THE 
 
 THANE OF THE DEAN 
 
 A JALE OF THE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 TOM BE VAN
 
 U 
 
 & 
 
 >t 44 >L /
 
 THE 
 
 THANE OF THE DEAN.
 
 THE 
 
 THANE OF THE DEAN, 
 
 A TALE OF THE TIME OF THE 
 CONQUEROR. 
 
 BY 
 
 TOM BEVAN. 
 
 WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS B7 LANCELOT SPEED. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO., 
 
 8 & 9, PATERNOSTER ROW. 
 
 1899
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. PAGE 
 
 I. IN WHICH THE SONS OF WULF RIDE TO 
 
 GLOUCESTER 9 
 
 II. IN WHICH THEY MEET AN OLD FRIEND AND AN 
 
 OLD ENEMY 23 
 
 III. IN WHICH GURTH MEETS WITH AN ADVENTURE 32 
 
 IV. IN WHICH GURTH MEETS THE KING . . 42 
 V. IN WHICH GURTH HAS AUDIENCE OF THE KING 58 
 
 VI. IN WHICH GURTH, EDWY, AND HALFORD SET 
 
 OUT FOR HOME 75 
 
 VII. SEEKINGS AND FINDINGS . . . .94 
 
 VIII. WHICH TREATS OF PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES . 100 
 
 IX. WHICH TREATS OF A FAIR CAPTIVE, AND GURTH'S 
 
 HOME-COMING 120 
 
 X. THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM . . .135 
 
 XI. THE SIEGE OF THE DEAN CASTLE . . .149 
 
 XII. IN WHICH WE TAKE LEAVE OF THE FOREST . 166 
 
 7 
 
 2134247
 
 THANE OF THE DEM 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 IN WHICH THE SONS OF WULF RIDE TO GLOUCESTER. 
 
 IN the evening of a December day, A.D. 1083, two 
 boys emerged from the darkness of the thick 
 Forest which lay between the rivers "Wye and Severn, 
 and stood upon the high western bank of the latter 
 river. The point at which they stood was the outer- 
 most one in the great semi-circular sweep which the 
 river makes about twelve miles below the ancient city 
 of Gloucester. The small river-township of Newnham- 
 on-Severn now clusters round this point ; at the time 
 of our story a few mud fisher-cabins lined the shore 
 above the high-tide mark, and the low, rambling, 
 wooden house of " Orcar-of-the-Forest-edge " capped 
 the summit of the shoreward incline at the spot where 
 now stands the parish church. 
 
 The sun had sunk to rest behind the leafless mass 
 of thick forest nearly an hour ago, and but for the 
 clear light of the young moon, and the reflection from 
 a landscape lightly powdered over with frozen snow, 
 
 9
 
 10 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 the darkness in this shadow of the Forest would have 
 been intense. 
 
 One glance at the two lads would have conveyed 
 to the observer the intelligence that they were of 
 good, probably noble, birth. Each was dressed in a 
 woollen ; tunic edged with fur and girt at the waist 
 with a broad leathern belt. Daylight would have 
 shown that the tunic was deep blue in colour, and that 
 the fur came from the back of the beaver. " Trews," 
 or trousers, of a light-coloured woollen material, cross- 
 gartered from ankle to knee with strips of tanned 
 deerskin, clothed their legs, deerskin shoes encased 
 their feet, a short cloak covered their shoulders, and 
 a round cap of beaver-fur sat jauntily on each curly, 
 flaxen head. Appearance and dress proclaimed them 
 brothers. 
 
 " Well, Edwy," exclaimed the elder of the two 
 lads, " there thou hast the great river before thee." 
 
 "I would then that the great river kept a supply 
 of water more worthy its name," exclaimed Edwy, 
 with a shrug. " Unless mine eyes and the moonshine 
 befool me, one has need to stretch one's legs across 
 enough of sand before the water of the river is 
 reached. 'Tis a poor show for so great a name." 
 
 The elder brother laughed merrily. " In good 
 sooth," cried he, " it was high time our lady-mother 
 allowed thee to wander abroad beyond the small 
 space of land within the glance of her dear eyes. 
 I must crave more freedom for thee, or thou wilt 
 grow up either hermit or bower-maiden, and such 
 fate must never befall a son of Wulf." 
 
 " Such fate is not for me ! " answered the younger
 
 THE SONS OF WULF BIDE TO GLOUCESTER. 11 
 
 lad with an indignant blush. " Thou art unkind, 
 brother Gurth, to make a jest of mine ignorance." 
 
 " Nay, nay, thou must not begrudge me my jest, 
 little brother, if I purpose to turn thine ignorance to 
 deepest wisdom," said Gurth kindly. He placed his 
 arm on his brother's shoulder and drew him closer 
 to his side. 
 
 " Let me begin to school thee at once," continued 
 he. "Before the robin shall pipe its first song to- 
 morrow, or the first red rays of the sun glint along 
 this bank, the river will be full and foaming from 
 bank to bank. Yon small, mud-coloured stream 
 thou so cavillest at shall spread itself deep o'er all 
 these bare sands, and that, too, in less time than it 
 shall take thee to run thrice round the meadow that 
 fronts our mother's house. Faster will the sea rush 
 up than thy small legs can carry thee across the 
 spring green-sward. 'Tis then the fisher-folk spread 
 their nets to catch the great salmon for the thane 
 Orcar ; and I have heard men say that sometimes 
 huge whales come thus far, borne in upon the bosom 
 of the mighty tide." 
 
 " Then assuredly," broke in Edwy enthusiastically, 
 "at such a time should they call the Severn 'the 
 great river ! " He paused for a moment, then added, 
 " Brother, I would fain see this coming-in of the sea ; 
 with thy good leave I will stay here this night and 
 watch for it." 
 
 " Not to-night ! Not to-night ! " said Gurth good- 
 hnmouredly, as he patted Edwy's flushed cheek, " but 
 thou shalt have thy wish ere thou behold our lady- 
 mother's face again. I promise thee thou shalt not
 
 12 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 go back lacking of tales of wonder for her ears, and 
 for the ears of our bonny Editha. But now we must 
 to the house of Orcar, to crave sup and shelter for 
 the night. We have a long ride awaiting us before 
 the noon of to-morrow." 
 
 The two lads turned away from the river and 
 walked towards the edge of the nearest belt of trees, 
 where they had tethered their sturdy little ponies, 
 having walked them down the last part of the dark 
 and ill-defined woodland track. They untied their 
 shaggy steeds, and each took a javelin from his saddle- 
 bow before commencing a brisk walk up the moonlit 
 slope towards their destination. 
 
 This Orcar to whom they went was one of the 
 lesser Saxon thanes, a great burly fellow, who spent 
 his time according to season and circumstance in the 
 varied occupations of fishing the Severn for its 
 salmon, cultivating a narrow belt of rich soil, feeding 
 swine in the glades of the oak forest, resisting 
 the incursions of the neighbouring Welsh, or, joining 
 forces with the dependants of the great thane Wulf, 
 attacking in his turn these restless and ruthless 
 marauders ; time and continual occupation hardly 
 permitted any quarrel of moment with his Saxon 
 neighbours. The Welsh usually gave these border 
 thanes, or thanes of the Marches, a thoroughly 
 satisfactory allowance of fighting. 
 
 The two lads seeking the shelter of his roof were 
 the orphan sons of his late neighbour and. ally, 
 the great thane, " Wulf of the Dean." The thane 
 himself, whose very name had long been a source 
 of terror to the Welsh, had fallen, in the prime of
 
 THE SONS OF WULF RIDE TO GLOUCESTER. 13 
 
 his manhood, at the hand of these dauntless and 
 untiring foes. To Edwy, his father was no more than 
 the idolised hero of an oft-told, stirring tale the brave 
 knight of the romance which enshrouded his mother's 
 heart. He was born some few months after his 
 father's death, and coming at such a time to check 
 the torrent of his mother's bitter grief, he was beloved 
 by her above her other children, and watched and 
 guarded with such an anxious solicitude that his 
 brother Gurth often feared whether he would grow 
 to that sturdy manhood which should be expected 
 in a son of the brave Wulf. 
 
 Gurth himself was a straight and lithesome 
 stripling of some seventeen summers, the veritable 
 right hand of his still young and handsome mother, 
 who, since the death of her husband, had guarded, 
 with an excellent judgment and wisdom, the destinies 
 and welfare of her little forest realm in the Dean. 
 
 Beloved by them of low degree, respected and 
 honoured by the powerful and turbulent spirits around 
 her, no worldly matters had suffered at her hands, 
 so that Gurth bid fair to succeed to a goodly and 
 well-preserved heritage. 
 
 The gossips said, that during her twelve years of 
 widowhood more than one worthy gentleman had 
 made an offer of heart, and life, and limb, in her 
 sole service ; but all such offers were courteously 
 and firmly declined. Her life was devoted to the 
 memory of her husband, and to the noble task 
 of rearing his two sons, so that they might emulate 
 the renown of so worthy and devoted a sire. 
 
 Often had rumour linked her name with that of the
 
 14 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 thane Orcar. Truly her station was above his ; 
 yet it had not always been so, for the gallant Wulf 
 had wooed and won his bonny bride from the hut 
 of a freeman forester on his ancestral lands. Certain 
 it was that Orcar was always her trusted adviser, 
 ever her first help in time of need, and never having 
 had wife or child of his own, he had bestowed no 
 small meed of his affection on the Lady of the Dean 
 and her three children. Especially had he watched 
 with kindly and friendly eye the life and fortunes 
 of the gallant young Gurth. 
 
 Let us now accompany the sons of Wulf to the 
 honse of the burly and generous thane. 
 
 They soon ascended the winding path to the summit 
 of the low hill, and found themselves at the narrow 
 plank-bridge which crossed the artificial ditch or moat 
 and led immediately to the high palisade or outer 
 fortifications of Orcar's house. The passage of the 
 bridge was an easy matter in the bright moonlight, 
 but on reaching the oaken gate of the palisade they 
 found it firmly locked and barred. Gurth struck it 
 sharply several times with the butt end of his javelin, 
 and an armed henchman soon appeared and demanded 
 their name and errand. 
 
 " Gurth, son of Wulf, craves entrance to the house 
 of Orcar ! " answered the elder lad sharply. 
 
 The fellow on hearing this was hastening to the 
 gate, murmuring confused apologies for the " poor light 
 of the moon," and his " weakening sight," when Orcar 
 himself appeared from within upon the threshold 
 of his house. He recognised the newcomers instantly, 
 and hastened forward to give them hearty greeting.
 
 THE SONS OF WULF RIDE TO GLOUCESTER. 15 
 
 " Welcome to ye, my sons ! " cried he, shaking 
 both vigorously by the hand. " I have awaited your 
 coming all day. Come in ; the red glare of good 
 oaken logs will suit ye better this December eve than 
 the cold light of yon moon." 
 
 Thanking the good thane for his kindness, the 
 lads left their ponies with the servitor, and entered 
 the house. They followed their host into a long, 
 well-lighted room, whose wooden walls and low, black 
 roof were fashioned from the heart of the neigh- 
 bouring forest. Great oaken pillars which were 
 nothing better nor worse than entire trunks of 
 something like uniform size stripped of their bark 
 supported the heavily raftered roof throughout its 
 entire length. 
 
 Across one end of the room a bountiful supper was 
 laid on smooth, well-scrubbed planks, quite innocent 
 of table-cloth and supported on roughly fashioned 
 trestles. In the centre of the hard, earthen, rush- 
 strewn floor burned a great fire of pine and oaken 
 logs, the pungent smoke from which rolled lazily 
 and cloudily upwards, spread itself abroad among the 
 sooty rafters, or found its way into the bright winter 
 air through a circular hole in the highest ridge of 
 the roof. Near the fire were two large settles, and to 
 these Orcar led his young guests. When the two lads 
 were seated, one on either side of their worthy host, 
 the latter began a round of questions. 
 
 " Well, Edwy," cried he merrily, and stroking the 
 youngster's curls, " so thy good mother hath now 
 sent thee out amongst the sons of men. Dost think 
 thou wilt hold thine own with them ? And what hast
 
 16 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 thou purposed to do with the hungry wolf and the 
 tusked boar ? Didst meet no giant in thy path to- 
 day, and did none of the pretty wenches from the 
 pages of thy books cry out to thee for succour ? " 
 
 " I met no wolf, nor bear, nor maiden," answered 
 the lad ; " and as to thy other questions, good thane, 
 I'll answer them anon." 
 
 " And how wilt thou answer them ? " asked the 
 old thane affectionately. 
 
 "By no words," replied the lad quietly, "but by 
 deeds, when time and chance shall serve me 1 " 
 
 " An answer worthy of thy blood ! " cried Orcar. 
 " Ah ! thou art true son of Wulf ! I thought thy 
 gentle mother was like to make a milksop of thee. 
 She hath too much wit. The gods pardon me for 
 my unjust thoughts ! " 
 
 The rough old fellow took their hands kindly in 
 his own. " I love ye well ! " he said, " for ye are good 
 and worthy lads ; and well may ye be so, for ye had 
 for sire a good and worthy man. That he was gentle, 
 your mother's still green love for him doth prove. 
 Just was he his vassals love his memory now. Of 
 his brave deeds let his enemies speak ; no axe bit 
 deeper than the axe of the Wulf, and no sword flashed 
 brighter in the thickest fray. Staunch was he in friend- 
 ship as true maid in love ; of that no man may speak 
 more than myself. And of your mother I will say but 
 this, no king's babe ever nestled to a nobler heart ! 
 Nobly were ye reared, nobly must ye do ! " 
 
 He turned to Gurth. "Now tell me of this 
 journey to Gloucester. What takes ye thither at 
 such a time, and why doth Edwy brave the dangers
 
 THE SONS OF WULF RIDE TO GLOUCESTER. 17 
 
 of the road ? Methinks his first journey should 
 have been a lighter one." 
 
 " If it please thee, good thane, I would rather 
 tell thee after we have supped," answered Gurth. 
 "It is not a matter for ears other than thine own ; " 
 and he glanced at the " house-carles " who were 
 assembling for the evening meal. 
 
 "So be it," replied the thane. "We will to 
 table now." 
 
 Orcar at once gave the signal for all to be 
 seated ; and eating and drinking were soon the 
 order of the hour. Meat there was in plenty, for 
 the Forest supplied game of every sort, from the 
 bristly boar and the noble stag down to the humble 
 hare and small wild fowl. There was but little 
 river fish. For drink the men had mead and beer, 
 and the boys sparkling water from the cold spring 
 that bubbled up in the rear courtyard of Orcar's 
 house. 
 
 Before the repast was over, Edwy, despite his 
 strange surroundings, began to nod with sleepiness. 
 House-carles of Orcar were excellent trenchermen ; 
 they ate largely and drank deepty, and were in 
 no hurry to quit the table. Moreover, there was 
 ample matter for wordy discussion, and their talk 
 soon became animated and loud-voiced. 
 
 Firstly, the Norman king was at Gloucester ; 
 would he come to the Forest to hunt as he had 
 done before ? There were stories to be told of his 
 last hunting. Was not the young Gurth, their 
 master's guest of to-night, born when the king 
 hunted the Forest seventeen summers ago ? Secondly,
 
 18 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 a band of daring Welsh had crossed the Wye, 
 and were reported to be lurking in the Forest. 
 Thirdly, the high tides were expected in a couple 
 of days when the December moon would be full. 
 Fourthly, Yuletide was at hand, and there was 
 much to be said on that point. Orcar and Gurth 
 said but little ; they had food for ample thought. 
 
 Supper, however, like all earthly matters, came 
 at length to an end. The house-carles dispersed to 
 their various posts and duties, the servitors cleared 
 the tables, and the two lads and the old thane were 
 once more alone. Edwy, tired out by the unwonted 
 length of his journey, had fallen fast asleep, his 
 head nestled on his brother's knee. Gurth at once 
 took up the conversation, and answered the questions 
 Orcar had put to him immediately before supper. 
 
 Said he, " Thou wouldst know, good thane, why 
 I go to Gloucester at this season, and why Edwy 
 goes with me? The reasons are these. Thou 
 knowest the Norman, Gilbert of Tournay, whom the 
 king hath granted lands adjoining mine, and thou 
 knowest how he doth pursue my mother with offers 
 of marriage and alliance offers which she from her 
 soul abhors, not only because he is a foreigner and 
 an usurping tyrant, but because of his wicked nature 
 and of the evil which report speaks of him. Well, 
 latterly hath he grown insupportable. His vassals 
 are for ever interfering with ours, and, if we make 
 complaint of their encroachments, it is ever the same 
 remedy that he doth propose, namely, that my mother 
 should wed with him and unite their houses. That 
 will she never do ! "
 
 THE SONS OF WULF BIDE TO GLOUCESTER. 19 
 
 " God forbid ! " interrupted Orcar angrily. 
 
 " This present moon," continued Gnrth, " he hath 
 taken to openly deride, insult, and threaten us, incited 
 thereto no doubt by his known favour with the 
 king and the near presence of the Normans at 
 Gloucester. 
 
 " I would have gone out against him," he cried, 
 and his eyes flashed as he spoke, "for the men 
 of our house are many and brave, and the stout 
 smiths and miners of Cinderford are sworn vassals 
 of the house of Wulf. We could have thrust his 
 insults down his craven throat. My mother, however, 
 forbade. She said it was the way to lose all, and 
 maybe bring upon her the dread fate which hath 
 befallen so many noble Saxon dames. Better was it, 
 she advised, to seek audience of the king, and lay 
 our cause before him. My sire was no enemy of his 
 after the Witan crowned him king, and when he 
 hunted near us at the time of my birth, he stayed 
 with us, swore friendship with us, spoke my sire fair, 
 and vowed that as we had loyally served him, so 
 would he royally repay us. Besides this, our house 
 hath claims upon him, in that we have kept this 
 border securely from the Welsh for many years. 
 I have told thee all, thane. Dost thou not think 
 my purpose good ? " 
 
 " Good as may be ! Good as may be ! Yet would 
 I rather that we took this Norman by the beard, and 
 taught him the respect due to defenceless Saxon ladies. 
 But the gods are ever good, Gurth ; the time shall 
 yet come when thou and I may stand within yon 
 fellow's new-built walls and read him such sharp 
 
 2
 
 20 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 counsel as he needs. Try them thy luck at present 
 with the king. Men speak of him as stark and cruel, 
 yet I hold that he is not altogether unjust. Certain 
 is it that he is not unwise. Therefore do I think he 
 will speak the son of Wulf fair, for the Forest is a 
 troublesome way from London, and it would be well 
 for him to make firm friends of men tried and 
 strong, who live in the hearts of the western folk, 
 and who can keep their acres and his from the hands 
 of those thieving Welsh." 
 
 " My mind is as thine, good thane, on that matter," 
 answered Gurth, " and it is in this tried service of 
 our house and in the love the people bear us that 
 I place hopes of success for my plea." 
 
 Orcar made no further remark for the moment, but 
 sat watching the ruddy glow of the firelight as it 
 danced and flickered and wavered upon the golden 
 curls of the sleeping Edwy. He placed his hand 
 caressingly on the boy's head, and turning again to 
 the elder brother asked, almost whisperingly, " But 
 why goes the lad with thee, and why do ye journey 
 alone and unguarded ? Surely this is not thy mother's 
 plan ? " 
 
 " No," answered Gurth with a smile, "it is not ; 
 yet it hath her approval. Thou knowest there is 
 little danger for us in the Forest, and for the rest 
 of the journey I purposed showing the king how I 
 relied upon his presence to keep the neighbourhood 
 free from the enemies of law and order. I would show 
 him that I trust in him and in his power." 
 
 The old thane smiled grimly too. "Thou art 
 paying him a pretty compliment," he said, " and I
 
 THE SONS OF WULF RIDE TO GLOUCESTER. 2J 
 
 doubt not that thy faith will stand thee in good 
 stead." 
 
 For some time longer Gurth and his old friend 
 sat chatting by the winter firelight. Many things 
 had Orcar to ask of Gurth concerning his mother's 
 estate, the behaviour and well-doing of her vassals, 
 retainers, and servitors. Anxious too was he con- 
 cerning the young Edwy how the lad shaped in 
 athletic exercises and warlike sports ; his health, 
 strength, and powers of endurance. And much sage 
 advice did he give to the noble-spirited and adven- 
 turous lad how he should conduct himself before the 
 king, both as vassal and as the leading man of the 
 proud and powerful house of Wulf. 
 
 The hour of bedtime an early one at length 
 came, and soon afterwards the house of Orcar was 
 wrapped in sleep and silence. 
 
 The next morning broke bright and sunny, and 
 the lads were astir betimes. After a hearty break- 
 fast they mounted their wiry little Forest ponies, and, 
 accompanied by the old thane, rode on their way 
 north-eastwards to the city. 
 
 Much as Orcar approved of Gurth's policy of 
 appealing to the kingly vanity of the Conqueror by 
 his unguarded ride, yet he could not but see that 
 considerable risk was being run, and so, on pretext 
 of a morning gallop in their company, he proposed to 
 ride with them a part of the way. The lads were 
 mightily pleased at the prospect, and it was a merry 
 party that started off along the river-side road. The 
 old thane made the way merry with many a story, 
 and in less than two hours they stood at the ford
 
 22 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 of that branch, of the Severn which encircles the 
 western side of the island of Olney. 
 
 Here, after listening to a few last words of advice, 
 the lads parted from Orcar, and, fording the shallow 
 river, sped along the island causeway towards the 
 turrets and towers which rose against the blue-grey 
 winter sky before them. The thane watched them 
 until they disappeared in the distance amongst the 
 heavy farmers' wains labouring towards the city with 
 good things for the tables and stables of the king, 
 the abbot, and the worthy citizens. Then he turned 
 and rode sharply homewards, purposing to send a 
 speedy messenger to the Lady of the Dean announcing 
 the safe arrival of her sons at their destination.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 IN WHICH THEY MEET AN OLD FRIEND AND AN OLD 
 ENEMY. 
 
 /CROSSING the river again at the other side of the 
 \J island, the lads entered the city at the western 
 gate and ascended the sloping Westgate Street in the 
 direction of the abbey, at which place the Conqueror 
 was at present lodged. They had no intention of 
 seeking the royal presence at so early an hour, their 
 present object being merely the satisfaction of their 
 curiosity or rather the satisfaction of the curiosity 
 of Edwy, for Gurth was no stranger to the sights and 
 sounds of Gloucester. 
 
 Yet even he found plenty to attract his attention this 
 sharp December morning. The street was thronged 
 with bustling life. Stalwart men-at-arms appeared 
 everywhere, pages hurried to and fro on their masters' 
 errands, cowled and sandalled monks wandered out- 
 side the precincts of the beautiful abbey, sturdy 
 citizens stood at their doors or chatted with their 
 neighbours in the roadway, many a bright girlish face 
 looked out from the upper windows of the quaint 
 wooden houses, whilst here and there a tall, armed 
 knight strode by, accompanied by a small body-guard 
 of picked followers. 
 
 23
 
 24 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 Edwy's cheeks glowed and his eyes sparkled as lie 
 gazed on the animated scenes around him. Many 
 were the eager queries he addressed to his brother; 
 queries often answered with an unusual curtness, 
 sometimes not answered at all. 
 
 Though Gurth remained somewhat silent, his eyes 
 were busy, and his ears too, though he would fain have 
 shut out from the latter the French words and phrases 
 which assailed them so frequently. No one had 
 recognised him, and he had not met the face of a single 
 friend. Suddenly he pulled up and seized Edwy's 
 bridle-arm sharply. 
 
 " Dost see yonder fellow strutting so proudly along ? " 
 he exclaimed, at the same time pointing to the narrow 
 roadway which led down to the main gate of the 
 abbey. 
 
 The boy glanced in the direction indicated. 
 
 " I do," he answered. " Who is it ? " 
 
 " Gilbert of Tournay, thy enemy and mine," said 
 Gurth ; adding, " Our mother will at least have peace 
 from him whilst we are away. Perhaps he hath come 
 hither to crave from the king the gift of her hand in 
 marriage. It would not be the first time that a 
 Norman thief hath done so much." 
 
 The Saxon lad spoke angrily and bitterly now, and 
 he looked so long at the retreating, mailed figure, 
 that a man-at-arms touched him lightly on the hand 
 and asked whether he wished to speak to the " noble 
 knight." 
 
 Gurth started round and looked the fellow full in 
 the face. " Ay ! " replied he sharply, " but not now." 
 
 The two lads rode quickly on again. When they
 
 AN OLD FRIEND AND AN OLD ENEMY. 25 
 
 had gone a little distance the elder remarked, " That 
 last sight hath given me my fill of sightseeing for 
 the present. Come, let us seek the house of John 
 the Smith in Eaclburga Street, where onr mother 
 bade ns stay." 
 
 In a few moments more they stopped at the door 
 of the worthy craftsman. An apprentice lolled lazily 
 against the doorpost a sure sign that his master 
 was absent, for John the Smith was well known as 
 a clever and industrious workman, and as a master 
 who allowed no idleness in those who worked for 
 him. At such a time too as the present, when the 
 city was full of soldiers, a trusted smith would have 
 his hands full of work. Gurth enquired of the 
 apprentice whether his master was at home. The 
 youth replied that he was not, and that he would 
 not be at home until noon. 
 
 " Then," said Gurth, " is his wife, the good dame 
 Alicia, within?" 
 
 " Ay," answered the other slowly, " she is." 
 
 Upon this Gurth dismounted, handed the bridle 
 of his pony to the apprentice, and bade him take the 
 somewhat tired steeds to the stables. The youth 
 eyed the two lads for a moment, then did as he was 
 told, and Gurth and Edwy entered the house. 
 
 The good-wife of the smith welcomed the lads most 
 cordially. She had been apprised of their coming 
 some days before, and everything was in readiness 
 for their reception. 
 
 She and her good-man were Forest bred, and both 
 were in a way connected with the house of Wulf. 
 Alicia's father had been house-carle to Gurth's father
 
 26 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 and grandfather, whilst John, son of another house- 
 carle, had been bound apprentice to a noted smith 
 of Cinderford. Having early made a reputation 
 beyond that of his master, he no sooner found himself 
 out of his apprenticeship than he married Alicia 
 and sought wealth and renown in the city. Both 
 these had undoubtedly come to him. His work was 
 the best along the westernjborder, and it was whispered 
 amongst the bold youths of the city that the fair 
 daughter of the smith would have a marriage portion 
 worthy of the purse of a merchant. In all city 
 matters the opinion of the stout smith was one that 
 received most respectful consideration. 
 
 The house of John the Smith, too, was no mean 
 dwelling-place, and it was not every man even of 
 thane's rank who would have found welcome lodg- 
 ment there as did Gurth and Edwy. But the worthy 
 John and his good-wife still looked upon Gurth as 
 their natural lord and master. Their fathers had 
 served his, they themselves had served the house 
 of Wulf in their youth, and their friends and relatives 
 were still its sworn vassals. 
 
 Concerning these friends and relatives Alicia had 
 many questions to ask ; many respectful enquiries too 
 did she make as to the doings and sayings of the Lady 
 of the Dean, who, before her marriage into a higher 
 sphere, had been a companion and playfellow of hers. 
 
 Edwy claimed a great deal of her attention ; she 
 had never seen the lad before, and was liberal in her 
 praises of his " sweet face and bonny curls." 
 
 The good woman had no son of her own, and Edwy 
 was of that frank, engaging, boyish nature which
 
 AN OLD FRIEND AND AN OLD ENEMY. 27 
 
 appeals so strongly to a sonless mother's heart. He 
 bore her caresses and endearments somewhat shame- 
 facedly, much to the amusement of Gurth. 
 
 In this genial happy fashion the morning sped 
 quickly away, and the noon soon came, bringing with 
 it the return of the smith himself. His welcome of 
 the lads was no less warm than that of his wife, 
 but more boisterous and a little less deferential. He 
 was in the forefront of a famous profession and 
 prond of his position. 
 
 " I am pleased to see ye both ! " he exclaimed, 
 grasping a hand of theirs warmly in each of his own. 
 " And how wags the world with thee ? How is the 
 good lady, your mother ? and how fare the good folk 
 of the Forest ? " 
 
 " Well, John," answered Gurth ; " and I thank thee 
 for thy greeting. I have little need to ask thee of 
 thy health, thy face speaks well in praise of it ; and 
 as to thy affairs, thy good-wife tells me they prosper 
 more than ever." 
 
 " I thank God that in that matter her fair words 
 are but simple truth," replied the smith. " Fortune 
 hath been ever kind to me, and this visit of our king 
 is like to advance me more. I will tell thee that I 
 am in good hopes that he will accept a sword at 
 my hands." 
 
 " If that be so, I trust thou wilt so far honour thy 
 birthplace as to make it of good Forest steel," said 
 Gurth. 
 
 " I will make it of no other ! " cried John, bringing 
 his fist down on the table by way of emphasis. " It 
 shall be true Forest blade from the mines of Wulf
 
 28 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 and from mine own smithy. Moreover, I had pro- 
 posed, my lord Garth, if thou wilt so far honour 
 a vassal of the house to forge thee thy first full 
 man's sword from the same bar." 
 
 " There thou dost honour me ! " exclaimed Gurth, 
 springing to his feet, his eyes glistening with pleasure. 
 
 " It is what I always hoped to do for thee, as the 
 good-wife knows," said John quietly. 
 
 " And I promise thee that, after thou shalt put it 
 in mine hands, I will use no other. A Forest blade 
 should be used to defend the Forest rights." 
 
 "Which I promise me it will do, as long as the 
 hand of a Wulf shall wield it," added John. " But 
 come, good dame, have not thy maids prepared the 
 noonday repast ? " 
 
 " It awaits thee," replied Alicia. 
 
 " Then we'll to it, for, by the saints of this sharp 
 Christmastide weather, I'm hungry ! And so should 
 our young masters be, too, after their ride. I know 
 the Forest appetite." 
 
 "Which appetite I am full eager to show thee 
 again, John," said Gurth laughingly. 
 
 " Come, then," cried the host, drawing aside some 
 thick woollen hangings and disclosing a well-spread 
 table, around which the apprentices were already 
 gathered. 
 
