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dismounted, the duke descended the steps and embraced him with the

warmest expressions of satisfaction at thus meeting the most

illustrious of Englishmen.

Harold replied in suitable terms, and the duke then turned to Conrad

and thanked him warmly for having acceded to his request.

Ponthieu was but newly conquered, and might yet be a thorn in the

side of Normandy in the event of a renewal of war with France. It

was therefore to William's interest to treat Conrad's obedience to

his orders as if it had been a voluntary submission, and to ignore

his discourteous treatment of his captives. In order to eradicate

all sense of injury on the part of his vassal, he not only paid him

the ransom for Harold but gave him a considerable grant of territory.

The duke now presented his nobles and principal officers to Harold,

and then with his arm placed familiarly on his guest's shoulder led

him into the hall, and placed him in the chair of state beside his

own, other seats being placed for Wulfnoth and Hakon and for some

of the principal Norman barons, while the rest mingled with the

Saxon thanes in the body of the hall. As soon as the reception was

over Wulf hurried out into the courtyard to speak to Osgod.

"Right glad am I to see you again, Osgod; I have been troubled as

to how you were faring."

"In truth we have fared badly enough, master; we have been working

like beasts of burden, without having food that would suffice for

an ass. However, it was not for long, and will do us no harm, though

there are more than one of those fellows at St. Valery with whom I

would gladly have ten minutes play with cudgel or quarter-staff.

You may guess how surprised we were yesterday evening when we were

suddenly called out from the shed where we were sleeping, and with

many professions of regret and apology for our treatment conducted

to better quarters, where a good honest meal was set before us, and

we were then told that the duke himself had just arrived at Eu, and

that Harold and all his following were there to be given up to him.

We had fresh rushes for our beds, and a hearty breakfast this

morning, and were then placed in boats and taken up to Abbeville.

We had been there but an hour when the earl arrived with the thanes,

and glad were we, as you may imagine, to see his face again. They

stopped there for an hour to rest their steeds and to dine, and

then we marched hither as you saw. I had missed you and Beorn from

Harold's party, and made shift to approach the earl and humbly ask

him what had become of you. 'No harm has befallen your master and

his friend, good fellow,' the earl said. 'They have indeed done me

good service, for they made their escape from Beaurain and carried

the news of our detention to Duke William, and it is thus that we

have all obtained our liberty.' You seem to have fared bravely,

Wulf, judging from your attire."

"Yes, we were in sore plight when we arrived at Rouen, but the duke

saw that we were provided with clothes and with horses for our

journey here."

At this moment an attendant came out from the hall and informed

Wulf that the duke desired speech with him. Beorn was already at

the entrance, and they were conducted on to the dais.

"Here are your two pages," the duke said to Harold. "I hold myself

to be greatly their debtor for having carried me the news that has

brought about this meeting, and given me the pleasure of having you

as my guest. They are faithful lads and quick-witted, for no men

could have carried out the mission better or more promptly than

they did."

"Still more am I indebted to them," Harold said as he held out his

hand to the two lads, who bent on one knee while they kissed it.

"I knew not of their going until I learnt from your barons that

they had reached Rouen with the news. They are wards of mine, and

although at one time my pages they have ceased to be so for more

than a year, and have both been down upon their estates learning

the duties of their station, which I deemed better for them than

wasting their time and getting into mischief at court."

The duke nodded. "The result shows that your course was a wise one.

At court youths learn but little good. The atmosphere is not healthy

for men still less for boys, and these youths will shortly be of

an age when they will be fit to render men's service, as indeed

they have already done." The lads now retired from the dais.

"It has been a fortunate week's work for us," Beorn said. "We have

obtained the freedom of our lord and have gained his approbation

and that of Duke William; though, indeed, it matters not greatly

as to the duke."

"I don't know, Beorn; one cannot look into the future, and there

is no saying what may happen. Anyhow, even now it may be of advantage

to us. Honourably as the duke is treating Harold, the earl is still

wholly in his power, and until we hear something of his intentions

we are all just as much prisoners as we were to Conrad, although I

admit the captivity is a very much more pleasant one."

CHAPTER VII.

THE OATH.

From Eu the party travelled back to Rouen where there were feastings

and entertainments in honour of Harold. Nothing could be more

courteous than the duke's manner to his guest. He professed an

almost fraternal affection for him, and handsome lodgings were

assigned in the town to his thanes. A solemn court was held, at

which Harold was knighted by William himself with much state and

ceremonial, according to the rites of chivalry, which had then been

but recently introduced, and had not as yet extended into England.

There were great hunting parties in the forest, and to all outward

appearance the friendship between William and Harold was of the

warmest and most sincere nature. Harold himself was really gratified

at the pains that William took to show the esteem in which he held

him, and his thanes were all well satisfied with the attentions

bestowed upon them by the Norman barons.

Beorn and Wulf had nothing to do save to make friends with young

Normans of their own age, to visit their castles and to join in the

hunting parties. The duke lost no opportunity of showing the sincerity

of the feelings of gratitude he had expressed to them for bringing

him the news of Harold's presence in his dominions, and they were

always specially invited to all court ceremonials, enjoying themselves

exceedingly. Wulf occasionally expressed his surprise to his

companion that no word was said as to their return to England, but

Beorn's answer always silenced him.

"The earl himself seems well satisfied, Wulf. Why should you be

more anxious for him than he is for himself?"

Once indeed he replied, "Harold is of so open and generous nature,

Beorn, that he would be the last person to suspect another of

dishonourable motives. Moreover, it is not because he is apparently

well content here that we must judge him to be without uneasiness.

Whatever he felt it would be impolitic to show it, and we see but

little of him now save when in company of the Normans. He cannot

but know that his presence is required in England."

