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Then Heregar and Osmund went with Etheldreda to the other two ladies, and they bade them take the horses and fly to Dowsborough camp as soon as the fighting drew every Dane to the eastward side of the fort and left the way clear. Osmund would go with them, and so no fear for them was on our minds.
"He's a queer chap, but sound-headed," said the factor. "He spoke to me of the matter that brought him to the Canadas, but I couldn't give him any assistance; I never heard the name of Osmund Maiden." I'm afraid it's a useless search so many years have passed since the man disappeared. "I agree with you," I replied. "But he is a plucky fellow, and sticks on in spite of failure. He deserves to win.
The rest slept on, for they had taken their turns on watch Heregar with his arm round the pole of the standard, and his sword beneath his head. Odda looked at me as we sat up stiffly, and spoke what was in his mind and mine also. "I have a mind to send Osmund to Hubba, and ask him to let the women go hence. There is nought to eat today."
My eyes were on the captain just then, and I fancied he gave a slight start; certain it is that a sudden flush colored his bronzed face a darker shade, and I remembered that this was not the first time he had shown agitation at the mention of the man Christopher Burley was seeking. But he was instantly himself again, and he calmly twisted his long mustaches as he answered: "Osmund Maiden!
After that I lived, as I have told you, in the States, England and on the Continent. "And now," he continued, "I will take up the thread of my narrative in Quebec a few months ago, where I made the acquaintance of Denzil Carew and Christopher Burley. I was struck at once by the remarkable likeness the former bore to Osmund Maiden as I remembered him.
Then the sheriff of Chippenham came forward, and it seemed to me that it was of no use for me to say aught; yet I would try what I could do, so I spoke loudly, for a talk had risen among the thanes. "What is this, lord king? Will you slay Osmund the jarl, who has kept his troth, even to coming back to what he knew would be his death? You cannot slay such a man for the oath breaking of others."
Exeter seemed very quiet when we came back; for the Danes were gone, and the king's levies had dispersed, and only the court remained, though that was enough to make all the old city seem very gay to those who had known it only in the quiet of peace. One man was there whom I had hardly thought to meet again, and that was Osmund the Danish jarl.
"We never did business here in that loose way," replied the factor a little sharply. "Come, Mr. Burley, I will give you a final satisfaction. It would be useless to search the file of receipts, for I am positive that Osmund Maiden's is not there. But I will readily show you his trunk trunk 409. Will you please to follow me, gentlemen?"
"Silence!" Alfred said; and then in a cold voice he asked me: "Where is this Osmund? I suppose he has fled to his people." "That he has not, though he could have done so," I answered. "Moreover, the Dane I spoke with said in so many words that this is no host of Guthrum's." At that Alfred frowned fiercely. "Whose then? What good is a king if he cannot make his people keep their oaths?"
Then Osmund looked at me. "Now have I met with two men whom I have longed to see," he said, "for you must be King Ranald Vemundsson. Two foes I have if it must be so said of whom I have nought but good to say." "So," laughed Odda. "When fought you twain, and which let the other go?" "We have not fought," the jarl answered.
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