 The two guests were placed at the right hand of 
 their host at the top, cross-wise placed table, on his 
 left hand being his wife and his daughter Elgiva, 
 the last-named making her appearance for the first 
 time. Gurth greeted her kindly, and courteously 
 presented her to his younger brother.
 
 AN OLD FRIEND AND AN OLD ENEMY. 29 
 
 During the progress of the meal, onr host and his 
 guests chattered freely and familiarly upon private 
 concerns of mutual interest, and the rare and more 
 enthralling topic, the visit of the king. On this 
 matter the lads had many questions to ask, and 
 the good smith, well acquainted with all that went on, 
 was only too pleased to give them every information. 
 The good- wife Alicia looked after the creature comfort 
 of the apprentices with a motherly interest, and the 
 latter for some time bent all their energies to eating 
 and drinking, with just a glance at the fair daughter 
 of the house and the two noble guests by way of 
 relaxation. 
 
 As soon, however, as the claims of their appetites 
 became less pressing, their tongues began to wag 
 freely. There was just a round dozen of them, and 
 on all subjects except three, there was, as a rule, a 
 round dozen of more or less contrary opinions. The 
 three, subjects upon which they were all agreed were : 
 First, that John the Smith was anything but an 
 easy master to serve. Second, that the Dame Alicia 
 was a good, motherly soul, who deserved to have a 
 son, for she looked after other mothers' sons so well. 
 The third subject may well be divided into three 
 parts. Jt concerned the smith's daughter, and the 
 parts were as follows : Firstly, she was the most 
 winsome lassie 'neath the blue dome of heaven ; 
 secondly, the apprentice that is, the good apprentice 
 often wooed and won his master's daughter, if 
 he had one ; thirdly, each apprentice considered 
 himself the appointed youth for this interesting 
 romance.
 
 30 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 Many a swollen nose, many a cracked skull, many 
 a blackened eye had the smith's fair daughter helped 
 to doctor, little suspecting that she herself was the 
 innocent cause of the wounds and bruises. 
 
 And now, no doubt, many of our young readers are 
 anxious to know what the young lady herself was 
 like. We will satisfy their natural curiosity. 
 
 Elgiva for so the young lady was called had just 
 entered her seventeenth year. She was fair, blue-eyed, 
 tall ; her hair was flaxen and wavy ; her face decidedly 
 pretty, and also decidedly roguish and mischievous. 
 The quiet humour lurking in her merry eyes and in 
 the dimpled corners of her mouth had kept many 
 a youthful tongue silent, and many a bashful young 
 apprentice in the background ; they were afraid to 
 speak or act, lest they should be made to appear 
 foolish and ridiculous. 
 
 To say she ruled the household was only to speak 
 the bare truth. Her father idolised her, her mother 
 loved her as only a fond mother can love an only 
 child, whilst every apprentice was her devoted slave. 
 Elgiva was, however, no tyrant ; she delighted not 
 to be waited upon, but to wait ; upon others. Many 
 a poor house- wife, many a sick child, knew her as their 
 best friend. So the apprentices of John the Smith, 
 each and all, loved his only daughter and quarrelled 
 and fought over her in right good fashion. 
 
 To-day they forgot their rivalry, forgot to watch 
 each other, and regarded only the young thane of the 
 house of Wulf. Why came he from his Forest home 
 at Yuletide? Why lodged he in the house of the 
 smith ? Did he love their young mistress, or did he
 
 AN OLD FRIEND AND AN OLD ENEMY. 31 
 
 covet only her father's wealth ? These were trouble- 
 some questions, and each sinewy youth made it his 
 business to trouble greatly about them. 
 
 They might well, however, have spared all their little 
 heart-burnings and questionings. The son of Wulf 
 came not to woo the fair daughter of the smith ; other 
 and weightier reasons brought him from home at 
 Yuletide. Indeed, so engrossed was he by these 
 reasons that he had not given one thought to Elgiva 
 since he had presented his brother to her. 
 
 On the other hand, Edwy, neglected by his brother 
 and the smith, spent much of his time in gazing at 
 the young girl. The merry sparkle in her eyes 
 proclaimed her to be quite the equal of his own 
 sister at a romp, and he heartily wished himself at her 
 side. Edwy was still of an age when a merry girl 
 is looked upon as a desirable playmate, whilst Gurth, 
 just springing into manhood, had ceased to think of 
 them as playmates, and had not yet begun to think 
 of them as helpmates. Therefore did the apprentices 
 of John the Smith trouble their minds unnecessarily. 
 
 Dinner, protracted longer than usual, came to an 
 end at length, and each one set about his or her 
 particular duty or pleasure. Edwy found himself 
 where he had wished to be namely, at Elgiva's side, 
 engaged in a sprightly conversation. Gurth and the 
 smith were inspecting the forge and workshop of the 
 latter, whither, too, the apprentices had returned 
 to work. Dame Alicia was about her household 
 duties. Thus engaged, we will leave them now until 
 the time of sunset.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 IN WHICH GUETH MEETS WITH AN ADVENTURE. 
 
 DURING the afternoon Garth had made the smith 
 fully acquainted with the object of his visit, and 
 had received from him much sound and serviceable 
 advice. 
 
 The young thane was particularly anxious to get 
 some knowledge of the real temper and disposition 
 of the king, for much as he depended upon the justice 
 and chivalry of his cause, yet he desired to place 
 everything in as effective a light as possible. Gurth 
 had his own ideas of what a king should be, but 
 rumour in the western shires credited the Conqueror 
 with many unkingly attributes. To most minds he 
 was a harsh, unscrupulous tyrant, a hater and 
 oppressor of the Saxon, and chiefly bent upon en- 
 riching himself and rewarding rascally followers. 
 
 Much of this Gurth disbelieved, and some of it the 
 smith swore to be untrue. 
 
 " Stark man he is, I grant thee, to them that with- 
 stand him ; strong is he in will and in arm ; yet is 
 his will not always directed to work evil, nor his arm 
 to bruise and slay. I would trust a good cause to 
 his judgment rather than to that of any other man in 
 England I There, my lord, is my opinion," said John.
 
 IN WHICH GURTH MEETS WITH AN ADVENTURE. 33 
 
 " Bat what if he hath promised aught to any 
 man ? " asked Gurth. " And how stands this master- 
 thief, Gilbert of Tournay, with him ? " 
 
 "Ha! there," answered the smith, " thonhast cause 
 for much disquiet. He will not break his word 
 without good reason, and I fear the knight stands 
 well in the king's graces." 
 
 " He is liar and nithing ! " cried Gurth aogrily. 
 
 " Then prove him that, and thyself true man, and 
 I know in what quarter the king's favour will lie," 
 said the smith. 
 
 " The point is," replied Gurth, " whether the king 
 be concerned in this fellow's knaveries. If so, it will 
 hardly please the master-knave to hear his servant 
 proclaimed a rogue." 
 
 " On that point I cannot help thee," said John. 
 
 The smith and the young thane then separated, and 
 shortly afterwards the latter went forth into the city 
 and walked in the direction of the river. He paced 
 up and down the high banks, and watched the swollen, 
 muddy stream as it swept on in the direction of his 
 own home. He ! lifted his eyes to the western horizon, 
 which glowed luridly with the deep red of the winter 
 sunset. The same red light, he knew, dyed the turrets 
 and gables of his Forest home. His thoughts flew 
 thither instantly. How fared his lady-mother, the 
 angel and idol of his warm, youthful heart ? What 
 news should he carry back to her ? Would they be 
 glad or sorry ? Would tears of joy or tears of pain 
 spring to his mother's eyes when next they lighted 
 on him? 
 
 These and many other questions the lad asked
 
 34 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 himself as he gazed over the low, rich meadows 
 towards the dark hills which studded the Forest. 
 His mood had changed considerably since he entered 
 the city in the fresh early morning. Young, brave, 
 hopeful, he was inexperienced in the ways of kings, 
 and courts, and cities. He had but little skill 
 in, and no taste for, intrigue. He could meet a foe 
 boldly, and strike hard; but he gathered from the 
 shrewd, worldly remarks of the smith, that something 
 more than a stout heart, a truthful tongue, and a 
 fearless eye was necessary to fight the crooked ways 
 of knavish foes. Though not dispirited, he was 
 grown less sanguine, and his first simple, manly 
 scheme for appealing to the king seemed to have 
 grown childish. 
 
 Pondering ways and means of action, he stood by 
 the Severn until ;the last red rays of the sun were 
 vanquished by the strong, silvern beams of the moon. 
 Then he turned citywards, entered the gates again, 
 and strode slowly and thoughtfully up the Westgate 
 Street. Instead of proceeding at once to the house 
 of the smith he wended his way towards the abbey, 
 curiosity prompting him to a closer survey of the 
 walls which he must soon enter in order to appeal to 
 the royal guest within. 
 
 A beautiful sight was not lost upon Gurth, bred as 
 he had been in the arms of untamed nature and the 
 wild solitudes of the Forest. He stood in the shadow 
 of a buttress near a sharp angle of the wall, and gazed 
 with a feeling of pride upon the scene before him, the 
 folk of the western shire were truly proud of their 
 ancient capital city.
 
 IN WHICH GUETH MEETS WITH AN ADVENTURE. 35 
 
 The moonlight streamed down on pinnacle, tower, 
 and turret, casting long shadows on the snow-strewn 
 roof, and flashing from the crystal icicles which hung 
 pendant from the overhanging stonework and tracery. 
 From within the walls came mingled sounds of voices 
 and the ring and clang of arms and armour, and from 
 the large, mullioned casements flared the red light of 
 torches. The main gate of the abbey, which was only 
 a few yards distant, stood wide open, and knight and 
 soldier, monk and tradesman passed and repassed its 
 portals. 
 
 Gurth drew a little nearer, and as he did so two 
 tall figures came down the narrow roadway from the 
 street. He halted, and his blood warmed as he 
 observed the easy, insolent air with which they 
 approached. He had noticed that but few Saxons 
 of the city held themselves so proudly. As the two 
 came on he saw that one was in full armour, whilst 
 the other, and apparently younger one, was lightly 
 armed and foppishly dressed. 
 
 The sound of their voices reached him, and Gurth 
 felt his grip instinctively tighten upon the handle 
 of the light hunting-spear he carried ; his breath, 
 too, came quick and hard. 
 
 " Shall I then meet thee morn and night ? " he 
 muttered. The armed man was the arch-enemy of 
 his house Gilbert of Tournay. 
 
 They reached the gate, and halted. The knight 
 Gilbert addressed some question to his companion, 
 and the latter, replying with some laughing remark, 
 turned upon his heel and walked rapidly back towards 
 the street. 
 
 3
 
 36 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 The young thane caught the last few words of 
 this remark, and they immediately riveted his atten- 
 tion upon the speaker. The words were : " Rather 
 is it to steal a kiss from the lips of a pretty Saxon 
 wench." They cut Gurth like the lash of a whip. He 
 knew what they meant, and he remembered a similar 
 coarse remark which Gilbert of Tournay had once 
 made concerning his own mother. 
 
 He had vowed to avenge that insult, and he 
 determined now that the young Norman should molest 
 no Saxon maid that night if he could prevent it. He 
 followed him, a fierce anger burning at his heart. 
 
 Presently the Norman slackened his pace ; then 
 stopped. Gurth did so too. 
 
 " So thy victim is already chosen/' he muttered 
 betwixt his firm-set teeth. " The less distance then 
 shall I have to track thee." 
 
 He leant on his spear and waited. The minutes 
 flew by, and the young Norman got impatient ; but 
 Gurth never stirred. He watched him like a lynx, 
 striving to plainly distinguish his features in the 
 moonlight. This he found impossible to do, but he 
 comforted himself with the thought that he should 
 scan them at closer quarters before long. The house 
 they were both watching was almost within the 
 precincts of the abbey. 
 
 At last the door opened, and a hooded, girlish 
 figure stepped forth into the moonlight. The Norman 
 came from his hiding-place and stole after it ; Gurth 
 followed him. The girl had not gone many yards be- 
 fore she perceived that she was followed. She stopped 
 suddenly in her walk. After a moment's hesitation
 
 IN WHICH GURTH MEETS WITH AN ADVENTURE. 37 
 
 she turned back in the pathway and took a narrower 
 but shorter one leading into the Westgate Street. 
 
 Gurth smiled grimly. " Yon Norman," he muttered, 
 " will find a score or so of stout Saxon youths ready 
 to crack his skull, if he meddle with the maiden in 
 the main thoroughfare." 
 
 The Norman apparently thought the same, for he 
 considerably quickened his pace, and, unless the 
 girl took to running, bade fair to intercept her in 
 the darkest and narrowest part of the path. Gurth 
 followed as doggedly as Fate. The Norman gained, 
 stride by stride ; and at length the girl, after casting 
 repeated glances behind her, gave up the race as hope- 
 less, and leant, panting and breathless, against the side 
 of a small house in the sharp angle of the pathway. 
 
 The Norman laughed softly ; she could not have 
 stopped in a better place. A minute more and he 
 was beside her. 
 
 The girl stood with tightened lips, and for a moment 
 looked at him proudly and defiantly. Then she spoke. 
 " Why do you follow me, sir ? " 
 
 The Norman made a mock courtesy, and replied : 
 " My pretty one, would you ask why life follows the 
 sun? or rather why my poor lunatic fancy should 
 follow its glorious moon ? " 
 
 The girl made no answer. 
 
 " You are silent, my pretty damsel ! " 
 
 " I have nothing to say to you, except that it is 
 not manly to stop a defenceless girl." 
 
 " Be not so harsh," said the fellow lispingly. " I 
 will be your knight by my soul ! you are worthy one 
 and will escort you whither you are going, asking
 
 38 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 no favour higher than a kiss from those pretty lips. 
 Believe me, it was to protect so beautiful a maiden that 
 I left my friends and turned back to wait for you." 
 
 Again the girl made no answer, only tapped her 
 foot impatiently. 
 
 The young Norman sighed affectedly and continued 
 his chatter. 
 
 " Ah I sweet one," said he, " those pretty lips are 
 pale and pressed all out of shape. Come, just one 
 kiss will bring the rich colour back again, and charm 
 them into the form of Cupid's bow." 
 
 He made a step forward, reaching out his left arm 
 as if to encircle her waist. It never BO much as 
 touched the hem of her cloak. There was the sound 
 of a quick " swish " in the air, then a resounding 
 " crack," and the Norman sprang back with an oath. 
 English ash had met Norman bone ; the result, the 
 Norman bone in the wrist had cracked like a dry twig ! 
 
 Quickly following the blow there came the apparition 
 which had dealt it. Its arm immediately and vigor- 
 ously wound itself round the waist of the trembling 
 girl. Moreover, there was no demur ; but instead, a 
 quick cry of joy and a whispered exclamation, " Gurth!" 
 And this happy exclamation came from the lips of 
 Elgiva, the bonny daughter of John the Smith ! 
 
 All this had taken place in an instant, and in an 
 instant too the Norman recovered his self-possession. 
 His right hand was uninjured. He drew his dagger, 
 and with a cry of pain and rage sprang at Gurth. 
 
 The Saxon lad, however, was as quick as his 
 assailant. There was another ominous " swish," and 
 the dagger went spinning into the air.
 
 IN WHICH GUKTH MEETS WITH AN ADVENTUKE. 39 
 
 " Diable ! " yelled the baffled fellow, wringing his 
 hand. 
 
 Gurth gave a quiet langh, and, striding forward, 
 turned his foe's face to the light of the moon. He 
 scanned it intently. 
 
 " I shall know thee again," he said. 
 
 " I shall know thee, too, thou varlet ! " hissed the 
 other. His right hand was only bruised, and he 
 attempted to draw his sword. Gurth sent him 
 sprawling into the snow. 
 
 " Thou shalt hang for this at thy master's door," 
 cried the Norman, staggering to his feet. 
 
 " That will be before the king's palace, then," 
 answered Gurth, " for I own service to no other man." 
 
 " Thou shalt hang at mine, thou Saxon knave ! " 
 
 "The Norman cur shall hardly hang the Saxon 
 Wulf!" 
 
 "Ah! Wolf, sayestthou?" 
 
 " Ay ! Thou canst tell thy brother cur him of 
 Tournay that thou hast felt the Wulf's fangs. They 
 shall tug at his throat before long." 
 
 Without another word Gurth turned on his heel 
 and walked away. The Norman watched his retreat- 
 ing figure, then picked up his dagger, and went 
 towards the abbey. 
 
 "So this is the stripling of whom Gilbert spake. 
 His house shall make a fire to thaw a frosty night 
 before this winter is out," he muttered. 
 
 Gurth and his charge walked on rapidly and in 
 silence. They crossed the Westgate Street. Then 
 Elgiva stopped. 
 " I cannot walk so quickly," she said.
 
 40 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 " Forgive my thoughtlessness ! " cried Gnrth sorrow- 
 fully. " My blood is heated, and I marked not the 
 pace at which I was going." 
 
 He gave her his hand, and they went slowly on. 
 
 " I have not thanked thee yet for my deliverance," 
 said Elgiva timidly. 
 
 " But I have thanked myself in my good fortune," 
 answered Gurth, with a smile. " Why didst thou go 
 forth alone ? Would none of the 'prentice-lads 
 accompany thee ? They are stout fellows and well 
 able to keep meddling rascals at a distance." 
 
 Elgiva blushed, and her hand trembled in Gurth's. 
 " I cannot have them, they would quarrel with every 
 Norman who looked at me," she said hurriedly ; 
 " and thou knowest what yon fellow said of hanging 
 at their master's door." 
 
 Gurth glanced at her laughingly. He saw the blush. 
 
 "I know he spake of hanging me" he answered 
 merrily. " Hast thou no care for my life ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes ; but but, I would rather thou didst 
 me the service. I mean I mean, he cannot hang 
 thee ; thou art of noble birth." 
 
 Poor Elgiva blushed rosily red this time, and in 
 her confusion loosed her hold on Gurth's hand. 
 
 He blushed too, and looked intently at the point 
 of his spear. He took her hand again. " I would 
 rather, too, that I did thee this service. 'Tis a duty 
 I owe thine house." 
 
 "Yes, that is it," cried Elgiva, quickening her 
 pace to an alarming rate. " We are vassals still of 
 the house of Wulf, and it seems meet that its lord 
 should shield us."
 
 IN WHICH GUBTH MEETS WITH AN ADVENTUBE. 41 
 
 Gurth was now in no mood for hurry. Eadburga 
 Street was close at hand. Soon the two were walk- 
 ing more slowly than ever. 
 
 Elgiva spoke again. " Thon wilt not tell my 
 father what has happened?" 
 
 " Not if thou wilt promise me to go forth no more 
 alone." 
 
 " I will ask my father to accompany me." 
 
 " And if he cannot come ? " 
 
 " I do not know." 
 
 " Thou wilt stay at home ? " 
 
 " I cannot always. There are sick ones to visit." 
 
 " While I am here, wilt thou make me thy com- 
 panion on these errands of mercy ? " 
 
 " I cannot do so. I will take some apprentice- 
 lads whom my father shall choose." 
 
 " Thou shalt do that after I'm gone. Thou hast 
 shown me that it is my duty to protect the vassals of 
 mine house ; and there is none worthier of that protec- 
 tion than thou art," added the young thane warmly. 
 
 The blood tingled in the girl's cheeks as she mur- 
 mured a few shy words of thanks. 
 
 Gurth's cheeks were glowing too. They reached 
 the door ; their hands were still clasped. They 
 looked each into the other's face. Elgiva's eyes were 
 moist ; and there was a little lump in Gurth's throat. 
 He looked at her lips ; they were fall of colour now 
 and trembling. He thought of the Norman's words. 
 Elgiva thought of them too, and her heart throbbed, 
 almost painfully. Gurth bent his head, then raised 
 her fingers to his lips. A little sob escaped the girl 
 as they entered the house.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 IN WHICH GURTH MEETS THE KING. 
 
 ONE result of Gurth's evening adventure was a 
 night of broken and fitful slumber ; an actual 
 encounter with one of his foes had stirred his blood 
 and fired his spirits, and he burned now to grasp the 
 smith's sword and head an onslaught upon them all. 
 He had never greatly desired a peaceful settlement of 
 the feud ; he desired it less than ever now. It was 
 well that he sojourned at present under the roof of the 
 shrewd and worldly-wise smith ; had the thane Orcar 
 been his host, some jointly-planned deed of daring 
 might have given matters an ugly, perhaps fatal turn. 
 Many such wild plans coursed through his brain. 
 
 Long before day dawned, the male portion of the 
 smith's household was astir. There was much to be 
 done ; so, whilst the wintry sky still throbbed in the 
 clear starlight, the forges roared, the anvils clanged, 
 and the bright steel flashed in the fire and torchlight. 
 The sounds came dully to the ears of Gurth ; they 
 rang in tune with his warlike thoughts, and he arose 
 from his pallet, dressed, and went forth into the 
 frosty, starlit morning. 
 
 He bent his steps towards the smithy, pushed open 
 the great oaken wicket, and entered. 
 
 At the nearest anvil, clad in leathern tunic and 
 
 42
 
 IN WHICH GURTH MEETS THE KING. 43 
 
 apron, his great arms bared to the shoulder, stood the 
 doughty John. With a short-hafted but weighty 
 hammer, he rained vigorous and resounding blows 
 upon a short piece of glowing steel which a young 
 apprentice held in a pair of pincers. Near to him two 
 other smiths were similarly engaged upon a long 
 bar. Scattered around in little groups were others 
 who hammered, or burnished, or polished. One 
 sturdy apprentice plied the bellows handle with might 
 and main. The smoke wreathed and rolled in snaky 
 clouds amongst the rafters ; the fires roared, the 
 anvils rang, the sparks flew, the water hissed and 
 steamed, the torches smoked and flared ; everywhere 
 was din and clangour, smoke and fire. Vulcan him- 
 self could not have made more heat and noise. Gurth, 
 chilled as he was with a night of restless tossing and 
 a half-sleepy excursion into the biting, morning air, 
 felt his whole frame glow as he watched them. 
 
 "When the dawn is rung in with the smithy's din 
 There's a fight to lose and a fight to win ! " 
 
 sang a yellow-haired apprentice-lad as he held the edge 
 of a ponderous axe upon the flying grinding-wheel. 
 
 Gurth started ; the words were an echo of his own 
 thoughts. 
 
 The smith looked up and bade him a cheery " good- 
 morning ! " A moment later he bellowed : " There 
 is something in yon corner to please thine eye ! " 
 He paused just long enough in his hammering to 
 indicate a distant corner of the building, and then 
 the din rang out again. 
 
 Gurth threaded his way amongst the workmen
 
 44 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 in the direction in which the smith's hammer had 
 pointed, and found himself by the side of a venerable 
 artificer indeed, none other than the famous Leofric, 
 the most renowned engraver of devices in steel which 
 the whole of the western and midland shires 
 possessed. 
 
 Gurth had heard of the marvellous cunning of 
 Leofric in his work, but he had never before met 
 him face to face. 
 
 The engraver looked up as the newcomer halted 
 near him, and subjected him to a not too friendly 
 scrutiny. At the unmistakable Saxon appearance 
 of the young thane, however, his features relaxed 
 into something like a smile : during the past few 
 days he had had more than enough of the masterful 
 airs and remarks iof the young Norman bloods who 
 had come in the train of the king. It was upon the 
 blade of the king's sword that he was now working, 
 and he wrought with a sullen determination to make 
 the blade worthy the scabbard of the proudest king 
 in Christendom, and worthy also of the skill and 
 cunning of a Saxon graver. 
 
 He paused for a while in his work and looked at 
 Gurth, watching the face of the latter as he gazed 
 with admiration upon the steel lying on the bench 
 before him. 
 
 Neither spoke, but there was a look of pleasure on 
 the old fellow's face as he bent again to his task. 
 The ends of his long white beard trailed on his work, 
 and the steel curled in long, thin strips before the 
 keen edge of the graver's tool, guided as it was with un- 
 erring force and precision by the long, nervous fingers
 
 IN WHICH GUBTH MEETS THE KING. 45 
 
 and quick grey eye of Leofric. The design, of crowns 
 and lions, dragons and serpents, and warlike mottoes 
 in quaint Saxon characters, was nearly completed 
 ere Gurth appeared. 
 
 Soon came the melting-pot and the gold, and the 
 young thane saw the devices blazoned forth in 
 glittering yellow lines. His heart throbbed as the 
 whole thing grew before his eyes. 
 
 The time flew on ; an hour had passed. Then 
 suddenly clang and clamour ceased, the whirr and 
 hiss stopped, and master, men, and apprentices pre- 
 pared to respond to the call to the morning meal. 
 The smith came to see the progress of the work, and 
 he rubbed his hands with glee as he beheld it. 
 
 " What thinkest thou of that, my lord ? " cried he 
 to Gurth. 
 
 " It is worthy the hand of Odin himself! " answered 
 the youth enthusiastically. 
 
 "Thou art right. And, mark me, it shall teach 
 the tongues and necks of the slanderers of our Saxon 
 handicraft a lesson. It is right well and truly wrought, 
 and proud am I to have forged the steel for the good 
 Leofric's hand." 
 
 " Thy steel, Sir Smith, is worthy any man's chisel," 
 replied Leofric gravely ; " I have never put point to 
 harder or truer metal." 
 
 " Then should the king be satisfied," said Gurth, 
 with an envious sigh ; and, with one more lingering 
 look at the glittering object, he turned towards the 
 open wicket through which workman and apprentice 
 had clamorously passed some minutes before. John 
 and Leofric followed.
 
 46 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 The morning meal was taken in haste, and with 
 less than the usual amount of clamour. Indeed, 
 with the exception of Edwy and one or two of the 
 younger and more heedless apprentices, all seemed 
 more or less preoccupied. Gurth's mind was filled 
 with many wonderings and vague schemes, and a pre- 
 sentiment of immediate happenings of great import 
 troubled him. He determined to set out with his 
 brother and seek relaxation by another ramble through 
 the streets of the city. He longed, too, for another 
 glance at the face of the familiar river. 
 
 Immediately after breakfast he set forth, and in 
 a quarter of an hour stood by the water's side. There 
 was a keen north-east wind blowing, and this and 
 the ruddy-tinged December sun had effectually cleared 
 the morning mists from the damp, low-lying, river 
 meadows. Both lads felt cheered and inspirited, and, 
 at the suggestion of Edwy, strode off to watch a game 
 of hockey, at that moment in full swing on one of 
 the frozen meadow ponds. 
 
 The players were youthful, and withal noisy. 
 Suddenly the noise increased to a marked extent ; 
 there was a quick rush to one corner of the pond, a 
 great brandishing of sticks, a confused babel of shouts 
 and angry exclamations, then clear, shrill cries of 
 " To the river ! " " Duck him ! " and the whole body 
 ran clamorously river wards, hustling in their midst 
 a showily-dressed boy who screamed and struggled 
 against them in vain. Gurth started towards them 
 with a quick run, but they were before him, and with 
 yells of anger and derision hurled the hapless youngster 
 down the steep, snow-covered banks, crashing through
 
 IN WHICH GURTH MEETS THE KING. 47 
 
 the withered reeds into the yellow, muddy, icy river. 
 Our young thane was just in time to see him rise, 
 gasping and voiceless, from his unwelcome bath. 
 Hardly slackening his pace, he slid down the bank, 
 swam out to the unlucky victim, and dragged him 
 ashore ere he could sink again. This done, he turned 
 quickly upon the now silent crowd of adversaries, and 
 demanded what they meant by all turning upon 
 one lad. 
 
 " He is Norman ! " blurted out one rosy, yellow- 
 haired urchin. 
 
 " He called us ugly names, and laughed at our 
 game," added another ; and the babel began again. 
 The chorus of it all was : " He is Norman ! proud ! 
 insolent ! To the river with the saucy dog ! " 
 
 " Ye are a pack of cowards ! " said Gurth warmly. 
 " Could not one of ye come forward and fight him, 
 man to man ? I'm ashamed of ye ; the Norman 
 hath better pluck, and I have a mind to trounce 
 ye all for your lack of Saxon fair play. And as for 
 you," added he, turning to the shivering, dripping 
 page (for such his dress betokened him to be), "it 
 would become you to learn good manners, and to keep 
 a humbler tongue in your head." 
 
 "I would teach thee better manners, Sir Saxon, 
 than to talk to me of humility towards yon swine, 
 were it not that thou hast rendered me good service," 
 responded the youth, as hotly and with as much 
 dignity as his loudly chattering teeth permitted him. 
 " And as for ye," cried he, turning to his foes, " if 
 there be a whole skin left among ye by vesper time, 
 my name is not Geoffrey de Tarbeux.'' So saying he
 
 48 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 stalked loftily away, followed by threats, challenges, 
 and taunts, which he was sarcastically invited to 
 scatter broadcast amongst his Norman friends. 
 
 After a few moments spent in pacifying and lecturing 
 the hotheaded English youngsters, Gurth, prompted 
 by a sudden thought, turned and hastily followed in 
 the wake of the Norman boy. The latter had advanced 
 but a little way citywards, and to Gurth his steps 
 appeared to grow perceptibly shorter and slower. 
 A short, quick run and he was at his side. He found 
 his conjecture was only too true. Under the biting 
 influence of the keen north-east wind it was freezing 
 sharply. Young de Tarbeux's sodden clothes were 
 stiffening round his limbs, and these were already 
 almost benumbed inside their icy and clammy cover- 
 ing. A few more feeble strides and he must have 
 fallen. Without a word, Gurth seized one arm, 
 Edwy another, and between them they dragged the 
 half-frozen youngster along at a brisk pace. Cir- 
 culation was soon partially restored, but Gurth, 
 catching sight of a serfs cottage in an angle of the 
 meadow, made off at once towards it, for he deemed 
 that the sooner the boy found warmth and shelter 
 the better it would be for him. They gained instant 
 admission, and in a short time the unlucky one 
 lay before the blazing fire of turf, snugly wrapped 
 in a sheepskin, and moodily sipping a horn of 
 warm mead, his clothes spread on a rude bench 
 near him. 
 
