THE FALL OF THE GRAND SARRASIN

BEING A CHRONICLE OF SIR _NIGEL DE BESSIN_, KNIGHT, OF THINGS THATHAPPED IN _GUERNSEY_ ISLAND, IN THE _NORMAN SEAS_, IN AND ABOUT THE YEARONE THOUSAND AND FIFTY-SEVEN. 

BY

WILLIAM JOHN FERRAR. 

ILLUSTRATED BY HAROLD PIFFARD. 

PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE GENERAL LITERATURE COMMITTEE. 

LONDON:

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W. C. ;

43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E. C. 

BRIGHTON: 129, NORTH STREET. 

NEW YORK: E. S. GORHAM. 

PREFACE. 

Some people bring home a bundle of sketches from their summerholiday--water-colour memories of cliff, of sea, ruined castle, andancient abbey. I brought back from the Channel Islands these pages hereprinted, as a kind of bundle of sketches in black and white, puttogether day by day as a holiday-task, and forming a string, as it were, on which the memories of ramble after ramble were threaded, --ramblesfrom end to end of Guernsey, and rambles, too, among the treasures ofthe Guille-Allés Library. I enjoyed my holiday all the better, as Ipeopled the cliffs and glens with the shadows of eight hundred yearsago, and I hope that others may find some reality and some pleasure inthe result as it is given here. 

If any inquire into the real historical foundations for the story, Irefer them to the few notes at the end of the book, which will revealwithout much doubt where fiction begins and fact ends. I hope I may beallowed a little license in the treatment of facts. There is--is therenot?--a logic of fiction, as well as a logic of facts. At least thereseemed to be as I wrote the story, and I hope no one who reads it willbe inclined to quarrel with any part of it because its only basisis--imagination. Anyway, I will shelter myself under the great words ofa great man, in the preface of one of the great books of the world: "Forherein may be seen noble chivalry, courtesy, humanity, friendliness, hardiness, love, friendship, cowardice, murder, hate, virtue, and sin. Do after the good and leave the evil, and it shall bring you to goodfame and _renommée_. And for to pass the time this book shall bepleasant to read in, but for to give faith and belief that all is truethat is contained herein, ye be at your liberty: but all is written forour doctrine, and for to beware that we fall not to vice nor sin, but toexercise and follow virtue by the which we may come and attain to goodfame and renown in this life, and after this short and transitory lifeto come unto everlasting bliss in heaven" (Preface of William Caxton to"The Book of King Arthur"). 

W. J. FERRAR. 

CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER I. 

Of how I, _Nigel de Bessin_, was brought up by the monks of _the Vale_in _Guernsey Island_, and how on a certain day the abbot gave me choiceof two lives, and which I chose. 5

CHAPTER II. 

Of _Vale Castle_ hard by the Abbey, and how I was sent with a letter to_Archbishop Maugher_, and by the way first saw the Sarrasin pirates atwork. 12

CHAPTER III. 

Of my _Lord Maugher_ and his _Familiar Demon_. How he received theabbot's letter, and how I was courteously entertained at his house of_Blanchelande_. 18

CHAPTER IV. 

Of the coming of the Sarrasins in force, and of the building of theirchâteau--Of _Brother Hugo's_ confidence in God, and how I rang thealarm-bell at _St. Pierre Port_. 28

CHAPTER V. 

Of what befell the abbot's envoys to _Duke William_, our liege lord, and more particularly _Brother Ralf_, and how we were hemmed in byour foes. 34

CHAPTER VI. 

Of our passing from cloister to castle, and of the burning of_Vale Abbey_--Of the siege of the castle, and the exploitsof _Brother Hugo_. 40

CHAPTER VII. 

Of _Le Grand Sarrasin_, and of the renewed attack upon _Vale Castle_--Ofmy first deeds of arms, and how the _Moors_ were beaten back. 47

CHAPTER VIII. 

How I was sent forth by my lord abbot to seek protection of _DukeWilliam_, and of what befell me by the way of the pirates. 54

CHAPTER IX. 

Of our battle on the rocks of _Jersey Isle_, and how _Simon_ gave up hislife, and how I was taken captive and brought back. 61

CHAPTER X. 

How I was brought before _Le Grand Sarrasin_, and of hismagnificence--How I saw _Folly_ in his chamber, and was lodged in acavern under earth. 65

CHAPTER XI. 

By what means I was delivered from _Le Grand Sarrasin_, and how I foundshelter with the priest of _St. Apolline's_. 72

CHAPTER XII. 

Of my second setting-forth for _Normandy_, and in what guise I tookpassage. 80

CHAPTER XIII. 

How I arrived at _St. Malo_, and, proceeding to the Abbey of _St. Michael de Tombelaine_, found friends to set me on my road. 85

CHAPTER XIV. 

How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coulances_, and of what befell meon my way. 93

CHAPTER XV. 

How I saw an evil face at a casement, and how at my uncle's house of_St. Sauveur_ I heard tell of my father--And of what happed on ourgetting forth for _Valognes_. 99

CHAPTER XVI. 

How, at length I was brought before _William, Conquestor Invictissimus_, of all soldiers the greatest, and most invincible of dukes--Of themanner he received my mission, and of the expedition of _Samsond'Anville_. 106

CHAPTER XVII. 

Of the journey of our ships to relieve the Brethren of the Vale, and howwe fought a great battle with the _Moors_ outside the _Bay ofL'Ancresse_. 113

CHAPTER XVIII. 

The story of the relief of _Vale Castle_. 122

CHAPTER XIX. 

How we set forth to attack _Le Château du Grand Sarrasin_--Of the_Normans'_ valour, and of the flight of our foes. 128

CHAPTER XX. 

Of the sore slaughter in the glen of _Moulin Huet_, and on the shore, and how _Le Grand Sarrasin_ was slain, and of his secret. 135

CHAPTER XXI. 

Conclusion. How, the above matters being finished, I was made known tomy father. 143

HISTORICAL NOTES. 

 PAGE

A. Archbishop Maugher 147

B. Vale Abbey 148

C. Vale Castle 148

D. Visit of Duke Robert 149

E. The Sarrazins in Guernsey 150

F. The Expedition of Samson d'Anville 150

CHAPTER I. 

Of how I, _Nigel de Bessin_, was brought up by the monks of _the Vale_in _Guernsey Island_, and how on a certain day the abbot gave me choiceof two lives, and which I chose. 

This is the chronicle of me, Nigel de Bessin, of good Norman stock, being a cadet of the great house, whose elder branch is even to-daysettled at St. Sauveur, in the Cotentin. And I write it for two reasons. First, for the sake of these grandchildren, Geoffrey, Guy, and William, who gather round me in the hall here at Newton, asking for the story ofgreat deeds of old days, such as were the deeds of Tancred and DukeRollo, and him I loved and fought for--loved, though stern he was andrude--William, who by his mighty conquest gave us our place in this fairrealm. And second, since the winter days are long, and I go no more outto hunt or to fight as of old, to recall all this and more will havemuch sweetness, and delight my old heart with gentle memories, like thesmell of lavender laid between robes or napery in the oak press yonder, as one takes this or that from the store. 

And first, how came I to write it in such clerkly wise? Ay, that wasthrough the foresight of my uncle, the Vicomte de Bessin, since I knewnot then my father, and the good care of the monks of the Vale, andchiefly of Brother Bernard, a ripe scholar and a good, with whom Iprogressed so well in learning, that at fifteen I was more like to haveput this grissled head under a cowl than under a soldier's helm. A fairplace was L'Ancresse in the days of Abbot Michael, false Maugher, andthe Grand Sarrasin. And a good school of manners and of learning ofbooks and piety, that may aid men in their earthly life, was the ValeCloister. I see it now--the quiet, sober place, with its great roundarches, and its seats of stone, pleasant and cool in summer, bitter coldin winter, when the wind came in sharp from the Eastern sea, so that wewrapt our Norway furs about us, and shivered as we sat, till BrotherBernard said, "Up, lads; catch who catch can up to the Viking's tomb!"or "Haste ye now, and run to meet the pirates in Bordeaux Bay, and bringthem to me to shrive, ere ye do them to death, as Normans should!" Theblood ran free and warm then, and the limbs grew straight and strong, and the muscles of arms and legs like whipcord, and brown we were as thebrown rocks of L'Ancresse Bay, as we played at war on thosesalt-breathed plains--Guy, Rainauld, Gwalkelyn. Alas! they are allpassed to their account! There were no aches or pains of back orshoulder; there were no mean jealousies, no bitter hatreds, nodiscourtesies, no words that suit not the sons of good knights or lords, but wrestle or tussle and mock battle, and tourney, and race by land orwater in summer, when our bodies gleamed white beneath the calm waves aswe played like young dolphins in the bay. And ever and anon wouldBrother Hugo be amongst us, his cowl thrown back, and his keen eagleface furrowed into merriment as he sped on some knightly play--for hehimself was a nobleman, and had been a good knight, and a famous namelay hid under that long Benedictine robe. Thus, wondrous peacefully andhappily had I been reared with other right princely youths and some ofhumble lineage in that fair place. And but one unhappiness everdisturbed my joyous spirit. It was that while all had fathers andmothers that loved them, and took pride in their increase in learningyear by year, or else had dear memories of those that were theirparents, I had been told naught of my parents save their name, andasking of them was bidden not to ask further. This at times was a griefto my spirit, but amid so many joys it weighed not on me heavily. 

Now it was before the coming of the Grand Sarrasin and his troop of thewild off-scouring of every sea, that settled in the midst of the isleand defied lord and squire, abbot and prior--it was before those dayswith which my chronicle has most to do--that to me, Nigel, sittingconning an old book of knightly exploits, which for a reward BrotherHugo let us read on summer days, came a summons to go and see no less aone than the abbot himself. Now, the abbot was a great man of holy andblameless life, that sat in his own chamber towards the west, and hadmuch traffic in matters of State and Church with the duke, andmessengers went often to and fro from him to Caen, Rouen, and Paris, andin that year, the year one thousand and fifty-seventh since the birth ofthe Saviour of men, ever adorable and blessed, there was much afoot, forWilliam, with the young blood still in him, gaining to himself by forceof will chief power upon the mainland, was already spreading his wingslike a young falcon for another more terrible flight. And latelyMaugher, his uncle, and his bitterest foe though out of his ownhousehold, he had banished, archbishop though he was, from Rouen, to oursmall Isle of Guernsey, where there was scarce footing for the tread ofso great and dark a schemer in high matters. And already the Conquerorhad himself appeared at Edward's Court in England, and prepared his waythither. 

I was near sixteen years old, and I stood tall for my years, some fivefoot and a half, and for a lad I was well made, if yet lacking my fullstrength and girth round the chest, such a lad as in two years moreGeoffrey my grandson will grow to, if God will. Fair I should have beenif I were not burnt black with the hot sun pouring through the salt air, and my fair hair clustered crisp and neat round my temples and neck. Sostood I, no doubt a fair and honourable youth, at the entering in of theabbot's inner chamber. 

And the abbot, sitting in his carven chair amid his rolls of parchmentand instruments of writing, raised me swiftly as I stooped to kiss hishand. Dark-eyed, hawk-nosed, with black hair not yet flecked with snow, there was an awe and stateliness in him whether he spoke to gentle or tosimple. He was a Norman, and being such feared none, and had his will, and when it was possible mixed a rare gentleness with his acts andwords. 

"Son, " said he, "thou hast been happy here?"

The keen eyes were fixed upon me, and I could not but answer the truth, even had I wished to lie. 

"Yes, holy father, " I answered. 

"And thou wouldst stay here ever?" The eyes were still upon me, and theysearched my soul as a bright flush, I knew, rose to my cheek, and Ihesitated how to answer. Then suddenly, as I stood in doubt, they seemedto change, and it was as if sunlight gleamed over a landscape thatbefore lay dark and grim, for the abbot smiled upon me with the kindestof all smiles. "Thou feelest no calling to the cloister and the cowl, the book and the pen, the priesthood, and the life of prayer?"

"Ah, no, holy Father. " I had gained my tongue, and spoke boldly, ifreverently. "Books and prayer are good; but I am young, and there is aworld beyond these grey walls, and my kinsmen fight and do rather thanpray or read. "

"The eaglet beats his wings against his cage already, " said the abbot, kindly; "it is indeed a shapely bird. Thou art right, lad. There is aworld outside, where men strive and fight and do--how blindly and howwildly thou knowest not. But the battle is not to the strong or the raceto the swift, though so it seem. Go, then, out into the world boldly butwarily, and be thou a good soldier, as thou art a good scholar. Thineuncle shall know of these words between us. "

I knelt again and kissed his hand, and left his broad and pleasantchamber. 

And outside I strolled upon the green, dim vague thoughts surging upswift into my mind, as I went striding on swifter than I knew. Ere longI reached the extreme limit of the land, the high-piled rocks ofL'Ancresse. I looked out upon the sea to where Auremen lay flat and wideagainst the sky, and I thought I could descry the Norman shores and LaHague Cape stretching towards me; and, though I knew no home but theVale Cloister, another voice of home seemed calling me over thither. Avoice in which battlecries and trumpet-blasts were strangely mingled;and I seemed to see men fighting and striving, and banners and pennonsflying; and a voice seemed to spring up from my soul, bidding me goforth, and fight and strive with them, and gain something--I knew notwhat. 

I knew not then; but I know now, what that voice was, that yearning, that discontent with the past. It was the Norman blood rising within me, the blood of force, and battle, and achievement. Surely there issomething in us Normans--a hidden fire, which sends us forth andonwards, and makes us claim what we will for our own! And having claimedit, we fight for it, and fighting we win it. So with Tancred ofHauteville, so with Rou, so with William. Will of iron, heart of fire! Agrand thing it is to be born a Norman. 

CHAPTER II. 

Of _Vale Castle_, hard by the Abbey, and how I was sent with a letter to_Archbishop Maugher_, and by the way first saw the Sarrasin pirates atwork. 

Now, men were busy in the Vale. I have yet said no word of Vale Castle, built a mile away from the cloister, of hewn stone, goodly and strong. It lay upon the left horn of St. Sampson's Harbour, near where that holyman landed with the good news of God in days of old, and its stoutbastions rested on the bare rock, and its walls seemed one with the rockbelow, so thick and stout they were, built as Normans alone can build, to last as long as the rocks, as long as the earth. And in Vale Castleno lord or baron ruled. It was the Castle and outward defence of theVale Cloister, and its lord was the Abbot of the Vale. And within itsramparts there was room (as we found ere long), in times of danger frompirate or strange foes, for all the brethren and children of theCloister, and for many more besides, so that when the watch-tower firesprang into life upon the beacon, and the alarm-bell rang out by nightor day, the folk of the dale came flocking in with their babes andtheir most prized goods for shelter beneath the abbot's wing. ValeCastle feared no pirate-band, and in a short space all our most preciousthings could be secured behind those walls snug and safe enough, untilthe evil men who had come to alarm our peace steered their long shipsaway again, sore dissatisfied with the plunder of our isle. So wellguarded we were, and so strong were our three castles, within whosewalls all who listed could find safety. As, indeed, it proved in theattack of the great Moor, of which this chronicle will chiefly tell. 

Now, the Castle had been built some forty years before, by none otherthan the great Cherbourg himself, Duke Robert's engineer. For it chancedthat Duke Robert was royally entertained years ago by Abbot Magloirios, when he was forced by foul weather to put into L'Ancresse Bay, who, onhis departure, left Cherbourg and other skilled men to build threecastles for their safety against pirates. So it was through DukeRobert's stay at the Vale that our Castle was made so strong. Thus Godbrought here, as ever, good out of evil. 

And among the lay brothers were good soldiers, who could man the Castle. And once, in bygone days, they say a whole company of knights (allresting now in Abraham's bosom, and their bodies in the Vale churchyard)came together, and sought to be made quit of the world and its strife inour peaceful cloister. These, though they left the world behind, wereable to teach for safety's sake something of warlike matters to thebrethren; and thus it chanced that our brothers were ready to be men ofwar when peace was impossible, and men said of them, in rhymingfashion--

 "White cowl and white cloak, Chain-mail and hard stroke. "

Now, about this Castle of late men had been more than ever busy. Sundryinstruments of besieged men of a new and deadly fashion lay in thearmoury, and were at times by Brother Hugo brought out and practised bythe brethren that formed, as he said, his _corps d'armes_. Then werethey soldiers indeed, not monks at all, as, cassock and cowl thrownaside, they drew the bows, or aimed with their great engines the ballsof stone and iron. 

Now, it was in those days that the abbot sent me on matters more heavythan I knew to that archbishop of whom I have already made mention, who, his state laid aside, lay in exile as a poor humble man, though DukeWilliam's uncle, in a small moat-house, by name Blanchelande, withlittle land attached beyond the forest of St. Pierre, and hard by thebay of the Saints of God. 

Though I would fain haste to our meeting, yet must I first tell whatmanner of man he was reckoned by the folk of our island and byourselves. Abbot Michael had expressly charged us, on his first coming, we should believe nothing of aught we heard of him. Yet tales wentround, and gathered force as they went, ill tales that took scant timeto travel; and we lads, innocent of mind, were full of shame for whatwas common talk, and we were ready to believe that here was no commonsinner. We knew there were witch women whom men justly burn for sin. Andof Archbishop Maugher men said a spirit of evil ever went with him, orwas at his hand. 

Now, when abbot Michael gave me the missive into my hand, there was alook in his face that seemed to ask if I feared the journey; but I tookit readily and heartily, and turned to go. 

"Stay, " said the abbot, as I went. "Bring me word how my Lord Archbishoptakes my letter, what he says, how he looks. Bring me his slightestword, his least look. Thou art quick and clever. Do my bidding as a goodlad should. Thou hast naught to fear of such as he. "

So I went forth boldly, leaving the Vale behind me, and within an hourhad entered among the trees that part it from the forest land. 

Now, in due course of travel I reached that high point of the islewhence through the trees one can look down on all sides save the south, and see the blue waves and the distant islands, and there lay, I knew, the earthworks of an ancient fort, that the first tenants of the isleused for defence in days long past--yea, and their wall of stone circledthe space this way and that, and the roofless walls of some building--atemple perhaps--stood near, wherein they worshipped the false god of thesky or the hearth; here awhile I rested, and after brake again into thepath, and made for the Bay of the Saints, where Maugher dwelt. 

Now, I was not far upon my road when I heard a faint whistle through thetrees, and, running back a few yards, I saw the old ruins I had left, not empty, as I had left them, but--strange sight--tenanted, I couldsee, by men, and, as I thought, men of evil aspect. Now, I knew thatthey had seen me, and thought me well upon my road, so I dared notreturn; and, indeed, I feared in my heart, for I had little doubt theywere pirates, if not spirits of the men of old of whom I had beendreaming. Therefore I went swiftly on my path, and covered quite a mileere I brake into the forest again, and made my way back to another sideof that old ruined fort. Now, as I crept up, I saw little that wasstrange--only two men walking to and fro in earnest conversation, andfrom where I lay--for nearer I durst not approach--I could hear nothingof their talk. They were men of light and supple build, bearded, and ofdark swarthy skin, as of those who know no shelter but the decking of aship, and their hands were seldom absent, as they paced it side by side, from the hilts of the brace of daggers swinging from their waists. Iguessed that they were pirates, and my heart fell as I remembered whatmanner of men they were--haters of all--their God, their king, theirfellow-men--and how, in consequence, the hand of man was against theirhand, as their hand was against man's. Where were the other men I hadseen? In a moment I guessed the truth, for I caught the dull sound ofdigging and delving in the earth below--thud, thud, thud--as of manyspades and picks, and beyond the angle of the wall I saw the earthworkpiled with new earth in many places. So my young eyes peered curiouslyand cautiously out through the leaves, and a flood of feelings struggledin my heart, and the digging went on--thud, thud, thud--beneath my veryfeet, and the two strange men trod ever up and down, staying at timesupon their way to point to this side or that, to tap the wall, or drawfigures with their swords amid the fallen leafage. 

