and rolled up the grey slopes； casting abroad her ancient withal；
whereon was beaten the token of Bartholomew Golden； to wit a B and a
G to the right and the left； and thereabove a cross and a triangle
rising from the midst。
Walter stood on the stern and beheld； yet more with the mind of him
than with his eyes； for it all seemed but the double of what the
other ship had done； and the thought of it as if the twain were as
beads strung on one string and led away by it into the same place；
and thence to go in the like order； and so on again and again； and
never to draw nigher to each other。
CHAPTER III： WALTER HEARETH TIDINGS OF THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER
Fast sailed the Katherine over the seas； and nought befell to tell
of； either to herself or her crew。 She came to one cheaping…town
and then to another； and so on to a third and a fourth； and at each
was buying and selling after the manner of chapmen； and Walter not
only looked on the doings of his father's folk； but lent a hand；
what he might； to help them in all matters； whether it were in
seaman's craft； or in chaffer。 And the further he went and the
longer the time wore； the more he was eased of his old trouble
wherein his wife and her treason had to do。
But as for the other trouble； to wit his desire and longing to come
up with those three； it yet flickered before him； and though he had
not seen them again as one sees people in the streets； and as if he
might touch them if he would； yet were their images often before his
mind's eye； and yet； as time wore； not so often； nor so troublously；
and forsooth both to those about him and to himself； he seemed as a
man well healed of his melancholy mood。
Now they left that fourth stead； and sailed over the seas and came
to a fifth； a very great and fair city； which they had made more
than seven months from Langton on Holm； and by this time was Walter
taking heed and joyance in such things as were toward in that fair
city； so far from his kindred； and especially he looked on the fair
women there； and desired them； and loved them； but lightly； as
befalleth young men。
Now this was the last country whereto the Katherine was boun； so
there they abode some ten months in daily chaffer； and in pleasuring
them in beholding all that there was of rare and goodly； and making
merry with the merchants and the towns…folk； and the country…folk
beyond the gates； and Walter was grown as busy and gay as a strong
young man is like to be； and was as one who would fain be of some
account amongst his own folk。
But at the end of this while； it befell on a day； as he was leaving
his hostel for his booth in the market； and had the door in his
hand； there stood before him three mariners in the guise of his own
country； and with them was one of clerkly aspect； whom he knew at
once for his father's scrivener； Arnold Penstrong by name； and when
Walter saw him his heart failed him and he cried out： 〃Arnold； what
tidings？ Is all well with the folk at Langton？〃
Said Arnold： 〃Evil tidings are come with me； matters are ill with
thy folk； for I may not hide that thy father； Bartholomew Golden； is
dead； God rest his soul。〃
At that word it was to Walter as if all that trouble which but now
had sat so light upon him； was once again fresh and heavy； and that
his past life of the last few months had never been； and it was to
him as if he saw his father lying dead on his bed； and heard the
folk lamenting about the house。 He held his peace awhile； and then
he said in a voice as of an angry man：
〃What； Arnold！ and did he die in his bed； or how？ for he was neither
old nor ailing when we parted。〃
Said Arnold： 〃Yea； in his bed he died： but first he was somewhat
sword…bitten。〃
〃Yea； and how？〃 quoth Walter。
Said Arnold： 〃When thou wert gone； in a few days' wearing； thy
father sent thy wife out of his house back to her kindred of the
Reddings with no honour； and yet with no such shame as might have
been； without blame to us of those who knew the tale of thee and
her； which； God…a…mercy； will be pretty much the whole of the city。〃
〃Nevertheless； the Reddings took it amiss； and would have a mote
with us Goldings to talk of booting。 By ill…luck we yea…said that
for the saving of the city's peace。 But what betid？ We met in our
Gild…hall； and there befell the talk between us； and in that talk
certain words could not be hidden； though they were none too seemly
nor too meek。 And the said words once spoken drew forth the whetted
steel； and there then was the hewing and thrusting！ Two of ours
were slain outright on the floor； and four of theirs； and many were
hurt on either side。 Of these was thy father； for as thou mayst
well deem； he was nought backward in the fray； but despite his
hurts； two in the side and one on the arm； he went home on his own
feet； and we deemed that we had come to our above。 But well…a…way！
it was an evil victory； whereas in ten days he died of his hurts。
God have his soul！ But now； my master； thou mayst well wot that I
am not come to tell thee this only； but moreover to bear the word of
