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

, covered with heavy sheets of iron and, like the walls, pierced with narrow loop-holes through which the archers could reach the enemy with their arro

in his arms. Despite its robust neck and haunches, the horse that bore the triple load could proceed only slowly along the ancient Roman route, which, connecting Paris with Amiens, led by the abbey of St. Denis. The nocturnal trip was long and made in silence. Martha, proud of finding herself riding at the crupper of a holy man, thought only of the relic whose divine in

dily answered by the gleam of a lantern at the wicket; the wicket was then opened; a few words were exchanged in a low voice between the brother at the gate and

e personage took charge of the priest's horse and led it awa

and both follow me. Your arrival h

ble time the windings of a vaulted passage-way, the monk stopped

" said the monk; "you may wait for me

ed again, and returning without a

re the relic; your daughter

iety. "I will not remain alone here in the

uringly; "we are in a holy abbey, and besid

ne is never alone when thinking of G

ave you-I am afraid,"

ed to Anne's heart. Distinctly she heard near her, as if groping about in the darkness, the respiration of one panting for breath. Immediately she felt herself seized by two vigorous arms and raised from the floor. The young girl strove to free herself and called aloud to her mother for help. The struggle was so violent and the girl's outcry so loud that it at first drowned the sound of a rap at the door. But the r

rior courtyards a score of horsemen were seen. The sweat that streamed down the steeds gave evidence of the length and precipitancy of a recent run. They had escorted to the abbey the Count of Paris, who, arriving from his city in hot haste, proceeded immediately to the apartment of Fortunat, the Abbot of St Denis. The prelate, a man of shapeless obesity and with his eyes still half closed with sleep, was hastily donning a long and warmly furred

berlain, who had accompanied the count to the abbot's apartment and was followed by several o

hurch," put in a voice, "he m

s him this morning," replied Rothbert. "Never w

tside of the abbey, unless sent on a mission by me. Fultrade must surely have returned ho

yes and ears. The Northmans have reappeared at the mouth of the

rembled convulsively; but his fear prevented him from articulating a single word. The other personages attached to the abbey looked, like himself, terror-stricken at the tidi

are about to afflict the servitors of your Church! What ravages! Our goods will be pillaged by these sacri

trade entered, at last. He looked cros

nt. "Come in; you are the only man of thought and action in this place;" and turning to the abbot, whose whimper

ifficulty, while the Count of Paris, a

e of their most intrepid sea-kings, named Rolf. Their fleet is so numerous that it covers the whole width of the mouth of th

sed men?" inquired Fultrade in a rage. "They have passed Rouen. How comes it t

, whose lands border on the Seine, that the Northmans were here. They furthermore informed me that the vile rustic plebs, which has nothing to lose, shows itself everywhere happy at the thought of the ills that these pagans will inflict upon the Church and the seigneurs. It is for us, accor

d grant the country of Chartres to that execrable Hastain! to that chieftain of Northman pirates! to that vile revolted serf! to that bandit, soiled with all cri

e Northman!-You, Fultrade, are a man of energy and intelligence. Immediately take horse and ride at full gallop with some of my officers and a good escort, to summon in my name the bishops and abbots of my du

ot, raising his hands to heaven. "At so dangerous a

issued orders to one hundred of my men at arms to march hither at the

acked and pillaged by these pagans. Although the place has been surrounded by new fortifications, it ne

ake the place. My hundred soldiers will suffice for the defence against these Northmans. And, now, Fu

ords of the count. The moment, however, that he heard an abbey promised to him

his orders and yours. May heaven protect me! I trust I m

f the count's offic

ver bank. By the light of the moon they noticed a large vessel ascending the Seine. They compelled the sailors to land,

ve issued orders to allow no vessel to pass without questioning the skippers. They may be able to

s' Guild, who had been so brutally treated by the count on that very day. A

nd waving his hand towards the aged man, he said to the abbot: "This ma

contempt, Eidiol looked suspiciously at the count and sought to explain to himself the cause of so sudden a change in his favor. As to Fultrade, the monk at

t instantly on the mission t

the abbots that we can not choose bu

rt resumed: "Be welcome, my trusty skipper. You could not possibly hav

they threatened to let fly a volley of arrows at us if

my worthy skipper. No doubt you have heard the news? T

eir approach. I even know, from the master of a lighter that was pulling up the river, that the pirates'

oncern of the skipper with regard to the invasion of the Northman pirates. "This upsets me! What do you me

escending the river as far as St. Audoin, whither I was taking a cargo, I am now as

staken. You were not indifferent but calm,

can not see where

g before the approa

am all the happier about it, seeing I did not expect to be with them again until to-

are your

e city of Paris-of the blacksmiths, carpenters, armo

ense of Paris against the pirates! Glory to you, my towns-men! I

emitted!" put in the abbot who, until now overwhelmed with grief

proudly at Eidiol, "at the head of

this forenoon, you were ordering your kni

uckered his brow, and an

n accidental outbu

singularly with the insolent words tha

anger: "This good fellow loves to banter. I think, however, he should choose his time b

miling with nonchalance. "Thanks to these very Northmans, you are now treating m

Rothbert, relapsing, despite himself, i

about twenty-seven years ago, in the year 885, when the Northmans, under the lead of Hastain, to-day master and

other, offered a brave resistance, since when the pirates have no longer ravaged the city. It will be so aga

resistance to the pirates. The reason was simple. The people, t

rage "That plebs allowed the churches, the abbey

r sand-stone pots when they can load them to overflowing with vases of gold and silver and all manner of costly things with

aring fully to give a loose to his pent-up anger. "How could we defend ourselves without the aid of the peop

and clergymen, need us to protect your goods from the pillage of the Northmans. Well, then, let us strike a bargain. Lighten our taxes, render our lives less hard, and we shall defend your riches.' 'Agreed!' answered Count Eudes, and certain franchises and other measures of relief for the plebs of the city were agree

tion with difficulty; finally he broke forth pale with rage:

us. We shall sail out of the waters of Paris on one side while the Northmans enter by the other, and we shall calmly ascend the

eart moved neither with anger nor shame at the bare idea of t

face, a spark of lightning glistened in his eyes. But th

l colony of men of my race, now more than three centuries ago, lived free a

efore the Arabs, like you now before the Northmans, of course

e, with the single exception of the indomitable Bretons, the only free men in all Gaul, the Arabs were able to ravage the other provinces and to settle down in Languedoc. In this century the same thing will happen with the Northmans. The p

to one of his officers, who thereupon hurriedly left the apartment. The old man moved towa

d revolt in my city of Paris!" And addressing

too, in which to keep the impious

my men, who will lock this insolent skip

press a first impulse of

ee him and apprise him of what has happened to me, that he may inform

l smile, "shall be satisfied. I have sent to

come confident that no harm is mea

ris, and, pointing his finger at Eidiol, he

nor myself coming back home," murmured the old man sadly, and, without offering any resistance, he