How shall we meet next time, I wonder, and where?"
Hitherto the presence of the Norman attendants had prevented any private
converse between Harold and his followers, but having the poop to
themselves they now broke out into angry exclamations against the duke.
"It was an unworthy and unknightly trick," Harold said calmly; "but let us
not talk of it now; it will be for the English people to decide the
question some day, and for English bishops to determine whether I am bound
by a vow thus extorted. Better at all events that I should be held for all
time to have been false and perjured, than that the English people should
fall under the Norman yoke. But maybe there will be no occasion for the
oath ever to come in question, William of Normandy or I may die before the
king, and then there will be an end of it. Let us talk of other things.
Thank God we are free men again, and our faces are set towards England,
where, from what I hear, we may have to meet open foes instead of false
friends, and may have to teach the Welsh, once and for all, that they and
their king cannot with impunity continually rise in rebellion against
England.
"Well, Wulf, you are the only one among us who has brought back aught from
Normandy, at least you and Beorn, for you have your horses and chains, and
the promise of the duke to grant you a boon. But these are small things.
You have gained great credit, and have shown yourself a gallant fighter,
and have further promises from the duke.
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