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away."

"That is bad news, Wulf; but I could hardly expect that I should

be long unrecognized. There are many vessels come and go between

the northern ports and our own, and in St. Valery there must be

numbers of sailors and fishermen who have seen me in London. Besides,

we are sure to be questioned by the count as to our rank and

condition, and even could we conceal it for a while, the news is

certain to be brought ere long from England of our having been blown

off the coast, and when it was known it would be speedily guessed

that we were the missing party. Hark you, Wulf; I have never heard

aught good of Count Conrad, and one cannot say what steps he may

take to force us to pay a heavy ransom, but it is like enough that

he will do all he can to prevent the news of my being in his hands

from reaching the ears of the duke. It is likely that you and Beorn,

being but lads, will be watched less rigorously than the rest of

us. Should this be so, try, if you find an opportunity, to send the

news to the duke that we are all held prisoners here. I shall, of

course, endeavour to communicate with him, but some chance may occur

by which you can do so more readily than I can."

"I will try to do so, my lord; but I trust this Norman count will

treat you with all due honour and courtesy."

Wulf then fell back to Beorn's side, and half an hour later the

shipwrecked party entered the gates of St. Valery. The townspeople

flocked round them, and as soon as they learned that they were a

party of shipwrecked Saxons who had been blown by the gale from

England, they were led to the house of the officer in command of

the town. He asked them a few questions, saying, "I must refer the

matter to the count. By the usages of our land all who are cast

upon it become his prisoners, to be put to ransom or otherwise as

he may decide. However, food shall be supplied you at once, but

you must be content to remain under guard until his pleasure is

known."

They were accordingly at once placed in a disused granary, under

the charge of a strong guard. Food was brought to them, and as soon

as they had consumed this, most of the men threw themselves on the

ground, worn out by their long exertions.

"This is a sorry welcome, Wulf, after our escape from the sea,"

Beorn said. "Truly the land seems as inhospitable as the ocean."

"It is not pleasant, Beorn, but at present I feel so thankful for

my escape from those terrible waves that even the thought that we

are all prisoners to this petty noble does not greatly concern me.

Doubtless William of Normandy, who is the liege lord of the land,

will speedily take us out of his hands. Were we alone it may be

that we should suffer a long stay in his dungeons, but Harold and

his brother are far too important personages to be allowed to remain

in the hands of one of the duke's vassals."

"It is shameful," Beorn said indignantly. "I do not say that those

who are cast on our shores may not be often pillaged and ill-treated

by the common folk, but surely none of gentle blood would fail to

show them kindness and hospitality."

"That is so on our coast of Sussex, but I have heard that further

west, and certainly among the Danes of Northumbria, vessels cast

on the coast are considered as gifts from the sea, and even the

lives of those who gain the shore are not often respected. I regret

much that Harold should be with us. It is true that his being here

will doubtless shorten the term of our imprisonment, but it is

unfortunate that he should fall into the hands of William, who is

as famous for craft and subtlety as he is for bravery and skill as

a leader."

"But what can he gain from Harold?" Beorn asked. "Our earl is

well-nigh as much known throughout Europe as William of Normandy,

and all Christendom would cry out with shame were he treated with

ought but courtesy by the duke."

"I doubt not that he will treat him with courtesy, Beorn, but he

may well wring some concessions from him before he lets him depart.

He may bargain that the Normans may be again allowed to hold land

in England, and to build their castles, as they did before Godwin

and his sons returned from exile, and the Normans had to fly the

land, save those around the person of the king. He may beg so many

bishoprics for Norman priests. There is no saying what concessions

he may extort. Of all princes in Europe I had rather Harold had

fallen into the hands of any other than into those of William of

Normandy."

"Truly I have never troubled my head about such matters, Wulf, and

thought that it would be time to do so when I became a thane, and

had a vote at the Witan."

"I have heard much of them from the prior of Bramber, who is a true

Englishman, and though a priest, learned in all matters that appertain

to the history of times past and of our own; he impressed upon me

that just as a boy must practise arms if he is to bear them worthily

as a man, so he should study the story of our kings, and learn what

is passing, not only in our own country but in others, if he is

ever to raise his voice in council."

Harold and his thanes sat apart discussing the position, their

conclusion being very similar to that arrived at by Wulf. Chivalry

had but slight influence as yet in the West of Europe. Kings and

princes cared little as to the means by which they attained an end.

Rivals to a throne were put out of the way without scruple; the

profession of arms was a business like any other, carried on for

gain; a captured foe was valued chiefly for the amount of ransom

that could be obtained for him; petty barons and powerful nobles

alike levied exactions on those who might fall into their hands,

unless previously provided with a safe-conduct. Years later, when

King Richard was made a prisoner on his return from the Holy Land,

it was only because of his great exploits for the recapture of the

Holy Sepulchre that any feeling of reprobation was excited against

his captors. Thus then, although Normandy was at peace with England,

it did not seem an unnatural thing to Harold and his companions

that the noble into whose hands they had fallen should demand a

heavy ransom, or that the Duke of Normandy himself should utilize

the opportunity for his advantage.

On the following morning they heard a large body of horsemen ride

up. A minute later the governor accompanied by a Norman noble

entered. They were followed by a number of men-at-arms, among whom

was a fisherman.

"Now, fellow," the count said to this man, "which is the Saxon

Harold?"

"I am," Harold said, advancing a step before his companions. "I

am Harold, Earl of Wessex. I have with my companions been cast on

your shores. I expect honourable treatment, and am willing to pay

any reasonable ransom should you demand one."

