speak." + +I wondered in what way he was trying, but the path grew steeper and +steeper, and the plash of water falling among the stones made it +hard to hear. We went on and on, ever upward, until the walls of +the narrow glen widened, and at last we were on a barren hillside, +across which the little stream found its way in a belt of green +grass and fern and bog from farther heights yet, and there I looked +for Evan. The path reappeared here again, and it went slanting +across the hill and over its shoulder, hardly more than a sheep +track as it was. And here lay the body of the slain man. + +"Over the hill crest," Howel said, noting my look around. "The man +ran across this track. Did you hear what Morfed said to them?" + +"No, I heard him call, of course, but his tongue is unknown to me." + +"It was the ancient British, I think. I heard a word or two here +and there, but few of those we use yet. I heard more that are +written in our oldest writings, and few enough of them. But what he +said to his men was plain enough, happily. He bade them kill the +captive to amend the wrong done. I do not know what the wrong was." + +I knew then that Owen had had a narrow escape, and but for the +fleetness of foot of Evan he would surely have been slain. I told +Howel of what had passed while he was absent, and so we came to the +hilltop, and I saw a little below me the white robes of the +captive, and Evan sitting by him, resting on his spear. He rose up +as we came to him. + +"Has he spoken, Evan?" I said. + +"Ay, Master," he answered, with a grin that minded me of other days +with him. "He says he will take us to the place where Owen lies, if +we will promise to spare his life." + +"We will promise that," I answered. "We will let him go his own way +after we have seen all that we need." + +"Let me rise, then," the man said quietly. "I will shew you all." + +"Do not untie his hands, Evan, but let him walk," I said. "He is +not to be trusted, if he is like his master." + +It was the elder of the two whom we had before us, and he seemed +downcast and harmless enough as we let him rise, though he was +unhurt. He had run on while the younger turned to stay the +pursuers, but Evan had caught him. He led us along the path, which +I suppose his own feet and those of Morfed had worn, unless it was +old as the menhir itself, and on the way he said suddenly: + +"Let me ask one thing of you. Has the menhir fallen?" + +"Ay, with the cross graven on it," I answered; and my words checked +a laugh that was on Evan's lips. + +"I knew it. I heard the crash," the man said. "That is an end +therefore." + +But Howel told the whole story as he had seen it take place, from +the time when Morfed flew at me, to the time when the waters were +still again; and as he heard, the man clenched his hands and bowed +his head and went on quickly, as if that would prevent his hearing. +After that he said nothing. + +Then the path took us round the shoulder of a hill, and before us +was a rocky platform on the sunward slope which went steeply down +to another brook far below us. Far and wide from that platform one +could see over the heads of three streams, and across three hill +peaks that were right before us, and at the back of the level place +was a great cromlech made of one vast flat stone reared on three +others that were set in a triangle to uphold it. Seven good feet +from the ground its top was, and each of the three supporting +stones was some twelve feet long, so that it was like a house for +space within, and the two foremost stones were apart as a doorway. +And again beyond the cromlech was a hut, shaped like a beehive of +straw, built of many stones most wonderfully, both walls and roof. +There were things about this hut that seemed to tell that it was in +use, and even as our footsteps rang on the rocky platform, out of +its low doorway crept an ancient woman and stared at us wildly. + +"What is this?" she screamed. "How should these unhallowed ones +come hither?" + +"Silence, mother," our captive said. "All is done, and these men +come to take away the prince." + +Then she saw that he was bound with Evan's belt, and at that she +screamed again, and a wild look came into her face, and with a +bound that was wonderful in one so old and bent she fled to the +cromlech, and climbed up the rearward stone in some way, perching +herself on the flat top, whence she glared at us. + +"We will not harm you, mother," I said, seeing her terror. + +And even as I spoke, from within the stone walls of the cromlech +came the voice that I longed to hear again, weak, indeed, but yet +that of Owen: + +"Oswald, Oswald!" + +Then I paid no more heed to the hag, but ran into the dark place, +and there indeed was my foster father, swathed in bandages, and +lying white and helpless on a rough couch, but yet with a bright +smile and greeting for me, and I went on my knees at his side and +answered him. + +I will not say more of that meeting. Outside the old woman cursed +and reviled Howel and Evan and the captive in turns unceasingly; +but I heeded her no more than one heeds a starling chattering on +the roof in the early morning. I had all that I sought, and aught +else was as nothing to me. + +After a little while Howel's face came into the doorway, and Owen +called him in. I saw the look of the prince change as he marked the +many swathings that told of Owen's sore hurts. + +"Nay, but trouble not," Owen said, seeing this. "I am cut about a +bit, for certain, but not so badly that I may not be about again +soon. The old lady overhead has a shrewd tongue, but she is a +marvellous good leech. I have not fared so badly here, and I knew +Oswald would not rest until he found me." + +"Now we must take you hence," I said. "Our men wait, and we can no +doubt get them here." + +He smiled, being tired with the joy of seeing us and the speaking, +and I went out to Evan. The old woman still sat on the cromlech, +and when she saw me her voice rose afresh with more hard words, +which I would not notice. + +"Evan," I said, "how shall we take the prince hence?" + +"The litter they brought him on stands behind the hut yonder," he +answered; "for this man tells me so. Also he says that we are not +half a mile from our men, and that we can see one from just above +here." + +So I sent him to bring them, telling him how the horses were gone, +so that we had no need to go back into the valley. To tell the +truth, I was as much relieved in my mind that we need not do so as +it was plain that he was. Then when he was gone I went back to +Owen, and he asked me if we had seen Morfed. I did not tell him +more than that we had done so, but that he was not here, one of his +two men having guided us, for the tale we must tell him by and by +might be better untold as yet. + +"It does not matter," he said. "I cannot understand the man. At one +time I think that he was at the bottom of all the trouble, and at +another that he rescued me from the men who fell on the house. I +have seen little of him here until yesterday and today. There is a +man whom he calls 'the Bard,' who has tended me well enough with +the old dame, and another whom he names 'the Ovate,' whom I have +seen now and then--a younger man. I have set eyes on none but these +four since the men of the burning left me to them in the hills." + +We asked him how all that went, and he told us what he could +remember. He had waked from some sort of a swoon while he was being +carried, in the midst of many men, and again had come to himself +when his litter had been set down. At that time there was seemingly +a quarrel between Morfed and his two followers and these men, and +it ended by the many departing and leaving him to the priest. That +was, as I knew, when the hillmen would not come into the lost +valley. + +"They set my sword beside me," he said. "Presently in the dark I +saw the gleam of a pool, and I made shift to throw it into the +water, so that no outlaw or Morgan's man should boast that he wore +it. Ina gave it me. One of the men saw me throw it, and was for +staying, but the other said he had heard the splash and that it was +gone. Morfed was not near at the time, having gone on. I heard him +singing somewhere beyond the water." + +"I have found it, father," I said. "It was on the edge of the pool, +in long grass, and it helped us somewhat, for we knew you were +near. Now say if it is well to move you yet. We can bide here with +the men if not." + +He laughed a little. + +"I think so, but that is a question for the leech. Ask the dame. +Maybe she will answer if you speak her fair." + +Howel went to do that, saying that maybe she would listen to a +Briton, for most of her wrath was concerning my Saxon arms. So +presently I heard her shrill voice growing calmer as Howel coaxed +her, and then there was a sound as if she climbed from her perch, +and Howel came back to us. + +"We may take you, she says. Hither come the men in all haste also, +and we may get away from this place at once. These hills are +uncanny on Midsummer Eve, and I am glad that we have long daylight +before us." + +Then said Owen: + +"Oswald, I have not withal, but I would fain reward the bard and +the old woman for their care of me. I think that even at +Glastonbury there are none who would have healed these hurts of +mine more easily than she." + +I had my own thoughts about the bard, but I said that I would see +to this, and went to him. The men were close at hand, and I saw +that they led our horses with them. + +"Bard," I said, "Owen the prince speaks well of you. Is it true +that you would have slain him had you not been stayed on your way?" + +"I do not know, Lord," he answered. "When I was with Morfed, needs +must I do his bidding, even against my will. Yet, away from him, I +think that I should not have harmed the prince. I am a Christian +man, for all that you have seen." + +"There was somewhat strangely heathenish in what I did see," I +said. "But I suppose that is all done with?" + +"I might go across the sea to the British lands in the north or in +the south and learn to attain to druidship," he said. "But I will +not. What I know shall die with me. He who was the next to me +above, even Morfed, is gone, and he who was next below is gone +also. Druid and Ovate both. I am the only one of the old line left, +and I will be the last. Call me Bard no longer, I pray you." + +"Well," I said, for there was that in the face of the man which +told me that he was in earnest, "I will believe you, and the more +that Owen trusts you." + +I let loose his hands then, and he stretched his cramped arms and +thanked me. I minded well what that feeling was like. + +"What would Morfed have done with the prince?" I asked. + +"I do not know. I have heard him plan many things. I think that if +he had won him to his thoughts concerning the men of Canterbury he +would have taken him home. If not, I only know this, that he would +never have been seen in this land again. There was a thought of +carrying him even across the sea to the Britons in the south--in +Gaul. But of all things Morfed hoped that he would die here." + +So I supposed, but I said no more, for Evan and the men reined up +close to us. There was joy enough among them all as Owen was slowly +and carefully laid on the rough litter. And we left those two +staring after us, silent. But I suppose that the terror of that +strange place will still lie on all the countryside, and I hold +that since the day when the wizards of old time reared the menhir +on that which it covered, with cruel rites and terrible words that +have bided in the minds of men as a terror will bide, no man but +such as Morfed has dared to pry into that valley lest the ancient +curse should fall on them--the curse of the Druid who would hide +his secrets. It may be, therefore, that it will not be known by the +folk that the menhir has fallen, even yet, for we who did know it +told them nought thereof. + +As for that falling, it is the saying of Howel that it was wrought +by the might of the holy sign, and maybe he is not so far wrong in +a way. For if the slow creeping of the bog had at last undermined +the base of the tall stone so that it needed but little to disturb +its balance, no wind could reach it in that cliff-walled place even +in the wildest gale, and it is likely that no hand but mine had +touched it for long ages. I began, and the rush and blow of Morfed +ended, the work of overthrow, with the sign of might complete. And +Evan holds that but for the graving thereof he at least were by +this time a dead man. + +It was late evening when we came to the village, with no harm to +Owen at all beyond tiredness, which a good sleep would amend; and +after that there is little that I need tell of Howel's going to +Exeter with the good news, and of his bringing back to us a litter +more fitted for the carrying of the hurt prince, and then the +welcome that was for us from Gerent. + +When we were back with him, Owen passed into the loving hands of +Nona the princess, and I do not think that he had any cause to +regret his older leech of the beehive hut, skilful as she was, for +we who loved him saw him gain strength daily. + +Now I found means to send a letter to Ina, by the tin traders who +were on the way to London, telling him that all was well, and +begging him to suffer me to bide with my foster father for a time +yet, as I knew indeed that I might, for my new place in the +household had few duties save at times of ceremony, and in war, +when I must lead the men of the household as the bearer of the +king's own banner. And as the days went on it grew plain to me that +there was somewhat amiss about the court here. + +There was no dislike of myself, as I may truly say, among the men +of West Wales whom I met with, but there was a coldness now and +then which I could not altogether fathom, and that specially among +the priests. It seemed that while Gerent had forgotten that I was +aught but the son of Owen, who had brought him back, no one else +forgot that I was a Saxon, and that there was more in the +remembrance than should be in these times of peace. I could not +think that this was due to my share in the death of Morgan either, +for it was plain that not one of his friends was about the court. + +At last I spoke of this to Howel, and found that he also had seen +somewhat of the kind. + +"I know it," he said. "If I am not very much mistaken, and I ought +to know the signs of coming trouble by this time, there is somewhat +brewing in the way of fresh enmity with your folk. It comes from +the priests." + +"There are more of the way of thinking of Morfed, therefore," I +answered. + +"And if that is so there may be more danger for Owen. It is well +known that he is for peace, and that Gerent will listen to him in +all things." + +We talked of that for some time, not being at all easy yet +concerning the matter, after seeing how far some were willing to go +toward removing one who was in their way. I could not stay here +long, nor could Howel, and it was certain that Gerent could not +well guard Owen up to this