A Thane of Wessex

skins, and lay in his sleeping place for half an hour, thinkin

sleep for a while -- for the words of the good priest had bided with me, and moreover, I had some hope from his wor

me to get into West Wales, and then take service with the under-king until such time as Danish or Nors

an I had bound seemed to speak truth, though she was the daughter of Matelgar. Yet if she were child of that false ma

no man would know or care for my outlawry -- if, indeed, I found not more proscribed men there than anywhere, who had fled

f reception I should meet with at his hands did he catch me or meet with me. But love

saying that I must be afoot. He, poor man, started up in affright, dreaming doubtless th

evoured his better cheer. And I, being light hearted, having made up my mind, and being young en

ning of the whole business seemed to come to him, and he sat down and began to laugh, looking at me from under his brows now and then, lest I should be wroth with him for the freedom. But I laughed also,

if you were Grendel, as I think now,

ut you must have a sorely evil con

at midnight, and mail-clad men never at all. I think I am t

again," said I; "for scare

th much cunning in his look; "as I pray the mat

ate it, and was glad of it, so I w

ld over this man, for thralls are not to be truste

f cheese into a wallet, and took a staff, and asked me to command him. I knew n

ste. Moreover that your errand is secret, so that y

things so easy for me; moreover it was truthful enough, for outlawry is king's business

eeded, for once out of this fenland I knew the country well -- aye, every furlong of it -- but I was willing enough to let him guide me through land I knew, that if ever he were questioned

s talk that the Moot rose not until the next day, I thought, with a lifting of my heart, how Matelgar would likely enough be yet th

ght. And next, I saw my quarterstaff still resting against the tree where I had left it. The collier saw it too, and said that some forester was doubtless resting close by, seeming

n it in stripping off my own garments to arm myself; but of the man I

I examined billhook and quarterstaff, and at last said I knew them. They had been given to one Herega

here," said the collier. "T

ly. "Shall you take his staff a

l meddling with strange men's we

, and, casting down the thing

of an outlaw are of the first interest to those among whom he may wander. As it was, indeed, to my guide, who spoke so much thereof that I knew he would be full of it, and tell it to all whom he met. And when he told me he should go back through the town I was glad,

should lead the collier back to Bridgwater town. And there I made him give me directions for crossing the Quantoc

d on his return. He made a low salutation before me, cap in hand, and I thanked him for his pains, saying that I would not forget

. And hard it was, and bitter exceedingly, not to turn my steps straight through the town, where men had saluted me reverently, to my own hall where it nestles under the great rock that looks out over my low meadows, and away towards Bre

knew them better than I. These things come by nature to a man, and so I should not be proud that the very

rt point between Severn and Parret, north of the little hills of Combwich and Stockland, and almost under that last. And there the forest

e horn which called all men in to sup. Then, when I judged that they had gathered, I struck towards the path that leads down to the hall, keeping yet under

come in the warm evenings, and sit while the feeding in hall went on, so soon as they could leave the board. And there, too, I had met

ld at least have the sorrow of biding there alone for the last ti

fast, for it was the one I longed for. Then I feared to frighten her with sight of an armed man in her ret

not knowing me in my arms. And all I could do was to take off my helm

d looked; and before I could step towards her, she

I may hardly say, but so it was. And I forgot all about her father and the evil

reachery, for he was her father, and so for her sake I made such a tale as I knew he was like to tell her, though maybe the truth would come sooner or later: how that secret enem

terly, fearing, and with reas

the holy man came true, and I might take them back from him. And then she added that sorely cast down and troubled had her father seemed when he rode back from the Moot that d

knew not what to do or say: for all my plans that he should think me dea

uld have me say what it was, an

olly in bringing blame even on her, were my presence known. But she stopped my mouth, tell

here. And that, moreover, those enemies of mine would doubtless track me till they knew me gone from

er, will have it spread abroad that I am dead, in his care for

deny when the news came, a

erpersuaded her, and she promised to tell none, not even him, that

o make myself a name, if that might be; and promised to let her h

ake, telling me that she would pray for me night and day, and that surely her prayers, and those of the holy man and the innocent child would be

that that was for my sake, and not for lightness of heart; and so, when her voic