 After extracting a promise from the rough but 
 kindly " huswife " that she would carefully tend her 
 charge for a few hours, the two young Saxons left
 
 IN WHICH GUETH MEETS THE KING. 49 
 
 him and wended their way back towards the city. 
 Gurth was chilled and benumbed himself, and, although 
 he had taken advantage of his brief stay in the 
 shepherd's hut to partially dry himself, still, he felt 
 that the sooner he reached the smith's house the better 
 for his comfort. 
 
 On reaching Eadburga Street, however, our young 
 Saxons saw that something unusual was astir ; horses, 
 servitors, and pages thronged the roadway, and gaping 
 youths and men crowded and crushed in every door- 
 way and under every arch. Having no servitors to 
 run before them and cry " Make way 1 " they found 
 progress a slow and difficult matter, especially as the 
 crowd, both of followers and loiterers, increased as 
 they neared the smith's house. Indeed, had it not been 
 for a timely meeting with an apprentice, who loudly 
 proclaimed their degree and place of lodgment, it is 
 probable that they would have reached their destination 
 only when the cavalcade moved onward from it. 
 Very few moments amongst the jostling throng sufficed 
 to inform Gurth that the cause of all was no less a 
 matter than a visit of the king to the smithy of his 
 friend John. 
 
 The young lads' pulses quickened as they realised 
 this. Gurth saw an opportunity of seeing and studying 
 the king without tremor or embarrassment, an ad- 
 vantage too important and too valuable to be lost. 
 He therefore elbowed his way more lustily than ever 
 through the throng, earning by this proceeding many a 
 muttered curse from the Norman henchmen. These, 
 however, he wisely let pass unheeded, and presently 
 found himself in the spacious hall of the smith's house,
 
 50 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 panting and heated, his damp clothes clinging clammily 
 to his warm limbs. 
 
 He hastily thanked the young apprentice who 
 had so opportunely come to his assistance, and then 
 hurried away to don the only change of clothing he 
 had with him viz., those which he had provided 
 for his audience with the king. This was soon accom- 
 plished, and in a few moments Gurth and Edwy had 
 ensconced themselves in a darkened corner of the 
 smithy, but in such a position that they could easily 
 see the king as he stood near the forge examining a 
 number of weapons of the smith's construction. A 
 score or so of his nobles stood around him in holiday 
 attire, and the smith and Leofric the graver stood 
 immediately at his side to answer his questions con- 
 cerning their work. 
 
 As the lads entered, William, the only one of the 
 company clad in complete armour, stood, poising in 
 his hand a tremendous battle-axe. His huge frame 
 being by this action stretched to the uttermost, and 
 his kindling eye dwelling critically on the weapon 
 extended before him, Gnrth was fain to own that he 
 looked kingly indeed ; the thought gave him pleasure, 
 for he saw cause to hope that such a king would not be 
 trifled with by any follower, however powerful. 
 
 Whilst standing thus, the king spoke, and his 
 voice was robust and ringing. 
 
 " What say ye, my lords," cried he, speaking in 
 French, " is it not well wrought and worthy ? " 
 Then, turning to the smith, he added in Saxon, "And 
 what arm is it that shall wield this gleaming mass 
 of steel?"
 
 IN WHICH GURTH MEETS THE KING. 51 
 
 " A good Saxon servant of my lord king," replied 
 the smith. 
 
 Several of the nobles murmnred in disapprobation 
 at this, and William turned sharply with a u Ha ! 
 Sir Smith, thou givest my subjects brave weapons ! " 
 
 " But," quickly answered the ready John, " I give 
 their king a braver." So saying, he stooped and 
 lifted a large rolled wolfskin near him. He unrolled 
 it, and there lay glittering and glinting in the ruddy 
 firelight a truly enormous axe, hafted with stoutest 
 ash and bound with three golden bands. The light 
 tinged its edge with the hue of blood. A cry of astonish- 
 ment burst from the group ; even William himself 
 uttered a loud exclamation and bent eagerly forward. 
 
 " There ! " cried the smith exultingly, turning it 
 handle-wise to the king, " there lies a wolf -tooth 
 that in a kingly hand shall bite the brain of the 
 doughtiest in Christendom or heathendom. Will my 
 lord king accept it at my hands ? " 
 
 " Accept it ! " cried William, seizing it and brandish- 
 ing it aloft as though it were a toy, to the wonderment 
 of all. " Kneel thee, Sir Smith. By death ! if to 
 combat the king's enemies be worthy of reward, then 
 thou art worthy of much, for thy good right arm hath 
 fashioned the death of thousands. Knight thou art 
 worthy to be, smith or no smith, and knight thou 
 shalt be, or I am no king. Rise, Sir John ! with thine 
 own made weapon I knight thee." 
 
 Suiting action to the word, the king let the axe 
 fall flat and lightly on the smith's shoulder. 
 
 Sir John rose to his feet, his face flushing with 
 pride and pleasure. In an instant, however, he bent 
 
 4
 
 52 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 the knee again, seized the king's mailed hand and 
 kissed it reverently. 
 
 " My lord king," said he, " you have honoured my 
 craft and me ; henceforth my skill, arm, and heart 
 are yours I " 
 
 There was a generous enthusiasm in the old smith's 
 manner which struck the king. He raised him up 
 and remarked quietly : 
 
 " Sir Smith, thy heart will be as true as thy 
 steel." 
 
 By this time the surrounding nobles had recovered 
 from their consternation, and disgust and contempt 
 hovered on many a face. William seemed to divine 
 something of this, for he turned sharply towards them 
 and exclaimed : 
 
 " Ha ! my lords, methinks this is ill-pleasing to 
 some of you. If the morsel be bitter to your palates, 
 I counsel ye not to hesitate to bolt it whole. Swallow 
 it ye must, and mayhap over-much chewing may be 
 bad for your stomachs." 
 
 This last sentence was accompanied by a smile so 
 full of sinister meaning that the train made all haste 
 to compose their countenances. Seeing this the king 
 went on : 
 
 " There was once a king ruled these realms, and 
 all men joined in calling him the ' Wise and Great.' 
 He fought well and hardily, my lords, against a 
 doughty foe. So have I. When settled in his 
 kingdom he rewarded those who had helped him to 
 win it. Then he turned to those who could help him 
 to enrich it to his handicraftsmen and scholars, 
 and he rewarded them and made them thanes and
 
 IN WHICH QURTH MEETS THE KING. 55 
 
 knights. I love the memory of that king, so ye are 
 like ere long to see nobles among ye who never 
 donned helm or hauberk." 
 
 Without waiting to see the effect of his words, 
 William turned to the smith, and said it would 
 pleasure him greatly to see some further proofs of 
 his wonderful skill and craft. 
 
 Sir John, nothing loth, showed him many a keen 
 and deadly dagger, many a sharp and weighted spear, 
 many a straight and well-trimmed arrow ; and the 
 king expressed himself as mightily pleased with 
 all. 
 
 During this inspection they had wandered from 
 point to point in the smithy, and now stood at the 
 bench on which Leofric the graver was wont to work. 
 On it lay the sword intended for the king, and also 
 the half-finished, but exactly similar, blade intended 
 for Gurth. The latter, who during all this time had 
 remained in his corner an excited and delighted 
 spectator, now leaned eagerly forward to catch what 
 the king might say. 
 
 Sir John handed the sword to the king, and 
 William examined it long and attentively. He tried 
 the temper of its blade, its balance, its weight ; he 
 scrutinised most carefully its quaint designs and 
 inlaid work ; then he laid it on the bench again with 
 something very like a sigh. 
 
 " Sir Smith," said he, " thou hast made me almost 
 forget yon goodly axe. What may be the meaning 
 of these characters and designs ? " 
 
 " So please you, my king," replied the smith, " they 
 are to illustrate and tell stories of our greatest kings'
 
 56 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 and warriors' deeds. But my worthy fellow-craftsman, 
 the aged Leofric, who wrought them, can better tell 
 thee of them than can I." 
 
 The king turned to Leofric, and without speaking, 
 scanned for a moment the quiet countenance of the 
 venerable Saxon. Then he quietly remarked : " I 
 did not know that my kingdom possessed such 
 cunning workmen. I would like to hear the stories 
 of this blade, but it shall not be now ; thou shalt 
 recount them in my hall, so that all my court may 
 hear, and learn what a brave people it is God has 
 put into their hands for rule and guidance. We hold 
 high court to-night, Master Graver, and it would 
 be the better for thy presence, and for thine, too, Sir 
 John ; there will be seats for ye Jboth, and room for 
 a Saxon sword." 
 
 The smith and the graver bowed, and the latter, 
 who had hitherto not spoken, addressed the king. 
 
 " My lord," said he, " thou hast spoken words 
 to-day in praise of handicraft that had been deemed 
 gracious from the lips of good King Alfred, whom 
 thou hast so well and wisely extolled. I had not 
 thought to hear such from thee. This sword was 
 wrought for thee, and thou wilt spare grey hairs 
 when I tell thee of my share in the, work. What I 
 did, I did from no love of thee, but from a pride in 
 our Saxon craft. I tell thee this because now I 
 would pray forgiveness for my unkindly thoughts. 
 Thou art kingly enough to be worthy the best work, 
 and I make thee free offer of all that is left my old 
 hands to do." 
 
 Leofric spoke simply and with rough, blunt Saxon
 
 IN WHICH GUBTH MEETS THE KING. 57 
 
 dignity. William proved himself kingly enough 
 to forget all that might have ruffled his kingship. 
 
 " Thou too, I see," said he, " art honest. Well, 
 I thank thee for a princely gift. Thou hast given 
 me of thy best. Thou shalt find that William, 
 Norman or no Norman, is thy king, and no niggard. 
 Sir Smith, I owe thee great thanks again. Thou art 
 making me deeply thy debtor. Thou, too, shalt 
 find that thy king can give a kingly reward.' ' 
 
 He turned to his train. 
 
 " Nobles," exclaimed he, " we have seen enow. 
 We will be gone." 
 
 He then turned again to Sir John and Leofric. 
 
 " Bring the goodly weapons ye have wrought for 
 us to the abbey to-night ; we will receive them at 
 your hands in the presence of all." 
 
 With a smile to the Saxons around him, William 
 turned to the smithy door and departed. His train 
 followed, but their countenances were hardly as 
 pleasant as their king's. 
 
 He left, however, pleasanter ones behind him, and 
 great was the joy upon the faces of the smith, the 
 graver, and our two young heroes as they turned into 
 the house to tell the good Dame Alicia (" Dame " now 
 in right good earnest) the glorious news.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 IN WHICH GURTH HAS AUDIENCE OF THE KING. 
 
 AT the smith's house the few remaining hours 
 of the short winter day were spent in the bustle 
 of the great preparation. The worthy Sir John and 
 his good Dame busied themselves right heartily, for 
 they had quickly decided that both men and women, 
 maids and apprentices, should feast right royally and 
 loyally for the sake of the king and their much- 
 honoured master. On the other hand, men and appren- 
 tices bestirred and bedecked themselves, each and 
 every one alike determined to form part of a fit and 
 goodly retinue worthy of the new knight. Elgiva 
 for once did nothing ; she spent her time in pleasant 
 musings and in smiling happily at the bustling 
 endeavours of both parties. Gurth spent his time 
 in the real and necessary preparations for Sir John's 
 appearance in the king's court in the chapter-room 
 of the venerable abbey. Leofric was at his bench 
 putting finishing touches to the king's sword. 
 
 Sunset brought cessation from labour and also the 
 hour at which the two craftsmen were to appear 
 in the presence of their king. Torches were lit, Sir 
 John donned his bravest attire, which consisted 
 mainly of garments made of the softest leather, a 
 grey cloak of Saxon woollen cloth, spun by his own 
 
 68
 
 IN WHICH GURTH HAS AUDIENCE OP THE KING. 59 
 
 good Dame, and a wolfskin cap. His sole weapon 
 was a short dagger. Leofric wore the holiday attire 
 of a wealthy craftsman. The whole household stood 
 in the hall ; even the cook and her maids and scullions 
 left, for a moment, the kitchen and its cares behind 
 them, and came to gaze upon their transformed master. 
 They, moreover, brought with them the odours, rich 
 and manifold, of the great repast upon which their 
 energies had now for some time been expended. 
 
 The greatest preparations come to an end, and 
 Sir John was at length ready to start. At the last 
 moment, however, he decided to go without his 
 admiring retinue of enthusiastic followers. Such a 
 decision was a disappointment to himself as well as 
 to his men. He had, however, seen that his new 
 dignity was ill-pleasing to the Normans, and, although 
 he cared not one jot for their love or their hatred, yet 
 he wisely forbore to stir up unnecessary strife. He 
 took with him two stout and brawny men, one to act 
 as torch-bearer, the other to carry the king's axe. 
 To Leofric he apportioned a like number, one of whom 
 bore the king's sword. Having promised Gurth to 
 mention him and his errand to the king if oppor- 
 tunity occurred, he wished his servants a hearty 
 enjoyment of the feast, and departed. 
 
 AYe will not follow him, but stay with our young 
 hero, Gurth, who, as he watched the burly smith's 
 form disappear through the doorway, wondered 
 anxiously as to what the night might bring forth. 
 
 He sat at the head of the board and assisted the 
 Dame Alicia in the ruling of the feast ; it was a duty 
 which he had often shared in the great castle of
 
 60 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 the Dean. At his lead the company toasted their 
 master, their mistress, the fair Elgiva, and the king. 
 He smiled proudly when the hostess, taking a horn 
 of mead from a servitor, raised it to her lips, and 
 called on all to drink love, health, and honour to 
 the young thane Wulf, to whom and to whose brave 
 house they, with their master, owed fealty and service. 
 
 The feast went on with a gusto that only a Saxon 
 feast could acquire. The eating and drinking were 
 prodigious, the capacities of the feasters inexhaustible. 
 At the expiration of an hour the two ladies left the 
 hall. Edwy accompanied them, and Gurth was left 
 in solitary dignity. His thoughts soon began to 
 wander. In spirit he was at home. Then he was 
 at the abbey. He saw the king sitting in state, 
 the axe and sword before him. Leofric was relating 
 the deeds of the Saxon heroes and gods. William 
 listened attentively. Now and then the great company 
 applauded, but it was when the deeds of Odin and 
 Balder, and the old heroes of northern mythology 
 were sung. They, too, came from the north, and 
 these gods and heroes were in part their own. There 
 was silence when the deeds of Alfred, of Athelstane, 
 were recited ; only the king maintained an attitude 
 of pleased attention. 
 
 Gurth felt he could love his king. He saw him 
 fearless, anxious to do right by all his subjects, 
 anxious for the weal of England, and ruthless and 
 terrible to his foes. He saw not the sinister side of 
 the Conqueror's character. 
 
 Heedless of his abstraction, the clamour of the 
 feast went on around him. He heard all dimly, the
 
 IN WHICH GURTH HAS AUDIENCE OF THE KING. 61 
 
 confused hubbub of conversation, the voice of the 
 story-teller, the twang of the harp, and the melody 
 of the song it accompanied ; he was faintly conscious 
 of a youthful voice warbling of 
 
 " Lightsome lasses lilting strains of love." 
 
 Suddenly, however, he recovered his senses with a 
 start. One of the smiths, a fellow who hailed from 
 the Forest, more than half-drunken from deep pota- 
 tions of mead, was roaring forth from a pair of lungs 
 as tough as his own bellows the song of " The House 
 of Wulf." 
 
 In an instant Gnrth was on his feet too, his hands 
 tightly gripping the edges of the table. In a chant 
 of swinging rhythm the song rolled out : 
 
 " Hist ! the wolf's wail on the wind's wings is stealing, 
 See ! in the moon's beam, 
 Fangs flash, red eyes gleam ! 
 'Ware ! 'ware ! All around you the dread howls are pealing. 
 
 " Ho ! sons of the wolf, tame sheep fatten yonder ; 
 
 Sleek wethers, proud rams, 
 
 And tenderest lambs ; 
 
 Ever dreaming they hear our blood-howl in the thunder, 
 In each flash of Thor's hammer, the gleam of our flesh-tooth ! 
 
 " The glowworm and will-o'-the-wisp are our eyes ; 
 They hear our swift tread in each stir of the wood-growth. 
 So, sons of the wolf, to the sheep-hunt arise ! 
 Spoil for wife, son, and daughter, 
 Ye shall win from the slaughter, 
 List ! list ! how each nithing sheep tremblingly cries. 
 Hist ! the wolf's wail on the wind's wings is stealing. 
 See ! in the moon's beam, 
 Fangs flash, red eyes gleam ! 
 'Ware ! 'ware ! all around you the blood-howls are pealing ! "
 
 62 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 And the blood-howl pealed out at the instant when 
 the singer ceased. The whole company leaped to 
 their feet, and the dreaded war-cry of the Wolf shook 
 the rafters like the blast of a fierce gale. Again and 
 again it rang out ; knives flashed from their sheaths, 
 and glittering eyes were turned upon Gurth, who 
 stood trembling with passion and emotion at the 
 head of the table. His eyes glittered as ominously 
 as any that were bent upon him. His mother's spirit 
 for the moment lay crushed in his heart ; nothing 
 was betokened in his lithe, strained figure save the 
 bloody savagery of his fierce Forest ancestors. The 
 men for a moment gazed upon him, silent, fascinated. 
 Then he took his purse from his girdle, and hurled it 
 excitedly down the table, striking the singer full in 
 his brawny chest. 
 
 "A Wulf!" "A Wolf!" "A Wulf!" again 
 rang frantically out. Men clashed their glittering 
 knives upon the broad blades of their neighbours' in 
 wild enthusiasm. 
 
 At that moment the curtains over the doorway 
 were drawn hastily aside, and the smith entered, a 
 Norman, of apparently high rank, following closely 
 at his heels. They surveyed the scene with un- 
 disguised consternation. 
 
 At the sight of drawn weapons the Norman gripped 
 the hilt of his dagger, the only weapon he had with 
 him, and when his eyes caught the fierce looks bent 
 in his direction, he inwardly cursed his folly for 
 venturing among such savages so slenderly armed. 
 His fears, however, proved needless. At a sign from 
 Gurth, every knife was sheathed, and he himself
 
 IN WHICH GURTH HAS AUDIENCE OF THE KING. 63 
 
 stepped forwards to greet the smith and the Norman 
 stranger. Meanwhile, Sir John had made some hasty 
 explanation about the effect of a war-song upon men 
 regaled with choice feastings. The Norman made a 
 fitting reply, and the incident seemed ended. 
 
 A moment's time sufficed for an explanation of the 
 smith's early return. He had seized upon the first 
 opportunity the conversation offered for mentioning 
 Gurth, and the king had at once expressed a desire 
 to see the young thane. 
 
 " So," said Sir John, " I came at once to fetch thee, 
 for we Saxons are in excellent odour just now, whilst 
 the proud Normans stink somewhat in the kingly 
 nostrils, for they have taken open offence at the marks 
 of favour he hath bestowed upon many citizens since 
 the court hath been here." 
 
 Gurth expressed himself as ready on the instant to 
 accompany the smith, and so, taking no other retinue 
 than the giant craftsman, Halford, the singer of " the 
 song of the Wulf," he set out for the abbey. 
 
 His steps were directed to the chapter-room where 
 the court was holden, and without delay he was 
 ushered into the presence of the king. The stout 
 smith acted as his herald and sponsor. 
 
 William, who had a quick eye for a manly form 
 and honest face, smiled approvingly on Gurth's tall, 
 sinewy frame, and fearless, handsome countenance. 
 He called upon him to approach, and extended him 
 his hand to kiss. Gurth made graceful homage, and, 
 when he rose up again, William laid a hand on his 
 shoulder, at the same time letting his eye rove over 
 the faces of some of the surrounding Norman nobles.
 
 64 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 " Thou art heartily welcome, noble thane," said he, 
 deliberately and with emphasis. " We remember thy 
 sire well, and the services thy house hath rendered us 
 on this dangerous border. We are grieved to learn 
 that thy sire is no more, but our grief is lessened now 
 that we welcome thee and see that his lands and 
 honours, and the keeping of our borders, are in such 
 worthy hands. The brave Wulf of the Dean is 
 welcome in our peaceful hall." 
 
 The king ceased speaking, and took his hand from 
 Gurth's shoulder. The latter stepped back a pace or 
 two, raised his blue eyes boldly to the king's face, 
 and answered him in a voice as clear and ringing as 
 his own. 
 
 " My lord king," cried he, " right gratefully do I 
 thank thee for thy welcome and thy kindly words. 
 Thou hast not forgotten our Forest home ; we have 
 not forgotten the king who graced it with his presence. 
 If thou wilt deign again so to honour us, thou wilt 
 find Forest hearts not less true and loyal than Norman 
 ones." 
 
 " Of the truth of that we need no assurance," 
 replied the king. "Moreover, we would have some 
 talk with thee concerning the Forest and thy trouble- 
 some neighbours the Welsh. Stay thou here ; we 
 will have this talk anon." 
 
 The king then turned to one of his Norman knights, 
 and held earnest conversation with him for some time. 
 The courtiers, whenever possible, formed themselves 
 into groups and discussed in angry whispers the king's 
 flattering treatment of " these Saxon hogs." 
 
 Gurth, Sir John, Leofric, and some dignitaries of
 
 IN WHICH GUKTH HAS AUDIENCE OF THE KING. 65 
 
 the city who were present, chatted away in homely 
 Saxon amidst the babel of French which was muttered 
 around them. They kept their eyes open too, and 
 were not slow to note and store up the malevolent 
 glances cast in their direction. 
 
 Amongst the crowd of knights Gurth quickly dis- 
 tinguished his enemy, Gilbert of Tournay, and the 
 young Norman whose wrist he had broken the previous 
 evening. He smiled to think that at least one mincing 
 foreigner bore the marks of Saxon prowess upon him. 
 
 Gilbert of Tournay kept his eye steadily upon the 
 king. Suddenly, he broke from the group which 
 surrounded him, and came towards the dais. Gurth 
 turned his head quickly in that direction. It was 
 well that he did so. The king was alone, but, catch- 
 ing his eager glance, smiled, and beckoned him to 
 approach. The advancing Norman stopped, bit his 
 lip, turned sharply on his heel, and went back to his 
 companions. 
 
 These suggestive movements were not lost upon 
 Gurth, and he resolved his enemy should not forestall 
 him. He went to the king's side. 
 
 "And now," said the latter, "thou shalt at the 
 first tell thine own tale in thine own way. Questions 
 may come afterwards. How stand affairs on our 
 Forest border, and what things have happened there 
 of late?" 
 
 Gurth gave the king as close an account as his 
 memory permitted of the events of the last few 
 years. Every raid and foray was mentioned, and the 
 names and doings of all men who bore a prominent 
 part therein.
 
 66 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 Several times the king gave vent to a sharp " Ha ! " 
 of surprise. He scanned Gurth's face closely, and 
 seemed to keep back questions only with an effort. 
 
 " Thy tale is a strange one ! " cried he, as soon 
 as Gurth ceased speaking. "What part hath the 
 knight Gilbert of Tournay played in these matters ? 
 Thou dost not mention his name." 
 
 " He hath done nothing to the king's advantage," 
 replied Gurth. " But I would crave thy patience on 
 that point. I shall have much to say concerning 
 him, if the king will but listen." 
 
 "We will find a time for all things," replied 
 William. " Now, of another man. Thou hast spoken 
 oft, and in terms of high praise, of Orcar the thane, 
 whose lands lie at the Forest border. We have heard 
 no good of this man. How dost thou know thy tale 
 is the true one?" 
 
 " Because the thane Orcar is my godfather and 
 friend, the defender of my mother's widowhood and 
 my father's name. Let but the king go down to 
 the border and ask whom all men look to as their 
 leader and defender ; let him ask of the Welsh 
 what name is a terror amongst them, what arm a 
 scourge ! Every lip shall answer ' Orcar.' " 
 
 Gurth spoke earnestly and warmly, and his manner 
 impressed the king. 
 
 " I believe thy tale," said he. " But there are 
 some false knaves abroad. Now, what hast thou 
 to say of Gilbert of Tournay ? " 
 
 " I would rather say my say openly and to his 
 face," answered Gurth ; " for I have to charge him 
 with abuses of power, plotting against the weal
 
 IN WHICH GURTH HAS AUDIENCE OF THE KING. 67 
 
 of the king's faithful subjects, and of other base 
 and cowardly acts which brand him ' nithing.' It was 
 for that end that I came unattended to the king's 
 court, trusting in his justice and protection." 
 
 " Thou shalt have thy wish at once," replied 
 William, rising hastily, his face set and stern. 
 " Follow thou me. Tell the knight of Tournay we 
 would have instant speech with him," continued he, 
 turning to an attendant who stood near. 
 
 He left the room, Gurth following. In a few 
 moments Gilbert of Tournay stood before them. The 
 tale of the latter's misdeeds was then told ; his 
 oppressions, robberies, torturings, his neglect of the 
 border, his secret leagues with the king's enemies, 
 whereby he incited them to make raids on the king's 
 lands and plunder and slay his Saxon subjects. 
 
 William's face grew black as midnight, and his 
 eyes roved angrily from accuser to accused. 
 
 Then Gurth came to the list of personal wrongs. 
 The insults to his mother, the sneers, the gibes, the 
 petty tyrannies, the threats were all poured into the 
 ear of the king. The young thane's eyes flashed and 
 his nostrils quivered with rage as the cowardly story 
 was unfolded. The king watched his face with the 
 keenest interest, and when he had finished, and before 
 the Norman could reply, his anger blazed forth. 
 
 " By my kingly honour ! " he cried, " but this 
 shall be answered for I First, thou shalt answer to 
 the Lady of the Dean for thy insults by the champion 
 whom she shall appoint, and if God leave enough 
 of thy false carcass for other vengeance to be wreaked 
 upon, it shall not escape mine."
 
 68 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 But so cool a villain as the knight of Tournay was 
 not to be brushed aside lightly. He met the royal 
 outburst calmly enough. 
 
 " Since when," said he, " hath the king of England 
 taken to condemn, unheard, a belted knight to the 
 forfeiture of honour and life ? There is but sorry 
 justice in a court where an untried, hot-headed strip- 
 ling may swear away the life of a man of proved 
 honour." 
 
 The king took no offence at the speech. He simply 
 remarked, " There would be more point in thy plea, 
 if I had not already proved thee unfaithful and 
 forgetful of honour. Still thy defence shall be heard ; 
 but it would prove me a sorry king if even the 
 untried stripling could not get justice at my hands. 
 What hast thou to say ? " 
 
 " That the Saxon youth hath a marvellous imagina- 
 tion and gift of words, and a remarkable talent for 
 lying. It were easy to spoil his pretty tale, if the 
 Forest were at the door. Proofs must wait. I can 
 at least show what manner of youth he is. He hath 
 not been in the city three days ; I will give three 
 instances of his uprightness and loyalty whilst he has 
 been near to the king's presence. The king may then 
 judge what his doings are like to be when scores of 
 leagues separate him from the royal eye and arm. 
 
 " Yesternight he waylaid my cousin, even in the 
 abbey precincts, fell foully upon him from behind, 
 felled him to the ground and broke his wrist. Ronald 
 de Tarbeux is here, maimed, to attest the deed. This 
 morning he attacked my page, a mere child, whose 
 only offence was the wearing of my livery, and threw
 
 IX WHICH GURTH HAS AUDIENCE OF THE KING. 69 
 
 him into the frozen river. This very night, at the 
 smith's house in Eadburga Street, taking advantage 
 of the master's absence to wait npon his king, he 
 incited the men-servants to sing rebellious songs, 
 and to draw their daggers upon the king's messenger, 
 Sir Kollo, knight of Caen, who stood for some 
 moments, unarmed, and in peril of his life." 
 
 "How now?" cried the king sharply, his face 
 working with anger and perplexity ; " these are pointed 
 charges ! What hast thou to say to them ? " 
 
 Gurth's answer was sharp and hot. " They are 
 false ! every one of them," he cried ; " and Gilbert of 
 Tournay is unworthy of his knighthood, for he is liar I 
 coward ! nithing ! And with your leave, my lord 
 king, I will prove him so ere I leave your presence 
 this night." 
 
 " That thou shalt do, whether thou likest it or 
 no ! " cried William grimly. " I have had enow and 
 to spare of these cross-accusations." 
 
 " Then I ask that this knight's cousin and page be 
 summoned, also the knight of Caen, Sir John the 
 Smith, his daughter Elgiva, and Halford, the Smith's 
 man who attended me hither to-night." 
 
 " The matter shall be tried in full court," replied 
 the king. 
 
 He arose, and went back to the chapter-room, and 
 at once gave orders for the witnesses to be brought. 
 
 Halford the smith was near at hand, and was the 
 first placed under examination. Gurth, who brought 
 him forward as the minstrel of the supper, declined to 
 ask him any questions, leaving that entirely to the 
 king and his accuser. The latter at once demanded 
 
 5
 
 70 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 that the words of the song should be repeated in open 
 court. 
 
 Halford, wondering what was the matter with his 
 minstrelsy, complied. The king listened intently, but 
 found no treason in the words. Then Gurth explained 
 that it was simply the war-song of his house, and 
 that, as such, it had been sung for centuries. 
 
 Gilbert, however, still persisted that the song was 
 sung on this occasion with treasonable intent, and 
 demanded an explanation of the meditated attack 
 on the king's messenger. 
 
 Gurth again referred the king to Halford. When 
 the latter was made to understand the purport of the 
 charges, he waxed indignant. 
 
 "We had nought but good in our hearts towards 
 the king," he cried, " seeing the great honour he had 
 done to our craft and our master. There is no smith 
 in the west, now, that would not give his life for him. 
 We drew our knives when we drank wassail to our 
 young lord. We saw no Norman, and our thoughts 
 were not towards the Norman when we sang, but 
 only towards the beggarly Welsh." 
 
 The evident honesty of the outburst satisfied the 
 king. He frowned darkly upon Gilbert, and bade 
 him say no more upon the charge. 
 
 By this time the page had been dragged sleepily 
 and full of terror from his bed. Hurried before the 
 court, and seeing none but angry, glowering faces 
 around him, his terror increased. At the first harsh 
 words from the king's lips he began to whimper. 
 
