Beric the Briton

t out and found that the two men had just laid down their loads, which were so heavy that Beric wondered they could possibly have been carried by them. One had brought fish,

ilts made of the materials for

well," the headman said, "I

s to the Fenmen of cattle and other things, so that there should be friendship between them, and that they should be allowed to occupy some island in the swamps wh

gree; we have dwelt alone for long years without trouble with others. The c

mans," Aska said, taking up the conversation, "a

d in a tone that showed he was no stranger to

after all is the same, for when the Romans have destroyed the Iceni, and conquered all the countries round, they will hunt you down also, for they let none remain free in the lands w

ly. "We will take your message to o

their followers, however, had jewels and bracelets, the spoil of the Roman towns. Beric left the

o value to the men now, and indeed their possession would bring certain

aid, "are some presents for your chiefs, t

em with an air

ey may please women. If you want to please

man swords and carried them in addition to their own weapons, regarding them not only as trophies but as infinitely superior to their own more clumsy impl

ith you to see your

ngers can enter the swamps; but

shall be lost," Beric said, "the

ill bring you an answer," they said. "Come with us now, we will show y

onstructed of basket work covered with hide. In it lay two long poles. The men took their places in the coracle, pushed out into the stream

e number of these people

o trouble. The land was large enough for us, why should we fight to conquer swamps which would be useless to us? We believe that there are large numbers, although they have, from the nature of the country, little dealings with each other; but live scattered in twos and threes over their country

we could clear out these enemies of theirs for them. It strikes me that our greatest difficulty will be to get our cattle across the morasses to fir

of the men were dressed like the two who had visited the village, but three of them were in attire somewhat similar to that of the Iceni. These were evidently the chiefs. Several of the men were much shorter and darker than those they had first seen, while the chiefs were about the same stature. All carried short bows and quivers of light arrows, and spears with the points hardened in the fire, for the I

ka muttered, "and have satisfied th

them to grant the request made; that for long ages no stranger had penetrated the swamps, and that although the intention of those who addressed them might be friendly

is no room for so many strangers. We wish you well; we have no quarrel with you. Ages have passed now since you drove our forefathers from the land; that is all forg

tent with the land we had taken, and you dwelt among us undisturbed for ages; but the Romans are not like us, they want to possess the whole earth, and when they have overrun our country they will never rest content till they have hunted you out also. There are thousands of us who will seek refuge in your swamps. You may oppose us,

hem in fair battle, and have once even defeated them with great slaughter--to help you to guard your swamps, it would be different, and even the Romans, brave as they are, would hesitate before they tried to penetrate your land of mud and water. Surely there must be some spots in you

on the part of the strangers, and then ent

aid to penetrate, and I expect that, much as they object to our entering their country, th

e who had before spoken turned to them and said: "

tant is it?"

ee miles to the west from here is the great river you call the Ouse, it is on the other side of that where we dwell. None of us live on this side of that river. Three hours' walk north from here is

t the boats? We have

guide through the swamps to the river to the north. There we will meet you with twenty boats, and will take a party to the spot we speak

I sent you, and twenty spearheads, and a hu

grain, for if the Romans take your land and kill your people, where shall we buy grain? And we want skins, for

consultation with Beric; "and I doubt not

oads filled

ain as we can obtain. If we fall short of that quantity we will give for each

a superstitious fear. In the memory of man none had dared to approach that region, for there was a tradition among them that, when they had first fled from the Iceni, a large party had penetrated there, and of these but a few returned, with tales of the destruction of their companions by huge serpents

therefore accepted, without further difficulty, the terms the strangers offered. It was, moreover, agreed that any further parties of Iceni should be free to join the first comers without hindrance, and that guides should b

convey our cattle

for them to swim, and the ground in most p

idently we can do nothing now. The great thing is to get to this place they speak of, and to prepar

after dayli

ed upon before we start, the rest shall be paid you when you return

ions took their places in their coracles, leavin

the land without any difficulty. But they are active and sturdy, and, knowing their swamps as they do, could harass an invader terrib

nd he and eight or ten men who had straggled in since Beric's party arrived, expressed their desire to accompany the party with their families. Other women in the village would likewise

ere it not that we mean to harass the Romans, so we need a place where they cannot find us. But as you go spread the news that Aska has sought refuge in the swamps with two hu

wine and cattle, which were to be left in the woods, to be fetched as required. Aska and Beric having made these arrangements, sat down to discuss what had best be done, as the twenty boats would only carry sixty, and would be away for two days before they returned for the seco

. It was unlikely in the extreme that the Romans would seek to penetrate such a country, but if they did they were to be opposed as soon as they entered the swamps, and a desperate stand was to be made at the intrenchment, which would be approachable at one or tw

had arrived, set off laden with as much grain in baskets or cloths as they could carry, and driving the cattle and pigs before them. The country soon became swampy, but their guide knew the ground well, and by a winding path led them dry footed through the bushes, though they could see water among the roots and grass on either side of them.