I stood a long time fixed to the ground, and then with a great effort Istole noiselessly away, and, once on the beaten track, I hasted on tothe moat-house. 

With a heart that I could hear beating, I turned my back on the bay, and, crossing the little drawbridge, craved of a warder at thegate--half fisher, half ecclesiastic, in a frayed frock and seamen'sshoes--an audience of my Lord the Archbishop for the delivery of amissive from the Abbot of the Vale, that must be delivered into his handalone. 

CHAPTER III. 

Of my _Lord Maugher_ and his _Familiar Demon_. How he received theabbot's letter, and how I was courteously entertained at his house of_Blanchelande_. 

And my lord was not difficult of access. He sat in a deep chair in thehall, and round him were all manner of strange things whose shape andname I knew not, but little was there save old rolls of parchment tobetoken a Churchman's dwelling. A great table held bottles of manyshapes of glass and earthenware, and optic glasses and tools layintermingled. I caught the gleam of much bright steel on settle andshelf--chain-mail, targe, dagger, helmet, and sword. A great warrior'scomplete equipment, tunic and hose of mail, shield, and helm, hungbefore me as I entered. Three huge hounds, with heavy chaps hangingloose from their jaws, lay about the hearth, but only noted my entrancewith a drowsy gaze, then dropped back upon their paws; but a strangeugly creature, like an ill-shaped child, that was so vile to look onthat I thought him the very Devil himself, crouching on the table by thearchbishop's side, set up a chattering and a muttering, with now andthen a kind of mocking laughter like a madman's meaningless merriment. Nor would he cease until my lord clouted him twice or thrice rudely onhis ill-favoured crown with a "Hist, folly, stay thy devil's clatter. "Now, this beast it was, one, I suppose, of those apes that King Solomontrafficked in, that gave rise to the saying that a familiar from Hellhoused with my lord in Guernsey. But being of a bold spirit, andexpecting even worse than I yet saw from the ill-fame of my lord, andthe tales of monk and churl, I stood firm, and with something of acourtier's air placed in his hand the letter I bore, with a simple, "Greeting, your grace, from my lord the Abbot of the Vale;" and as Igave the letter, I set my gaze on him for the first time square andstraight, and met eyes as keen and straight as mine own. Now, thissurprised me, for I had heard evil men could not look straight intomen's faces. He was far above the common height, and his body and facewere very fat; like a great bull of the stall he lay in his chair. Hisface was full and red, and I noted he had little hair, save a mass, halfgrey, half red, that clung about his ears and neck. Of his passions Iwas soon to see evidence, for having gazed at me a moment, he took theletter from my hand, tore away the seal, and unrolled the scroll. As hedid so I saw another little scroll roll out, which fell upon the groundbefore my feet. Then I knelt and handed this to him likewise. Can I ereforget his look as he took it from me, or wrung it rather from myfingers?

"Whence hast thou this? Whence came it?" he shrieked, with a rabble ofill words; and for a moment it seemed he would have crushed me in hisgreat sinewy clenched hands as I stood there before him. His face wasscarlet that before was only red. Great black veins started up upon hisforehead, and his round blue eyes were straining out of the flesh inwhich they were enclosed. 

I stood firm before him, and humbly showed him that the second scrollfell out of the first. Then he turned suddenly upon his heel and wenttowards the window, and looking forth upon the bay below in a fewmoments calmed himself, read what was writ on the first scroll, and withan air of unconcern tossed them to a corner of the table. 

"Thou knowest naught of these papers, lad?" he said at length. 

"Naught, my lord, in good faith, save that I bore them hither. "

"And thou didst well to do that, " he said, "for here is a matterdangerous to me, as thou sawest by mine anger. Your good abbot hath donewell to send me this letter by thee. "

I answered not, since it was not for me to speak, and yet I craved toknow what could be in the second scroll to move him so. 

"May I return with your grace's greeting or other message to my lord?" Isaid. 

"Ay, and by word of mouth, " he said. "We exiled men well-nigh forget towrite, nor have much practice in the tools of the clerk. Tell the abbotthe Archbishop of Rouen thanks him for his courtesy, and that thispaper--this paper was written by some foe of other days that choosesthus to strike the fallen. Canst thou carry that. "

I said I could, but I thought that there was an ill lie behind hiswords. 

"Hist, good lad, what is thy name?" said he. 

"Nigel de Bessin, nephew of the Vicomte of St. Sauveur, " I answered. 

He pondered and gazed at me curiously. "Ay, well I knew thy grandsire, the old vicomte, " said he. "And thine uncle has had of me other giftsthan shriving. "

Now it came into my heart to ask him of my father, since he knew mygrandsire and my uncle; so I said boldly--

"And didst thou know my father?"

"Ay, I knew him--I knew him, " said he; "but what do they tell thee ofhim?"

"Nothing, in sooth, my lord, " I answered; "and bid me wait till mypupilage is over. "

"Then I may tell thee naught more than thou knowest, save that we weregood friends. Thou wilt not long be bearing missives for your abbot, ifthou art like thy sires. Thou art soon for Normandy?"

I wished not to unfold my purpose to this man, so I simply bowed, andprepared to go with due courtesy. Now, as I knelt upon one knee, helaid his hand upon my shoulder wondrous kindly, and raised me up by thearm, and led me to a seat so gently that for the moment I forgot that Idistrusted him. Then he spoke of studies, and brought down some greattomes, excellently well writ and pictured in French scriptoria, andturning from them to his table he showed me a wondrous box, whichlooking through, as I held it up, I saw as it were the far off bay drawnear to mine eyes, so that I could see men walk clear where I saw butshapes before. And with surprise I well-nigh dropped it from my hands. He took it from me, and told me I had seen what none had seen in theearth before but he alone. 

And the thought entering into my mind that here was something more thanhuman, he seemed to guess it, and said with a smile that was hard andkeen--

"Nor is there wizardry therein, save the wizardry of a lonely man, thatdevises new solace for his loneliness. "

A pasty was ere long set before us and a flask of wine, whereof we bothpartook. 

"Say not, " said he, "that my lord of Rouen sends his guests hungryaway. "

So we ate together. And after eating, as the sun was already stealingdown the western sky, he bade me farewell, and pressed a little ringupon my finger as I left him, bidding me not forget to see him again ereI left for the wars, and at any time he said he would stand my friend, with a greater air of power, it struck me, than one could show who knewno other future than more long years of exile, such as he now lived inour small isle. 

Now, as I turned from the drawbridge at the moat-house of Blanchelandeto go homewards the remembrance came to me of those men that I guessedwere pirates digging their storehouse in mother earth in the midst ofthe wood. And thinking on it, though I feared them not, I had no tasteto return to the vale that way. So, instead, I followed the path ruggedand uneven as it was, along the side of the cliff to the northward. First along the gorge of the Bay of Saints I went by the side of thestream that ran singing from Blanchelande, and then I cut straight upthe cliff amid the heather, and so came into sight of Moulin Huet, wherean ugly craft, that I liked not the sight of lay at anchor, right underthe nose of Jerbourg Castle, wherein our abbot had a small corps of men, even as at the Vale. I stood a moment looking down on her riding deep inthe sky-blue water, and presently I saw a boat put out from shore withmen on board that rowed towards her. I could not tell if they were thesame I saw up by the château, but I guessed they were, as I saw themclimb into the bark. And then I journeyed on, clinging here and there tothe cliff or the green stuff that grew thereon, like a very cat of thewoods, past Fermain Bay, and through the little township of St. PierrePort, and I wondered, since the pirate bark was so near at hand, thatnaught was stirring in the street or on the jetty. Now, St. Pierre Portwas a pleasant place to me. A little world of its own, for every man ofSt. Pierre Port was a soldier, and could draw bow and slash with hisbroadsword, and pirates meddled not much with St. Pierre Port, for itsmen were tough and stern and loved their homes right well. 

I stayed not to chatter with fishermen or priest to-day; but hasted on, and at length the little tower of St. Sampson arose before me, and erelong I was at the abbot's lodging. 

The abbot paced up and down his orchard and garden of flowers. 

"Thou art late, my son, " said he. "Did my lord detain you?"

"My lord, " I said, "was very kind and gentle, far beyond that I dreamedpossible, and kept me with good entertainment and choice converse farinto the day. "

"And my lord was pleasing to thy taste?" said Abbot Michael, with astrange smile, not like his own, that I knew not. 

"How may I, holy Father, " answered I, "speak aught but well of him, whodid me no ill, but good only? And, indeed, my lord spake to me out ofhis store of knowledge, as to one not ignorant and young; but, indeed, like himself in age and state. And yet, in good faith, he pleased me notat first. "

"And how was that?"

"There seemed indeed, Father, somewhat that I distrusted, and then hispassion at the opening of thy scroll was terrible to see. "

"Ay, was he moved? And what said he when he perceived that innerscroll?" inquired the abbot. 

"Moved, Father! I thought he might have done some deadly deed. But hecalmed himself at length. "

"And what sent he in return?"

"Nothing in writing, " I answered, "but this by my mouth--that the innerscroll was the writing of some foe of other days, who thus strikes at afallen man. "

The abbot mused in silence at this reply, and took a pace or two besidehis lily border. Then he gazed seriously at me for a moment, and bade mewalk by his side. 

"Thou hast seen to-day, son, one of the world's schemers, and thou hadstbeen, as was natural, deceived by him. With ill men first impressionsare the true ones. Thou hadst been more than a stripling of thecloister, and we had taught thee over well for thy years, had he, whosepower has lain in such arts, not made thee love him in spite of thyself. Son, dost thou know why this Maugher lies here in exile?"

"Ay, Father, was he not like St. John of old, who said, 'Thou shalt nothave her:' to King Herod?" answered I, as I thought aptly. 

"Indeed, my son, they said so, and strong were the archbishop's wordswhen Duke William wedded against God's law. But thou wilt learn, thatwords and censures of Holy Church are too oft like daggers and knives inthe hands of evil men in high places of the Church--and such was thiscensure of the marriage of Matilda in the hand of Maugher. He would havecut his way with it--dost thou know whither, son?"

"Whither, Father?"

"My son, to the dukedom itself, Churchman though he was. "

I listened in astonishment, and an air of doubt must have shone out frommy innocent eyes, that never knew to hide the thought within. 

"Wouldst thou have proof of this that I say, and know how even to-daythis serpent in our island-grass bites at the heel of princelyauthority?" the abbot asked. 

"Indeed, Father, I would. His words to me so frank, his description ofgreat men so just--his----" I was about to be fervent indeed in the praiseof my new-found friend. Abbot Michael drew a scroll from his breast, andheld it before my eyes with firm fingers, watching me intently thewhile. It was like the scroll I had taken to Blanchelande within theother. It was the same scroll, or a cunning copy, for there lay twogreat hasty blots upon it in one corner, and its signature ran up thepage like a ladder against a wall. 

"Read here, and here, " said he, "and understand how this cursed manwould incite milder men to shed Duke William's blood!"

CHAPTER IV. 

Of the coming of the Sarrasins in force, and of the building of theirchâteau. Of _Brother Hugo's_ confidence in God, and how I rang thealarm-bell at _St. Pierre Port_. 

Through that journey to Blanchelande I was able to give the firstwarning to the abbot, and Brother Hugo, our _tête d'armée_, of thepresence of new pirates in the very midst of the isle, through the uglysight I had seen on my way by what men called the château. 

And, indeed, all looked grave at my account, and Hugo shook his head, and he and the abbot and Martin and Richard had long and anxiousconverse in the Castle, and already we were bid to move very many of ourholy things that bedecked the Church, or were used in God's service, within the Castle wall, and the builders had set up among the rampartslong sheds of wood, wherein began to be stored all manner of com, brought in from all the granaries around. 

For the abbot had received from St. Michael's Mount and other places onthe Breton coast most portentous accounts of a gathering together of thepirates of the sea and marauders of the land, and that some devil'sbond had been forged between them, and that the wildest and most daringof these villains of every race and land had elected as their chiefcaptain one whom they named "the Grand Sarrasin, " one born of that blackrace, the deadliest enemy of Christendom. Others called him "Le GrandGeoffroy" as though they would save him at least from the black stamp ofPaynim birth; but for us he was ever the Grand Sarrasin, and still theGrand Sarrasin, cursed a hundred times a day by every tongue in ourcloister and island. 

Now, as I saw Brother Hugo on the ramparts and knew, though full ofmatters now, he grudged not a word to us lads whom he loved full well, Ispake to him thus--

"What news to-day, brother, of 'Le Grand Sarrasin'?" I spake half injest indeed, for long ere this, this very brother had made great sportof pirates and their dark deeds, and especially, ere this name I spakehad risen to such a sound of evil omen, had he delighted to tease thechildren of the cloister therewith. As on some dangerous path he wouldwhisper, "Go not that way for fear of Le Grand Sarrasin!" or out in thefishing-smack, he would point to some cosy, full-bottomed trading shipwith a "Hist, lads, the great Geoffroy there astern!" But now BrotherHugo liked not the jest, but looked sternly at me from beneath his greatbrows. 

"Le Grand Sarrasin!" said he, "if so thou lovest to call the vilestfoam of filth on these Norman seas, this day last week rode into St. Brieuc by night with eighteen ships, climbed into the fort, none lettinghim, slit the throat of a sentinel and warder, barred the garrison intoits own quarters, and poured like a midnight pestilence through thestreets, bidding his Paynim hounds of slaughter, without pity andwithout fear, enter where they listed, and that they did. And there bynight in St. Brieuc, good men and good wives, who never harmed man orbeast were knifed as they lay, the young maids led captive, and thebabes flung like useless baggage through windows into the gutter, andthat is the last I have heard of Le Grand Sarrasin!" said Brother Hugo, sadly enough. 

I stood beside him silently, and the salt tears burst painfully under myeyelids as I heard the fate of that poor town by the Breton coast. 

"Ay, weep, lad, weep!" he said. "And God give strength to our arms toshow him better than tears, if he come our way, this fiend that fearsnot God nor man. "

"But the monks, brother, are they not safe? The worst pirates ofttimesfear to touch holy men and holy places, " I interposed. 

"The monks of St Brieuc, " he said solemnly and sadly, "holy men andservants of the poor, lie cold and still in their dormitories, brotherby brother, saint by saint. And the sun looks in on them and sees theirfaces agonized in death, and the blind eyes staring with horror at thefate that woke them but for death. In such wise the Sarrasin's devilsfear holy men and holy places. "

I saw Brother Hugo as he looked far out to sea in his turn dash thedrops of salt from his eyes, and strive to master his sorrow. 

"Should they come our way?" I asked, in bitter questioning. 

"Surely, ere long!" he answered, "and we shall be prepared. I pray toGod, and--smile not at it, lad--some sort of vision in a dream has cometo me that the downfall of 'the Grand Sarrasin' shall be through us, brethren of the Vale, and perhaps through me. "

A kind of holy look floated into his face as he said this and lookedseaward; an upward look as of seraphs close to God, not seraphs frailand delicate, but full of lusty strength and goodly spirit of war, suchas went forth with Michael, when there was war in Heaven. 

"Be strong, and of good courage!" he murmured to himself; and, pausingawhile, strode with me across the fort, showing me this or that, thatwas fresh provided for safety, and the goodly stores of food, and thewatchmen even now out on the towers, and the alarms all ready to call inthe defenceless. Indeed all was there that a great captain could devisefor safety in time of border warfare. 

"Thou knowest, " he said presently, pointing towards the château, "thatit is forbid to travel thither. Nigel, it is a very castle they arebuilding, and beside it this fortress of ours is weak and small. "

"It will be then, " I said, "maybe a strife of castle with castle, " saidI. 

"Ay, so it will, " he said, "and that ere long. "

"Then, Brother Hugo, I need not voyage to Normandy to taste battle underDuke William. "

"The battle, " said Hugo, "will be hot enough before these very walls. Therefore thou shalt be my esquire and learn to taste blood under mycommand. "

Indeed I had no higher desire than this, and so I said. 

 * * * * *

Now, it was not many days after these words, one afternoon aboutevensong, a summons came to Hugo from the watchman on the wall at ValeCastle. He called me to go with him. We swiftly reached the rampart, thewatchman saying nothing, simply pointed to the northward, and then wesaw a very fleet of ships--pirate ships, we felt sure--bearing steadilytowards Grand Havre. And one that seemed longer and heavier than therest ran far ahead. 

"They are making for their anchorage in Moulin Huet, " said Hugo, "and itwere well for our islanders to be prepared this night. Light the beacon, honest Bertrand, let it carry its bright word from Vale to Ivy Castle, from Ivy to St. Pierre, from St. Pierre to Jerbourg, though they lie atanchor below, to Torteval and far Lihou, and thou, son, shalt take akindly message to the men of St. Pierre. "

In a few moments the bright flame burst out on the rampart tower, like ared tongue of fire telling forth a deadly message. And lo! I saw, as Iwent, other tongues leap forth along the coast from tower and castle, all singing out in direful glee the same word "War. "

And once within the market-place I ran as I was bid to the Church of St. Pierre, and great man I felt myself, as I pushed open the church doorand took the bell-rope in my hand. "Ding-dong!" rang out the alarm bellfrom the tower hasty and quick, and ere twenty pulls at the rope, thetownsmen were all around, and I was drawn into the market-place, andthere at the head of the Rue des Vaches I sang out lustily--

"Good men, good citizens and sons of St Pierre, make fast your defences, and man your walls this night; the fleet of Le Grand Sarrasin isanchored in Moulin Huet. "

CHAPTER V. 

Of what befell the abbot's envoys to _Duke William_, our liege lord, andmore particularly _Brother Ralf_, and how we were hemmed in by our foes. 

There was no attack of the pirates upon St. Pierre that night, and noassault on our castles or cloister. And those who had taken refugewithin our walls, ladies and children for the most part, whose lordswere at the wars, spake as though they would return home having noughtto fear. But this our abbot did prevent, except the very nearest livingsouls. Others from afar, as Dame Maude de Torteval, and the Lady Mariede la Mahie with those that they brought with them he sternly bade tostay in their safe haven. 

Now, the pirates touched nor harmed naught in Guernsey through thosefirst days, save some few beasts they drave up to their château with itshigh bastions amidst the trees, and its great flagstaff bearing a greenflag with a white curve like a sickle moon broidered on it. 

And it would seem that the fleet that lay in Moulin Huet had chieflycome to disencumber itself of all manner of goods for the furnishingand defence of the castle up yonder. For some four days the train ofrough-bearded men in long seamen's boots toiled to and fro from bay tocastle, from castle to bay, with horse and ass, waggon and cart, tillmen said all the spoil of Brittany and Spain, with all manner oftreasures of Moorish lands were stored in the deep caverns under thechâteau. And it was even said that since Le Grand Sarrasin would be lordof Guernsey, he would treat well and justly them that dwelt therein, andthat if the islanders touched not him he would smite not them, and soforth. But we of the cloister knew our abbot was no man to close hiseyes, when ill was afoot around him, and that though the pirate-swarmhad none other hand thrust into their comb, his at least would go there, or send others that were mightier. 

And messengers to Normandy had been sent week by week, but none had oflate returned. Day by day our hearts grew more anxious as we saw thenumber of Moorish ships in our waters, and we began to fear that theyand their letters had fallen into those evil hands. 

And then our worst fears were realized. It was late one evening, I stoodat the cloister gate, and on the white road that led to the château Isaw a figure I seemed to know; but kind heavens, what a figure I It wasgood Brother Ralf indeed! But his white skirts were slit in rags, hisankles bleeding with sore wounds; he stooped and tottered as he walked, and, horror! that women's sons should do such deeds, his ears had beenhacked and hewn away, and his head hung bloody on his breast whereon astrip of parchment said--

 The envoy of Michael to William returns from Geoffroy to Michael. More such will follow, and Geoffroy himself ere long cometh to do unto Michael likewise for his courtesies. Salut. 