"We will talk of that afterwards," the count said roughly; "for the

present you go with me to my castle at Beaurain. But first do you

and your men hand over all valuables that you may possess; they are

forfeited to me, being cast up on my land."

Without a word Harold produced his chain of office and other

ornaments, and dropped them into a helmet which a soldier at the

orders of the count held out for them. His companions did the same,

the thanes first and then the two lads.

"That will do," the count said to the soldiers. "That is my share,

you can search the rest yourselves."

"I protest against this robbery," Harold said haughtily, "and will

proclaim you in all the courts of Europe as one who is false to his

station, and who condescends to pillage those whom fortune has cast

on his shores."

"You can wait until you get an opportunity to do so," the count

sneered; "it is not likely to come for some time. You can do as you

like to the others," he went on to the governor, "I want not to be

cumbered with them. You can doubtless find work for them on the

fortifications, but if you can put them to no use or they are

troublesome, cut their throats and throw them into the sea."

The Saxons fingered their knives, but Harold said in their own

tongue, "Resistance would be folly, the time may come when we may

turn the tables on this fellow." The soldiers now closed round

Harold and the thanes and led them out of the house. Here they were

ordered to mount each behind a soldier, and as soon as they had

done so they rode out from St. Valery, and crossing the river Somme

at Abbeville, and the Authie by a ford near Crecy, reached the

fortress of Beaurain on the river Canche near the town of Hesdin

before nightfall. On the road Wulf watched anxiously for a chance

to escape, but none offered itself. Soldiers rode on both sides of

the captives, and had he slipped from the horse he could not have

hoped to make his escape across an open country. As soon as they

entered the fortress Harold and the thanes were all consigned to

dungeons, but the count, learning that the two lads had been Harold's

pages, said they should wait on himself. "And see," he said to them,

"that your service is good, if you do not wish to dangle over the

moat at the end of a rope."

"It is a shame that such a man should be a nobleman," Beorn exclaimed

indignantly to Wulf, as he saw that the soldiers were placing chains

upon Harold before they led him away.

"He is a hateful-looking villain," Wulf said. "It is but lately

that he revolted against William. I heard of it from the prior. His

brother, the last Count of Ponthieu, joined France in an invasion

of Normandy. He fell in an ambush at St. Aubin, and this man became

count. For a time he was held prisoner by the duke, but afterwards

he was freed, and received back his dominions as a vassal. His face

is at once cruel and base. I told you the instructions Harold gave

me, Beorn; the need for carrying them out has arrived, and I will

try to make my escape without loss of time from this fortress to

bear the tidings to the duke."

"I will escape with you, Wulf; two can get on better than one."

"That is so, Beorn, and I would gladly have you with me, but maybe

I shall be detected in attempting to escape and be slain, or I may

fall into the hands of peasants and be brought back here, and if

we were together all hope of letting the duke know of our lord's

captivity would be at an end. Therefore it were best that I made

the attempt first. If I fail, which is like enough, then do you in

turn try to get away and bear the news to the duke."

Beorn did not like to stay behind, but he saw that Wulf's plan was

best, and accordingly fell in with it.

"Will you go at once?" he asked.

"No; I will stay for a day or two to lull suspicion. They may watch

us just at first, but if they see that we do as we are ordered with

good-will they will cease to regard us so narrowly; moreover, it

will be needful to know the place well before I devise a plan of

escape."

CHAPTER V.

ROUEN.

For the next two days the lives of the two young Saxons were well-nigh

unbearable. At meals the count by turns abused and jeered at them,

and his companions, following his example, lost no opportunity of

insulting them in every way.

"If this goes on, Wulf," Beorn said as they threw themselves down

on the ground late that night, when the carousal was ended, "I shall

snatch the count's dagger from his belt and bury it in his heart,

though they put me to death by torture afterwards."

"I thought of doing so myself, Beorn, to-night, when he threw a cup

of wine over me. But I said to myself my life is not my own, Harold's

rescue depends on it. We are bound as his men to suffer in patience

whatever may befall us. In another hour I shall try to make my

escape. When it was your turn to wait this evening I stole away for

a time, and went to the shed where they keep the war-engines and

took thence a coil of rope, which I have hidden in the courtyard.

You know that we noticed last night where the sentries were placed,

and decided where I might best drop from the wall unobserved.

Fortunately the moat is dry at present, though they can turn water

into it from the stream at will, so that once down I shall have no

difficulty in getting away. Now I want you to go to sleep directly,

I shall not stir until you do so, then when you are questioned in

the morning you can say that I was by your side when you went to

sleep, and that when you woke in the morning the place was vacant.

You can say that I told you during the day that I could not suffer

these insults much longer, and that you suppose that after you had

gone to sleep I must have got up and either killed myself or in

some way made my escape."

Beorn lay quiet for a time and then Wulf said suddenly, "I have

changed my mind, Beorn; we will go together. I feel it is likely

that in his wrath at my escape the count may slay you, and thus the

object with which you remained behind would come to nothing, therefore

it is best that you go with me."

"I was thinking so myself, Wulf, though I would not say it; but in

truth I think the risks we may run in making our way to Rouen are

small compared to those of staying here."

"We must lose no time, Beorn. The castle is quiet now, and we must

be many miles away from here before morning, for you may be sure

the count's horsemen will scour the country far and wide in pursuit

of us."

They had that morning, before the count was up and their services

were required, wandered about the fortress, apparently paying no

attention to anything, but really closely observing the approaches

to the walls and the general features of the country outside. They

now stole out, keeping in the shadow of the building, until they

reached the staircase leading up to the battlements, close to the

point Wulf had fixed upon for making their descent. This had been