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himself to ride in state through London he would scarce be so gaily

attended."

"Duke William does not look as if he cared for show," Beorn said.

"Nor does he," Guy, who was riding beside them, put in. "For himself

he is simple in his tastes, but he knows that the people are impressed

by pomp, and love to see a brave cavalcade, therefore he insists

on the observance of outward forms; and his court here on state

occasions vies, as they tell me, with that of Henry of France."

"Where shall we rest tonight?" Wulf asked. "Methinks from the

appearance of the sky that we shall have rain, and unless we sleep

under shelter, many of these fine robes that we see are like to be

as much dabbled in mud as were those in which we arrived."

"We shall sleep in no town, for there is no place on the road between

this and Eu that could receive so large a party; but soon after we

rode out yesterday a train of waggons with tents and all else needful

started from Rouen, and half-way to Eu we shall find the camp erected

and everything in readiness for our reception."

This was indeed the case. The camp had been erected in a sheltered

valley, through which ran a stream that supplied the needs of man

and horses. The tents were placed in regular order, that of the

duke in the centre, those of his chief nobles in order of rank on

either side. Behind was a line for the use of the court officials,

pages, and knights of less degree, while the soldiers would sleep

in the open. As the party rode up a chamberlain with three or four

assistants met them. Each was provided with lists containing the

names of all the duke's following, and these were at once conducted

to the tents alloted to them, so that in a few minutes all were

housed without the slightest confusion or trouble. The squires of

the knights and nobles and the attendants of the officers and pages

at once took the horses and picketed them in lines behind the tents,

rubbing them down and cleaning them with the greatest care, and

then supplying them with forage from the piles that had that morning

been brought in from the neighbouring farms. Fuel in abundance had

also been stacked. A number of cooks had come on with the tent

equipage, and supper was already prepared for the duke and his

party, while animals had been slaughtered and cut up, and the

men-at-arms soon had the joints hanging over their bivouac fires.

"This is all wonderfully well managed, Beorn," Wulf said. "I doubt

whether it could be done so well and orderly with us at home."

"What does it matter?" Beorn said contemptuously. "It makes no

difference whether one sups five minutes after arrival or an hour."

"It matters nothing, Beorn; but what is but a question of an hour's

waiting in a small party is one of going altogether supperless to

bed when it is a large one. The Normans have been constantly fighting

for the last twenty years, and you see they have learned how important

it is that everything should be regular and orderly. If they manage

matters with a large force as well as they do with a small one, as

it is probable that they do, see what an advantage it gives to them.

Were two armies to arrive near each other with the intention of

fighting in the morning, and one knew exactly what to do, and could

get their food in comfort and then lie down to rest, while the other

was all in confusion, no one knowing where he should go or where

to bestow himself, and, being unable to obtain food, forced to lie

down supperless, the first army would obtain a great advantage when

they met the next morning, especially if it had breakfasted well

while the other went into the fight still fasting. Look at ourselves

how weak we were that morning when we had lain down hungry and got

up fasting, while on the morning when the woman gave us that food,

simple as it was, we stepped out boldly and in spirits."

"That is true enough, Wulf, but you know that among us it is said

that Earl Harold is always most careful for the comfort of his

soldiers."

"Yes, the earl always thinks of those around him. As I have never

been in the field I know not what the arrangements are, but I cannot

think they would be so well ordered in a great gathering of Englishmen,

or that we should manage matters as well as the Normans with all

their experience have learnt to do."

"Well, Wulf," Beorn laughed, "you had best study the matter, and

then ask the earl to appoint you to take charge of the arrangements

when he takes the field."

"One could hardly have a more useful office," Wulf said earnestly;

"but it would need a man of experience and of high rank and position,

for our Saxon thanes are not accustomed to discipline as are these

Norman barons, and only one of great authority could induce them

to observe regulations and carry out any plan in due order."

Beorn nodded. "That is true enough, Wulf, and it is therefore clear

that a good many years must pass before you can properly fill the

post of chief chamberlain to the army. For myself, I shall be well

content to do what fighting is required, and to leave all these

matters in your hands."

"Yes; but it can't be left in the hands of one officer," Wulf said

warmly, "unless all give their aid willingly to carry out his plans."

"Well, you need not be angry about it, Wulf. There will be time

enough for that when you get to be grand chamberlain. You know

what the Saxon thanes are--how ease-loving, and averse to trouble

themselves with aught save the chase. I would as soon marshal a

flock of sheep in military order and teach each to keep its place

as get the thanes to conform to strict orders and regulations."

"And yet, Beorn," said Baron De Burg, who had just entered the tent

unnoticed by them in order to speak to his son, who with another

page shared it with them, "unless all will conform to strict orders

and regulations an army is but a mere gathering of armed men,

animated not by one will, but by as many wills as it contains men.

Such an army may be valiant; every man may be a hero, and yet it

may be shattered to pieces by another which gives itself up wholly

to the direction of one will. That is why we Normans have so badly

beaten the French. Every mail has his place in battle. He charges

when he is ordered to charge, or he is held in reserve the whole

day, and the battle ended without his ever striking a blow. We may

fret under inaction, we may see what we think chances of falling

upon the enemy wasted, but we know that our duke is a great leader,

that he has a plan for the battle and will carry it through, and

that disobedience to his orders would be an offence as great as

that of riding from the field. Hence we have learned to obey, and

consequently we have always been victorious against men as brave

as ourselves, but each obeying his own feudal lord, and so fighting

in detached bodies rather than as a whole. Your young companion is

in the right. In a duel between two men strength and skill is

everything; in a struggle between two armies obedience to orders

is a virtue even higher than bravery and skill at arms. Where is

Guy?"

