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"I know thee not, good knight, more pity; but by thy dress and carriage, thou shouldest be a true Viking's son." "I am Sigtryg Ranaldsson, now King of Waterford. And my wife said to me, 'If there be treachery or faint-heartedness, remember this, that Hereward Leofricsson slew the Ogre, and Hannibal of Gweek likewise, and brought me safe to thee.
'A bed-death, a priest death, A straw death, a cow death, Such death likes not me! Nor likes it me either, Hereward Leofricsson." So the Danes sailed away: but Sigtryg Ranaldsson and his five ships remained. Hereward went to the minster tower, and watched the Ouse flashing with countless oars northward toward Southrey Fen.
"I must first know who it is who offers me hospitality?" This was said so proudly, that Hereward answered proudly enough in return, "I am Hereward Leofricsson, whom his foes call Hereward the outlaw, and his friends Hereward the master of knights." She started, and threw her veil hack, looking intently at him. He, for his part, gave but one glance, and then cried, "Mother of Heaven!
What we wanted is, not a dozen men like me, but one like thee, to take us all by the back of the neck and shake us soundly, and say, 'Do that, or die!" And so, after much talk, the meeting broke up. And when it broke up, there came to Hereward in the hall a noble-looking man of his own age, and put his hand within his, and said, "Do you not know me, Hereward Leofricsson?"
The next morning at dawn Hereward mounted his best horse, armed himself from head to foot, and rode over to Peterborough. When he came to the abbey-gate, he smote thereon with his lance-but, till the porter's teeth rattled in his head for fear. "Let me in!" he shouted. "I am Hereward Leofricsson. I must see my Uncle Brand."
"And who art thou, who askest so bold who I am?" "I am Waltheof Siwardsson, the Earl, and yon is my army behind me." "And I am Hereward Leofricsson, the outlaw, and yon is my army behind me."
I would not take it at their asking, even if my father would." "There spoke a true Leofricsson," said Brand, in spite of himself. Who talks to me of my own son? You put me into my earldom to see justice done and law obeyed; and how shall I make others keep within bound if I am not to keep in my own flesh and blood?
"And this it said, with such praises and courtesies concerning you, as made thy wife's heart beat high with pride: 'If Hereward Leofricsson will come home to England, he shall have his rights in law again, and his manors in Lincolnshire, and a thanes-ship in East Anglia, and manors for his men-at-arms; and if that be not enough, he shall have an earldom, as soon as there is one to give."
Only let me see her, reason with her." "She has vowed herself to God, and is none of thine hence forth." "It is against the canons. A wrong and a robbery." Ulfketyl rose, grand as ever. "Hereward Leofricsson, our joy and our glory once. Hearken to the old man who will soon go whither thine Uncle Brand is gone, and be free of Frenchmen, and of all this wicked world.
"You answered, then," said Hereward, "thus " "Say on," said she, turning her face away again. "Hereward Leofricsson tells Harold Godwinsson that he is his equal, and not his man; and that he will never put his hands between the hands of a son of Godwin. An Etheling born, a king of the house of Cerdic, outlawed him from his right, and none but an Etheling born shall give him his right again."
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