yet shall your heart stay English。 Kiss me and begone！ Lad； are you
forgetting your spare arrows and the bull…hide jerkin that was your
father's？ You will want them both to…day。 Farewell； farewell！ God and
His Christ be with youand shoot you straight and smite you hard。
Nay； no tears； lest my eyes should be dimmed； for I'll climb to the
attic and watch you fight。〃
CHAPTER II
THE LADY BLANCHE
So I went； with a sore heart； for I remembered that when my father and
brothers were drowned； although I was then but a little one； my mother
had foreseen it； and I feared much lest it might be thus in her own
case also。 I loved my mother。 She was a stern woman； it was true； with
little softness about her； which I think came with her blood； but she
had a high heart； and oh！ her last words were noble。 Yet through it
all I was pleased； as any young man would have been； with the gift of
the wonderful sword which once had been that of Thorgrimmer； the sea…
rover； whose blood ran in my body against which it lay； and I hoped
that this day I might have chance to use it worthily as Thorgrimmer
did in forgotten battles。 Having imagination； I wondered also whether
the sword knew that after its long sleep it had come forth again to
drink the blood of foes。
Also I was pleased with another thing； namely； that my mother had told
me that I should live my life and not die that day by the hand of
Frenchmen； and that in my life I should find love； of which to tell
truth already I knew a little of a humble sort； for I was a comely
youth； and women did not run away from me； or if they did； soon they
stopped。 I wanted to live my life； I wanted to see great adventures
and to win great love。 The only part of the business which was not to
my taste was that command of my mother's； that I should go to London
to sit in a goldsmith's shop。 Still； I had heard that there was much
to be seen in London； and at least it would be different from
Hastings。
The street outside our doors was crowded with folk； some of the men
making their way to the market…place； about whom hung women and
children weeping； others； old people； wives and girls and little ones
fleeing from the town。 I found the two sailormen who had been with me
on the boat； waiting for me。 They were brawny fellows named Jack
Grieves and William Bull； who had been in our service since my
childhood； good fishermen and fighters both； indeed one of them；
William Bull； had served in the French wars。
〃We knew that you were coming； Master； so we bided here for you；〃 said
William； who having once been an archer was armed with a bow and a
short sword； whereas Jack had only an axe； also a knife such as we
used on the smacks for cleaning fish。
I nodded； and we went on to the market…place and joined the throng of
men； a vast number of them； who were gathered there to defend Hastings
and their homes。 Nor were we too soon； for the French ships were
already beaching within a few yards of the shore or on it； their
draught being but small； while the sailors and men…at…arms were
pushing off in small boats or wading to the strand。
There was great confusion in the market…place； for as is common in
England； no preparation had been made against attack though such was
always to be feared。
The bailiff ran about shouting orders； as did others； but proper
officers were lacking； so that in the end men acted as the fancy took
them。 Some went down towards the beach and shot with arrows at the
Frenchmen。 Others took refuge in houses； others stood irresolute；
waiting； knowing not which way to turn。 I and my two men were with
those who went on to the beach where I loosed some arrows from my big
black bow； and saw a man fall before one of them。
But we could do little or nothing； for these Frenchmen were trained
soldiers under proper command。 They formed themselves into companies
and advanced； and we were driven back。 I stopped as long as I dared；
and drawing the sword； Wave…Flame； fought with a Frenchman who was in
advance of the others。 What is more； making a great blow at his head
which I missed； I struck him on the arm and cut it off； for I saw it
fall to the ground。 Then others rushed up at me and I fled to save my
life。
Somehow I found myself being pressed up the steep Castle Hill with a
number of Hastings folk； followed by the French。 We reached the Castle
and got into it； but the old portcullis would not close； and in sundry
places the walls were broken down。 Here we found a number of women who
had climbed for refuge； thinking that the place would be safe。 Among
these was a beautiful and high…born maiden whom I knew by sight。 Her
father was Sir Robert Aleys who； I believe； was then the Warden of the
Castle of Pevensey； and she was named the lady Blanche。 Once； indeed；
I had spoken with her on an occasion too long to tell。 Then her large
blue eyes； which she knew well how to use； had left me with a swimming
head； for she was very fair and very sweet and gracious； with a most
soft voice； and quite unlike any other woman I had ever seen； nor did
she seem at all proud。 Soon her father； an old knight； who had no name
for gentleness in the countryside； but was said to be a great lover of
gold； had come up and swept her away； asking her what she did； talking
with a common fishing churl。 This had happened some months before。
Well； there I found her in the Castle； alone it seemed； and knowing me
again； which I thought strange； she ran to me； praying me to protect
her。 More； she began to tell me some long tale； to which I had not
time to listen； of how she had come to Hastings with her father； Sir
Robert； and a young lord named Deleroy； who； I understood； was some
kinsman of hers； and slept there。 How； too； she had been separated
from them in the throng when they were attempting to return to
Pevensey which her father must go to guard； because her horse was
frightened and ran away； and of how finally men took her by the arm
and brought her to this castle； saying that it was the safest place。
〃Then here you must bide； Lady Blanche；〃 I answered； cutting her
short。 〃Cling to me and I will save you if I can； even if it costs me
my life。〃
Certainly she did cling to me for all the rest of that terrible day；
as will be seen。
From this height we saw Hastings beginning to burn； for the Frenchmen
had fired the town in sundry places； and being built of wood； it burnt
furiously。 Also we saw and heard horrible scenes and sounds of rapine；
such as chance in this Christian world of ours where a savage foe
finds peaceful folk of another race at his mercy。 In the houses people
were burnt； in the streets they were being murdered； or worse。 Yes；
even children were murdered； for afterwards I saw the bodies of some
of them。
Awhile later through the wreaths of smoke we perceived companies of
the French advancing to attack the Castle。 There may have been three
hundred of them in all； and we did not count more than fifty men； some
of us ill…armed； together with a mob of aged people and many women and
children。 What had become of the other men I do not know； but orders
had been shouted from all quarters； and some had gone this way and
some that。 Some； too； I think； had fled； lacking leaders。
The French having climbed the hill； began to attack our ill…fenced
gateways； bringing up beams of timber to force them in。 Those of us
who had bows shot some of them； though； their armour being good； for
the most part the arrows glanced。 But few had bows。 Moreover； whenever
we showed ourselves they poured such a rain of quarrels and other
shafts upon us that we could not face it； lacking mail as we did； and
a number of us were killed or wounded。 At last they forced the
easternmost gate which was the weakest； and got in there and over a
place in the wall were it was broken。 We fought them as well as we
could； myself I cut down two with the sword； Wave…Flame； hewing right
through the helm of one； for the steel of that sword was good。 Here；
too； Jack Grieves was killed by my side by a pike thrust； and died
calling to me to fight on for old England and Hastings town； after
which he said something about beer and breathed his last。
The end of it was that those who were left were driven out of the
Castle together with the women and children； the murdering French
killing every man who fell wounded where he lay； and trying to make
prisoner any women they thought young and fair enough。 Especially did
they seek to capture the lady Blanche because they saw that she was
beautiful and of high station。 But by good fortune more than aught
else； I saved her from this fate。
As it chanced we were among the last to leave the Castle； whence； to
tell the truth； I was loath to go； for by now my blood was up； and
with a few others fought till I was driven out。 I prayed the lady
Blanche to run forward with the other women。 But she would not；
answering that she trusted no one else； but would stay to die with me；
as though that would help either of us。
Thus it came about that a tall French knight who had set his eyes on
her； outclimbed his fellows upon the slope of the hill； for they we