"Love is still left. The gallows and the stake cannot
take that away." And she clung closer to her husband's side, and he again
to hers.
They reached the shore, and told their tale to their comrades. Whither
now?
"To Well. To the wide mere," said Hereward.
"But their ships will hunt us out there."
"We shall need no hunting. We must pick up the men at Cissham. You would
not leave them to be murdered, too, as we have left the Ely men?"
No. They would go to Well. And then?
"The Bruneswald, and the merry greenwood," said Hereward.
"Hey for the merry greenwood!" shouted Leofric the Deacon. And the men, in
the sudden delight of finding any place, any purpose, answered with a
lusty cheer.
"Brave hearts," said Hereward. "We will live and die together like
Englishmen."
"We will, we will, Viking."
"Where shall we stow the mare?" asked Geri, "the boats are full already."
"Leave her to me. On board, Torfrida."
He got on board last, leading the mare by the bridle.
"Swim, good lass!" said he, as they pushed off; and the good lass, who had
done it many a time before, waded in, and was soon swimming behind.
Hereward turned, and bent over the side in the darkness. There was a
strange gurgle, a splash, and a swirl. He turned round, and sat upright
again. They rowed on.
Pages:
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526