the kindred； to wit that thou come back with me straightway in the
swift cutter which hath borne me and the tidings； and thou mayst
look to it； that though she be swift and light； she is a keel full
weatherly。〃
Then said Walter： 〃This is a bidding of war。 Come back will I； and
the Reddings shall wot of my coming。 Are ye all…boun？〃
〃Yea；〃 said Arnold； 〃we may up anchor this very day； or to…morrow
morn at latest。 But what aileth thee； master； that thou starest so
wild over my shoulder？ I pray thee take it not so much to heart！
Ever it is the wont of fathers to depart this world before their
sons。〃
But Walter's visage from wrathful red had become pale； and he
pointed up street； and cried out： 〃Look！ dost thou see？〃
〃See what； master？〃 quoth Arnold： 〃what！ here cometh an ape in gay
raiment； belike the beast of some jongleur。 Nay； by God's wounds！
'tis a man； though he be exceeding mis…shapen like a very devil。
Yea and now there cometh a pretty maid going as if she were of his
meney； and lo！ here； a most goodly and noble lady！ Yea； I see； and
doubtless she owneth both the two； and is of the greatest of the
folk of this fair city； for on the maiden's ankle I saw an iron
ring； which betokeneth thralldom amongst these aliens。 But this is
strange！ for notest thou not how the folk in the street heed not
this quaint show； nay not even the stately lady； though she be as
lovely as a goddess of the gentiles； and beareth on her gems that
would buy Langton twice over； surely they must be over…wont to
strange and gallant sights。 But now； master； but now！〃
〃Yea； what is it？〃 said Walter。
〃Why； master； they should not yet be gone out of eye…shot； yet gone
they are。 What is become of them； are they sunk into the earth？〃
〃Tush； man！〃 said Walter； looking not on Arnold； but still staring
down the street； 〃they have gone into some house while thine eyes
were turned from them a moment。〃
〃Nay； master； nay；〃 said Arnold； 〃mine eyes were not off them one
instant of time。〃
〃Well；〃 said Walter； somewhat snappishly； 〃they are gone now； and
what have we to do to heed such toys； we with all this grief and
strife on our hands？ Now would I be alone to turn the matter of
thine errand over in my mind。 Meantime do thou tell the shipmaster
Geoffrey and our other folk of these tidings； and thereafter get
thee all ready； and come hither to me before sunrise to…morrow； and
I shall be ready for my part； and so sail we back to Langton。〃
Therewith he turned him back into the house； and the others went
their ways； but Walter sat alone in his chamber a long while； and
pondered these things in his mind。 And whiles he made up his mind
that he would think no more of the vision of those three； but would
fare back to Langton； and enter into the strife with the Reddings
and quell them； or die else。 But lo； when he was quite steady in
this doom； and his heart was lightened thereby； he found that he
thought no more of the Reddings and their strife； but as matters
that were passed and done with； and that now he was thinking and
devising if by any means he might find out in what land dwelt those
three。 And then again he strove to put that from him； saying that
what he had seen was but meet for one brainsick； and a dreamer of
dreams。 But furthermore he thought； Yea； and was Arnold； who this
last time had seen the images of those three； a dreamer of waking
dreams？ for he was nought wonted in such wise； then thought he： At
least I am well content that he spake to me of their likeness； not I
to him； for so I may tell that there was at least something before
my eyes which grew not out of mine own brain。 And yet again； why
should I follow them； and what should I get by it； and indeed how
shall I set about it？
Thus he turned the matter over and over； and at last； seeing that if
he grew no foolisher over it； he grew no wiser； he became weary
thereof； and bestirred him； and saw to the trussing up of his goods；
and made all ready for his departure； and so wore the day and slept
at nightfall； and at daybreak comes Arnold to lead him to their
keel； which hight the Bartholomew。 He tarried nought； and with few
farewells went aboard ship； and an hour after they were in the open
sea with the ship's head turned toward Langton on Holm。
CHAPTER IV： STORM BEFALLS THE BARTHOLOMEW； AND SHE IS DRIVEN OFF
HER COURSE
Now swift sailed the Bartholomew for four weeks toward the north…
west with a fair wind； and all was well with ship and crew。 Then
the wind died out on even of a day； so that the ship scarce made way
at all； though she rolled in a great swell of the sea； so great；
that it seemed to ridge all the main athwart。 Moreover down in the
west was a great bank of cloud huddled up in haze； whereas for
twenty days past the sky had been clear； save for a few bright white
clouds flying before the wind。 Now the shipmaster； a man right
cunning in his craft； looked long on sea and sky； and then turned
and bade the mariners take in sail and be right heedful。 And when
Walter asked him what he looked for； and wheref