 " Make the brat hold his peace and attend to me," 
 cried William, stamping his foot.
 
 IN WHICH GURTH HAS AUDIENCE OF THE KING. 71 
 
 There was instant silence. 
 
 " Look here, sirrah ! " he continued, " and keep 
 thine eyes from thy master's face. Who threw thee 
 into the river yesterday ? and why wert thou thrown ? 
 Answer me truthfully, or I'll have the flesh whipped 
 from thy bones ! " 
 
 The poor page sank to his knees. Gasping with 
 terror, he told the true story, and not the one his 
 master had diligently rehearsed with him. At its 
 close there was a silence as of death in the room. 
 Contrary to expectation, William did not speak, but 
 the expression on his face sent a shudder through 
 every heart. He motioned them to carry the terror- 
 stricken page from his presence. He looked enquir- 
 ingly at Gurth. The latter answered the look. 
 
 " I await the coming of the smith's daughter," he 
 said. 
 
 There was silence again for many minutes. At 
 last hurrying steps were heard in the cloister without. 
 The curtains were drawn aside, and Elgiva, warmly 
 hooded and cloaked, entered on the arm of her father. 
 Room was made for her immediately before the king. 
 Trembling with vague apprehensions she stood there, 
 for she did not know why she was summoned. Seeing 
 Gurth standing near her, she instinctively guessed 
 that the matter concerned him. 
 
 " Throw back thy hood, fair maid," said William 
 with unusual gentleness, " thou hast nothing to fear." 
 
 Elgiva obeyed. 
 
 The vision of so fair and sweet a face, emerging to 
 the light of the flaring, smoking torches, caused a 
 faint murmur of pleased surprise to go round the
 
 72 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 room. The smith drew himself a little more proudly 
 up, and the king's face sensibly softened. 
 
 " What dost thou wish with her ? " he said to 
 Gurth. 
 
 " That she may be confronted by the Norman with 
 the broken wrist," he replied. 
 
 Ronald de Tarbeux was called forward. He came 
 with a somewhat ill grace. The penetrating look the 
 king gave him did not increase his sense of comfort. 
 
 As he came towards Elgiva, she shrank back nearer 
 to Gurth ; and the king did not fail to notice the 
 instinctive action. The latter looked for Gurth to 
 begin. 
 
 " My lord," said he, " again I do not wish to put 
 my word against the word of my accuser. I have 
 given him the lie already. Will it please you to ask 
 this maiden what she knows of the man before her ? " 
 
 " Thou nearest the question, maiden," said William ; 
 " what answer canst thou give to it ? " 
 
 Gurth's reply to the king let Elgiva into the whole 
 secret of her presence before him. She threw her 
 fears to the winds, and determined to speak out. She 
 raised her eyes to the king's, her face suffused with 
 burning blushes, and told him the whole story. 
 
 The king stepped down from his seat, and took her 
 hands in his. 
 
 " Little one," he said, " it grieves me that so much 
 sweetness and innocence suffered from the rudeness 
 of follower of mine. I owe thee reparation. Thou 
 shalt have it. Nay, frown not, Sir John, a younger, 
 and mayhap more favoured arm than thine hath well 
 avenged the insult. And now, fair maid, I give thee
 
 IN WHICH GURTH HAS AUDIENCE OF THE KING. 73. 
 
 ' good-night ' ; I have words to say that I would not 
 thine ears should hear." 
 
 With a low curtsey, Elgiva took her departure. 
 Immediately the mood of the king changed. The 
 velvet glove had been displayed ; now they felt the 
 hand of iron. For an hour his court trembled before 
 him. The storm had been brewing for days ; now it 
 burst over them with terrific fury. 
 
 They found that the Duke of Normandy was not 
 only the Conqueror, but the King of England, and 
 moreover that he intended to reign as king over Saxons 
 as well as Normans, and Normans as well as Saxons. 
 However much they disliked the position, he placed 
 them side by side with the despised Saxons as a 
 people obeying the same laws and subject to the same 
 restrictions. A loyal Saxon was as dear in his eyes 
 as a loyal Norman, and their property, honour, lives, 
 just as precious in his sight. 
 
 At the end of his stormy harangue, he poured forth 
 such a torrent of threats and imprecations against 
 those offenders who stood before him, that their hearts 
 melted within them. Then he turned to Gurth, and 
 praised him without stint. He applauded his bravery, 
 his modesty and his devotion ; he referred with a glow 
 of pride to the young thane's fearless trust in a king's 
 power and justice, a trust which had brought him 
 unattended, almost unarmed to the court, and with 
 nought but the virtue of a good cause to support him. 
 
 " Such," he cried, " are the hearts I want about me. 
 Such are the men to whom honour and reward shall 
 come." 
 
 He turned to the knight of Tournay.
 
 74 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 "I had purposed," lie said, "to make thee warden 
 of the Forest Marches ; but I find thee so false and 
 perjured, that thou mayest count things well with 
 thee if I do no more than hang thee in the market- 
 place like a thieving cur. Upon him whom thou 
 wouldst have basely betrayed shall the honour fall ; 
 an honour he might claim as his right, for his family 
 hath alway faithfully maintained such a trust since 
 the days of Alfred." 
 
 William then ordered the two offending Normans 
 to be placed under closest arrest, and, having thrown 
 out a few more pointed and significant hints to his 
 silent nobles, he left the room. 
 
 Followed by looks of deadly hate, and many 
 muttered threats, Gurth and the whole of the Saxons 
 went out immediately after him. 
 
 But the sense of a great triumph went with them, 
 and so they minded scowls and curses but little. 
 
 Accompanied by the watchful giant, Halford, Gurth 
 strode off through the winter night to recount the full 
 measure of his victory to the anxious smith. Mean- 
 while Elgiva's story had run like a fire through the 
 house, and he arrived at Eadburga Street to find 
 himself a hero indeed.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 IN WHICH GURTH, EDWY, AND HALFORD SET OUT 
 FOR HOME. 
 
 THE next morning, Gurth arose with a light heart. 
 He was the first of all the household to be 
 astir. 
 
 Now that his errand was successfully accomplished, 
 he wished to be home again. City life was not to 
 the .liking of the free young forester. More than 
 all he was eager to gladden his mother's heart with 
 the news of the king's graciousness. 
 
 The Forest, too, would rejoice to know that its 
 ancient liberties were still under the protection of 
 its natural and rightful lord. But for this royal 
 confirmation of the dignities of his house, the young 
 thane would have commenced his homeward journey 
 at sunrise. Now, he knew he must await the 
 pleasure of the king. 
 
 As soon as the smith appeared, he took counsel 
 with him concerning his future movements. Sir 
 John advised him to seek an early audience with 
 the king, and endeavour to get all things settled 
 beyond question or dispute. 
 
 " ' Strike whilst the iron is hot,' is ever the smith's 
 motto," said he. 
 
 75
 
 76 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 The advice agreed exactly with Gnrth's temper 
 at the moment. For one thing the position of Gilbert 
 de Tournay did not give him unmingled satisfaction. 
 He did not want his personal quarrel with that knight 
 swallowed up in the giant maw of kingly anger. 
 So he determined to go to the abbey at noon and 
 crave audience of the Conqueror. 
 
 By the time this decision was arrived at, the whole 
 household was up and ready for the morning meal. 
 
 The revelry and excitement of the previous night 
 sat heavily on most of the company. Little was 
 eaten, but the energies saved over mastication were 
 more than spent upon speech. It was a company 
 exceedingly prodigal of words. 
 
 At noon, Gurth wended his way to the abbey. He 
 was admitted to the king's presence almost immedi- 
 ately. William greeted him warmly, and readily 
 entered into conversation concerning the wardenship, 
 its limits, and the large powers rightly attaching to 
 it. Much sound advice he gave respecting the tactics 
 to be followed in dealing with the ever- watching and 
 ever-warring Welsh ; but, most valuable of all, he 
 counselled the youthful warden respecting his asso- 
 ciates in power, especially those of Norman blood, 
 who would be but ill-disposed to place themselves 
 at any time under the banner of a Saxon chieftain. 
 He displayed great interest in the past glories and 
 present fame of the house of Wulf, and warmly 
 enjoined upon the young thane that he should strive 
 to add to its record of fair and honourable renown, 
 and let no ignoble deed cast one blot upon it. 
 
 Gurth thanked him humbly, yet heartily, for his
 
 GURTH, EDWY, AND HALFORD SET OUT FOR HOME. 77 
 
 exceeding graciousness, and then ventured upon the 
 other matter which so nearly concerned him. 
 
 " I would crave some words with you, my lord," 
 said he, " touching this Gilbert of Tournay, who hath 
 played me and mine so foul a game." 
 
 William's brow darkened instantly. 
 
 " Thou needst not fear for him," answered he ; " he 
 hath played us too foul a game to have the chance 
 given him to play us another." 
 
 "It is for that reason that I desire to speak of 
 him," replied Gurth, " and I beg that my king will 
 not judge me presumptuous in speaking as I crave 
 to do." 
 
 Say on." 
 
 " This man hath wounded our house in its dearest 
 and most precious part ; he hath vilely insulted her 
 who is more to me than all else on earth. Such 
 deeds should be requited at mine own hands." 
 
 " For that cause we should have justice upon him. 
 He hath done wrong to loyal subjects of ours whom 
 it is our bonnden duty to protect. He hath also 
 been guilty of something very like treason." 
 
 "Then I crave my petition as a boon from the 
 king." 
 
 " He will refuse thee combat. Thou art not of 
 knightly rank." 
 
 " The king hath given me chance to win my spurs." 
 
 " But thou art still many years from knightly age." 
 
 " Time will pass quickly when a great work awaits 
 the doing. Let but the king say that the day shall 
 come, and I am content." 
 
 William pondered a moment before replying. "I
 
 78 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 will grant thy boon in so far that we will not claim 
 our due of him until thon hast had chance to demand 
 thine." 
 
 Gurth thanked the king, and then prepared to 
 depart. He was commanded, however, not to leave 
 the city until he had received under the king's own 
 seal the full title of his wardenship, and a description 
 of the powers belonging thereto. 
 
 Finding it impossible to get away from the city 
 at once, Gurth sent a messenger to the Dean to 
 acquaint its lady with the good fortune which had 
 attended his mission. Then, to while away the time 
 of his enforced stay the more pleasantly, he set up 
 a target in the meadow at the rear of the smith's 
 house, and daily instructed Edwy in throwing the 
 javelin and shooting at a mark. Oftentimes some 
 of the smith's men and apprentices joined them, 
 and shooting, throwing, and hurling matches were 
 indulged in, to the great delight and profit of all. 
 
 The huge Halford, who, since the night of the 
 feast had become intensely attached to Gurth, made 
 himself the devoted slave of the two lads. 
 
 Finding that the ordinary javelin was much too 
 heavy for Edwy's strength, he procured some small 
 wands of light, tough wood, and fashioning steel 
 heads to correspond, made him a half-score of admi- 
 rable weapons, for what they lacked in weight and 
 force they made up in the exquisite temper and 
 point of the steel. Gurth's sword, too, was, under 
 the master hand of Leofric, rapidly approaching 
 completion. And all the while, taking advantage 
 of the extension of his stay, the generous smith
 
 GURTH, EDWY, AND HALFORD SET OUT FOR HOME. 79 
 
 and two of his best workmen were busily preparing 
 another happy surprise for the young thane. 
 
 The time of departure came at length. In the 
 forenoon of the 24th day of December, two ponies 
 and a stout horse stood ready saddled in the court- 
 yard of the smithy, a group of workmen and apprentices 
 gathered round them. 
 
 Halford, clad in a leathern jerkin and stout woollen 
 trews, a light steel cap upon his head, a huge axe 
 in his hand, stood ready prepared for a journey. 
 Being a freeman, and bound in no way to the smith's 
 service, he had decided to quit it and link his fortunes 
 once again to the house of Wulf. The boys hailed 
 his decision with delight. 
 
 Soon the rest of the little cavalcade appeared, 
 accompanied by their host and hostess and Elgiva. 
 A shout of greeting went up at the sight of Gurth, 
 and another shout for Sir John when it was seen 
 how their young Forest lord was dressed. His body 
 was clad in a corselet of beautifully-fashioned chain 
 mail, lined with fine wool of a sufficient thickness in 
 itself to turn the point of an arrow or javelin ; a steel 
 cap similarly quilted covered his head. These were 
 the surprise gifts of his warm-hearted host ; and 
 a magnificently-hilted sword hung at his side. A 
 proud lad was the young thane of Waif that day, 
 for, in a leathern wallet at his girdle lay the charter 
 of his wardenship of the Dean Forest and the Forest 
 Marches. 
 
 Edwy walked with Elgiva, proudly bearing his 
 bundle of javelins. Both lads warmly embraced Sir 
 John and his wife and daughter, and with a hearty
 
 80 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 farewell to all, vaulted into their saddles and rode 
 briskly off, Halford riding a few paces in the rear. 
 Tears dimmed one pair of bright eyes as their 
 forms disappeared at the turning into the Westgate 
 Street. 
 
 The smith looked at the sky. 
 
 "It is well that they stayed no longer," said he, 
 " for methinks to-morrow will see the Forest paths 
 lost in a shroud of snow." 
 
 Dame Alicia echoed his words, but her thoughts 
 added another reason why they should be gone. 
 
 " My little maid was losing her heart," she said 
 to herself. 
 
 Elgiva sighed. 
 
 " My heart hath ridden away with my lord," she 
 whispered. " The All-Father grant that no harm 
 happen to him, or I am undone for ever." 
 
 The little cavalcade rode sharply down the sloping 
 roadway, on past the abbey, down to the Westgate. 
 They passed quickly through, and over the Westgate 
 Bridge, just giving a glance at the turbid river flowing 
 seawards below. They clattered along the causeway 
 of the marshy island of Olney, crossed the western 
 arm of the river, and came out upon the high road 
 leading to Newnham, Littledean, the Forest itself, 
 and the distant Welsh border. The city was now 
 completely hidden from view. 
 
 " Hurrah for the oak and the holly green ! " sang 
 Edwy. "Come, Gnrth, what sayest thou to a 
 rousing gallop?" 
 
 " I am with thee," replied Gurth. 
 
 A shaking of the reins, a sharp word of command,
 
 GURTHj EDWY, AND HALFORD SET OUT FOR HOME. 81 
 
 and each little pony started forward like a stone 
 from a sling. For the next two miles the boys 
 raced onward at a fair gallop, laughing heartily at 
 Halford's attempts to force his heavy steed along at 
 a somewhat equal rate. 
 
 With merry laugh and gay chatter they sped along, 
 and soon the dark belt of Forest rose on the horizon 
 before them. By this time the wind had risen some- 
 what, and was wailing mournfully through the coppices 
 by the roadside. Ever and anon, fine snowflakes 
 fell coldly and softly on their faces. 
 
 At length they struck across the open country 
 towards the Severn bank, and following the winding 
 river-path, came upon the cluster of fisher-huts belong- 
 ing to the thane Orcar. In a few minutes more, they 
 had ridden up to the gate in the stout palisade 
 surrounding the house. 
 
 The steward came forward to welcome them, but 
 he brought the intelligence that his master was not 
 at home. News had been brought to the effect that 
 two bands of Welsh, under the brothers ap Morgan, 
 had crossed the Wye, so Orcar had ridden off to 
 the Dean. 
 
 The riders dismounted and entered the house, but 
 although urgently pressed to break their journey 
 until the morrow, they decided to press on as soon 
 as they and their steeds were refreshed. A storm 
 was fast coming up, and in a few hours the Forest 
 tracks might be obliterated by the snow. There was 
 a bright moon, so they had no fear of the on-coming 
 of night. 
 
 The sun had just dropped down behind the vast
 
 82 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 expanse of bare tree-tops as they defiled off along 
 the narrow bridle path to Littledean. 
 
 At a distance of a quarter of an hour's ride along 
 this path another woodland track 'of about equal 
 width opened into it. This led almost in a bee line 
 to the Gloucester Road, which road it entered about 
 two miles before Newnham. It afforded a short cut 
 to those who wished to avoid the winding river-path, 
 and also a means of approach to the Forest for those 
 who had no very ardent wish for a meeting with the 
 thane Orcar or his men. 
 
 It was for this latter reason that four Norman 
 horsemen rode rapidly along it whilst Gurth and 
 his companions were enjoying their brief rest and 
 refreshment at Newnham. The riders reached the 
 angle of the two paths and halted. 
 
 " Shall we wait here, Gilbert ? " said one. He was 
 none other than our old acquaintance Ronald de 
 Tarbeux, his hand bandaged, and tied in a silken 
 scarf across his breast. 
 
 " No ! " answered de Tournay. " It is too open 
 for one thing, and too near the ' sty of the Newnham 
 boar ' for another. Orcar is likely enough to accom- 
 pany his precious charges thus far. We must make 
 no slip this time, or our good and sweet-tempered 
 king will dangle us from one of these stout oaks. I 
 have no relish for playing the part of acorn. We will 
 ride another mile or so farther along the Forest path." 
 
 Acting upon this determination, the two knights 
 and their attendant men-at-arms turned into the path 
 and rode on. 
 
 We will explain the unexpected appearance of these
 
 GUBTH, EDWY, AND HALFOKD SET OUT FOR HOME. 83 
 
 knights in the Forest. Unfortunately for Gurth, the 
 king had listened only too well to his request for a 
 stay of execution upon de Tournay. William was 
 averse to judicial bloodshed, and this particular 
 follower had often rendered him excellent service. 
 He had therefore soundly rated him, and satisfied his 
 anger by setting him at liberty with a threat of the 
 worst consequences should any further complaint of 
 ill-doing be made against him. The morning of his 
 liberation was the morning of Gurth's departure from 
 the city. A watch had been kept on the young Saxon, 
 and within an hour after his passing through the city 
 gate, his worst enemies had ridden through in pursuit, 
 intent upon his destruction. They were fully alive to 
 the truth of the proverb, " Dead men tell no tales." 
 
 As soon as Gurth and his companion had got well 
 into the shadow of the Forest, the evening sky became 
 suddenly overcast, quite vanquishing their hopes of 
 effective moonlight, and the snow, which had long 
 threatened, began to fall heavily. This was un- 
 fortunate, even for those accustomed to woodland life 
 and woodland ways. 
 
 " We must ride hard," said Gurth, and he pressed 
 his willing little steed forward. 
 
 On, along the grassy track, they cantered, the 
 footfalls of the horses becoming fainter and fainter 
 as the snowy carpet thickened. They reached the 
 junction of the paths. The trees creaked and groaned 
 in the increasing gale, and the thick flakes swirled 
 blindingly around them. They had a moment's 
 difficulty in finding the right opening amongst the 
 trees.
 
 84 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 " We are safe as far as Littledean," said Halford ; 
 " there are no turnings to lead us astray." 
 
 " On, then ! " cried Gurth, " at the best speed we 
 can make." 
 
 They went now at a hand-gallop, Gurth leading, 
 and Halford bringing up the rear. But the storm 
 swept so thickly down the narrow alley that they 
 were enshrouded in an almost impenetrable veil of 
 snow. Another furlong would bring them to where 
 their foes lay ambushed ; but, heedless of all enemies 
 save the snow and the darkness, they sped swiftly 
 along, silent and ghostly. 
 
 The Normans lay hidden in the thickets, two on 
 either side of the narrow path. Giving no warning of 
 their approach, the Saxons were upon them and 
 beyond them before they were aware. They saw a 
 thick mass of snow pass by, and that was all. But 
 this all was sufficient for a watchful enemy. Halford 
 had hardly got a dozen yards beyond the place of 
 ambush, when he heard an order to " mount and ride " 
 given sharply in French. He turned in his saddle, 
 and his quick, forest-trained eye saw the whole thing 
 in an instant. He uttered no sound, but forced his 
 horse forward until he was abreast of Gurth. 
 
 " A trap, my lord 1 " he cried, pointing behind him. 
 " They missed us, but are giving chase." 
 
 " Norman or Welsh ? " 
 
 " Norman, my lord. Four men, mailed and 
 mounted." 
 
 Gurth slackened the pace of his pony a little, and 
 looked behind. Through the driving clouds of snow 
 he could see nothing.
 
 GUBTH, EDWY, AND HALFORD SET OUT FOR HOME. 85 
 
 " We are safe enough, if we keep ^them at a fair 
 distance behind us. They cannot see us, and this 
 snow and winding path are better protection than 
 ditch and rampart. Get thou in front, Edwy, and 
 gallop hard." 
 
 Away they sped again. Over the horses they bent, 
 their faces raised only so much as would enable them 
 to peer into the fleecy clouds before them. They felt, 
 rather than saw their way, and trusted greatly to the 
 instinct of their steeds. Halford, riding along in the 
 rear, smiled grimly as the thought struck him that no 
 missile would be likely to pass his burly form in this 
 narrow path. He felt that the two lads were perfectly 
 
 The Normans were by this time mounted, and their 
 horses, whose hoofs were so far free from snow, began 
 to gain ground at once. The pursuers rode hard, trust- 
 ing to fortune to preserve them from broken necks. 
 
 Halford strained his ears to catch every sound. For 
 some minutes he heard nothing but the noise of the 
 storm and the footfalls "of his own horse. Something 
 came ripping through the branches, and stuck, with 
 a dull thud, into a stout limb close to the left of him. 
 He turned his head sharply. 
 
 " So ho ! " muttered he, " a spear 1 " 
 
 He pushed on more quickly. He reached Gurth. 
 
 " Thy javelin," he said. 
 
 Gurth thrust it out behind him. Halford fell back 
 a little. As far as he could judge, a long straight 
 piece of path lay before them. 
 
 Another spear came hurtling through the trees, 
 this time some yards to the right of him. The path 
 
 6
 
 86 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 had just swept round a bend to the left. The weapon, 
 however, came with much greater force. Either a 
 stronger arm had hurled it, or the pursuers had 
 gained very considerably. 
 
 He rode on. Presently he reined up. He judged 
 that fifty good yards of straight path lay behind him. 
 He raised himself in his stirrups, and the javelin flew 
 with terrific force from his hand. Without waiting 
 to judge its effect, he went forward again with a 
 bound. He heard nothing. He had misjudged then ; 
 the pursuers were not in the straight. He must try 
 again. By an effort he reached the lads. 
 
 " Some more spears ! " he cried. 
 
 Gurth reached forward, took some from Edwy's 
 sheath, and handed them behind as he had previously 
 done. 
 
 " Push on ! " exclaimed the stout henchman. 
 
 He halted at the spot. He waited and listened, 
 leaning intently over his horse's crupper. A moment 
 more, and he was erect in the stirrups again, and, 
 in quick succession, three of the spears he had 
 fashioned, were launched into the veil behind. 
 
 He paused an instant. 
 
 " Diable ! " shouted an angry voice. 
 
 " Hit 1 " cried Halford. 
 
 Another spear flew from his hand. 
 
 Another oath was rapped sharply out. 
 
 Two spears whizzed past him, one within an inch 
 of his head. He turned and rode forward at a gallop, 
 lying flat down upon his horse's back. The figures 
 of the flying lads loomed mistily before him. He 
 raised himself again.
 
 GURTH, EDWY, AND HALFORD SET OUT FOR HOME. 87 
 
 On ! on ! " he shouted. 
 
 Then he swerved from the path to the side of a 
 huge spreading beech. Another project had entered 
 his mind. He was tired of unseen foes. The tree 
 trunk was betwixt him and his pursuers. He took 
 his great axe from his belt, and swung it round 
 in his hand. 
 
 A galloping was audible. Then voices. They drew 
 nearer. He gripped reins and axe more tightly, and 
 settled himself more firmly in the saddle. A white 
 galloping figure loomed out. He was leading. 
 Halford grinned. 
 
 An instant more, and a terrific cry, " A Wulf ! " 
 rang out. Horse and rider leapt across the path. The 
 mighty axe fell with a " swish," and went crashing 
 through the skull of the Norman's steed. Down he 
 went like a log, carrying his rider with him, and 
 effectually barring the path. Just as swiftly Halford 
 dashed forward again, and was lost in the storm. 
 
 Cries and curses followed him. He rode on now 
 at a headlong pace. He caught up his young masters. 
 
 " One is down, my lord," he panted, " and the path 
 is blocked. Our numbers are equal, and if it were 
 not for the young Edwy, I should say, let us wait 
 and fight them." 
 
 " That is it," said Gurth bitterly. " Were it not 
 for my brother's youth, I would not have ridden 
 a foot from the cowards. It irks me sorely, a Wulf, 
 to run from Norman robbers. By my father's soul, 
 though, I will turn and meet them, if they pursue 
 us farther." 
 
 " Good ! " ejaculated Halford. " Let us ride slower,
 
 88 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 my horse is giving out ; my bulk is not a light load 
 to fly with." 
 
 They reined their steeds in a little, and rode more 
 leisurely. 
 
 "We are not far from Littledean," said Gurth. 
 " Mayhap, they will give up the chase." 
 
 This idea proved ill-founded. In a little while 
 shouts came borne along on the wind, which told 
 that the pursuit was being followed more keenly 
 and fiercely than ever. 
 
 " Edwy," cried Gurth, " keep well to the front, 
 and prepare thyself to obey instantly whatever com- 
 mands I shall give thee." 
 
 " Have no fear ! " answered the youngster heartily ; 
 " I am prepared. Thou shalt find that I can hit 
 a fair mark truly." 
 
 They rode on more quickly, but with no ultimate 
 intention of flying. The pursuit came on, nearer and 
 nearer. Gurth eagerly peered into the bushes and 
 trees that lined the path. 
 
 Suddenly he called, " Halt ! " 
 
 He decided to await the enemy here. His plan 
 was thought out ; and in a few quiet sentences it was 
 arranged. 
 
 " Place thyself at the farther side of this clump 
 of firs to the left," he said to Edwy. "They are 
 good cover. Get ready thy best-pointed spear. Hurl 
 it at the face of the man who shall be brought 
 up opposite to thee. If thou canst not do this, then 
 make a target of his horse. Thou wilt but waste 
 thy small strength against his body. Thou, Halford, 
 take thy stand a few paces farther on, on the right
 
 GURTH, EDWY, AND HALFORD SET OUT FOR HOME. 89 
 
 side of the way. Thy work will be to block the path, 
 bring these fellows to a stand, and engage the leading 
 one. I will post myself on the side of the fir clump 
 and dash across the crupper of the hindmost horse. 
 Each must look to his own man. They cannot see 
 us in this blinding storm. We have them as they 
 thought to have us, and must not fail to bring them 
 down. Now to cover I " 
 
 " They are as dead as King Alfred," chuckled 
 Halford, as he rode to his post. 
 
 For some minutes there was silence, save for the 
 shrieks and howls and groans of the storm-swept 
 Forest. The three Saxons sat their horses, brushed 
 the snow from their faces, and with nerves strained 
 to the highest tension, waited and listened for the 
 oncoming of their foes. 
 
 " Hist ! the muffled gallop of horses." 
 
 Each gripped his weapon, and Halford and Gurth 
 braced their steeds for the spring. 
 
 They heard the quick panting of hard-pressed 
 animals. 
 
 A white mass swept to the fir clump. It passed 
 Garth. A fearful yell, "A Wulf! A Wulf!" 
 and Halford was across the path. The head of the 
 Norman's horse was within a foot of him. It swerved, 
 reared, plunged. He was prepared for all. He rose 
 in his stirrups. The fearful axe whirled round his 
 head, and before the Norman could raise a hand to 
 defend himself, it came down like a gleaming thunder- 
 bolt. Without having uttered a sound, the foeman 
 dropped lifeless to the ground. The horse dashed 
 into the bushes.
 
 90 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 Halford tightened his grip on his weapon, and 
 turned to see how his companions were faring. He 
 turned at the nick of time. 
 
 Edwy had cast his spear at the second horseman, 
 who was none other than de Tournay himself. But 
 the lad's nerves were too strained for a steady aim, 
 and the missile flew harmlessly across the Norman's 
 face. 
 
 Quick as thought de Tournay turned to the direc- 
 tion whence it came. Edwy was in the act of 
 snatching another spear from his bundle. 
 
 There was not a moment to lose. The Norman 
 clapped his sword across his horse's neck, seized a 
 mace which hung at his saddle, and whirled it ready 
 for a throw. In another moment the hapless 
 youngster would have been dashed to the ground a 
 bruised and lifeless mass. 
 
 But it was at that moment that Halford saw his 
 danger and the Norman's intention. His axe was 
 ready, and with lightning instinct it was hurled 
 from his hand. It struck the Norman across the ribs 
 and under the armpit of his raised arm. The ribs 
 cracked beneath the corselet, and the force of the 
 blow sent him spinning from his stirrups, headlong 
 into the snow. 
 
 Meanwhile, Gurth was engaged in a hot hand-to- 
 hand encounter with the third horseman, a strapping 
 man-at-arrns. Biding last, the fellow had received 
 more warning than his companions. He turned to 
 face his assailant in an instant. It was hack, cut, 
 thrust, on either side, and with but small advantage. 
 The young thane was the nimbler, and his steed the
 
 GURTH, EDWY, AND HALFOED SET OUT FOR HOME. 91 
 
 more easily managed, but his antagonist was power- 
 fully built, and a thorough swordsman. The double 
 victory of Halford, however, decided the issue of this 
 combat also. The fellow, seeing his case become 
 desperate, made a rash lunge at Gurth's throat. The 
 young thane not only parried it, but by a quick twist 
 managed also to send his opponent's weapon flying 
 from his grasp. The Norman, finding himself de- 
 fenceless save for a small dagger he had snatched 
 from his belt, threw this down also, and called for 
 " quarter." 
 
 This was granted, and the prisoner having been 
 dismounted and securely bound, Gurth turned with 
 Halford to look at the condition of the two other 
 assailants. 
 
 The first victim of the terrible axe, by his dress, 
 and by the fact that one of his hands was bound up, 
 proved to be that erstwhile gay spark of Norman 
 knighthood, Sir Ronald de Tarbeux. They quickly 
 put the ghastly object out of sight in the fir clump. 
 