time. + +And at last Howel spoke the best counsel yet, after many plans +turned over between us. + +"We will even take him to Dyfed, and nurse him to strength in +Pembroke. Then if aught is in the wind it will break out at once, +lest he should return and spoil all. Gerent will either have to bow +to the storm and fight, or else he will get the upper hand and +quiet things again. If he can do that last, at least till Owen is +back, all will be well. Owen will take things in hand then, and +will be master." + +That was indeed a way out of the trouble, and therein Nona helped +us with Owen, so that at last he consented. I will say that he knew +little or nothing of possible trouble here, and we told him +nothing, for, in the first place, we had no certainty thereof, and +in the next, he was not strong enough to do anything against it if +we had. + +When we came to ask Gerent if Howel might take him to Dyfed, we +found no difficulty at all, which surprised me not a little. I +think that the king knew that it was well for him to be across the +channel in all quiet. + +So it came to pass that in a few days all was ready for our going +to Watchet to find Thorgils or some other shipmaster who would take +us over. We could wait at Norton until the time of sailing came, if +we might not cross at once, and thence I should go back to Ina. + +One may guess without any telling of mine what the parting with +Owen was for Gerent. As for myself, I was somewhat sorry to bid the +old king farewell, for I liked him, and he was ever most kind to +me. But I was not sorry to leave his court, by any means, for those +reasons of which I have spoken, and of them most of all for fear of +more plotting against Owen. + +Now I will say that the ride to Watchet, slow and careful for his +sake who must yet travel in the litter, and in fair summer weather, +is one that I love to look back on. As may be supposed, by this +time I and the princess were very good friends, and it is likely +that I rode beside her for most of the way. We had many things to +talk of. + +One thing I have not set down yet is, that it had been easy, after +what he had done for us, to win full pardon for Evan from Gerent. +Now he rode with me, well armed and stalwart, as my servant, and +one could hardly want a more likely looking one. And Nona had some +good words and friendly to say to him, which made him hold his head +higher yet after a time. + +Presently, since I was on my way back to Glastonbury and onwards, +we must needs speak of Elfrida, and I told her how I had fared when +I came back from Dyfed. She laughed at me, and I laughed at myself +also; for now I knew at last that the old fancy had in all truth +passed from my mind. + +So we came to Norton, and then sought Thorgils, and after that it +was a week before he was ready. I mind the wonder on the face of +the Norseman when he saw Evan at my heels on the day when his ship +came home and I met him on the wharf; but he was glad to see him +there. + +"Faith," he said, "it has been a trouble to me that a man whom I +was wont to trust had turned out so ill. It shook my own belief in +my better judgment. I did think I knew a man when I saw him, until +then. So I was not far wrong after all. Now I will make a new song +of his deeds, and I do not think it will be a bad one." + +Then it came to pass that one day, when the wind blew fair for +Tenby, I saw the ship draw away from me as her broad sail filled, +while on the deck was Owen in a great chair, and from his side Nona +waved to me, and Howel shouted that I must come over ere long and +fetch Owen home. Thorgils was steering, and he lifted his arm and +cried his parting words, and so I turned away, feeling lonely as a +man may feel for a little while. And presently I looked again +toward the ship, and I think that the last I saw of her was the +flutter of Nona's kerchief in the soft wind, and I vowed that +nought should hinder me from Dyfed when the time came. + +Thereafter I rode to Glastonbury, and told Herewald what I thought +of the trouble that was surely brewing in the west; and he said +that he also had some reason to think that along his borders men +were getting more unruly, as if none tried to hinder them from +giving cause of offence to us. + +"Well, if they will but keep quiet until this wedding is over it +will be a comfort," he said. "I should be more at ease if once +Elfrida was safely in Sussex." + +Then I learned that the wedding was to be in a month's time or so, +and already there were preparations in hand for it. With all my +heart I hoped also that nought might mar it. + +Then I passed on to the king at Winchester, and glad was he to hear +that we had indeed found Owen. But as he listened to what I thought +was coming on us from the west, he said: + +"It is even what Owen and I foresaw with the death of Aldhelm. This +is a matter that not even Owen could have prevented, for it comes +of the jealousy of the priests. We will go to Glastonbury and +watch, and maybe we shall be in time for the wedding. But I will +not be the one to break the peace. If war there must be, it must +come from Gerent." + +And so he mused for a while, and then said: + +"Well, so it will be. And not before West Wales has tried her +failing force for the last time will there be a lasting peace." + + + +CHAPTER XV. HOW ERPWALD SAW HIS FIRST FIGHT ON HIS WEDDING DAY. + + +So we went to Glastonbury in a little time, and now it was as if +Yuletide had come again in high summer, so full was the little town +with guests who came to the wedding. Erpwald had come soon after +us, with a train of Sussex thanes, who were his neighbours and +would see him through the business, and take him and his bride home +again. Well loved were the ealdorman and his fair daughter, and +this was the first wedding in the new church, of which all the land +was proud. + +Only Ina was somewhat uneasy, though he would not shew it. For on +all the Wessex border from Severn Sea to the Channel there was +unrest. It seemed that the hand of Gerent had altogether slackened +on his people, so that they did what they listed, and it was even +worse than it had been in the days of Morgan and his brother, for +at least they were answerable for what the men of Dyvnaint wrought +of harm. There was none to take their place here, while the old +king bided in Exeter or in Cornwall, and never came to Norton at +all now. So there was pillage and raiding across the Parrett, and +at last Ina had sent messages to Gerent concerning it. + +A fortnight ago that was, and now the messengers had returned, +bearing word from Gerent that he himself would come and speak to +Ina of Wessex and answer him, and it was doubtful what that answer +meant. There might well be a menace of war therein, or it might +mean that he was only coming to Norton. It would not be the first +time that the two kings had met there and spoken with one another +in all friendliness concerning matters which might have been of +much trouble. And we heard at least of no gathering of forces by +the Welsh. + +Yet Ina warned all the sheriffs of the Wessex borderland, and could +do no more. The levies would come up at once when the first summons +came. + +All of which the ealdorman spoke to me of, but neither Erpwald nor +Elfrida knew that war was in the air. We did not tell them. Thus we +hoped to keep all knowledge that aught was unrestful from them in +their happiness, until at least they two were beyond the sound of +war, if it needs must come. + +But it came to pass on the day before the wedding that all men knew +thereof in stern truth, and that was a hard time for many. + +Erpwald and I sat on the bench before the ealdorman's house in the +late sunshine of the long July evening, talking of the morrow, and +of Eastdean, and aught else that came uppermost, so that it was +pleasant to think of, and before us we could see the long road that +goes up the slope of Polden hills and so westward toward the Devon +border. Along it came a wain or two laden high with the first rye +that was harvested that year, and a herd or two of lazy kine +finding their way to the byres for the evening milking. And then +beyond the wains rose a dust, and I saw the waggoners draw aside, +and the dust passed them, and the kine scattered wildly as it +neared them; and so down the peaceful road spurred a little company +of men who shouted as they came, never drawing rein or sparing spur +for all that the farm horses reared and plunged and the kine fled +terror stricken. + +I think that I knew what it meant at once, but Erpwald laughed and +said: "More of our guests, belike. One rides fast to a bridal, but +they are over careless." + +But I did not answer, for the hot pace of those who came never +slackened, and spurring and with loose rein they swept across the +bridge over the stream and so thundered toward us. + +"Here is a hurry beyond a jest," said Erpwald, sitting up; +"somewhat is amiss, surely." + +Never rode men in that wise but for life. In a minute they were +close, and one of them spied me and called to me, waving his arm +toward the palace and reeling in his saddle as he did so. His arm +was bandaged, and I saw that the spear his comrade next him bore +was reddened, and that the other two had leapt on their horses with +nought but the halter to guide them withal, as if in direst need +for haste. Not much longer could their horses last as it seemed. + +I sprang up and followed to the king's courtyard, leaving Erpwald +wondering, and a footpath brought me there almost as they drew rein +inside the gates. One of the horses staggered and fell as soon as +he stayed, and his rider was in little better plight. That one who +had beckoned to me knew me, and spoke at once, breathless: + +"Let us to the king, Thane. The Welsh--the Welsh!" + +"An outlaw raid again?" I asked. + +"Would I come hither in this wise for that?" the man answered. + +He was a sturdy franklin from the Quantock side of the river--one +whose father had been set there by Kenwalch. + +"I can deal, and have dealt, with the like of them, but this is +war. They are on us in their thousands, and I have even been burnt +out for being a Saxon, by a raiding party." + +"Whence?" + +"From Norton," answered another of the men. "Gerent, their king, is +there with a host beyond counting. One fled from across the hills +and told us, and we believed him not till the raiders came." + +With that I took the men straightway to the king, bidding the +house-carles hold their peace awhile. And even as we talked with +this party, another man rode in from the Tone fenlands, and he had +seen the march of the West Welsh men, and knew that Gerent's force +was halted at Norton. A swift and sudden gathering, and a swift +march that was worthy of a good leader, else had we heard thereof +before this. + +After that man came another, and yet another, till all the +courtyard was full of reeking horses and white-faced men, and the +ealdorman was sent for and Nunna; and in an hour or less the war +arrow was out, and the news was flying north and south and east, +with word that all Somerset was to be here on the morrow to hold +the land their forebears had won from those who came. + +Presently with the quiet of knowing all done that might be done on +us, the ealdorman and I went down to his house. + +"Here is an end of tomorrow's wedding," he said sadly. "I do not +know how Elfrida will take it, for it is not to be supposed that +Erpwald will hold back from the levy, though, indeed, if ever man +had excuse, he has it in full." + +I knew that he would not, also, and said nothing. He was yet +sitting on the settle where I had left him waiting for me, with the +level sun in his face as it sank across the Poldens, and he looked +content with all things. + +"What a coil and a clatter has been past me, surely," he said. "I +doubt there must be a raid over the border, from what I hear the +men shouting." + +"More than that, friend," I said gravely, looking straight at him. +"The Welsh are on us in all earnest, and tomorrow we must meet them +somewhere yonder, where the sun is setting." + +He looked at me, and his face flushed redder and redder. + +"What, fighting in the air?" he said, with a sort of new interest. + +"War,--nothing more or less," answered Herewald with a groan. + +"I am in luck for once," he said, leaping up. "Let me go with you, +Oswald; for this is what I have never seen." + +"Hold hard, son-in-law," cried the ealdorman. "What of the +wedding?" + +His face fell, and he stared at us blankly, but his cheek paled. + +"Forgive me," he said. "I never can manage to keep more than one +thing in my head at a time. Here was I thinking of nought but that, +until this news came and drove out all else. Don't tell Elfrida +that I forgot it." + +"Trouble enough for her without that," answered Herewald. "You +cannot hold back, maybe, though indeed, not one will think the +worse of you if you do so. We must tell Elfrida what has befallen, +however, and she must speak her mind on your doings. Come, let us +find her." + +"Do you speak first, Ealdorman," I said, and he nodded and went his +way. + +Erpwald and I followed him into the hall, and there stayed. He was +long gone thence to the bower where Elfrida sat with her maidens +preparing for the morrow. + +"What will she say?" asked Erpwald presently. + +"I think that she will bid you fight for the king, though it will +be hard for her to do so." + +"I hope she will, though, indeed, I should like to think that it +will not be easy for her to send me away," said the lover, torn in +two ways. "How long will it take to settle with these Welsh?" + +"I cannot tell," I said, shaking my head. + +For, indeed, though I would not say it, a Welsh war is apt to be a +long affair if once they get among the hills. + +"If we have the victory, I think that the wedding will not be put +off for so very long," I added to comfort him. + +He walked back and forth across the hall until Herewald came back, +and then started toward him. + +"Go yonder and speak with her," the ealdorman said, pointing to the +door whence he came. + +Then he went hastily, and we two looked at one another. + +"How is it with her?" I said. + +"In the way of the girl who helped you slay Morgan," he said +grimly. "She would hold him nidring if he had not wished to go." + +We went to the door and looked out. All the road was dotted with +men from the nearer villages who came to the gathering, and as they +marched, each after the reeve of the place, they sang. And past the +hindmost of them came a single horseman hurrying. Another messenger +with the same news, doubtless. + +Then there were footsteps across the hall behind us, and Elfrida +and Erpwald came to us. I stole one glance at her, and saw that she +hid her sorrow and pain well, though it was not without an effort. +She spoke fast, and seemingly in cheerful wise, as we turned to +her. + +"Father, here is this Erpwald, who will go to the war, and I cannot +hold him back. What can you say to him?" + +"Nought, surely. For if he will not listen to you, it is certain +that he will