CHAPTER XVI.
SIGURD THE VIKING.
"Beware Of entrance to a quarrel; but being in, Bear 't that the opposed may beware of thee."
Shakespeare.
Hanging-Brow Scaur, to which allusion has been made, is a huge peaktowering high above the Pennine Range, out of which it springs. A rudecultivation obtains to its very summit--such a cultivation as the bleakwinds and perpetual cold permit. Ere the advent of the Normans smallmountain sheep with the single lamb at their heels had swarmed over itshoary sides, browsing amid its moistureless grass, nipping the freshshoots during the summer time, and retreating to the lowlands at theadvent of winter. The husbandman who reared his humble dwelling beneathits shoulders had frequent need to beware the cold north wind, thedrifted snow, and not unfrequently the rushing avalanche. A sluggish,unromantic life was lived, and a precarious livelihood obtained by thesehill-folk. The woods ran up the gorges to the foot of the loftiest peak.Coming downwards they spread over the tops of the lower hills until,from gorge to gorge, the forest trees join hands, and an unbroken forestsweeps downwards, gathering density and luxuriousness until it sweepsover the valleys and up the sides of the hills beyond. Inexpressiblylovely especially are these wooded gorges in the summertime, when thefragrant breath of foliage and flower, of moss and lichen, is in thenostril, when the music of rushing cataract and waterfall is in the ear.Buoyant and bracing as an elixir of life is the cool air on thesemountain-sides, when the hot breath of July is enervating the dwellersin the valley below. How delightful was my task at this season to carrythe consolations of my office to the lonely scattered folk on the hills!How often have I felt my heart expand with lowly adoration when, fromthe lofty summit of Hanging-brow, I have turned my gaze westward, andfar away in the distance my sweep of vision has taken in the coast-lineof the Irish sea; whilst north, and east, and south there lay before mea mighty vista of hill and dale and rugged peak! Then, how lovely themagnificent stretch of forest too!--a rich unbroken canopy of green,many-tinted and beautiful, the oak, the ash, the elm, and many othersblending their various tints in the lowlands; whilst the fir, the pine,and the mountain-ash belted the forest in the higher reaches. Thefleet-footed red-deer might be seen threading their way through thetangled undergrowth, or browsing amid the boulders in the clear, keepingever a wary eye on the stealthy hunter. Sly Reynard here abounded, andmight be seen gliding warily along; and occasionally his fiercer cousinthe wolf prowled in fierce loneliness; whilst ceaselessly the woods rangwith the songs of her feathered denizens. Birds of rare plumage, too,and shy, such as the jay, the magpie, the thrush, the curlew, thewood-pigeon, with many specimens of the hawk family, were here; whilstthe golden eagle wheeled in airy flight round the crown, or moodilyperched on some boulder, while his mate patiently hatched her young inthe fissures of the rocks, which, steep and high, lined the pathway ofthe descending waters. But on this eventful day, as the sun reared itsblood-red visage above the horizon, and kissed the mountain peak into aruddy twilight, two Saxon warriors, with broadswords by their sides andbattle-axes at their girdles, rounded the peak on the side whichoverlooked the castle and broad fertile acres which had beencomparatively cleared around it. Just the dimmest outlines of this scenewere visible; but as the sun mounted higher in the heavens, and his raysswept down from the hills into the lowest valleys, the whole landscapewas spread in beauty before them. The castle's noble proportions, hereand there also the river's sinuous course, as it threaded in and outamongst the trees, could be seen; whilst farther down the valley thegorgeous masonry of the Abbey peeped through the tops of the trees. Withrapt vision, but with very sad hearts, the pair stood together, andwatched the marvellous transformation taking place before them.
"Was ever man called to yield so fair a possession before, Wulfhere?"said the chieftain to his comrade.
"Well, truly it is a fair spot--finer, I think, than ever I thought itbefore. But it may be yours again, and I may get my little patrimonyalso. So let us not despair."
"Well, we know not what may happen, but it seems very unlikely atpresent. But come, we will go over the summit and consider our plan forthe stronghold. It will be some time yet ere our enemies are astir, Idare say. The scouts will bring us timely word."
So the pair climbed to the summit, and again considered their plans forthe fortress which had already been decided upon. Now the summit was aremarkably level plateau of five or six acres in extent. Round the outeredge of this plateau the ground sank away steep and suddenly for fiftyyards, and it was only by the utmost exertions that a man could scrambleup this last steep brow. The pair walked around the outer fringetogether.
"Well," said Oswald, "the hand of man could never have raised soimpregnable a rampart, and if gallantly manned it can never be carriedby assault. There is but one danger: we may be starved out, for theprovisioning of it is most difficult with our scanty resources."
