A Thane of Wessex | Page 7

in
which to fly from the hand of every man that would seek his life. But I
was to be safe from such harm, and but that I must go hence, I was not
to be hounded forth, nor was my shame to be published beyond Wessex.
So that all the other kingdoms lay open and safe to me.
None of this I heeded; I only knew that my enemies had got the
mastery, and that ruin was upon me. So I ground my teeth and was
mute.
Then they cut my bonds and I stood free, but cared not. Nor did I stir
from my place; and a look of surprise crossed Eanulf's face. But
Ealhstan the Bishop, knowing well, I think, what was in my mind, rose
from his seat, and came to me, laying his hands on my shoulders. I
would have shaken them off; but be kept them there gently, and spoke
to me.
"Heregar, my son," he said, and his words were like the cool of a
shower after heat, to my burning brain, "be not cast down in the day of
your trouble overmuch. There are yet things for you to do in this world
of ours, and the ways of men are not all alike. Foolish you have been,
Heregar, my son, but the Lord who gave wisdom to Solomon the youth,
will give to you, if you will ask Him. Go your way in peace, and if you
will heed my words, take your trouble to some wise man of God, and
so be led by his counsel. And, Heregar," and here the bishop's voice
was for me alone, "if you need forgiveness, forgive if there is aught by
you to be forgiven."
Then I knew that the bishop, at least, believed in my innocence, and my
hard heart bent before him, though my body would not. He laid his
hand on my head for one moment, and so left me.
One of my father's old friends rose up and said:
"Ealdorman, he is unarmed. Give him that which will keep him from
wanton attack, or from the wolves, even if it be but a thrall's weapons."

Eanulf signed assent.
On that they gave me a woodman's billhook, and a seax, [iii] such as
the churls wear, and one thrust a good ash, iron-shod quarterstaff into
my hands. Then my guards led me away from the assembly, and set my
face towards the downward path. Once again the old man spoke to me
with words of good counsel.
"Keep up heart, master. Make for Cornwall, and turn viking with the
next Danes who come."
I would not answer him, but walked down the hill a little. Then the
bitterness of my heart overcame me, and I turned, and shaking my staff
up at the hill, cursed the Moot deeply.
So I went--an outlaw.
CHAPTER II.
THE FIGHT WITH TWO.
Now whither I went for the next two hours I cannot tell, for my mind
was heedless of time or place or direction--only full of burning hate of
all men, and of Matelgar most of all. And though that has long passed
away from me, so that I may even think of him now as the pleasant
comrade in field and feast that he once was, I wonder not at all I then
felt; for this treachery had come on me so unawares, and was so deep.
Wherever it was I wandered it took me away from men, and at last,
when I roused myself to a knowledge again of the land round me, I was
hard on the borders of Sedgemoor Waste; and the sun was low down,
and near setting.
Perhaps I had not roused even then; but it came into my mind that I was
followed, and that for some time past I had heard, as in a dream, the
noise of footsteps not far behind me. Now, since I was in the glade of a
little wood, a snapping stick broke the dream, and I started and turned.

Where I stood was in the shadow, but twenty paces from me a red,
level sunbeam came past the tree trunks, and made a bright patch of
light on the new growing grass beneath the half-clad branches. And,
even as I turned, into that patch of light came two of Matelgar's men,
walking swiftly, as if here at last they would overtake me. And,
moreover, that sunlight lit on drawn swords in their hands; so that in a
moment I knew that his hate followed me yet, and that for him the
Moot had been too merciful in not slaying me then and there, so that
these were on that errand for him.
Then all earth and sky grew red before my eyes,