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lay down their arms. We will at once in that case send a messenger to the

earl to tell him that the district has submitted. I must request that in

order the message shall reach him you shall bid two officers of rank

accompany our messenger to Gurth's camp; we giving them our undertaking

that they shall be allowed to leave it unmolested."

"Your offer tallies with my own intentions," Llewellyn said. "Had I been

free I would have resisted to the last, but as a prisoner, and with my

mother and children in your hands, I am powerless. My harper tells me that

fully four hundred of my followers fell in the attack, and with my

stronghold in your power, my tribesmen without a leader, and your armies

desolating the land, I see that further resistance here would but add to

the misfortunes of my people. I am ready, therefore, to send down my harper

and doctor to bid four of my chiefs come up here, under your safe conduct.

I shall lay the matter before them, and tell them that I being a prisoner

can no longer give them orders, but shall point out to them that in my

opinion further resistance can but bring terrible disasters upon the

district. This, on their return, they will lay before their men, and if, as

I trust, these will agree to scatter to their homes, they will furnish the

escort you desire for your messenger."

Two hours later three of the chiefs summoned arrived, the fourth having

fallen in the assault. They had a private interview with Llewellyn and then

left. A great meeting was held down in the valley, and in the afternoon the

three chiefs and six others came up to the castle and formally made their

submission before Beorn and Wulf, and besought them to send a messenger to

the earl praying him to forgive past offences and to have mercy on the

people. An hour later two of the Saxons bearing a letter from Beorn and

Wulf to Gurth started under an escort provided by the chiefs.

CHAPTER XII.

EDITH.

Two days after the departure of the messengers from the castle the look-out

gave notice that he perceived a large body of horsemen and footmen coming

down the valley, and half an hour later the banner of Gurth could be made

out. The garrison at once set to work to replace the planking of the

bridge, and this was accomplished by the time that the Saxon earl,

accompanied by several thanes, and followed by a strong body of troops,

reached the platform at the other end. As he did so Beorn and Wulf crossed

the bridge to meet him.

"You have done well indeed, thanes!" Gurth exclaimed. "You have made a

conquest to be proud of; for as we rode along this place seemed to us

well-nigh impregnable. But your messengers have told me how you captured

it, and how stoutly you have since defended it. It was a daring thought,

indeed, to attempt the assault of such a place with a handful of men. You

have rendered a splendid service to the king; for with the capture of this

fortress, and of Llewellyn himself and his children, there is no fear that

there will be trouble in this part of Wales for years to come. We, too, are

specially indebted to you, for had we been forced to besiege this place it

could only have been taken with a vast loss of life, and it might well have

resisted all our efforts. That seventy men should have taken it, even if

weakly defended, is wonderful indeed."

"It is to Wulf, my lord, that the credit is chiefly due," Beorn said. "It

was he who proposed and planned the attack; and though I have done my best

to support him, I have but acted as his second in command. He is

quicker-witted than I am, and far more fitted to lead."

Wulf was about to speak, when Gurth stopped him with a gesture of the hand.

"At any rate, Beorn," he said, "you possess qualities that are by no means

common. That you are a brave soldier I know well, but so I trust are all my

thanes; still, it is not every one who has the wit to perceive that another

has sharper wits than himself, still fewer who would have the generosity to

stand aside and to give the major share in an exploit like this to another.

What you may lose in credit by your avowal you will at least gain in the

esteem of us all. Now, commandant," he said to Wulf with a smile, "show us

the way into this capture of yours."

Before entering the castle itself Gurth made a detour of the walls, and

upon seeing them was still more surprised than before at the manner in

which the capture had been effected.

"You see, thanes," he said, "the matter hinged on the possession of these

gates through the cross walls. That the rear walls should have been taken

by surprise was a daring action, but it would have availed nothing had the

garrison had time to close even the second of these gates; for though, as

it seems, no more numerous than our men, they could have easily held it

until reinforced from the village below, and would then have turned the

tables on their assailants. The capture was due to the quickness and

boldness with which Wulf and Beorn, with the few men who had obtained a

footing on the wall when the alarm was given, rushed forward and held the

inner gateway until the rest came up."

Gurth paused for a time on the wall above the point where the secret

passage came out on the face of the rock, and having asked many questions

as to how it was that they were so well prepared for Llewellyn and his

followers when they made the attack, he commended Wulf very strongly for

his conduct in this matter.

"Others might have taken the castle as you did, young thane," he said, "but

assuredly most would have lost it again, for having set guards on the walls

they would have given themselves up to feasting and sleep, without a

thought that there might possibly exist a secret passage through this rock,

which looks as if nothing short of a winged army could scale it. What say

you, thanes?"

The Saxons cordially agreed with the earl. They were stout fighters, but

better in the field than in council, and it was in no small degree to the

Danish blood in their veins that the sons of Godwin owed the vigour and

intellect that had raised the family to so lofty a position among their

countrymen. On concluding his inspection of the walls Gurth entered the

castle, and after first examining the entrance to the secret passage, sat

down with the thanes to a banquet, the preparation of which had been begun

as soon as their coming was perceived. After that Gurth paid a visit to

Llewellyn.

"Your fate is not in my hands, prince," he said to him, "but in that of my

brother Harold. As, however, you have used your influence to persuade your

people to submit, I shall do my best to induce him to take a favourable

view of your case."