In a horror I summoned up the brothers, as they trooped out fromcompline-prayer, and two of the stoutest bore Ralf gently to therefectory. There, drugs and good care brought the life back to his eyes, and he smiled on us as though half in fear that we were foes. 

We would have had him speak; but he spake not. And the abbot came, calmand unmoved yet, but a glitter of keen light kept glancinglightning-like from his eyes, and he said, as he stood by the settlewhereon he lay--

"Speak, dear son--speak to us thy brethren. "

Ralf struggled, and raised his heavy hand, and but babbled withoutmeaning. 

A quick burst of colour rushed into the abbot's face. Calm, stately, still, with a very blaze of anger hidden in his eyes, that we trembledagain, he stood with that red glow in his cheeks. 

"He speaks not--for he is distraught, " he said. "What shall God do tomen that rob their brothers of His noblest gift--the gift of reason?"

For a moment he stood in prayer, and then raised his shapely hand andblessed him thrice, and then bid us bear him to the sick-house, wheresisters nursed him tenderly to life, and won him back much of strengthand health--but never the gift, the abbot called God's noblest gift--forhe had left that for ever behind in the château on the hill. 

Now, this Brother Ralf had set out three weeks before in a trader's barkthat sailed for Granville Harbour in Normandy. And he had borne mosturgent missives from our abbot to Duke William. In them was writ howthat a castle of ill-fame was already built, in them that the arch-foehimself, that so harried St. Brieuc with a very fleet of ships, eitherlay in the harbour, or in the new château. 

But thus three things we knew. First, that as yet Duke William had hadno word of the evil presumption of this foul settler in the isle, andcould therefore send none to destroy him, and that therefore we had forthe time naught but our own hands and walls to succour us. And next, weunderstood, that there was indeed between Le Grand Geoffroy andourselves war that none could stay with prayer or supplication to men orto God. For whereas he knew we had sent to the duke, the sternestsweeper from land or sea of robber and marauder, to deliver us--so weknew, as we thought of Ralf, that life and life's joy would have for usneither sweetness nor endurance, if he went free, who had been to ourbrother without mercy and without pity. And, lastly, it was clear thatGeoffroy's Moors were yet more deadly than we thought, and morenumerous. They were stationed, we dreaded to believe, off every point, at all four quarters. They ringed the Norman Sea with their cursedhulks. They lay like a moving line of forts 'twixt us and William. 

I longed in my heart to break through that encircling line and reachDuke William; but how could I go? The attack might at any hour come, thebrethren were armed beneath their robes, all goodly things were alreadystored in the Castle, and we were ready to pass thither when commanded. Hugo had his watchmen on the seaward wall, and had enrolled in martialwise all the lay brethren, many gentlemen, and sundry stout herdmen, shepherds, and merchants of the island. None slept, though some lay downto sleep; two days passed without attack, but at the dawning of thethird day we saw some twenty ships sweep from St. Martin's northward, and as the wind permitted, draw nearer, until they were as close as theydared come, and we saw the boats trailing astern of every ship. 

Then we knew we were surrounded both on land and by sea. Yet that sheercliff was hard to mount, running straight up to our wall from the verysea. So in God and our own walls we had confidence still, and theprayers of men in danger went up from the Abbey choir. No prayers weresaid in those walls, after that day for ever. The day after, church, cloister, hall, refectory, guesthouse and abbot's dwelling were flamingup to heaven, or charred and ruined amid their fallen roofs and stones. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Of our passing from cloister to castle, and of the burning of the _ValeAbbey_. Of their siege of the castle, and the exploits of _BrotherHugo_. 

Now, on the next day it was close upon the hour of Lauds, when thescouts that were set in sight of the château among the thick brushwoodand gorse, came with great haste and told us that the Moors were evennow on their way to us, hoping to catch us unsuspecting at our prayers. Now we had our orders of Brother Hugo in such a case, and we simply didwhat we had done already at his bidding, many times for practice ofsafety in an hour of danger. First the great heavy doors of themonastery were closed, and the bolts drawn, and the bars of iron swunginto place to stay their passage. Then we swiftly gathered up whateverstill was left that was precious or useful--books, vestments, relics, and sacred vessels had gone already--and by the ringing of a little bellgathering together all that were now housed with us--a goodly companyindeed it was of old and young--with all due confidence of heart andmind we proceeded in long line to the Church, which lay from east towest, forming with high thick walls the northern defence of ourcloister. And as we passed two and two up the choir that morning, themonks raised with slow and solemn voice their last Miserere in that holyplace, the home of many of them from their boyhood. 

But what did the convent at its prayers, as the Moorish host drew near?This was made clear ere long. For we were to see, we lads, what ne'erhad met our eyes before, the very earth open to save us, and this by nomiracle save man's skill given by God to devise wise and cunning shiftsfor those in peril. 

Lo! the abbot stood, _in medio chori_, noble and calm, and the sadstrains of Miserere rolled down the aisle. He stood by a stool of oakthat rested there for prayer withal, and ever so lightly touched alittle point of brass, that lay but a speck in the midst of the stonefloor. And as he pressed with his kid shoe a moment, the stone sankslowly some two fathoms, leaving disclosed a stairway, and a passagearched overhead with bricks, with a cool and pleasant air therein, that, rushing up, refreshed our souls. 

Then we passed downwards, old and young, and so along the brick passage, that ran straight eastward, as I guessed to the Vale Castle. And theabbot stayed till we had all passed through. Then, as he pressed uponthe stone, it slowly rose again to its right level, and looking round Isaw him in like manner cause sundry other stones to drop behind him ashe came. Then letting loose a trap--lo! a very shower of granite blockscame falling down closing the path behind us with great heaps high as aman's shoulders. 

So, heartening one another with cheery words as we went, we passedthrough a little chamber that led straight through the Keep--and so wewere met by Hugo and Bernard, and dispersed each to his right place, aswas meet in such a perilous time. 

Now, by favour of Brother Hugo, I stood near and succoured him, andthough in my stormy life I have had fighting and besieging in Normandy, Brittany, Touraine, and here in England, never have I seen such prowessand such strength as I saw in Brother Hugo. 

Thus, by his favour, I was ere long on the south bastion that overlookedthe gate of the Castle. There was but one gate by Cherbourg's design, and that a small one for so great a place, and yet, what need ofgreater? The larger hole surely that a rat's home hath the easier tofind the rat, and rabbiting were easier were the burrow a yard incircuit. So Cherbourg built Vale gate not for state but for use, to passmen through, not foes but friends, and it was clamped with well-hammerediron, and secured by ponderous bars and bolts. 

From the rampart we looked southward, and saw away by the cloister gatesthe black swarm of the Sarrasin. We saw them nearer by-and-by. But nowthey stood before the gate, and seemed as they would hold parley withthose that they thought to be within. But they heard naught, and sawnaught through trap or grating. Then must they have thought the brethrenwere in hiding, or maybe stayed in the church to meet death at prayer, as good monks have chosen to do ere this, preferring so with calm hopeto pass to God than in a useless struggle, for which He framed them not. For a young tree was rooted up, and with its full weight, rammed by atroop of knaves against the gate. And though it stood the charge notonce, nor twice, nor thrice indeed, at length with the rush and weightof many men behind it, it charged with such a force that the great gatefell with a sound that we could hear in the still morning, and in amoment the barbarous swarms were over it, and ready to work their willin cloister and house of prayer. 

It was a sore moment, and one to make the strongest set their teeth hardtogether, when we saw through the trees a little curl of smoke wreatheitself up in the calm air, and then smoke more dense, and still moredense to follow, and then the bright red tongues of flame leaping anddancing as though in ungrateful glee o'er the ruin of the home of menwho did no harm, but only good. 

"They will soon be here, lad, " said Hugo, beside me on the wall. "Let ussay, 'Sursum corda. '"

"Ay, 'ad Dominum, '" I answered bravely. 

Now, these were our sign and countersign for our holy war that day. Andjust then word came from the north-east bastion that the Moors werealready in their boats, and rowing to the Castle, with ladder and ropeon board, a round hundred or so of the knaves, hoping to catch us asleepin the rear, while we met the foe in front, and order was given that atonce we be prepared to discharge plenty of stones, and to shoot ourignited darts down on them from the height. There was no sign yet of thefoe in front, so we went to the seaward wall, whither the boats drewnear. Now, Hugo himself sent forth the first stones, but the boats wereyet too far, and the balls but struck the waves, and made them spurt upfountains of foam. 

Yet the rogues seemed surprised and scared at our being so ready withdefence, and they stayed a moment ere they came within range of ourarmoury. Then at a signal of command they all rowed straight forward. They hoped out of so many some would get through. See! A very hail ofstones and rocky fragments, and a very shower of fiery arrows, each onea deadly comet as it falls! They descend on the swift-rowed boats. Theyfall as they will without mercy on man or thwart. The devils shriek outand drop their oars, and writhe horribly when they are hit. And somewith bold hands sweep them out of their craft. 

In one boat some three fire-darts fell, and while the rogues struggledamong themselves to escape burning, a worse thing happened, for the drywood within sprang into flame, and no dowsing of the water could put thefire out, till the waves rushed in and swamped her in a moment, and thecrew of some ten souls were struggling in the water. None of the restessayed to save them; they were already overburdened, and had their ownwork to escape damage. 

I know not whether they retired, or whether, landing hard by, theyswelled the main attack, which as I write had already begun. For Hugohad left me to speed the manage of the balls, and when he called meagain I saw a new sight in front of the great southwestern bastion. 

The Moors were gathered in force indeed, and an evil crew, evilequipped, and in evil order they were. Each within a little his owngeneral as we first viewed them, each his own envoy to shoot forth to uson the walls foul and blasphemous words, that shamed us to hear: "Comeforth, ye foul rats of the cloister; come and be spitted here on theground. " "Spear or fire, greasy monks, which choose ye, or a spit toroast your fat carcases by the flame. " "Good Michael, send us, prithee, thine envoy hither; see us deck him with fair traps for thineentertainment"

In such wise they ranted and railed before us, but naught was said inanswer, nor, as they doubtless hoped, did they draw us to think ofleaving our fastness for the open. No word was spoken. No arrow wasshot. Nor was a ball thrown yet. 

But the number of the villains! Stretching back across the common, well-nigh to the cloister, and seeming even still to be pouring downfrom the woods. Ah me! What a black hell of sin lay 'neath those faces, like an ugly, stormy sea below us, and what a motley of lost souls ofevery race. Dark Moors were there in plenty, with rich dress and shiningmail; black Africans with blubber lips and mats of furzy hair; sleekJews slithering in and out the groups, inciting to devil's work; figuresof nobles and gentlemen of France or Espagne, dishonoured and merged inthe depth of the lowest scum there present; great Saxon churls andDanes, standing stern and resolute, but barbarous, as lions in the ranksof jackals and wolves!

CHAPTER VII. 

Of _Le Grand Sarrasin_, and of the renewed attack upon _Vale Castle_. Ofmy first deeds of arms, and how the _Moors_ were beaten back. 

What they waited for we guessed not, till a great black horse camecantering over the plain, and a whisper went through the ramparts: "TheGrand Sarrasin himself!" And he it was. He had his visor down. For none, so men said, had ever seen his face; and with excellent management ofthe steed of Araby, whereon he sat, drew up straight in front of thelong rank of villains that he led. A great figure he sat on his horse, but swift and ready in his movements, though stout and heavy, andexceedingly knightly, as he rested with one hand on the beast's haunch. 

The ranks were no more in disorder, and the sounds ceased. Side by sidethey stood, erect and deadly. Each eye on him. Each head steady. It wasa disciplined host. It was a band of music that he ruled with the sweepof his hand. We understood how the pirates of the Norman seas were allat one. They had found their master, and knew naught but his will. 

Soon we saw the army break into three, and come forth to assault us atdifferent points. Of the southeastern bastion, where I was stationed, Ican only tell. What happened otherwhere I only know by hearsay. There wehad some forty of our complement of men to relieve one another with thestones, and shoot their arrows, and be prepared for service with thebroadsword should need come. And great prongs we had very swiftly todislodge the ladders, which with sore effort they strove to thrust intothe thick cement 'twixt stone and stone. And once or twice when theladder held, there was quick work pouring hot pitch on their heads. Hourby hour they strove on, caring not for defeat, for when men fell woundedand hurt, others more like devil-cats took their place; but we thought, for our part, the attack was slacker, when sudden, from the northernrampart, that was steeper than the rest, and therefore less defended, rang deadly, heartrending shrieks and clamour for aid, and we knew thatat that post the Moors had gained a footing, and "Haste ye, left rankwith me, " said Brother Hugo; "you, Bertram, and you, Alain, keep up thedefence here. "

So by Brother Hugo's side I rushed to the northern rampart, and saw him, with his bright blade sweeping like lightning through the air, dealdeath amid that Sarrasin crowd, that in face of pitch and stones hadworked their way up the well-nigh upright wall. 

There were with us at that moment some twenty on the rampart, and thiswas well-nigh enough, had there been no surprise in the attack. For theSarrasins could but come up slowly, and one, discomfited at the summit, would roll back and carry with him many that were clambering up belowhim. But already some thirty were on the rampart, or in preparation tospring. And our men had been affrighted and fled, had not Hugo, with his"Rou! Rou!" loud upraised, relighted their failing courage. And, indeed, who would not follow bravely such a one, in such peril fearless, andhimself tackling already a knot of five or six of the foe with hisinvincible sword that was named "Roland"? The white blade swept downsharp and swift, and in a moment two Sarrasins lay helpless, for theywere surprised by the swift onset. Up the blade rose again, and metready parry and defence from a tall, sinewy fellow, that bore in hisaddress the signs of nobility. And then began a sharp tussle 'twixt thetwain, sword against sword with ready guard of shield, that I saw not, for a passion that I knew not possessed me--the fever of war, a sadthing, but a glad thing yet when it doth sweep into a youth's heart inhis first assay of arms. This new thing in me, raging like a fire, boreme to bar the way of two that rushed to clear the path that ran downbeside me to the open lawn within, and so to shun the onset of our menwho were driving back with good success already those that were in actto spring over the wall. 'Gainst one I struck, and he, despising mystroke, or but half seeing 'neath the stairway, parried but carelessly, and my blade slipped through, and wounded his sword-arm at the wrist, that it fell slack, and the blade dropped clattering on thepaving-stones. Then the other knave pinned me against the bastion, and Ifor five good minutes stuck at sword-play with him, he waxing eachmoment more wild and fierce, I striving to remember and show forth inact all that I had learned of defence. 

"Play not longer with the lad, Guilbert, " quoth one behind, "or he willbreathe thee. " And at this cry shame stung him, and he waxed moredreadful fierce, and I within me seemed to hear a voice say "Keep cool, and all is well!" So, wonderful to tell, the more he raged the more coolwas I, and little strange was it that he, sweeping the air with wildthrust and parry, met ere long in his heart the clean stroke of mysword, and I, quivering and half appalled as I drew it reeking forth, was forced in a moment to be on guard again, for another rogue was atme. Yet, with a wild gladness, I saw the villain roll moaning at myfeet, and the new rogue found himself involved at once in a battle withtwo--myself and a stout farmer, who, seeing me in danger, had rushed into my defence. He, with sheer strength, beat down his sword, and sorewounded him, catching himself a scar meanwhile, and so I had time toglance and see how the battle went. 

Still Hugo stood like a king of swordsmen, and around him lay those thathe or others mustering to his defence had slain--some five or six--andnow he was engaged with one that seemed the captain of that stormingparty--as I believe, an Englishman, cold and resolute, and thereby themore dangerous. And I dreaded, for I saw Hugo grow wilder in his stroke, and moreover weaker and weary withal with his great prowess. And Iseemed almost to see with my eyes what I dreaded--that the Englishmanshould tire him out, and then take him where he would; so, careless ofrule, I ran and struck forth at him on the left, and for a moment hekept us both in play. And then Hugo, gathering himself now as for afinal stroke, struck him below the tunic, and he too fell among theslain or wounded. 

Then we looked round. "It was done warily and bravely, lad, " he said. "Maybe thine arm saved my life. But see! No longer they leap our wall, and but few are left to slay. "

"See, see!" I cried in exultation, "they rush back! We have them now inthe rear. "

And so we had in faith, for the scant dozen that were yet unharmed wereeasy prey as they fled, choosing to risk their bones as they dropped, orclung with a bare chance of life, to be cut to pieces by us; for it wasclear that Le Grand Sarrasin had called off the attack at that quarter. Two or three got off scot-free; but, thank Heaven, these gave such anaccount of us as monk-devils and witch-men, that all hope was given upof taking us by storm--by day at least. 

It was now towards evening. No better success had been won by theSarrasin at any point in the attack. It but remained for him to sweephis forces back again to the château. Our hearts leapt up to see themturn their faces towards the forest-land. And before long, with a flagof truce, they were collecting the wounded and the bodies of the dead. Those of the storming party we handed down the wall, or, if livingstill, led them through the gate. 

Now we reckoned that the Moors that day, by sea, arrow, stone, and ball, and in storming, had lost at least a hundred men, while our loss wasonly nine men killed and twenty-six in hospital. So nobly and well wefaced that day of my first fighting. 

"Now, look you, " said Hugo, "we shall have no more storming, unless theyfind greater forces. "

"What then?" said I. 

"Next will they come like Brother Mole, " he said, "with his long tunnelunder earth. And then, if that fail--as God grant it may--they willtrust to a surer _aide-de-camp_ that I fear the most. His step is heardalready--"

"And who is he--this friend who will aid them best?"

"Hush! Whisper it not, Nigel, abroad to dishearten any; but we have butthree weeks' provisions here for so many mouths, or a month's at themost, if we be wary in giving rations. "

"Then their friend is----"

"Famine!" said Hugo, grimly. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

How I was sent forth by my lord abbot to seek the protection of _DukeWilliam_, and of what befell me by the way of the pirates. 

That night there was restless sleeping in Vale Castle and but roughquarters, but no assault nor alarm. 

Next morning there was singing of "Non nobis" and "Te Deum" to boot bythe brethren assembled in martial conclave on the open lawn. Theirchurch was destroyed and its beauty perished; but said Abbot Michael--

"Lo, brethren, here be your choir these days, here your House of God. See, its pillars are the Lord's, and they fear no sacrilegious hand;see, its arch is the heaven, and its roof the sunlit sky, and for musicto our chant hear the lapping of the waves that God hath set in theirbed below. " So, with comforting words, did he restore our courage, as wethought sadly of the ruined cloister, whose smoke yet went up pitifullyto the sky. 

And shortly after these solemn offices I was taken by Hugo to theabbot's presence, in the little chamber he had on the seaward wall. Very strange and careworn he was. 

"Son, " he said, greeting me with a sweet dignity, "thou hast done wellalready in the profession thou hast chosen, as I hear by good report ofall, and indeed so comes out in thee the prowess of a noble race. Thouseest what straits the brethren are in by this blockade and siege?" Hepointed seaward and landward. "And that, should help come not, adeadlier enemy than the Sarrasin himself will strive with us--the faminewith the sword. Thou knowest all this?"

Now, as he spake, I guessed why he spake thus, and so right boldly Ireplied, with a straight look in his eyes--

"Ay, my lord, right well I know. Send me, therefore, now, whither thouthinkest well, for succour in this day of extremity!"

His eye brightened at my words, and he and Hugo looked gladly at oneanother, and Hugo said, with low voice, proudly--

"Our Father, the abbot, hath chosen thee, my esquire, and a proudmission it is, being assured of thy strength and truth of heart, to behis messenger to our sovereign lord the duke, and to inform him of thedangers of his faithful bedesmen here, and of the arrogance of theirfoes and his own. To-night thou wilt start on a noble and knightlyenterprise. "

"It is, my son, " said the abbot, "a path full of danger. But also, asour brother saith, an enterprise both noble and knightly, for the savingof these men of God, and the feeble ones that are sheltered in our fold, not alone from death, but from rude insult and sharp pain. "

I told my lord that I was indeed willing to accept it, though I lovedlife full dearly. And he, assuring me that all matters of my settingforth that night were in Brother Hugo's hands, bent over me, andpressing his hands, that trembled the while, on my young head, committedme to God's care. And I went forth calm and steady with his holy wordsyet in my ears and a great glory of gladness in my heart, that I, stilla lad, was thus chosen for a knight's work. 