hearken to none else." + +She laughed a little strained laugh, and turned to Erpwald. + +"You must have your own way, as I can see plainly enough; and our +wedding must needs wait your pleasure. Even my father will not help +to keep you here." + +"But, Elfrida--it was your own saying--" the poor lover went no +further, for he was beyond his depth altogether. + +It would seem that this was not the way in which she had spoken to +him when they were alone. So I went to help him. + +"We will take care of him, Elfrida," I said, trying to laugh; "but +I think that he is able to do that for himself fairly well." + +Then I was sorry that I had spoken, for it was a foolish speech, +seeing that it brought the thought of danger more closely to her +than was need, or maybe than she had let it come to her yet. She +turned into the half-darkness of the hall again, and after her went +Erpwald. The ealdorman and I went to the courtyard and left them, +feeling that we need say no more. + +Then through the dusk that horseman whom we had noted clattered up, +and called in a great voice to us, asking if we knew where he +should find Oswald the marshal, and I answered him and went out +into the road to him. And there sat Thorgils, fully armed, on a +great horse that was white with foam, but had been carefully +ridden. + +"Ho, comrade! have you heard the news?" he said, gripping my hand. + +"Twenty times in half an hour," I answered. "But is there somewhat +fresh?" + +"Have any of your twenty told you that these knaves of Welsh have +broken peace with us, tried to burn Watchet town--and had their +heads broken?" + +"News indeed, that," said I. "What more?" + +"If you Saxons will stand by us, your kin, it may be worth your +while. Here have I ridden to tell you so." + +Then I hurried him to the king, for this was a matter worth +hearing. Watchet was on Gerent's left flank, and a force there was +a gain to us indeed, if only by staying the force at Norton for a +day longer. We should have so much the more time in which to gather +the levies. + +But, seeing that they were not yet gathered, it did not at first +seem possible to Ina that we could help to save the little town, +whose few men had beaten off today's attack, but would be surely +overwhelmed by numbers on the morrow if Gerent chose. But Thorgils +had not come hither without a plan in his head, and he set it +before the king plainly. + +"Norton is on the southern end of the Quantocks, and Watchet is at +the northern end, as you know, King Ina. Between the two on the +hills is the great camp which any force can hold, but nought but a +great one can storm. If you will give me two hundred men, I will +have that camp by morning, and that will save Watchet, and maybe +hold back Gerent in such wise that he will not care to pass it +without retaking it. He will not know how few of us will be there, +and you will be able to choose your own ground for the fighting +while he bethinks him. There is but one road into Wessex across the +Quantocks, and we shall seem to menace that while we cover the way +to Watchet." + +"So the camp is held?" asked Ina. "Gerent is before me there." + +"Held by the men we beat off from Watchet, King. One we took tells +us that they had no business to fall on our town, but turned aside +to do it. Gerent has little hold on some of his chiefs. Now they +are there with a fear of us and our axes on them, and if we may +fall on them unawares we can take the camp without trouble, as I +think." + +"Oswald," said Ina, after a little thought, "how many horsemen can +you raise now?" + +The town was full of horses by this time, and I thought that it +would not be hard to raise a hundred, and that in half an hour. +Maybe if we did go with Thorgils we should meet many more men on +the way to the levy also. + +"Then you shall go with Thorgils," the king said. "It is a risk, +certainly, but it is worth it. We had held that camp, had we had +but a day's earlier warning, and that loss may be made good thus. +That outlaw of yours will know many a safe place of retreat for you +if need is. Good luck be with you." + +He shook hands with us both, and we did not delay. His only bidding +was that we should hold the camp until we had word from him, if we +took it, and he was to learn thereof by signal. + +So it came to pass that in an hour and a half Thorgils and I and +Erpwald, who would by no means let me go without him, and three of +his Sussex friends, rode across the causeway to the Polden hills in +the dusk, with a matter of six score men behind us, well armed and +mounted all--for these borderers have need to keep horse and arms +of the best, and those ever ready. + +From the ealdorman's door Elfrida watched us go very bravely, and +the glimmer of her white dress was the lodestar that kept the eyes +of her lover turned backward while it might be seen. It vanished +suddenly, and he heaved a deep sigh, and I knew that she had been +fain to watch no longer lest her tears should be seen. + +As we went along the Polden ridge we met flying men, and men who +came to the levy, and by twos and threes we added to our little +force, until we had a full hundred more than when we started. + +Thorgils took us to a tidal ford that crosses the Parrett River far +below any bridge, which he thought would not yet be watched by the +Welsh. There is a steep hill fort that covers this ford, but on it +were no fires as of an outpost yet. Then we were a matter of eight +miles from the great camp on the highest ridge of the Quantocks +which we had to take, and we had ridden five-and-twenty miles. I +was glad that we had to wait an hour or more for the fall of the +tide before we could cross, for we rode fast thus far. + +So we dismounted and watched the slow fall of the water, and we +planned what we would do presently; until at last we splashed +through the muddy ford, and rode on through dense forest land until +the great camp rose above us, a full thousand feet skyward, and we +saw the glow of the watch fires of those who held it. It seemed +almost impossible to scale this hill as we looked on its slope in +the darkness, but we reached its foot where the hill is steepest, +and held on northward yet, until we came to where there is a long +steady rise up to the very gate of the earthworks. + +Now there should have been an outpost halfway along this slope +toward the camp, for whatever tribe of the Britons made the +stronghold had not forgotten to raise a little fort for one. But we +were in luck, for this outpost was not held, and we rode past it, +and knew that there was every chance now of our fairly surprising +the camp. The first grey of dawn was coming when I passed the word +to the men to close up, and told them what we were to do. + +"We charge through the earthworks, for there is no barrier across +the gate, and spread out across the camp with all the noise we can. +Follow a flight for no long distance beyond the earthworks, but +scatter the Welsh." + +So we rode on steadily until we were but a bow shot from the +trench, and yet no alarm was raised, for the foe watched hardly at +all, deeming that no Saxon force would think of crossing where we +crossed the river, or of coming on them from the north at all. + +Then Thorgils and I and Erpwald rode forward, and I gave the word +to charge, and up the long smooth slope we went at the gallop, with +a heavy thunder of hoofs on the firm turf of the ancient track. And +that thunder was the first sign that the Welsh knew of our coming. + +I saw one come to the gateway and look, and then with a wild howl +throw himself into the outer ditch for safety, and the camp roared +with the alarm, and the dim white figures flocked to the rampart, +and through a storm of ill-aimed arrows we rode through the +unguarded gate and were on them. + +"Ahoy!--Out, out!--Holy Cross!" + +The war shouts of Norseman and South Saxon and Wessex men were in +startling medley together here, and that terrified the Welsh yet +more. It must have seemed to them that the Norsemen had called +unheard of allies to their help. There was no order or rallying +power among them. + +We three were first through the gateway, and then we were riding +across the camp with levelled spears, over men and through the +fires, and a panic fell on the foe, so that without waiting to see +what our numbers were, in headlong terror they fled from the charge +over the ramparts and into the forests in the valleys on either +side beyond whence we came. I had no fear of their rallying thence +to any effect, for it would take them all their time to find their +leaders in the combes and the thick undergrowth that clothed their +sides. Once out of the camp, too, they could not see into it to +tell how few we were. + +I suppose that there were some five hundred Welsh in the place. I +do not think that we harmed many of them in the hurry and the dark, +but we scared them terribly. Here and there one rolled under the +horses' hoofs, and we paid no heed to such as fell thus, and they +rose again and fled the faster. All but one, that is, so far as I +was concerned. I charged a man, and my spear missed him as he leapt +aside, and he struck at my horse as I passed him, and the next +moment I was rolling on the ground with the good steed, and the man +behind me had to leap over us as we lay. That was one of the Sussex +thanes, and he was no mean horseman or unready, luckily. Then he +chased my enemy out of the camp, and came back to see if I were +hurt. But I was not, and I bade him go on with the rest. We were +almost across the camp at this time. + +"Take my horse rather," he said. "See, there is a bit of a stand +being made yonder." + +There were yet some valiant and cooler-headed Welshmen whom the +panic had not carried away, and they were getting together to our +right. The camp was full three hundred paces across, and as we +spread over it our line had gaps here and there, so that some at +least had seen what our numbers were. They had passed into the camp +again over the earthworks, or had been passed by in the place by +us, and they were gathering round one who wore the crested helm and +gilded arms of a chief, and he was raving at the cowards who had +left him. Even now he had not more than a score of men with him. + +Our men were chasing the flying foe across the open hilltop now, +outside the camp, and there were but few left within its enclosure, +though I saw the dim forms of some who were turning back without +going beyond the rampart, and one of these was Erpwald. He also saw +the group of Welshmen, and called the other horsemen to him, and +even as the chief saw us two standing alone together, and led his +few toward us, the shout of the four or five who charged with my +friend stayed them, and they closed up to meet the new attack. + +Then the Sussex thane, whose name was Algar, saw this, and again +urged me to take his horse, saying that it was not fitting for the +leader to be dismounted while work was yet in hand; but I saw a +thing that bade me forget him, and set me running at full speed +toward the Welshmen. Erpwald had ridden well ahead of his comrades, +and as his spear crossed those of the foe one of them stepped +forward before his chief and made a sweeping blow at the legs of +the horse with a long pole-axe. Down the horse came, and Erpwald +flew over its head into the midst of the enemy, overthrowing one or +two of them as if he had been a stone from a sling. + +In a moment they closed over him, but I was there before they could +get clear of one another to slay him. I cut my way through the +turmoil before they knew I was on them, and stood over him sword in +hand, while the Welsh shrank back for a space with the suddenness +of my coming. There was Algar also hewing at them and trying to +reach my side, having dismounted, and those who followed Erpwald +were on them with their long spears. It was more as a shouting than +a fight for a moment or two, but Erpwald never moved, being +stunned, as it seemed. It was like to go hard with me for a time, +for my men could not reach me. Still, I held the Welsh back from +Erpwald and myself. + +There was a great shout of "Ahoy," and I saw from beyond the ring +round me the rise and fall of a broad axe, and then Thorgils was at +my back, and close behind him was Evan. More of our men were coming +up fast to where they heard the noise; but the foe were minded to +make a good fight of it, and only to yield when there was no shame +in doing so. + +"It is no bad thing to have a good axe at one's back," quoth +Thorgils in a gruff shout between his war cries as he hewed, and +with that I heard the said axe crash on a foe again. + +Then I had the chief before me, and his men fell back a little to +make way for him to me. Our swords crossed, and I took his first +thrust fairly on the shield and returned it, wounding him a little, +and he set his teeth and flew at me, point foremost, with the +deadly thrust of the Roman weapon. That the shield met again, and I +struck out over his guard and he went down headlong. And at that +his men made a wild rush on me, yelling. At that time I saw +Thorgils, with a great smile on his face, smite one man to his +right with the axe edge, and another on his left with the blunt +back of the weapon as he swung it round, and Evan saved me from a +man who was coming on me from behind. That is all I know of the +fight, save that it seemed that I heard some cry for quarter, for +of a sudden I went down across Erpwald for no reason that I could +tell. + +It was full daylight when I came round, and the first thing that my +eyes lit on was the broad face of Erpwald, who sat by my side with +a woebegone look that changed suddenly to a great grin when he saw +me stir and look at him. Then I saw Evan also watching me, with his +arm tied up, and I was fain to laugh at his solemn face of trouble. +Whereon from somewhere behind me Thorgils cried in his great +seafaring voice: + +"There now, what did I tell you two owls? His head is too hard to +mind a bit of a knock like that." + +Then he came and laughed at me, and I asked what sent me over. + +"The pole-axe man hit you with the flat of his unhandy weapon. It +is lucky for you that he was a bungler, however, for there is a +sore dint in your helm." + +I sat up and looked round the camp. There was a knot of captives in +its midst, among whom was the chief I had fought, wounded, indeed, +but not badly, and our men were eating the enemy's provender and +laughing. A fire of green brushwood and heather was sending a tall +pillar of smoke into the air to tell the watchers on the Poldens +and at Watchet that we had done what we came to do. But here we had +to stay till we heard from Ina that we were to join him, and for +Erpwald's sake and Elfrida's I was not sorry. + +He had seen his first fight, and nearly found his end therein. I do +not know how I could have looked Elfrida in the face again had he +indeed risen no more from that medley. But I thought that he made +more than enough of my coming to his rescue. It was only a matter +of holding back a crowd till help