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Beorn addressed her in her own language, and told her that they were wayfarers who had lost their road and were grievously in need of food. She at once invited them to come in, and set before them some black bread and some cheese made from goats' milk. They learned to their satisfaction that they had long passed the limits of Ponthieu, and that Rouen was distant about fifty miles.
"We look finer birds than we did when we rode in with brother Philip," Beorn laughed when they had attired themselves in their new garments. "The more sober of these suits are a good deal gayer than those we wore at home even at court ceremonies."
"Our earl is well-nigh as much known throughout Europe as William of Normandy, and all Christendom would cry out with shame were he treated with ought but courtesy by the duke." "I doubt not that he will treat him with courtesy, Beorn, but he may well wring some concessions from him before he lets him depart.
"Then just whisper to him again, Osgod, that I have urgent need for speech with him. I suppose Beorn has not arrived?" "Beorn!" Osgod repeated vaguely. "The Thane of Fareham," the armourer said sharply. "Are your wits wool-gathering altogether?" "No, he is not here; nor has Wulf said a word of his coming, as he assuredly would have done had he expected him."
Wulf returned to the castle, and then joined Beorn at his post on the wall facing the wood. He communicated to him his ideas as to the probable existence of a secret passage. "We must provide a mode of retreat for your men on guard here, Beorn, in case the Welsh enter by either of these yards instead of by the castle. These flanking towers at the angles of the walls cut off all passage.
But there was no land in sight now, and all around me was the wide circle of the sea, and over against me Beorn, my evil companion, glowering at me with a great fear written on his face. Now as I woke and saw him, my hand went at once to the dagger at my side, as my first waking thoughts felt troubled by reason of all he had done, though it was but for a moment.
There was no more then to be said. All the while Ulfkytel had watched my face and Beorn's, and now he said: "The arrow condemns Wulfric, but any man might pick up a good arrow that he had lost. And the sword condemns Beorn, but there are many ways in which it might be bloodstained in that affair.
She does not know when they will return." "Ask her how far it is to Porthwyn." The answer was most satisfactory. "It is but three miles away, my lord. It lies in the valley of which this is a branch." "That is good news indeed, Beorn," Wulf said. "The boy led us in the right direction, perhaps because he thought that if he did not do so we should perceive it and tax him with treachery.
I've often smiled when I've fancied the terror o' some lone prospector, should one o' them long-legged brutes poke up his nose above a ridge where gold had just been found, and sniff scornfully down on the feller. Some o' them camels may be still livin' an' doin' it at this very minute." Beorn opened his jaws wide and laughed.
As soon as the last of these was killed the garrison hurled the ladders backwards and then gave a shout of triumph, which was answered by renewed yells of defiance by the Welsh. "It has been a hard fight, Wulf," Beorn said, as he removed his helmet. "It has indeed. It was a well-planned attack, and was nearly successful.
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