I was to set out, Hugo told me, at nightfall from a little cove namedBordeaux Bay that lay hard by the Castle. Old Simon Renouf, a wary pilotamid the dangerous rocks and shallows of our seas, was, with one other, to be my comrade, and I was to be clad in the rough dress of the fisherfolk in case of capture. We were that night to make for the Isle ofJersey, and craftily to lie hid in a quiet opening in the rocks for theday, and then next day, if the wind were good, to sail to the port ofGranville in Normandy. 

Now, it was arranged I was to bear no written message to my lord theduke, only a ring of gold hung in a little bag about my neck, that ourabbot said would stand me in better stead with William, recalling pastservices and duties, and would be thought, were I taken by the pirates, but some harmless relic or valued heirloom. Now, the ring had on it butthe letter "A, " and the motto inscribed around "_Loyal devoir_. "

And so at nightfall we went forth from the back side of the Castle, downthe steep and rugged path that led at length to the shore of BordeauxBay, Brother Hugo, as we went, giving me words of good counsel as to mybehaviour before Duke William, impressing on him the insult of theseknaves to his high fame as duke, and how I should keep a still tongue ifI fell into the hands of the Grand Sarrasin. 

We found Simon Renouf and Jacques de la Mare waiting for us in theirsmall fishing-smack which I knew so well, having so often sailed withthem as boy and lad, and well they loved me, as did all the fishers ofGrande Havre and St. Sampson. But now, as Jacques took the tiller, oldSimon bade me handle the sail, as though I were indeed that which Iappeared, a raw hand learning seaman's craft. Right manfully I took upmy task, and in a moment the dark sail ran up the mast, Simon undid thefastening and pushed off, and with Jacques cunningly guiding us from therocks, the boat stole noiselessly from the bay, coasting northward for aspace to get away from the Moorish ships that still lay outside, andthen, aided by a dim white mist that lay upon the face of the waters anda chill night-breeze, we bore away to the south of Herm and Jethou, whose craggy sides loomed black and terrible as we sailed by. 

Presently the wind fell, and we lay well-nigh becalmed, and the mooncame out, and we could see now the high walls of Sark and the steep sideof Brecquou, and slowly we approached thither. So we ran straight toJersey. The moon set presently, and we made little way, and with thelight of breaking dawn we entered a small creek, wherein the water laycalm and still. When the boat was in safety we clambered upon the rocks, and among them Simon showed a little cave overhung with green streamingplants that indeed was a pleasant place, with all manner of colouredsea-plants clinging to the wall, that the light as it entered playedupon. Here we ate of the good store that lay in the boat's locker, and arare draught of wine washed down the food and refreshed our spirits, andthen Simon bade me lie down and rest, and as the sun began to climb upand make all the sea glisten along its crest, I lay down and slept, andawaked not till he had climbed far up into the sky. But when I awoke oldSimon Renouf still sat by the cave-mouth, gazing out to sea from underhis looming brows, and I thought he sat there like some great eagle byits eyrie keeping watch over its young. And such indeed he was, an eaglesoaring high in fidelity, and my guardian to the death, as in the end itappeared. 

Now, as evening drew near, Simon showed us that with an early startthat night, with good weather as the wind lay, we would make the Normancoast ere morning, and creep along as we might to Port Granville bydaylight. 

But alas! that night we had but just shot out of our hermitage amid therocks, and were giving great heed to the perilous passage withal, when, as we rounded a sudden shelve of rock, we met almost face to face agreat ship that was making across our course. And I feared that theworst would hap, for she was of the same build as the fleet of Le GrandSarrasin. Did they see us lying in now close by the rock? We could nottell for a moment, but then there was no doubt. A shout rang out, and avoice bidding us come aside. 

What could men so bidden do? To sail forth were hopeless. This greatcraft would overhaul us of an instant. To coast along the shore wereperilous and must end in capture. For a moment Simon hesitated, and thenran our boat into the creek again. 

"See, lads, " he said, "here we must stand. The land is more friendlythan the water. Yet I have prayed oft to die on the sea, when my timecame. "

We climbed on to the rocks, and he handed us a cutlass apiece and aknife such as seamen use, and he pointed to a square ledge of rock, thatbut one could enter upon at a time, since a thick jagged wall protectedhalf the front. 

"Stay, Simon, " said I, "art sure she is a pirate?"

"Ay, lad, sure, " he said; "none but a pirate so hails peaceable fishercraft"

"Simon, " I said, "why not give in? Why should you and the lad die forme?"

The old man laid his rugged hand upon me, and the sun lit up with a richlight his red beard as he spoke. 

"Have not the Brethren taught thee a word called 'Duty, ' lad?" he slowlysaid, "a word for me, that was born a poor fisherman in the calling ofthe Lord's Apostles, as well as for thee born of a great house. "

"Then it is thy duty thus to do?" I said, perceiving that naught couldmove him, and that indeed a noble strain within him forbade him to bemoved. 

"Ay, lad, " said he, "and may we all, thou, Jacques, and I, old though Ibe, do our duty right well this morn!"

CHAPTER IX. 

Of our battle on the rocks of _Jersey Isle_, and how _Simon_ gave up hislife, and how I was taken captive and brought back. 

The pirates had put off in two long-boats, and in a short space of timeentered the creek, and climbed across our boat to shore--if shore itcould be called, where the rocks stood broken into such strange and rudeshapes, and where the footing amid them was so rough. I had no doubt oftheir errand, for each man had a great ugly naked weapon in his hand, such as we bore ourselves, only heavier. 

Up the cliff they clambered, and soon spied us in our fastness. 

"Come out, ye spies, " they shouted; "come out, cursed rats, or we willcome and slay you where you stand. "

Our hearts panted to answer, but we said naught. Then they in a momentchanged their tone, and two approaching more civilly, spoke with usalmost at the entry of our fast place. Fair words they used, saying thattheir captain had business of great import with certain stalwart seamenof Jersey that day, and begged us for our own advantage to come downaboard their ship. 

"And who is your captain?" curiously asked Renouf. 

The rogue dissembled not. "Our captain is Le Grand Geoffroy, Lord ofGuernsey, and his _aide-de-camp_, Mahmud le Terrible, is even now onboard of yonder craft. "

"Then, hark you, Sarrasin dog!" said Simon. "Sooner will we three die onthis rock as good men and true to the law of God and man, than haveparley further in anywise with you and your men of blood. "

Our civil visitors saw that fair words were of no avail to savefighting, and so they ran back to their fellows, and with a few minutes'chatter among themselves, half of them climbed up amid the rocks, todrop on us, as we guessed from above, where they might find footholdamong the crevices, and the others with determined aspect ran up to usin single line, taking the narrow ledge for their road to ourstronghold. 

Then began the fray. It was no hard matter for Jacques de la Mare and meat first to stay their attack, for the first comer and the next, struckere they strove to pass us, fell down helpless among the rocks below. But the third, running in quickly, closed with Jacques, and forcing himback, left room for another to close with me, and by this a shout aboveour heads warned us that the rest would be upon us as it were from thesky. I dimly saw Jacques locked arm to arm and breast to breast with avillain, his equal in strength and stature; and then, as I had seenwrestlers in peaceful times, so each now on that narrow spot, graspingcutlasses the while, strove with all manner of feint and twist and turnto throw his adversary. Close to the side they were, when I saw thethickset pirate swing as easy as a child across Jacques' back. The twoclung together for a moment. Jacques struggled to get loose. But thevillain clung too well. And so they both fell together into the deepwell below. Creux de la Mort the islanders call it to this day. 

I sought rather with sword play to strike the villain in my path, andold Simon by my side saw soon his place to strike in, and gave him adeadly stroke. But as he did so the first two rogues dropped from above, and the little narrow ledge of rock, with its far outlook over thewaves, and pleasant vision of white surf running over the rocks, andstill gulls seated thereon, was soon like hell itself, full of dark andevil faces. Now Simon was attacked at back and front, as he stumbledback over the bodies; a great knife was thrust into his back, even as hefaced a rogue before his face, and I saw the old faithful soul fallforward, and making a kind of stagger with his arms up, ere he fell, drop into the pool below. So, according to his prayer, he died in thesea, and nobly, as any knight of great fame, was true to death. 

Now, what of myself. The villains would not kill me, though this theycould have done many times. Yet like a young lion I fought fiercely withmy back against the rock, and I know not how many I slashed and cut withmy weapon, till, with a swift stroke, one struck it out of my hand, andI seemed at their mercy. But my great knife was in my hand in its place, and with that I hastened another of these evil men to his last account. And then two, rushing at me from either side, pinioned me as I stoodwith a rope, and I, seeing no hope in struggling longer, like a naughtychild, let myself be led or carried to their boat, and so taken on boardthe dark ship, whither they bore me. 

And once on board they took little heed of me. Only they bound me moresecurely with cords that cut my ankles, and threw me in a corner oftheir craft amid some baggage. One that I judged to be Mahmud theTerrible came and gazed on me with a dark smile, but said no word. 

Now, after two hours or more, I heard a voice say from the tiller, "Straight for St. Martin's Point!" and in a short time we came to anchorin a certain harbour. I know not of a surety, for mine eyes wereblinded, but I guess it was Moulin Huet. And presently I was partlyunbound, set upon my feet, and made to walk. So, blindfolded andmiserable, I entered again that dear island, that I had left forNormandy but two nights before. 

CHAPTER X. 

How I was brought before _Le Grand Sarrasin_, and of his magnificence. How I saw _Folly_ in his chamber, and was lodged in a cavern underearth. 

It is long years ago since I was borne up the Castle Hill, the prisonerof the Moors, but I stand not upon any high hill even to-day to lookdown without remembering how I felt on that day, when the bandage wastorn from my eyes, and I looked round, dazzled at first by the daylight. But there was that in me, in that I was young, and had all my boyhoodbeen taught true faith in Heaven, which even now rose up and persuadedme that come what might a man could bear it, and that no evil man couldby any means force out of a true man's lips that which he would fain notsay. 

Before me rose a bright pavilion of green and gold, and two greatsentries in rich raiment with pikes stood either side of the entrance, letting none pass without a countersign. 

Then as my captor drew me rudely onwards towards the entrance, Iguessed, as they stood speaking with the sentries ere we entered, thatthis was the Pavilion of Le Grand Sarrasin. 

We entered, and found ourselves in a rich antechamber, spread withcarpets of Turkey, whereon men in glossy cloaks trod to and fro inconverse or lay at ease. A fair curtain of blue silk was drawn across aninner entrance, guarded by two negro lads in scarlet. Awhile we waited, but at length a page came through the curtain, and with a low obeisanceto Mahmud called us to follow him, and we went into a second chamber, wherein was no daylight, but only great lighted lamps of silver, thatswung melancholy in the gloom. As mine eyes used themselves to the dimlight, I saw it was indeed Geoffrey's presence chamber that I, poorNigel, stood in, with the great foe of our cloister seated before me. 

Stout and thick-set as I saw him on his Arabian steed, he sat in hisgolden chair, clad in black velvet, with buttons of glittering jewels. Ilooked up through the dim light to see his face, but lo! I saw naught, for a little veil of black gauze was stretched round from a small goldcap upon his head. And I remembered how it was current talk that no manhad ever seen Le Grand Geoffroy's face in war or peace, and that aterrible mystery lay beneath this veil of gauze, through which he gazedon his men. 

Upon my entrance, he stooped and spoke to one at his side, who it seemedwas to act as interpreter between us; and he coming forward bade Mahmudspeak, which he did in a strange tongue, pointing to me at times asthough recounting my efforts to resist at Jersey. 

Upon his ceasing, the interpreter presently approached, and bade me tellmy name, and whither I went in that boat, and what my business. Now, Iwas determined to answer nothing, lest ill be done to the good cause ofmy friends, so I said not a word. Then at a word from the Sarrasin, Mahmud said--

"Silence avails not, Nigel of Vale Abbey; we know thee and thy business, and have power to know more!"

At this I forgot caution, and replied hotly--"My name thou knowest, andit is not a name that a man need be ashamed of; more shalt thou fail tolearn, for all thy craft. "

This I hurled madly at Le Grand Geoffroy on his throne, but he stirrednot. 

"Thou wilt tell us, " proceeded the black-bearded ruffian, "how manythere be shut up in Vale, what thou knowest of their treasuries, whatstore of food they have, and the disposition of their sentinels atnightfall. "

My answer was a gaze of angry scorn. 

The Grand Sarrasin bent down to the interpreter, and when he had spoken, he came forward like a herald, and spake thus--

"Thy lord, and the lord of these isles, would have thee know that heloves thy courage, Nigel de Bessin, but fears for thy folly in thismatter. He would have thee answer to all questions asked thee, and soin good season enter his service as a brave man. "

I smiled defiance at the cunning monster. "Yea! yea!" I said, "thouwouldst have me add to my other woes the woe of treachery! Geoffroy, ifthat be thy name, know thou my friends' matters are safe in my ownkeeping. "

Again the Sarrasin bent and conversed with Mahmud, and the little bagthey had robbed from my neck was taken to him, the which he opened, andcuriously handled the ring that lay therein, with its motto, "_Loyaldevoir_, " and the letter "A. "

Presently the interpreter again came forth, and bade them in his lord'sname remove me to safe keeping, as other matters were at hand to occupyhim. Then, with all due state, we passed out of the chamber on one side, and I was, by a straight passage, led downward to those very cavernsunder earth which the pirates had dug for their treasuries. Now, as wepassed out, I saw others in a throng enter the Sarrasin's presencechamber, but I could scarce see them clearly, and beside this throng ofvisitors leapt, I thought, that very impish ugly devil, the ape that mencalled the familiar of the Lord of Rouen, that he named Folly, the whichI had set eyes on at the house at Blanchelande. Yea, it ran chatteringwith many a mow and grimace, and though I saw not those that entered, Iwas well assured that my Lord of Rouen had free entry to Le GrandSarrasin, full lot in his friendship and unholy fortunes; nay, as itstruck me at once, was working through this Moorish devil evil to ourabbot, whom he now hated, and danger to a greater than he. Now, thesethoughts ran through my mind when I saw Folly, the archbishop's ape, solively in the Sarrasin's presence chamber, and I exceedingly dreadedthis evil union of evil men, yet remembered I my "_Quare fremuerunt_, "and had good faith that One more powerful than man would save me and mygood friends the Brethren from false Maugher and cruel Geoffroy. 

To a sad dungeon beneath the ground was I led, exceeding dark, for theonly light entered through a narrow slit in the rocky roof; and I sawthat the walls and roof were rugged and rough, half cavern and halfcell. Alas! alas! sad moment indeed it was when I was thrust therein, with my arms bound to my back and my wounds still undrest, my body stiffand full of pain, and my head dizzy and heavy after so great excitement. Helplessly enough I crawled around the rocky walls, and found a barrierthat seemed framed of wood across the entry. I felt, and found that ithung like a great gate on a bar of iron that ran through holes cut inthe solid rock. I looked in despair up to the narrow slip above. Inagony of spirit I even for a short space threw myself as I might againstthe door, against the rock. 

At length I knew it was hopeless, and I crawled to a heap of plunderedgoods, and lay on them passive for a season. Perchance I slept, and atleast a little space forgot my troubles, but not heavily, for a verygentle moving of the door appalled me, and in a moment I was half on myfeet. There was no need for such alarm, for he that entered came softlyin and whispered that he was a friend. A moment I thought here was awile of my foes to catch me, but I looked long and sternly at myvisitor, and decided he had not come to work deceit. A man he was ofnoble and knightly aspect, easy in his bearing, frank in his gaze, exceeding handsome, so far as by the dim light I could judge. He cameclose and stood by me, and spoke softly. 

"Hush, lad, " he said, "fear me not, for I come hither as a friend! Andif thou art to be saved from torture and death, thou must trust me asthe saint trusts his God. Wilt thou do this?"

I murmured beneath my breath that I did not doubt him, and bade him forthe sake of God not to delay. 

"Thou dost not know me, Nigel de Bessin, " he said, "but I know theealready, and with many another stood this day in yonder antechamber andheard thy words to Geoffroy. Now, those words I loved to hear, and Ihave been in a struggle since I heard thee, the one part of me saying, 'Save this lad, ' and the other part counselling me to let thee die. ButI am here to save thee. "

"Yea! yea!" I broke in; "but how may it be done?"

"Trust me, " he said, "and in an hour's space, for it is even nowevening, the château will be at rest, and our sentinels are slack ofwatch. Meanwhile, refresh thyself, and prepare even now for what may bethy hardest battle. " He laid before me some eatables and a little flaskof wine, and with a slash of his poniard cut the cord from my arms, which for long hung cramped and aching, so tight had they been bound. 

With that he vanished out of the cell, and hope again sprang up in myheart, and I thanked Heaven for sending me such aid in my woes, evenhere in the womb of the earth. 

CHAPTER XI. 

By what means I was delivered from _Le Grand Sarrasin_, and how I foundshelter with the priest of _St. Apolline's_. 

The cell had been dark before. Now it was black as night, and havingeaten my friend's goodly parcel of food, I was refreshed, and eagerlyawaited his return. Presently he was with me, and softly rolling thegreat door on its hinge, let me swiftly through into the long earthypassage that led upward. We traversed many yards, and I know not whattreasures I saw heaped hastily on this side or on that, and I saw at theend, where the path passed forth, the form of the sentinel at his post. Now all our hope lay in what that moment chanced. He lolled easilyagainst the rock, gazing forth, as I thought dreamily, into the open. Mycompanion drew me along on tiptoe till we were even a pace behind him. We were so close that I think I heard him breathe. Then rapidly the manfelt a scarf round his mouth and wiry fingers at his throat, so that hecould make no sound. 

"Strike, Nigel!" said my comrade. "There is little time for mercy!"

So I drew my companion's dagger from his waist and used it swiftly, though it went sore against my nature thus to strike a sentinel at hispost by surprise. 

He fell heavily backward. I drew forth the dagger, and we ran swiftlyfor the cover of the side of a building. Along the wall we crept warilyand without sound, and the next moment I saw my deliverer swing himselfupon a bough that hung within his reach. In his train I followed, as hecaught wondrous craftily in the darkness now at this branch, now atthat, and more than once passed like an ape or squirrel of the woodlandfrom tree to tree. At last I looked down and saw the wall loom frombelow, and the branch whereon I clung spread across the wall into theopen. There we dropped down right nimbly as I remember a full ten feet, and the branch swung back from our hands noiselessly, and without soundwe passed swiftly on hands and knees for a space under the near shelterof the forest brushwood. 

Nothing was said till we were a round two hundred yards within, and thenmy friend pointed to a little path, for the moon was risen. 

"Yonder, dear lad, " he said, "lies thy way to the Vale, and I must nowbe for a space a dead man in the woods, outcast even of the pirates. "

"Nay, friend, " said I, "I go not back to the Vale till I come with forceto release them from their woes. "

"What!" said he. "Thou still art minded to journey to Normandy? Oh, dear and knightly lad!"