came. + +"All very well to put it in that way, comrade," said Thorgils; "but +where does my axe come in? You are not fair, for, by Thor's hammer, +Erpwald, both of you had been mincemeat but for that." + +"Nay," said I, laughing; "you and I were those who held back the +crowd. I could not have done it alone." + +"But you did, though," the Norseman answered at once. +"Nevertheless, it was as well that I happened up in good time." + +Now we rode across the nearer hills until we could see into the +fair valley which men call Taunton Deane since those days, and we +saw the answering fires which told us that all was well at Watchet, +for we had saved the little town. Not until Gerent learned how few +we were here would he dare to divide his forces. Far off to the +southward in the valley we could see the blue reek of his +campfires, and it would seem that he had not yet moved on the +Wessex border. + +All the day we waited and watched, anxious and restless, but no +attack came on us here, and the smoke of the camp grew no thinner +at Norton. A few Norsemen rode up to us from Watchet, and they said +that no move was on hand yet, so far as they could tell. And at +last, as the sun was setting, and shone level on the slope of the +Poldens, above which the Tor of Glastonbury sent a waving wreath of +smoke into the air to bid Wessex gather against the ancient foe, we +saw the long line of sparkling helms and spear points as our host +marched from hill to causeway to the bridge that spans the Parrett. +Ina would hold the heights above Norton before morning. + +But that made it the more needful that we should bide here till we +were sent for, seeing that we guarded the flank of our advance; and +hard it was to sit still and do it, with a battle pending yonder. +It was a long night to us, and hungry. + +Early in the next morning there was heavy smoke on these hills that +told of burning on the line of our march, and there was more away +toward the far Blackdown hills, as if there were trouble beyond +Tone. And in the afternoon there fell a strange stillness on the +woods round us, and I wondered. There was never a buzzard or kite, +raven or crow, left in all the woodland, and then I minded that +overhead lately the birds of prey had all flown in one direction, +and that toward where Norton lay. + +It was the cry of the kite and the voice of the songbirds that I +missed. The birds of prey had gone, and in the cover their little +quarry cowered in fear of the shadow of the broad wings which had +crossed them so often. Even now two of the great sea eagles were +sailing inland, and from these strange signs we knew for certain +that yonder a battlefield was spread for them, where Saxon and +Welsh strove for mastery in the fair valley. But we must pace the +hill crest, silent and moody, waiting for some sign that might tell +us of victory. + +That came at last in the late afternoon. Slowly there gathered, +over the trees where Norton was, a haze that thickened into a +smoke, and that grew into heavy dun clouds which rose and drifted +even to the hilltops, for Norton was burning, and by that token we +knew that Ina was victor. + +Presently there were flying men of the Welsh who could be seen on +the open hillsides, and some few came even up to this camp, and we +took them, and from them heard how the battle had gone. It had been +a terrible battle, from their account, but they knew little more +than that, and that they were beaten. I suppose that Ina thought it +best for us to hold this camp for the night, for here we bided, +chafing somewhat; and but for what we took from the Welsh, hungry, +until early morning. Then at last a mounted messenger came to us, +and we went to Norton. + +There, indeed, was high praise waiting for us from Ina, for it +seemed that our work had checked the advance of Gerent, and had +given time for full gathering of the levies before he was over the +border. But now I learnt that there was another Welsh army in the +field, beyond the Tone River, and until we heard how it fared with +the Dorset levies in that direction it was doubtful if we might +hold that all was well yet. Gerent had not set everything on this +one attack, but had also marched on Langport across the Blackdown +hills. Thither Nunna had led what men he could be spared, and was +to meet the Dorset levies, whose ealdorman, Sigebald, had sent word +to Glastonbury, soon after I left there, to tell of this attack. + +In the late evening there were beacon fires on the Blackdown hills, +and a great one on the camp at Neroche which crowns and guards the +hills in that direction. And so presently through the dusk one rode +into Norton with word of the greatest battle that Wessex had fought +since men could remember, for Nunna had met the foe on the way to +Langport, and at last, after a mighty struggle which had long +seemed doubtful, had swept them back across the hills whence they +came, in full flight homeward. So there was full victory for +Wessex, but we had to pay a heavy price therefor. Nunna had fallen +in the hour of triumph, and Sigebald, the ealdorman, was lost to +Dorset also. + +Presently we laid Nunna in his mound on the Blackdown hills where +he had fallen. There he bides as the foremost of Saxon leaders in +the new land we had won, and I do not think that it is an unfitting +place for such a one as he. It is certain that so long as a Wessex +man who minds the deeds of his fathers is left the name of Nunna +will be held in honour with that of the king; his kinsman. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. OF MATTERS OF RANSOM, AND OF FORGIVENESS ASKED AND GRANTED. + + +Now I must needs tell somewhat of the way in which Ina won Norton, +for that had so much to do with my fortunes as it turned out, +seeing that all went well by reason of our holding the hill fort, +in which matter, indeed, Thorgils must have his full share of +praise. + +Gerent halted in his march when the flying men from the camp came +in to him, telling him that we were in strong force on the hill, +and so our men crossed the Parrett unhindered, and won to the long +crest of the southward spurs of Quantocks, where the Welsh gathered +against Kenwalch in the old days and stayed his farther conquest. +There was some sort of an advance post by this time in the Roman +camp at Roborough, and Ina sent a few men to take it, and that was +easily done. Then Gerent heard that Ina was on him, and went to +meet him, and so the two armies met on the westward slope of the +hills above Norton, and there all day long the battle swayed to and +fro until the Welsh broke and fled back to the town itself. Then +was a long fight across the ramparts, and at last Ina took the +place, and so chased his enemy in hopeless rout across the moorland +westward yet, until there was no chance of any stand being made. + +But Gerent escaped, though it was said that it was sorely against +his will. I was told that the old king came to the battle in a +wonderful chariot drawn by four white horses, and that he stood in +it fully armed, bidding his nobles carry him to the forefront of +the fighting, but that they would not heed him. And presently when +they knew that all was lost they hurried him from the field, though +he cursed them, and even hewed at them with his sword to stay them +as they went. + +Now Ina's camp was set within the walls of Norton among the yet +smoking ruins of the palace, where not one stone was left on +another; and the Dragon banner of Wessex floated side by side with +the White Horse of the sons of Hengist, where I had been wont to +see the Dragon of the line of Arthur. + +All the afternoon of that day Ina sat and saw the long files of +captives pass before him, and I was there to question any he would, +for he knew little or none of the Welsh tongue. + +Many of these captives were of high rank, men who had only yielded +when they must, and here and there I knew one of these by sight. +They would be held to ransom by their captors, and the rest, +freeman or thrall, as they had been, would be the slaves of those +who took them, save they also could pay for freedom. It was a sad +enough throng that passed under the shadow of the proud banners. + +At last I saw one whom I knew well, and whom the king knew, for it +was Jago. He stood in the line, looking neither to right nor left, +but taking his misfortune like a brave man. + +"Here is Jago, the friend of Owen, whom you know, King Ina," I +said. + +The king glanced up at the Welsh thane. There was no pride of +conquest in the face of Ina as he gazed at his captives, and when +one came as Jago came he looked little at him, lest he should seem +to exult. + +"Take him, and do what you will with him, Oswald. We owe you much +again; if you see others for whom you would speak, tell me. I will +deal with friends of Owen as you will. That is known already, and +none will gainsay it." + +I thanked the king quietly, but none the less heartily, and I ran +my eyes down the line, but I saw no more known faces. So I went +after Jago, who had passed on. + +"Friend, you are free," I said. "That is the word of our king, for +the sake of old friendship." + +He could not answer, but the light leapt into his eyes, and he held +out his hand to me. Then I took him to the tent which my +house-carles had pitched next the king's, where Nunna's should have +been, and bade him sit down there. Then I went out and brought up +my own prisoners, passing the commoners into the hands of the men +who had been with me, but keeping the chief until the last. Two of +the house-carles led him up, and his face had as black a scowl on +it as I had ever seen, and he looked sullenly at us. + +"Who is he?" asked Ina, turning towards me. + +I did not know, and, to tell the truth, had forgotten to ask him in +the waiting for news of Nunna. So I asked him his name with all +courtesy, and could win no answer from him but a blacker scowl than +ever. Judging from his arms, which were splendid, and of the half +Roman pattern that Howel wore, he might be of some note. I thought +Jago might know him, so I asked him. + +"Mordred, prince of Morganwg {iii}, from across the channel," +he answered, looking from the tent door. "He is a prize for whoever +took him. Gerent sent word to several of those princes, and his men +are somewhere in the country yet, I suppose. They came at Gerent's +invitation." + +I went back to Ina, who had set the chief aside for the moment, and +when some other man's captives had passed, bound to a long cord, my +men brought him forward again. + +"Ask him what brought him here," said Ina, when he heard who he +was. + +"I have a mind not to answer you," Mordred growled, when I put the +question, "but seeing that there is no use in keeping silence, I +will tell you. I hate Saxons, and so when Gerent asked me I came to +help him." + +"With your men?" + +"A shipload of them. They are up in the hills yonder, where you +left them, I suppose; and they will be a trouble to you until they +get home, if they can. I am well quit of the cowards." + +Now I began to understand how it was that this force went aside to +fall on Watchet, and had little heart in the defence of the camp. +They were strangers, who hated the name of the Northmen from their +own knowledge of them, and could not miss a chance of a fight with +them here. After that the men of Gerent who were with them at the +camp cared nought for their strange leader. + +"Take him, and hold him to ransom, Oswald," Ina said, when I told +him all this. "From all I ever heard of Morganwg, he should be some +sort of reward for what you have done. I should set his price high +also, for he deserves it for coming here." + +So I took Mordred to my tent, telling him that I must speak of him +of ransom. + +"Ransom? Of course, that will be paid. What price do you set on +me?" + +Now that was a question on which I had no thought ready, seeing +that I had never held any man of much rank to ransom before, and I +hesitated. At last I remembered what some great Mercian thane had +to pay to Owen some years ago, and I named that sum, which was good +enough for me and Erpwald and Thorgils to share between us. + +Thereon his face flushed red, and he scowled fiercely at me. + +"What!--Is that the value of a prince of Morganwg? It is ill to +insult a captive." + +"Nay, Prince, there is no insult--" + +"By St. Petroc, but there is, though! What will the men of +Morganwg--what will the Dyfed men say when they hear that the Saxon +holds one of the line of Arthur at the value of a hundred cows? Ay, +that is how I shall be known henceforth!--Mordred of the cows, +forsooth." + +He was working himself up into a rage now, and even Jago from the +corner of the tent where he sat, dejectedly enough, began to smile. +I had spoken of fair coined silver, and I had some trouble myself +in keeping a grave face when this Welsh prince counted the cost of +cattle therein. + +"Will you double the sum, Prince?" I asked in all good faith. + +"I will pay the ransom that is fitting for a prince of Morganwg to +pay when his foes have the advantage of him. The honour of the +Cymro is concerned." + +"Ask him his value," said Jago in Saxon, knowing that Mordred did +not understand that tongue at all. "Never was so good a chance of +selling a man at his own price." + +Then I could not help a smile, and Mordred waxed furious. He turned +on Jago with his fist clenched. + +"Silence, you miserable--" + +"Prince, Prince," I cried. "He did but bid me ask you what was +fitting." + +"Well, then, do it," he cried, stamping impatiently, and glaring at +Jago yet. + +It was plain that if he did not understand the Saxon he saw that +there was some jest. + +"It is a hard matter for me to set a price on you, Prince," I said +gravely. "I have never held one of your rank to ransom before, so +that you will forgive seeming discourtesy if I have unwittingly +done what was not fitting in the matter. What would the men of your +land think worthy of you?" + +"Once," he said slowly, "it was the ill luck of my--of some +forebear of mine to have to be ransomed. They paid so much for +him." + +He named a sum in good Welsh gold that it had never come into my +mind to dream of. It was riches for all three of us. And I dared +not say that it was too much and somewhat like foolishness, for it +was his own valuation. So I held my peace. + +"Not enough?" he asked, not angrily, but as if it would be an +honour to hear that I set him higher. "What more shall I add?" + +"No more, Prince. I see that I have yet things to learn." + +Truly, I had always heard that the tale of the golden tribute to +Rome from Britain had tempted my forebears here first of all, and +now I believed it. I suppose these Welsh princes had hoards which +had been carried from out of the way of us Saxons and Angles long +ago. + +"Ay, you have," Mordred said grimly. "One day it shall be what the +worth of a British prince is in good cold steel, maybe. Now let me +have a messenger who shall take word to my people and bring back +what is needed." + +He scowled when I mentioned Thorgils, but he