 De Tournay they found alive, and with no worse 
 injuries than a half-dazed brain and a couple of broken 
 ribs. He was soon brought to his senses and placed 
 on his horse. The other prisoner was mounted and 
 tied to his saddle, and the little cavalcade set off 
 again along the Forest path. Halford led the way, 
 the two prisoners came next, and Gurth and Edwy 
 brought up the rear. 
 
 11 What wilt thou do with these men, Gurth ? " 
 asked Edwy as they rode along. 
 
 " Hang them ! " replied he. 
 
 "Both?"
 
 92 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 "Both. The king shall have early evidence that 
 my wardenship of the Forest will be no idle one." 
 
 The Norman knight heard these words, and turned 
 painfully in his saddle. 
 
 " Have a care, my young Sir Cockerel," he sneered, 
 "that thon art not hanged first. Thou art like to 
 be, unless thou speedily play accuser, judge, and 
 executioner in thine own person." 
 
 " Thou wilt have a fair trial, Sir Norman, and an 
 equally fair hanging ! " 
 
 " Oh ! What dost thou imagine a judge would 
 say to thy story ? Four men, proved warriors, waylay 
 a boor, a boy, and a baby in the heart of a forest. Of 
 the four stalwarts, but one escapes with a whole skin, 
 whilst the three precious ones escape unscathed ! 
 Thou wilt want a mad judge and a jury of jesters to 
 tell such twaddle to I " 
 
 Gurth bit his lips to keep back his wrath. "I'll 
 bandy no words with thee," he answered. 
 
 Now fortune had not destined that Gurth should at 
 this time enter the Dean in triumph. Her favours 
 for the present were to partake more of the nature 
 of kicks than halfpence. 
 
 The steed of de Tarbeux, dashing wildly on through 
 the Forest, attracted by the neighing of its own 
 kind, had galloped riderless into the camp of the 
 younger ap Morgan, who lay hidden close to the 
 Saxon village of Littledean, meditating an early raid 
 upon the place. 
 
 The condition of the animal told its own tale, and 
 just at that very moment when home and welcoming 
 friends seemed almost in sight, our young thane
 
 GURTH, EDWY, AND HALFORD SET OUT FOR HOME. 93 
 
 rode unsuspectingly into a trap from which there 
 was no escape. 
 
 A hundred skin-clad, grinning Welshmen suddenly 
 surrounded both victors and vanquished. The three 
 Saxons were dragged from their steeds and deprived 
 of their weapons almost before they had realised the 
 presence of their new and unexpected foes. For the 
 Welshmen there was a strong element of humour 
 in the situation. 
 
 Ap Morgan, by way of a rough jest, tied the Saxon 
 thane and his knightly Norman prisoner together, 
 and in this maddening position, propped up against 
 the gnarled trunk of an oak, the snow falling heavily 
 around him, Gurth spent the bitterest night of 
 his life.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 SEEKINGS AND FINDINGS. 
 
 EARLY the next morning, the Welsh chieftain 
 struck his camp and disappeared in the almost 
 trackless Forest. He denied himself the pleasure of 
 a raid upon the stockyards of Littledean in order 
 to reach the Wye whilst the snow still fell heavily 
 enough to obliterate the trail of his band. By noon, 
 however, of the Christmas Day, the storm ceased 
 entirely, and ap Morgan pushed on westwards more 
 rapidly than ever. His band were mounted on sturdy 
 Forest ponies, and, riding in single file, they left but 
 little direct indication of their numbers. 
 
 The sun had gone down behind the steep, wooded 
 hills on the western bank when they filed out on 
 the eastern side of the river. The waters were low 
 and easily fordable. The Welshmen crossed quickly. 
 Then leisurely they wound up the steep path, dis- 
 appeared over the summit, and struck off to the small 
 fort of the Morgans, a few miles to the south-west 
 of Ross. Gurth could not forbear a sigh when he 
 rode down the slope ; he felt that friends and 
 Christmas cheer were far away indeed, when forest, 
 river, and hill lay between him and them. 
 
 He, Edwy, and Halford rode together unbound, 
 
 94
 
 SEEKIXGS AND FINDINGS. 95 
 
 but unarmed and well-guarded. They were quit 
 of the unwelcome society of de Tournay, who rode 
 at the head of the troop with the leader, endeavouring 
 to carry on an intelligible conversation with him. 
 The Norman man-at-arms, following the example of 
 his leader, was likewise zealously endeavouring to 
 make himself agreeable to his captors. The Saxons 
 rode moodily along, and for the most part silent. 
 
 When the Welshman's stronghold was reached, 
 he showed no present purpose of ill-treating his 
 prisoners. The Saxons were well lodged. The Normans 
 were allowed to wander about at will, and de Tournay 
 found a seat at the chief's table. The young thane 
 noticed this, and felt that it boded no good to him. 
 Could he have heard the conversation that went on 
 between these two amidst the uproar of the Christmas 
 feast, he would have seen cause for the gravest 
 anxiety. With all the venom of a defeated coward, 
 and all the plausibility of an accomplished rascal, the 
 Norman was striving to urge ap Morgan to hang his 
 three hereditary foes off-hand. 
 
 The mind of the Welshman was, however, much too 
 politic for any such rashness. The Norman's promise 
 of alliance and protection he secretly laughed at, and 
 he had no great idea of his pluck or honesty ; more- 
 over, he knew too well the vicissitudes of border war- 
 fare to make his own capture at any future time the 
 certain prelude to a long rope dance from a limb of a 
 forest oak. So he bluntly refused to be made the 
 Norman's cat's-paw. One important arrangement, 
 however, he agreed to. The Normans were to be given 
 their liberty on the morrow, and an escort to guide
 
 96 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 them safely through the Forest to de Tournay's 
 castle. 
 
 The Norinan on his part agreed to keep ap Morgan 
 acquainted with what went on at the Dean, to help 
 him with a picked body of men in his next raid in the 
 marches, and to claim no share of the plunder. 
 
 The next morning de Tournay crossed the Wye 
 again, his mind full of schemes for the undoing of 
 the house of Wulf. 
 
 A week passed away. Ap Morgan declared he was 
 " the happiest man alive." Gurth thought he was the 
 most miserable. At the Dean the anxiety was acute. 
 As soon as the storm abated, scouts were sent out 
 along the Forest paths. They found ample signs of 
 the Welsh camp at Littledean ; and to a forester's 
 eye their homeward trail was as plain as the sun at 
 noon. However, they made no attempt to follow the 
 marauders. Along the main path to Newnham they 
 found nothing to aid their search until they came to 
 the scene of the fight. There, evidences of a struggle 
 were unmistakable. A suspicious looking heap in 
 the fir-clump was found to be the dead body of the 
 Norman. The thane Orcar, who led the search party, 
 at once declared the awful death blow to be no Welsh- 
 man's work. The dead body of the horse next 
 rewarded their efforts. Again the Norman had suffered. 
 Then a javelin was found firmly fixed in the trunk of 
 a tree. Norman again. Next, two of Edwy's small 
 spears were discovered similarly embedded. Lastly, 
 one was picked up and identified on all hands as 
 belonging to Gurth. 
 
 The party turned and rode home again, one man
 
 SEEKINGS AND FINDINGS. 97 
 
 only being dispatched to Newnham to see what tidings 
 conld be gleaned in that quarter. As they approached 
 Littledean, a sharp pair of eyes amongst them detected 
 signs of the Welsh ambuscade. Then the main parts 
 of the grim Christmas-eve story stood revealed. The 
 Lady of the Dean met them at the outer gate of the 
 palisade. 
 
 " What news ? " she asked anxiously. 
 
 " Good news and ill news ! " replied Orcar. " The 
 lads entered the Forest yester-e'en accompanied by 
 some stout fellow, either of my house-carles, or from 
 the smith's. They were pursued by Normans, at least 
 two of them. There was a running fight along the 
 path. The lads won, for we found one Norman horse 
 with a well-cracked skull, and further on a Norman 
 knight lying unburied with his cowardly pate equally 
 well cloven. I would give something to see the arm 
 that struck the blows. The lads fought well, too, as 
 these spears show." 
 
 " But where are my brave boys, good thane ? " 
 interrupted the Lady Marian, clasping her hands. 
 
 Orcar's brow fell. " That I can only r guess at," 
 said he. " We found the ap Morgans had been abroad 
 at Littledean." 
 
 " And they have taken them ? " 
 
 E'en so ! " 
 
 The tears welled to the mother's eyes. " My poor 
 Edwy ! " she murmured. 
 
 " Fret not, dame," said Orcar gently ; " they shall 
 share Christmas cheer with us, if we partake not of 
 it till Twelfth-tide. We will track the Welsh fox at 
 once."
 
 98 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 A small party was soon sent out to follow up the 
 Welshman's trail. The sun had gone down and the 
 moon had risen ere they returned. Their foes had 
 made good their escape. 
 
 Meanwhile the messenger came back from Newnham. 
 He brought important news. The Norman, whose 
 horse had fallen beneath the brawny arm of Halford, 
 had been found by one of Orcar's swineherds early 
 in the morning almost frozen to death. He was 
 coming to the Dean under escort as soon as he had 
 sufficiently recovered the use of his limbs. 
 
 That night the dwellers at the Dean and the miners 
 of Cinderford were all astir. They had received a 
 summons to arms for day-dawn on the morrow. The 
 news spread like wildfire, and the whole Forest was 
 soon in a ferment. Men-vowed vengeance and, instead 
 of " Wassail " to their friends, drank " Death ! " to 
 the Welsh and Normans in their horns of Christmas 
 mead and ale. 
 
 Women urged their brothers, sons, and husbands to 
 the fight, for, was not their beloved and widowed lady 
 bereft of her sons ? and was not their brave young lord 
 a captive ? And the morning dawned in another 
 blinding snowstorm which raged for days. Then for 
 days the Forest paths were impassable, and the stout 
 foresters ate out their hearts in their impatience. 
 
 The New Year came, and still the would-be rescuers 
 were as fast bound as the prisoners they would release. 
 At last came the welcome thaw. 
 
 A hundred strong, the foresters and miners 
 assembled in the courtyard of the Forest fortress. 
 
 With a ringing cheer for their lady and her daughter,
 
 SEEKINGS AND FINDINGS. 99 
 
 who stood and waved them adieu, they turned, and, 
 headed by the burly Orcar, wound out in long files 
 over the drawbridge, and disappeared into the dark 
 mass of the trees, wending their way along the wet 
 and miry paths towards the river. 
 
 Behind them, under a strong guard, remained the 
 Norman man-at-arms. His story of the treachery and 
 treason of de Tournay had excited such resentment, 
 that that knight's life was not worth a moment's 
 purchase if any retainer of the house of Wulf got a 
 clear aim at him with spear or arrow. 
 
 The Norman, snowed up with his Welsh escort, 
 was busily employed, and the Saxons were soon to 
 hear of him and to some purpose. Orcar knew not 
 that such a crafty foe lay to the rear of him.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 WHICH TREATS OF PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES. 
 
 IT was on the tenth day after Christmas that Orcar 
 and his band set out bent upon the liberation of 
 the Saxon captives. 
 
 Reaching the river late in the forenoon, he found 
 it swollen and muddy, the stream running very 
 strongly, and breast high even at the ford. There- 
 fore he set about making a pathway at once. The 
 banks were high and rocky, and huge blocks of red 
 sandstone easily obtainable. Spreading his men about 
 in parties amongst the trees and thick undergrowth, 
 they laboured on, and by an hour before sunset had 
 collected such a store of rock that a causeway might 
 be constructed in a very short space of time. 
 
 Then a half-score of men were sent across to bring 
 report of the enemy. They spread themselves out 
 as far as the hill-top, but found the whole sodden, 
 wintry landscape devoid of any sign of man. Then 
 the Saxons hurled down the largest rocks into the 
 river ; and each man working in his appointed place 
 silently and swiftly, before the last streak of red had 
 faded from the sky a causeway stretched across the 
 stream, wherein they might walk two abreast, and no 
 man be knee-deep in the swift, icy waters. 
 
 100
 
 WHICH TREATS OF PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES. 101 
 
 Leaving a small but picked band to guard each 
 end of the ford, the thane marshalled at the top 
 of the western slope, and, keeping well hidden on 
 the crest, waited for the moon to get above the 
 horizon, for he proposed paying a night visit to 
 the fox in his den. While he waits for the silver 
 lamp to rise above the dark tree-tops we will see how 
 Gurth is faring after his ten days' captivity. 
 
 From the first he and Halford had plotted escape. 
 Guard was by no means strictly kept, and the walls 
 of their dungeon but wooden ones. It was situated 
 in an angle of the low, rambling building. Halford 
 declared that he could work his way through it with 
 his brave axe in half an hour and make but little 
 noise. Unfortunately the axe was now a treasured 
 possession of ap Morgan himself. 
 
 Round the whole fortress ran a high, broad wall 
 of large stones and earth ; beyond this a deep, wide 
 ditch. But the wall was not beyond their scaling 
 powers ; and all three were excellent swimmers. 
 Their most powerful gaoler was the heavy mantle 
 of snow outside, and this guard was strengthened 
 by every thick-falling shower. 
 
 Ap Morgan knew this, and he and his gave them- 
 selves up to snug enjoyment. Once or twice Halford 
 found opportunity to try his blandishments upon a 
 plump, dark- eyed maiden who glanced up at the 
 prisoners' lattice as she passed. But his efforts 
 brought him nothing save a smile or two, a few 
 shakes of a pretty head, and a musically-murmured 
 " Dym Sassenach " (" I do not know English "). 
 
 But the thaw came ; the betraying, tell-tale snow 
 
 7
 
 102 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 was disappearing. Guard was as loosely kept as aver. 
 Gurth's hopes rose high. 
 
 A small but keen and excellently-tempered dagger 
 in his belt had escaped the eyes of his captors. One 
 edge of this Halford converted into a saw. He 
 then traced out a square of about three feet in the 
 outermost corner of their small cell. With the 
 patience and care of a skilled, painstaking mechanic, 
 he cut and sawed quite through the log walls on three 
 sides of the square ; along the base he cut nearly 
 through, but left the whole square in such a state 
 that an aperture large enough for a quick escape 
 could be made by a sharp kick or a steady pressure 
 of knee or shoulder. 
 
 Then Gurth determined they should make a dash 
 for freedom at the first opportunity. They had no 
 hope of arming themselves for defence ; the game 
 must be won by luck, speed, and stealth, or not at 
 all. The chance came at last in the interval between 
 sunset and moonrise, and at the very time when a 
 hundred pairs of brave and friendly eyes were watching 
 for the celestial signal to march to their rescue. 
 
 Halford unwound the deerskin straps from his 
 legs. He fastened them together and formed a 
 strong rope ; there must be no unnecessary splashing 
 by dropping from the wall into the moat. Carefully, 
 and with scarcely a creak to break the stillness, the 
 aperture in the wall was made. The three stole 
 forth. From the house-portion of the fortress, and 
 from the cluster of huts beyond, came sounds of 
 revelry and , feasting. All around was stillness and 
 semi-darkness.
 
 WHICH TREATS OF PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES. 105 
 
 " Luck is with us ! " whispered Gurth. 
 
 He fastened the leathern rope to Edwy's belt. 
 
 There was no difficulty in mounting the wall from 
 the inner side. A moment more and the two brothers 
 lay along the top. Edwy swung himself over. 
 Swiftly Gurth lowered him. The water rose to his 
 waist. He gave a sharp tug at the rope, and at 
 the signal Gurth let it go. The lad struck swiftly 
 out, and in a couple of moments was clambering up 
 the opposite bank. He unfastened the rope, wound 
 it into a coil and sent it skimming through the air 
 and over the wall again. Halford picked it up. 
 
 " Now ! " cried Gurth, " quick, and I'll lower you. 
 I can dive, and make but little noise." 
 
 Halford climbed up. The rope was fastened under- 
 neath his arms ; Gurth took off his helmet and mail 
 corselet, both of which might prove serious impedi- 
 ments to him in his dive into the chilling waters, 
 gave them to Halford, and the latter speedily joined 
 Edwy on the bank. A clean, and as nearly as pos- 
 sible, noiseless plunge, a few swift, strong strokes, and 
 Gurth, dripping from head to heel, stood with them. 
 
 He wrung the water from his hair. 
 
 " It must be a sharp run, my lord, or the weather 
 will be our undoing," said the henchman. 
 
 " Off, then, at your fleetest pace." 
 
 But they were not to escape so easily. They had 
 not given ten strides towards the river before Halford 
 suddenly stopped running and threw himself flat on 
 the sodden grass, dragging Edwy with him. In an 
 instant Gurth was beside him. " What is it ? " he 
 asked.
 
 106 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 Before an answer could be given, the sound of 
 voices smote upon the thane's ears. He raised his 
 head and peered into the darkness. Two figures 
 loomed dimly before him. They were advancing 
 rapidly towards ap Morgan's stronghold, and the 
 three unarmed and shivering Saxons lay directly in 
 their path. 
 
 It was a perilous situation. To get up and run 
 was to ensure instant detection ; there was no time 
 to crawl sufficiently far to escape their eyes. 
 
 Had it not been for the fact that they had run 
 with the fort for a dark, obliterating background to 
 their movements, their first step from the walls must 
 have betrayed them. This thought flashed through 
 Gurth's mind. " Back to the moat ! as quickly as 
 we can crawl," he whispered. 
 
 The idea was the lucky inspiration of a moment, 
 and it was as quickly acted upon. Back they crawled, 
 but the two men came on faster than they moved 
 from them. They reached the bank, crawled down, 
 and hid amongst the reeds that grew there. 
 
 Within a yard of them the two men passed, gaily 
 chattering. They waited and listened until the porter 
 had answered their summons, raised the small draw- 
 bridge, admitted them, and lowered it again. Then 
 they rose up cautiously, glanced carefully around, 
 and struck off swiftly and silently, but at an angle 
 to their former direction. 
 
 Unless they made a long detour this would carry 
 them beyond the usual ford of the river. Halford 
 asked whether the detour should be made, expressing 
 an opinion against it himself, for any pursuit would
 
 WHICH TREATS OF PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES. 107 
 
 certainly be aimed dead in that direction. Gurth 
 agreed with him, and they made for another ford 
 higher np stream, away from any beaten track, and 
 unfortunately not connected with the Dean except 
 by circuitous and seldom trodden pathways. 
 
 They reached the Wye without further mishap, 
 just as the moon, bright and unclouded, rose over 
 the trees. They waited until its beams fell clear 
 across the swirling waters before they attempted the 
 somewhat dangerous passage. Then they crossed, 
 Edwy astride Halford's shoulders ; for the current was 
 strong, and the water in places rose almost to Gurth's 
 armpits. 
 
 At the moment when they stood, dripping but 
 exultant, on the high bank of the Saxon shore, Orcar 
 and his men went with a stealthy but swinging tread 
 down the slope, making in a bee line for their late 
 prison. 
 
 We will leave them on their march, and continue 
 for a brief while longer to follow the fortunes of 
 Gurth and his two companions. 
 
 " Now, Halford," said Gurth as they moved oif 
 into the shelter of the trees, " we must trust ourselves 
 to thy guidance, for, to speak honestly, I am little 
 better than one lost in this part of the Forest. Dost 
 thou think we can reach home to-night ? " 
 
 " I do not think it wise to try, my lord, seeing that 
 we are unarmed and soaked to the skin." 
 
 " What dost thou advise, then ? " 
 
 "That we stay here. There are caves in these rocks, 
 and if we can find one snug and dry, we must grin 
 at the thief hunger and wait for daylight."
 
 108 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 They commenced their search for shelter at once. 
 Halford, who had known the place well as a boy, 
 found a roomy cavern in a side of the sandstone cliff 
 away from the river. It contained large quantities 
 of dried leaves which had drifted in, and some bracken. 
 Halford had not forgotten the mysteries of woodcraft, 
 and after some labour succeeded in kindling a fire 
 and making up three comfortable beds. All three 
 undressed, hung their clothes round the somewhat 
 smoky fire, rolled themselves up in the heaps of leaves, 
 and, in spite of hunger and cold, fell fast asleep. 
 
 Leaving them thus comfortably disposed, we will 
 now concern ourselves with the expedition of Orcar. 
 
 Down the narrow paths in long files swept the 
 Saxons, avoiding as much as possible the dry and 
 crackling undergrowth. They debouched upon the 
 plain, formed up in two compact bodies with narrow 
 fronts, and, preceded by keen-eyed, silent scouts, set 
 out upon the final stage of their march. 
 
 Half the distance had been quickly covered when 
 one of the scouts came running back with the tidings 
 that the enemy was on the alert. Hardly had Orcar 
 heard his tale than another scout fell back upon the 
 main bodies. He reported that a small body of the 
 enemy was almost upon them, but advancing too 
 rapidly to be really aware of their nearness. 
 
 In an instant every Saxon was prone and silent 
 upon the ground. The Welshmen came on, to the 
 number of seven or eight, almost at a run and heading 
 directly for the ford. The darkness where they lay 
 effectually hid the lurking foe until it was too late. 
 
 A sharp signal, a sadden rising up of a mass of
 
 WHICH TREATS OF PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES. 109 
 
 men from the earth, a brief struggle, hardly a cry, 
 and the Welshmen lay in the tracks of the Saxons. 
 Some were disarmed and bound ; a few who offered 
 resistance were stretched out motionless and dead. 
 The affair was over in a few moments, and the men 
 moved on more swifty than before. 
 
 The scouts vanished again amidst the straggling 
 trees and bushes, utilising every shadow. Orcar saw 
 that a complete surprise was now out of the question ; 
 still he hoped to catch his foe only partially prepared. 
 
 No more scouts returned, and as they neared the 
 Welsh stronghold no great noise or commotion was 
 discernible. They reached the foot of the slight slope 
 upon which the fortress was raised, and within a 
 hundred yards of the edge of the moat. As far as 
 they could ascertain, they were undiscoverd. Orcar 
 suspected a trap. Once again the men lay down, the 
 scouts were now not a score of yards ahead. Orcar 
 advanced to them, and at his orders they crawled to 
 the top of the slope and carefully surveyed the inter- 
 vening ground. A few men were busy about the gate 
 and drawbridge, the former of which stood open, and 
 the latter lowered ; a few of the Welsh, too, stood 
 about on the walls. But there was no evidence of 
 any expectation of an enemy. 
 
 Thinking that his presence on the Welsh side of 
 the river was known, Orcar could hardly be anything 
 else than supremely astonished. He went forward to 
 examine the state of affairs himself. The spies had 
 reported truly. 
 
 His plans were made in an instant. The prisoners 
 he ordered to be gagged and stripped. They were
 
 110 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 five in number, and five sturdy foresters soon stood 
 arrayed in their clothes, and armed with their weapons. 
 The whole body moved to within a yard of the top, 
 and spread out in a semicircle two deep. Then up 
 came the pretended messengers at a run. Still at 
 a run, and without a moment's hesitation, they made 
 straight for the gate. 
 
 The guard saw them, thought he recognised them, 
 wondered why they did not speak or shout some 
 greeting. But they came on as men blown with a 
 long race. He suspected nothing, until the foremost 
 runner thrust forth his spear, and he felt the point 
 grating past his ribs. Then he gave a wild yell of 
 pain and warning, and fell. As he reeled he thought 
 he saw a vision of an advancing wave of men ; he was 
 dead before he could learn that it was no vision, but 
 reality. 
 
 But the others at the gate, and the men on the wall 
 saw all, and heard all. Shouts and cries resounded 
 on all sides. A fierce struggle was already going on 
 at the gate. Orcar dashed for the drawbridge, and 
 reached it just as it creaked on the rise. One swing 
 of his sword, and the strained ropes were severed. 
 The gate was now at the mercy of him and his men. 
 
 But the ap Morgans came from their hold like bees 
 from their hive. They swarmed upon wall and tower, 
 and poured a death-dealing hail of spears and arrows 
 into the ever-thickening press of foemen on the bridge. 
 Orcar broke from the press and directed the long line 
 of his men to attack the spearmen and archers. 
 
 The mass of Welshmen on the inner side of the 
 gate was now as great as that of the Saxons on the
 
 WHICH TREATS OF PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES. Ill 
 
 onter. It was a living ram battering upon a living 
 wall. The besiegers had no scaling ladders with 
 them, and the moat was deep, and the wall high. 
 The living barrier must be broken away. Cut and 
 thrust, scream and shout, the fight went on. Men 
 fell wounded, dying, dead ; and a ghastly barrier was 
 growing up between the furious combatants. 
 
 Again Orcar withdrew from the press for a moment 
 to see how the battle went. Clearly it was not 
 going in his favour as much as he had hoped and 
 wished. His line of men was too exposed, and the 
 light of the moon grew clearer and stronger. The 
 Welshmen were numerous and well-protected, and 
 they fought with the nimbleness and ferocity of 
 mountain cats. The walls must be scaled. 
 
 " Into the moat, the biggest of you," shouted the 
 thane. 
 
 A score of stalwart fellows plunged in at once. 
 They swam to the wall. They felt for the bottom 
 with their feet. With some of them the water rose 
 to their necks. But they shouted to their companions 
 on the bank to come on. 
 
 Another lot plunged in, glad to escape the monotony 
 of being shot at from loophole and window. Up on 
 the backs of their fellows they went. They stood 
 on the shoulders, they stood on the upstretched hands. 
 The pressure brought the mouths of some down to 
 the level of the water, so that they gasped for breath. 
 
 But the top of the wall could now be reached, and 
 with the activity of the squirrels of their Forest home, 
 they swung themselves up. Some came headlong 
 down again, pierced through with spear or arrow.
 
 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 Those on the bank dragged them out, and others 
 leapt in and were soon on the wall filling the empty 
 places. Others swarmed in, and on, and over. The 
 patient human stepping-stones came out from their 
 icy bed, and joined vigorously in the fray at the 
 gate in order to restore warmth. 
 
 The ap Morgans had not calculated on this sudden 
 and daring storming of their walls. They were 
 now attacked in front and in flank. They fell back 
 from the gate, and the Saxons rushed in. 
 
 Along the inner side of the walls, and in the angles 
 of the building the combat went on. But the 
 defenders were losing heart, and the attacking party 
 invigorated with triumph. Women and children 
 were screaming and shrieking in the rear. Moreover, 
 ap Morgan himself was disabled by a sword cut, 
 and confounded at the unexpected onslaught, and 
 the number of his enemies. In the confusion and 
 the wintry moonlight he fancied them to be many 
 more in number than they really were. He sounded 
 a parley and begged for quarter. 
 
 Orcar commanded his men to stay their hands, and 
 stepped forward to the wounded and puzzled chieftain. 
 
 " What is all this fighting for at the peaceable time 
 of Christmas ? " asked the latter. 
 
 "Thou canst answer that best thyself," replied 
 Orcar ; " the fault of it lies at thine own door." 
 
 " How can that pe ? I haf not taken cow or pig 
 or pony from thy lands for many moons." 
 
 " Thou hast taken more than the land itself," cried 
 Orcar. " What hast thou done with our lord, the 
 thane of Wulf, and his brother, and his henchman ?
 
 WHICH TREATS OF PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES. 113 
 
 Set them free, and we will betake ourselves to the 
 Dean again without delay." 
 
 The wily Celt raised his unwonnded arm with a 
 gesture of astonishment. 
 
 " Inteet 1 " he exclaimed. " We haf no thanes or 
 lords with us. The Wulf wass our guest, and we 
 treated him well, and meant him no harm ; but he 
 went from us this night." 
 
 " But not with thy blessing or goodwill," answered 
 the Saxon leader, who now began to see through the 
 whole business of the hasty scouts and the watchings 
 from the wall. " Didst thou not send after him ? " he 
 continued. 
 
 " Am I a fool ? " snapped ap Morgan. 
 
 " Prove to me that they are gone." 
 
 The Welsh chief led the way to the hole in the wall. 
 Orcar examined it, and chuckled softly. 
 
 " Good ! Now we will be thy guests until the 
 return of all thy scouts. Thou shalt show us the 
 many kindnesses that the Wulf would not have of 
 thee. If he be harmed or roughly used, we will burn 
 this place about thy ears." 
 
 So the thane Orcar abode that night with ap 
 Morgan the younger. And when morning dawned he 
 set out again for the river, having first of all pledged 
 the Welshman by a great oath that the young thane 
 should be sent back with all speed and honour should 
 he still be found on Welsh soil. 
 
 Ap Morgan sat in his hall nursing his wound and 
 planning revenge. He sent a messenger to his 
 brother, and bethought himself of the Norman knight, 
 Sir Gilbert de Tournay.
 
 114 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 The Saxons returned to the ford and they that kept 
 it. Nothing had been heard or seen of Gurth. Orcar 
 was much perplexed, and in spite of the hole in the 
 wall would have suspected the Welshman of playing 
 him a trick, had it not happened that those who 
 guarded the newly made causeway had seized two of 
 the enemy's scouts and still held them prisoners. 
 Upon examination of these the thane felt he could no 
 longer doubt the story of the escape and the manner 
 in which it had been effected. This assurance was 
 agreeable, but the absence of any signs of the runa- 
 ways was perplexing. 
 
 For some time they searched the river on both 
 banks, but found no traces of the fugitives. Then 
 Orcar determined to return to the castle of the Wulf, 
 leaving a small body of men ambushed in the trees 
 on the Saxon bank with instructions to wait there 
 until the moon should be well up. He considered 
 that by this time Gurth, if he were still at liberty, 
 would attempt the passage of the river. 
 
 Let us return to our hero and see how it has fared 
 with him since we left him sound asleep in his bed 
 of leaves and bracken. 
 
 The night passed without accident. The fire at 
 the mouth of the cave burned steadily and smokily. 
 It served at the least to warm the damp and chilling 
 air before it reached the sleepers, and it kept wolf 
 and boar at a respectable and safe distance. And it 
 attracted no human enemy to their resting-place. 
 
 The dawn came, wrapped in a cold and clammy 
 mist. The sleepers stirred on their rude couches, and 
 one by one they awoke. Halford brushed his leafy
 
 WHICH TREATS OF PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES. 115 
 
 coverlet from him, went to the fire, raked it together 
 and examined the clothes. He pronounced them dry, 
 and they dressed quickly. 
 
