The helmet, also,
was of stout leather, thickly covered with metal rings, and the flap fell
down over the neck and ears, having a bar coming down in front to protect
the nose.
Osgod's suit was thicker and heavier, and was similar to that of the forty
men who were drawn up in two lines under the soldier whom Harold had sent
down to train them. They were a stout set of young fellows, well mounted
and armed, and as they broke into a cry of "Welcome to our thane," Wulf
felt proud to command such a body.
"Thanks, my friends," he said heartily. "I am glad to see that not one is
missing from your number, and feel sure that you will do credit to my
banner."
They rode that day to Fareham, where they received a hearty welcome from
Beorn, and starting in the morning with his troop of thirty men, reached
Salisbury late that evening. They were met at the entrance to the town by
one of Harold's officers, who conducted them to a large barn, where straw
had been thickly strewn for the men to sleep on. The horses were fastened
outside.
"Earl Harold arrived an hour since," the officer said, "and bade me tell
you that he is lodged at the reeve's, where he expects you."
They found on arriving at the house that many of the thanes had already
come in, and that some six hundred horsemen were bestowed in the town. On a
great sideboard were pies, cold joints of meat, wine and ale, and each
thane as he arrived helped himself to such food as he desired, and then
joined the party gathered round Harold.
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