knew him by repute at +least, and was willing to trust him, as I would do so. In the end, +therefore, it was he who took the signet ring and the letter the +prince had written and brought back the gold. Some of the coins +were of the days of Cunobelin, but the most of it was in bars and +rings and chains, wrought for traffic by weight. + +Now I will say at once that neither of my comrades would share in +this ransom, though I thought that it was a matter between the +three of us, as leaders of the force that day. + +"Not I," quoth Thorgils--"the man was your own private captive, for +you sent him down yourself. What do I want with that pile of gold? +I have enough and to spare already, and I should only hoard it. Or +else I should just give it back to you for a wedding present by and +by. What? Shaking your head? Well, what becomes of all my songs if +they end not in a wedding? Have a care, Oswald, and see that you +make up your mind in time." + +So he went away, laughing at me, but afterward I did make him +promise that if he needed a new ship at any time he would tell me, +so that I might give him one for the sake of the first voyage in +the old vessel, and that pleased him well. + +Now I told Ina this, being always accustomed to refer anything to +him, and he was not surprised to hear that the Norseman would not +take the gold. + +"And if I may advise," he said, "I would not offer a share to +Erpwald; for, in the first place, he does not expect it, seeing +that the captive is yours only, by all right of war; and in the +next, he deems that you have already given him Eastdean, and he is +not so far wrong. So it would hurt him. He will be all the happier +now that he will know that you have withal to buy four Eastdeans, +if you will." + +So against my will, as it were, that day made a rich man of me. +Presently I gave the wealth into the hand of Herewald the +ealdorman, and he so managed it, being a great trader in his way, +that it seemed to grow somewise, and I have a yearly sum therefrom +in ways that are hard to be understood by me, but which seem simple +enough to him. + +I handed over Mordred to the Norsemen to keep until Thorgils +returned with the ransom, for before we could rest with the sword +in its scabbard again it was needful that all care should be taken +for the holding of the new land we had won, and Ina would see to +that himself. Here and there we had fighting, but the Welsh never +gathered again in force against us, and at last we held every town +and camp from sea to sea along the line of the hills that run from +Exmoor southwards, and there was our new border. + +Jago went back to Exeter, seeing that his house was burnt at Norton +with the rest of the town, and I heard afterwards that there he had +found his wife, whom he had sent away when the certainty of war +arose. I was in no trouble for him, as he had houses elsewhere. + +But we sent Erpwald back to Glastonbury in all haste, and he was in +nowise loth to go, as may be supposed. One may also guess how he +was received there. Then, as soon as Ina came back with us all, the +ealdorman set to work to prepare afresh the wedding that was so +strangely and suddenly broken in upon, and it was likely to be +little less joyous that it had been so. + +On the evening before the wedding the ealdorman came to me, when +the day's duties were over, and said that Elfrida wished to speak +to me. So I went, of course, not at all troubling that the +ealdorman could not tell me what was to be said, for there were +many things concerning tomorrow's arrangements with which I was +charged in one way or another. + +So I found her waiting me alone, in that chamber off the hall where +her father and I spoke of the poisoning. + +"I have not sent for you for nothing, Oswald," she said, blushing a +little as if it were a hard matter she had to speak of. "There is +somewhat on my mind that I must needs disburden." + +"Open confession is good," I said, laughing--"what is it? + +"Well--have you forgotten your vow of last Yuletide?" + +"Not in the least. Would you have me do so? For that were somewhat +hard." + +"No--but yes, in a way." + +There she stopped for a moment, and I waited for her to go on, not +having any very clear notion of what was to come. She turned away +from me somewhat, letting her fingers play over one of the tall +horns on the table, when she spoke again. + +"It has been in my mind that you--that maybe you thought that I +have been hard on you--in ways, since we spoke in the orchard." + +So that was what troubled her, but I did not see why she should +have spoken of it, seeing that a lady has no need at all to justify +her ways in such a matter, surely. + +"No," I answered, "that I never thought. If my vow displeased you, +or maybe rather if I displeased you thereafter, I had no reason to +blame any one but myself for the way in which it was needful that I +should be shewn that so it was. It was just the best thing for me, +for it cured me of divers kinds of foolishnesses." + +"That is what I would have heard you say," she said with a +light-hearted laugh enough, while her face cleared. "Now I can say +what I will. Do you know that you have kept your vow to the full +already?" + +"Not at all. There are long years before you yet, as one may hope." + +"Ay, Oswald, and through you those years seem bright to look +forward to. See, through you has come Erpwald, and now you have +kept his life for me at risk of your own. All my life long I shall +thank you for those two things. Surely your vow is fulfilled, for +this will be lifelong service. There is more that I would say to +you, but I cannot." + +She turned away again, weeping for very happiness, as I think, that +could not be told, and I had no word to speak that was worth +uttering, though I must say somewhat. + +"It will be good to think of you two together--" + +"In the place you have given us," she broke in on me. "Love and a +home for all my life! What more could your vow have wrought than +that? Let me go, Oswald, or I shall weep. It was a good day that +sent you to be my champion." + +Then she stepped swiftly to me and kissed me once, and fled, and I +do not mind saying that I was glad that she had gone. Too much +thanks for things that had been done more or less by chance, and as +they came to hand as it were, without any special thought for any +one, are apt to make one feel discomforted. + +The wedding on the morrow I have no skill to tell of, but as every +one has seen such a thing, that hardly matters. I will only set +down that never had I seen such a bright one, or so good a company, +there being all the more guests present because many who came to +the levies stayed on to do honour to the ealdorman and his +daughter. Elfrida looked all that a bride should, as I thought, and +also as the queen said in my hearing, so that I think I cannot be +wrong. I gave her Gerent's great gold armlet, having caused it to +be wrought into such a circlet for her hair as any thane's wife +might be well pleased to wear. + +As for Erpwald, he was dazed and speechless with it all, but none +heeded him, though indeed he made a gallant groom, for that is the +usual way as regards the bridegroom at such times. Which is perhaps +all the more comfortable for him. + +Then was pleasant feasting, and after it some of us who had been +Erpwald's closer friends here rode a little way with those two +wedded ones on the first stage of their homeward journey. The +Sussex thanes and their men were with them as guard, and they rode +on ahead and left us to take our leave. + +And by and by, after a mile or two, the rest turned back with gay +farewells, and left me alone with the two, for they knew that I was +their nearest friend, and would let me be the last to speak with +them. We had not much to say, indeed, but there are thoughts, and +most of all, good wishes, that can be best read without words. + +"There is but one thing that I wish," Elfrida said at the very +last, even when I had turned my horse and was leaving them. + +"What is that?" I asked, seeing that there was some little jest +coming. + +"Only, that I had seen the Princess Nona." + +I laughed, and so they were gone, and I went back to Glastonbury, +wondering if Elfrida guessed what my thoughts of that lady might +be. I had not said much of her to any one, except as one must speak +of people with whom one has been for a while. + +Strangely enough had come to pass that which I vowed to do for +Elfrida, though not in the way which had been in my mind when I +drank the Bragi bowl. Presently, when I came back to the +ealdorman's house, I had to put up with some old jests concerning +that vow, which seemed to others to have come to naught, but they +did not hurt me. + +Three days after the wedding Thorgils came to Glastonbury with his +charge, and glad enough I was to hand it to Herewald, as I have +already said, and to get the care of it off my mind. Yet I will say +that by this time there had come to me a knowledge concerning this +gold which was pleasant. Only the other day I had been but the +simple captain of house-carles, though I was also the friend of a +mighty king, and foster son of a prince indeed, and that had been +all that I needed or cared for. Lately there had come a new hope +into my life, and it was one that was far from me at that time. But +now, when the time came for me to go to Dyfed for Owen, I should go +with power to choose lands and a home for myself and for that one +whom I dared now to ask to share it. And that was the only reason +that I cared to think of the new riches at all. If that hope came +to naught I should certainly care for them or need them little +enough, for my home would be the court as ever. + +Better to me than the gold was a letter from Owen. The honest +Norseman had gone out of his way to put in at Tenby, knowing that I +should be glad to have news thence, and not troubling about Mordred +who was waiting release, at all. So he had seen Owen, who was well +as might be, he said. + +"With two holes in one thigh, and his left arm almost growing again +like a crab's claw. I do not think that he was in the least +surprised to hear of the war, nor indeed of its end. All he wanted +to know was of you, as it seemed, at least from me. So it was also +with Howel and the princess. It was good to see their faces when I +told them of the fight at the camp, and how you won glory there. +Nevertheless, I was half afraid that I made the fighting a bit too +fierce over Erpwald, for the princess turned pale enough in hearing +how you were knocked over. You ken that I am apt to make the most +of things when I am telling a story. My father was just the same, +and maybe my grandfather before that, for saga telling runs in the +family." + +I laughed at him, but in my mind I thought of the day when I saw +Elfrida pale as she heard of Erpwald's danger at Cheddar, and I +wondered. + +Then I turned to Owen's letter, and it was long and somewhat sad, +as may be supposed, for this war had a foreshadowing of long +parting between him and me. But he said that he had known it must +come, having full knowledge, before Morfed the priest took him, how +the war party were getting beyond control. Wherefore he saw that he +and I had been saved much sadness by his absence, and it remained +to be seen how we should fare when he returned. At least, we should +meet soon in Dyfed, for he mended apace. + +I need not tell all of that letter, for it was mostly between us +twain. But in it were words for Ina concerning peace, such as an +ambassador from the British might well speak, and they helped +greatly toward settlement by and by. And so the letter ended with +greetings from Howel and Nona, and many words concerning their +kindness to him. + +But when I spoke to Thorgils of crossing soon to bring Owen back he +shook his head. + +"I suppose he has even made the best of things in the letter, but +if he can bear arms again by Yule it will be a wonder," he said. +"Yet he is well for so sorely wounded a man." + +Then he promised that it should not be so long before I heard news +from Owen again, for he had yet to make several voyages before the +winter. And he kept his promise well, for I think that he made one +more than he would have done, for my sake solely, though he will +not own it, lest the long winter should seem lonesome to me. + +For I will say at once that Owen did not come back by Yule. All +that went on in the Cornish court I do not know, but it seemed that +Gerent thought it well that he should not return until the last +hope of victory over Wessex had passed from among his people; and +it may be that he did not wish it to be thought that Owen had any +hand in bringing about the peace which he must needs make. He would +see to that, and take all the blame thereof himself, caring nothing +for any man, if blame there should be from those who set the war on +foot. + +So although I waited to hear from time to time as Thorgils came and +went, getting also word from him when some Danish ship crossed to +Watchet, nought was said of Owen's return. And I was not sorry, for +as things went I could not have gone to Dyfed to meet him. + +There was the new land we had won to be tended, and for a time the +planning for that was heavy enough. All men know now how it ended +in the building of the mighty fortress of Taunton at the southern +end of the Quantock hills, to bar the passage from West to East for +all time. There is no mightier stronghold in all England than this, +at least of those built by Saxon hands, and there has been none +made like it since Hengist came to this land. It stands some two +miles from where the Romans set Norton, for they had the same need +to curb the wild British as have we, and the place they chose for +their ways of warfare needed little amending for ours. + +While that was building, Ina dwelt in the house of some great +British lord at the place we call South Petherton, not far off from +the fortress. As the place pleased him, presently he had a palace +built there for himself, which, as it turned out, Ethelburga the +queen never liked at all. However, that came about in after years. +All day long now he was at Taunton, taking pride in overseeing all, +so that there is no wonder that the place is strong. + +As for me, I was with Herewald the ealdorman on the new boundary +line with the levies and the king's own following, guarding against +any new attack, and trying to win the Welsh to friendship. That was +mostly my work, as I knew the tongue, and they knew me as Owen's +foster son. We had some little trouble with them for a time, but +soon, as they came to know the justice of the king, and that he did +not mean to drive them from the land, they became content, and +indeed there were many who welcomed a strong hand over them. + +Presently there would be Saxon lords over the manors as Ina found +men to hold them, but there would be no change beyond that. Freeman +should be freeman, and thrall thrall, as before, each in his old +holding undisturbed, with equal laws for Saxon and Briton alike. + +Now, one