well believe since my father's name； like mine； till I married； was
Grimmer。 This sword； also； has a name and it is Wave…Flame。 With it；
the tale tells； Thorgrimmer did great deeds； slaying many after their
heathen fashion in his battles by land and sea。 For he was a wanderer；
and it is said of him that once he sailed to a new land far across the
ocean； and won home again after many strange adventures； to die at
last here in England in some fray。 That is all I know； save that a
learned man from the north once told my father's father that the
writing on the sword means：
〃He who lifts Wave…Flame on high
In love shall live and in battle die；
Storm…tossed o'er wide seas shall roam
And in strange lands shall make his home。
Conquering； conquered shall he be；
And far away shall sleep with me。
〃Those were the words which I remember because of the jingle of them；
also because such seems to have been the fate of Thorgrimmer and the
sword that his grandson took from his tomb。〃
Here I would have asked about this grandson and the tomb； but having
no time； held my peace。
〃All my life have I kept that sword；〃 went on my mother； 〃not giving
it to your father or brothers； lest the fate written on it should
befall them； for those old wizards of the north； who fashioned such
weapons with toil and skill； could foresee the futureas at times I
can； for it is in my blood。 Yet now I am moved to bid you take it；
Hubert； and go where its flame leads you and dree your gloom； whatever
it may be； for I know you will use it like Thorgrimmer's self。〃
She paused for a moment； then went on：
〃Hubert； perhaps we part for the last time； for I think that my hour
is at hand。 But let not that trouble you； since I am glad to go to
join those who went before； and others with them； perchance
Thorgrimmer's self。 Hearken； Hubert。 If aught befalls me； or this
place； stay not here。 Go to London town and seek out John Grimmer； my
brother； the rich merchant and goldsmith who dwells in the place
called Cheap。 He knew you as a child and loved you； and lacking
offspring of his own will welcome you for both our sakes。 My father
would not give John the sword lest its fate should be on him； but I
say that John will be glad to welcome one of our race who holds it in
his hand。 Take it then； and with it that bag of gold； which may prove
of service ere all be done。
〃Aye； and there is one more thingthis ring which； so says the tale；
came down with the sword and the bow； and once had writing on it like
the sword； though that is long since rubbed away。 Take it and wear it
till perchance； in some day to come； you give it to another as I did。〃
Wondering at all this tale which； after her secret fashion； my mother
had kept from me till that hour； I set the ring upon my finger。
〃I gave yonder ring to your father on the day that we were betrothed；〃
went on my mother； 〃and I took it back again from his corpse after he
had been found floating in the sea。 Now I pass it on to you who soon
will be all that is left of both of us。〃
〃Hark！〃 she continued； 〃the crier summons all men with their arms to
the market…place to fight England's foes。 Therefore one word more
while I buckle the sword Wave…Flame on to you； as doubtless his women
folk did on to Thorgrimmer； your ancestor。 My blessing on you； Hubert。
Be you such a one as Thorgrimmer was； for we of the Norse blood desire
that our loves and sons should prove not backward when swords are
aloft and arrows fly。 But be you more than he； be you a Christian
also； remembering that however long you live； and the Battle…maidens
have not marked you yet； at last you must die and give account。
〃Hubert； you are such a one as women will love； one； too； who； I fear
me； will be a lover of women； for that weakness goes with strength and
manhood by Nature's laws。 Be careful of women； Hubert； and if you may；
choose those who are not false and cling to her who is most true。 Oh；
you will wander far； I read it in your eyes that you will wander far；
yet shall your heart stay English。 Kiss me and begone！ Lad； are you
forgetting your spare arrows and the bull…hide jerkin that was your
father's？ You will want them both to…day。 Farewell； farewell！ God and
His Christ be with youand shoot you straight and smite you hard。
Nay； no tears； lest my eyes should be dimmed； for I'll climb to the
attic and watch you fight。〃
CHAPTER II
THE LADY BLANCHE
So I went； with a sore heart； for I remembered that when my father and
brothers were drowned； although I was then but a little one； my mother
had foreseen it； and I feared much lest it might be thus in her own
case also。 I loved my mother。 She was a stern woman； it was true； with
little softness about her； which I think came with her blood； but she
had a high heart； and oh！ her last words were noble。 Yet through it
all I was pleased； as any young man would have been； with the gift of
the wonderful sword which once had been that of Thorgrimmer； the sea…
rover； whose blood ran in my body against which it lay； and I hoped
