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And when he saw me he ran straight to me, and thrusting a splinter of wood into my hand, cried in a panting voice: "I can no more In the king's name to Matelgar of Stert the levy is at Bridgwater Cross. In all haste." Yet to Matelgar and by an outlaw! But the man was beat, and the thralls might not bear it. "Look at me; know you who I am?"
Cast out you are from the Wessex land, but before long Wessex shall be beholden to you. Not long shall Matelgar, the treacherous, hold your place but you shall be in honour again of all men. Only must you forego your vengeance and leave that to the hand of the Lord, who repays." "What must I do now, Father?" I asked, in a low voice.
The rest have taken service elsewhere if they were free." So Matelgar was in possession, and now would be confirmed in the same. What mattered that to an outlaw? But I could have borne anything better than to think of him sitting in my place as reward for his treachery. This was evidence of weakness, however, in his case, that he should have tried to have me slain.
Indeed, I had seen but two men write before, and one was our old priest at Cannington, and the other was Matelgar, and I ever wondered that this latter should be able to do so, and why of late he was often sending men with letters. Yet it seems to me now that surely they had to do with his schemes that had so come to nought.
As I clomb the hill the heavy smell of the smoke caught me up and bided with me, making me wild with fury against the plunderers, and against Matelgar, in that now I might not call out my own men and ride to the sheriff's levy with them, and fight for Wessex as was my right.
Now it is strange that of Eanulf, the mighty ealdorman who had pronounced my doom, I thought little at all, but as of one who was by the bishop. All that day's doings seemed to have been as a dream, wherein I and Wulfhere had living part with this bishop, while the rest, Eanulf and Matelgar and the others, were but phantoms standing by.
Then I strode forward boldly up to the foot of the dais, and looking steadily a Matelgar, cast the arrow at his feet, saying: "In the king's name. The levy is at Bridgwater Cross. In all haste." He threw up his hands as one too terrified to draw sword who would ward off some sudden terror giving back a pace or two, and staring at me with wild eyes.
I was just about to ask the sheriff to hear me privately, when Matelgar plucked him by the sleeve, having made up his mind at last, and drawing him down a little, spoke to him a few words, among which I caught my own name.
I saw that Matelgar longed to speak, but dared not as yet, and then he cast his eye down the hall, and seemed to make some sign. Presently Osric said in a doubtful way, "Never heard I the like. Now I myself know not why an outlaw should not fight if he wills to do so. "What say you, thanes?" he cried loudly, turning to those down the hall.
"Gurth could have told you; master," he cried, "but he is dead. Matelgar held no counsel with me. I can but tell you what the talk is among the men." "Tell it."
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