But she knew that it was the right, and knightly, and
Christian thing to do.
Two days after, a long ship ran out of Calais, and sailed away north and
east.
CHAPTER XIX.
HOW HEREWARD CLEARED BOURNE OF FRENCHMEN.
It may have been well, a week after, that Hereward rode from the direction
of Boston, with Martin running at his heels.
As Hereward rode along the summer wold the summer sun sank low, till just
before it went down he came to an island of small enclosed fields, high
banks, elm-trees, and a farm inside; one of those most ancient holdings of
the South and East Counts, still to be distinguished, by their huge banks
and dikes full of hedgerow timber, from the more modern corn-lands
outside, which were in Hereward's time mostly common pasture-lands.
"This should be Azerdun," said he; "and there inside, as I live, stands
Azer getting in his crops. But who has he with him?"
With the old man were some half-dozen men of his own rank; some helping
the serfs with might and main; one or two standing on the top of the
banks, as if on the lookout; but all armed _cap-a-pie_.
"His friends are helping him to get them in," quoth Martin, "for fear of
the rascally Normans. A pleasant and peaceable country we have come back
to."
"And a very strong fortress are they holding," said Hereward, "against
either Norman horsemen or Norman arrows.
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