"Yea, " I said, "thither must lie my road, and I pray thee to help me onmy way, for indeed I fear to fall into Geoffrey's jaws again; and nowthree days are lost that should have brought me nearer to William. "

"If it be indeed thy will, " he said, "and indeed thou couldst not willbetter, since, as the case is, yonder castle could not many weekswithstand the Sarrasin, thou must come with me, and on the road to mygood friend, to whom I journey for safety, I will ponder over thismatter, and concert a scheme, whereby the wish of thy heart may becarried out. Meanwhile, trust me, good child, as so far thou hast noblydone. "

"One thing, good friend, " I said, as we swung along southward, "what isthy name, that I may know whom I may thank for this wonderfuldeliverance. "

My comrade laughed strangely at my words, and answered hastily--

"For names, lad, we are not over-ready with them in the château yonder. Ofttimes their sound, compared with their ring in other days, bringethmore pain than joy. You may call me, if thou wilt, Des Bois, for indeedI love the woodland. And for thanks, lad, thank me with a kind word andtrustful look, and a good stroke of the sword, if that be needful everfor mine honour. "

So we strode on, and as the moonlight made silvery passages amid thetrees, I watched him as he knitted his brows in thought, whether on myaccount or his own I knew not. I thought I saw in him all that I dreamedof knightly spirit, and I guessed that in Des Bois lay hidden one likeBrother Hugo, who for some reason masked a great and noble name in thispoor, paltry disguise. Ay, but it was a visage that not long restedserious. A smile broke over its furrows, making it like a field thatsmiled in the sunlight, and he said right gaily in my ear--

"Ay, good lad, we will weave thee a rope to Normandy both strong andsubtle, and witty withal, and thou shalt hear its texture when we arriveyonder; but as the night wears on, we must ride faster, or trotourselves, since steed are lacking, so let us not lose time. "

With that indeed he broke into a nimble run, and I followed. And erehalf a mile was passed, we were out of the forest and by the shore ofthe sea, hard by Cobo Bay, and keeping still close to cover, lest dangershould arise--for the pirates had their sentinels in huts in every smallharbour of the isle--we ere long were by La Perelle Bay, and I could seeon Lihou the dim outline of the monastery. 

Soon Des Bois turned sharply to the left, and we were soon in a trimwood that ran up almost from the shore. The blind, thick wall of a smallbuilding lay in our path, and by its side a little low-roofed hut ofdaub and wattle. 

"The chapel of good St. Apolline!" I said in surprise, for I knew wellthat little shrine by the coast, where the fisher-people madesupplication for good weather and success in their craft, and hung uptheir poor offerings for the holy saint's honour. 

"Ay, that it is, " said Des Bois. "Now will we find its guardian at hisvigils. "

He oped with ease the latch of the lowly door of the hut, and we found, indeed, no saint at matins or prime, but only the priest of St. Apolline, curled on his wood settle in honest slumber, and snoringlustily withal. 

Des Bois gazed at him with a merry smile, and presently tweaked himmerrily by the ear, crying out--

"Up, good hog! up, griskin-knave! up, lubber! and provide meetentertainment for honest men. "

"Ralf! Ralf!" sang out the priest in alarm, as he leapt from his poorcouch. "What make you here at this hour of night?"

"Often hast thou, " answered Des Bois, "with sage reproof bid me turn toan honest and a sober life, and now I have turned to the side of theholy saints. Lo! I have cut my ropes this night, and am free again. Free, that is to say, if thou wilt hide me for a season, and do thy goodoffices for Nigel here, who indeed hath saved me, as I him. "

The good priest grasped his hand, and I thought he wept, as though DesBois' words conveyed more than I could understand. The two men drewaside together and whispered seriously for a time. 

But I was glad, before they ceased, to wash away the blood from mywounds, and all the dust and sweat of my capture and escape. And aftermuch washing in the brook, I felt well-nigh a new man; and sitting downat the priest's rough board, we next refreshed ourselves with such storeas the good man had. And after we had eaten, Des Bois, whose name I nowknew was Ralf, began to explain the plan by means of which I was stillto journey safely to Normandy. 

"Hark you, good Nigel, " said Ralf. "I have discovered a rare likenessbetwixt you and our Father, this dear Augustine. Indeed, saving for themarks of time, ye might be brothers of one birth. Now, it likes me notto cast away prodigally such rare aid given by Mother Nature to ourdesigns. So, look you, you shall journey to Normandy as FatherAugustine, priest of St. Apolline's in Guernsey, while Father Augustineand I, dear yoke-fellows of old, shall betake ourselves, as once ortwice before, to the nether-world for a season. "

Father Augustine smiled his assent to the scheme, as I asked hastily--

"But, even so, how will the knaves yonder let me pass?"

Ralf smiled as he replied, "Ay, they will not molest thee. Augustinehath a gift of walking warily, so that all men count him their friend, and, earnest man, he hath full oft his own good designs, that carry himto and fro across the seas. Thou hast but to stride with his smart stepboldly by yon château gate, and so to Pierre Port, and none will forbidthy passage on any vessel that thou pleasest, if thou but give good wordto all thou meetest, Moor and islander alike, good man and good dame. Pat, too, the little innocents on the head with a paternal blessing. Answer not save in words of hearty jest. Keep a front unconcerned andfree, though thy heart rap hard against thy chest-bones, and, in goodfaith, within a sennight or twain thou wilt be back in the isle, withDuke William at thy tail. "

"And it is well for thee, good lad, " said Augustine, "that thou artbetter suited than this rogue to figure harmlessly as a priest that mentrust. But surely it will aid thee much in carrying through this schemethat thou wast bred amid monks, and churchmen, and art used to theirways of act and speech. Yea, lad, with a bold step and an easy mannerthou wilt be safer beneath my cloak in the open than if by secret pathsthou essayedst never so warily to cheat the Sarrasin's sentinels. "

What could I do but thank them, and yield myself with all despatch intotheir hands, to be turned by means of razor and paint, of cunning dye, still nearer like the priest of St. Apolline? In the end, as I drew thegood father's cowl around my pate, and essayed to imitate his carelessstride and easy gait, they both swore that the good saint himself, werehe to escape from the skies and visit his earthly shrine, would be hardput to it to know which was his own priest and which the counterfeit. 

But ere this the sun was up, and there were sounds of fishermen alreadymoving in the bay below. We knew that by this time our escape must bediscovered, and so with hurried counsel my friends betook themselvesaway--at least, they were with me at one moment, and then of a sudden, like dreams, were lost to my sight. And I, as it were to try thestrength of my disguise, went down for a short space among the huts ofthe fisher-people. 

There goodman and goodwife alike gave me friendly greeting, and Icheerily told them they must spare me for one sennight, if that mightbe; whereupon the children, running up, stayed further question, and ina moment I, in my long, sober cloak, was a war-horse, or a crazy bull atthe least, that went ramping among their blue-eyed chivalry, carryinglittle affright, but rather earning peals of merry laughter. 

CHAPTER XII. 

Of my second setting forth for _Normandy_, and in what guise I tookpassage. 

I next prepared to start on my journey to St. Pierre Port; and, before Iwent, I tarried for awhile in the rude chapel of St Apolline, to say aprayer for myself and those good men whom it was in my heart to succour. But, my prayers ended, I must fare forth. And lo! even as I turned toleave the chapel, I heard the sound of hasty steps and voices, andalready three of the pirates were in the yard, singing out--

"Come forth, master priest, and help us find our quarry!"

How my heart rapped as I made myself seen of them at the gate, and, witha gay face, fetched out a merry inquiry--

"What seek you, early birds, so soon afield?"

Never face and attitude surely so belied the man within; for, indeed, Idoubted if my legs would bear me, and my poor heart, as I spoke, wentrap, rap!

"Now, hast thou seen two runaways by thy gate this morning, masterpriest--one a stalwart, dangerous fellow, the other a measly, monkishlad? And, prithee, see thou speak the truth. "

I assured them lightly none had passed save the fishers to their boats, and they seemed satisfied, till one, looking more keenly than the rest, came near to me, and, with a suspicious gesture, cried out--

"And thou hast not got them hidden up thy wide sleeve, good priestling?Come, we will search with a good will thy parsonage. "

My heart leapt again. But I managed to ring out a laugh that soundedcareless--

"Oh yes, " said I, "gentlemen galore, and heaps of little beardless monkslie stacked in my poor house yonder. Bring them forth, good sir, andleave more room for me. "

He led the way to search, but the others seemed unwilling, having goodtrust in him that I counterfeited, and all that might afford ahiding-place in the hut was opened and turned about--nay, the very holyrest of the chapel was disturbed as search was made, walls and wainscotrapped, cupboards forced, and stones prised up, the while I stood atease peeling a light cane that I had cut from the wood. 

"Now, good brothers, " said I, lightly, as they stood at fault in themidst of the chapel, "are you satisfied I am no concealer of other men'sproperty or persons hereabout?"

"Yea, we will press on, " said one of them. "They have taken to thecaves like enough, and we shall have a week's 'rabbiting. '"

"Then I wish you good morn, " said I, "with a word of thanks for turningout in your zeal much old stuff of mine that I thought was lost andgone. "

Glad was I indeed to see my three guests break into the forest opposite. So, with a thick staff for my luggage, I took the path that led straightto St. Pierre Port, six miles away. Without let or hindrance I passedon, imitating as I could the easy gait of Father Augustine, and takingcare to greet all I met, of all conditions, who were about on theirbusiness that autumn morning, with such jests or merry speeches as Icould muster. 

Now, I have said already that Le Grand Sarrasin, save for his enmity toAbbot Michael, had as yet showed no unfriendly disposition to ourislanders, except where they thwarted or marred his designs. 

Therefore no ill had happed to St Pierre Port, its fishing, or itscarriage of necessary things, or of persons. And though that heathenfortress could be seen towering up there miles away upon the hill, thegood burghers of St. Pierre, finding their daily business notinterrupted, made but little grievance of Le Grand Sarrasin's presence. 

Wary of running into trouble, they jogged an easy way. Their boats camein and out. Their bales were landed and embarked. Nay, I have heard thatit was their wont to hush the voices in their states council that werefor craving succour of the duke, regarding one ruler, so long as hewhipped not their backs too hard, as equal to another. 

So I went into St. Pierre as into no besieged town, and withouthindrance of any made my way through the winding streets to the harbour, where I hoped to hear of passage to Normandy. And the good father hadtold me of one Le Patourel, that would assist me to embark. This was aman not too well known to him, for too close acquaintance in this casewere dangerous to me, but one doubtless ready to serve the priest ifneed be. 

So I sought out this Le Patourel, as it appeared an honest trader, whotook me without doubt for that I seemed. To my joy I found that avessel, but just finished lading, would start in a short space for St. Malo, and the skipper was willing for certain silver pieces to take mefor his passenger. These I paid down out of a sufficient purse Des Boishad pressed upon me, and with a light and joyous heart tarried on thequay. 

Thither came by presently a bluff priest of the town church that waslike to give me a fall. 

"What, Augustine!" he shouted, so that all on the jetty heard. "Whitherart thou journeying?"

"And that thou wilt come near I will tell thee, " I replied, not knowingfor the world his name. 

"Whither art thou bound?" said he. 

"To Coutances, " said I. "My lord archbishop, you remember. "

"My lord archbishop, " said he, "thou shouldst know is far from Coutancesat this season--for his health. "

Here I was troubled, for I had told many that my lord had sent for me ona certain business. 

"Ah, yes, " said I in haste, "before he went my lord left letters for methat I alone can fetch. But I must go aboard. "

"Stay, " said he, "a moment! What didst thou in that matter of SirHubert? There is a like case of conscience here in St Pierre. "

I hurriedly told him that it was not proper for me to disclose so nice acase of conscience, even to my dear friend himself. Whereat he lookedstrangely at me, I thought, and soon went on his way, wishing me shortlya good voyage to Normandy. 

By three o'clock we sailed away. And glad I was to see this second timethe highland of the isle grow dim and faint as we sped away with thewind behind us. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

How I arrived at _St. Malo_, and, proceeding to the Abbey of _St. Michael de Tombelaine_, found friends to set me on my road. 

With a straight course that naught delayed we ran to St. Malo, thatancient town hard by the holy Mount of St Michael, the mother-house ofour Vale Abbey, where I had good hope that I should quickly thence besped upon my way. 

So when we had come to port, bidding the captain farewell, I chartered agood horse to reach the holy place where, as men say, the blessedMichael came down to bid St. Aubert build him a brave house on thatlonely rock. 

It was the hour of vespers when I attained the hostel of the mount, butI had been aware the last few miles of the sound of a trot behind me, whose pace was marvellous like mine own. If I stayed a moment, the riderbehind likewise stayed; if I went at a gallop, he galloped also. It gaveme some concern to be followed by a caitiff, watching for my purse, as Ihad only a sheath-knife with which to defend myself. 

However, seeing the abbey lights gleam kindly through its narrowwindows, I urged my beast on, though in sooth she was weary; and as Iclattered at last into the yard, saw, as I waited for a space by thegateway, my follower walk his steed quietly by, peering the while as hepassed. 

Now, I strove as soon as was convenient to gain audience of my lordabbot. And this was not easy at that time for a simple secular priest, such as I appeared, for there was ever strife and common contempt 'twixtmonk and parish priest, even as it is to-day. 

"Audience of the holy father--and to-night?" repeated the seneschal, with proud disdain. "Good son, it is impossible, the abbot is engagedwith knight and bishop; keep thou thy little matters till thou canstcatch his rein, as he rides forth to-morrow. "

"It is no little matter, good brother, " I pleaded, "It is of life anddeath to many holy men. "

"If it concerned a kingdom, " returned he, "I could not send thee to theabbot now--with the little matters of thy parish to plague him withal, "the fellow muttered under his breath. 

As we debated thus, a most reverend monk passed through the corridor, ofa strangely lofty and noble air and of a winning sweetness, who stayedhis journey as he saw my evident distress. 

"What ails thee, O my son?" said he. 

"I bear grave and sad news to my lord abbot, " I said, "and news that heshould know without delay. "

"What is thy name?" he said, and searched me kindly with his eyes. 

I could not lie to him, so I said simply, "Nigel, " as I would fain sayno more. 

"Then, good Father Nigel, " said he, seeing my reluctance, "I will gowhisper in my lord's ear, if thou wilt tell me more clearly of thybusiness. "

"Tell him, " said I, "that Abbot Michael, his good brother, has sent mewith sad news of the miseries of Vale Abbey. "

"So, my son, " said the monk, gently, and disappeared through thestairway, whence he presently returned, and led me with him. 

He led me to a certain fair chamber, wherein sat many great lords aroundmy lord abbot. 

"Who is this, brought by our brother of Bec?" said one, as I entered bythe side of that great scholar, Lanfranc, the Abbot of Bec. 

"This, " said the abbot, an Italian also, "is an envoy from the isle ofGuernsey, who comes with greeting from our brother yonder, bearing a sadtale with him, or I am mistaken. "

I knelt to my lord, as he sat in his rich-broidered cloak, with hisplump legs cross-gartered, as befits great nobles, and, kissing hishand, begged that I might speak on. 

"Nay; first, sir priest, " he said, "tell us thy name, and then thystory. "

"Indeed, father, " I replied, "I am not that I seem; no priest am I, though bred in Vale cloister in Guernsey. "

"Then how darest thou, " said he, hotly, "to come hither in this habit?"

"If thou but knewest the greatness of the perils of our brethren, howthey are near being murdered by savage men, thou wouldst forgive me, father. But I bear a name none need fear to own--I am Nigel de Bessin, and mine uncle its vicomte, would vouch for me, were he here----"

"As indeed he is, " put in a pleasant voice of a gentleman that inscarlet cloak sat by my lord's right hand. "And thou art my nephew?"said he, as I moved forward to do him courtesy. 

When we were made known he bade me proceed, assuring me that all mywishes should be fulfilled. 

"My lords, " said I, "the good brothers of St. Michael of the Vale inGuernsey are besieged and shut in this four weeks, nay, stormed andmurdered by a most pestilent villain and an innumerable horde of Moorishdevils that are settled in the isle. Men call him Le Grand Sarrasin, andas ye have doubtless heard, he is a caitiff without mercy, that wars onwomen as on men, on monks and husbandmen. This is he that calls himselfthe Lord of the Norman seas, in clear treachery to our lord the duke, and so cunning he is that he hath watchmen and spies at every harbour, that he may establish himself more stoutly ere help come. "

"And didst thou escape his hands?" said mine uncle, pondering, head uponhand. 

"Nay; he caught me and shut me in the womb of the earth, but by God'sgrace I escaped him--but this matters not. Give me your good aid to theduke, that in all haste I may return with a great host to save thebrethren. "

"How old art thou, my son?" asked Lanfranc. 

"Father, but sixteen years, " said I, as though I feared they might smileat me. 

"And thou, " said he, in admiration, "hast come through these terrors insuch a spirit of courage, wisdom, and love. Verily, my lords, ye seehere a child that God has led marvellously on an undoubted work ofcharity. "

While their eyes rested on me with a wonder I loved not--for, indeed, what had I done above what any knightly youth should do for those heloves?--I spake on, telling them how few days' food remained at Vale, and how strait they were shut in, and begging them to see that I passedon to William swiftly. 

"The duke is far north now, " said the abbot, "gathering strength for thedangers that are looming from France. It is a sore ill time to beseechhim. Yet matters will not wait. In this case, " he said strangely, "thouwilt be thine own best advocate with him, for well he loves a brave andknightly deed. With all haste fit letters shall be written to win thee aready entrance to his presence--to his heart thou must win thine ownway, as thou hast with us. "

"Teach him not, then, " said Lanfranc, "too piteously of the sorrows ofour brethren, for a few monks more or less matter not to him, butrepresent the arrogance of this Sarrasin, and how clearly he claims thetitle of Lord of the Seas. That will touch best our sovereign lord. "

"Is not my Lord Maugher still in Guernsey?" asked the abbot, pondering. 

"Yea, he is, " I said. 

"And how acts he in this trouble? Is he besieged with the brethren, orgoes he free?"

"My lords, " said I, "as I was led captive through the Sarrasin's castle, I saw the same evil beast that my lord calls Folly, but men his familiardemon. I saw it in the very presence of Geoffroy; therefore I thinkthese evil men are hand and glove together. "

"Nay--wilt thou swear this?" said Lanfranc. 

"Ay, that I will, " I said. 

"Then this also must be made known the duke, " said Lanfranc, darkly. 

"Now, my dear son, " said the abbot, "retire to our chamberlain. Cast offthese poor weeds, and take from him aught in his presses that befitsthy dignity, and then return to us, that we may see our vicomte's nephewin his bravery. "

With a courtly bow I left them. 

Now, the abbot's chamberlain found me a fair good suit, more courtlythan I had ever worn, and I scarce knew myself in the glory of its rich, dyed cloth. Fair linen next my skin, fit for an abbot's wear, a longblue tunic broidered with gold, and a trim girdle, a grand surcoat ofdamask, and a gay red cloak over all, with an emerald brooch on my rightshoulder. With bright stockings and a little ribboned hat I was nolonger Nigel the scholar of the Vale, but Nigel de Bessin, gentleman andcourtly soldier. 

So drest and refreshed with food, I returned to my lord's chamber, whereat mine uncle's footstool I heard these noble lords and churchmen speakof the circle of events from England to Italy, and through all theirwords the one great name of William seemed to be present as the centreof their surmisings. So deep had this son of Rollo stamped himself inthe life of those rare days. 

"Strange news from England, this, " said one, "now that the Atheling isdead. We can guess of a truth whom the royal priest will light upon, ashe grows near his end. "

"He loves not Godwin's brood, " said another. 

"Then the prophecy that set Henry of France afire will yet be true inanother way. William shall reign in London, not in Paris, " saidLanfranc. 

"And thou at Canterbury, good brother, " said the abbot. 

And, indeed, ere many years this came to pass. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St. Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell meon my way. 

"Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel, " said the abbot next morning;"this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle. "

I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows, while the two great men put their wise heads together. After customarysalutation, the letter ran--

 "We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy rule. A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills very many of thy lieges. Moreover, his force grows daily to a greater height. There hath joined him Maugher, once archbishop. 

 "Thou wilt know how best to protect thine honour. The bearer hath for his years done wondrous chivalrously in this enterprise. Delay not, duke, to hear him. "

Such was the letter that I bore, signed with the names of the twoabbots. Now I had great joy in having the great Lanfranc's countenance, for all men knew William loved him, since, after his first disgrace forhis sharp rebuke of William's marriage, he met him fearlessly, and withcool laughter and wise words brought him into still closer union thanever he had been before. So I knew my letter would have weight. 

