The Hollow Land | Page 7

choir; and the abbot said mass,
having his mitre on his head. Yet, as I watched him, it seemed to me
that he must have something on beneath his priest's vestments, for he
looked much fatter than usual, being really a tall lithe man.
Now, as they sung the "Kyrie," some one shouted from the other end of
the church, "My lord Arnld, they are slaying our people without;" for,
indeed, all the square about the church was full of our people, who for
the press had not been able to enter, and were standing there in no small
dread of what might come to pass.
Then the abbot turned round from the altar, and began to fidget with the
fastenings of his rich robes. And they made a lane for us up to the west
door; then I put on my helm and we began to go up the nave, then
suddenly the singing of the monks and all stopped. I heard a clinking
and a buzz of voices in the choir. I turned, and saw that the bright noon
sun was shining on the gold of the priest's vestments, as they lay on the
floor, and on the mail that the priests carried.
So we stopped, the choir gates swung open, and the abbot marched out
at the head of his men, all fully armed, and began to strike up the psalm
"Exsurgat Deus."
When we got to the west door, there was indeed a tumult, but as yet no
slaying; the square was all a-flicker with steel, and we beheld a great
body of knights, at the head of them Red Harald and the king, standing
over against us; but our people, pressed against the houses, and into the
comers of the square, were, some striving to enter the doors, some
beside themselves with rage, shouting out to the others to charge;
withal, some were pale and some were red with the blood that had
gathered to the wrathful faces of them.
Then said Arnald to those about him, "Lift me up." So they laid a great
shield on two lances, and these four men carried, and thereon stood
Arnald, and gazed about him.
Now the king was unhelmed, and his white hair (for he was an old man)
flowed down behind him on to his saddle; but Amaid's hair was cut

short, and was red.
And all the bells rang.
Then the king said, "0 Arnald of the Lilies, will you settle this quarrel
by the judgment of God?" And Amaid thrust up his chin, and said,
"Yea." "How then," said the king, "and where?" "Will it please you try
now?" said Arnald.
Then the king understood what he meant, and took in his hand from
behind tresses of his long white hair, twisting them round his hand in
his wrath, but yet said no word, till I suppose his hair put him in mind
of something, and he raised it in both his hands above his head, and
shouted out aloud, "0 knights, hearken to this traitor." Whereat, indeed,
the lances began to move ominously. But Arnald spoke.
"0 you king and lords, what have we to do with you? Were we not free
in the old time, up among the hills there? Wherefore give way, and we
will go to the hills again; and if any man try to stop us, his blood be on
his own head; wherefore now," (and he turned) "all you House of the
Lily, both soldiers and monks, let us go forth together fearing nothing,
for I think there is not bone enough or muscle enough in these fellows
here that have a king that they should stop us withal, but only skin and
fat."
And truly, no man dared to stop us, and we went.
FAILING IN THE WORLD
Now at that time we drove cattle in Red Harald's land. And we took no
hoof but from the Lords and rich men, but of these we had a mighty
drove, both oxen and sheep, and horses, and besides, even hawks and
hounds, and huntsman or two to take care of them.
And, about noon, we drew away from the cornlands that lay beyond the
pastures, and mingled with them, and reached a wide moor, which was
called "Goliath's Land." I scarce know why, except that it belonged
neither to Red Harald or us, but was debatable.
And the cattle began to go slowly, and our horses were tired, and the
sun struck down very hot upon us, for there was no shadow, and the
day was cloudless.
All about the edge of the moor, except on the sidefrom which we had
come was a rim of hills, not very high, but very rocky and steep,
otherwise the moor itself