 No sooner had they emerged into the open air 
 than the claims of hunger began most vigorously to 
 manifest themselves. How could they appease them ? 
 Some hours of difficult, tedious, and wary walking 
 must elapse before they could hope to reach home. 
 They were practically weaponless, and the way was 
 dangerous. Food, too, was hardly procurable in these 
 wilds without weapons. League after league, before 
 and around them, stretched the wintry, almost pathless 
 Forest. Truly their position, foresters as they were, 
 was not an enviable one, for, except along the well- 
 trodden ways and around their homes, the vast 
 stretch of wild woodland was almost a sealed book to 
 them. 
 
 But the most pressing claims must first receive 
 attention. They proceeded to seek refreshment. 
 Gurth and Edwy went down to the river and well 
 soused their hands and faces in the stream ; then, 
 from a pool in the rocks where the water lay still 
 and clear, they took a long, refreshing drink. Halford 
 joined them, bringing with him a stout ash sapling 
 which he had torn up from amongst the undergrowth. 
 This Gurth trimmed with his dagger, and sharpened 
 at one end to a long, keen point. It was then given 
 to Edwy, who lay down on a ledge of rock about a 
 foot above the water, and watched and waited to see 
 if fortune should send a fish worth spearing within 
 striking distance. 
 
 Gurth and Halford climbed to the top of the bank
 
 116 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 again, and gathering a few stones, set off in different 
 directions among the trees in the hope of knocking 
 down a bird or two. 
 
 As a rule, pigeons and doves abounded in the Forest, 
 and small birds would doubtless be plentiful enough 
 along the margin of the river. 
 
 Necessity will steady the hand and direct the eye, 
 and soon Gurth and Halford drew near to the cave 
 again, the former carrying a pair of pigeons, and the 
 latter a pigeon and a good plump blackbird. Here, 
 at any rate, was a good breakfast, even if Edwy had 
 caught nothing. This proved to be the case, for when 
 he was called he came up empty-handed and crest- 
 fallen from the water. 
 
 Leaving his young masters to pluck, spit, and roast 
 the birds, Halford set off again, dagger in hand, to 
 procure three good, stout sticks, which should serve 
 not only for helping them along the ofttimes miry 
 and swampy way, but also for defending them in case 
 of attack by some prowling beast. 
 
 "When he returned, furnished as he desired, he 
 found the birds browning beautifully amongst the 
 glowing embers and emitting a fragrance truly 
 delightful to the nostrils of a hungry man. Without 
 ceremony they all set to, and ate with an appetite 
 begotten of safety after many perilous adventures, 
 a long run, a long rest, and a sixteen hours' fast. The 
 bones were picked, and hunger appeased for a while. 
 Halford scrambled down the bank again, and came 
 back with Gurth's helmet full of water. 
 
 " Now," said the young thane, " we will make 
 up our fire again, and get us a meal we may eat upon
 
 WHICH TREATS OF PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES. 117 
 
 the way, for, how long that way may prove to be, 
 and what luck may meet us upon it, we cannot say. 
 Look thou to the fire, Edwy, and Halford and I will 
 look to the food." 
 
 The young lad rose to do his brother's bidding, 
 but at the mouth of the cave he paused suddenly, 
 and as suddenly darted in again. 
 
 " There is a boat making for the bank," he cried. 
 " She hath four men in her, all well armed I " 
 
 Gurth crawled to the opening and peered forth. 
 The men were plainly visible around the shoulder 
 of rock which hid the cave. 
 
 The three Saxons looked anxiously at one another. 
 Were they discovered ? Gurth glanced at the fire. It 
 no longer smoked ; nothing was left but ^glowing 
 embers. These could not betray them, for they could 
 not be seen from below. They watched. 
 
 The boat glided between the rocks and lay half 
 in and half out of the very pool from which they 
 had taken their morning drink. Deliberately the men 
 tied her up. Then they [turned, and just as deliber- 
 ately commenced to ascend the bank, carefully 
 following the track the fugitives had made. 
 
 " They have tracked us," whispered Gurth. 
 
 " Even so ! " replied Halford, " and they know we 
 are unarmed." 
 
 In single file, stealthily and silently as cats, the 
 Welshmen came on. As yet they had betrayed their 
 presence by no sound. Equally silent were the three 
 in the cave. Nothing broke the stillness save the 
 rushing and swirling of the river, and the chirp of 
 a few birds.
 
 118 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 The leading man paused and took a short spear 
 from his back. 
 
 Gurth slipped to the side of the cave and beckoned 
 the others to follow him. They stood upright in the 
 shadow, where they could not be seen except the 
 intruder stood a full yard within the entrance. 
 
 " Do we fight, my lord Gurth ? " 
 
 " To the last gasp ! " 
 
 Halford set his grim jaws and edged nearer to the 
 entrance. 
 
 " Give me thy dagger, my lord, and look thou to 
 this fellow's arms when I seize him." 
 
 Gurth gave up the weapon. A slight crackling 
 came from outside. Halford bent slightly forward 
 with open hands. A head appeared. A pair of eyes 
 peered in. They saw the fire and the remains of the 
 breakfast nothing else. 
 
 The fellow made a sign to his comrades. He 
 crawled in, half raised himself from his stooping 
 posture ; his eyes went for a moment to the ground. 
 The glance was fatal. A fearful and instantaneous 
 living vice gripped his throat. He was jerked in with 
 a force that almost dislocated his neck. Another vice 
 tightened on his arms. A moment more and his 
 body was thrown aside. The whole thing was done 
 so quickly that he saw nothing, and barely struggled. 
 Another head appeared, and just as swiftly was it 
 seized, and just as speedily it ceased to wag for ever. 
 
 " Now," cried Gurth, seizing a spear, " no more of 
 this work ; we are man to man." 
 
 He dashed across the entrance. The on-coming 
 Welshman came full tilt breast on to the thane's
 
 WHICH TREATS OF PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES. 119 
 
 spear. Gurth hurled him backwards down the steep 
 path. His body struck against the fourth assailant 
 who was close at his heels. The latter reeled, seized 
 a bush to save himself, and thus presented a mark 
 which Halford instantly and fatally hit. 
 
 The two bodies went crashing pell-mell one over 
 the other down the rocks. From a position, seemingly 
 helpless, the three Saxons emerged without a scratch, 
 and four wily foes found death at the end of an hour's 
 patient watching and waiting. 
 
 Bat the idea of complete security was dispelled. 
 The arms of the dead men were collected ; four spears, 
 four good knives, a stout bow, and a sheaf of arrows 
 were thus obtained. 
 
 The foraging arrangements underwent alteration. 
 Edwy rebuilt the fire, but Halford set out, alone, in 
 search of game. Gurth took the boat, rowed across 
 the stream, mounted the opposite bank, and, spear in 
 hand, kept careful and anxious watch against surprisal. 
 
 But nothing happened to disturb them. A good 
 supply of food was cooked. Edwy's proposal that 
 they should take the boat and row down to the main 
 ford and path was both rejected on account of the 
 dangers of the way, and also for fear that such an 
 important loophole would be well-watched. 
 
 They sent the boat adrift down the stream, and 
 about noon, well-armed and well-provisioned, set out 
 for home.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 WHICH TKEATS OF A FAIR CAPTIVE, AND GURTH'g 
 HOME-COMING. 
 
 NOW all these things had not happened in the 
 Forest without some tidings of them coming to 
 the ears of the knightly smith of Eadburga Street. 
 
 The first news came from one of Orcar's house-carles 
 who had been sent at once to the city to learn what 
 he could of the movements of de Tournay and his 
 friends. Of de Tournay's movements, or abiding- 
 place, nothing was known for some days. The city 
 held him not, and spies reported him absent from 
 his castle near to Mitcheldean. 
 
 Then came the snow, preventing further com- 
 munication. But the Norman was busy ; and neither 
 his greatest friend nor his greatest enemy could 
 have divined the thoughts that chiefly occupied his 
 mind. For the first few days they were almost all 
 of Gurth and revenge. He held many councils with 
 his Welsh friends. But one vision of the young 
 Saxon thane gradually worked itself into exasperating 
 prominence. It comprised the last scene in the 
 chapter-house, and the angel of the vision was the 
 beautiful and modest daughter of the smith. Soon 
 her face was before him day and night. His allies 
 
 120
 
 A FAIR CAPTIVE, AND GURTH'S HOME-COMING. 121 
 
 from over the border were forgotten. Revenge took 
 on another shape. 
 
 When the snowfall had ceased, but two days before 
 the thaw commenced, he took four of his most 
 trusted men-at-arms and set out for Gloucester. He 
 entered in the evening, dispersed his men who had 
 received careful orders betook himself to secluded 
 lodgings, and remained for the most part indoors. 
 No friend of our Saxon acquaintance knew of his 
 presence in the city. 
 
 Meanwhile, his satellites watched the house of Sir 
 John the Smith. The gentle Elgiva was dogged as 
 she went hither and thither through the snow on 
 her little errands of mercy. 
 
 Patience and perseverance in any cause, bad or 
 good, meet with their reward. One night the very 
 one upon which three captives escaped one most 
 dear to all three of them was ensnared. Elgiva 
 called upon her old pensioners in the abbey precincts. 
 She had not called since the night of her meeting 
 -with the luckless Norman gallant, now gone to his 
 account. The old couple had heard of the adventures, 
 and Elgiva, nothing loth, had to answer many artless 
 questions concerning the brave young Forest thane. 
 She stayed later than she had intended, and this 
 time there was the lurking foe, but no watchful friend. 
 
 Emerging from the low doorway she ran quickly 
 along the path towards the Westgate Street, but no 
 sooner had she got into the shadow of the wall than 
 she was seized from behind, gagged, and hurried 
 off by bypaths to a mean hut against the north-west 
 wall of the city. There she was compelled to adopt
 
 122 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 the attire of a page, the four vile rascals giving her 
 clearly to understand that unless she did so promptly, 
 they would perform the office for her. 
 
 In less than an hour from the time of the seizure 
 four men-at-arms and a page, all warmly wrapped 
 up and hooded, rode quickly forest-wards from the 
 Westgate. Had the warder been less occupied in 
 the warming of his own chilled limbs, he might 
 perhaps have noticed that the page sat his horse 
 but awkwardly, that he was crying, and that his 
 mouth and chin were enveloped in a thick wrap. 
 And had he noticed all these things, he in all prob- 
 ability would have accounted for them on the score 
 of the cutting wind which came howling across the 
 half-frozen, swampy meadows. 
 
 Just before reaching Minsterworth the small caval- 
 cade diverged from the roadway to a hut in the fields. 
 This, by arrangement, was found empty ; but a fire 
 burned on the earthen floor, and food and drink were 
 discovered after a very short search. Here, cold, 
 hungry, thirsty, in terror and in misery, Elgiva spent 
 the long winter night. 
 
 The next morning one of the men prepared break- 
 fast soon after daybreak. However, neither threats 
 nor persuasions prevailed with their captive, who 
 refused to take anything more than a cup of water 
 from the neighbouring well. 
 
 As soon as practicable they set out again on their 
 journey. As on the previous evening, they avoided 
 every cluster of houses. Nearing Westbury-on-Severn, 
 they struck off again into the open country, and, 
 heading northwards, left Newnham some miles to
 
 A FAIR CAPTIVE, AND GURTH*S HOME-COMING. 123 
 
 the west of them. Their aim was to strike a path 
 in the north-eastern border of the Forest, and then 
 go along the bridle path through Flaxley Wood to 
 Mitcheldean. By pushing on they hoped to be safely 
 housed at noon. But as the morning wore on the 
 rate of progress grew slower and slower. Elgiva was 
 so worn with fatigue as scarcely to be able to sit 
 her horse. 
 
 The wintry sun was almost at its highest when they 
 entered the dimness of the main belt of woodland. 
 The hollows in the pathway and in the glades were 
 knee-deep in slush and water. The escort grew 
 hungry and angry. They began to curse their luck, 
 their master, their trembling captive, and the whole 
 of the melancholy business. Twice they were startled 
 by the loud howls of the wolves on the rising ground 
 before them. Elgiva's terror increased tenfold. She 
 prayed earnestly for deliverance from all her dangers, 
 and her thoughts wandering homewards pictured her 
 parents in their misery and despair at her mysterious 
 disappearance. She wondered if they were following 
 her ; if they would reach her in time. 
 
 Then came thoughts of another. Where was Gurth ? 
 Was he yet a captive ? Was he in the hands of the 
 same people who had entrapped he ? Should she see 
 him ? Would they escape together ? 
 
 Despite the rough, uncertain, jolting way, despite 
 the rude oaths and grumblings around her, she fell 
 a-dreaming fitfully. First, she and Gurth were 
 prisoners. They met, and plotted, and escaped. 
 They wandered alone in the Forest for days. Gurth 
 made a bower for her each night in the trees,
 
 124 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 and lit a fire to scare the wolves away. In the 
 morning he left her for a little while and brought 
 back food for the day ; and she dressed and cooked 
 it with her own hands. And they were never cold 
 or wet or hungry and always happy ! 
 
 Her horse stumbled down a slippery bank. She 
 
 roused from her dream ; she was a prisoner still. 
 
 Yet her whole body glowed warmly, and she found 
 
 she was smiling. Then the sighing of the wind 
 
 through the trees brought her another dream. She 
 
 was a prisoner and alone. And her gaoler was the 
 
 young Norman who had tried to kiss her. He was 
 
 surrounded too by many of the scowling faces she 
 
 had seen at the king's court. But a morning of 
 
 deliverance came. The fierce war-cry of the " Wulf," 
 
 as she had heard it at the supper in her father's hall, 
 
 came ringing and echoing over and around the castle 
 
 walls ; and through the splintered gates and over 
 
 the battlements came surging miners, apprentices, 
 
 foresters, and in the forefront of all came Gurth, her 
 
 father, Orcar, and the king ! It was a glorious 
 
 deliverance, for the first to reach her was Gurth, and 
 
 he kissed her hand just as he did the night he 
 
 accompanied her from the abbey. 
 
 She was not conscious of it, but her face was 
 suffused with a burning blush, and tears stood in 
 her eyes. She sighed. The dream faded slowly, and 
 a third one, most wonderful of all, she thought, grew 
 distinct and luminous in its place. Gurth and Edwy 
 and Halford had escaped from their prison and were 
 journeying joyfully home through the Forest. As she 
 wound along the path with her captors, she caught
 
 A FAIR CAPTIVE, AND GURTH's HOME-COMING. 125 
 
 sight of them as they crossed a narrow glade trudging 
 gaily along and laughing at the difficulties of the 
 way. She screamed out the young thane's name and 
 called on him for help. With a rush and a wild 
 shout all three came bursting across the open towards 
 her. In a trice the four cowards with her were laid 
 low in the mire. The three Saxons sprang on the 
 horses, Gurth smiled, and whispered his joy to her. 
 He took her bridle and 
 
 An actual and fierce tug at the bridle nearly 
 threw her from the saddle. A surly voice asked her 
 with an oath why she did not attend more to her 
 going? Did she wish to break her neck and get 
 theirs broken too, after all the trouble they had had 
 on her account ? 
 
 The poor girl came back to the grim and dread 
 reality, but she choked back the rising sobs and 
 repressed the rush of tears. She felt faint and giddy, 
 parched with thirst, and sick for lack of food ; but her 
 dreams had cheered her, and she determined to bear 
 herself bravely and to trust to God and those who 
 loved her so dearly for succour. 
 
 But a worse trial than all lay before her. She was 
 to see some of those of whom she had dreamed, and 
 yet be unable to call upon them for deliverance. 
 
 They had passed almost through Flaxley Wood, and 
 were within a few miles of Mitcheldean, but it was 
 more than an hour past noon. They came to a little 
 stream, and she begged that she might alight for a 
 moment and quench her thirst. This was granted, 
 the more readily because the men were only too glad 
 to do the same. All dismounted and led their horses
 
 126 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 through the trees to a higher part of the brook where 
 the water ran more clearly. 
 
 Elgiva's request proved nothing less than a disaster. 
 Scarcely had she dipped her hands into the welcome 
 water than a stirring of the undergrowth and a con- 
 fused sound of voices at no great distance attracted 
 not only the attention of her companions, but her own. 
 Instantly the fellows ran to their horses and forced 
 them farther back into the trees, where they would be 
 secure from observation. Three stayed beside them, 
 but one returned to Elgiva and made her crouch in 
 concealment with him behind a bush which grew at 
 the water-side. Laying his mailed hand upon her 
 shoulder, he told her that if she made any attempt 
 to cry out, it would instantly tighten round her throat 
 and maybe silence her voice for ever. 
 
 So, in stillness and with quickly beating hearts, they 
 watched and waited. The sounds came nearer and 
 clearer, and soon a straggling line of men appeared 
 amongst the trees. Speech and dress proclaimed 
 them Saxons and foresters. At their head marched 
 one whom Elgiva quickly recognised as the thane 
 Orcar. She started with excitement. The hand 
 gripped her shoulder cruelly, and she became still as 
 a statue again. 
 
 The path these men were pursuing branched off 
 from the one the Normans were traversing a few 
 moments before. Had they gone on, detection would 
 have been inevitable. 
 
 When the band of Saxons reached the place where 
 their pathway crossed the streamlet, they gathered 
 into a group, and presently hallooed loudly, and then
 
 A FATE CAPTIVE, AND GURTH's HOME-COMING. 127 
 
 waited for a reply. This they did several times. 
 Some of the men, too, wound repeated foresters' 
 calls upon their horns. Everything pointed to the 
 fact that they sought some lost friend in the Forest. 
 Who could it be ? 
 
 Elgiva knew of no lost one save herself. Could 
 it be that they were seeking her ? The same thought 
 crossed her companion's mind. She knew that it 
 did so, for the heavy hand was removed from her 
 shoulder and placed across her mouth, with a rough- 
 ness that brought the blood from her lips. 
 
 Fired by a sudden resolve to attract attention, she 
 struggled to free herself, but the brutal fellow held 
 her safely. One by one the Saxons straggled off 
 along the narrow track and disappeared from view. 
 
 When the hapless captive saw her hope of rescue 
 gone, she threw herself prone on the sodden ground 
 and sobbed as if her heart were breaking. The day- 
 dreams that had cheered her were proving a hollow 
 mockery. 
 
 For some considerable time the Normans did not 
 venture from their concealment. Then, one of their 
 number ventured forth and followed the Saxons some 
 distance along the path. When he returned and 
 reported the coast clear, they mounted, and rode from 
 the place as quickly as possible. 
 
 But more than an hour had been lost, and every 
 step towards home brought them fresh evidences that, 
 for some purpose or other, their enemies were abroad 
 in force. This was disquieting to the spirits of the 
 four hungry and much-hated rascals. To push on 
 at all hazards was the only course open to them.
 
 128 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 Two precautions, wise enough in themselves, they 
 adopted ; but these very precautions proved their 
 ruin. To guard against the possibility of unwittingly 
 falling into the hands of their enemies, one of their 
 number rode some distance ahead, keeping a wary 
 outlook ; another detached himself and formed a 
 rearguard, whilst the other two rode with Elgiva 
 between them. They would willingly have abandoned 
 her to whatever fate the Forest wilds had in store 
 for her, only de Tournay's orders for her safe carrying 
 to his castle were strict, and, moreover, they did not 
 know what his ultimate purpose with her might be. 
 
 Further to minimise the risk of falling into an 
 ambush, they forsook the more direct ways to 
 Mitcheldean and travelled by circuitous tracks, tending 
 to keep them in the denser woodland to the south 
 and towards Ruardean. This rendered progress slower 
 and more tedious, but it led them from all visible 
 indications of an enemy's presence. 
 
 Now, the path pursued by Gurth and his two 
 companions lay in a south-easterly direction from 
 the river, and about midway between the two above- 
 mentioned Forest settlements. And so, hopeless and 
 heart-broken as Elgiva was, there was yet a chance 
 of her third dream receiving some measure of fulfil- 
 ment. In fact, Dame Fortune had administered cuffs 
 enough, and was now in the mood for caresses. 
 
 The Normans had ridden for barely the space of 
 half an hour from the time of their restarting, when 
 they came to another small open space, where four 
 ways met. One they were now upon ; another was 
 its continuation river- wards ; a third went south to
 
 A FAIR CAPTIVE, AND QUKTH'S HOME-COMING. 129 
 
 Ruardean and beyond that to the castle of the Wnlf ; 
 the fourth (and this was the one they purposed 
 following) led to Mitcheldean. 
 
 Already the foremost horseman had turned into 
 the northern path and was lost to view, and the 
 two central ones were within a half-score yards of 
 the crossing. 
 
 Suddenly, close ahead, from the river-ward path, 
 there came a hearty burst of laughter, followed by a 
 rushing and trampling among the bushes, and a 
 hunting " halloo ! " 
 
 So utterly unexpected was it, that the Normans 
 instinctively reined in their horses and listened. 
 Elgiva listened too, her heart palpitating wildly ; 
 for, strangely and unexpectedly as the sounds had 
 come, they rang familiarly in her ears. A momentary 
 prayer went from her soul that the sounds would 
 come again. 
 
 Her prayer was answered before her escort had 
 time to recover themselves. From a bush close 
 at hand came another violent stumbling, a gruff 
 exclamation, half angry, half amused, and a peal 
 of boyish laughter. Before a hand could be put 
 forth to prevent her, she had urged her horse forward 
 with a bound, and " Halford 1 Edwy ! Gurth ! my 
 lord Gurth I help me I help me I " burst wildly from 
 her lips. She threw back her hood, and let her 
 hair stream forth in the wind, so that they might 
 the more readily recognise her in her strange 
 disguise. 
 
 But nothing more than her piteous cry was needed. 
 As one, the three Saxons sprang into the pathway
 
 130 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 before her, and in a moment more Edwy's hand was 
 on her bridle. The Normans hearing so many names 
 called, and fearing another large company, hesitated 
 for a moment as to what they should do. However, 
 on recognising the two lads, they hesitated no longer 
 but dashed forward to recover their prey. 
 
 Too late, however. The pause, momentary as it 
 was, was their undoing. Gurth had an arrow ready 
 fitted to the bow he carried when he emerged from 
 the bushes. Recognising in a flash Elgiva's implor- 
 ing face, and the hated livery of de Tournay, he 
 raised his weapon, and the arrow sped through the 
 heart of the foremost foe, who dropped the reins con- 
 vulsively and fell all of a heap to the ground. The 
 other fared no better, for even Edwy's boyish heart 
 throbbed with fury at his beloved playmate's degrada- 
 tion. He let go the bridle, dived under the horse's 
 belly and from a distance of barely six paces hurled 
 a spear full at the fellow's face, the Norman's attention 
 at the moment being concentrated upon Halford, who 
 was rushing forward, spear in hand, to attack him. 
 Edwy's missile hit its mark, making an ugly wound 
 in the fellow's cheek. 
 
 With a yell of pain he turned his horse to ride 
 down the youngster, but Edwy, with another quick 
 dive, was back to his former position, and in another 
 moment the Norman fell, Halford 's spear in his 
 shoulder, and an arrow of Gurth's in his lungs. The 
 hindmost horseman, who was hastening forward, 
 seeing the fate of his companions, swerved round into 
 the shelter of the trees, and made for home. The 
 foremost one, who was returning at the noise of the
 
 A FAIR CAPTIVE, AND GURTH's HOME-COMING. 131 
 
 shouting and fighting, on seeing the other mating 
 off at such a headlong pace, turned his horse again 
 and dashed off along the pathway. 
 
 So our heroes were once again masters of the field, 
 with two good horses for spoil, and the rescue of 
 a priceless captive to make their joy and gratification 
 inexpressible. 
 
 Poor Elgiva! No sooner had they lifted her from 
 her horse than, overcome with excitement, terror, 
 joy, fatigue, and hunger, she went off into so dead 
 a faint that the lads were more concerned than they 
 had been at her appearance as the prisoner of the 
 Normans. But Halford took her tenderly in his 
 arms and carried her from the gruesome spot to a 
 spring that bubbled up at a short distance off. Here 
 she revived, and partook of the provisions the three 
 had with them. This so cheered her, that smiles and 
 blushes soon began to contend for the possession of 
 her pretty face. 
 
 "Without a moment's unnecessary delay they set off 
 again, Gurth, Edwy, and Elgiva riding, and Halford 
 striding along just ahead. Here was her dream 
 fulfilled ; and she felt so happy that she could have 
 gone through it all again if only it might have so 
 delightful an ending. 
 
 Edwy rallied her on her appearance, and called her 
 his " pretty brother." Gurth laughingly begged that 
 he might become " esquire " to so lovely and all- 
 conquering a " knight," and vowed that no evil thing 
 could live within the arrowy glances of her eyes. 
 The happy maiden bore it all very demurely, and 
 commanded her " squire " to lead her steed by the
 
 132 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 bridle. This he did, for in her dream Gurth had 
 done so. 
 
 Then the boys begged for an account of her adven- 
 tures, and these she related to them as they rode 
 along the way. How their blood boiled as they 
 listened I And what deep and solemn vows of 
 vengeance they took. Halford swore that he would 
 return at once to Gloucester and make another axe, 
 with which to cleave de Tournay's skull. 
 
 Then Elgiva enquired the cause of the laughter 
 which had attracted their attention to them. 
 
 " Oh ! " said Gurth, " a young boar that had strayed 
 away from its fellow piggies found itself filled with a 
 strange love for Halford. It trotted after him and 
 alongside of him, sniffing and grunting, and amusing 
 itself by getting entangled in his legs." 
 
 " It was strange for the wild thing to behave so," 
 said Halford solemnly, " and when I get home I shall 
 thank God for a miracle." 
 
 " And I will join in your thanksgiving," added 
 Elgiva. 
 
 Chatting away, sometimes seriously, sometimes 
 gaily, the little company rode along, and soon tower 
 and gable and battlement peeped through the rapidly 
 thinning trees, and home stood out to welcome them. 
 
 What a shout they raised when the loved and 
 familiar scene burst upon them ! It rang through the 
 glade and startled the watchman on his tower. Men 
 flocked to the gate, recognised their young lord, and 
 yelled out wild huzzas of welcome ; the younger 
 bloods ran like forest deer to welcome them. Halford 
 squared his mighty shoulders and strode on, a giant
 
 A FAIR CAPTIVE, AND GURTH*S HOME-COMING. 133 
 
 refreshed. The lads would have spurred on their 
 horses and have gone forward at the gallop, but that 
 they feared to overtax Elgiva's sorely tried strength- 
 She, awakening to the sense of her strange position, 
 quickly drew a cloak around her, and the vociferating 
 Saxons in the pauses between their joyous " hurrahs!" 
 wondered concerning the Norman page their young 
 lord brought back with him. They crowded round 
 the horses, they crowded round Halford, pressing him 
 with questions. 
 
 Orcar and the Lady of the Dean, hearing the joyous 
 tumult, guessed the happy cause, and came forth to 
 the outer gate to welcome the lost ones. What 
 embraces there were ! and what tears of joy I Again 
 and again the shouts went up, and the Forest welkin 
 rang, echoed, and re-echoed with cries of "A Wulf ! 
 A Wulf!" 
 
 Gurth whispered to his mother concerning Elgiva ; 
 but when the kindly dame turned to greet her, she 
 was nowhere to be seen. The maiden had slipped 
 to little Editha's side, whispered who she was, and 
 the two had stolen off unnoticed to the women's 
 apartments. 
 
 At once, messengers, well-armed and well-mounted, 
 were dispatched to tell the smith of his daughter's 
 safety, and preparations were soon afoot for mighty 
 feastings and rejoicings. 
 
 Sir John, bursting with mingled sorrow and anger, 
 was met with on the Forest border. Posthaste, he 
 and the messengers came to the Dean, whilst his band 
 of smiths and apprentices went back to Gloucester 
 to tell the good tidings to Dame Alicia.
 
 134 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 The banquet was spread, and the board duly swept 
 of its good things. Halford was appointed the 
 " skald " of the evening, and, nothing loth, he told 
 with point and effect the story of their adventures. 
 The horns of mead circulated swiftly, and toasts 
 were drunk with acclamation. And one bold fellow 
 brought the enthusiasm to its topmost height, by 
 calling on all to drink " love and wassail " to their 
 young lord and the beautiful maiden who sat blushing 
 at his mother's side.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE LULL BEFOBE THE STORM. 
 
 ON the morning following the abduction of Elgiva 
 there was great stir amongst the citizens of 
 Gloucester. Sir John's loss was soon made known. 
 East, west, north, and south search was made. Every 
 nook and alley was explored, every suspicious 
 character straitly questioned ; but nothing of impor- 
 tance was gleaned. The warders, one and all, 
 declared that no maiden had quitted the city by 
 the gates, and that she had quitted it by the walls 
 was not to be thought of. 
 
 De Tournay showed himself frequently in the 
 narrow streets of the city during the morning. He 
 publicly condoled with the smith upon his sad and un- 
 accountable loss, and much as Sir John mistrusted him, 
 it seemed unjust to harbour suspicion against him. 
 
 But towards noon the Norman left the city at the 
 western gate, accompanied by a small escort lent him 
 by a city friend. News of this was brought to the 
 smith, and it so happened that the worthy craftsman 
 knew that de Tournay on his recent entrance into 
 Gloucester was accompanied by his own men-at-arms. 
 Enquiries within the walls failed to find any trace of 
 them now, but several could tell of four men-at-arms 
 
 135 9
 
 136 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 and a page who had left the city late the previous 
 evening. Upon second thoughts one man was pre- 
 pared to swear that they wore the de Tournay livery. 
 
 Such evidence, flimsy as it was, was quite sufficient 
 for the astute and grief-stricken smith. He assembled 
 the sturdiest of his workmen and apprentices, armed 
 them to the teeth, and, in the company of several 
 indignant fellow-citizens, he set out for the Norman's 
 castle. How he fared on the way we know already. 
 We have left him rejoicing at the Dean, drinking 
 mead at the board of his liege lord, and, perchance, 
 dreaming that his sweet maid may some day greet 
 him, proud and happy in her high dignity, mistress 
 of the house of Wulf. 
 
