"
"That is fair enough," De Burg said with a smile, "and the moment you give
me notice I will clap you into so firm a cage that I warrant you will not
escape from it; but I trust the necessity will not arise. Now, Guy, take
your friends to their chambers and see to their comfort. I will not tell
the story of the battle until you return, for doubtless you are burning to
hear it, and in truth it will be famous in all times, both as one of the
sturdiest fights ever heard of, and because such great issues depended on
its results."
When Guy returned with his friends and a meal had been eaten, De Burg told
the story of the battle of Senlac.
"Such is the story as far as I know it," he added in conclusion, "but in
truth beyond the beginning and the end, and the fact that we twice fell
back and at one time were flying in headlong rout to our ships, I know
nothing. All day I was striving to break through a living wall, and
striving in vain. I can see now the close line of shields, the helmet
covered faces above them, and the terrible axes rising and falling,
cleaving through helmet and hauberk as if they had been pasteboard. It may
well-nigh be said that we have no wounded, for each man struck fell in his
track as if smitten by lightning. Can you add more, thanes?"
Beorn shook his head.
"It is like a dream," Wulf said. "We never moved through the long day. At
times there was a short lull, and then each man was fighting as best he
could.
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