The Little Duke: Richard the Fearless

rnard the Dane that he would be more secure beyond the limits of his own duchy, which was likely soon to be the scene of war; an

smond. Indeed, the Baron would hardly bear that he should be out of his sight; and he was still so carefully watched, that it was almost like a captivity. Never, ev

door with an iron bar, and they were forced to content themselves with listening to the strokes of the hammer, keeping time to the voice that sang out, loud and cheerily, the song of "Sigurd's sword, and the maiden sleeping within the ring of

eize the country. No summons, however, arrived, but a message came instead, that Rouen had been surrendered into the bands of the King. Richard shed indignan

years of Knighthood, your own sword shall right you, in sp

r brain than to miscall one who was true to Rollo's race

g to say he is aught but a traitor!" cried R

ry head of his than your young wits, or my old ones, can unwind. What

that the King was about to share Normandy among his French vassals. A fresh outcry broke out in the little garrison of Senlis, but Sir Eric still persisted i

er at the gate. "The Black Raven has spread its wings. Fifty keels are

Denmark! Co

put you on your father's seat. Now call honest Harcourt a traitor,

hard, pausing. "No, verily,

ill not be so politic," said Richard. "I

," said Sir Eric, smiling, "but

s blessed father each

id Osmond. "Blows will be passing now.

u leave: would that I could leave him and go with you. It would do

t these men of the No

en, and there are no Vikings, such a

hild's ears?" broke in Fru Astrida, "a

ty, "but my blood thrills to hear of a Northern fleet at ha

they were old enough to be warriors, and wondering what had become of him, until at length the sound of an opening door startled them, and there, in the low archway of the smithy, the red furnace glowin

!" cried Richard, "the

Eric. "Speed thee well, my son-let not our Danish cousi

hile the two boys hastened to the battlements

tantly on the heath where he had disappeared; but days passed, and they g

smoke at Richard, the Knight, who with a stick for a lance, and a wooden sword, was waging fierce war; when suddenly the Dragon paused, sa

p so breathless, that they could not even ask the warder what he saw. He pointed, and

see! where

ck now, but-oh, there a

ht of a bird," said

oking into the warder's face, for he was a borderer, and tales of terror of

"no fear of that. I know how men r

in the pace of that steed," said Sir E

ness, so that Sir Eric caught hold of him, exclaiming, "You will be ove

hat in his hand

the warder; "methinks he

xclaimed Sir Eric, as the figure became more develop

said Richard. "Let me go, Sir

, in rode the warrior with the winged helm, bearing in his hand a drooping banner; lowering it as he entered, it unf

round him, asking hurried questions. "A great

hall, and there, sitting around him, they heard his tidings. His fath

smiling, and shaking his head. "I could not pledge

d brooked not the hearty old fashion of tearing the whole sheep to pieces.

ge, but he held his peace; and Richard impatiently begged t

is name might better have been Fox-heart than Bear-heart! He had sent to the Franks a messag

my name," exclaimed Richard, with such dignity of tone and manner, as

rnard's view was to bring the Kings together, and let Louis see you

w chanc

messenger to Louis, to summon him to quit Neustria, and leave it to you, its lawful owner. Ther

ere you,

et his share of our spoils; and when Bernard advised the King to send him home, since no true Norman could bear the sight of him, the hot-headed Franks vowed no Norman should hinder them from bringing whom they chose. So a tent was set up by the riverside, wherein the two Kings, with Bernard, Alan of Brittany, and Count Hugh, held their meeting. We all stood without, and the two hosts began to mingle together, we Normans making acquain

that we follow not the law

n was dead. All was tumult; every one struck without knowing at whom, or for what. Some shouted, 'Thor Hulfe!' some 'Dieu aide!' others 'Montjoie St. Denis!'

the K

st carried him into the midst of the Danes, where King Harald caught his bridle, and delivered him to four Knights to keep. Whether he dealt secretly wit

t you call having

found the fellow had been seen in speech with a French horseman, pounced on his wife and children, and threatened they should die if he did not disclose the secret. So the K

it. I wonder if he remembers holding me up to th

d him, my Lord,"

very walls must remind him of his oath, and how Count Bernar

mber it not in triumph over a fallen foe. It were better that all came at o