day when I came to the house of the king at Petherton on +some affairs I needed his word concerning, presently there came a +message to me that Ethelburga the queen would speak with me, and, +somewhat wondering, I was taken to her bower, and found her waiting +for me. + +"Oswald," she said, after a few words of greeting, "there is one +who wronged you once, and has come to ask for your forgiveness. +What answer shall I give?" + +"Lady," I said, "I can remember none who need forgiveness from me +now. Those who wrought ill against Owen have it already, or are +gone. I have no foes, so far as I know, myself, and truly no wrongs +unforgiven." + +"Nay, but there is this one." + +"Why then, my Queen, that one must needs be forgiven, seeing that I +know not of wrong to me." + +I laughed a little, thinking of some fault of a servant, or of a +man of the guard, of which she had heard. But she went to a settle +hard by and swept aside a kerchief which lay on it as if by chance, +and under it were two war arrows. And I knew them at once for those +which had been shot into our window at Norton and had vanished. + +Now I will say that the sight of these brought back at once some of +the old feeling against those who, like Tregoz, had sought Owen's +life and mine, and my face must needs show it. + +"Ay," the queen said, seeing that, "these are indeed a token that +forgiveness is needed." + +Then I remembered that there was but one who could come here with +these arrows, though how she had them I could not do more than +guess. It could be none other than Mara, the daughter of Dunwal. + +Then suddenly, from among the ladies at the end of the room, one +who was dressed in black rose up and came toward me, and she was +none other than Mara herself, thin and pale indeed, and with the +pride gone from her dark face. Her voice was very low as she spoke +to me, and her bright black eyes were dim with tears. + +"I do not ask you to forgive my uncle, or indeed my father--for +what they planned and well-nigh wrought is past forgiveness," she +said, "Forget those things if it be possible, but forgive my part +in them." + +"I have done that long ago, lady," I said in all truth. + +I knew that she must have been made use of by the men in some ways, +but I did not think at all that she had wished ill as they wished +it, since I knew that Morfed had trained the Welsh girl to the deed +at Glastonbury. + +"Ay," she said sadly. "But forgetfulness is not forgiveness. You do +not know how I carried messages between my father and uncle, when +one was in bondage and the other in hiding, so that their plans +were laid through me. I am guilty with them. Therefore I would hear +you say at least that you will try to forgive before I pass from +the world into the cloister where I may pray for them, and for you +also, if I may." + +Then I said, with a great pity on me for this lady whom I had known +so proud and careless: + +"Lady, I do forgive with all my heart. I do not think that you +could have stood aloof from your father, and I do not think that +you are so much to blame in all the trouble as you would seem to +make me believe. In all truth I do forgive." + +She looked searchingly at me while I spoke, and what she saw in my +face was enough to tell her that she had all she needed, and with +one word of thanks she went back to the ladies, and one of them +took her from the room. + +"She goes into my new nunnery at Glastonbury tomorrow, Oswald," the +queen said, "and now she will rest content. It was a good chance +that brought you here today, my Thane, for she had begged me to +send for you, and that I could hardly do, seeing that one knows not +where to find you from day to day. I could tell her truly that I +knew I could win your forgiveness: but that would not have been +enough for her, I think." + +So Mara passed into the nunnery, and unless she has been one of the +veiled sisters whom one sees in their places at the time of mass, I +do not know that I have ever set eyes on her again. I do not think +that it was the saddest end for her. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. HOW OSWALD FOUND A HOME, AND OF THE LAST PERIL OF OWEN THE +PRINCE. + + +All that winter, and through the spring, men toiled at the great +fortress, but Ina went back presently to Glastonbury, or to others +of his houses, after his wont, now and then riding even from far to +us to see how all went. And I was fully busy in the new province, +for we made a roll of those who owned land there, that all might be +known to the king, and that matter was set in my hand for those +reasons which had made me useful already in quieting the country. +Moreover, the years at Malmesbury had made me able to write well, +and now I was glad that I had learnt, though indeed it went sorely +against the grain with me to do so at the time. Truly, I had to go +on this errand of the king's with sword in one hand and pen in the +other, but I daresay I did better, and fared less roughly, than +would one who could not speak to the British freemen in their own +tongue. At least, if a man was sullen when I came to him, he was, +as a rule, pretty friendly when I left, for he knew that no harm +was meant him, and that to be on this roll meant that on his lands +he was to bide in peace. + +And I may not forget that Evan helped me greatly in the matter, for +he knew almost all of the best freemen. + +When the walls were strong, in the midst of the new fortress they +built a good house for Ina, and we thought that he meant to live +here at times, for he had it fully furnished, even to the rushes on +the floor, after Easter. By that time I had leisure to spend the +holy season with the court at Glastonbury, for there was peace +everywhere. And there I had a visit from Thorgils, who brought good +news from across the sea. He had made his first voyage of the year, +and had seen Owen, who was himself again, if yet weak. + +He had not written to me, but sent word by the Norseman that he did +but wait for me to come for him, if I might. If not he would come +alone; but it seemed to him that we should have to part when we +reached this side of the channel, for he must go to Gerent at once. + +Next day Ina and the queen must needs pass to Taunton to see the +place, for he said that when I might go for Owen depended on its +readiness. So we rode with but a small train, meaning, after seeing +the fortress, to go on to Petherton for the night, which was quite +a usual plan with the king nowadays, since all this building was on +hand. + +So we went round all the walls, and saw the new bridge across the +Tone River, and then went into the hall that stood, as I have said, +within the walls of the fortress itself. There all was ready for +the king, even to a fire on the hearth in the middle of the great +hall, which was fully as large as that at Glastonbury itself. I had +not seen this house of late, and now the king would have me go all +over it and tell him what I thought thereof. + +Indeed, there was nought to say of it but good, for it would be +hard to find one better planned in all Wessex, as I think, whether +in the house itself, or about the buildings that were set along its +walls without for the thralls and workshops, or in the stables and +other outhouses. It was indeed such a house as any thane would be +proud to hold as his home. + +Presently, therefore, after seeing all, the king and queen and I +stood by the hearth in the hall again, and Ina asked me my thoughts +of it. And I told him even as I have written, that all was well +done and completely. + +"Why, then," he said, "let me come and stay here now and then." + +I laughed at that. + +"I have heard, my King, of house-carles who led their masters, but +that is not our way. Where the king goes the household follows, in +Wessex." + +He laughed also, for a moment. + +"Long may it be so," he said. "Nevertheless, I think that I shall +have to be as a guest here now and then." + +Then Ethelburga smiled at my puzzled face, and spoke in her turn. + +"Why, Oswald, it seems to me that you are the only man in all +Wessex who does not know who is to live here." + +"It is always said that the king himself will make it one of his +palaces, lady," I answered. + +Then Ina set his hand on my shoulder, and made no more secret of +what he meant. + +"I want you to bide here, my Thane, and hold this unquiet land for +me. There is not one who can better rule it from this fortress for +me than yourself; and the house and all that is in it is yours, if +you will." + +Then for a moment came over me that same feeling of loneliness that +had kept me from taking Eastdean again, and with it there was the +thought that I was not able to take so great a charge on me. + +"How can I do this, my King?" I said, not knowing how to put into +words all that I felt. "I am not strong enough for such a post." + +"Nay," he said gravely. "It is said of me that I do not do things +hastily, and it is a true word enough, seeing that I know that I +often lose a chance by over caution, maybe. Answer me a question or +two fairly, and I think you will see that I may ask you to bide +here." + +Then he minded me that I alone of all his athelings knew this Welsh +tongue as if born thereto, and also that men knew me as the son of +Owen the prince, so that the Welsh would hardly hold me as a +stranger. That I had found out in these last months while I had +been numbering the freemen and their holdings; and as I went about +that business I had seen every one that was of any account, so that +already I knew all the land I had to rule better than any other. +That task, however, had been set me, as I know now, in preparation +for this post. + +I had no answer to make against all this concerning myself, for it +was true enough, but I did not speak at once. It did not follow +that I could rule as I should, even with all this to help me, and I +knew it. + +"What, is more needed?" Ina said. "Well, I at least have had a +letter from Owen by the hand of Thorgils yesterday. See what is +written in it." + +He set the writing in my hand, and turned away while I read it. It +was meant for my sight as well as his, for he had written to Owen +concerning this post for me. And after I had read it all I could +say no more, for Owen told how he would help me in all ways +possible, and also that he knew how Gerent himself would be more +content in knowing that no stranger was to be over the land he had +lost. + +So I gave the letter back to the king's hand, and said plainly: "I +think that I may not hold back from what you ask me, my King, after +all that Owen says. Nevertheless I--" + +"But I am certain that you will do well," said Ina. "Now I shall +miss my captain about the court, but I need him here. So you must +even stay. There is Owen on the west to help you keep the peace in +one way, and Herewald on the east to help you with the levies if +need be. Fear not, therefore. It is in my mind that you will have +an easier time here than any other I could have bethought me of, if +I had tried." + +Then, as in duty bound, I knelt and kissed the hand of the king in +token of homage, and he smiled at me contented. + +"You will be the first ealdorman of Devon, Oswald, when the Witan +meets," he said; for it needed the word of the council of the +thanes to give me the rank that was fitting. + +Then when I rose up and stood somewhat mazed with the suddenness of +it all, Ethelburga the queen, who had stood by smiling at me now +and then, said: "This is your hall, Oswald, remember. But it needs +one thing yet. You were wrong when you said it was complete." + +I looked round and saw nothing wanting, from the hangings on the +wall to the pile of skins on the high place seats. + +"There are the pegs for the arms of the house-carles," I said, "but +no arms thereon yet. That will soon be mended. And I have to set up +a head or two of game, to make all homely, maybe?" + +"More than that, Oswald," she said, laughing. "Strange how dense a +man can be! It is a mistress who is needed. Else the women of Devon +will have no friend at court." + +I laughed, a little foolishly, perhaps, not having any answer at +all, and Ina smiled and went out into the court by himself, saying +that he would not meddle with such matters. So I was left to the +queen by the hearth. + +"Jesting apart, Oswald," she said, "I had hoped that vow of yours +would have led to somewhat, and whose fault it was that nought came +of it I do not know. However, no harm seems to have been done, and +that may pass, though indeed Elfrida was a favourite of mine. But +see to it that next time you are no laggard. Now, when are you +going to Dyfed?" + +Then I suppose my face told some tale against me, for the queen +laughed softly. + +"Soon, Oswald?" + +I could not pretend to misunderstand her then, but when it was put +to me so plainly it did not seem to me all so certain that my suit +would fare better than my vow. I had no fear once that the last +would not have been welcome, and was mistaken enough. Now, perhaps +because I was in real earnest, I did doubt altogether. + +"What, do you fear that there is no favour for you, my Thane?" +Ethelburga said, with a smile lingering round the corners of her +mouth. + +"I do not see how there can be," I answered. "I am not worthy. It +is one thing for the princess to be friendly with me, and another +for her to suffer me to look so high." + +I spoke plainly to the queen, as I was ever wont since I was a +child in her train and she the kindly lady to whose hand I looked +for all things, and from whom all my earlier happinesses had come. +She was ever the same, and I know well that her name will be +remembered as one of our best hereafter. It was almost therefore as +mother to son that she spoke to me, rather than as mistress to +servant. + +"But you had no doubts at all concerning Elfrida." + +"That was foolishness, my Queen, and I see it now. This is +different altogether." + +"I know it, and it was my fault in a way. Still, you were then but +the landless house-carle captain, and yet you dared to look up to +the daughter of the ealdorman. Now you are the Thane of Taunton, +and to be the first ealdorman of Saxon Devon, with house and riches +at your back, moreover. And she of whom you think is but the +daughter of a Welsh princelet." + +"Nay, my Queen, but she is Nona." + +"Go your ways, Oswald," the queen said, laughing--"of a surety you +are in earnest this time. Nay, but I will jest no more, and will +wish you all speed to Pembroke. If there is no welcome, and more, +for you there, I am mistaken, for you deserve all you wish." + +So we spoke no more, but joined the king. Presently, when I came to +think of what the queen had said of my changed rank and all that, I +saw that she was right, and it heartened me somewhat. Not that I +thought it would make any difference to Nona, but that it surely +must to Howel, which was a great matter after all. + +In a week Ina gathered the Witan of Somerset here to Taunton, first +that the last stone of the fortress should be laid with all +solemnity and due rites, even