quarrel from a cross…bow； whistled just past my head out there upon
the sea； my first thought was to get her away to some place of safety；
no easy task seeing that she was infirm with age。 My second； that
which caused me to pause by the tree； was how I should break the news
to her in such a fashion that she would not be over…frightened。 Having
thought this over I went on into the house。
The door opened into the sitting…room that had a low roof of plaster
and big oak beams。 There I found my mother kneeling by the table upon
which food was set for breakfast： fried herrings； cold meat； and a jug
of ale。 She was saying her prayers after her custom； being very
religious though in a new fashion； since she was a follower of a
preacher called Wycliffe； who troubled the Church in those days。 She
seemed to have gone to sleep at her prayers； and I watched her for a
moment； hesitating to waken her。 My mother； as even then I noted； was
a very handsome woman； though old； for I was born when she had been
married twenty years or more； with white hair and well…cut features
that showed the good blood of which she came； for she was better bred
than my father and quarrelled with her kin to marry him。
At the sound of my footsteps she woke up and saw me。
〃Strange；〃 she said； 〃I slept at my prayers who did so little last
night； as has become a habit with me when you are out a…fishing； for
which God forgive me； and dreamed that there was some trouble forward。
Scold me not； Hubert； for when the sea has taken the father and two
sons； it is scarcely wonderful that I should be fearful for the last
of my blood。 Help me to rise； Hubert； for this water seems to gather
in my limbs and makes them heavy。 One day； the leech says； it will get
to the heart and then all will be over。〃
I obeyed； first kissing her on the brow； and when she was seated in
her armed chair by the table； I said；
〃You dream too well； Mother。 There is trouble。 Hark！ St。 Clement's
bells are talking of it。 The French come to visit Hastings。 I know for
I sailed through their fleet just after dawn。〃
〃Is it so？〃 she asked quietly。 〃I feared worse。 I feared lest the
dream meant that you had gone to join your brothers in the deep。 Well；
the French are not here yet； as thank God you are。 So eat and drink；
for we of England fight best on full bellies。〃
Again I obeyed who was very hungry after that long night and needed
food and ale； and as I swallowed them we heard the sound of folk
shouting and running。
〃You are in haste； Hubert； to join the others on the quay and send a
Frenchman or two to hell with that big bow of yours？〃 she said
inquiringly。
〃Nay；〃 I answered； 〃I am in haste to get you out of this town； which I
fear may be burnt。 There is a certain cave up yonder by the Minnes
Rock where I think you might lie safe； Mother。〃
〃It has come down to me from my fathers； Hubert； that it was never the
fashion of the women of the north to keep their men to shield them
when duty called them otherwhere。 I am helpless in my limbs and heavy；
and cannot climb； or be borne up yonder hill to any cave。 Here I stop
where I have dwelt these five…and…forty years； to live or die as God
pleases。 Get you to your duty； man。 Stay。 Call those wenches and bid
them fly inland to their folk； out Burwash way。 They are young and
fleet of foot； and no Frenchman will catch them。〃
I summoned the girls who were staring； white…faced； from the attic
window…place。 In three minutes they were gone； though it is true that
one of them； the braver； wished to bide with her mistress。
I watched them start up the street with other fugitives who were
pouring out of Hastings； and came back to my mother。 As I did so a
great shout told me that the French fleet had been sighted。
〃Hubert；〃 she said； 〃take this key and go to the oak chest in my
sleeping room； lift out the linen at the top and bring me that which
lies wrapped in cloth beneath。〃
I did so； returning with a bundle that was long and thin。 With a knife
she cut the string that tied it。 Within were a bag of money and a
sword in an ancient scabbard covered with a rough skin which I took to
be that of a shark； which scabbard in parts was inlaid with gold。
〃Draw it；〃 said my mother。
I did so； and there came to light a two…edged blade of blue steel；
such as I had never seen before； for on the blade were engraved
strange characters whereof I could make nothing； although as it
chanced I could read and write； having been taught by the monks in my
childhood。 The hilt； also； that was in the form of a cross； had gold
