Ned, the son of Webb

hese who stand by may understand thee. O Ned, the son of

Tostig the Earl," responded Ned.

walls. Bring me what tidings thou shalt hear concerning my brother Harold, the King. Go, and see

the stern earl, accompanied by several Vikings of hi

on him afterward too closely concerning his orders from the very dangerous tempered Tostig. As Vebba said to the missionary, "It were a spear th

ather Brian, but it evid

ed to be all that the army ought to ask for. The city of York was to be surrendered upon the following Monda

rely disappointed. They declared that in this manner they were being unjustly robbed of all t

the people. I guess, though, that York wouldn't be of much more use to Hardrada and Tostig a

number of distinguished English clergymen came out from the city in company with the ambassadors who were to confer with Hardrada and Earl T

he bidding of thy earl easily. We will find a good lodging, and I have money enough for us both. I found it in the pouches of some of the unfortunat

y of copper and silver, and were not very well shaped. With these were

llar a day is a mogul in England in these times. Father Brian says you can buy a horse for five dollars and a farm fo

urce of this supply of money, he was willing to leave all that to so good a

ght. "War is war, anyhow, and this invasion is a great piece of pira

glish, or rather Danish-Saxon. Thousands of angry fugitives from the Fulford fight and thousands more of fresh arrivals from the interior were likely to be roaming

spy, and they shoot spies as soon as they c

im, for his helmet and his mail and shield were as like as tw

d to Father Brian. "I shouldn't wonder i

a place of entertainment for man and beast that is attached to one of the church

alf so particular about that as I am about getting unde

wilt see but little of me before Sunday. I have t

Northumberland churches, but he was quite willing to do his sightseeing or his business for Tostig by himself. Hi

clare! When I came through the front door of it, I thought it looked more like a jail. Quiet kind of place where ministers come, like Father Brian and

corselets. The others had large round shields or targets, and all were provided with swords. They had talked loudly, rudely, from the moment that they sat down, and it seemed that they were angrily discussing the battle and the treaty with the King of Norway. Louder, fiercer grew their hot dispute, until one of them struck another a blow with his fist, and all sprang to their feet, ever

g up. "They ought to be sent to the station-house. I'll finish my c

e very fast, becoming conscious as he did so

ight had been mere rattle, when a third target bearer swaggered over toward Ned,

"I'd better be ready for him. I wo

r his sudden movement had been taken for a challenge, and the ruffian struck at once. The first pair paused in their sword-play, as

nd him, "the fellow can't fence! I punched him thro

ST IN TIME, FOR THE R

parry almost altogether with his buckler, and modern science was against him. He dropped his he

d. "I'll just bother them with New York Engli

mpliment him on his prowess. He might have felt better, perhaps, if

e may understand. He belongeth to Harold the Earl, the king. All the Cornishmen have those

and the state prison, and they all swaggered out of the tavern, declaring that they had

less rare if possible. Ned's added request for a cup of coffee and some custard pie was not so perfectly comprehended, for none came. He felt a great deal better after di

ed, as he declared of it, a narrow bit of crib, with slits in the wall for windows, but he was pleased to find that it contained a bowl and pitcher of w

in this building, though, and I don't believe there is a box of blacking in

was in one of the old historic cities of England. Here had been a town of the ancient Britons, and the Romans, when they conquered them, had

ion in accordance with the existing laws of war. All the streets of t

ewalk anywhere, nor any street lamps nor telegraph poles. Every fellow plays policeman for himself. If he isn't of the kind they allow to wear a sword, he carries a bi

d all of the larger dwellings were like so many private for

u all the while. I've looked at the walls, too. They'd stand anything but arti

emed in good spirits, but he wore a mysterious air, as if he were prudently concealing some

l not permit thee to make it until then. I will tell thee one thing more, if it will keep thee quiet. The Saxon guards at the D

at is the trap? Hardrada's army is to march in b

orcar have saved all the time that was needed for their plan to work. They were to give King Hardrada a hundred and fifty important men for hostages, and not a soul of them will ever need to

know it?"

I hardly needed to be told the rest of it. Mark thou this, my boy, for thy life! Thou and I belong to Harold the Earl, the King of E

dy his own subjects. Many of the great men of Northumberland had held a mass convention, and had voted to accept him as their ruler. Every

, Saxon warriors were as yet keeping

just a little more, though, and then I'll get out, if I have to climb over the walls. I don't see any trap, if Father Brian do

rt of the invading army, and he meant to do his duty by his general so far as he could. This was, therefore, a time of inte

, where the bridge over the Ouse letteth in the southern highway through the wall gate, I ma

o him, somehow. We'll take the trolley-cars-" There

le all over. He felt desperate, warlike, and he changed his shield from over his shoulder to its

reached, and Father Brian was several paces in advance. Just here, however, at a sharp turn of the winding, alley-like street, they came unexpectedly upon a furious mob of

in their own dialect. "He looketh like a Nor

ely use he made of his spear. They were many, however, and it was well for him

for. I prodded that fellow. I wish I had Lars h

ed his spear and shielded his head from clubs as best he might, he saw the long-handled pole-ax of Father Br

ng arose in the direction of the gate. Ned did not get its meaning, but all the ru

my boy," said the miss

l," said Ned, "but wha

ill close no gate against the man that is coming now. He bringeth woe to all the host of Hard

ts it," replied Ned, "but my shield hath had all the sty