Part 11 (1/2)
Harold accepted the invitation, and with his thanes set out with the duke. Against the disciplined forces of Normandy the Breton peasants had no chance whatever in the open field, but their wild and broken country, well-nigh covered with forest, afforded them an opportunity for the display of their own method of fighting by sudden surprises and attacks, and they defended their rough but formidable intrenchments with desperate valour. Harold's experience gained in his warfare with the Welsh was of much utility, and the duke committed to his hands the formal command of the troops engaged, averring that he himself knew comparatively little of warfare such as this.
Harold conducted the operations with equal vigour and prudence.
Stronghold after stronghold was attacked and captured, a small portion of the force only being engaged in active operations, whilst the rest were posted so as to repel the attempts of the Bretons to aid the besieged. By his advice clemency was always shown to the garrisons when the fortresses were stormed, and they were permitted to return unharmed to their people, bearing the news that the duke bore no ill-will towards them, and was ready to show mercy to all who laid down their arms. Wulf and Beorn were permitted to share in the a.s.saults, and with the Saxon thanes followed Harold, as he led the way on foot up to the intrenchments at one point, while the duke with a party of his barons attacked at another. More than once the English banner was carried into the heart of the Breton fortress before the Normans had fought their way in, and on each of these occasions the duke warmly expressed his admiration for the courage of his English allies. At last there remained but one formidable stronghold to be captured, and so strong was this by nature, and so desperately defended, that for some time the efforts of the besiegers were fruitless.
One evening Guy de Burg had been with Wulf in his tent. Beorn was out spending the evening with some of his Norman friends. When Guy rose to go Wulf said that he would walk with him to his father's tent, which was situated some little distance away. As there had been strict regulations that none were to move about without arms, he buckled on his sword and put on his helmet before starting.
OsG.o.d, who was lying outside the tent, rose when they issued out and followed them at a short distance. They went along at the rear of the tents, when Wulf suddenly said:
”It seems to me that I hear sounds in the forest, Guy.”
”De Launey's men are posted behind us,” Guy said carelessly; ”there is no fear of an attack.”
”Not if they are vigilant,” Wulf agreed. ”But the Bretons have for some time abstained from night surprises, and De Launey's men may be keeping a poor watch.”
Suddenly there was a loud cry, followed immediately by the Breton war-shout, and by a confusion of shouts, cries, and the sound of the clas.h.i.+ng of arms.
The lads drew their swords and ran towards the scene of conflict, when, from some bushes a short distance from them, a number of wild figures sprung out. It was a party of the enemy who had made their way through De Launey's sleeping men un.o.bserved, and who now, knowing that further concealment was useless, were rus.h.i.+ng forward towards the tents. Wulf's first impulse was to turn back, but young de Burg, shouting his father's battle-cry, ran forward, and without hesitation Wulf followed him. A moment later they were engaged with the Bretons.
”Back to back, Guy!” Wulf exclaimed, as he ran his sword through the first man who attacked him.
He had scarcely spoken when OsG.o.d ran up and joined them, and wielding the heavy axe he carried as if it had been a featherweight, struck down several of the Bretons who ventured within its swing.
Wulf defended himself as firmly, but had to s.h.i.+ft his ground continually to avoid the blows of the heavy spiked clubs with which his a.s.sailants were armed. Presently he heard his name shouted, and an instant later a crash, as Guy de Burg was struck down.
”Stand over him, OsG.o.d!” he shouted, and with a bound was beside his companion, cutting down a Breton who was about to thrust his spear into him. At the same moment a club descended on his helmet, bringing him for a moment to his knee. He sprang up again, OsG.o.d striking his opponent to the ground before he could repeat his blow.
For two or three minutes the fight went on. Wulf received more than one stab from the Breton knives, as two or three of them often rushed in upon him at once, but each time when he was hard pressed OsG.o.d's axe freed him from his a.s.sailants, for so terrible were the blows dealt by the tall Saxon that the Bretons shrank from a.s.sailing him, and thus left him free at times to render a.s.sistance to Wulf.
But the combat was too unequal to last long. A pike-thrust disabled Wulf for a moment, and as his arm fell a blow from a club stretched him beside Guy. OsG.o.d had also received several wounds, but furious at his master's fall he still defended himself with such vigour that the Bretons again fell back. They were on the point of attacking him anew, when there was a shout, and William and Harold, bareheaded as they had leapt from the table, and followed by a score or two of Norman barons and soldiers, fell upon the Bretons. The latter with cries of alarm at once fled.
By this time the Norman trumpets were everywhere sounding, and the troops hastening out to repel the attack, which a few minutes later ceased as suddenly as it began, the Bretons flying into the forest, where pursuit by the heavily-armed Normans was hopeless. Returning to the tents, the duke and Harold paused where OsG.o.d, who had sunk to the ground as soon as the Breton attack had ceased, was sitting by the side of his master.
”Whom have we here?” the duke asked. ”Whoever they are we owe our safety to them, Harold, for had it not been for the resistance they made, the Bretons would have been among our tents before we had time to catch up our arms. Bring a torch here!” he shouted; and two or three soldiers came running up from the tents with lights.
”Methinks it is one of my men,” Harold said, and repeated the duke's question in Saxon.
”I am OsG.o.d, my lord, the servant of Wulf of Steyning, who with his friend, Guy de Burg, lies here beside me, I fear done to death.”
”I trust not, indeed,” Harold said, stooping over the bodies.
At this moment the men came up with the lights. ”By the rood,”
William exclaimed, ”but they fought stoutly, whoever they are. The ground round them is covered with the bodies of these Breton rascals.
There must be at least a score of them, while so far as I can see there are but three of our men. Who are they, Harold?”
”One is Guy, son of the Baron de Burg,” Harold replied. ”Another is young Wulf, and this stout fellow is his man.”
”Right gallantly have they done,” the duke exclaimed, ”and I trust that their lives are not spent. Let someone summon De Burg here quickly. Carry his son to his tent, and bid my leech attend at once to his wounds and to those of these brave Saxons.”
”I will carry Wulf to his tent myself,” Harold said, raising the lad and carrying him off, while four soldiers followed bearing OsG.o.d. They were laid down together in Wulf's tent. As the young thane's helmet was removed, he opened his eyes and looked round in bewilderment as he saw, by the light of the torches, Harold and several others standing beside him.
”What has happened?” he asked faintly.