Part 6 (1/2)
Wulf shook his head. ”I daresay you might look after me if I fell into the Thames, OsG.o.d, but it is a very different thing in a sea like this. These waves would dash a swimmer hither and thither as if he were but a chip of wood; besides, the spray would smother him. Even at this height above the water it is difficult to breathe when one turns round and faces the wind. I think that our only hope lies in running upon a flat sh.o.r.e, where the waves will wash the vessel up so high that we may be able to leap out from the bow on to the land beyond the reach of their fury.”
Late in the afternoon one of the sailors on the p.o.o.p astern shouted out that land was visible, and it was not long before it could be seen from the deck. All eyes were directed anxiously towards it.
”It is a rocky coast,” Edred said, ”but the rocks are not high, and if we can manage to direct the vessel between two of them we may escape. At present it is needful that most of the crew should keep in the stern, but when we are about to strike they must all run suddenly forward, so as to leap out as soon as she touches the ground. There will be but little time given to them, for a.s.suredly the seas will batter her to pieces the moment she falls among the rocks.”
Harold issued the order. All were to remain at their posts until he gave the word, and were then to run forward. The master scanned the sh.o.r.e anxiously.
”See you, my lord, that opening right ahead of us? It seems to me barely the width of the s.h.i.+p, but if I can direct her truly between the rocks methinks that most of the crew will gain the land. I shall myself take the helm. That is my duty and my right, and should I not succeed in making the sh.o.r.e, I shall at least die well contented with the thought that you who are the hope of England will be saved.”
”I would fain stay with you, Edred.”
”That cannot be, my lord. As it is my duty to stay by the s.h.i.+p to the last, so it is your first duty to save your life for England.
I need no aid, for the vessel steers well, and by the help of a rope round the tiller I can manage her alone. Farewell, my lord, if we are not to meet again on earth. A very few minutes will decide our fate.”
”Swimming will be of no use there, OsG.o.d,” Wulf said. ”Look how the spray dashes itself against the black rocks.”
”I thought not that it would be so bad,” OsG.o.d replied. ”I wonder the master does not cast anchor.”
”The ropes would not hold for a moment,” Wulf said, ”and when they broke we might drift broadside on to the rocks, which would mean destruction for all. The master is steering for that narrow opening between these two great rocks ahead. It will be but two or three minutes now before our fate is decided.”
At this moment Harold shouted:
”Let each man make his peace with G.o.d.” And baring his head he stood silently for a minute or two, imitated by all on board. Then Harold again raised his voice in a shout that was heard above the storm:
”Move forward now all of you, but not further forward than the mast; for if her head were too far down the master could not hold her straight. Moreover, the mast will a.s.suredly fall forward and crush those in front of it. Therefore, let no man go forward of it until the s.h.i.+p strikes.”
The sailors had already cut away the canvas stretched across the bow, and all on board cl.u.s.tered just aft the mast. Wulf looked back, and saw the master standing alone on the p.o.o.p, with his eyes fixed in front of him and a look of grim resolve on his face. Then he turned again to look ahead. The scene was terrible. On either side extended a long line of white foam. Great ma.s.ses of water were hurled against the rocks with a thundering crash, and the spray flew high up into the air, and then, caught by the wind, was carried far inland. The rocks were now but a few lengths ahead, and the pa.s.sage between them looked terribly narrow, so narrow that he doubted if the s.h.i.+p could possibly pa.s.s through them. Not a word was spoken on board as the s.h.i.+p neared the opening. Now she swerved a little to one side, now a little to the other, as the waves lifted her stern and swept her along, but the hand of the master checked her immediately, and brought her head back to the line.
She was but a length away from the pa.s.sage when there was a crash that shook her from stem to stern; then another great wave lifted her, and Wulf saw a black wall of rock gleaming with the water that streamed down it. The wall of rock flashed past the bulwarks so closely that he could have touched it A moment later the s.h.i.+p struck again, this time with a force that threw many off their feet, while the mast fell over the bow. Then once more she lifted, shot a few feet further, then struck with tremendous force and remained stationary.