a mile from its junction with the main stream, as he told them that the swa

, casting them down with their heads outwards so as to form a formidable abbatis. Within half an hour of the appointed time the twenty boats had arrived together with as many more, in which the grain, hides, and other articles agreed to be paid were to be carried off. Three of the cattle were cut up, and their flesh divided among the twenty boats, in which a

time, and the natives, of whom there was one in each of Beric's boats, poled their way down the sluggish stream until they reached a wide river. The chiefs here shouted an adieu and directed their course up the river, while Beric's party crossed, proceeded down it for two miles, and then turned up a narrow stream running into it. All day they made their way along its windings; other

his part on foot except by means of flat boards fastened to the fe

owed itself above the level of the water. The native now showed

ave driven everything back; but I know from an old man who once ventured to push farther, that this is the beginning of rising ground, and that i

was now very narrow, the branch

men in the boats speak ou

plied in t

elf, though I do not say that in the old time monsters may not have dwelt here. If anything comes we shall know how to

been shouting for some time to Beric's boatmen, and their craft had been lagging behind. Beric therefore thought it well to land at once. The boats wer

able spot and make a fire. It will be time enough in the morning t

in the heart of the brushwood and fanned vigorously a bright flame soon shot up. The men's spirits had sunk as they passed through the wild expanse of swamp and water, but they rose now as the fire burned up. Meat was speedily frying in the flames, an

c said, "there may well be wolves o

ned Beric privately as to the monste

swamp here when they first fled before us. It is quite possible that this is true, for although they died ages ago on the land they may have existed long afterwards among the swamps where there were none to disturb them. I have read in some of the Roman writers that there are creatures protected by a coat of scales in a country named Eg

y will be very fo

ne man, but not to sixty well armed as we are; but

judged, from forty to fifty feet above the level of the swamp. Large trees grew here, and the soil was perfectly dry. The ground on th

we can form an encampment which will hold ten thousand men, and

, bidding others follow, ran to the spot. They found men standing looking

clamations of wonder broke from them at their enormous size. One man got hold of a pair of

must have been thick and tough indeed. By the way the bones are piled together, he must have curled up here to die. He was probably the las

were found, but none o

not be troubled with them when the morasses dry. Anyhow they are quite harmless, and save that they may

camping ground of the night before, quite assured that there was no creature of any si

hich Beric recognized as th

ve and well. There is not

ously about the monsters. Beric, who thought it as well to maintain the evil reputation of the place, told him that they had searc

we made and have taken to the swamps. This creature has been dead for a long time, and may have been the last of

s begun in earnest, and in a couple of days a large number of huts were constructed of saplings and brushwood cleared off from the centre of the encampment. Some women arrived with the next boat loads, and at once took the preparation of food into their hands. Aska sent a message saying that the numbers at his camp were undiminished, as most of the fighting men belonging to the villages round who had survived the battle had joined him

boats would not carry cattle in any numbers, though some might be thrown and carried there, with their legs tied together. At present this place is safe from attack. There is only one path, our guide says, by which it can be approa

ans or other, make their way up to your intrenchment, and you must therefore strengthen this in every way. I should build up a great bank behind it, so that if they break through or fire the defences you can defend the bank. There is one thing that must be done without delay; we must build more boats. There must be here many men from the eastern coast, where they have much larger and stronger

t be poled along. Let us keep none but fighting men here. As all the villagers fled north there must be numbers of cattle and swine wandering untended in all the woods, and in many of the hamlets much grain must have been left behind, therefore I should send out parties from time to time to

that they spare none, and that the whole land of the Trinobante

pect, Aska. Have any more of m

a sister of your friend Boduoc, and her mother, who had given her up for lost, almost lost her senses wit

oc's mother, whom he found establish

has returned safe," he said, as the o

ain, Beric; but I am fortunate indeed, when so many are le

fulfilled your mission

I ran back and hid myself in the trees while they went forward. When they got near the soldiers on horseback the man lifted up his arms and cried something in a loud voice. Then they rode up to them, and for some time I could see nothing. Then the horsemen rode on again, all but two of them, who went on south. The man rode behind one of them, and the little lady before another. Then I turned and made hither,

you have carried out my wish. We must find a good husband for you some day, and I will t

, "leaning against that

us," Beric said to the young man.

hall share the fate of Boadicea. I have lived a free woman, and will die one. Tell him to fight to the end against the Romans, and that I shall expect him to join me before long in the Happy Island. Bid him not lament for me, but rejoice, as he should, that I have gone to the Land where there are no sorrows.' Then I turned my chariot and drove to your home to await your coming there if you should have escaped. It was but a few ho

d sisters. Boduoc will be rejoiced to see you all. We hav