"It is as you say, my lord, matchless as a site for defence; for theprovisioning we must make strenuous efforts whilst the respite lasts;and if we can by any means give them this day such a taste of ourquality as we ought to, they will never, unless greatly reinforced,attempt to force our stronghold."
"How bountiful, Wulfhere, nature has been in providing material forbuilding. Stones ready to our hand and inexhaustible in quantity, andtimber near to hand also."
At this juncture a horseman was seen coming over the mile of gentlyrising ground which stretched away from the forest.
"He bears a message," said Oswald; "come, we will descend and meet him."
By the time they had scrambled to the bottom of the declivity thehorseman drew near, bringing the news that evidently something more thanusual was afoot, by the number of men who were actively mustering at soearly an hour of the morning; this thing being quite an unusual one withthe Normans, who loved to carouse well into the night, and then sleepoff the effects in the morning.
"Well we may be sure, if these besotted louts are moving thus early,that there is something which has stirred the hornet's nest, so we willto our rendezvous." Then turning to the scout, he said, "You know thecave at Deepdale Head?"
"Aye, aye, I know it well!"
"You will find us there from now: keep us well informed, you and yourcomrades, so that we may make our dispositions."
Then the two rapidly descended until they came to the head of a deepgorge, where was one of the many limestone caves to be found in thedistrict. It had an obscure and unpretentious entrance; but once wellwithin it, it assumed lofty proportions, and ran away into many cavitiesroomy and weird. In past times no one would have dared to enter itsgloomy precincts, as it was considered to be the abode of pixies,witch-hags, and the powers of evil and darkness generally. But now thesesuperstitious and ignorant people had dared to force the abode of evilspirits, rather than face the still more cruel and hated Norman.
Gathered around the entrance to this cave, and sitting on the hillsidewere a number of men all armed, and evidently anticipating a conflictwith the enemy. They were a very miscellaneous company, some of thembeing fierce, ragged, wild and most unsavoury looking. At the head ofsome ten or fifteen was one Sigurd, who had been a chieftain inLakesland, some fifty miles distant; but so desperate had been hisconflict with the Normans, and so incessant his attacks and so daring incharacter, that the Normans had found it necessary to put in motionnumerous forces to capture or slay this man and his desperate band. Thisthey had not been able to do; but so incessant had their harrying been,that he had been driven from his native hills, with the result that thisopportune moment he was found swelling the ranks of Oswald's men.
"Your coming is timely, Jarl," said Oswald. "Men who can wield a sword,or fling a javelin, as I perceive you and these hardy warriors can, aredoubly welcome at this pinch."
"You are right, master, I am Viking every inch of me; these men areskalds every one also, so we need not tell you we like the ring ofsteel. Give us a corner where there is room to fight and none to fly,for we lik
e it best."
Just then another horseman hot with haste arrived with the tidings thatthe Normans had divided themselves into two bands, and were ascending bythe water-courses. This was as Oswald had anticipated, for thesewater-courses alone afforded what by compliment could be consideredcontinuous paths, the forest being very dense and tangled, and ahopeless labyrinth. Now the Normans had made the somewhat common but,nevertheless, often fatal mistake, of underrating the enemy--or ratherthe hunted fugitives they sought. It had never occurred to them for amoment that the Saxons would present a bold front, and even dare anissue with them in force. They regarded the matter with a very lightheart; although they had had a taste of Oswald's prowess, they believedthat he had but few to stand by him. They little thought as theyscrambled jauntily along up the gorge with no precautions against anambush, or sudden assault, that they were forcing the hiding places ofdesperate men, who, when hard driven were capable of desperate deeds.
By-and-by the scouts came in bringing definite information as tonumbers, and the routes the Normans were pursuing. They had, as alreadysaid, divided themselves into two parties; each one purposing tothoroughly scour one of the two paths along the water-courses, andintending to join together again when the hills should be reached.
Now Sigurd, of whom more anon, had command of one company of the Saxonforces at the head of one of the ravines, and he was duly apprised ofthe number of Normans he would have to contend with. Oswald withWulfhere as second in command, had charge of the other contingent, andthey slowly drew away down the ravine to a spot which had been selectedby Oswald for the attack. The most numerous company of the Normansstruck the water-course which Oswald defended. The stream had therereached the valley where the mighty slit in the mountains down which itboisterously tumbled had broadened into a lovely dell, green as anemerald, and studded with flowers. Here the waters moved placidly along;but the innumerable foam-caps which slowly sailed away on its bosom,bore ample evidence of its tumultuous descent from the mountains. Herethe Normans drew together and took council with regard to their furthermovements. Eventually they took the left bank, and with long andattenuated ranks they commenced the ascent. All this was duly noted, andnimble feet carried each several movement speedily to the waitingSaxons.