The next day the main body of Gurth's force arrived, and encamped in the

valley. Llewellyn's chiefs all came in and made their submission, but the

people for the most part took to the hills. As, day after day, news came of

the terrible retaliation dealt out by the troops of Harold and Tostig they

lost heart altogether, and sent in messengers craving to be allowed to come

in and lay down their arms. Gurth at once accepted their submission, and

hundreds returned to their homes. In other parts of Wales the feeling that

resistance was vain rapidly extended. Their most fertile valleys had all

been turned into deserts, and even on their own hills and among their own

forests, where they had hitherto deemed themselves safe from attack, they

were pursued and hunted down by the now lightly-armed Saxons. From all

parts, therefore, offers to submit were sent in, and as a proof of their

submission and regret for past behaviour, they seized Griffith their king,

killed him, and sent his head to Harold, who thereupon granted them terms,

and ordered his forces to withdraw beyond the border.

The campaign had lasted less than three months, but so terrible had been

the blow dealt to the Welsh that a hundred years passed before they again

ventured to renew their incursions into England. Llewellyn was pardoned,

but great breaches were made in the walls of the fortress facing the hill,

and these he was forbidden ever to repair. His children were taken to

England, to be brought up there, and to serve as hostages for his future

good behaviour. Harold, when he learnt the particulars of the capture and

defence of Porthwyn, expressed his approval in the warmest terms.

"You have performed the greatest and most important feat of the war, Wulf,"

he said. "Yes, it is right that you should give every credit Beorn for his

share in the matter; but I know you both well, and am assured that Beorn

would never have conceived and carried out the attack, and that had he done

so successfully, he and his men would all have been slain by Llewellyn that

night. Beorn is a good youth; he is brave and kind-hearted; he is no fool,

and will make and excellent thane; will become a favourite at court, and be

always loyal and staunch. But I shall look to see you more than this. You

have a head quick to plan, readiness and decision in danger, and, as you

have shown, a genius for war. Study the writings of the Romans, the

greatest masters of war the world has ever seen, make yourself acquainted

with the methods of Caesar and other great commanders, and do not neglect

to ponder on their laws and customs.

"When matters are settled here, travel to the various courts of Europe and

acquaint yourself with the ways of peoples who are far more advanced than

we in civilization, and you may come to stand some day among the most

trusted councillors of the king, and as one of the best leaders of his

troops. I see that the success you have attained while as yet so young has

not puffed you up in any way. Always remember, Wulf, that though success

may be envied, those who are successful may yet be liked if only they

themselves do not seem conscious of success. I should say you had best not

make a long stay at court, but betake you, shortly, to your estate. It is a

good school, and one who can rule his own people wisely has a sound

preparation for posts of larger responsibility. You will always find in the

prior of Bramber a wise adviser, who will direct your studies, and will aid

you where your Latinity falls short.

"It will be time enough in another five years for you to go abroad; but, of

course, I do not wish you to remain all that time away from court. It is

never good to be forgotten; therefore, come up two or three times a year. I

trust that there will be no fresh wars or troubles to hinder your studies

or interfere with your life; but remember that there is always danger from

Normandy, therefore always keep on foot your force of housecarls; and if,

as I think, your estates can afford it, add to their number, so that if

trouble does come you will be able to again play a prominent part in it."

Wulf's contingent marched with the rest of the troops from the east as far

as Reading, and there struck off by the nearest road to Steyning. He and

Beorn accompanied Harold to London, and after staying there for a short

time, and taking part in the fetes with which the conquest of the Welsh was

celebrated, Wulf returned to Steyning and took up the life he had

previously led there. Before starting he asked Harold's advice as to

whether he should fortify Steyning after the manner of the Norman castles.

"By no means, Wulf. Such castles are useful only against quarrelsome

neighbours. Wars are decided by great battles, and if these are lost a

castle does but bring ruin upon its possessor, for it must sooner or later

be taken. The man who, when a cause is lost, returns quietly to his home

and goes about his usual work may escape unnoticed, while one who shuts

himself up in a castle is certain to suffer at last from the vengeance of

the conquerors. Resistance maintained in forests and swamps, as was done by

the Bretons and Welsh, may weary out a foe, but a conqueror can wish for

nothing better than that the defeated may assemble themselves in towns and

castles, where he can slowly, perhaps, but surely destroy them piecemeal."

The time passed quickly and pleasantly at Steyning. Wulf studied hard for

three or four hours a day, looked after his tenants, hunted and hawked,

doubled the number of his company of housecarls, and often rode over to the

priory of an evening. He now took his place naturally among the thanes in

that part of the country, the reputation he had gained in the two wars

giving him a standing among them, to which, from his youth, he would not

otherwise have been entitled. In accordance with Harold's advice he went

three times during the year up to court, where he generally met Beorn, who

spent the greater part of his time there.

"How you can like all this formality and ceremony is more than I can

imagine, Beorn."

"I don't care either for the formality or the ceremony, but I like the

amusement and the gaiety, and should ask with much more reason how can you

like to spend your time studying parchments and reading the doings of those

old Romans, when you might be enjoying yourself here. The matter is

altogether beyond me."

"I like it for itself, and I like it because it may some day be of great

service to me."

"You see you are ambitious, Wulf, and I am not. I don't want to be a great

commander or a state-councillor, and if I did want it ever so much I know I

should never be one or the other. I am content to be a thane, as my father

was before me, and seek no greater change than that of a stay for a month

at court. That brightens one up more than anything; and one cannot be all

one's life hunting in the woods and seeing after the tenants. By the way,

I had a quarrel the other day with your old Norman enemy, Fitz-Urse. Your

name was mentioned, and he chose to sneer offensively. I told him that you

had done more already than he would ever do if he lived to be an old man.

We came to high words, and next day met in the forest and there settled it.

He ran me through the arm, and I slashed his cheek. As quarrelling is