第 9 页

"It is a pity it was not erected before, for there is not a man on

board who is not drenched to the skin."

"It is not put there to keep you dry, Osgod, but to keep the waves

from coming into the ship. But she goes over them well. The wind

is getting up, Osgod, and we shall have a great sea presently."

"Then why don't we turn and sail back again? It seems to me to be

folly to be running away from the land if such is going to be the

weather."

"How can we sail back again? Do you not see that it is the wind

that is blowing us off, and the vessel must go as the wind takes

her. One can go a little this way or that, but no man ever yet

sailed in the teeth of the wind."

"This is the first time I have ever been to sea," Osgod said, "and

I trust it will be the last. The tossing of the ship makes me

strangely giddy, and many of the servants are downright ill with

it. Why men should go on the water when they can walk upon the land

is more than I can say. I think I will go and lie down under the

shelter of the sail, for indeed I feel as if I were about to die."

Wulf himself was feeling strangely uncomfortable. As long as they

had been at work he had not felt unwell, for the necessity of holding

on to the bulwarks or ropes, and the excitement of their strange

position, had saved him from experiencing many qualms; but both he

and Beorn were soon glad to follow Osgod's example, and to lie down

on the boards under the rowers' benches. Fiercer and fiercer blew

the wind, more and more violent became the motion of the ship;

masses of water fell on the canvas forward, as she plunged into the

waves, and would have soon beaten it in had it not been for the

support of the oars. By evening most of the men were lying under

the shelter, while Harold's brother and friends had retired to the

little cabin in the stern. The earl himself remained by the side

of the ship-master, who had taken his place close to the tiller,

which was worked by four men.

"Think you that she will weather it, Edred?"

"I have little fear about that, my lord. She is a staunch boat, and

I have been aboard her in seas as heavy as this. Besides, that

thought of yours of stretching the canvas across her bow has greatly

improved her chances. The water runs off as fast as it falls on it,

and none comes on board. Had it not been for this every man would

have had to bail all night. No, I have no fear of her weathering

the gale. What I am afraid of is, that if this wind continues to

blow we shall assuredly be lost on the coast of Normandy."

"That would be an ill fortune, indeed, for I know that the Normans

count all that are cast on their shores as lawful prey; and even

if we reach the land in safety and escape murder at the hands of

the lord of the soil and his people, I may fall into the hands of

Duke William, who is assuredly no friend of mine, seeing that I

stand in the way of his designs upon the throne of England. Truly

it was an evil moment when the thought of taking to the sea occurred

to me, and I would give a broad slice of my earldom to be back at

Bosham."

Hour by hour the waves increased in size and violence, and often

poured in over the sides. The number of men on board was too great

for all to work effectively. They therefore were divided into two

parties, one being engaged in bailing while the other lay under

cover, the change being made every hour. Wulf preferred working

to lying still, for as the craft rolled the water washed over them,

while the din of the waves striking the ship's side, and the cataracts

of spray falling on to the canvas above were deafening, and it was

impossible to get a moment's sleep. All were glad when morning

broke, although the scene that met their eyes was the reverse of

comforting. Small as was the amount of sail the vessel tore through

the water under the pressure of the following wind. Great waves

with white crests pursued her, and as they neared her stern it

seemed to Wulf that they must inevitably fall over and crush her.

The spray torn from the crest by the wind filled the air. The wind

shrieked in the cordage, and the vessel creaked and groaned as she

rolled from side to side.

"I would not have believed if I had not seen it, that the sea could

be so violent and ill-behaved," Wulf shouted to Osgod, who was then

standing beside him.

"If my clothes were but dry and my stomach full I would not mind

so much," Osgod replied; "but to be drenched in water all night and

to have nought to eat in the morning, takes the courage out of one

mightily. How long, think you, will this go on?"

"That no one can say. It may last two or three days."

"And no food all that time!" Osgod exclaimed in dismay.

"We could stand that well enough, Osgod; but I do not think there

is much chance of our being called upon to do so, for I heard one

of the sailors say that unless the storm abates marvellously we are

likely to be cast upon the French coast before nightfall."

"I should be glad to be cast anywhere so it were out of this. At

least, whether it be France or England, there must be food to be

had on shore"

"You do not understand, Osgod. Unless we happen to be cast upon a

shelving coast with sand or gravel the craft may be dashed to pieces,

and all lose their lives; for assuredly none could swim long in

such a sea as this."

"Well, we must hope that we shall find a shore such as you speak

of," Osgod said tranquilly; "but for my part, I am content to take

the risk rather than wait another three days before getting anything

to eat."

"And I would rather fast for a week than run the risk of the ship

being broken up on the rocks," Wulf replied. "I can swim but little

even in calm water, and I am sure that I could do nothing among

those waves."

"I can swim, and will look after you," Osgod said confidently. "I

used to swim every day in the Thames."

Wulf shook his head. "I daresay you might look after me if I fell

into the Thames, Osgod, but it is a very different thing in a sea

like this. These waves would dash a swimmer hither and thither as

if he were but a chip of wood; besides, the spray would smother

him. Even at this height above the water it is difficult to breathe

when one turns round and faces the wind. I think that our only

hope lies in running upon a flat shore, where the waves will wash

the vessel up so high that we may be able to leap out from the bow

on to the land beyond the reach of their fury."

Late in the afternoon one of the sailors on the poop astern shouted

out that land was visible, and it was not long before it could be

seen from the deck. All eyes were directed anxiously towards it.

