They trust to surprises, and to their speed of foot and
knowledge of their wild country, rather than to hard fighting in the open
plain. They have few towns to capture, and it is therefore hard to execute
reprisals upon them. Like the Bretons they are brave, and fight savagely
until the last, neither giving nor asking for quarter. They believe that
their country, which is so wild and hilly as to be a great natural
fortress, is unconquerable, and certainly neither Saxon nor Dane has ever
succeeded in getting any foothold there. But when the spring comes I hope
to teach them that even their wild hills are no defence, and that their
habits of savage plundering must be abandoned or we will exterminate them
altogether. But I have no thought of undertaking such a campaign now. Of
course you will take that tall follower of yours with you, Wulf."
"I fear that he would not stay behind even if I ordered him to do so," Wulf
laughed. "He will be overjoyed when I tell him there is a prospect of
fighting again, and all the more if it is against kinsmen of the Bretons,
against whom he feels a special grudge."
"The feeling would be more natural the other way," Harold said smiling,
"seeing that he inflicted upon them far greater damage than he received.
You will find fresh horses awaiting you. None of those that carried us from
Bosham yesterday are fit for another such journey to-day."
Wulf had told Osgod the first thing in the morning that he could return to
his family for a few days, only coming to the palace to serve his meals,
and he now hurried away to the armourer's shop, where he found that but
little work was going on, the men being absorbed in listening to Osgod's
account of his adventures.
Pages:
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177