Now it was decided I was to ride with all speed to Coutances, near fiftymiles away, and there to inquire more certainly about William'swhereabouts. 

My uncle chose for me a fresh horse from the abbot's stable, that heswore would bear me nobly, and seeing me suitably equipped, led me oncemore to the abbot, who blessed me ere I went forth. 

"Child, " said he, having given me his blessing, "thou hast by thy spiritmade clearer to me the legend of this holy house. A fair child, men say, went with Aubert of old to lay these foundations in the rock, andwherever he trod, --that child of olden days, --the hard rock crumbled forthe great bases to be laid. So, beneath thy tread, young though thou artin years, doth difficulty crumble to nothing, for it is the work ofGod--the saving of our brethren--thou art called to, and wilt perform!"

"What have I done, holy father, " I replied, "that any knightly youthwould not be proud to do?"

With all fit instructions as to where I was to go at Coutances, and thepriests that would there send me onwards to the duke, I jumped upon mysteed, and in all fair array, as befitted a youth of high rank, alone Ileft St Michael de Tombelaine, and leaving Pontorson behind me, andhaving the blue water all the way on my left, reached Avranches by noon. 

Now, though my horse showed signs of weariness, I hoped to get forwardanother good stage before evening. Therefore after a short rest Ipressed forward, and I soon came into a country that was well tilled, and the land was divided by hedges like our lanes in England. I was illpleased indeed, when well forward on these desolate roads, to hear thesame trot behind me that I heard before on my road from St. Malo. 

It made me press on my tired steed to a canter, and the steed behind mecantered too. I thought, "I will stay, and let the knave pass, " but as Istayed in the way, the horseman that followed stayed as well. We hadridden some hour and a half like this, and the road ran now through awood that seemed dark and cheerless to the sight, yet I was forced topress on. I had not progressed far, when I heard a whistle behind me, and lo! I saw, as it were, in answer two great knights come spurringtowards me from the trees ahead. 

Then I feared greatly, and I knew there was an evil trap set to catch meon my way, and I ground my teeth to think that here seemed fresh delaysto the work I had in hand. 

The three came at me now with drawn swords. 

I drew my little poniard, since I knew I must fight. 

"Yield thyself up!" said one great villain. "It is useless to resist!"

My answer was an attempt to drive my horse forward, but the frightenedbrute refused my urging. I lunged at the first with my blade, but with asweep of his own he drave it out of my hand. 

"How now, sir page, " said he, "must we teach you manners?"

I was nigh weeping for shame that he should so best me, yet I had noother weapon, and they were three men, and I but a lad. 

They dismounted, and pulled me from my horse, and holding me flat on theground with his knee, one of them began to rifle me. "The abbot'sletter, " I thought, and in a moment I gave tongue. 

"Look you, good sirs, " I said, "take my money. You are welcome to it, but let me go forward on my road. "

"Wherefore such haste?" said one. "Thy money we will take, and thysorrel hack, but there is a letter still on thee we require to be foundyet!"

It was plain they were no highwaymen, but in some sort the Sarrasin'smen, even here in Normandy, and a great terror took me of his power. Ina frenzy I escaped from them a moment, and stood clutching madly mybreast, where the letter lay hid. 

They made a rush for me together, and though like a young tiger Istruggled with scratch and bite and kick, they had me down again. 

"Alas!" I thought, "die then of famine, poor brethren of the Vale. "

One of them thrust his hand under my riding-tunic, and had the parchmentin his very palm. And all seemed over with me and my mission, whensuddenly I heard the sound of horses' hoofs coming nearer, and Ishrieked out "Help!" My enemy stuffed his cap into my throat to stop mycries. 

But they had been heard, and they came closer at a gallop. "Morevillains, " I thought, "to make certain of my capture. "

But it was no villain's voice that rang out next. It was my uncle's, andwith him were men-at-arms. And as he shouted my assailants left me, and, jumping into their saddles, fled into the wood. 

So I was free, and my letter safe, and my uncle raised me up, and mosttenderly handled me to find my injuries. 

"Curse the day, " he said, "that I sent thee forth alone! How did I notsuspect ill!"

"But how camest thou in such good hour?" I asked, still trembling. 

"My heart smote me, " said he, "to send thee thus alone. And, indeed, Ifelt a presage of ill. So I got my men-at-arms, and swore that I wouldbe thy convoy to the duke himself. "

"Uncle, " said I, "these were no highwaymen. "

"What then, lad?"

"They were searching me for the abbot's letter, my passport to William, "I said. 

"Then traitors grow like mulberries down yonder, " he said, pointing backto the Marvel. "But now, if we press on, we shall reach ere nightfallthe house of a good knight, where we shall lie safe till morning. "

So we trotted forward, and in two hours' time we were at the gateway ofthe castle of the Sieur de la Haye, who received my uncle with allcourtesy, and refreshed us and our steeds; and next morning we rode toCoutances. 

CHAPTER XV. 

How I saw an evil face at a casement, and how, at my uncle's house of_St. Sauveur_, I heard tell of my father. And of what happed on oursetting forth for _Valognes_. 

Now, as we rode into Coutances that day, I saw a sight that made meagain fearful. The street was full narrow, and the houses leaned forwardfrom either side, so as to leave but scant vision of the blue sky above, and there were plenty of windows in each story. 

Now, as I rode by, I was level with the first story of the houses. And, suddenly, before one window, my eyes were held captive, and I could notturn them away. A man in a fisher's tunic was gazing out on us, and Ihad not even to ask myself where I had seen his face before, for I knewthat it was Maugher. My eyes fell before his, and I blushed and trembledat his sight. 

"Uncle, uncle! my lord vicomte!" I said when we were passed, "dost knowwho stood at yon window in a sailor's dress?"

"What meanest thou?" said he, as he saw me tremble. 

"It was my Lord Archbishop of Rouen, the Sarrasin's accomplice, " Iwhispered in his ear. 

We reined in our horses and looked back, but the man was gone. 

"It was a fancy, child, " said the vicomte; "there was no man there. "

I said naught; but I knew it was no fancy, and I guessed whence thesevillains that lately attacked me got their commission. 

Now, at Coutances we learned of the canon, that knew the duke'swhereabouts, that he was near Barfleur, seeing both to his navy of shipsin the harbour there, and having care also to the exercise of archers onthe land. 

"As I think, " said the canon, "you will find my lord duke either in theshipyard of Barfleur, or the shooting-ground of archers at Valognes hardby. "

It was then to Valognes, beyond the river Douve, that we were next toride, and we would pass on the way my uncle's castle of St Sauveur, where mine ancestors had been settled since they were lords of theBessin. And the whole distance to Valognes was near fifty miles. It wasthen mine uncle's wish that we should rest again at his house, andprepare to approach Duke William with due state on the morrow; and this, though I was unwilling to delay, I was forced to agree to. 

So before evening we came in sight of St. Sauveur, a high and faircastle, round whose walls the Douve makes a circuit. 

Across a bridge raised on pillars over the moat we rode, and through thewide-open gate we came into the courtyard, where there was greatgreeting of my lord vicomte by my cousins, from whom he had been someweeks absent. 

"And here, " said he, to young Alain and Rainauld, his sons, "is Nigel, your cousin, a good scholar of Guernsey, that bids fair to be a bettersoldier still. "

So with fair greetings was I led in to the chamber of my lady thevicomtesse, where with plenty demure damsels she plied her needle. Muchsurprised was she to see me, and heard with a grave face my story. 

"And thou art but sixteen, " she said, "and art about so noble anenterprise? My Alain has barely left his governor. Indeed, thy goodmonks know how to teach chivalry. "

Then I asked her the meaning of this fair tapestry that, stretched on along frame, she and her maidens toiled at round the chamber, for itcaught my eyes as showing, I thought, great exploits of arms. And shetold me that it was the exploits of Duke Rollo that she wrought there inmany colours, and that the Lady Matilda herself, who loved suchneedlework, had made choice of the panels. In one I saw the ships beingmade in far Norway; in another, in a goodly company they rode upon thesea; in another, Rollo ate and drank with his fellows; and somepictures told of battles, wherein I saw them in their close hauberks andnarrow shields, waving swords and driving their deadly spears. 

"And in every picture, " she said, "I love to work in one like my dearlord in figure and knightly person, and to work the name of this greatfamily above. "

"Ay, good aunt, " cried I; "in sooth thou art like myself in pride of theNorman race, that even now, in the glory of William, is worthy of itsforbears. "

She smiled kindly as mine eyes sparkled, and said I was indeed aknightly youth. Then, as we were left alone by the vicomte, she droppedher voice, and gazing at me most tenderly, inquired if I had ever seenmy father. 

"Nay, dear lady, " said I, sadly but proudly, "I know not, from aughtthat has been told me by any, whether he be alive or dead. Save that heis my lord vicomte's brother, I know naught. "

"Poor lad!" she murmured tenderly, "'tis time thou shouldst know more. Yet it is a sad story. Know, then, thy father was a wild and untameableyouth, that was courteous and brave withal, but brooked not governmentovermuch. He was, too, of a wondrous merry disposition, that loved ajest at men in great places, and this made him not beloved. Against hisfather's command he stole away thy mother, who perished in a raid of herkinsmen upon his house, and in the minority of the duke he was found onthe side of violent men--and then he disappeared. Thou in thy babyinnocence wert the only charge he left us, and as soon as times were fitthou wert sent to the Abbey of the Vale, which is indeed a good schoolof gentle manners and sound learning. "

I had listened sadly enough to the story of my father's fall, and itsrecital grieved me. 

"And has my lord vicomte seen my father since? Has he inquired of me?" Iasked. 

"Nay, I must tell thee no more, " she said. "Maybe I have told thee toomuch already. "

"At least, tell me of my mother, " said I. 

"Poor child, " said she, "thou hast never known mother's love! Thy motherwas most fair and gentle, and indeed thine eyes and smile are hers. "

"Of what race came she, lady?"

"Child, " said she, sadly, "I will not tell thee that to-day. Know onlyher name was of the noblest. "

Thus, in the chamber of the vicomtesse, that afternoon I learnedsomething of the secrets that I had wondered over in my boyhood. Sadly Ikissed her hand, when I knew she would tell me no more, and thanked hercourteously for her tender words. 

"Indeed, " said she, "I long to number thee soon among mine own sons, when thou leavest the monks thy tutors. "

"And I, " said I, right gallantly, "will strive to be worthy of honoursso high, of a race so noble. "

Now, next morning we rode forth gaily, on our last stage, as we hoped, to Valognes, and a company of grooms and men-at-arms rode with us, suchas beseemed my uncle's rank. And for many miles we rode along thewestern bank of the river Douve, that runs by my uncle's castle, but atlength the stream took a great bend to the west, and we had to crosswithin some twelve miles of Valognes. 

Here was a stout timber bridge on four piers, over which our road ran;and it was on the west side of the bridge that my lord stayed, it beinga convenient place to send fit messengers to my lord duke to tell of ourapproach. Therefore a courtly gentleman of my lord's retinue--by name DeNorrey--with a groom were sent forward in advance. 

Their horses' hoofs clattered on the wooden way as they sped forth. Butlo! great was our wonder and terror to see a sore disaster befall themthere in the midst of the passage over the stream. We saw suddenly theroad give way beneath them, as though it were clean sawn asunder, andboth horsemen in a moment cast down suddenly into the stream below. Then, too, we heard a loud thunder of the beams falling, and there was agreat mass of woodwork in the river, that dammed up for a while theflood. 

The gentleman, the vicomte's envoy, was alas! killed, thrown headlong byhis horse against a pier ere he struck the water. The groom that rodewith him marvellously escaped death, but was sore wounded by his fall. 

"What villain hath done this?" cried the vicomte, in hot anger. "With mymen will I scour the land till I track him. "

"Ah, my lord vicomte, " I said, "this is the work of Maugher, that I sawlurking in Coutances. And I grieve that thy good Sieur de Norrey shouldthus die by a stroke that was aimed at me. "

"If it be as thou sayest, " said my uncle, "this venomous man, kinsmanthough he be of the duke himself, shall no longer trouble men. "

Then, with all sadness, the body of De Norrey was recovered and borneback to St Sauveur, and we, riding down the stream a mile or more towhere there was a safe ford, crossed safely, and riding sorrowfully andwarily, though we were so near to the duke's presence, came presently insight of Valognes. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

How at length I was brought before _William, Conquestor Invictissimus_, of all soldiers the greatest, and most invincible of dukes. Of themanner he received my mission, and of the expedition of _Samsond'Anville_. 

And now, children of my house here in England, I bid you con eagerlywhat I write in these next leaves, for, if God will, I will record how Ifirst met, in that land of the Cotentin, him who was my star of glorywhile he lived, being indeed the greatest prince of our day, and, as Ithink, as great a soldier as any that ever lived of our race or of anyother. And, following his conquering arms, we came to this haven in ourown fair country, as ye know. 

My uncle had with great ease overcome, as a high noble may, allobstacles in our path; and assuring all who questioned, that indeed wecame on business that could not wait, he won his way in an hour where Ialone might have wasted days, such walls of state there are around thegreat ones of the earth. 

But with a smile and a good word to one, a meaning whisper of secretimport to another, a high hand and a proud look to a third, he passedthrough all barriers with me at his heels; and at length we were led bya high noble through sundry gates into a broad level mead, all green andclose-shaven by the scythe, where many targets stood, and amid a bevy ofnoble gentlemen Duke William himself saw to the training of his archers. 

Now it was easy, even in that noble throng, to see who was the duke andmaster of the company, not by rich apparel or device of royalty, but bysimple glory of manhood. He stood well above the tallest there, gentleor simple. His great bulk had not yet hid his fair proportions, thoughin girth and weight he outstripped the rest. On a strong neck like abroad column his full round head rested, and frank and straight hiswide-open eyes gazed forth on men, masterful and proud. 

Here was a man that hid not his passion or his feeling--one that couldhide naught. Afterwards the very force of mastery and passion left theirimpress on William's face, but when I first saw him there, in the fullglory of a man's honour and strength, I gave him my boyhood's worship, for that I knew he was a king of men. 

He was busy with his archers, and minded not our approach. 

"Blind dolt!" he cried. "Such a flight would harm none! See here!" Hedrew the great wooden bow he carried right back to the breast, and thearrow sped sharp and clean from the twanging cord, and hit the markplain in the middle with a mighty force. "Now--hard and straight!" hesaid, as the archer essayed his shot again. Then seeing us approach, "Vicomte, good morrow. "

"My lord duke, " said mine uncle, "with pain I disturb thee; but thouwilt agree that our matter would not wait. "

"Then tell it quickly, " said William. 

"My lord of Bee sends forth my nephew with this letter, " said theVicomte. 

"Then let him ope and read it. "

With a great awe I read Lanfranc's sage words to the duke. Careless andmoody he stood when I began with his high titles, but he let me read. But he awoke as he heard of the Sarrasin, and hot anger filled his face. I read on steady and slow till I came to the name of Maugher, and atthat there was a very storm in his eyes. 

"Give me the letter!" said he; and he snatched it, gazed an instant onit, and ground it the next moment into the sod with his iron heel. 

He raged up and down in a passion, heedless of us and of his archers. Then he recovered himself. 

"And the monks are shut in by the Moors?" he said to me. 

"My lord duke, " I said, "they and all thy loyal people of Guernsey arenear starving, and this vile Moor calls himself lord and master of theNorman seas. "

"Does he?" said William. "Tell me more of Maugher. "

"He speeds on the treachery. His devils are seen in the Sarrasin'scastle. He hath twice sought my life on my way to thee. I have seen byour abbot's grace treacherous letters of his to King Henry, that yourhighness wots of. And yesterday I saw him at Coutances in disguise. "

"At Coutances?" said the duke, near as I feared another blast of anger. And then, turning to a burly lord hard by, that I guessed soon, not fromhis bearing, but from Duke William's words, was his brother andcouncillor, Odo of Bayeux, he said, "Here, my lord, what thinkest thouof these letters?"

He gave him to read the parchment that I picked up from the turf. Odoread it slowly. 

"It would seem, " said he, "that this Sarrasin is grander than wethought. "

"At this juncture he is dangerous, " said William. 

"Maugher is the danger, " said Odo. 

"Shall we strike at once?" said William. 

"'Tis but a week's work, " said Odo, "and it would seem by one stroke youwill clear the seas for years. "

He turned to me and inquired very exactly all that I knew of thestrength of the pirates by sea and land, of the building and position ofthe Château du Grand Sarrasin, of the Vale Castle, and the defence ofit by the monks and islanders. 

He learned (for how could I keep back even my own doings, so peremptoryhe was?) of my being taken captive, and bursting into a huge laughter atthe tale of my escape, swore I was a wondrous fellow for my years. Then, as he had a map in his mind of all that I knew, he turned and said tothe Vicomte--

"'Tis a brave boy, this thy nephew. Tell me, whose son is he?"

At this the Vicomte hesitated a moment, and I coloured and looked down. 

"He is the son, " he said at length, "of my younger brother, who thisfourteen years has been reckoned unworthy of his place among knights. "

The duke looked on me again, and I met his gaze. 

"See, then, lad, " said he, "that thou redeem thy father's good name! Andnow for thy mission hither. It is my will to do all that thou askest upto thy desires--yea, and beyond thy desires. This pirate-swarm havemassed themselves together, and lo! I will sever their many heads at oneblow, and they shall know rightly who is lord and master of the Normanseas and isles. I will bring all my ships----"

He was proceeding, when Odo plucked him by the arm, and, whispering inhis ear, as I thought, dissuaded him from coming in person. He frownedand chafed, but at last gave way, and after further words, called tohim a little man of wondrous heavy build, yet muscular withal, thatstood among the greatest of his lords. 

"Hither, Samson d'Anville, " said he; "here is brave work for thee, thatI was near taking for mine own. Thou shalt be admiral and captain of anexpedition that I send with all speed to sweep out with all force thepirates that infest our Norman seas. In great pride they are gathered inGuernsey to defy my power. Take men, take ships, all that thou wiltneed, and delay not thy journey, for certain monks and islanders arehard set with famine. See me again to-morrow. Vicomte, good youth, farewell. "

So Duke William returned to his archers. 

 * * * * *

We had but just left the duke's presence, and were even consideringwhether I should return with mine uncle to St. Sauveur or tarry there atValognes, if I could find a lodging, when none other than Samsond'Anville, that had been placed in command of the expedition, came afterus, and would have me to be his guest until, all preparations havingbeen made in a week's time, we should sail from Barfleur. 

"Come now, little soldier, " said he, "and we on this expedition will betrue brothers-in-arms. "

With that he wound his arm into mine, and I noted that, though he calledme "little soldier, " I was almost a head taller than he. 

So at his bidding, for he would take no denial, I took a hearty andreverent leave of the vicomte, who assured me that when this matter wereover he would welcome me in his retinue for the French war, and linkedarm-in-arm with Samson, returned to the camp. 

Now I had time to see more closely what manner of man this d'Anvillewas. I have said he was short and stout, but I should have said that inso small a frame one seldom saw such activity and strength. Like somepollard oak, he seemed all knotted with muscle and vigour. He wentbearded and wore his hair unshaven, and thus amid those Norman lords, shorn back and front, he looked wild and unkempt. 

But the merry easy smile that lived in his black eyes was enough to showme that, though a great warrior, and terrible in battle, he would be asweet comrade in time of peace. This was that Samson d'Anville that soswiftly broke down the arrogance of Geoffroy, and for this and othernoble deeds was given that estate hard by the Vale, which his sons holdyet. 

And so it came to pass that within a week of my arriving, by great goodluck and marvellous dispatch in preparation, the order was given that weshould sail for Guernsey. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Of the journey of our ships to relieve the Brethren of the Vale, and howwe fought a great battle with the _Moors_ outside the _Bay ofL'Ancresse_. 

