other possible refreshment. His irritation subsided at once. For an instant he stood with his ear turned in the direction of that one visiting breath, and then he looked towards the sheep. There was a stir and crowding together in the fold, and next, in consequence, a bleating from the ewes within the hut, followed by that of their lambs.

"You heard a bark?" inquired the shepherd. "I thought no ear was readier than mine to catch a wolf's bark."

"They are coming," said Merdhin. "Let those who fear the cold drink up my ale: and if that does not warm them they may huddle with the sheep. And now silence! and all go within the hut till utter dark."

The shepherd however softened some of the discontent of his fellow-watchers by telling them that he should keep a light burning in his lantern, turning the open side towards the wall in a corner of the hut. There would be no light that could scare a mouse: and it was as well to be prepared for accidents.

The first hour after dark was such an exciting one that those within the hut thought but little of meat or drink. As for Merdhin, no one knew where he was; and none wished to go out to see, so fearfully the clamour of the wolves seemed to be closing in upon them. When the moon rose the shepherd went forth to look to his fold, where, of course, his flock were in the extremity of terror, and even the dogs appeared disconcerted at the absence of the fires which were their wonted protection.

The moonlight disclosed the figure of Merdhin, standing, javelin in hand, on the brink of the pit. He pointed to three wolves which he had speared, on their having either leaped the chasm or scrambled out of it. From the pit issued such a yelping and baying, that the men could hardly make one another hear. But the shepherd was rather dismayed that any had passed, and said that he and his comrades must come out and mount guard.

"Leave it to me," said Merdhin. "They I will be afraid of the cold.-Here is work enough to keep us warm though." And he pointed with his weapon to where more and more wolves were trooping towards the islet.

Out came the watchers, on summons, armed with axe, mallet, spade, or other tool. Only two or three more wolves cleared the pit; and they were at once struck down.-After a time, the alarm spread among those who were still on the outer ice, and they turned tail. Desperate as was their hunger, they slunk away, finding this islet better guarded than by such

fires as were kindled round every other fold in the region.

Merdhin did not relax his watch till daylight. The rest of the party had quietly lighted a fire within the hut, after stopping up as many chinks as they could. They had supped and slept, and came forth, yawning, to offer their help, by the time Merdhin had speared all the wolves in the pit which remained alive, and was fishing up one of the few which might be seen drowned under the ice-holes.

These were presently drawn up and deprived of their tongues, which Merdhin carefully deposited in a leathern sack. When every slaughtered wolf had given up its tongue, the number was found to be ten.

"That will be great news at home," exclaimed one of the convent servants. "I doubt whether such a thing was ever heard of in these parts as so many being taken in one night."

"There is seldom such an onset, on either side," observed the shepherd. "The hungry brutes have met their match in an angry man; and the frost that pinched their noses, in the fire that burns in his heart.-See, what is he doing now? Tying stones round their necks to sink the carcasses in the deep channel.— Leave that to us, master," he said. "That is work for us to do,-getting rid of the carrion. Now is your time for food and rest within;a little of each, to serve you till you reach the convent, which will, I suppose, be your next stage.'

But Merdhin continued his toil, only stopping an instant to learn whether he would not be permitted to try another night's warfare on the islet.

"We should be thankful enough for the flock's sake," replied the shepherd, "if the wolves were likely to come. But the news has spread among them for this time: and we must have a new frost or a washing rain before they will be caught in our pit again."

"Are you sure of that? Then I must be off. -If they will not come to me to-night, I will go to them."

ance of streams running between well-defined banks, and was surprised to find, first the centre, and then the whole, free of ice, except in shallow bays and coves. The sun shone out. and the rime on the grass and on the sprays of every tree became transformed to glittering dew-drops.

"And of whose laying on?" asked the shepherd. "If it be true that certain people's favours are injuries, may we not take their insults for compliments!"

"That was the way, as Father Edmund preached," declared the convent servant, "that St. Adelm thought and spoke when the heathens put him in the stocks and whipped him. 'Flog away!' said he; 'every stripe puts a flash of light into my crown.' So, when our enemy, who are worse than heathens . .

"Hush! hush!" said Merdhin. "Whatever they are, I am no saint. I have not even meekness enough to take comfort from such as you, -lowered as I am."