as the foundation had been laid with +the blessing of Holy Church on it, and then that he might take +counsel for the holding of the new land. Then in full Witan I did +homage and took the oaths that were fitting, and so the king girt +my sword on me afresh as I sat at the foot of his throne as the +first ealdorman of Devon; and the Witan confirmed his choice, also +making sure to me all dues that should come to the man who held the +rank. They seemed well satisfied with the king's choice of me, and +that was a good thing, for I will say that I had somewhat feared +jealousy here and there. I do not think that their approval was due +to any special merit of my own at all, but it was plain that I +stood in a halfway place, as it were, between the two courts in a +way that was in itself enough to make the choice good policy. + +After that Ina bade me go to Dyfed, while he was yet in the west, +and would set all things in train for me, choosing my house-carles, +and setting such men as I could work well with in places of trust +in the land. There was much for the king to do yet. + +"Therefore take what time you will, Oswald," he said kindly. "You +will be busy enough when you come back, and I can trust you not to +overstay your time. If Owen can come to speak with me bring him, +but that is doubtful yet." + +One may suppose that I did not delay then. I sent Evan to Thorgils, +and asked him to give me a passage over, and so had a fortnight to +wait for him, as he was on his way from some voyage westward at the +time. Then a fair summer sailing and a welcome from the Danefolk at +Tenby, where we put in rather than make for the long tidal waters +of Milford Haven against a southwest breeze. + +There the Danes must needs set themselves in array in all holiday +gear that I might ride to Pembroke as a prince's foster son, with a +better following than Evan and my half-dozen house-carles, and I +rode with fifty men after me, so that the guard at the palace gates +might have thought that Ina himself had come to see Owen, and there +was bustle of welcome enough. + +And so there were wonderful greetings for me, from Owen first, and +afterward from Howel and from Nona, and I will not say much of +them. If one knows what it is to see a father whom one had left +weak and ill, strong and well and fully himself again; if one has +met a good friend after absence; if one knows what it may be to see +again the one who is dearest in thought, there is no need for me to +try and tell the greeting, and if not, I could not make it +understood. Let it be therefore. It was all that I looked for, and +I was more than content. + +And yet, for all that, it was a long week before I dared to tell +Nona that which I would, and how I did so is another thing that I +cannot set down. Maybe all that I need say is that I need not have +feared, and that the new hall at Taunton waited for its mistress +from that hour forward. + +And so at length I knew that I must be away, and I rode to Tenby to +see Thorgils, and found him in the haven, begrimed and happy, with +men and boys round him at work on the ship everywhere, painting and +scraping in such wise that I hardly knew her. From stem to stern +she was bright green instead of her sea-stained rusty black, and a +broad gilt band ran along her side below the oar ports. A great red +and gold dragon from one of the warships of the Danes reared its +crest on the stem head, while its tail curved in red and gold over +the stern post, and even the mast was painted in red and white +bands, and had a new gilt dog vane at its head. + +"Here is finery, comrade," I said. "What is the meaning thereof?" + +"Well, if you know not, no man knows. I have a new coat for +tomorrow's wedding, and it is only fit that the ship that takes +home the bride should have one also. Wherefore the old craft will +be somewhat to sing about by the time I have done with her." + +Then he showed me a new red-striped sail that Eric had given him, +and an awning for the after deck which the women of the town had +wrought for the shelter of the princess whom they loved. It seemed +like a good speeding to Nona and to me. + +And so it was at the end of a fortnight thereafter. It would be +long to tell of the morrow's wedding, and then of days at Pembroke +before we sailed, passed all too quickly for me. But at last we +stood with Owen on the deck of the good ship while all the shore +buzzed with folk, Welsh and Danish alike, who watched us pass from +Dyfed to the Devon coast, cheering and waving with mighty goodwill, +and only Howel seemed lonely as he sat on his white horse, still +and yet smiling, with his men round him, where the cliff looks over +the inner harbour, to see the last for many days of the daughter he +had trusted to my keeping. + +We cleared the harbour, and then where she had been lying under the +island flew toward us under thirty oars the best longship that Eric +owned, for it was his word that as the Danes had seen me into +Pembroke by land, so they would see Nona from the shore with a +king's following by sea, and that was well done indeed. The old +chief himself was steering in full arms, and all the rowers were in +their mail and helms, flashing and sparkling wondrously in the sun +as they swung in time to the rowing song as they came. And all down +the gangway amidships between the rowers stood the armed men who +should take their places when their turn came, full sixty warriors, +well armed and mail clad as if they had need to guard us across the +sea. + +I suppose that there is no more wonderful sight than such a ship as +this, fresh from her winter quarters, and with her full crew of +three men to an oar in all array for war, and Owen and I gazed at +her in all delight. As for my princess, she had more thought for +the kindliness of the chief in thus troubling himself and his men, +I think, for she could not know the pleasure it gave each man of +the Danes to feel his arms on him and the good ship swinging under +him again after long months ashore. + +"There is another ship in the offing," I said to Thorgils +presently, when we, with the Dane just astern of us, were some five +miles from land and had ceased to look back to Tenby. Nona had gone +into the cabin away from the wind, which came a little chill from +the east on the open sea, and maybe also that she felt the chill of +parting from her father more than she would have us know. + +"Ay," he said, looking at the far vessel under his hand, "I do not +make out what she is--but if she is a trader--well, our Danes are +likely to get some reward for their trouble. They will not have +come out for nothing." + +I laughed, for any trader in the Severn sea knew that he must be +ready to pay more than harbour dues if he had the ill luck to meet +with the Danes. They would make him pay for freedom, but would not +harm him unless he was foolish enough to fight. + +So we held on, and the strange sail, which was seemingly beating up +channel against the wind, put about and headed for us somewhat +sooner than Thorgils expected. + +"She is making mighty short boards," he said. "She should surely +have headed over to the coast yet awhile. Would have fetched a bit +of a breeze off the land there, maybe." + +Thorgils watched this vessel curiously, for there were things about +her which seemed to puzzle him. The men, too, were beginning to +talk of her and watch her. And presently I saw that our consort, +the Dane, had slackened her speed, so that there was a mile of +water between us astern. + +"Oh ay," said Thorgils, as I spoke of this, "they mean to pick her +up when we have passed her. They can overhaul her as they like." + +Now we drew near to the strange ship, and it seemed to Owen and me, +as we stood side by side on the after deck beside Thorgils at the +helm, that we saw here and there among the men on her deck the +sparkle of arms as she lifted and swayed to the waves. She was a +long black ship, not like the Dane at all, and her sail was three +cornered on a long tapering yard, quite unlike ours, which was +square. Thorgils said that she was a trader from the far south, a +foreigner, even from so far as Spain, though why she was here he +could not tell. Mostly such never came round the Land's End. + +"She wants to speak with us," he said presently. "I suppose she has +lost herself in strange waters." + +The vessel was right across our bows now, some half mile away, and +her tall sail was flapping in the wind as she hove to. Thorgils put +the helm down so as to pass to windward of her, and as he did so +the sail of the stranger filled again, and she headed as if waiting +to sail with us for a while. Now we could see that many of her +crew, which did not seem large, were armed, and I thought little of +that, seeing that there were Danes about. But Thorgils waxed +silent, and sent a man to the masthead suddenly, for some reason +which was not plain to me. + +No sooner was the man there than he shouted somewhat in broad Norse +sea language, which made our skipper start and knit his brows. + +"How many?" he asked. + +"Like to herrings in a barrel.--More than I can tell," the masthead +man answered. + +Then Thorgils turned to us. + +"This is more than I can fully fathom," he said, leaning on the +helm a little, so that the ship edged up a trifle closer to the +wind steadily. "She has her weather gunwale packed with men, who +are hiding under it--armed men. On my word, it is well that Eric is +with us." + +Owen and I looked at one another. If I had been alone, or with him +only, I think I should have rejoiced in this seeming chance of a +fight at sea, but with Nona and her maidens on board there was a +sort of terror for me in what all this might mean. + +No honest vessel hid her men thus, and waited for the coming of two +strangers. + +"Get your arms on, prince and comrade," said Thorgils. "It is in my +mind that these are desperate folk of sorts. We are pranked up with +that dragon like any longship, and here is Eric astern of us, and +yet there is some look of fighting in the hiding of these men. Will +they face two of us, or what is it?" + +"We may not fight with the lady on board, Thorgils," Owen said +under his breath. "If so be we can get away from them we must. Yet +it will be the first time that Oswald and I have thought of +flying." + +"There is no merit in staying for a fight if there is need why one +should be out of it," Thorgils said. "See, she is going to try to +get to windward of us, and now will be a bit of a sailing match." + +Then he called one of the men, and he came aft and took a pole with +a round red board on its top from where it hung along the gunwale, +and, standing on the stern rail with his arm round the high stern +post, waved it slowly. He was signalling to Eric as Thorgils bade +him. + +The ship forged up into the wind closer and closer, and the spray +flew over her bows as she met the sea. But the strange vessel was +no less weatherly, and kept pace with us, and now Eric was bearing +down on us more or less, sailing a little more free than we, though +he also had to luff somewhat to keep near us, taking a long slant +across our course as we sailed now. + +I sent Evan for our arms, for the men were arming silently. They +were in the chests in the fore cabin where I had once been bound, +and Nona knew nought of possible trouble on hand. To keep her from +it altogether I went to the low door of her rude shelter before I +put on my mail, and looked in, telling her to keep the cabin closed +against the spray that was flying, and had a bright smile for my +thought. Then I went back to the deck and armed, and all the while +the two ships reached to windward, but even in that little time I +saw that the stranger had gained on us. The man was at work +signalling to Eric again. + +"We shall know if he means fighting in no long time," said Thorgils +to me. "If he does I think that he is going to be surprised." + +"How?" + +"Well, unless every man on board is clean witless they must deem us +both harmless. Maybe they have heard of a wedding party that is to +cross and are waiting for us. Otherwise it seems impossible that +they will face us and the Dane as well." + +Now Eric was back on his old tack, and passing astern of us. I saw +the glint of his oar blades, which had been run out from their +ports ready to take the water if need was presently. + +And then we knew that his help would be wanted. Suddenly the +strange ship's head flew up into the wind and she was round on the +other tack, paying off wonderfully quickly; and as she did so, from +under her gunwale, where they could be hidden no longer, rose the +armed men, seeming to crowd her deck in a moment. She was full of +them from stem to stern, and our men shouted. She had won well to +windward of us. + +But Thorgils had known what was coming, and had kept his quick eye +on the helmsman of the stranger. Even as her helm went down for the +luff his went up and the men sprang to the sheets, and we were +tearing across her bows even as her sail filled on the new tack, +and heading away lift by lift toward Eric. And Eric hove to to meet +us, and his sail fell and his oars flashed out and took the water, +and he made for us like the sea dragon his ship seemed. + +"Down with you men under cover!" roared Thorgils. "Arrows, +comrade!