As I remember, children, our armament made an exceeding fair show as wesailed with a fair wind out of Barfleur Harbour, and great joy I hadthat such good fortune had attended my embassage to our great governor. 

And indeed, though I remember not exactly after these many years thenumber of the ships, I think there were at least five score, and in eachship close on five-and-thirty men-at-arms, besides the sailors who hadthe management of the sailing. Duke William, when thus aroused, did notthings by halves. And as we rounded Pointe de Barfleur, and saw on theone side Cape de la Hague looming through the morning air, our fleetrode in a fair line forward, making a semicircle as they sat gaily onthe sparkling waves. 

And in the ship that was at the northern horn of this great bow wasSamson, and I by his favour with him, and the man on the look-out inthis great ship, that was called _Le Saint Michel_, saw more clearlythan any other of the mariners of what lay ahead. Now, _Le Saint Michel_was the ship Duke William loved, and indeed it was both stout andstrong, and made for swiftness rather than great burthen. And being thefavourite ship of the duke, it was gloriously dight with gold andcolour, so that it looked right noble as the sun glinted on its goldenvanes, and lit up the splendour of its close-woven sails of crimson, whereon two lions were curiously blazoned. And before upon the prow, asit cleaved the waves, sat St. Michael with wings outspread, white as thegulls that circled around our fleet, as though he were indeed bearing usforward with good hope upon our journey. 

"Look you!" said Samson, shading his eyes with his hand as he leant withhis arm on the gunwale; "we take our track neatly betwixt Auremen andthe Hague, and in so fair a day as this have no fear to run close byyonder cursed Casquettes, where many a good ship hath met its doom. Dostthou see them yet?"

"Yea, " I said. "There, like a rough, jagged set of teeth, they springyonder from the calm waves and a long track they make where thou seestthe foam on either side. "

"Then we will have no risk of our good men, " said Samson, presently. "Port helm, man, and keep a clear mile from yonder hungry rocks. "

Soon the north coast of Guernsey hove in sight, and earnestly I gazedforth for signs of any pirate ships that might intend to do battle withus on the sea. And, indeed, it was well to look, for around from theGrand Havre as we approached swept a great straight column of theirlow-decked, lean, swift-sailing vessels, and we seemed to see anothersuch column lying-to behind. 

"See you them?" I hastily cried to Samson. 

"Ay, it means battle, " said he. 

But this good soldier, well used to fighting by sea, as well as by land, was even now as cool and undismayed as though he but went about hisproper work. 

Samson gave his orders with words sharp and few. And indeed it seemedthat all was arranged for us to meet such a defence of the coast by ourfoes. For, like living beings, our great ships sailed swiftly into twolines, strong and steady, with our vessel at the end of the second rank. And all this was done without disorder or confusion, as men-at-arms willform square on parade, and still we rode on the while, and Samson stoodwatching the pirates' fleet that lay now in a long line in front ofL'Ancresse Bay awaiting our attack, as was meet for them to do. 

The wind sprang up now, I remember, from the east, and I heard Samsonsay in a glad tone----

"Thank Heaven for this breeze! It will prove the very messenger ofvictory from God. "

"Ay, in good truth, " I said. "See, even now before we attack them, theydrift, though they would stay steady. "

We were now well past Les Casquettes, and I could see clear the greatrocky headland of the Guet, and others as high and deadly, that Iremember not the names of, loom sharp and clear behind the pirates'fleet. 

The good breeze bore us on, and it was evident that, without feint ordevice of any kind, we should face our foes fairly, and do battlehand-to-hand with the pirates chiefly by boarding their craft. 

And I was glad at this, for I had no fear of the result of the day'sfight if William's trained men-at-arms, suppled by a hundred battles, met their foes face to face on a few square feet of wood. The pirates, in their self-deceiving folly, that led them to a swift doom, had thelike thought of their own prowess, and indeed they had need be proud oftheir wild fighting, being men who so fought as caring not for life orescape. 

The ships of our front rank sailed swiftly down on their foe, and eachcrashed heavily into a pirate vessel. And with the loud crack of woodagainst wood, and shattered prows, and rocking masts, uprose over theclear water the hideous din of battle. High above all the cry of "Rou, "and the shouting "Dieu aide, " "God and St. Michael, " "Duke William andSt. George. " Then the wild diabolic cries from the Moors in their harshugly tongue, "Le Grand Sarrasin, " or "Le Grand Geoffroy, " echoing amongtheir uncouth war-cries. 

I cannot tell what happened that first part of the fight; but I saw aconfused sight of our men with a strong rush of might, their brightswords gleaming o'er their heads, leaping into this vessel or that, andblazing with the onrush of their attack upon the Moors, that met themwith mad ferocity. There was a scene on each deck in which I coulddistinguish not which way the matter went, except that the war-cries ofour men sounded ever more triumphant. Two vessels at the least were sodisabled by the shock that they drifted away southward on the jaggedrocks with their crews still in them. I know not whether the rogues inthem were saved or lost. 

The men of _La Belle Mathilde_, straight in front of us, had goodsuccess, for already, ere we came into action, they had cleared the deckof the vessel they had attacked, and leaving it to drift away were aboutto run down its neighbour, into whose side some of the crew had climbed, having leapt into the water from the battle with the Normans. We castour eyes along the fighting-line and saw the like going on; and thencame up their second line, in two curves, east and west, to theirfriends' assistance. Now, this was our signal to ride forward and engagethem. So we swept round to keep them off on either side, and ere I knewwhat was afoot there ran a great tremble through the ship, and a cracklike thunder sent my heart into my mouth, and in a moment I saw theMoors hacking eagerly at the wrists of our soldiers, that clung lustilyto the rigging of their craft, that was called _La Reine d'enfer_. 

With a shout that rang like a great trumpet, our little Samson had hisfoot in a moment on the gunwale. "Stick on lads, tight!" he cried, aswith half a score of whom I was one, he landed on the pirate's deck. Three of them rushed at each of us, and well it was we had good hauberksand good blades, for "slash, slash" came down on us the strokes fromeither hand. But swift in our tail came a score more of our Normans, some of the readiest and stoutest of Samson's own men that followed hisstandard, and like lions zealous for his honour, and eagles careful forhis life, they fought their way to their little leader's side, who waswell-nigh bested, contending with three or more, who knew his place andstation and attacked him at all points. But the rush of the boardingparty swept all our foes before us, and in a short space the remnant ofthem, now far below our numbers, collected by the stern of the ship in athick mass. It was no light matter to dislodge them, thrice we essayedit, and thrice from their sharp blades we recoiled. And, indeed, I couldnot but honour these men now engaged so hopelessly in their lastconflict, and never crying out for quarter--nay, even stricken down onthe deck still crawling with bent and broken sword, to slash once moreat us, if it were but at our hose of mail. 

In the hot fray we recked not of our moorings, and we saw already we hadlost hold of _Le Saint Michel_ and drifted some yards astern, and agreat shock of the ship showed us we were broadside on with another oftheir ships, _L'Aiglon_. Now we were soon involved in sore danger, forthe pirates on board this latter, lost no time in coming up to theirfriends' assistance, and like a crew of black kites they swept over theside, with curved cutlasses brandished in their hands. I know not how itwould have chanced had not _La Blanche Nef_ boarded their ship, andattacking them in the rear, swept through them to our relief. So theywere between two attacks, and enough of us were left to engage in ourlast deadly hand-to-hand struggle with the pirates in the stern. Ifollowed a great Norman soldier that led this last attack, and closingwith a sinewy Moor that strove cunningly to slap my sword from my graspwith an upsweep, we were ere long rolling on the deck amid the dead andthe slippery streams of blood, each guarding the other's sword-hand fromhis breast; and since the Moor was a strong villain of full man'sstrength, I was in evil case. For with me, thus striving on the deck, the swing and rush of my youthful strength availed me naught against histempered muscles, that seemed pressing my arms back with a grasp ofiron. Yea, I was as near cold steel in my heart as ever in my life, when suddenly I felt his grasp tighten and then grow loose, and a sharpblade that had already been run through his back, came out below thebreast-bone, and gave my arm a graze that drew blood. 

"God, save you, good lad!" rang out Samson's voice, and I knew that hehad found time in his control of the whole battle to think of me--and ingood season, for I have small doubt that, though the point of his swordgrazed my arm, yet it saved my life. 

When I arose up, the ships that were named _L'Aiglon_ and _La Reined'enfer_ were both cleared of the Moors, and our men were steering theshattered vessel as well as could be done towards _Le Saint Michel_, which we presently boarded, letting the pirate ship with a hole in itsbottom run away towards La Jaonneuse, a rock on the north-west thatbroke her up. 

Now I saw that the victory in this sharp sea-battle was already won. Forto right and left the second line, or those vessels that still remained, had retired, and were bearing away southward. Some five or six of thefirst line, that we afterwards overhauled had run aground for safety inL'Ancresse Bay; and the remnant, about twenty ships in all, drifted withshattered and broken masts and rigging on to the rocks, on which somelay foundered already. 

So it was with a cheery voice I sang out to Samson d'Anville--

"Lo! the way lies open to the Vale. "

And he pointing to the stiff dead bodies floating in the water, andwiping his sword-blade carefully, cried back--

"So die all pirates, and enemies of the duke in the Norman Seas!"

CHAPTER XVIII. 

The story of the relief of _Vale Castle_. 

Now, by the ending of our battle before L'Ancresse Bay, the sun wassetting, and for fear of some attack on us as we disembarked, Samsond'Anville thought it better that, though well in sight of Vale Castle, that already had lit beacons of joy upon its towers, we should dropanchor for the night in L'Ancresse Bay. 

This we did, and there was much business in our fleet in the repairingof the damage of the fight. When the tale was made up, but fortymen-at-arms had been lost with some sixty more who had sore damage, andtwo of our ships were so disabled that we left them to float upon therocks. 

From the prow, where I lay down to sleep, I thought of the joy in thehearts of our brethren and the abbot, and "Oh, Brother Hugo!" I thought, "now, by God's grace, have I well-nigh fulfilled the task thou gavestme;" and then sleep drew my eyelids tight, and with no alarm of sea orenemy, I slept until the morning. 

Now, the day that followed has ever been the brightest and the gladdestof my memories as I have trodden the path of my life. For on that day bySamson's side I entered Vale gate in very sooth the deliverer of myfriends. 

I remember not in what manner that goodly army was disembarked, but wellI know, through the long space it took, my heart burned to be away. Butall was done in the due order of war, for Samson greatly feared anambush of the Sarrasins in rocky spaces betwixt us and the Castle. Andgood companies of men were left in a little camp, hastily thrown up bythe shore, lest there should be a mishap upon our march. 

But at length the men-at-arms were drawn up in order of march, and everyman sent forward gave word that no sign of Sarrasin could be seen in theVale. So, steadily, with the great standard of the two lions unrolled, we marched across the common, and soon the great mass of Vale Castle, onits seat of rock, towered up before us, and along the rampart we sawgathered the defenders, like saints of heaven, welcoming us as we came. And the women, so long pent up with anxious minds therein, waved theirlight kerchiefs, and wept for very joy at the sound of the soldier'stramp shaking the plain. And along the wall, as at a set signal, when wepassed the black ruin of the old cloister and church, uprose the deepsound of men's singing, and we heard the goodly round Latin tongue rollits heavy cadence o'er our heads--"Magnificat anima mea Dominum"--ay, magnificat of praise and glory, as greeting this deliverance wrought bythe most Holy One, and the downfall of Satan's power. And ever, whenthey sing that hymn of blessed Mary, I seem again to be a-marching withall the triumph of a noble lad in the successful doings of his firstgreat enterprise over the wind-swept grass of the Vale up to the Castlegate--marching with a great army, that knows naught of sin and guile, full-stedfast and full-faithful through all its sunny ranks. 

Then, without let or hindrance, we stood before the gate, and once morethe great bolts shot back, the mighty bars clanged as they moved, andthe huge gate swung heavily on its massy hinges, and the advance guardsweeping on one side, left the way free for Samson and myself to enter. 

Could I enter in such stately wise with trumpet-blare and step ofdignity into that place on that day as a young prince or saviour fromafar? Nay, here were the very stones I had played upon through all myboyhood, and around me stood the good nurses and governors of my earlyyears. It was no place for me to enter in this pomp. Nor were thesesimple monks the men for me to come back to so ceremoniously. 

I stood for a moment by Samson's side in hesitation. Then, seeing Hugoand the abbot, I forgot the army and Samson and my place, and ranstraight forward, like a babe to his mother, and in a moment had minearms around the neck of my father-in-arms, Brother Hugo of the Vale. Then, when he stayed me, and unclasped my hands, that were like to chokehim, so joyously they hugged, down went I on one knee and kissed thehand of Abbot Michael, that stood by his side. He, courteously raisingme, said simply--

"Thou hast done well, good child. And glad are we that our woes areover. But who is yonder gentleman?"

Then I led up Samson to him, and made them known, and a fair scene ofcourtesy it was to see Samson in his chain-mail kneel and take theabbot's hand so thin and delicate in his own rough palm. 

"Ye come like angels from above, good gentlemen, " said Michael; "for, with all sparing and restraint, our cruse is now full low, our storeconsumed, and, with diminished strength, there was small hope to rebutthe next attack. "

"No angels, holy Father, " answered Samson, smiling; "but stalwartfellows in plenty, with a strong stroke and a high spirit. Normans, inbrief, that know well how to carry through a matter such as this. Buthow oft have they attempted an attack?"

"Our general shall inform thee best, " said the abbot, "this goodbrother, whose clear head and strong courage have saved us not once nortwice; and, indeed, most good it is that two such men as thou and heshould meet. "

With that he led Brother Hugo to Samson, and the two brave warriors didembrace with all due show of courtesy. 

"Thrice, now, have they engaged to storm our wall, " said Hugo, "and, while strength remained, we feared not to throw back to their soredamage such attacks. But three nights back we were in extremer case, forthe rogues entered by a cunning mine the citadel itself, and but forswift action on our part they had got through in force, and overpoweredthe garrison. But, by God's favour, we were aroused in time, and with agreat scuffle drave them back, and with small loss to ourselves slew ascore or more, and so at morn destroyed and blocked the mine; and eventhis night we feared a like attack, had you not brought this great armyfrom my lord the duke to destroy for ever the Sarrasin's arrogance. "

Then they took counsel of the resources of their arms; and, indeed, withthe islanders that were with us already, and that now came flocking, being afeared to come before (as there are such in every cause), wemustered an exceeding great host, and after the ravages the Sarrasin hadmade, we had even now fear of famine till corn could come in by sea. Andthe Normans, since the Castle was too strait for all already, layencamped in a fair camp by the waterside by St. Sampson's Bay, tilltheir leader should ordain the order of attack. 

Now all was changed in Vale and hill country, for the Moors that so longhad roamed at will, setting their watches and their sentinels on everyheadland and navigable inlet, and claiming to be of right the liegelords of all from Blanchelande to Torteval, from Torteval to Vale, werenow shut up in their great château, and their fleets lying in GrandHavre and Moulin Huet Bay. No longer able to be besiegers, they hadbecome besieged, and indeed, if they knew all, were already in extremecase. We saw none of their vile faces in lane or forest-path. The narrowstreet of St. Pierre Port was cleared of the swaggerers, with theirclanking metal and heady brawls; while our Normans lay by St. Sampson'sshrine waiting the order to attack, they sat quiet and sullen in theirhold. 

And in this sullen calm there was much to fear. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

How we set forth to attack _Le Château du Grand Sarrasin_. Of the_Normans_' valour, and of the flight of our foes. 

Now, for the next two days Samson had under review our islanders, andthe brethren, who in martial accoutrements, and restored moreoveralready by good store of food, would fain take part in the great matterof executing Heaven's vengeance on Le Grand Sarrasin and his troop. These were bound together in a second regiment auxiliary to themen-at-arms, and set by Samson of his deep wisdom under Hugo's leading. 

Now, all this time the Sarrasin sat still awaiting our assault, like asick lion in his cave, and the only sign of life up at his castle wasthe green flag on the pole that fluttered in the wind. 

And on the third day all was in preparation for the attack. And Samsonhad it in mind that he and his Normans would bear the brunt of theassault, and have our contingent in reserve to fight on the level whenentrance had been made. Now he determined not to attack the Castle onthe side towards Vale, but from the south, where the height was notgreat, and there was good cover of brushwood to hide our strength, andto protect from arrows and balls. We, in a close body, were to lie quietto the east within a run, and we were told to await his signal to enterin the breach to do our share, or, if need were, to swoop on the pirateswarms unexpectedly, if they essayed to escape to their ships. 

And thus once more I found myself by Hugo's side, prepared for sharpfighting. 

"See, Nigel, " whispered he, as he stood fuming and craving to be himselfin the thick of the fighting that soon must chance. "Yonder tree shootsup clean and straight, and, as I fancy, there is clear vision downwardto the Castle, and an easy drop and scamper hither again at the signal. "

"Let us mount, " I said. 

So, careless of rules of war and obedience, like two school-lads weswarmed up the smooth trunk, and sat soon in the joinings of thebranches. Thence could we see, so far as leaves allowed, the Sarrasincamp within the walls of the château. 

They were not to be taken by surprise. For a great array--far greater, Ithought, than came down to the Vale Castle--was collected on the green, and being divided into companies, had charge of the engines of defence, or tried the temper of their blades. And I saw others on the wall readyto roll stones and hot pitch upon their assailants, as is the manner ofdefending castles. And amid the companies stalked heavily the GrandGeoffroy himself in full armour. Could any mistake that great form, andnot feel his presence amid those wild men of so many nations, that hisspirit alone united into one. 

"Heigho!" thought I. "Ill knight that seest without being seen; nowwithout being seen we see thy camp and thee. "

As I thought that, his great helm turned our way, and a strange shuddertook my limbs, as he seemed to look upward to our roost, and know us tobe there. 

"He sees us, " I said to Hugo. 

"That were not possible with mortal eyes, " said Hugo; "but even evilbeasts are oft aware of the near presence of their foes. "

But he had soon to turn his eyes elsewhere, for the Norman assault camesharp and swift, like the rush of great wild creatures through theforest. Indeed it was a rare sight--that sweeping mass of chivalry thatseemed to reck naught of the walls, or the arrows, or the balls, or thepitch that a hundred hands rained down on them. Over the wall they went, and through the gate that withstood not their charge. O Heaven! theywere not men those Normans, they were storms and floods, they were fireand mad waves of ocean, that scorn with wild gleefulness the graniterock and scarped boulder!

I have seen the sea, swept in by a fierce north wind, so triumph overman's poor defences. I have seen the mad fire catch hold of mart anddwelling in a blazing town that met Duke William's anger. I saw in thenorth the great eygre rush through Lindis' bed, and swamp the peacefulplain with doom and ruin. Not less resistless, not less vehement was thefirst assault of Samson's Normans. And I knew now, as I looked, how, byfire and spirit more than by numbers, William won the famous day ofVal-ès-dunes, and I might have guessed, had I known what was to hap ereten years had run away, what would come to pass below Hastings inEngland on the crown of Senlac. 

They recked not of death or wounds--where one line fell, another tookits place. Like a river that ceaselessly flows, they swarmed into theCastle, and closed with the Moors. So it seemed that, overcome by theferocity of the onslaught, the Moors soon gave up all effort to defendthe wall, but reinforced the troop that held the crest of the hill, thatcontended in a mighty struggle with the invading Normans. This way andthat way the battle surged. Now it seemed they would drive them backafter all, now they themselves were carried backward. Norman and piratewere mixed strangely together in this fierce conflict. We expected eachmoment that the signal for us to join the fray would ring out, but itcame not. It seemed to us that Samson, greedy of honour for his men, desired to claim the total glory of the victory. But we knew not hisgreat sagacity, nor what a strength we were to him lying there inambush. 