inlaid upon it； at the top of it； a large knob or apple of amber； much
worn by handling。 For the rest it was a beauteous weapon and well
balanced。
〃What of this sword？〃 I asked。
〃This； Son。 With the black bow that you have；〃 and she pointed to the
case that leaned against the table； 〃it has come down in my family for
many generations。 My father told me that it was the sword of one
Thorgrimmer； his ancestor； a Norseman； a Viking he called him； who
came with those who took England before the Norman time； which I can
well believe since my father's name； like mine； till I married； was
Grimmer。 This sword； also； has a name and it is Wave…Flame。 With it；
the tale tells； Thorgrimmer did great deeds； slaying many after their
heathen fashion in his battles by land and sea。 For he was a wanderer；
and it is said of him that once he sailed to a new land far across the
ocean； and won home again after many strange adventures； to die at
last here in England in some fray。 That is all I know； save that a
learned man from the north once told my father's father that the
writing on the sword means：
〃He who lifts Wave…Flame on high
In love shall live and in battle die；
Storm…tossed o'er wide seas shall roam
And in strange lands shall make his home。
Conquering； conquered shall he be；
And far away shall sleep with me。
〃Those were the words which I remember because of the jingle of them；
also because such seems to have been the fate of Thorgrimmer and the
sword that his grandson took from his tomb。〃
Here I would have asked about this grandson and the tomb； but having
no time； held my peace。
〃All my life have I kept that sword；〃 went on my mother； 〃not giving
it to your father or brothers； lest the fate written on it should
befall them； for those old wizards of the north； who fashioned such
weapons with toil and skill； could foresee the futureas at times I
can； for it is in my blood。 Yet now I am moved to bid you take it；
Hubert； and go where its flame leads you and dree your gloom； whatever
it may be； for I know you will use it like Thorgrimmer's self。〃
She paused for a moment； then went on：
〃Hubert； perhaps we part for the last time； for I think that my hour
is at hand。 But let not that trouble you； since I am glad to go to
join those who went before； and others with them； perchance
Thorgrimmer's self。 Hearken； Hubert。 If aught befalls me； or this
place； stay not here。 Go to London town and seek out John Grimmer； my
brother； the rich merchant and goldsmith who dwells in the place
called Cheap。 He knew you as a child and loved you； and lacking
offspring of his own will welcome you for both our sakes。 My father
would not give John the sword lest its fate should be on him； but I
say that John will be glad to welcome one of our race who holds it in
his hand。 Take it then； and with it that bag of gold； which may prove
of service ere all be done。
〃Aye； and there is one more thingthis ring which； so says the tale；
came down with the sword and the bow； and once had writing on it like
the sword； though that is long since rubbed away。 Take it and wear it
till perchance； in some day to come； you give it to another as I did。〃
Wondering at all this tale which； after her secret fashion； my mother
had kept from me till that hour； I set the ring upon my finger。
〃I gave yonder ring to your father on the day that we were betrothed；〃
went on my mother； 〃and I took it back again from his corpse after he
had been found floating in the sea。 Now I pass it on to you who soon
will be all that is left of both of us。〃
〃Hark！〃 she continued； 〃the crier summons all men with their arms to
the market…place to fight England's foes。 Therefore one word more
while I buckle the sword Wave…Flame on to you； as doubtless his women
folk did on to Thorgrimmer； your ancestor。 My blessing on you； Hubert。
Be you such a one as Thorgrimmer was； for we of the Norse blood desire
that our loves and sons should prove not backward when swords are
aloft and arrows fly。 But be you more than he； be you a Christian
also； remembering that however long you live； and the Battle…maidens
have not marked you yet； at last you must die and give account。
〃Hubert； you are such a one as women will love； one； too； who； I fear
me； will be a lover of women； for that weakness goes with strength and
manhood by Nature's laws。 Be careful of women； Hubert； and if you may；
choose those who are not false and cling to her who is most true。 Oh；
you will wander far； I read it in your eyes that you will wander far；
yet shall your heart stay English。 Kiss me and begone！ Lad； are you
forg