"He is in attendance on the duke, my lord," Beorn said. "We presented

ourselves also at his tent, but he told us that he required no duty

from us."

"Let him come to my tent when he returns," the baron said; "that

is as soon as he has finished supper. I shall be glad if you will

also come, unless the duke sends for you, which methinks he is not

likely to do. He is in thoughtful mood to-day, and will probably

be alone."

Two or three other knights were assembled in Baron de Burg's tent

when the three lads went in. De Burg said a few words to his

companions, explaining who they were, and then continued his

conversation with the others. Beorn and Wulf, as they stood behind

the chairs and listened to the talk, could not help being struck

with the difference between it and the conversations they had heard

at the houses of Saxon thanes.

With Harold they had been accustomed to hear matters of state touched

on. The church and the struggle going on between the Norman prelates

and monks on the one hand and the English clergy on the other was

one that was frequently talked over, as were also the projects

Harold had at heart for encouraging the spread of education and

raising the condition of people generally. At the houses of the

thanes, however, the evenings were passed in feasting and song, and

it was seldom that there was anything like discussion upon general

affairs. Indeed, between men heated with wine and accustomed to

state their opinions bluntly anything like friendly argument was

well nigh impossible. De Burg and his companions made no allusion

at all to public affairs, but discussed gravely and calmly, and

with a courteous respect for each other's opinions, questions

connected with the art of war, hunting, the changed conditions

brought about by the demolition of castles, the improvements gradually

being introduced in armour, and other kindred topics. The other

nobles were men of about the same age as De Burg, and although the

latter's page from time to time carried round wine the goblets were

rarely emptied.

Certain topics were touched upon only to be dropped at once, and

Wulf saw that subjects upon which there was any disagreement among

them were carefully avoided.

When the boys returned to their tent Wulf said, "Their talk reminds

me of the evenings I spent with the prior, his almoner, and two or

three other monks, rather than of those at the houses of Saxon

thanes."

Beorn nodded. "I am not so much against our customs of feasting and

merriment as you are, Wulf, and should not care to spend my evenings

often in listening to such grave talk, but truly these Norman barons

and knights are far more courteous in their speech than our own

thanes, and seem to care but little for the wine cup. I admit that

such men must be far wiser advisers for a king than are our Saxons,

saving of course Harold and his brothers."

"The Normans are not all so abstemious as my father and those you

saw with him," Guy laughed. "Listen. You can hear songs and loud

laughter from many of the tents, ay, and might hear quarrels too

did you listen long enough. But those you saw were all men high in

the confidence of the duke. They have fought together under his

banner in many a field, and are all powerful barons. They are content

to hold their own, and have nothing to gain at the expense of others.

Their value is well established, and I believe that all of them

would be well pleased were they never called upon to set lance in

rest again Methinks this evening they avoided all public questions

chiefly because we were present; and you see no word was spoken of

the unexpected accident that has thrown Harold on our shores,

although it must have been in all their minds; and doubtless they

talked it over as they rode hither to-day. I should not be surprised

if my father had us in his tent for the very reason that your being

there would prevent more being said about it. I do not suppose any

of them know exactly what is in the duke's mind--possibly he has

not even made it up himself; and it is assuredly wise here in

Normandy to express no strong opinion until the duke's own mind is

manifest."

"I daresay you are right, Guy. I rather wondered why your father

had asked us as well as you to his tent when he had others with

him; but it is like enough that he thought our presence would prevent

any discussion on delicate topics."

The next morning the cavalcade mounted early, and in the afternoon

rode into the fortress of Eu. It stood upon the river Bresle, and

had, previous to the conquest of Ponthieu, been the frontier guard

of Normandy on the north. It lay only some ten miles from the spot

where the Saxon galley had been wrecked. A messenger had arrived

there early in the day from. Fitz-Osberne saying that Conrad of

Ponthieu had assented to the demand of the duke for the surrender

of his captives, that these had been at once released from their

confinement, and were now honourably entertained. They would start

on the following morning from Beaurain, and would be accompanied

by Conrad, who desired to come to Eu to pay his respects to the

duke.

Although it had been certain that Conrad would not venture to refuse

the command of his powerful over-lord, Wulf and Beorn were greatly

delighted to hear that Harold and his companions had at once been

released from their imprisonment, and that they would so speedily

arrive at Eu. In the afternoon of the following day a messenger

arrived stating that the cavalcade was but an hour's ride away, and

preparations were at once made to receive it with all honour. The

garrison of the castle in their bravest attire lined the courtyard,

hangings brought from Rouen were disposed round the walls of the

great hall, two chairs of state were placed on the dais, the

men-at-arms who had come from Rouen were drawn up on either side

of the great entrance, and here William with his nobles assembled

when the cavalcade approached the castle.

The procession was headed by the Norman men-at-arms of Fitz-Osberne

and Warren. After them rode Conrad of Ponthieu with Harold by his

side. Both carried hawks on their wrists, and were, apparently, on

the most amiable terms. Behind them rode Harold's brother and nephew

and the two Norman barons; they were followed by the Saxon thanes

and the officers of the count's household. Behind these came on

foot the Saxons of inferior degree who had been left at St. Valery,

and who had by Conrad's orders been sent to join the cavalcade where

it crossed the Somme at Abbeville; the procession was closed by a

strong body of the count's men-at-arms. They rode through the double

line of spearmen until they reached the entrance. Then as Harold