And he turned away to finish his work of disposing of the carcasses.-Perhaps, however, he was the better for the train of thoughts awakened in him by the mention of a saint and a holy monk; for he bade the shepherd farewell with gentleness, and thanked the convent servants with courtesy for their assistance through the preceding day and night.

"There goes a ruined man!" thought the shepherd, as he watched Merdhin's progress over the ice towards the western woods. "He may silence the barking wolves, but he will never gather quiet thoughts about him again. He may carry home his wife and children in safety and honour, as far as men see: but he will never enjoy his hearth again. As sure as the raven has stooped to brush any man's head with her lightest feather, that man is scathed as if she carried lightning in her wing."

As Merdhin proceeded on his way, he was struck with the change in the weather and in the aspect of the country. He left behind him every wide expanse of waters, saw fewer lagoons, observed the rivers assume more of the appear

next exploit. He wished to avoid men,-to bury himself and his mortifications in the woods and he marched on, as if he left foes behind him.

By mid-day, however, his pace relaxed; and in the afternoon he found himself actually loitering. The almost forgotten charms of the deep woodland penetrated and calmed his spirit. The sunshine slanted down upon the mossy roots of the old oaks, and the smooth, pillarlike stems of the beech. The rustling of the leaves under foot pleased his ear as he walked: and when he stood still, he heard the whispering of the topmost boughs, as the soft south wind passed through them. He believed that The caught, at one instant, the coo of a woodpigeon-the earliest of the year. In truth. there was one spot which looked and felt like spring,-a nook, clear of trees, but sheltered by a thick growth of them. Here he found a single sorrel-leaf peeping out from the root of an oak: and a squirrel put forth its nose from its hole to try the warmth of the sun. -Such a transition from winter to spring, between morning and night, was not so surprising to Merdhin as it might now be to inhabitants of the same region. In countries as little cleared and as thinly inhabited as these levels then were, the difference of a zone of the globe may now be experienced between a watery shore and a thick forest district only a few miles inland.

Merdhin did not enjoy the change the less for not being surprised at it. A glow of com fort seemed to pass through his soul, as well as his limbs. After loitering some time in this nook, he asked himself why he should go further. There was no more likely spot for the forest animals to seek, or the wolves to | follow them to.

He climbed the tallest tree he could find; and as he swung in the top, he felt some of the genial spirit of boyhood return to him.

Not a dwelling could he see, far or near. The sun was low above the tree-tops to the west; and it was certainly the time when the cows should be going homewards, and the sheep be penned, and the swine collected for their night-feed; but neither cow-bell, nor bleat, nor grunt could he hear. Again his spirits rose with the conviction that he was indeed alone in the good old British forest. He did not forget the commissioner's warning that the Danish raven was in the depth of every wood he could enter. He knew this only too well by the brooding of the dark bird at his heart: but he bade it defiance, and sat on his perch, looking abroad with a free eye and a lightened spirit.

When the waters on the eastern horizon began to look their grayest and coldest, and the last yellow haze of the day shrouded the sun and the woods to the west, he came down to make preparations for the night before the night should come. He left up in the tree his sheaf of short javelins (after putting two or three into his girdle), his sack of wolves' tongues, and his leathern night-cloak; for this was the tree he chose for his station,-standing, as it did, on the verge of the clear space, and having a slight rise at his foot, which would facilitate the access of as many wolves as might choose to come and bay at him.

When he was half-way down he paused and remained quiet. A wild sow, with her litter of very young pigs, was busy under the trees, rooting out the beech-nuts, acorns, and dried grass which the squirrels and mice had buried in their winter-holes.-Merdhin had begun to feel hungry some time before; and now the sight of the young swine, and good spirits together, made him long for a hearty supper.

"That is a young sow," thought he. "Under a year, certainly; and she has farrowed early; and every pig of all that litter must be a delicate morsel. One, two-fifteen in all. I don't know whose chase this is: but whosoever it be, I may fairly have a supper out of it, for my service against the wolves. And out of all the troops of swine in this solitude, no one will be the worse for sparing me one little pig. And if it belongs to a lord Dane, as it no doubt does, he has no more right to it than I. And, in return for the hospitality that I myself have given to Danes, it is too contemptible a trifle to be worth a thought. And, above all, they have treated me in such way that I am much disposed to do what I please for the rest of my life, without minding any of them, so as not

VOL. II.

to put Hildelitha and the children into any danger."