The place selected by Oswald was where the limestone rock seemed to beshorn down with a perpendicular face to the bed of the stream. On theopposite side Wulfhere with a company of archers were ambushed. Thesteep and lofty face of the rocks precluded any possibility of theirbeing dislodged, whilst the position of the Norman foe across the ravinewould expose them mercilessly to their shafts. Oswald, with some dozenof the stoutest of his followers, barred the path at a point where ittook an upward trend, and a huge boulder blocked the vision of theapproaching foe. He had also thrown forward a party of men up the steepand wooded ravine side, in advance of himself, who were completelyobscured by the trees. These were, at the signal, to roll down theboulders and huge stones which abounded in the rough and scraggyhillside. The position and the method of attack were matchlesslyplanned. If these desperate Saxons only stood each one unflinchingly tohis post, victory was certain, for the enemy was entrapped, and flightalone could save them.
"Wulfhere," said Oswald, "you understand my plan, I think. The path onour side is so narrow and rough, the enemy will be obliged to movepretty nearly in single file. Your men must hide in the brushwood untilI give the signal; then pour into them volleys of arrows. If they shouldbe seized with panic, which assuredly they will, and beat a headlongretreat, then rush down, and meet them at the neck of the gorge and cutoff their retreat. Remember, battle-axes are best for the thicket, andbroadswords for the open. Strike swiftly, strike hard, and victory iscertain."
So Wulfhere crossed the stream with his men, and clambered up the steepbank on the opposite side. Then abreast, but on each side the stream,the two companies marched downwards. Presently they reached the spotselected for the attack. The disposition of the men was quicklyeffected. Then Wulfhere, keeping in the shelter of the trees, advancedto the brink of the precipice, where his position commanded a view ofthe enemy, who were swarming forward. From thence he could easily holdconverse across the chasm with Oswald, who, with battle-axe firmlygrasped in his right hand, and bronze shield on his left, like a fiercelion was grimly waiting for his prey; behind him, a dozen stout yeomen,who from their youth had been taught to wield either weapons of war orimplements of husbandry, men who had proved their valour against bothNorman and Dane on many occasions. As the enemy drew near, their numbersand every movement was minutely described to Oswald, until they drew sonear that further parleying must cease. Then Wulfhere retired a fewsteps into the thicket where his men were lurking, with arrows affixed,ready for the fray. Meanwhile, the loud oaths, coarse laughter, andunchecked speech of the Normans told plainly the feelings of contemptthey entertained for the foe, and the little apprehension they had ofthe onslaught awaiting them. Soon their scrambling footsteps drew quiteclose, amid a death-like stillness in the ranks of the lurking foe. TheSaxon war-cry, "Ahoi!" in thunderous tones burst from the lips of Oswaldand his men. "Ahoi!" shouted Wulfhere's men. "Ahoi!" shouted the menambushed aloft. At that instant also, a dozen arrows with deadly aimcame hissing across the defile; down also came the boulders from aloft,leaping with gathering velocity into the ranks of the foe, whilst Oswalddashed from behind the boulder, and closed with the Norman leader. Theirgleaming eyes met for a second; the Norman dealt a hurried forcelessblow with his sword, which the Saxon received on his shield; then hisponderous battle-axe came crashing down with irresistible force. TheNorman interposed his shield, but the axe bore it down and, glancingtherefrom, came full upon his cranium, tearing away his helmet, andfelling him through the shrubs down into the water-course in the bottomof the glen. As the Normans witnessed the overthrow of their leader,they were completely panic-stricken, and helplessly huddled togetherlike sheep, unable to strike a blow. The Saxon dominated the path infront, cutting down the foremost with marvellous celerity; whilst on oneflank the deadly arrows were being poured into them, and on the otherflank the huge stones clashed through their ranks and decimated theirnumbers. This hesitancy lasted but for a minute or two; very speedilythe discomfiture became an abject panic, and each one for himself made arush for the valley. The Saxons followed them swiftly, relentlessly, andcut them off in numbers, as they impetuously rushed away towards thevalley and the castle. At a signal from Oswald, the Saxons ceased theirharrying of the scattered and flying foe, and with swift footsteps theyregained the head of the gorge and over the shoulder of the hills, tothe help of their comrades, who barred the advance of the second band ofNormans.
Now, whilst Oswald, with sagacity and conspicuous valour, had routed onecontingent of the Normans, the sturdy Viking Sigurd, with a dozen of hisown reckless and desperate band, reinforced by less than a score ofOswald's followers, pressed eagerly on to the fray with the other bandof Normans. Sigurd possessed none of the qualities of generalship,beyond a desperate and headlong valour, which always bore him into thethickest of the fight. His personal strength was prodigious, and noother man could wield his ponderous sword; in a rough and desperatestruggle where strength and valour were everything, and skill of littleavail, he had no equal in all Northumbria. His own followers, too, inthicket warfare, with their short but heavy swords in one hand, and along, gleaming knife or dagger in the other, were unrivalled in such anencounter as the one they challenged to-day. In Oswald's struggle, theplace and plan of attack had more to do with the complete demoralisationof the Normans, than the desperate valour with which it was carried out.In Sigurd's case, it is true, the surprise, the thicket, and the roughand precipitous ground, were stout allies of his. But otherwise,everything depended on the vigour and valour of himself and men. NowPierre led this second company, and he was a sturdy rogue who had to bereckoned with when it came to a tussle with weapons; and any one whocounted on Pierre succumbing to panic or to fear would be grievouslymistaken.
