Hereward, The Last of the English

e told is, that he went into port on board a merchant ship carrying wine, and intending to bring back tin. The merchants had told him of one Alef, a valiant regulus or kinglet of

d of one and the adder on that of the other, bore witness to the piratical habits of their owner. The merchants, it seemed, were well known to the Cornishmen on shore, and Hereward went up with them unopposed; past the ugly dikes and muddy leats, where Alef's slaves were streaming the gravel for tin ore; through rich alluvial pastures spotted with red cattle, and up to Alef's town. Earthworks and stockades surrounded a little church of ancient stone, and a cluster of granite cabins thatched with turf, in which the slaves abode, and in the centre of all a vast stone barn, with low walls and high sloping roof, which contained Alef's family, treasures, fighting tail, horses, cattle, and pigs. They entered at one end between the pigsties, passed on through the cow-stalls, then through the stables, and saw before them, dim through the reek of thick peat-smoke, a long oaken table, at whi

nce in empty places, and, according to the laws of the good old Cornish hos

last, in good enough Danish, calling the el

rchant

ou wan

rank Alef's health, following it up by a coarse

he stories of the Middle Ages. A free Norse or Dane, himself often of noble blood, he fought as willingly as he bought

ll I call you, and what service can I do for you? You look more like an earl'

e breadth of my boot-sole. My plough is my sword. My treasure is my good right hand. Nothing I have, and nothing I need, save to serve noble kings and earls, and win me a

r boy to fight his battle as lo

ch, part Cornish, part Danish, which Hereward could hardly understan

sh than a Cornish giant; and, true to his reckless determination to defy and fight every man and beast who was willing to defy and

loring; and when she saw that he noticed her, she laid her finger on her lip in token of silence, crossed herself devoutly, and

rough devotion of the giant to the Lady. He had observed, too, that she shrank from it; that she tur

, or from both? Did she need Hereward's help? If so, she was so lovely that he could not re

lovely a lady by your side, I thought that perchance you might hand over some of your lesser quarrels to one like me, who has not

then looked at Hereward and smiled her

mpany, was highly approved by all; and good humor being restored, every

rnwall was not then considered part of England.] among the rushes on the floor, but

and hands in the brook below (he being the only man i

uch of that sweet mead last night that t

hould come to wash his ugly visage, and find you on all fours over the brook-

t did yo

o more gentle blood than I have,-has no more right to sit on the settle than I. He is a No-man's son, a Pict from Galloway, who came down with a pirate crew an

id Hereward; "but how d

Cornish, like very elves; and then I, too, sang songs and told them stories, for I can talk their tongue somew

ng him

y speak good of him; but if you will only speak good of him, then you will hear all the evil of him he ever has d

ong as one has eyes in one's head. I will kill the fello

tell you, and that is, that the poor lass is betrothed already to a son of old King Ran

aid Hereward. "All the more reason

" said Marti

etorted Herew

the poor young lady first, and see what she will tell you, lest you only m

ed to watch his opportunity

n high good humor with Hereward; and all the more so when H

head you carry on green shoulders. No discreeter

now; for of Leofric it is said in King Edward's court, that if a man as

or it; for though he is my good friend, and will be my son-in-law erelong, yet a quarrel with him is more

o fear of that; but he prudently held his tongue, an

these parts has he killed for me, who drove off my cattle, and stopped my tin works, and plundered my monks' cells too, which is worse, while I was away sailing th

ard resolved to keep the peace which he longed to

deep of the French wine which had just been brought and broached, and then went out into the court-yard, where, in the midst of his admiring fellow-ruffians, he enacted a scene as ludicrous as it was pitiable. All the childish vanity of the savage boiled over. He strutted, he shouted, he tossed about his huge limbs, he called for a harper, and challenged all around to d

aught. Had he not slain three

ard, who saw that the quarrel must come

ared Ironhook; "o

en, of the breath of your mouth they were born, and by the brea

old chroniclers, seems clumsy enough; but it sen

was here," shouted Ironhook,

rst. The more fairly you fight, the mo

two were parte

ss, and saw before them, by the light of a tiny lamp, the crucifix over the altar, and beneath it that which was then believed to be the body of Him who made heaven and earth. They stopped, trembling, for a moment, bowed themselves before that, to them, perpetua

night. A truss of straw and a rug, the priest's bed, lay in a corner. The only other furniture was a large oak chest, containing the holy vessels and vestments and a few old books. It stood directly under the window for the sake of li

t here?" asked He

, shook his head, and

n, Martin! Maybe he w

shrive him, and that quickly. He is going to f

,-a fresh soul sent to its account by the hands of that man of Belial? Cannot he entreat him,-can he not make peace,

; for he has slain, like David, his lion and his bear ere now. At least, he is one that will neither make pea

rd's prowess, he had given him up for a lost man: and the tears ran down his rugged cheeks, as the old priest, rising up and seizing

d his meaning, tho

st now, and would have slain me there, unarmed as I was; and how, when I told him it was a shame to strike a naked man, he told me he would give me but one h

knelt down by him, and with a trembl

Hereward, as the priest mu

, "that, fair and young as you are, your shrif

at," said he, smiting on his breast, "

ow I robbed

roaned as Ma

tween us. And how I have slain I know not how many men in battle, though that, I tr