When he had thus, with the speed of thought, put away one bad reason by bringing in another, till mere will remained, he cast a javelin and struck down a delicate young grunter,-just such a one as the abbot at Thorn-ey would relish for supper, after a cold pilgrimage to meet his brother of Peterborough. In the midst of the outcry of sow and unhurt pigs, Merdhin slid down from his tree and despatched the little creature with his knife.

"Its offal will be good bait for the wolves," said he to himself: "and that is another reason for my making free. And now-"

But at this moment he heard a terrific rushing through the thicket. He at once apprehended the approach of the boar, and would have made for the tree; but there was no time. Once he saved himself by a spring to one side: but the beast wheeled round to attack him again, and it was well that he had left his spear within reach. He snatched it, and drove it at random. Happily it entered the neck; and the boar swerved just so much as that one of its tusks grazed Merdhin's high leathern hose, instead of tearing the flesh of his thigh. Again the animal turned upon him; but with less force: and it was easy first to evade him, and then to give him a fatal stroke, by plunging the knife into the back of the neck.

"I did not think to have been driven on by the pig to kill the boar," thought Merdhin, "and in a domain that I know nothing about. But it is so much more bait for the wolves. I must make haste with my supper while the light lasts; for there is scent enough now in this nook to bring all the beasts of prey in the forest about me.'

He quickly gathered sufficient wood to make a glowing fire in the midst of the space: and he broiled some of the tender joints of his pig, listening the while to catch the first tokens of any movement in the forest.

"Already!" thought he, as a distant bark came on the wind. "The wolves grudge me my supper, after I have spread so good a one for them. I must carry my feast up, and eat it on my perch. If I make haste it will not be quite cold."

He did make haste; and his sack, his arms, his supper, and himself, were all safely lodged forty feet from the ground before any enemy appeared.

When the enemy appeared, it was not in the shape of wolves, but of a man with a dog. Their entrance upon the scene was a spectacle which Merdhin himself could not help enjoy

33

"I wonder," thought Merdhin, "whether they will find out where the offender hides till the wolves come to tell them. One way or another they will soon be about me; and then my fate will depend on whether this chase belongs to a lord Dane or to one of my own people."

It was the dog who discovered the intruder. He was leaping up against the tree when the other keepers, to the number of three or four, appeared from the thickets.

In answer to their demand that he would come down, Merdhin told his story, explaining that he was not in hiding, but placed so as best to make war against the wolves. He declared himself ready to answer for what he had done, both to the forest authorities and to his own bail. And declaring that he knew not where he was, he inquired who were the forest authorities in this case.

He had been right in his apprehension of having offended a lord Dane. This was one of the royal forests, and he had helped himself to a king's pig and slain a king's boar.

On hearing this Merdhin resolved not to come down. He declared his intention of remaining where he was till he had finished his business with the wolves; and warned the keepers of the stock of weapons that he had with him, recommending them to wait till he should descend of his own accord.

By this time it was so nearly dark that the keepers could not see Merdhin, though their figures were sufficiently visible to him as they moved in the open space. Two of them rekindled the fire, while the other two kept watch at the foot of the tree. They could not but laugh when Merdhin complained of the fire as sure to defeat his business with the wolves. They told him that he should have a larger fire to complain of presently, as they meant to kindle one round his tree and burn it, or smoke him down, if he did not surrender himself immediately. He coolly warned them

He was presently aware that his foes were climbing the tree. While they were placing their feet on the lower branches, he did what he had early determined on. He climbed a little higher, and then along a branch to where the stout limb of a neighbouring oak extended within his grasp: upon this he sprang, leaving all his chattels behind him except the knife and such javelins as he could carry in his girdle. The oak yielded so little to his spring and weight as not to give the alarm to his foes, each of whom was making his own rustling among the wintry boughs; and Merdhin had dropped down into the thicket, leaped out into a glade on the other side, and fled some way with the course of the wind before his foes had satisfied themselves that he was not on his first perch.