There was a grinding and splintering of planks, as the men rushed forward, and then a wave swept over the vessel, carrying all on deck before it into the cove beyond the rock, rolling them over and over up a sandy sh.o.r.e behind. Some managed to dig their hands and feet into the sand and to scramble out; more were sucked back again by the receding waters. As Wulf found himself in the water he felt his arm clutched, and OsG.o.d shouted in his ear: ”Do not struggle, I can keep you up!”
When thrown up on the sand Wulf tried in vain to resist the backward rush of the water; he and OsG.o.d were borne out again. When the next wave again swept them up Wulf saw the earl standing knee-deep in the water, and as he was swept past, Harold seized him and OsG.o.d, and with tremendous strength lifted them right out of the water.
”Keep still!” he shouted; ”your weight will help me to keep my feet.” Wulf felt his supporter quiver as the water rushed out, for he was waist-deep now; but directly afterwards he set them both down on their feet, saying, ”Run before the next wave comes.” Ten yards farther and they were beyond the reach of the sea. Harold was with them, and directed those who had got ash.o.r.e to form lines, taking hold of each other's hands, and so to advance far into the surf and grasp their comrades as they were swept up. Many were saved in this way, although some of the rescuers were badly hurt by floating pieces of wreckage, for the vessel had entirely broken up immediately after her course had been arrested.
As soon as all who could be seen were brought ash.o.r.e it was found that ten men were missing, among whom was the master of the s.h.i.+p, most of them having probably been struck by floating timbers. As soon as it was certain that no more would come ash.o.r.e alive Harold called the men together. Rough litters were made of oars and pieces of sail, for the conveyance of those who had broken limbs or were too much injured to walk, and the party prepared for a start. By this time several men, apparently of the fis.h.i.+ng cla.s.s, had approached, but stood a short distance away, evidently waiting for the departure of the party before beginning the work of collecting whatever the sea might cast up. Harold went over to them, and asked in the Norman tongue:
”What sh.o.r.e is this, and how far is it to the nearest town where we can obtain shelter and a.s.sistance?”
”You are in Ponthieu, in the territories of Count Conrad. The town of St. Valery is but two miles along the coast. There you can obtain all you need.”
Returning to his men, Harold ordered the wounded to be raised, and the party at once set out. Harold had already taken off his gold chain and rings, and had told his companions to do the same, in order that the cupidity of the natives might not be excited nor their rank guessed at. As soon as they started Wulf went up to him.
”My lord,” he said, ”I fear that you have already been recognized by one of the fishermen. I saw him looking earnestly at you, and then whisper to one of his companions. After doing so he hurried away.”
”That is bad news, Wulf; but I could hardly expect that I should be long unrecognized. There are many vessels come and go between the northern ports and our own, and in St. Valery there must be numbers of sailors and fishermen who have seen me in London. Besides, we are sure to be questioned by the count as to our rank and condition, and even could we conceal it for a while, the news is certain to be brought ere long from England of our having been blown off the coast, and when it was known it would be speedily guessed that we were the missing party. Hark you, Wulf; I have never heard aught good of Count Conrad, and one cannot say what steps he may take to force us to pay a heavy ransom, but it is like enough that he will do all he can to prevent the news of my being in his hands from reaching the ears of the duke. It is likely that you and Beorn, being but lads, will be watched less rigorously than the rest of us. Should this be so, try, if you find an opportunity, to send the news to the duke that we are all held prisoners here. I shall, of course, endeavour to communicate with him, but some chance may occur by which you can do so more readily than I can.”
”I will try to do so, my lord; but I trust this Norman count will treat you with all due honour and courtesy.”
Wulf then fell back to Beorn's side, and half an hour later the s.h.i.+pwrecked party entered the gates of St. Valery. The townspeople flocked round them, and as soon as they learned that they were a party of s.h.i.+pwrecked Saxons who had been blown by the gale from England, they were led to the house of the officer in command of the town. He asked them a few questions, saying, ”I must refer the matter to the count. By the usages of our land all who are cast upon it become his prisoners, to be put to ransom or otherwise as he may decide. However, food shall be supplied you at once, but you must be content to remain under guard until his pleasure is known.”