e priest

priest of his money and gave

t groaned more

thou found time to lay all the

d Martin, bluntly, "for you t

n Help him! He must go to the bishop for that. He is mo

uoth Martin, "for b

is all I have, that in it he will find sixty si

the purse from Hereward, and keeping it in h

e priest into the secret of

in this battle I give him all that money, that he

aving you killed. You should pay him for keeping you alive

u ten pennies for yourself and your church, Priest, and ther

l,-this devourer of widows and orphans,-this slayer of the poor and needy, who fills this place with innocent blood,-him of whom it is written, 'They stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven, and their tongue goeth through the world. T

ng, the good old man pronou

ed him, and then hur

dest, Priest," said Martin,

an to chant that noble seventy-third Psalm, "Quam

g, Martin?" said Herewa

ay, no play,' is as good a r

It must never be said, even slanderously, that I brough

said Lightfoot, s

e somehow, and tell them that

t; watched him with set teeth till he disappeared in the wood; an

times as I have been a villain when it was of no use, why mayn't I be one now, when it would serve the purpose indeed? Why did we ever come into this accursed place? But one thing I will do," said he, as he ensconced himself under a thick h

re a fearful oath, which

, and had betaken himself in his spiritual warfare, as it was the

, that thou canst do mischief, whereas

a soft voice in the do

rried the

mantle a huge sword; "hide it, where no one dare touch it,

the priest, springin

he was tipsy, for fear he should quarrel with the young stranger; and I have kept it from him ever since by one excuse or anothe

do that," sai

she. "Hide it at once; I know that he

est, "it is too late; for half an hour

ot persuade him, stop him? You

stulated and explained th

be parted. They shall be parted. If you dare not, I dare. I will thro

nd others on the same errand. The news that a battle was toward had soon spread, and the men-at-

guest. Save him he would if he could but how to save him without mortally offending his tyrant Ironhook he could not see. At least he w

d word which of the combatants she favored, so plainly that the ruffians behind broke into scornful murmurs. They burst through the bushes

y tried to seize and crush Hereward in his enormous arms. Hereward, bleeding, but still active and upright, broke away, and sprang round him, watching for an opportunity to strike a deadly blow. The housecarles rushed forward with yells. Alef shouted to the combatants to desist; but ere

lay!" c

he cry, called out, "S

hook as he lay writhing

y Brain-biter which that witch stole from me but last night!"-and amid f

who had enough to do to keep them at ar

usion, the Princess threw herself upon the corpse, shrieking and tearing her hair; and to Hereward's surprise

ound him in a ring with the intention of seizing him; and however well he might defend his front, he might be crippled at any moment from behind: but in the very

men," he cried, "are you not ashamed to call such a fellow your lord,

s upon the Pictish nation in general, of which the only two fit for modern ears to be set down were the two old stories, that the Picts had feet so large that they u

ver after he had stabbed him, instead of leaving him to stand upright there,

f Martin's words, and bur

raven-fattener, the darling of the wolf, the curse of the widow. Touch me, and I will give you to the raven and to the wolf, as I have this ogre. Be my men, and follow me over the swan's road, over the wh

nd now the counsels of the ruffians being divided, the old priest gained courage to step in. Let them deliver Hereward and his serving man into his custody. He would bring them forth on the morrow, and there sh

Lightfoot took off his master's corslet, and, as well as the darkn

"I should keep my curses till I

irl betrayed m

, as far as looks could do,

d not know me. Little sh

f the wood. This is a night for

tch," said Hereward, after a pau

gs, and often tease mos

a misbegot

is a pretty fellow, be he uglier than seven Ironhooks. Still,

rtin leapt to the open door; but it was slammed

aving slain Goliath like young David, and then set food and drink before the t

ou, my lord, sleep off your wounds while I watch the door. I

, till the key creaked once more in the lock. He started at the sound, and seizin

rtin Lightfoot, to his surprise, found that he had gras

ss," she whisper

t Martin, and letting her go seized th

d Martin led her up the church wonderin

n your hand," said h

it, it would have been used fir

ietly on the altar-steps; knelt by him, wrung h

d don't know whether this may not be a dream, a

to you. Have I not put myself in your power? A

er your ogre's corpse seem t

had I not dissembled, and done the thing I loathed. Ah!" she went on, bitterly, "you men, who rule the world and us by cruel steel, you forget that we

eally stole

sake!" and she drew the w

ites with it, need never smite again. Now, quick, yo

do it, be it what it may. Why not c

o you think that I love y

should I not keep you?"

to your kinsman? And-though that you

he blows, and no

chivalry. Go to my betrothed,-to Waterford over the sea. Take him this ring, and tell him by that token to come and claim me soon, lest he run the danger of losing me a second time, and lose m

sudden nobleness,-"trust me, and I will treat you like my sister, l

u need: it is no shame to take it from me. And now one thing more. Here is a cord,-you mus

quoth H

safe; and when they come and find us in the morning I shall tell them how I came here to stab you with my own hands,-you must lay the dagger by me,-and how you and

of himself, gently bound her hands an

said she. "How can I spend my time better til

e out, locking the door, but leaving the key in it outside. To scramble over the old earthwork was an easy matter; and

in Lightfoot, "to keep your curses till

ty boasting over a fallen foe, as he began to see that there was a purpose more noble in life than ranging land and sea, a ruffian among ruffians, seeking for glory amid blood and flame. The idea of chivalry, of succoring the weak and the opprest, of keeping faith and honor not merely towards men who could avenge themselves, but towards women who c

they, feeling that the place would be for some time to come too hot to hold them, and being also in high delight, like honest Ostmen, with Hereward's prowess, agreed to sail straight for Waterford, and complete their cargo there. But the tide was out. It was three f