Ned, the son of Webb

nd all the men knew that

blow. Hear 'em! They are all going wild! Fighting is what they live

ehand, and it gave no especial advantage to either army. Nearly midway between the river Ouse, on the left of the Vikings, and the river Derwent, o

et their enemies at the landing. They may, however, have been aware that a large part of Hardrada's forces had landed below the mouth of the Derwen

our lines are forming, all the way across, between the swamps. Look yond

and let them charge," replied Lars.

earmen, catching up with them. "Come thou and join thy father's men. Thou shalt fight at my s

houted Ned. "G

"I will keep the boy out of harm's way, if I can. By the side

eeled away with Lars, an

o join thee and Lars as s

"A good many Vikings are to be killed before sunset. Look how the

ck, on pretty high ground, he was able to

hand, so that personal skill and strength would count for all they

River. I guess Tostig is with him, and I won't go in that direction. Father Brian a

ht, and all opposition seemed to be crushed before it. There could be no question of the

aten at once? Then I am thankful that thou and I will have

. All their best men are with them. See the rush of Hardrada, wit

y in some disorder when the rush of the king's veterans struck them. Even numbers were at this point much in favour of the invaders, and there was soon a cha

usly they pushed forward to get a nearer view of the combat. The contending forces were in many places

clare! Father Brian's horse has run aw

the next minute he was charging forwar

elf. There, though! The English are breaking everywhere. It's going to be a first-cla

e was no telling how far or into what

ard into the very thickest of the awful carnage, while his r

spear struck him! I must

its long, sharp blade almost a foot deep. Down sank the dying victim, snorting, scr

" he remarked, "for havin

der, but the greater part of them were fighting as they went. Many of them, it was afterward said, were driven into the swamps and into the rive

d marched forward, for he did n

they get to York," he was

scores of slain or disabled warriors. At his very feet was a sort of half circle of them, and he was staring at th

e good blow against the outlanders! Out! Out!

lift his shield before his enemy was up

of hacking at such an iron rig as his is? I can't hu

. What would have been the result if his opponent had been fresh and unwounded was easy to calculate, for he was a large, strong man. As it was, Ned'

helmet of the big Saxon. He dropped as if struck by lightning, and then Ned fou

art no match for such as he. He was one of the strongest knaves that r

say in reply, and the ea

to get inside of the walls. Learn all thou mayest, and be ready to

s I can," said Ned, "but

rl, and Ned looked

f he thinks that I killed all of these Danes and Angles and Saxons that are lying around here. If

uefully considering what it might be best for him to try next, when a

hou there? I am glad, indeed, to fi

ed back Ned. "Where is thy hor

ere is a horse to be had. Mark thou this, though. Hardrada hath won this battle of Fulford, truly, but it hath cost him more men than he can spare. If the English are goi

heaps which told of especially severe encounters, or pitiless massacres. They were not all Saxons, by any means, and Ned could understand the forebodings of his intelligent co

ped, doubtless, than the Vikings were willing to believe or tell of, and they were in no condition for an immediate attack upon strong fortifications. No more o

trip to York and back. What on earth could I say if he were to ask me what street there I lived on? I was never there in my life, and I might

the subjugation of the northern counties of England. These, as to their boundaries and organisation, were in effect nothing more than old kingdoms of the Saxon Heptarchy, as changed, from time to time, by Danish and other conquests. There was no such thing, in those days, as a united, solid England. Several kings were yet

done for all these heathen by conversion and civilisation and education. This

me, with an exchange of news items. The men liked Ned, the son of Webb. Even Sikend the Berserker shook hands with him, for he had heard that the young hero from Y

e victory and the glory, although they were not in it at all. Why, if it were in ou

time by themselves, exchanging yarns and experienc

ng and going between King Hardrada, on the one side, and the English earls, on the other. It was said that a treaty of peace was makin

ired Ned, "what do you th

I would do myself, if I were in their place. They are skirmishing to gain time, and to put Hardrada into as deep a trap as they can dig. Not either of them is really intending t

have to do is to watch out for a bit and we'll hear something drop. Accordin

e Viking camp any longer than we can help. The command given thee by Tostig the Earl upo

want to see Tostig again until we

he Stamford bridge over this swampy river Derwent. It is the only crossing for miles and miles, up

rth River steam ferry-boats. They would take over a whole arm

missionary spoke of. On the other side of the river was encamped very much the larger part of the remaining stre

me to the bridge. "It is a good one, what there is of it,

them couldn't pass each other on it. For its length, it's about the meanest brid

do well to walk over it this day, one way or the other, and join forces. I have had my look at it an

ding along and find me here. He's rough. I think any man would want to get behind good

one of many of the sayings of Ned, the son of Webb, to