But what of Le Grand Geoffroy? We saw him bear the first brunt of theonset. He rushed then like a flame from line to line. And where he was, the Moors seemed to rush on to victory. Once Samson and he had met, butsupported by two smart swordsmen, the Sarrasin had retired and leftSamson to them. And now we espied him not, and hoped some hand hadstruck him that we saw not. Meanwhile, the Normans made great way, anddrave the enemy back step by step, killing as they went. 

Le Grand Geoffroy was neither wounded nor dead! With a great shout hecame forth from the very womb of the earth with another swarm ofwarriors at his heels, and we saw that this last reserve had been keptback to surprise us in the rear. Then, as the great monster rushed inupon the Normans, while still they poured into the Castle, rang out thesignal on the trumpet, and from our ward of trees we lusty islanders andzealous monks sprang in to do our share. Here was Hugo, and I hisesquire, in the front rank of them all; here was poor distraught Ralfclutching his hilt like a man frenzied. Monk, gentleman, farmer, miller, serf--we all rushed with gladness, that the time at last had come for usto join the battle, in a great wave of fury on the contingent of reliefthat was headed by Geoffroy himself. And well we did our part. For we, who knew so well the cruelties of the man we fought with, were liftedup by a great spirit of vengeance that seemed not our own, but Heaven's. His men reeled at our charge, and left their attack to face us. Wecharged, recoiled, and charged again. And this time Hugo and I togetherswung grandly face to face with the great monster Geoffroy; and Hugoslashed nobly at him, and for the space of full four minutes there wassharp sword-play between them, and I hoped each moment that Hugo wouldbest him. 

But the duel was not fought out, for (as I heard after) so well had theNormans fought, and so many pirates lay in heaps on the green, that agreat panic at this moment fell upon the pirates, and already, like kineaffrighted by a wild beast, they were rushing headlong through thenorthern gate, that some one had unfastened, and pouring down full-tiltto the Grand Havre, where their ships were, and the Normans were afterthem like hounds on the scent, slaying as they went. 

Now, this Geoffroy saw, and rushing in strove manfully to stay theflight. But they were too frantic to hear him or obey. In a moment hemade up his mind. 

"Follow my lead, then, " I heard him cry to his own reserve; "we will notstay to be cut down here. To the sea! To the sea!"

He jumped into the saddle of his steed, that stood ready caparisoned, and was through the southern gate with the pirates on his heels, and weon theirs, before we were well aware what had happed. 

Le Grand Sarrasin was making for his other fleet in Moulin Huet. 

And of the Normans and of many of us the pirates had the advantage, forthey wore not much armour. With the wings of desperation they fledbefore us seaward over mile on mile of forest and lane. And like aterrible storm we sped behind. Never again may such a storm rage inGuernsey lanes and hills. 

Some that were ill runners were smitten down by us as they laggedbehind; some that had been wounded before, and were weak from loss ofblood, dropped heavily into the brake on this side or on that; the morepart, as they neared the sea, pressed on faster, cheered now and againby the voice of their leader far ahead on his horse, as he shouted, "Tothe ships! to the ships!"

CHAPTER XX. 

Of the sore slaughter in the glen of _Moulin Huet_ and on the shore; andhow _Le Grand Sarrasin_ was slain, and of his secret. 

At last we reached the head of the glen, and far down below us we sawthe blue water of the bay, enclosed on either side with its great rockybulwarks. And a great portion of the Sarrasin ships were there at anchoras near shore as they might safely lie. And there were many little boatspulling in to take the runaways aboard. 

Helter-skelter they went down the rugged, winding path, jostling theirfellows with knee and shoulder, hand and heel, as they slammed on theirway. Le Grand Sarrasin we saw not, and guessed for the moment that hewas already aboard. But when we came in sight of the bay, not long westood in hesitation, but with a shout and a cry that rang terribly as itechoed from rock to rock, we rushed madly after, spreading our forcealong the side of the cliff as our fellows pressed on us behind. 

We too were carried on like a mad torrent that could not stay itself, and in the front we cut furiously with our swords at the tail of theirlong line whenever chance was afforded. Not many so we slew, but anumber tripped over in the rush were trampled underfoot, or threwthemselves in the streamlet's bed, wherein afterwards they were speedilyslain. 

But an end came at last to that mad descent, and all-quivering andfurious, we landed on the shore. We stayed a moment till a great troopwas round us, every moment swelling as the laggards came up, thirstingto have a lot in so great a matter, and then with a mighty charge, thatour foes scarce essayed to meet, we drove them before us into the sea. Ay! in that deadly rush, with swinging steel and echoing cry like angelsof great Heaven's power, we swept them like some unclean stuff off ourisland's face into the water. There was great slaughter all along thebay. Some climbing into boats were knifed behind; some half-drowned inthe water we cut to pieces; some, but poor swimmers, never reached theirships; and more than one boat capsized, being overfull of raging andinfuriated men. 

A little remnant speedily entrenched themselves amid the ruggedboulders, and smarting as they were with wild and bitter rage, we leftthem in their fortress, till one of the ships espying them, a boat wassent amid the rocks that they climbed towards and entered safely withouthindrance from us. These and the few that swam, and the few that escapedin boats, and some that hid themselves in cave or brake, and afterwardsescaped, were the scanty sum of that bodyguard of Le Grand Geoffroy thatgot to their ships. 

The rest lay on the road, or in the water-way, or here where the shoremet the white roll of the surf, in great heaps that the waves playedwith, as they rolled up and ran back dyed with blood. So we islanders ofGuernsey and Brethren of the Vale dealt with one-half of the pirates'force, while good Samson d'Anville did likewise with the other half asthey fled to the Grand Havre. 

It was when we at last rested from this sad work of slaughter that Ilooked up to the clear sky, since earth and sea seemed all defiled withblood, and lo! there on the spur of land that divideth the Bay of MoulinHuet from the Bay of All Saints, high up on the top, with his formoutlined against the sky, sat Le Grand Sarrasin on his Arabian steed. Ishowed him in a moment to Hugo. 

"Fools that we be, " cried he, "that stain our hands in this foul workupon these paltry runaways, while he, the chief cause of these men'soffending, still goes free!"

"See, " I said, "the monster gazes down on the downfall of his lieges, and sees them die without a care!"

"Ay, for he knows, " said Hugo, "there is plenty of evil men in the worldfor him still to lead. "

With that Hugo picked out some twenty of his most trusted men and badeus follow him. 

So we started up the cliff side by a little path that wound upward amidthe gorse. And still all the time as we toiled with foot and hand atclimbing, upon the summit sat the Sarrasin, as though with a proud airderiding our attack. 

"Whom seek you, good gentlemen?" he cried to us as we climbed below. 

"A vile knave and caitiff!" Hugo cried back. 

"He hath not passed this way, " shouted the Sarrasin, "so lose not yourlabour, good sirs, at this boys' play of climbing. "

"It is not boys' play down yonder!" returned Hugo. "Oh, villain, cursedvillain, we will mete you the same measure!"

"Then you must rival my Pearl of Seville!" he cried, just gallopinglightly away as we landed on the summit. 

So he had got away to some secret place, of which there were so many onthe coast, had he not met full-tilt a strong band of the Normans thatwere even now on the road, being sent down by Samson to see that we werenot worsted. 

These he met tramping to Moulin Huet Bay, and, wheeling hastily at thesight of them, found us behind him. Like a spent hare that runs into ahole, he spurred to the house at Blanchelande that lay at the head ofAll Saints' Bay, and we that followed at a run heard his beast clatterover the drawbridge of the moat. We rolled a great stone on to thebridge that none could draw it up, and, with the Normans followingbehind, pursued him into his cover. The good steed stood riderlessbefore the gate. With all our weight we burst the door, and ran in agreat body into the hall wherein I had visited my Lord of Rouen. 

No man was to be seen therein, and for a while we stood at fault, Normans and islanders alike, and then went through the house, batteringwith lusty strokes, that echoed again, every part of wall or wainscotthat might afford concealment. 

Had all our struggle been for naught, and would the arch-villain escapeus thus? We came back to the great hall, and stood therein while ourfollowers ran riot in the house. I took up, as we stood by my lord'stable, that very curious box or optic-glass, wherein he showed me farthings brought close, and curiously raised it to my eyes, and gazed downupon the bay. It was brought wondrous clear, and the waves seemeddancing before mine eyes. Suddenly I saw what made me drop the glass, and hastily drag Hugo with me out of the house. The glass showed me theSarrasin stealing along the shadows of the glen downwards to where alittle boat lay moored by the rocks. 

We tracked him like a quarry; and ere long he knew we were behind him, and hasted, sore hindered with his great bulky body, to the shore. Therewe overtook him, and at once he faced us, and made with his sword agreat lunge at Hugo that well-nigh took his life. But even so, Hugo wasquick with his parry, and kept him at fence. 

"This is no fair fight 'twixt man and man, false monk!" cried theSarrasin, as I had a stroke at his undefended side, so hot was I for hisblood. 

"Stand off, good Nigel, " sang out Hugo. "None shall say I beat him byfoul means. "

With this, after sundry passes that came to naught, he drove his goodsword straight into his enemy's side; for, indeed, Geoffroy was wild inhis swordplay, and left openings clear to a cool man. 

Le Grand Sarrasin rolled heavily on the sand, and we knew that neveragain would the pirates gather head to harm our island. 

"Had I but gained the ship, " he howled, "I would have been duke yet. "

Now this was the last he said, for a great spurt of blood coming fromhis side, he raised himself a moment on his arm, and then fell back uponthe sand. 

We knew not what face of horror we should gaze upon as we essayed topull the helm from the head of Le Grand Sarrasin, that never showed hisface to men. 

The helm came off in our hands. It was no hideous countenance that ithad masked, nor did we fear to gaze on it in death. 

It was the face of my Lord Archbishop of Rouen, whom I had visited inhis house hard by, and whom I had seen disguised in Normandy, that I nowplainly saw. 

Where, then, was Le Grand Sarrasin? Le Grand Sarrasin had been noneother than this exiled man, that among the most evil of mankind hadsought to raise a power that might one day overthrow William himself. 

And in this ruin of his glory, achieved by grace of Heaven through ourhands, Le Grand Sarrasin was brought to naught. 

"Thou knowest who this was?" said Hugo, calmly. 

"Ay, well I know, " I said. 

"Thou and I alone know this dark thing, " he said. "Is it well that itshould enter into men's mouths and minds?"

"Thou knowest best, Hugo, " I said. 

"Then, " said he, "I say it were well for the Church of God, and formen's love of honour, and for truth and righteousness, that none knowbut ourselves this dead man's secret. Let him die Le Grand Sarrasin, aheathen Moor and no baptized Norman. "

"But Maugher will be missed, " I said. 

"Yea; and a meeter tale than this will serve, " said Hugo. "A false step, a squall at sea--anything but _this_. " He pointed to the body. "Wiltthou keep silence?"

"If it be thy will, " I said. 

"Assist me, then, " said Hugo. 

So we dragged the body of the exile a short way over some rocks, whoseblack bases the deep water washed upon, and weighting it with some greatstones, pushed it into the dark deeps. Thence none would raise him againto discover what manner of face wore Le Grand Sarrasin; and none wouldguess it was no dark visage of the south, but the face of an eviltraitor, so much the more evil that he was called by the two high namesNorman and Christian. There shall he lie till the great blare ofHeaven's trump call good and ill to judgment. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

Conclusion. How, the above matters being finished, I was made known tomy father. 

Thus fell Le Grand Sarrasin, and I would fain finish this chroniclehere, for all matters at the Vale most quickly returned to their oldorder, the next year being chiefly occupied with the rebuilding of thecloister and the planning of that great church that took so many yearsto build, which at last is so magnifical, that the old church wherein weused to sing with our boyish trebles seems in our memories but a poorplace. 

To the laying of these noble stones much of the stores of treasure foundin the caverns at the château was justly devoted, and the holy things ofmany a plundered House of God are to be found in the stately church ofthe cloister. 

And in my time, at least, no pirates ever landed on that island. Like arock of doom they shun the place, for indeed many hundred of themperished there, as I have told, and they lost in one day the gatheredtreasure of years of crime. 

And their captain being destroyed, their spirit seemed fled out ofthem, to the joy of all good and honest men. 

But I must close up this chronicle of his fall with an event thatconcerned myself, which, as it were, flowed straight out of it. For if Ihad not journeyed to Normandy, and been caught on my way first by LeGrand Sarrasin, I suppose I should never have been made known unto myfather. 

And it is of my father, Ralf de Bessin, that I must therefore tell. 

Now, the next day after, when we had rested ourselves of our great toilsin the battle and pursuit, I and Brother Hugo purposed to go to theChapel of St Apolline to offer our thanks to the priest and him that hadsaved me from all the unknown horrors of the prison in which I was pent. Or at least we would hear whether yet they had appeared again. 

The fall of the Moor had brought them back to earth, and they sattogether in the small hut beside the fishers' chapel, whence I had setout on my second journey. All the time they had lived in a cave hard by, fed daily by some fisher folk that knew their hiding-place; and indeedthey looked as men that had fared exceeding roughly, and all theplumpness of the good Father had fled away. 

I told them my story as I have told it to you in these leaves, and hewhom I knew as Des Bois inquired again and again of all my dealings withthe vicomte. Then, when I had finished, he said--

"Full bravely done. I regret not that I saved thee as I did, for thouhast some great deeds yet to do. And now, wouldst thou know, Nigel deBessin, why I was led to save thee?"

I looked straight at him tenderly, for I guessed the truth. 

"It was because thou wast indeed my son. " He clasped both my hands inhis, and looked down into my eyes. And I said "Father" for the firsttime thus, knowing that this was he of whom the vicomtesse told me. 

"Thy father indeed, " he said, "but ruined these many years by folliesmore than by crimes, as this Augustine, mine old schoolfellow, willtell. "

"Father, " said I, "Duke William and the vicomte will feel kindly to theefor thy lot in this matter. "

"It matters not, " he answered; "I have long ago done with courts, andnow I have done with fighting. A quiet resting-place is all I want. Andin those solitary days Augustine and I have made our determination. Havemany brethren died in the siege?" he asked of Hugo, who nodded sadly. 

"Then here is one to fill an empty hood, " said my father. And I knewthat the priest of St. Apolline's had persuaded him to become a monk. 

"Thou wilt go forth, " he said to me, "to wars, and courts, and princes, and may God shield thee still from all evil, as He hath so marvellouslydone these perilous days. From Vale Cloister will I look out on thee inpride of thy knightly fame, if such a small taint of earth as pride inthee be there permitted. "

In such a manner were we made known to one another, the son and thefather, and ere long Ralf de Bessin became Brother Francis of the Vale. 

But I, ere that, had left my pupilage behind, and was numbered in theretinue of my uncle the vicomte as he followed the ever-conqueringbanner of William. 

THE END. 

HISTORICAL NOTES. 

The chief authorities for the history and antiquities of Guernsey are:--

Du Moulin: "History of Normandy. " [1631]. Thomas Dicey: "Historical Account of Guernsey. "William Berry: "History of the Island of Guernsey. "F. B. Tupper: "History of Guernsey. "

Extracts bearing on the foregoing pages are quoted in these notes fromthe above, but Du Moulin seems to be the writer on whom the laterauthors have depended. 

NOTE A. 

_Archbishop Maugher_. --"William succeeded Robert A. D. 1035. One of hismost powerful opponents was his uncle Maugher, Archbishop of Rouen, who, after William was settled in his Duchy of Normandy, excommunicated himon pretence that his wife Matilda was too nearly related. William, in1055, deposed and banished Maugher in consequence to the Isle ofGuernsey. . . . Insular tradition has fixed his residence near Saints Bay. 

"Du Moulin says: 'Maugher, thus justly deposed, was banished to theisland of Guernsey, near Coutances, where, says Walsingham, he fell intoa state of madness, and had a miserable end. Others affirm that duringhis exile he gave his mind to the black arts (_sciences noires_) andthat he had a familiar spirit, which warned him of his death, while hewas taking his recreation in a boat, on which he said to the boatman:"Let us land, for a certainty one of us two will be drownèd to-day, "which happened, for as they embarked at the port of Winchant he fellinto the sea and was drowned, and his body being found a few daysafterwards was interred in the church of Cherbourg'" (F. B. Tupper, "History of Guernsey, " p. 40). 

NOTE B. 

_Vale Abbey_. --"The Abbey of Mont St. Michael was reduced in itsrevenues by Duke Richard of Normandy. The number of Benedictines wasreduced in proportion to the reduction of the revenue, and those whowere driven from thence, retiring to Guernsey, founded in the year 962an abbey in that part of the island now called the Close of the Vale. This they called the Abbey of St. Michael" (Wm. Berry, "History ofGuernsey, " p. 52). 

NOTE C. 

_Vale Castle_. --"Towards the end of the tenth century the Danes, orother piratical nations of Scandinavia, who had long been quiet, commenced their depredations. They did not attempt to attack Normandy, but the new settlement of the Benedictines in Guernsey did not escapetheir cruelty, but was greatly injured by them. They frequently visitedthe island, and, according to the insular MSS. , plundered thedefenceless inhabitants, carrying off their corn and cattle. In order toshelter them, a fair and stately castle was built on an eminence in thevale, calculated to receive, even three centuries later, not only theinhabitants of the island but also their cattle and effects. It wascalled St. Michael's Castle" (_Ibid. _, p. 56). 

NOTE D. 

_Visit of Duke Robert_. --"In 1028 Robert Duke of Normandy espoused thecause of his two cousins Alfred and Edward, claiming the throne ofEngland. On Canute's refusal to make restitution, Robert fitted out apowerful armament, and embarked at the head of a numerous army, intending to land on the coast of Sussex. A great storm arose the dayafter leaving Fécamp, his whole fleet was dispersed, and many shipstotally lost. Robert's vessel and about twenty others were forced downthe channel as far as Guernsey, and would have been dashed to pieces onthe rocky coast of the island had not the fishermen, seeing them indistress, ventured out in boats to their assistance, and piloted theminto a bay on the north side of the Vale, where they rode in safety. TheDuke was brought ashore and lodged at the Abbey of St. Michael. . . . Toreward the Abbot for his hospitality and attention, he gave them all thelands within the Close of the Vale in fee to him and his successors, Abbots of St. Michael, by the title of Fief or Manor of St. Michael, with leave to extend the same without the Close of the Vale towards thenorth-west. . . . And to recompense the islanders for saving him and hisfleet, upon their representing to him how they had been plundered bypirates, he determined to leave behind him two of his most ableengineers with a sufficient number of skilled workmen under them, whohad embarked with him for the intended descent upon England, to finishthe Castle of St. Michael in the Vale, and to build such otherfortresses as might be found necessary for protecting the inhabitants. The Duke left a fortnight after his arrival, and the place where hisfleet lay has been ever since called L'Ancresse" (Wm. Berry, "History ofGuernsey, " p. 58). 

NOTE E. 

_The Sarrazins in Guernsey_. --"According to tradition the northernfreebooters, who were termed by the old French historians Sarrazins, Anglicé Saracens, established themselves in Guernsey, where they erecteda stronghold, which was named, probably after their leader, _Le Chasteldu Grand Jeffroi, _ and it appears also to have borne the name of theChastel of the Grand Sarrazin. This castle was situated on an eminencenearly in the centre of the island, and commanded an extensive view ofthe ocean, and of many of the landing-places as well as of the coast ofNormandy" (F. B. Tupper, "History of Guernsey, " p. 21). 

NOTE F. 

_The Expedition of Samson d'Anville_. --"[Guernsey], in the year 1061, isstated to have been attacked by a new race of pirates, who, according toBerry (p. 63), issued from the southern ports of France bordering onthe Bay of Biscay. Duke William was at Valognes when he receivedinformation of this attack, and he immediately sent troops under thecommand of his squire, Sampson d'Anville, who landed at the harbour ofSt. Samson. Being joined by the islanders who had sought refuge at theCastle of the Vale and other retreats, he defeated the invaders withmuch slaughter. Duke William is also said to have made large concessionsof land in Guernsey to d'Anville" (F. B. Tupper, "History of Guernsey, "p. 41). 

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