As soon as they
reached Nottingham Wulf took his small command aside.
"You have been chosen," he said, "for a special duty. I have learned that
there are disaffected men who may possibly make an attempt on the king's
life. You are to say no word of what I tell you to anyone. Meet me over by
that wall half an hour after sunset. Gather quietly one by one so as to
attract no attention. You will be posted round the palace, to keep watch
and ward during the night. As soon as it is daylight half of you will lie
down and sleep till mid-day, and then be in readiness for fresh duty. The
others I will instruct as to where to hold themselves. The king will remain
here two days, and watch must be kept over his safety night and day."
As soon as their apartments were assigned to the different guests Wulf went
outside and examined the windows of the rooms to be occupied by the king.
They were on the first floor, and looked into a garden surrounded by a high
wall.
"At any rate, there is little fear of a successful surprise from this
side," Wulf said to Beorn, who was with him. "It would need a ladder to
scale the wall; this would have to be pulled up for them to descend into
the garden, and then carried across to mount to the window. If we post
Ulred with two men here and let four others lie down near to change guard
every two hours, it will be ample, for on an alarm being given, the Normans
however numerous will see that their attempt must fail.
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