 Let us then leave him to his thoughts, and go with 
 the baffled de Tournay to his stronghold. 
 
 The Norman rode at a great pace as soon as the 
 walls of the city had sunk out of sight behind him. 
 His brow was gloomy and his mind was torn by 
 conflicting thoughts. He was but ill-satisfied with 
 his late proceedings. As a rule he was not squeamish 
 about his actions, and not accustomed to remorse, even 
 when women were the sufferers. But the sweetness 
 and purity of Elgiva's face haunted him. He half 
 wished that he had not molested her ; he found 
 himself wishing wholly that he had met her under 
 happier circumstances. Her winsome image had 
 stolen into his heart and brain, and he ground his 
 teeth in bitterness as he thought how she must hate 
 him for the degradation he had put upon her. He 
 vowed mentally that he would hang the whole of her 
 escort if he found they had treated her roughly.
 
 THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM. 137 
 
 Then he began to shape out some plan of action 
 that he might follow. He knew he had gone too far 
 to retreat, and moreover, to restore her to her father 
 was, possibly, to hand her over to his hated and 
 hitherto triumphant foe, the young Saxon thane. He 
 would hold fast to so precious a prize ; and to do this 
 he must find, at least for a time, some place of hiding 
 and safety. Such a place might not easily be found 
 in England, for cle Tournay had already discovered 
 that the arm of the king's power was long ; and he 
 did not wish to be found among the king's enemies. 
 
 His plan resolved itself as follows : Firstly, to get 
 to Mitcheldean as speedily as possible, and carry 
 Elgiva away from thence in time to prevent her pre- 
 sence there becoming known. Secondly, to fly to his 
 Norman home over the sea, and there either woo or 
 compel the Saxon maiden to become his wife. Thirdly, 
 to return in the end to the Forest, claim the alliance 
 of Sir John, use his wife as a means to win some 
 of the vassals of the house of Wulf from their alle- 
 giance, and, finally, by fraud and force to break down 
 the power of his rival. 
 
 To the mind of de Tournay it was a goodly scheme 
 and a feasible one. His mind felt settled and easy, 
 and on his arrival before his castle he brought the 
 warder to the gate by a stirring blast. 
 
 " Is Bertrand within ? " he asked of a servitor as 
 he dismounted in the courtyard. 
 
 " He arrived a few minutes ago," was the reply. 
 
 " Good ! " ejaculated the knight. 
 
 The man made no reply, but he thought to himself 
 that it was not " good." However, he kept his opinion
 
 138 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 for he had no desire to bear the first brunt of his 
 master's anger. De Tournay entered his hall with a 
 light step. 
 
 " Send Bertrand to me instantly ! " he commanded. 
 The seneschal disappeared. The knight sat down in 
 a chair and gave himself up for a few moments to 
 pleasing fancies. Bertrand entered. He was the 
 soldier who had had charge of Elgiva. 
 
 De Tournay glanced up. He saw that the man he 
 wanted stood before him, but he was too preoccupied 
 to notice the look of utter discomfort and dismay 
 which overspread the fellow's countenance. 
 
 " Where hast thou placed the maiden ? " he asked. 
 
 No answer. 
 
 De Tournay looked up impatiently. The hangdog 
 expression on Bertrand's face alarmed him. 
 
 " Hast thou harmed her ? " he demanded fiercely. 
 
 " She hath escaped ! " 
 
 The knight jumped to his feet. 
 
 " She hath, what ? " 
 
 " We were waylaid by the Saxon hogs, and the 
 maiden was taken from us." 
 
 " And thou art here to tell me ? " 
 
 " I had no thought she was deemed of so much 
 value." 
 
 " Thou shalt find that thy life, and the lives of thy 
 three fellow-cowards just balance her safety," cried 
 de Tournay with a fearful oath. " Ye shall hang, 
 the whole pack of ye ! " 
 
 " Thou wilt need sharper scent than the wolves 
 to find half the hanging matter then," muttered the 
 fellow surlily.
 
 THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM. 130 
 
 " What dost thou mean ? " 
 
 " My brother and Geoffrey are dead, shot through 
 the heart." 
 
 De Tournay bit his lip and hesitated for a moment ; 
 then he flnng himself into his chair again. 
 
 " Tell thy tale from the beginning," he exclaimed. 
 
 The soldier shifted his position, fumbled his sword- 
 hilt uneasily with his left hand, and began : 
 
 " We did all in the city and on the night according 
 to thy directions, and no man saw us. This morning 
 the maiden was weak, and would take no food. We 
 rode slowly, else she had fallen from her horse and 
 broken her neck. We lost time. The Saxons were 
 abroad in force. We narrowly escaped from riding 
 into an ambush of three score of them. We stayed 
 in hiding, and when we moved forward I sent one 
 man ahead, rode behind as guard myself, and set 
 the maiden between with my brother and Geoffrey. 
 At a turning in the path the three were set upon 
 by a band led by the thane of Wulf and the giant 
 fellow who rode with him from Gloucester. As I told 
 thee, the two were shot dead. I thought it better 
 to preserve a life for thee and bring thee tidings 
 than to give myself to the wolves for no purpose." 
 
 During this laconic and surly recital the knight's 
 face underwent many rapid changes of expression. 
 At the mention of Gurth he glanced at Bertrand with 
 a malicious leer. 
 
 " A clumsy string of lies," he said. " The thane 
 of Wulf is a prisoner in Wales, or all Welshmen 
 are liars." 
 
 " The thane of Wulf is drinking thy maiden's
 
 140 THE THANK OF THE DEAN. 
 
 health at his den in the Dean," answered the soldier 
 bitterly. 
 
 " Thon art not careful of thy health," said de 
 Tournay meaningly. 
 
 " My brother is a supper for the wolves, because 
 a Saxon maiden hath blue eyes." The rough fellow's 
 eyes were moist with tears. 
 
 De Tournay understood him. 
 
 " I believe thy tale ; the Welshman hath played 
 me false ; we will hang those rascals of his who 
 are with us instead of thee. Take men and find thy 
 brother's body. Bring it hither that the priest may 
 bury him as good man and true. After that I will 
 help thee to thy revenge." 
 
 Bertrand left the room, and a few minutes after- 
 wards rode forth into the Forest. 
 
 For a while his master sat motionless. He had 
 reined in his anger and bitter disappointment only 
 with a great effort. He tried to consider the matter 
 calmly, but his passions seethed and bubbled inwardly 
 like a fiery mountain. At length the volcano burst. 
 He paced to and fro the room, restless as a caged and 
 famished tiger. He muttered awful imprecations 
 upon the heads of all concerned, not even sparing him- 
 self. His hatred of Gurth grew tenfold in an hour, 
 and in keeping with it grew a mad yearning for 
 Elgiva, and a fierce determination to possess her in 
 spite of all. 
 
 The time flew by, but no one came to him. Every 
 soul in the castle knew what had happened to its lord 
 and master, and all wisely kept aloof. 
 
 Bertrand returned. The knight went into the court-
 
 THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM. 141 
 
 yard and viewed the dead bodies of his retainers. In 
 the breast of one an arrow still remained. He plucked 
 it ont, doubly red in the last rays of the winter sun. 
 
 " This is no Saxon arrow ! " he cried abruptly. 
 "That fox ap Morgan hath played me false indeed. 
 By Heaven ! some of his brood shall dangle in the 
 starlight before the sun rise again. Guard every 
 exit ; and go thou, Bertrand, and place them in hold 
 thyself!" 
 
 The men sprang to do his bidding. Jabbering 
 excitedly in broken English, protesting, threatening, 
 the late escort of de Tournay were hustled into the 
 freezing cells, and the great doors closed upon them. 
 Bertrand settled grimly to his task of preparing a set 
 of stout halters. His master breathed more freely. 
 The work of revenge was commencing with a bold 
 flourish. The outlook was more promising. 
 
 Twilight deepened amid the bustle of great prepara- 
 tions. Just when the brightest stars began to make 
 apparent their presence in the sky, Bertrand announced 
 that the halters were finished and already dangling 
 from the castle walls in expectation of their tenants. 
 De Tournay commanded the Welshmen to be led 
 forth, and the whole body of retainers and servitors to 
 be assembled. 
 
 The appearance of the prisoners was the signal for 
 a perfect babel of expostulation. Seeing the knight 
 standing in the courtyard, they forced their way 
 towards him, and with one voice demanded an explana- 
 tion of his infamous conduct. 
 
 " That you shall have," said he, " and a short shrift 
 afterwards. Your fox of a chieftain hath played the
 
 142 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 traitor, set free mine enemies and armed them to slay 
 my men ; here lies the evidence. Look you at this 
 arrow ; it was shot from ambush by the thane of 
 Wulf!" 
 
 The Welshmen gazed in consternation at the stiff 
 cold bodies and the blood-stained weapon. They stood 
 dumbfounded. Angry corroboration of the knight's 
 words was stamped on every scowling face around 
 them. 
 
 They recovered their power of speech with a string 
 of voluble curses against the man who had played 
 them so foul and deadly a trick. Then eager for life 
 and revenge, they turned to de Tournay, and offered if 
 he would set them free to take a solemn oath to 
 avenge this treacherous trick to themselves and him. 
 They pleaded their own innocence and ignorance. 
 
 The Norman was inclined to listen to their words, 
 but Bertrand and the men clamoured for instant 
 execution. De Tournay needed the unfaltering good- 
 will of his villains, so he gave way to them. 
 
 " No ! " cried he, " I trusted your chief. He has 
 proved false ; I will trust a Welshman no more. 
 Hang you shall ; so look to the priest." 
 
 Seeing that their cause was hopeless, the condemned 
 men turned to the priest in order to gain time and a 
 little spiritual consolation. Stillness reigned, save 
 for the sighing of the wind in the forest and the 
 murmurs of the priest. The ropes swayed to and fro 
 in the breeze, and one by one the stars grew brighter. 
 
 Suddenly, from the foot of the wooded hill on 
 which the castle stood, there came the faint sound 
 of a bugle blast ; a moment's silence, and it was
 
 THE LULL BEFOBE THE STORM. 143 
 
 followed by a second. The attention of every one was 
 arrested, and the shadow of death lifted a little from 
 the souls of the prisoners. The voice of the priest 
 was hushed, and every ear was strained to catch a 
 recurrence of the sounds. A few moments passed and 
 they came again, clearer and stronger. 
 
 De Tournay turned to the warder. " Dost thou 
 recognise the calls ? " 
 
 " I do not, Sir Knight ! " 
 
 The assemblage looked perplexed. 
 
 A third time the sounds rang out through the night. 
 The men, whoever they were, were rapidly approaching. 
 
 A guilty man suspects all things. And, moreover, 
 the Norman felt himself now to be surrounded by 
 secret and open foes. 
 
 " Take these men away ! Remove those ropes ! 
 Every man to his place at the walls ! " he ordered 
 sharply. 
 
 The Welshmen were hurried away again to dungeons 
 and darkness. Every watcher on the walls strained 
 sight and hearing to penetrate the secret of the night. 
 There were footfalls on the path at the hill-top, then 
 two faint, moving shapes on horseback ; a pause, and 
 a shrill bugle call burst forth within a hundred yards 
 of the drawbridge. 
 
 " Who rides there ? " shouted the sentinel from the 
 tower above the gate. 
 
 " Friends to the Norman, and messengers from 
 Morgan ap Morgan ! " was the ready response. 
 
 De Tournay himself advanced to the walls. 
 
 " Ye are welcome, my friends ! " he cried, " and 
 shall be admitted with all speed,"
 
 144 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 He turned to Bertram!. " Two more goodly lengths 
 of stout hemp ; these fools come to their hanging like 
 moths to a candle ! " 
 
 The man-at-arms vanished in the darkness. Mean- 
 while, the drawbridge was lowered and the castle gates 
 thrown open. 
 
 The messengers rode quickly in, dismounted, and 
 came hurriedly towards de Tournay. The flickering 
 torchlight half disclosed the cruel sneer on his lips. 
 But the newcomers paid scant attention to his features ; 
 they proceeded to business with all dispatch. The 
 foremost one dropped on one knee, rose again, and 
 began : 
 
 " Sir Knight, we are come to thee in great haste, 
 and with ill tidings. Yesternight the Saxon chief 
 Orcar crossed the river and came upon us with a 
 great force. We were unprepared, and many of our 
 men were out seeking the thane of Wulf, who had 
 broken prison and escaped us. The Saxons forced 
 our gates, but withdrew when we showed them that 
 their friends were no longer in our keeping. They 
 kept the fords all night, and keep them still, thinking 
 the young thane hath not escaped from our side. But 
 we have tracked them across the Wye, found their 
 resting-place last night, and the bodies of three of 
 our countrymen who were slain in an attempt to take 
 them again. The Morgan ap Morgan sends greetings, 
 and would fain learn your mind and purpose in this 
 matter. He will be with you in all you may choose 
 to do." 
 
 De Tournay listened to the recital in astonishment. 
 The messenger had every air of sincerity, and his
 
 THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM. 145 
 
 story was plausible ; but the Norman's suspicions were 
 not easily lulled. He pointed to the two corpses in 
 the courtyard and took the tell-tale arrow in his hand. 
 
 " These, my men, were slain to-day with weapons 
 of yours. I have held your chief a traitor. Had 
 you arrived a little later, you would have found some 
 of your friends dangling from these walls. You are 
 my prisoners until such time as I have proof of the 
 truth of your words." 
 
 The messengers looked blank, but the spokesman 
 quickly recovered himself. He whispered to his 
 companion in Welsh. Then he threw his spear 
 and dagger to the ground. 
 
 " So be it ! " he exclaimed. " To-morrow you shall 
 find us true men." 
 
 " I shall be glad to do so ! " answered de Tournay ; 
 and he spoke sincerely. 
 
 The messengers were sent to join their countrymen, 
 and the hanging was postponed. Later in the evening 
 they were removed to more comfortable quarters, and 
 a goodly repast placed before them. 
 
 Sir Gilbert de Tournay passed a sleepless night. 
 
 Very early in the morning a servitor was sent to 
 make enquiries in Mitcheldean, and two spies were 
 sent to haunt the vicinity of Gurth's castle. They 
 returned with ample confirmation of the previous 
 night's news. 
 
 The Welshmen were released and ample explanation 
 and apology made. Reconciliation was sealed by 
 an ostentatious feast ; and at the feast the Norman 
 agreed to the terms of a strict alliance. Ap Morgan's 
 men then set out for home, and de Tournay was
 
 146 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 left to mature his plans. After the evening meal 
 he spoke to his men as to his desires and purposes. 
 His two chief ends and aims were the death of 
 Gurth and the recapture of Elgiva. 
 
 To stimulate his followers on to the effecting of 
 these and a few subordinate ones, he offered some 
 substantial rewards. To the man who should succeed 
 in slaying the redoubtable Halford he promised five 
 golden crowns ; to the one who should kill Edwy 
 or Orcar either in fight or ambush, ten crowns ; to 
 the slayer of Gurth one hundred crowns ; and to 
 those who should bring Elgiva to him unharmed, 
 fifty crowns apiece, and an allotment of land. 
 
 These were extravagant bribes to a body of about 
 two hundred hardened, reckless rascals, and perhaps 
 fulfilment was never intended ; but they showed 
 the deadly purpose of the Norman, and whetted the 
 zeal of every follower. 
 
 Meanwhile, those most concerned by these matters 
 knew nought of them. The days sped along swiftly 
 and merrily at the great castle in the Dean, and 
 little of any moment was happening there save that 
 Love was weaving a net of golden meshes, and Gurth 
 and Elgiva were getting hopelessly but happily 
 entangled therein. Watchful foes lurked around them, 
 but so secret were they that their presence was never 
 suspected. 
 
 But a day came when the lurking serpents essayed 
 a sting. 
 
 Oar gallant young thane and the maid of his heart 
 had wandered off alone into the denser woodland. 
 During the ramble Gurth spied a glorious bunch
 
 THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM. 147 
 
 of mistletoe growing on a low branch of a spreading 
 oak. With a merry whisper to his blushing com- 
 panion he rushed off to secure the prize. Elgiva 
 followed slowly. 
 
 Gurth was already crawling along the bare and 
 twisted limb when she halted beneath it. Busy as 
 she was with her own tumultuous thoughts, yet she 
 caught the sound of a faint rustling in some bushes 
 to the left. Recent dangers and experiences had made 
 a wary woman of the once unsuspecting girl. She 
 turned her eyes but not her head in the direction. 
 
 A hand was slowly parting the twigs, another hand 
 was holding a bow already half-strung ; a pair of 
 eager eyes were intently following every movement 
 in the tree. 
 
 The girl's heart stood still with terror ; she saw the 
 whole plot in an instant. At present Gurth was 
 comparatively safe, for the other branches so screened 
 him that the concealed assassin could not take a sure 
 aim. But this protection would not be his a moment 
 longer ; he had secured the coveted plant and was 
 preparing to descend. In the impulse of the moment 
 Elgiva sought to keep him there. 
 
 " Gurth ! " she cried excitedly, " what is that 
 over your head ? " She pointed in the direction 
 above, and towards the concealed ruffian, hoping her 
 lover might see him. 
 
 Gurth struggled to his feet in order to look. The 
 move was a false one, for it exposed his full length to 
 the enemy. With a pang of agony the girl saw it, 
 and saw the murderous bow raised. But even then 
 she saved him.
 
 148 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 " Never mind, Gurth ! " she called qnickly ; 
 " quick ! quick ! down and kiss me ! " 
 
 The unexpected words and strange tone startled 
 Gurth. In a moment he swung himself to the 
 ground within a yard of her. Simultaneously the 
 bow twanged, but Elgiva springing forward and 
 clasping him to her breast, the arrow intended for 
 his heart found lodgment in her arm. 
 
 Gurth unloosed himself, and with a harsh shout 
 of rage dashed towards the bushes, unsheathing his 
 dagger as he ran. The fellow was hurriedly en- 
 deavouring to fix another arrow, but seeing the young 
 thane whom he looked upon as the author of the 
 deaths of so many of his fellow-rascals rushing so im- 
 petuously towards him, he suddenly lost nerve, and, 
 throwing down his weapons, scuttled off for his life. 
 
 Gurth as quickly seized them, and continued the 
 headlong pursuit, shouting as he ran, " Help ho ! A 
 Waif I A Wolf!" 
 
 These cries added wings to the flying miscreant, so 
 Gurth, mindful of Elgiva, sent the arrow whizzing 
 after him, and returned. to the oak tree. 
 
 There he found the brave-hearted girl plnckily 
 endeavouring not to faint from pain, so he took her 
 in his arms, and with many a tender caress and sweet 
 admiring word bore her swiftly home again. 
 
 Gurth returned that afternoon to the Forest ; the 
 bunch of mistletoe had been forgotten. He found 
 it, and some of Elgiva's blood had stained a berry red. 
 He took it home, hung it above her couch, and kissed 
 her over and over again.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 THE SIEGE OF THE DEAN CASTLE. 
 
 THE tidings of the attempt upon Garth's life, and 
 the wounding of Elgiva, spread through the 
 Forest like a fire. Men's blood rose to fever heat, 
 and feud to the death with de Tournay was every- 
 where proclaimed. The Saxon leaders saw that a 
 general and deadly struggle was inevitable, and they 
 made preparations accordingly. 
 
 As warden of the Forest, Gurth sent a messenger 
 to de Tournay commanding him to deliver to justice 
 the abductors of Elgiva and the miscreants who had 
 made attempts on his own life. The answer was a 
 sneer of defiance. The young thane therefore made 
 arrangements to enforce his authority. He issued 
 a proclamation calling upon all loyal subjects of the 
 king and vassals of the house of Wulf to be in 
 readiness to follow his banner. The foresters received 
 the summons with joy ; and, pending the commence- 
 ment of hostilities on a larger scale, they were not 
 slow to make reprisals. The wolves quarrelled over 
 more than one Norman carcass during the bleak 
 nights of January, and Norman marauders became 
 as scarce as butterflies amidst the trees. 
 
 But the Norman's plans were more matured than the 
 
 149
 
 150 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 Saxon ones. De Tournay's arrangements were almost 
 completed before the outrage in the woodland startled 
 the Saxons to the making of theirs in earnest. 
 
 One morning in the earliest days of February, news 
 came that the ap Morgans to the number of five 
 hundred were assembling on the banks of the Wye, 
 below Ross, and that a Norman force had gone from 
 de Tournay's stronghold to hold the English end 
 of the ford against surprise and thus afford them an 
 unmolested passage. The tables were unexpectedly 
 turned, and the Saxons were to be the besieged and 
 not the besiegers. 
 
 Instant action was necessary, and instant action 
 was taken. From all outlying places the foresters 
 were called in. The miners of Cinderford entrenched 
 themselves, the good folks of Littledean did likewise. 
 Orcar departed at once from the castle and betook 
 himself to Newnham. He saw to the defences of his 
 house, gathered in his fisherfolk, his swineherds, and 
 prepared himself either for a siege or for skirmishing 
 movements in the Forest. 
 
 He scarcely anticipated any attack upon himself, 
 for he knew that two such oddly assorted allies as 
 ap Morgan and de Tournay were hardly likely to 
 hold together long enough for a very extensive series 
 of operations. However much the Norman might 
 desire a systematic and slow method, such a proceeding 
 was too much against Welsh custom to be acceptable 
 to his friends. There would be some harrying and 
 robbing along the line of march, but the old thane 
 reckoned upon a swift movement and a speedy invest- 
 ment of the castle in the Dean.
 
 THE SIEGE OF THE DEAN CASTLE. 151 
 
 His surmise proved correct. Leaving Cinderford 
 and Littledean almost unmolested, the enemy, some 
 seven or eight hundred strong, moved rapidly forward. 
 By noon the Saxon ring of outposts began to close in 
 upon the castle. An hour later the enemy came 
 through the surrounding belt of trees ; they were in 
 three columns and headed by the two Welsh chieftains 
 and the Norman knight. Just out of bowshot from 
 the castle they halted. 
 
 The Saxons disappeared behind their walls, and 
 the drawbridge was raised. A pause ensued, as though 
 each party awaited some message or formal demand 
 from the other. But the castle gates remained closed, 
 and no foeman advanced to the ramparts. 
 
 Gnrth and Sir John, who commanded with him, 
 were prepared, and had no desire to waste time 
 in empty and fruitless preliminaries. Great though 
 the odds were against them they felt confident of 
 victory ; too much that was dear to them lay in 
 the shelter of the walls for an enemy to be permitted 
 to scale them. 
 
 The besiegers prepared for an assault. With the 
 exception of an advanced guard of Norman bowmen, 
 all disappeared again amidst the trees. 
 
 For the space of nearly an hour, the besieged 
 Saxons heard nothing save the ringing of axes and 
 the hissing of saws. Evidently Norman method and 
 Celtic recklessness were to be combined in the coming 
 attack ; it would be a hot one. They braced them- 
 selves to resist it. 
 
 The stir amongst the enemy increased, and there 
 was a great flitting in and out amongst the trees. 
 
 10
 
 152 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 Men struggled forward under the burden of great 
 boughs and branches, which they laid down in long 
 rows upon the brown, leaf-strewn turf. 
 
 Presently the bugles rang out, and the voices of 
 the leaders called the men into the line of attack. 
 When all was ready they came forward with a quick, 
 swinging stride. In the forefront marched a long 
 line of men, bearing the bushy branches and limbs 
 of trees. These formed an almost perfect screen for 
 the line of archers behind ; whilst rearmost of all 
 came a further line of pikemen and spearmen. The 
 Saxons beheld with some feelings of trepidation the 
 quick on-coming of this formidable array. 
 
 When within a score of yards of the walls the 
 attacking party halted, and for a few moments the 
 bowmen poured in a perfect hail of arrows from 
 the shelter of their trellis-like rampart. From every 
 loophole and coign of vantage the Saxons replied, 
 and their shooting proved more damaging than the 
 enemy had anticipated ; for, acting under the orders 
 of Sir John, the men aimed just above the line of 
 attack, and so wrought considerable havoc amongst 
 the pikemen. 
 
 Upon this, the enemy closed up his ranks. Another 
 flight of arrows streamed in black streaks through 
 the air, and, as they sped on their errand of destruc- 
 tion, the whole line started rapidly forward, the ends 
 curving in to embrace the walls as they dashed on. 
 
 Hitherto an almost complete silence had been 
 observed by the besiegers, but now yells of defiance, 
 taunts, and hoarse battle-cries burst from them as 
 they ran. Into the moat were hurled the boughs
 
 THE WHOLE LINE STARTED RAPIDLY FORWARD." [/. 152.
 
 THE SIEGE OF THE DEAN CASTLE. 155 
 
 and beams, churning up the water, but sinking under 
 the weight of other beams, and the men who plunged 
 in finding a foothold upon them. Near to the 
 gate the moat was almost filled up. 
 
 Sticking their short, stout-hafted spears into the 
 crevices of the stoned-faced earthen rampart, the 
 Welshmen clambered up like cats, and from the 
 margin of the encircling water the archers kept up 
 the hurricane of missile attack upon every defender 
 who showed himself. And show themselves they 
 did and that right valiantly, else had the castle of 
 Wulf been taken in a trice. 
 
 They hurled down huge stones upon the foemen, 
 crushing their limbs and pinning their bodies beneath 
 the icy waters, where they straggled frantically to 
 escape from death. They thrust them back from the 
 walls with long spears ; and their own bowmen sent 
 many an opposing " bender of the stout yew " toppling 
 head foremost among his fellows in the moat, his body 
 transfixed with an arrow. 
 
 Hither and thither along the line of defence darted 
 Gurth and the doughty smith, encouraging, fighting, 
 urging, commanding. Grimly the besiegers stuck to 
 their work, and grimly the besieged stuck to theirs ; 
 no foemen had yet maintained a moment's footing on 
 the top of the wall. 
 
 The first wild burst of attack had almost spent 
 itself, and the Welshmen, finding their numbers and 
 onset were not invincible, began to slacken their 
 efforts. But de Tournay had reckoned on this critical 
 moment and was awaiting it, occupying himself in the 
 meanwhile by directing the assault. He rose instantly
 
 156 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 to the occasion, rallied the laggards, and, at the head 
 of a picked body of well-armed and well-armoured 
 followers, led on the rush himself, directing his efforts 
 to the angle of the wall flanking the gateway. 
 
 The movement was almost a success. It would 
 have been a complete one, had not Gurth paid a close 
 and almost unswerving attention to his chiefest and 
 most hated foe. He saw the attack and met it by 
 similar tactics. A reserve was stationed at the inner 
 gate under the command of Halford. These now 
 leapt to the walls, fresh and eager for the fray. There 
 was a wild whirl of fight for a few moments, and the 
 Normans were beaten back. Three of their number 
 got within the rampart, but they never lived to boast 
 of their deed ; no quarter was asked, and none given. 
 
 The victory for the time being lay with the house 
 of Wulf, and the besiegers drew off to a safe distance. 
 They left half a hundred of dead behind them, and 
 they carried off an almost equal number of wounded. 
 Inside the walls less than two score needed the 
 services of either surgeon or sexton. Bat the numbers 
 still available outside the castle were more than treble 
 the numbers within ; and the enemy knew it, and 
 would come again to the attack when they were 
 breathed. 
 
 Gurth and Sir John made preparations to receive 
 them. Under cover of a strong body of archers on 
 the wall, a party was sent to clear the moat. The 
 dead bodies of the enemy were left on the bank, but 
 the timber was brought within the walls, where it 
 was placed in readiness for missile purposes when the 
 enemy should advance again.
 
 THE SIEGE OF THE DEAN CASTLE. 157 
 
 The afternoon wore away, and night closed in dark 
 and starless, but hostilities were not renewed. Watch- 
 fires gleamed out on tower and battlement, and an 
 answering line of flame flared along the edge of the 
 trees. 
 
 The Saxons sat down to supper, an anxious but 
 not a silent party. Tongues wagged fast and furious ; 
 Halford and some others constituted themselves glee- 
 men. The " Song of the Wulf " rang out loudly and 
 fiercely as ever, and many a ballad was roared re- 
 counting some Forest victory over the nimble and 
 implacable enemy across the Wye. 
 
 The beautiful Lady of the Dean sat at the board, 
 proud, smiling and confident. With looks and voice 
 she cheered the spirits of her men, and Elgiva, now 
 rosy with excitement, now pale with apprehension, 
 sat at her side. The young thane and the old smith 
 took counsel of one another in a low voice. 
 
 Presently Gurth rose to his feet, and the babel 
 around him ceased. 
 
 " Three men," cried he, " who can, without fail, 
 find Newnham, Littledean, and Cinderford in the 
 dark ! " 
 
 There was an eager leaping to feet all round the 
 table. After a careful scrutiny four of the volunteers 
 were chosen. Gurth then went on to explain their 
 errand. 
 
 " Our foes," said he, " will not attack us to-night 
 in this darkness ; they are strong, full of hope, and 
 will await the dawn. They outnumber us greatly, 
 but the Wulf yields up his den to no pack of mongrel 
 dogs, however many they be. We shall entrap them
 
 158 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 all if our night-runners carry truly. They are, 
 severally, to bid the men of Cinderford, of Littledean, 
 and the brave and worthy thane of Newnham to 
 march hither with the daylight. They shall ambush 
 themselves until the din of battle gives them their 
 signal. Then they shall close in around us. We 
 will break out from our walls, and these sneaking 
 curs who snap and snarl at us from behind those 
 bushes shall know what it is to feel our teeth in the 
 open ! " 
 
 This spirited harangue was cheered to the echo 
 again and again. All applauded the young thane's 
 purpose, and all envied those chosen to act such a 
 foremost part in the enterprise. 
 
 The runners were dispatched ; one to Cinderford, 
 one to Littledean, but two to Newnham, for the way 
 was long and dangerous. The ladies went back to 
 their attendance upon the wounded, the men sought 
 rest in slumber, and Gurth and Sir John saw to the 
 arrangement of the night-watches. 
 
