The Iron Arrow Head or The Buckler Maiden: A Tale of the Northman Invasion

ence upon the crowd was no sooner discovered by the

e better able than myself to convince the seigneur count

that reached down to his robust chest. Having heard the appeal of the bishop's sergeant and also recognizing the Count of Paris on horseback, Father Fultrade alighted from his own mount, confided the reins to a young boy who bowed down devoutly before him, and pushed his way quickly toward Rothbert through the crowd that was rapidly swelling in numbers and growing more and more excited. Some were loudly taking sides with the judicial claims advanced by the bishop's sergeant, others with those of the skip

s. Think of it, they had the audacity to insult me. And now they demand to be tried by the bourgeois court, while th

Eidiol and his son, gave them an affectionate

y my prayer," the monk hastened to add in answer to a gesture of impatience from the count. "When I was the priest of Notre Dame, you often tendere

monk, "say nothing about my repentance! No, I do not repent! If I only had my hands free, I wou

etch!" said the

h is hot-headed and deserves indulgence. But I, whose beard is white, dem

l more he added: "Is it not at this season of the year that the Northman pirates are in the habit of ascending the river as far as Paris? If the rabble is irritated, in

Paris. He reflected for a moment, but soon again recovered fro

Northmans. Their vessels have not been sig

e suddenness of a tempest? Out of prudence and out of pol

ntrance of which Martha and Anne the Sweet stood weeping and trembling. Suddenly recollecting that the two women had only shortly before interceded for the

The girl explains to me the motive of

matter?" answered the chanter, ex

antime again alighted. He beckoned one of his men to lead his h

n granting to you grace for these two scamps, I am only guided by the desire

is my spiritual daughter.

his saddle; and raising his voice he proceeded, addressing his men who held Eidiol and Guyrion, "Let the fellows

his purpose of lodging a complaint against Eidiol and Guyrion and his renunciation was obtained all the more quickly seeing that the count, the aggrieved party, had pa

house, Martha threw herself at his fee

er in God! You have delivered b

him be wiser hereafter." Saying this the monk moved towards the wooden staircase that led to the upper rooms, and

nk you for your good intentions. But, my good wife, before turning your thoughts to holy matters, you will be kind enough to let my son and myself have a pot of beer and a piece of bread and b

ny particular notice of the circumstance, that the monk, otherwise impassible, seemed slightly to thril

arms around her father's neck, "Are you to leave us so soon, and with my

dear child, we shall surely be back to-morrow." And again addressing his wife, "Come, Martha, let us h

iend-good Father Fultrade wishes to speak

" answered the old skipper with some impat

nd's proposition, and she followed the holy man in

of yourself and your daughter deserves a reward. The treasures of the Abbey of St. Denis have just received from our holy fathe

What a divi

his matchless relic, will not be only temporarily relieved of th

g her hands in ecstatic wonderment. "Healed

of the relic, even those who have always enjoyed

eople will not immediately crowd to your abbey,

r daughter be the first to approach the treasure. The seigneurs and the grand

ke of us, p

elic. It is not to be offered to the adoration of the faithful until the goldsmith's work is ready. But I mean to introduce you two secre

d do you think that this miraculous relic, this lock of hair, may be powerful enough to enable me to find again m

imperative for you and your daughter to come with me to St. Denis this very evening. Towards nightfall I shall wait for you near the tower of the Little Bridge. You will both ride at the crupper of my horse; we shall depart for

e! My husband, who has not the faith in relics that we have, would surely

redouble your own piety to the end that you may be more surely able to intercede for t

the end of living longer at their side that I

and your daughter will wait for me on the o

t for you, holy father, w

ek gravity, and before leaving the house said to the ol

prosper your v

avorable. We are to descend the Seine; the current carries us; my vessel has been freshly scrap

ements of Anne, who was ascending the stairs to fetch from the upper chambers the great coats which her father and brother wished to take along

andry about the arrest of the dean of the Skippers' or Mariners' Guild of Paris, had hastened to the spot, greatly alarmed about Martha and her daughter, to whom he came to offer his services. "Oh, Father Fultrade!" the young and merry fellow went on to say, "what good broiled steaks, what delicate

seeing the young skipper endeavor to humiliate the holy man with the recollection of the former traffic in wine and victuals in which he had indulged as was the habit wi

he true Christian preaches humility. I am not ashamed of having kept a tap-room. Th

med Rustic the Gay, "Is everyth

thout uttering a word. But Martha, angered at the lad'

ood Father Fultrade, you may dispense with putting your

ll, the lad has only said the truth. Is it not a fact that th

e premises of holy places is sanctified, as the venerable Father Fultrade has just said.

Nevertheless it does seem strange to me, despite the genera

painfully affected by the obduracy of her husband. "Is the cu

rel over it. But where is Anne? She has not returned from above;" and stepp

ith her sweet voice, and she descended with her

e Gay, all the quicker and more cheerful for the hand that Anne took in them. A

et not to lock the street door well to-night. Penitent maraud

," answered Martha, dropping

caused you the fright of this forenoon. My father was right.

r good Father Fultrade happened along, like an angel sent

ns have!" murmured Rustic the Gay, taking charge of the hamper, while

and his son, Rustic the Gay was leaving the house, Anne the

ther and my brother. Mother and mys

ing tone: "I love your father like my own; Guyrion like a brother; I have a stout

nt. He ran to catch up with Eidiol and Guyrion, and all three disappeared at the next turning of the street from the li