ontinual warfare, the kingdom of
Deira in the north was invaded by a band of raiders from a neighbouring
kingdom called Bernicia. Not finding any one at hand to resist them,
the Bernicians began to lay waste the country as they passed. All the
men of that neighbourhood seemed to be absent that day; and there was
no one to give the alarm as the invaders destroyed the young crops and
killed or drove away the cattle which were grazing upon the waste land.

Presently the party came upon a little village, lying peacefully
nestled on the hillside. It was evening, and the smoke was rising
tranquilly into the air, while the men and boys were driving the cows
home for the evening milking.

Little did the raiders care about the quiet beauty of the scene. With
a shout they bore down upon the village. The inhabitants did their
best to defend themselves; but being unprepared and armed for the most
part only with clubs and ploughshares, they were quickly overpowered.
Some escaped to the woods, while those who were not active enough to
run away were either slain or made prisoners.

[Illustration: The children carried off by the Bernician Raiders.]

Soon flames were bursting from the walls and roofs of the cottages,
which their destroyers had set on fire after removing everything that
was worth carrying away.

When the captives were brought in, they were found to be mostly old
people, together with some trembling children, whose parents were lost
or slain.

'Those,' said the leader, pointing to the white-haired men and woman,
'are no good. What do we want with old folk?--But these,' he added,
pointing to the children, 'you may keep. They will grow into fine
strong men by and by.'

The children were bound hand and foot to prevent them from running
away; and after posting sentries to keep a look-out, the raiders sat
down to feast upon some of the slaughtered cattle, which they had
roasted before the flames of the burning houses.

Suddenly one of the outposts called out to say there was something in
the distance which looked like a band of armed men.

'Ay, ay,' said the leader; 'time we made the best of our way homeward.
Our big bonfire is bright enough to bring the whole countryside upon
us.'

Hastily collecting their spoil, the raiders looked about for their
horses. Each prisoner was made to mount beside one of his captors, and
soon the whole band was trotting away in the gathering darkness.

It was in vain that th