It was a matter of satisfaction to Wulf that Walter Fitz-Urse was

not at the court, he having a few weeks before returned to England,

where he was again in the suite of the Norman bishop of London. He

himself had become firm friends with Guy de Burg, and often rode

over with him to his father's residence, where they hunted in the

forest together or rode out with falcons on their wrists, Agnes de

Burg often accompanying them on her pony.

Three weeks after their arrival at Rouen the Bretons broke out in

insurrection, and the duke invited Harold to accompany him on an

expedition to subdue them, courteously saying that he should obtain

great advantage from the military experience of his guest.

Harold accepted the invitation, and with his thanes set out with

the duke. Against the disciplined forces of Normandy the Breton

peasants had no chance whatever in the open field, but their wild

and broken country, well-nigh covered with forest, afforded them

an opportunity for the display of their own method of fighting by

sudden surprises and attacks, and they defended their rough but

formidable intrenchments with desperate valour. Harold's experience

gained in his warfare with the Welsh was of much utility, and the

duke committed to his hands the formal command of the troops engaged,

averring that he himself knew comparatively little of warfare such

as this.

Harold conducted the operations with equal vigour and prudence.

Stronghold after stronghold was attacked and captured, a small

portion of the force only being engaged in active operations, whilst

the rest were posted so as to repel the attempts of the Bretons to

aid the besieged. By his advice clemency was always shown to

the garrisons when the fortresses were stormed, and they were

permitted to return unharmed to their people, bearing the news that

the duke bore no ill-will towards them, and was ready to show mercy

to all who laid down their arms. Wulf and Beorn were permitted to

share in the assaults, and with the Saxon thanes followed Harold,

as he led the way on foot up to the intrenchments at one point,

while the duke with a party of his barons attacked at another. More

than once the English banner was carried into the heart of the

Breton fortress before the Normans had fought their way in, and on

each of these occasions the duke warmly expressed his admiration

for the courage of his English allies. At last there remained but

one formidable stronghold to be captured, and so strong was this

by nature, and so desperately defended, that for some time the

efforts of the besiegers were fruitless.

One evening Guy de Burg had been with Wulf in his tent. Beorn was

out spending the evening with some of his Norman friends. When Guy

rose to go Wulf said that he would walk with him to his father's

tent, which was situated some little distance away. As there had

been strict regulations that none were to move about without arms,

he buckled on his sword and put on his helmet before starting.

Osgod, who was lying outside the tent, rose when they issued out

and followed them at a short distance. They went along at the rear

of the tents, when Wulf suddenly said:

"It seems to me that I hear sounds in the forest, Guy."

"De Launey's men are posted behind us," Guy said carelessly; "there

is no fear of an attack."

"Not if they are vigilant," Wulf agreed. "But the Bretons have for

some time abstained from night surprises, and De Launey's men may

be keeping a poor watch."

Suddenly there was a loud cry, followed immediately by the Breton

war-shout, and by a confusion of shouts, cries, and the sound of

the clashing of arms.

The lads drew their swords and ran towards the scene of conflict,

when, from some bushes a short distance from them, a number of wild

figures sprung out. It was a party of the enemy who had made their

way through De Launey's sleeping men unobserved, and who now, knowing

that further concealment was useless, were rushing forward towards

the tents. Wulf's first impulse was to turn back, but young de

Burg, shouting his father's battle-cry, ran forward, and without

hesitation Wulf followed him. A moment later they were engaged with

the Bretons.

"Back to back, Guy!" Wulf exclaimed, as he ran his sword through

the first man who attacked him.

He had scarcely spoken when Osgod ran up and joined them, and

wielding the heavy axe he carried as if it had been a featherweight,

struck down several of the Bretons who ventured within its swing.

Wulf defended himself as firmly, but had to shift his ground

continually to avoid the blows of the heavy spiked clubs with which

his assailants were armed. Presently he heard his name shouted, and

an instant later a crash, as Guy de Burg was struck down.

"Stand over him, Osgod!" he shouted, and with a bound was beside

his companion, cutting down a Breton who was about to thrust his

spear into him. At the same moment a club descended on his helmet,

bringing him for a moment to his knee. He sprang up again, Osgod

striking his opponent to the ground before he could repeat his blow.

For two or three minutes the fight went on. Wulf received more than

one stab from the Breton knives, as two or three of them often

rushed in upon him at once, but each time when he was hard pressed

Osgod's axe freed him from his assailants, for so terrible were the

blows dealt by the tall Saxon that the Bretons shrank from assailing

him, and thus left him free at times to render assistance to Wulf.

But the combat was too unequal to last long. A pike-thrust disabled

Wulf for a moment, and as his arm fell a blow from a club stretched

him beside Guy. Osgod had also received several wounds, but furious

at his master's fall he still defended himself with such vigour

that the Bretons again fell back. They were on the point of attacking

him anew, when there was a shout, and William and Harold, bareheaded

as they had leapt from the table, and followed by a score or two

of Norman barons and soldiers, fell upon the Bretons. The latter

with cries of alarm at once fled.

By this time the Norman trumpets were everywhere sounding, and the

troops hastening out to repel the attack, which a few minutes later

ceased as suddenly as it began, the Bretons flying into the forest,

where pursuit by the heavily-armed Normans was hopeless. Returning

to the tents, the duke and Harold paused where Osgod, who had sunk

to the ground as soon as the Breton attack had ceased, was sitting

by the side of his master.

"Whom have we here?" the duke asked. "Whoever they are we owe our

safety to them, Harold, for had it not been for the resistance they

made, the Bretons would have been among our tents before we had

time to catch up our arms. Bring a torch here!" he shouted; and two