On, however, the Norman
s pressed, like their routed compatriots, neverdreaming that the Saxons would be prepared for them; and, as a matter offact, despising them, in any case. Right into the ambush they marched,recklessly and unheeding. Instantly the Saxon war-cry rends the air, andthe wood is alive with men who frantically hurl themselves upon theastonished foe. The Normans stagger and reel at the fierce onset, andsome fly, coward-like, without striking a blow. But the presence of mindand personal bravery of Pierre stands them in good stead at thisjuncture. In stentorian tones he shouted, "Notre Dame! Have at the dogs!Follow me!" And whipping out his sword he headed the onset, laying abouthim lustily and encouraging his men. But the burly Viking, Sigurd, findsnone to withstand him, and he makes sad havoc amongst the men-at-arms,who quail and cower before him; whilst his followers, like mountaingoats, dart from behind trees and boulders, dealing stealthy andeffective strokes, completely nonplussing the Normans with theirorganised methods. Pierre quickly perceives, however, that they numberfive to one of the Saxons; and, if the burly Viking's arm can bearrested for ten minutes, victory will come speedily. There is none buthe to do it. So boldly he dashes off on the instant and confronts thegiant. No mean foeman is Pierre in point of physical strength andcourage; but, when to that was added his superb skill in handling hisweapon, he is not to be trifled with, even by so doughty a foe asSigurd.
"Ha, ha!" roared the Viking chief, as he witnessed the temerity of thisNorman in courting battle with him, and with reckless vigour he smitesat Pierre. But the Norman plies shield and sword in defence, anddexterously shifts his ground to get an advantage. In swift successionthe thunder-strokes fall, and gleams of fire dart from Pierre's shieldand sword as he parries the blows. Scathless, however, he endures theordeal.
"Bravo, Pierre!" his comrades shouted. "Hold _him_ in play a littlewhile, and we will make short work of these churls."
Truly everything points to this conclusion, for the Normans havegathered courage wonderfully, and by sheer numbers the Saxons are beingrapidly overborne. At the instant, however, the Saxon battle-cry, Ahoi!Ahoi! Ahoi! wakes the echoes in the hills, and Oswald and his men dashinto the flanks of the Normans. The effect is electrical.Panic-stricken, they fly before the onrush of the avenging Saxons. Theretreat was a regular stampede; and Pierre and his men, along with thestragglers from the first company, rushed into the castle yardbreathless with haste, never having made attempt to rally.
De Montfort and Vigneau, who had received the former troop with rage anddismay, were little less than frantic at this double disaster andignoble defeat.
"Pierre, you scurvy villain, what is this? I wish thou hadst left thyugly carcase with those Saxon dogs yonder, ere thou disgraced thycalling thus!" roared Vigneau at his henchman.
"You will take care that fat carcase of yours is put in no manner ofdanger, master!" rasped out Pierre, in fierce retort.
"How now, villain!" said Vigneau, drawing his sword and advancing onPierre. "I'll put a stop to thy unmannerly insolence, dog!"
"Stand back!" said Pierre fiercely, and whipping out his sword. "Youwill have to take your chance, mark me, if you put not up that weapon.I'll have no more of your bullying! My weapon is as good as yours anyday, whether I have won my spurs or no."
"Stop that!" said De Montfort, authoritatively, and stepping betweenthem. "How is this, Pierre? What has happened?"
"Treachery, my lord! The Saxons were well advised of our purpose, dependupon it, for they were prepared for us, lying in ambush to receive us.But in spite of this we should have worsted them; but when we were justgetting the mastery, the Saxon Oswald and fifty others dashed into ourrear and demoralised us entirely. A burly monster, huge as a bull, ledthe first company. Look at my shield! cut through in several places byhis weapons. Depend upon it, we were betrayed by some one; they wereevidently awaiting us, everything prepared."
Wonderfully elated and heartened these Saxons were at the day'ssuccesses; for this was the first encounter since the Normans'disastrous march through the north when, matching force with force, theyhad gained so signal a victory. The fame and prowess of Oswald spreadlike wildfire amongst the hunted refugees, who were lurking, like beastsof the forest, in any hiding-place they could find. Salutary also wasthe lesson the arrogant and vindictive oppressors learnt, for both theirrespect and their fears were marvellously increased by it.