He

Presently the breeze brought him tidings from behind that there was enough for men and dogs to do in keeping off the hungry beasts of prey which were allured by the scent of the carcasses he had slain for them. had now only to beware of brute enemies; and he pursued his way diligently till he reached in the morning an open road, by which he travelled to the abode of one of his bail, with whom he could consult, in honour and confidence, as to what should be his next proceeding.

It was to the farm of his friend and fellowfreeman, Willebrod, that Merdhin repaired in his new distress. He would, the day before, have gone far round to avoid the dwelling; but now there was a total change in his affairs and in his feelings about them. Yesterday he was arbitrarily punished for an arbitrary offence, under a degrading sentence, for an act for which his bail were in no way responsible. To-day he had committed an offence recognized by the laws of his country, and his co-residents would be called on to produce him or to suffer in his stead. Honour and social duty required that he should put himself in the power of some one of his bail; and he was not sorry that it was so; for he needed to open his burdened mind to a comrade who could sympa thize in his troubles.

From a distance he saw Willebrod in his vineyard, overlooking his men as they loosened the soil round the roots of the vines. Merdhin waited as patiently as he could till the labourers went to their noonday meal, believing that their master would stay for a few minutes to

"Where are Hildelitha and the children? for I see the lord Danes have been upon you." My wife and little ones are with the good monks at Peterborough: I have reason to believe so."

"Christ be thanked! then all may be well. Tell me no more now. Follow me, and I will give you food and drink, and a place to sleep in. You want sleep, I see."

"But I have broken the laws."

"The very reason why you should sleep in my house, that I may the more readily produce you. Have you slain a foreigner?"

"No-no man; but the king's game.' "Well; tell me no more now, but come"One thing more I must tell you. I was foully disgraced yesterday by a vile sentence passed on me in my own house. I am to bring in tale of wolves' tongues, in the face of the holy monks of Peterborough."

Willebrod answered lightly; but the sudden flush of face and brow showed his sense of the indignity.

"The holy monks," said he, "know us better than any Dane. They will never take you or me for criminals, be assured. Do not stand here in the cold. Come to my chamber, -the quietest place I have for you. There you shall eat first, and then sleep,-and then you shall tell me whatever you please. Come, and I will wait on you myself."

It was past midnight when Merdhin awoke. His friend was watching beside the fire, and food and ale were on the table. In a low voice the host proposed that they should sup and converse, and then his guest should sleep again.

"Now tell me," said he, when Merdhin refused more ale, and the fire blazed up cheerily on being fed with a fresh log, "tell me what your danger actually is. Do these keepers know who you are?"

"They never saw my face; but concealment i, impossible, even if I wished it-which I do not."

"You have made up your mind to that?" "I have. Some one will be seized for the offence. To show zeal for the king they will lay hold of some one. That one and his friends will discover the real offender. You know my arms are left behind. They show me to be a free man: and then, there is the sack with the wolves' tongues: and to no other man," and he covered his face with his hands as he spoke," to no other man do those two things belong, such arms and such tribute!"

"The strongest reason for your delivering yourself up," said Willebrod calmly, "appears to me to be this;-that you can use your privilege of a free man in obtaining your sentence from the king himself; and this will give us opportunity to make known to him his commissioner's conduct towards you."

"What then? Is he not himself a Dane?"

"Yes: but he is not altogether like other Danes. It is a favourite saying of his, 'I want no money raised by injustice.' Can he say less of any other form of tribute? And of the injustice he cannot make a moment's question.'

"The weightiest reason with myself," said Merdhin, "is that my bail will be for ever liable for my fine, and much else, if I fly."

"Let us see what that would amount to," said Willebrod. "Some arrangement might be made between you and us as to your property, if you wish to keep out of Danish hands altogether.'

"My wife and children!" exclaimed Merdhin. "But for them I would-"

"Better not tell me what you would do, lest you should still do it, and I be inquired of," said Willebrod. "I believe your offence will come under the head of stealing from the king; and your fine will then be ninefold compensation. Nine times the value of a boar or pig is not a very desperate fine. And then-”

"Ay! then there is also the offence of chasing on his lands without leave: though Heaven knows it was the boar that chased me. But I cannot plead this to any purpose."