"It is a rocky coast," Edred said, "but the rocks are not high, and

if we can manage to direct the vessel between two of them we may

escape. At present it is needful that most of the crew should keep

in the stern, but when we are about to strike they must all run

suddenly forward, so as to leap out as soon as she touches the

ground. There will be but little time given to them, for assuredly

the seas will batter her to pieces the moment she falls among the

rocks."

Harold issued the order. All were to remain at their posts until

he gave the word, and were then to run forward. The master scanned

the shore anxiously.

"See you, my lord, that opening right ahead of us? It seems to me

barely the width of the ship, but if I can direct her truly between

the rocks methinks that most of the crew will gain the land. I shall

myself take the helm. That is my duty and my right, and should I

not succeed in making the shore, I shall at least die well contented

with the thought that you who are the hope of England will be saved."

"I would fain stay with you, Edred."

"That cannot be, my lord. As it is my duty to stay by the ship to

the last, so it is your first duty to save your life for England.

I need no aid, for the vessel steers well, and by the help of a

rope round the tiller I can manage her alone. Farewell, my lord,

if we are not to meet again on earth. A very few minutes will decide

our fate."

"Swimming will be of no use there, Osgod," Wulf said. "Look how

the spray dashes itself against the black rocks."

"I thought not that it would be so bad," Osgod replied. "I wonder

the master does not cast anchor."

"The ropes would not hold for a moment," Wulf said, "and when they

broke we might drift broadside on to the rocks, which would mean

destruction for all. The master is steering for that narrow opening

between these two great rocks ahead. It will be but two or three

minutes now before our fate is decided."

At this moment Harold shouted:

"Let each man make his peace with God." And baring his head he stood

silently for a minute or two, imitated by all on board. Then Harold

again raised his voice in a shout that was heard above the storm:

"Move forward now all of you, but not further forward than the mast;

for if her head were too far down the master could not hold her

straight. Moreover, the mast will assuredly fall forward and crush

those in front of it. Therefore, let no man go forward of it until

the ship strikes."

The sailors had already cut away the canvas stretched across the

bow, and all on board clustered just aft the mast. Wulf looked back,

and saw the master standing alone on the poop, with his eyes fixed

in front of him and a look of grim resolve on his face. Then he

turned again to look ahead. The scene was terrible. On either side

extended a long line of white foam. Great masses of water were

hurled against the rocks with a thundering crash, and the spray

flew high up into the air, and then, caught by the wind, was carried

far inland. The rocks were now but a few lengths ahead, and the

passage between them looked terribly narrow, so narrow that he

doubted if the ship could possibly pass through them. Not a word

was spoken on board as the ship neared the opening. Now she swerved

a little to one side, now a little to the other, as the waves lifted

her stern and swept her along, but the hand of the master checked

her immediately, and brought her head back to the line.

She was but a length away from the passage when there was a crash

that shook her from stem to stern; then another great wave lifted

her, and Wulf saw a black wall of rock gleaming with the water that

streamed down it. The wall of rock flashed past the bulwarks so

closely that he could have touched it A moment later the ship struck

again, this time with a force that threw many off their feet, while

the mast fell over the bow. Then once more she lifted, shot a few

feet further, then struck with tremendous force and remained

stationary.

There was a grinding and splintering of planks, as the men rushed

forward, and then a wave swept over the vessel, carrying all on

deck before it into the cove beyond the rock, rolling them over and

over up a sandy shore behind. Some managed to dig their hands and

feet into the sand and to scramble out; more were sucked back again

by the receding waters. As Wulf found himself in the water he felt

his arm clutched, and Osgod shouted in his ear: "Do not struggle,

I can keep you up!"

When thrown up on the sand Wulf tried in vain to resist the backward

rush of the water; he and Osgod were borne out again. When the next

wave again swept them up Wulf saw the earl standing knee-deep in

the water, and as he was swept past, Harold seized him and Osgod,

and with tremendous strength lifted them right out of the water.

"Keep still!" he shouted; "your weight will help me to keep my

feet." Wulf felt his supporter quiver as the water rushed out, for

he was waist-deep now; but directly afterwards he set them both

down on their feet, saying, "Run before the next wave comes." Ten

yards farther and they were beyond the reach of the sea. Harold

was with them, and directed those who had got ashore to form lines,

taking hold of each other's hands, and so to advance far into the

surf and grasp their comrades as they were swept up. Many were saved

in this way, although some of the rescuers were badly hurt by

floating pieces of wreckage, for the vessel had entirely broken up

immediately after her course had been arrested.

As soon as all who could be seen were brought ashore it was found

that ten men were missing, among whom was the master of the ship,

most of them having probably been struck by floating timbers. As

soon as it was certain that no more would come ashore alive Harold

called the men together. Rough litters were made of oars and pieces

of sail, for the conveyance of those who had broken limbs or were

too much injured to walk, and the party prepared for a start. By

this time several men, apparently of the fishing class, had approached,

but stood a short distance away, evidently waiting for the departure

of the party before beginning the work of collecting whatever the

sea might cast up. Harold went over to them, and asked in the Norman

tongue:

"What shore is this, and how far is it to the nearest town where

we can obtain shelter and assistance?"

"You are in Ponthieu, in the territories of Count Conrad. The town

of St. Valery is but two miles along the coast. There you can obtain

all you need."

Returning to his men, Harold ordered the wounded to be raised, and

the party at once set out. Harold had already taken off his gold

chain and rings, and had told his companions to do the same, in

order that the cupidity of the natives might not be excited nor

their rank guessed at. As soon as they started Wulf went up to him.

"My lord," he said, "I fear that you have already been recognized

by one of the fishermen. I saw him looking earnestly at you, and

then whisper to one of his companions. After doing so he hurried