that this day I might have chance to use it worthily as Thorgrimmer
did in forgotten battles。 Having imagination； I wondered also whether
the sword knew that after its long sleep it had come forth again to
drink the blood of foes。
Also I was pleased with another thing； namely； that my mother had told
me that I should live my life and not die that day by the hand of
Frenchmen； and that in my life I should find love； of which to tell
truth already I knew a little of a humble sort； for I was a comely
youth； and women did not run away from me； or if they did； soon they
stopped。 I wanted to live my life； I wanted to see great adventures
and to win great love。 The only part of the business which was not to
my taste was that command of my mother's； that I should go to London
to sit in a goldsmith's shop。 Still； I had heard that there was much
to be seen in London； and at least it would be different from
Hastings。
The street outside our doors was crowded with folk； some of the men
making their way to the market…place； about whom hung women and
children weeping； others； old people； wives and girls and little ones
fleeing from the town。 I found the two sailormen who had been with me
on the boat； waiting for me。 They were brawny fellows named Jack
Grieves and William Bull； who had been in our service since my
childhood； good fishermen and fighters both； indeed one of them；
William Bull； had served in the French wars。
〃We knew that you were coming； Master； so we bided here for you；〃 said
William； who having once been an archer was armed with a bow and a
short sword； whereas Jack had only an axe； also a knife such as we
used on the smacks for cleaning fish。
I nodded； and we went on to the market…place and joined the throng of
men； a vast number of them； who were gathered there to defend Hastings
and their homes。 Nor were we too soon； for the French ships were
already beaching within a few yards of the shore or on it； their
draught being but small； while the sailors and men…at…arms were
pushing off in small boats or wading to the strand。
There was great confusion in the market…place； for as is common in
England； no preparation had been made against attack though such was
always to be feared。
The bailiff ran about shouting orders； as did others； but proper
officers were lacking； so that in the end men acted as the fancy took
them。 Some went down towards the beach and shot with arrows at the
Frenchmen。 Others took refuge in houses； others stood irresolute；
waiting； knowing not which way to turn。 I and my two men were with
those who went on to the beach where I loosed some arrows from my big
black bow； and saw a man fall before one of them。
But we could do little or nothing； for these Frenchmen were trained
soldiers under proper command。 They formed themselves into companies
and advanced； and we were driven back。 I stopped as long as I dared；
and drawing the sword； Wave…Flame； fought with a Frenchman who was in
advance of the others。 What is more； making a great blow at his head
which I missed； I struck him on the arm and cut it off； for I saw it
fall to the ground。 Then others rushed up at me and I fled to save my
life。
Somehow I found myself being pressed up the steep Castle Hill with a
number of Hastings folk； followed by the French。 We reached the Castle
and got into it； but the old portcullis would not close； and in sundry
places the walls were broken down。 Here we found a number of women who
had climbed for refuge； thinking that the place would be safe。 Among
these was a beautiful and high…born maiden whom I knew by sight。 Her
father was Sir Robert Aleys who； I believe； was then the Warden of the
Castle of Pevensey； and she was named the lady Blanche。 Once； indeed；
I had spoken with her on an occasion too long to tell。 Then her large
blue eyes； which she knew well how to use； had left me with a swimming
head； for she was very fair and very sweet and gracious； with a most
soft voice； and quite unlike any other woman I had ever seen； nor did
she seem at all proud。 Soon her father； an old knight； who had no name
for gentleness in the countryside； but was said to be a great lover of
gold； had come up and swept her away； asking her what she did； talking
with a common fishing churl。 This had happened some months before。
Well； there I found her in the Castle； alone it seemed； and knowing me
again； which I thought strange； she ran to me； praying me to protect
her。 More； she began to tell me some long tale； to which I had not
time to listen； of how she had come to Hastings with her father； Sir
Robert； and a young lord named Deleroy； who； I understood； was some
kinsman of hers； and slept there。 How； too； she had been separated
from them in the throng when they were attempting to return to
Pevensey which her father must go to guard； because her horse was
frightened and ran away； and of how finally men took her by the arm
and brought her to this castle； saying that it was the safest place。
〃Then here you must bide； Lady Blanche；〃 I answered； cutting her
short。 〃Cling to me and I will save