Wulf the Saxon | Page 8

he
thought he would first call upon Ulred the smith, to ask him if he had
seen Walter Fitz-Urse handle his dagger, and also to tell Osgod that he
was going away for a time. He found the smith at work.
"Good morning, Master Wulf; though this is not the first time I have
seen you today, for I was at hand when you had that quarrel with the
Norman page."
"Yes, I caught sight of your face, Ulred. It was about that I have come
to you. The bishop has made complaint against me to the king, and Earl
Harold has ordered me to go down to Steyning for a time. Of course I
acted wrongly in speaking as I did to the bishop, but so far as Walter
Fitz-Urse is concerned I maintain that I did no wrong. I told my lord as
much, and that the Norman put hand upon his dagger. The earl said that
if I could prove that it would benefit my case. I told him that I had seen
you close by, but that I did not know whether you saw the page do it."
"Assuredly I did," the smith replied, "and had my cudgel in readiness to
tap him on the wrist if he had drawn his dagger. I would testify the

same before King Edward himself."
"Thank you, Ulred, I will tell my lord so."
"I am sorry you are to be sent away from court. That is a bad job,
Master Wulf, and Osgod here will miss you greatly."
"That shall I," the lad said. "Could you not take me down with you,
young master? You could teach me there how to comport myself as
your squire, so that when the time comes that you need one, I should
know my duties. Besides, you could practise on me with sword and
battle-axe."
"I could not do much in the way of teaching you, Osgod, seeing as yet I
am myself but a learner, but I should be glad, in truth, to have you with
me, and it would be good for me to keep up my practice in arms. I shall
feel almost like a stranger there, and should like to have one I know
with me. I could ask Earl Harold to let me have a horse for you from
his stables, where he has two or three score doing nothing."
"With your favour, sir, I would rather trust to my own feet. I am a stout
walker, and though I shall not be able to keep up with you, I think that
each night I can get to the hostelrie where you may put up; but, if not, it
matters little, I can make my way after you and join you there--that is,
if my father will give me permission to go."
"You may as well go sooner as later," the smith said. "Since you have
taken into your head that you will be Master Wulf's man, I see not that
it will benefit you remaining in the forge. You know enough now to
mend a broken rivet and to do such repairs to helm and armour as may
be needed on an expedition; therefore, if the young thane is minded to
take you I have naught to say against it."
"Then so shall it be," Wulf said, "I shall see my Lord Harold before I
start, and will tell him that you are minded to be my man, and that I am
minded so to take you. He will not object, I am sure, but it were best to
ask him, since, when I return to court, I shall have you about me."

"When do you start, Master Wulf?"
"I am ordered to go to-day; therefore, as soon as I have seen the earl
again I shall be off."
"Where will you sleep to-night?"
"I shall ride to Guildford this afternoon."
"Then you had better lay aside your hammer at once, Osgod," the smith
said, "and don fresh clothes, and make your best suit into a bundle and
start without delay; it is but ten o'clock, and you may be at Guildford
before sunset. 'Tis but thirty miles, and eight hours' walking will take
you there. If the young thane tells you that Lord Harold makes
objection to his taking you, you can turn your face backward
to-morrow and no harm will be done."
"I shall overtake you before you are half-way, Osgod, and can then take
you up behind me on my horse; and now I will go back to the palace. I
may have to wait some time before I can see Earl Harold. From sunrise
to sunset he has but a few moments to himself, and I shall have to
watch my time to get a