 Meanwhile their adversaries were not idle, and 
 whilst the men sang, caroused, and boasted, the leaders 
 planned the scheme of the next day's operations. 
 The method of advance under the shelter of a screen 
 of boughs was again to be adopted ; but, in addition, 
 long, rough, heavy, but serviceable ladders were to be 
 constructed. These were intended to span the moat 
 and reach to the top of the ramparts ; their very 
 weight would ensure their fixity. Branches of pine, 
 knotted and resinous, heaps of brushwood were also 
 to be collected, for it was intended to fire the gates 
 and drawbridge. Furthermore, to intimidate the sur-
 
 THE SIEGE OF THE DEAN CASTLE. 159 
 
 rounding foresters from attempting attacks in the 
 rear, de Tournay had arranged for a daydawn raid 
 upon Cinderford. This, he anticipated, would effec- 
 tually cow Littledean. Orcar, unaided, he did not 
 fear greatly, and he hoped the castle of Wulf would 
 be in his hands before that grim old warrior could 
 advance to its relief. 
 
 The night deepened, and save for the calls of the 
 sentinels and the cries of the wild and startled 
 creatures of the Forest, silence stole over all. 
 
 Castle and camp were awake next morning before 
 the yellow tints of sunrise had coloured the east. 
 The messengers from Cinderford and Littledean had 
 returned with promises of joyful and ready co-opera- 
 tion; tho^e sent to Newnham would return in the 
 train of Orcar. 
 
 About nine o'clock the besiegers formed up in the 
 belt of trees in the same order as on the preceding 
 day. By half-past nine the first flight of arrows 
 came through the air with a hum and a whirr ! But 
 no Saxon body presented itself for a target, and no 
 missile discharge came in reply. The besiegers' 
 screen of yesterday was now piled on the wall as a 
 shelter for the besieged. Another volley was tried, 
 and then another, but with like results ; walls and 
 ramparts bristled with the feathery weapons and that 
 was all. 
 
 Mortified and enraged the Welshmen came on with 
 loud shouts. They reached the moat, and were throw- 
 ing in their logs and branches as before, when suddenly 
 a forest of heads rose above the ramparts, and a volley 
 of arrows and spears, so well aimed and deadly, came
 
 160 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 therefrom, that the foremost line of besiegers retired 
 hastily and in confusion. Another death-dealing 
 shower followed them, and the ramparts were 
 empty again. 
 
 Behind them, however, Inrked every available man 
 in the castle and every boy capable of drawing a bow 
 or throwing a spear. The enemy retired a little 
 farther, well out of bowshot, and de Tournay and 
 the ap Morgans held a short council. The men, 
 sullen and angry, and considerably thinned in numbers, 
 stood around, watching their wounded companions 
 writhing and stumbling at the edge of the moat. 
 Some looked anxiously back towards the trees, hoping 
 to see signs of the body dispatched against Cinderford 
 an hour before sunrise. 
 
 However, they looked in vain, for the sturdy miners 
 were also abroad betimes, and the mixed body of 
 Welshmen and Normans had fallen carelessly into 
 the midst of a watchful and eager foe, and were 
 scattered abroad in small bodies and driven steadily 
 river wards. 
 
 The besiegers determined to advance again. The 
 archers came forward to a good shooting distance 
 and stood with bows half bent ready to cover the 
 advance of the spearmen and men-at-arms. At the 
 signal these dashed forward bearing the great heavy 
 ladders, the pile of brushwood and pine-branches, 
 some lighted torches, and a small raft it was intended 
 to fix underneath the drawbridge as a hearthstone 
 for their fire. 
 
 Again the Saxons rose above the walls and dis- 
 charged their weapons. But this time the shower
 
 THE SIEGE OF THE DEAN CASTLE. 161 
 
 was less deadly and less sustained, for iron-headed 
 messengers of death rattled around and upon them 
 like hailstones, and many a man heard the dull thud 
 of his comrade's body as it toppled from the wall 
 dead or severely wounded. 
 
 The enemy were successful in their onslaught this 
 time. Protected by the splendid shooting of their 
 archers, they fixed their cumbrous ladders, they 
 swarmed into the moat, and the thick smoke from 
 their fire went curling upwards, blinding and suffo- 
 cating the defenders above the gate. 
 
 Up the ladders they came, chiefs and men ; they 
 reached the top ; the defenders hurled down the 
 beams and stones upon those in the moat. With 
 cut and thrust they drove the yelling and shrieking 
 foe back. But they came on in increasing numbers, 
 for the archers, finding they could no longer shoot 
 without the risk of killing their own men, slung their 
 bows and drew their swords and swarmed up to the 
 desperate encounter. Men grappled with one another 
 on the broad top of the wall, and Saxon and foeman 
 fell with a resounding splash into the moat, locked 
 in an embrace of death. 
 
 Side by side Gurth and Sir John fought with the 
 energy of a desperate cause. Halford had singled 
 out the Norman soldier Bertrand, and the two were 
 fighting a death duel like gladiators. Halford's 
 superior height and position told in the end, and the 
 Norman went spinning from the battlements. 
 
 But underneath the drawbridge the fire crackled 
 and roared ; presently the ropes burnt through, and 
 the structure fell with a crash across the moat. With
 
 162 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 shouts of victory the besiegers dashed along to the 
 gate. The fiery raft was swept from underneath the 
 bridge, and in a few moments another pile was 
 blazing beneath the archway, and huge battering- 
 rams were pounding away to aid the work of the 
 fire. 
 
 Gurth sprang from the wall to meet this new 
 danger. The assailants, cheered by success, fought 
 with redoubled energy, and the Saxons struggled 
 as men only struggle for hearth and home. It was 
 an anxious moment, and Sir John glanced towards 
 the trees in the hope of descrying help. None was 
 yet discernible, and calling on Halford to join him he 
 pressed along into the thickest of the conflict. 
 
 Before these two mighty arms the lighter-armed 
 Welshmen gave way, and de Tournay himself dashed 
 forward to stem any possible tide of retreat. But the 
 Saxons battled on like lions, and, by a magnificent 
 effort, cleared that part of the wall. But the smoke 
 was coming in jets through the gate, and the rams 
 thundered ceaselessly. It could not last much longer, 
 and Gurth had massed a living wall of men to resist 
 the inevitable rush of the enemy. 
 
 Just at this juncture a rousing cheer came from the 
 walls, and an answering one, growing momentarily 
 louder and louder, came from the Forest. The be- 
 siegers turned, and to their dismay saw two close 
 bodies of fresh foes heading swiftly towards them. 
 
 Gurth sprang to the walls. Orcar saw him, and 
 with a loud shout of " An Orcar 1 " " A Wulf ! " came 
 on with redoubled pace. 
 
 The young thane rushed to the gateway, the bolts
 
 THE SIEGE OF THE DEAN CASTLE. 163 
 
 were withdrawn, the gate flew open, and the ready 
 Saxons sprang across fire and bridge, brnshed their 
 enemies aside or drove them before them, and the 
 fight was transferred to the open. 
 
 But the besiegers, though surprised, were not beaten. 
 Shouting to the Welsh chieftains to array themselves 
 against the newcomers, de Tournay rallied his 
 Normans, who thus far had suffered but little loss, 
 and faced round in readiness for the adversaries he 
 most desired to meet. They, on their part, were not 
 loth to grant him the encounter he awaited ; with 
 yell and shout they came on. 
 
 Gurth's intention was to engage de Tournay. So, 
 finding Halford striding like his shadow beside him, 
 he exclaimed, " Yon Norman is for me ! " 
 
 " Ay," answered the giant laconically, " but I 
 stand by ! " 
 
 The young thane flushed ; his follower's words 
 seemed anticipatory of defeat. He set his teeth and 
 determined this should not be. A dozen strides more, 
 and the combatants met on all sides ; the melte 
 became general. 
 
 Gurth and the Norman knight fought their way 
 towards each other and interchanged a few blows. 
 Then the press separated them, but they soon came 
 together again. Both were skilful swordsmen, and 
 both were cool and determined. But, while the 
 Norman fought to kill, the young Saxon fought to 
 wound and disarm, for he was determined that de 
 Tournay should hang like the cur he was ; therefore 
 he fought the more warily. 
 
 Gurth endeavoured to cut the Norman's sword from
 
 164 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 his hand, but the blow fell short, and his adversary 
 lunging forward pierced his left shoulder to the bone. 
 The young thane staggered backwards, but, quickly 
 recovering himself, and smarting with pain, he leapt 
 with the agility of a veritable young wolf, full at his 
 foeman's throat. The point of his sword crashed 
 through the protecting rings of steel, and with a 
 choking cry the Norman fell. In a trice Halford was 
 astride the body, sweeping a clear ring round it 
 with his huge battle-axe. The Norman men-at- 
 arms hesitated for a moment, then broke and fled. 
 Mingling with their Welsh allies, they carried con- 
 fusion and dismay with them, and the whole body of 
 the enemy, seized with panic, betook themselves to 
 headlong flight. The Welsh chieftains, endeavouring 
 to stem the frantic torrent, fell wounded into the 
 hands of the victorious Saxons. 
 
 Orcar and the men of Littledean and Newnham 
 pursued the broken array, killing some and taking 
 many prisoners, and of those who the previous day 
 had marched so jauntily to the attack, barely half 
 escaped into the sheltering depths of the Forest. 
 ***** 
 
 In spite of many missing voices and faces there was 
 high carousal in the halls of the Wulf that night. 
 And the gallant young chief of the house, his arm 
 swathed in bandages, sat a proud lord and victor at 
 the head of the table. 
 
 The great assemblage drank solemnly to the 
 memories of the dead, and spoke tenderly of them ; 
 they drank " wassail " to the wounded, and spoke words 
 of hope ; they drank " wassail " and " love " to their
 
 THE SIEGE OF THE DEAN CASTLE. 165 
 
 young thane, and vowed that to die for him was a 
 pleasure and honour. And the Lady of the Dean 
 then and there laid down all authority at the feet of 
 her son, and every man uprose and swore a solemn 
 oath of homage to him. 
 
 Already men were whispering of Gurth's likeness to 
 his warlike father, and that the martial glories of the 
 Wulf were come again.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 IN WHICH WE TAKE LEAVE OF THE FOREST. 
 
 GILBERT DE TOURNAY did not die, for the 
 \J good Lady of the Dean and Elgiva, forgetful of 
 his past villainies, nursed him back to health. Neither 
 was he hanged, a thing of scorn and reproach, from 
 an oak in the forest. The two ladies having saved 
 his life, claimed it, and Gurth could not refuse to 
 acknowledge their claims. So the Norman, healed 
 in more senses than one, set out one day in the sweet 
 sunshine of April, his face set towards the gloomy 
 and cheerless castle at Mitcheldean. 
 
 After he had been there for the space of a few 
 clays, he sent an escort to the Dean craving the 
 presence of his two gentle nurses. He wished them 
 to come unaccompanied by any friend or retainer. 
 In spite of the remonstrances of Gurth and Sir John, 
 who trusted the Norman as they would a scotched 
 viper, they granted his request to the full, and set 
 out with his men-at-arms for his ill-famed stroughold. 
 
 The knight received them with every courtesy, 
 and with unfeigned pleasure and gentleness. He 
 thanked them quietly and earnestly for the life they 
 had doubly saved, and then gave Elgiva a packet, 
 sealed and endorsed, instructing her to open it on 
 
 166
 
 IN WHICH WE TAKE LEAVE OF THE FOEEST. 167 
 
 the morning when she became the bride of the thane 
 of Wulf. He then escorted them homewards until 
 the tower of Wulf Castle appeared amidst the trees. 
 Here he took an affectionate farewell of the two 
 women he had so persecuted, disappeared among the 
 trees, and his familiar form was seen in the Forest 
 no more. 
 
 The two wounded ap Morgans, with many of their 
 followers, were detained as prisoners of war ; but on 
 entering into a solemn undertaking to keep to their 
 own side of the Wye in future, their arms were 
 restored to them and they were permitted to depart 
 without further molestation. The young thane treated 
 his hereditary foes thus generously out of a desire to 
 put an end to these perpetual border wars ; he wished 
 his vassals to pursue their avocations of forestry, 
 herding, and mining in peace. 
 
 For nearly two years the Welshmen were true to 
 their compact, but eventually habit and instinct proved 
 stronger than oaths, and the foresters were once more 
 compelled to throw down mattock, axe, and spade, 
 and take to sword, and bow, and spear. 
 
 One glorious day in early May, amidst the singing 
 of the birds, the bursting of the buds, and the nodding 
 and curtseying of the woodland flowers, the whole 
 Forest took holiday. Horns rang merrily through 
 the glades, and youth and maid, and goodman and 
 wife, gammer and gaffer came forth to dance and sing 
 and make good cheer. For their beloved young thane 
 was that day to marry the maiden of his heart and 
 theirs, and the sweet and gentle daughter of the 
 smith was, with great ceremony and rejoicing, to be
 
 168 THE THANE OF THE DEAN. 
 
 installed as mistress of the great and mighty house 
 of the Wulf. 
 
 That night bonfires blazed on all the woodland 
 heights, and men saw the reflections at Gloucester, 
 where the worthy citizens gathered on the Cross and 
 hurrahed for their illustrious fellow-townsman and his 
 winsome daughter. 
 
 At the Dean all was happiness. And when at the 
 wedding feast the bride opened the sealed packet of 
 de Tournay, and it became known that he had made 
 her a free gift of all his Forest domain, then men said 
 that the sweet faces of their ladies were a power, even 
 against the mightiest foes. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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 Jennie Chappell, Author of " Ted's Trust."
 
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 ONE SHILLING REWARD BOOKS (continued) . 
 
 Birdie and Her Dog. By 
 
 E. C. Phillips. 
 
 Children of Cherryholme 
 
 (The). By M. S. Haycraft, Author 
 of "Like a Little Candle," "Chine 
 Cabin," etc. 
 
 Farm by the Wood (The). 
 
 By F. Scarlett Potter, Author of 
 " Phil's Frolic," etc. 
 
 Frank Burleigh ; or, Chosen 
 
 to be a Soldier. By L. Phillips. 
 
 Harold ; or, Two Died for Me. 
 
 By Laura A. Barter. 
 
 Indian Life in the Great 
 
 North-West. By Egerton R. Young, 
 Missionary to the North American 
 
 Paul the Courageous." Indian tribes. North of Lake Winni- 
 
 Author of "By Canoe and Dog Train," etc. 
 
 From ' 
 Peg, 
 
 Jack the Conqueror / or, Difficulties Overcome. By 
 
 the Author of " Dick and his Donkey." 
 
 Jim's Discovery ; or, On the Edge of a Desert. By 
 
 T. M. Browne, Author of "Dawson's Madge," etc. 
 
 Little Bunch's Charge/ or, True to Trust. By 
 
 Nellie Cornwall, Author of "Tamsin Rosewarne," etc. 
 
 Little Woodman and his Dog Ccesar (The). 
 
 By Mrs. Sherwood. 
 
 Marjory ; or, What Would Jesus Do ? By Laura A. 
 
 Barter, Author of " Harold; or, Two Died for Me." 
 
 Our Den. By E. M. Waterworth, Author of " Master 
 Lionel, that Tiresome Child." 
 
 Raymond's Rival ; or, Which will Win ? By Jennie 
 
 Chappell, Author of " Losing and Finding," etc. 
 
 Sweet Nancy. By L. T. Meade, Author of "Scamp 
 and I," "A Band of Three," etc. 
 
 Twice Saved; or, Somebody's Pet and Nobody's 
 Darling. By E. M. Waterworth, Author of "Our Den," "Master 
 Lionel," etc. 
 
 Who was the Culprit ? By Jennie Chappell, Author 
 of " Her Saddest Blessing," " The Man of the Family," etc. 
 
 16
 
 Is. each. 
 ONE* SHILLING PICTURE BOOKS. 
 
 Size, zoj by 8 inches. Bound in handsome Coloured Paper Boards, with 
 Coloured and other Illustrations, is. each. 
 
 %< 
 
 j /^U I U J Zi*rfiU IVaJ> 
 
 ' s AII, SreKifs i UK Vrort fou\s. 
 
 Our Pets' Picture Book. By D. J. D., Author of 
 
 ' A Merry Game," etc. 
 
 Happy Playmates : Pictures and Stories for Young 
 Folks. By J. D., Author of " Buttercups and Daisies," etc. 
 
 Bible Pictures and Stories. Old Testament. By 
 
 D. J. D. 
 
 Bible Pictures and Stories. New Testament. By 
 James Weston and D. J. D. 
 
 Pussies and Puppies. By Louis Wain. 
 
 A Merry Game : Pictures and Stories for Little Readers. 
 By D. J. D., Author of "Dapple and Dobbin's Picture Book," etc. 
 
 Dapple and Dobbin's Picture Book. By D. 
 
 J. D., Author of " Happy and Gay," etc. 
 
 Buttercups and Daisies : A Picture Story Book for 
 
 Little People. By J. D. Size 9 by 7^ inches. 
 
 Holiday Hours in Animal Land. By Uncle 
 
 Harry. New Edition. 96 pages. Size, 9 by 7^ inches. 
 Skipping Time : A Story Book in Prose and Rhyme. 
 By C. D. M., Author of " Holiday Joys," etc. Size, 9 by 7| inches. 
 
 Ring O* Roses : Pictures and Stories for Little Folks. 
 By Uncle Jack, Author of " Frolic and Fun," etc. Fcap. quarto. 
 
 Holiday Joys : Stories and Pictures for Girls and Boys. 
 By C. D. M., Author of " Merry Playmates," etc. Fcap. quarto. 
 
 Father Time. A novel mechanical Toy Book. With 
 Cover beautifully printed in Colours, and Clock face with movable 
 hands. Size, n by 9 inches. 
 
 17
 
 Is. each. 
 CHEAP REPRINTS OF POPULAR STORIES FOR THE YOUNG. 
 
 Crown 8vo. 160 pages. Illustrated. Cloth Boards, is. each. 
 
 Her TWO Sons* A Story for Young Men and Maidens. 
 By Mrs. Charles Garnett. 
 
 Mar/gold, By L. T. Meade, Author of " The Lady of 
 
 the Forest," etc. 
 
 Jack's Heroism : A Tale of Schoolboy Life. By E. C, 
 
 Kenyon, Author of " Lost in the Backwoods," etc. 
 
 Rag and Tag S A Plea for the Waifs and Strays of 
 Old England. By Mrs. E. J. Whittaker. 
 
 Through Life's Shadows. 
 
 By Eliza F. Pollard. 
 
 The Little Princess of 
 
 Tower Hill. By L. T. Meade. 
 
 Clovie and Madge. By Mrs. 
 
 G. S. Reaney. 
 
 Bible Wonders. 
 
 ton. 
 
 By Dr. New- 
 
 From " Like a Little Candle." 
 
 Rills from the Fountain of 
 
 Life. By the same Author. 
 
 Ellerslie House : A Book for Boys. By Emma 
 Leslie. 
 
 Like a Little Candle; or, Bertrand's Influence, By 
 Mrs. Haycraft. 
 
 The Lads Of Kingston : A Tale of a Seaport Town. 
 By James Capes Story. 
 
 Violet Maitland; or, By Thorny Ways. By Laura 
 M. Lane. 
 
 Martin Rec/ferris Oath. By Ethel F. Heddle. 
 Dairyman's Daughter (The). By Legh Rich- 
 
 mond. 
 
 Victoria/ The Well-Beloved (1819-19O1). By 
 
 W. Francis Aitken Crown 8vo. 152 pages. Eight Illustrations. 
 Cloth boards, is. 
 
 18
 
 Is. each (not Illustrated). 
 
 Keynotes to the Happy Life. By Mrs. Charlotte 
 
 Skinner, Author of "For Love's Sake," etc. Demy i6mo. Cloth 
 boards, is. 
 
 For Love's Sake. By Mrs. Charlotte Skinner. Demy 
 i6mo. Cloth boards, is. 
 
 Uncrowned Queens. By Mrs. Charlotte Skinner, 
 Author of" Sisters of the Master." Small 8vo. 112 pages. Cloth, is. 
 
 Sisters of the Master. By Mrs. Charlotte 
 
 Skinner, Author of "The Master's Gifts to Women." Small 8vo., 
 cloth, is. 
 
 The Master's Messages to Women. By Mrs. 
 
 Charlotte Skinner. Small 8vo, cloth, is. 
 
 Some Secrets of Christian Living. Selec- 
 tions from the "Seven Rules" Series of Booklets. Small 8vo., 
 cloth, is. 
 
 Thoroughness : Talks to Young Men. By Thain 
 Davidson, D.D. Small Crown 8vo. Cloth extra, is. 
 
 Molly and I. By the Author of "Jack," "At Sunset," 
 etc. Long 8vo. Illustrated Title Page. Cloth extra, is. 
 
 Cicely's Little Minute. By Harvey Gobel. Long 
 8vo. Illustrated Title Page. Cloth extra, is. 
 
 9d. each. 
 NINEPENNY SERIES OF ILLUSTRATED BOOKS. 
 
 96 fages. Small Crown 8vo. Illustrated. Handsome Cloth Covers. 
 gd. each. 
 
 Won from the Sea. By E. C. Phillips, Author of 
 
 , "' Birdie and her Dog." 
 
 } Aunt Armstrong's Money. 
 
 By Jennie Chappell, Author of " Carol's 
 Gift," etc. 
 
 John Blessington's Enemy. 
 
 A Story of Life in South Africa. By E. 
 Harcourt Burrage, Author of " The Fatal 
 Nugget," etc. 
 
 Carol's Gift ; or, What Time 
 I am Afraid I will Trust in Thee." By 
 Jennie Chappell. 
 
 Cripple George ; or, God has 
 
 a Plan for every Man: A Temperance 
 Story. By John W. Kneeshaw, Author 
 of "Norcliffe Court," etc. 
 
 Cared for ; or, The Orphan 
 
 Wanderers. By Mrs. C. E. Bowen, 
 From " Won from the Sea." Author of " Dick and his Donkey," etc. 
 
 19
 
 9ef. each, 
 MIHKPENNY SERIES OF ILLUSTRATED BOOKS (continued). 
 
 Rob and If or, By Courage and Faith. By C. A. Mercer. 
 
 Phil's FroliO. By F. Scarlett Potter. 
 
 How a Farthing made a Fortune; or, Honesty 
 
 is the Best Policy. By Mrs. C. E. Bowen. 
 
 A Flight With the Swallows. By Emma Marshall. 
 Babes in the Basket (The) ; or, Daph and Her 
 
 Charge. 
 Bel's Baby. By Mary E. Ropes. 
 
 Birdie's Benefits ; or, "A Little Child Shall Lead 
 Them." By Ethel Ruth Boddy. 
 
 Five Cousins (The). By Emma Leslie. 
 
 Foolish Chrlssy ; or, Discontent and its Consequences. 
 By Meta, Author of " Noel's Lesson," etc. 
 
 For Lucy's Sake. By Annie S. Swan. 
 
 Giddie Garland ; or, The Three Mirrors. By Jennie 
 C happell. 
 
 How Paul's Penny became a Pound. By 
 
 Mrs. Bowen, Author of " Dick and His Donkey." 
 
 How Peter's Pound became a Penny. By 
 
 the same Author. 
 
 John Oriel's Start in Life. By Mary Howitt. 
 Master Lionel, that Tiresome Child. By E. 
 
 M. Waterworth. 
 
 Man of the Family (The). By Jennie Chappell. 
 
 Mattie'S Home / or, The Little Match-girl and her 
 Friends. 
 
 Paul, a Little Mediator. By Maude M. Butler. 
 
 Sailor's Lass (A). By Emma Leslie. 
 
 Una Bruce's Troubles. By Alice Price. Illustrated 
 
 by Harold Copping. 
 
 20
 
 6d. each. 
 
 NEW SERIES OF SIXPENNY PICTURE-BOOKS. 
 
 Crown quarto. Fully Illustrated. Handsomely bound in paper boards, with 
 design printed in Ten colours. 6d. each. 
 
 Sweet Blossom : A Picture Story Book for Little Ones. 
 Sweet Stories Retold: A Bible Picture Book for 
 
 Young Folks. 
 
 Going A-Sailing : A Picture Story Book for Little 
 
 Folks. 
 
 Off to Toyland : Pictures and Stories for Little People. 
 Tibby's Tales S A Picture Book for Little People. 
 
 Dollies' Schooltime : Pictures and Stories in Prose 
 and Rhyme. 
 
 Birdie's Message : The Little Folks' Picture Book. 
 
 This New Series of Picture Books surpasses, in excellence of illustration 
 and careful printing, all others at the price. 
 
 NEW COLOURED SCRIPTURE PICTURE-BOOKS. 
 
 Beautifully printed in Chroma-Lithography. Size 8J by 6 inches. Stiff 
 Paper Coloured Covers, with Cloth Backs, 6d. each. 
 
 Coming to Jesus : Texts, Verses, and Coloured 
 Pictures. 
 
 The Good Shepherd : Texts, Verses, and Coloured 
 Pictures.
 
 6d. each. 
 
 THE " RED DAVE " SERIES. 
 
 New and Enlarged Edition. Illustrated. Handsomely bound in cloth 
 boards. 6d. each. 
 By 
 
 Benjamin's New Boy. 
 
 Jesse Page. 
 
 Enemies : A Tale for Little Lads 
 
 and Lasses. By Marion Isabel Hurrell. 
 
 Cherry Tree Place. By 
 
 Lizzie A. Hooper. 
 
 A Tale of Four Foxes. By 
 
 Eva C. Rogers. 
 
 A Little Town Mouse. By 
 
 Eleanora H. Stooke. 
 
 Lett In Charge f and other 
 Stories. 
 
 A Threefold Promise. 
 
 Two Little Girls, and What 
 
 they Did. 
 
 The Four Young Musicians. 
 Joe and Sally g or, A Good 
 
 Deed and its Fruits. 
 
 The Island House. By F. M, 
 
 Holmes. 
 
 Chrissy's Treasure. By 
 
 Jennie Perrett. 
 
 Puppy-Dog Tales. 
 
 Authors. 
 
 By various 
 By M. B.'Man- 
 By Jennie 
 
 Mother's Boy. 
 
 well. 
 
 A Great Mistake. 
 
 Cbappell. 
 
 Front Hand to Hand. By C 
 
 J. Hamilton. 
 
 That Boy Bofo. By Jesse Page. 
 Buy Your Own Cherries, 
 
 By J. W. Kirton. 
 
 Owen's Fortune. By Mrs. F. 
 
 West. 
 
 Red Dave ; or, What Wilt Thoo 
 
 have Me to do. 
 
 Dick and his Donkey ;\ or, 
 
 How to Pay the Rent. 
 
 Lost in the Snowj or, The 
 
 Kentish Fisherman. 
 
 Jessie Dyson. 
 
 Come Home, Mother. 
 
 4d. each. 
 THE YOUNG FOLKS' LIBRARY. 
 
 of Cloth-bound Books for the Young. With Coloured Frontispieces. 64 
 pages. Well Illustrated. Handsome Cloth Covers. a,d. each. 
 Ronald's Reason. 
 
 From Shadow to Sunhine. 
 A Bright Idea. 
 The Little Woodman. 
 Jacko the Monkey, and other 
 
 Stories. 
 
 Little Dan, the Orange 
 
 Boy. 
 
 22 
 
 The Church Mouse. 
 
 Sybil. 
 
 Dandy Jim. 
 
 A Troublesome Trio. 
 
 Perry's Pilgrimage. 
 
 Nlta / or, Among the Brigands.
 
 4d. each. 
 CHEAP "PANSY" SERIES. 
 
 Imperial 8vo. 64 pages. Many Illustrations. Cover printed in Five 
 Colours, qd. each. 
 
 By Annie S. 
 By 
 Gate. By Annie 
 
 The Better Part. 
 
 Swan. 
 
 The Household Angel. 
 
 Madeline Leslie. 
 
 The Strait 
 
 S. Swan. 
 
 Mark Desborough's Vow. 
 
 By Annie S. Swan. 
 
 Her Saddest Blessing. 
 Miss Prlscllla Hunter, and 
 
 other Stories. 
 
 Wild Bryonle. 
 
 A vice ! A Story of Imperial Rome. 
 From Different Stand* 
 
 points. 
 
 Those Boys. 
 Christie's Christmas. 
 
 Wise to Win; or, the Master 
 
 Hand. 
 
 Ester Rled. 
 
 Julia Rled. 
 
 Ester Rled yet Speaking. 
 
 Echoing and Re-echoing. 
 
 Cunning Workmen. 
 
 Tip Lewis and His Lamp. 
 
 The King's Daughter. 
 
 Household Puzzles. 
 
 The Randolphs. 
 
 Links In Rebecca's Life. 
 
 A New Graft on the Family 
 
 Tree. 
 
 The Man of the House. 
 
 3d. each. 
 
 THE TINY LIBRARY. 
 
 Books printed in large type. Cloth boards. 
 Chrlssle, and other 
 
 . each. 
 
 Little 
 
 Stories. 
 
 Harry Car/ton's Holiday. 
 A Little Loss and a Big 
 
 Find. 
 
 What a Little Cripple Did. 
 
 Bobby. 
 
 Matty and Tom. 
 
 The Broken Window. 
 John Madge's Cure for 
 
 Selfishness. 
 
 The Pedlar's Loan. 
 Letty Young's Trials. 
 Brave Boys. 
 Little Jem, the Rag Mer- 
 
 chant. 
 
 NEW SERIES OP THREEPENNY PICTURE BOOKS. 
 
 Royal i6mo. Coloured Frontispiece and numerous other Illustrations. 
 Bound in paper boards with cloth bach, with Cover beautifully 
 printed in Colours. 3d. each. 
 
 By the Sea. 
 
 '< Pets " and " Pickles. " 
 
 Toby and Kit's Animal 
 
 Book. 
 
 Our Little Pets' Alphabet. 
 
 Bible Stories. Old Testa- 
 ment. 
 
 Bible Stories. New Testa- 
 ment 
 
 23
 
 ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY PERIODICALS. 
 
 THE BRITISH WORKMAN. 
 
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 An Illustrated Paper containing Popular Articles and Stories oa 
 
 Temperance, Thrift, etc., and short Biographies of eminent Self-made Men : 
 
 also interesting accounts of visits to some of our leading British Industries. 
 
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 24
 
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