--Down with you!" + +The strange ship was only a bow shot from us, if a long one yet, +but she was overhauling us apace. + +I saw her men forward bending their bows, and the Norsemen of our +crew came aft with my men under the break of the deck on which we +stood, where they were in cover. Evan ran to me with his shield up. + +"Evan," I cried, "shield Thorgils." And I set myself before Owen +with my own shield raised to cover him, and he laughed at me +grimly. + +He set his own alongside mine, and we three stood covering +Thorgils. The Norseman's face was set and watchful, but his blue +eyes danced under the knit brows, and I do believe that he was +enjoying the sport. + +Ay, and so would I but for her who was so close to me. It was the +first time I had known aught but joy in battle, and what all my +strange new thoughts were I cannot say. I would not pass through +that time again for worlds. + +Then the first arrow fled from the enemy toward us, falling short +by a yard or two, and at that there came one who looked like a +chief, and stood on the high bows and hailed us in Welsh. + +At sight of him Evan cried out, and Owen started. + +"Daffyd of Carnbre, Morfed's kinsman," Owen said to me quietly. +"This is the last of the crew who followed Morgan." + +"Likewise the last of Daffyd," Thorgils growled grimly. "Look!" + +But I could not. Now the arrow storm swept on us, and all the air +seemed dark with shafts which dimpled the sea like a hailstorm, and +clanged on our shields and smote the decks with a sharp click from +end to end of the vessel. Even at that time I saw that some of the +arrows were British, but more of some outland make with cruelly +barbed heads. One or two went near my helm, and I had several in my +shield, but none of us were hurt. + +I had to watch them for the sake of Thorgils, who was unmailed, and +I could not look where he pointed ahead of us. + +Then of a sudden the arrows ceased to rain on us, and there went a +cry as of terror from the decks of our enemy. The wild war song of +the Tenby Danes rose ahead of us, and I turned and looked. Eric was +close on us, and his men had risen from under the gunwales, where +they too had been hiding until the foe was in their grasp, and now +the dragon was on her prey, and that prey knew it. And yet Evan had +need to shield me as I turned, for the chief whom they called +Daffyd was urging his men to shoot, and himself snatched a bow and +loosed an arrow at us harmlessly. + +It was wonderful. Under the sweep of the thirty long oars the +dragon ship tore past us, hurling the white foam from her sharp +bows, while the thunder of war song and breaking wave and rolling +oars filled my ears and set our men leaping and cheering as they +saw her. Eric was on the high forecastle, and he waved his broad +axe at us gleefully, and all along the decks the fighting men stood +above the armed rowers; one shielding the toiler, and one with bent +bow ready, steady as oaks on the reeling deck, and cheering us also +with lifted weapons. + +The foe saw, and her oars ran out too late. The dragon met her, and +thus, checking her speed as she passed her, swept her crowded deck +with arrows at half range; and yet the foe held on after us, for +the men of Daffyd and of Morgan were bent on ending Owen if they +themselves must die. The arrows were about us again, and Eric must +turn and be back to our help. It seemed that the foe would be on us +before that help could come. + +I did not know the handiness of the longship under oars. She was +about even as I looked again from the foe to her. And her sail was +hoisted, and under that and oars alike she was back on the foe; and +then the men of Daffyd forgot him and us in the greater business of +caring for themselves, and left him raving on the foredeck, to seek +shelter while they might. + +Then I suppose the helmsman was shot, for the ship luffed +helplessly, and in a moment the stem of the viking was crashing on +her quarter, and the grappling irons were fast to her. Thorgils +laughed and luffed at once. + +"Somewhat to sing of," he said cheerfully, as he hove to to watch +the fight. + +That it was in all truth. We were but a bow shot off, and could see +it all. We heard the ships grinding together, and we heard the +shout of the Danes and the outland yells of the Welsh, and we saw +the vikings swarming on board while the axes flashed and the war +song rose again. + +"Eric has a mind to pay them for nigh spoiling a wedding voyage," +quoth our Norseman. + +It was no long fight, for I suppose that there are men of no race +who can stand before the Northmen at sea, at least since we have +forgotten the old ship craft of our forefathers. From stem to stern +Eric led his men, sweeping all before him, some foemen even leaping +overboard out of the way of the terrible axes, and so meeting +another death. I think that the Welsh chief Daffyd was the last to +fall before old Eric himself. And then was a great cheer from the +two ships, and after it silence. + +Then Eric hailed us, and Thorgils ran out his oars, and we went +alongside the Danish ship. And at that time Nona came from the +cabin, and called me, looking wonderingly at the arrows that +littered the deck at her feet. + +"Oswald, what is it all?--Do the good Danes leave us?" + +Then she saw my mail, and paled a little. + +"Fighting! and I not with you?" she cried. "Is any one hurt?" + +But I went to her side and told her how things had gone, asking her +to bide in the shelter yet, for we had things to see that were not +for her. And so she went back again and closed the door, being +assured that the danger had passed. + +We went on board the Danish ship, for there was not enough sea to +prevent our lying gunwale to gunwale for a moment. Both Owen and I +would find out if possible how all this came about. There was a row +of captives on the deck of the enemy waiting question, and I looked +down on them from beside Eric. + +Swarthy men and black haired they were, speaking no tongue which we +knew, and one of them was black as his hair. I had never seen a +black man before, and he seemed uncanny. The Danes were staring at +him also, and he was grinning at them with white teeth through +thick lips in all unconcern. Many of these men had chains on their +legs, and this black among them. + +"Chained to the oar benches they were, poor thralls," Eric said. +"We could not bide that, so we cut them free. Then they fell on +their lords and rent them." + +Owen shuddered. He had seen the southern galleys before, and knew +why no man was left alive of the foreigners who had fought. Our kin +do not slay the wounded. But there were some Britons left among the +captives, and one of them cried to Owen by name for mercy. + +We had that man on board the Dane and questioned him, and learnt +all. He had no reason to hide aught when he was promised safety. + +Daffyd had heard that we were to cross from Tenby, having had all +the doings of Owen spied upon since the winter. Then he learned +that when I came over Owen was to return, and therefore he had my +doings watched also. He hired this foreign ship in Marazion, where +she put in for trade just as he was wondering how to compass our +end on the journey, promising her fierce crew gold of his own and +all plunder there might be, if they would help him to an easy +revenge. So they came into the Severn sea, and lay for a fortnight +or more under Lundy Island, watching for us as a cat watches for a +mouse, and getting news now and then from Welsh fishers from +Milford Haven. + +It was from them that Daffyd learned of my wedding, and so it came +to pass that neither he nor the strangers thought for a moment that +our two ships held aught but passengers and much plunder, with a +princess to hold to ransom, moreover, for the taking. They took no +account of the few house-carles we might have with us, and even I +knew nought of the crossing of the armed Danish ship with us, which +was planned so that it came as a pleasant surprise to us all. +Thorgils was right, and it had been a terrible one for them. + +So the plunder fell to Eric, and it was worth having. There was the +ship and arms and captives, and the gold of Daffyd, and that of the +traders, moreover, with some strange and precious woven goods from +southern looms, silken and woollen, which yet remained in the hold, +wondrous to look on. + +Now, in halting words enough I went to thank Eric and his men for +that which he had done for me and mine, which indeed was more than +I knew how to put into words. + +"Hold on, comrade," he said, staying me. "I will tell you somewhat. +Good friends enough we are with Howel nowadays, but it was not +always so. It was the doing of your fair princess that things came +not to blows between us at one time, for we held that he was +unreasonable in some matter of scatt {iv} to be paid. She +settled that matter for us with wise words, and we hold that to her +we owe it that we are in Tenby today. Howel could starve us out any +time he chose. And that the prince will own to you if you ask him, +being an honest man, if hasty. We shall miss Nona the princess +sorely--good luck to her." + +Then he must needs have all the bales of rich goods set on board +our ship, as a wedding present to Nona, and so set a crew on board +the prize, and she left us, heading homewards to Tenby. We went +back to our own ship at once after this was done, but Eric would +see us safely to Watchet before he was satisfied, and so we took up +the quiet passage again, little harmed enough. Eric had a few +wounded men, but we had not suffered from the arrows. + +Presently the stars came out, and Nona and I sat with Owen under +the awning in the quiet of the calm sea, while the men rowed under +the shadow of the sail that held a little wind enough to help them +homeward, and we went over all the things that the day had brought +us. And Owen said: + +"Now you may be at rest concerning me, Oswald, for there is not one +left to lift a hand against me of whom I need think twice. Daffyd +was the last of the crew to which Morgan and Tregoz and Dunwal +belonged, for Gerent has the rest in ward safely; and there they +will bide, if I know aught of him, until I have to beg him to set +them free beyond the shores of Cornwall." + +I will say now that this was true, for thence forward no man lifted +hand or voice against my foster father. The war and its hopeless +ending quieted the men whom Morfed had led, and there was peace, in +which men turned to Owen as the one who could keep it, and had +given wise counsel which was once disregarded. + +So it came to pass that I took home Nona with me, and set her as +princess in the hall at Taunton amid the rejoicing of all the Welsh +folk who were under me; for, as Ethelburga the queen had said, they +knew that they had a friend in her. And here we have bided ever +since, and are happy in home and friends and work, for all seems to +have gone well with us. And as to those good friends of ours, there +may yet be a little to tell before I set the pen aside. + +Owen passed to Exeter at the time we came home, for he would see +his uncle before he went to speak with Ina. But presently he was +back with us at Taunton, bearing with him a wondrous present for +the bride from Gerent, and good and friendly words for me which +promised well for the peace of the border, at least while he lived. +And seeing that he lives yet, with Owen at his right hand, that has +been a long time. + +Now Owen comes and goes, and none think it strange that he is most +friendly with Ina, for men have learnt that in the peace of the two +realms is happiness. + +Presently Jago came back to Norton, for I needed some British +adviser at hand, for Evan, faithful and well trusted as he is as +our honest steward, and able to tell me of the needs of the people, +knows nought of the greater laws and ways, and Herewald minded me +of him. They had ever been good friends, and I could fully trust +him. So he rebuilt his house at Norton, where the land lay waste +round the old Roman walls which our Saxons hate, and there he is +now, helping me mightily with his knowledge of the Welsh customs, +which I do not wish to interfere with more than needful. + +For, in the wisdom of Ina, we did not follow the old plan of +driving out and enslaving all the Welsh folk in this new-won land, +as had been the rule in the days of the first coming of our +forefathers when Saxons were few. Those manors whose owners had +fallen or would not bide under the new rule, Ina gave to thanes of +his own, and the men of Somerset and Dorset took what land they +would where the freeman had left them, but all others he left under +new and even-handed laws in peace. + +So I had to content the men of both races as well as I could, and +men say that I wrought well. At least, I have had no murmuring, and +I may deem that they are right. + +As one may suppose, there is no more welcome guest in our hall than +Thorgils, and at times he brings Eric or some other Tenby Dane with +him if a ship happens to cross hither. Once a year also he brings +Howel, and there is feasting in our hall, Saxon and Norseman, +Briton of the west and Briton from over sea together in all good +fellowship. + +One evening it came to pass that Thorgils sat in our hall, which +was bright with the strange stuffs that came from the ship of +Daffyd, and we talked of the old ship a little, after he had sung +to us. And then I said idly: + +"She must be getting old, comrade. When am I to give you that new +craft we once spoke of?" + +Whereon he looked at Nona suddenly, and said: + +"I mind that old promise. But now there is a ship of another sort +that will be a better present. I will ask for that." + +"What is it?" + +"Build us a church at Watchet, and set there a priest who shall +teach us the way of the Christian. We have seen you forego a blood +feud and do well to the innocent man whom our faith would have +bidden you slay, and it is good. We know you for a brave warrior, +and your faith has not taken the might from your heart as we were +told it must. Only let the priest be a Saxon." + +Then he added, as if thinking aloud: + +"Ay, Odin and Thor and the rest of the Asir are far off from us +here. Our old faith falls from us, and we are ready for the new. +Let it be soon." + +There I think that the hand of Nona wrought, for the Norse folk +fairly worshipped her. So it was not long before that good friend +of mine, the Abbot of Glastonbury, found me the right man, and one +day thereafter Nona and I stood sponsors for Thorgils and one or +two more whom we knew well, at the font in the new church which the +gold of Mordred built instead of the ship, and soon all the little +town was Christian in more than name. + +There is happiness at Eastdean, and we meet with Erpwald and +Elfrida at the house of her father now and then, and they have been +here also. But I have never had time to go to Eastdean again, +though it is a promise that we will do so when we may. + +It is the word of Ina my master that all things go well where I +bear rule for him, and I fear little blame, if little praise may be +for me, when Owen comes to us from time to time. If there is any +praise, it is due to my fair British princess, who is my best +adviser in all things. + +So there is peace; and some day, and that no distant one, there +will grow up here a new race in the west, wrought of the blood of +Saxon and Briton and Norseman; and the men of that Devon and +Somerset that shall be, will have the doggedness of the Saxon and +the fire of the Welsh and the boldness of the Norse, to be first of +all England, maybe, in peace and in war, on shore and at sea. And +that will have been brought to pass by the wisdom of Ina, whose +even laws are held the wisest that the race of Hengist has ever +known. + +It is in my mind that the lesson of the wisdom of equal rights for +all men, whether conquered or conqueror, is one that will bide with +us in the days to come, and be our pride. + +Now it seems that I have told my story so far as any will care to +hear it. But if there has been aught worth telling it has centered +round that one who took me from the jaws of the wild wolf in the +Andredsweald. First in my heart, and first in the hearts of his +people now at last, must be set the name of my foster father, +Owen--the Prince of Cornwall. + +THE END. + + + +NOTES. + + +i The national weapon. A heavy blade between sword and dagger, +with curved back and straight edge, fitted for almost any use. + +ii The fine to be paid in amends for an open "manslaying" in +quarrel or feud. + +iii The ancient Welsh province now represented by the county of +Glarnorgan. + +iv Tribute due to an overlord by the settlers. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Prince of Cornwall, by Charles W. 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