and sword-smiths, and carpenters, and
ship-builders. Then he sent all over Normandy, and all over France,
for soldiers to help him to fight against Harold.

For six months the people of Normandy worked with a will. The soldiers
having been brought together, weapons had to be provided for them,
horses found, and ships built to carry them over to England. William
wrote to the Pope and told him the story of the broken oath, and the
Pope sent his blessing and a sacred banner, and cursed Harold for
having sworn falsely by the saints.

At last everything was ready; and in the ports and harbours of Normandy
William's ships were only waiting for a fair wind to carry his forces
to what they believed to be a holy war.

In the meanwhile Harold had been finding plenty of troubles at home.
His own brother, Tostig, whom he had made Earl of Northumbria, had so
offended his subjects by his cruelty and injustice that they had
rebelled against him and driven him from the country. Tostig sent to
ask Harold to restore him to his earldom, but Harold refused either to
aid him or to allow him to return to a country where his misrule had
caused him to be hated by every one.

Then Tostig went to one king after another asking for help; but they
all refused to aid him. At last he found his way to King Harold
Hardrada of Norway; and this warlike king gave him a fleet and an army
and came himself to strike a blow against England.

The Norwegians landed on the shores of Northumbria, and began to ravage
the country and burn the dwellings of the people.

Messengers were sent on swift horses to Harold. It was September, and
all the fighting-men were away in the fields, gathering in the harvest,
but at their country's need they left their work and flocked around
their king.

In a short time Harold had collected an army; and he led his men
northward by a road which had been made by the Romans hundreds of years
before.

There was little time for rest on the long march from London to
Northumbria. As they trudged steadily onwards the men talked of the
enemy whom they were soon to meet; the world-renowned Harold King of
Norway, who had led his sea-kings to battle in many lands.

'Ay,' said one, 'I've heard that he fought black heathen folk in an
outlandish place called Egypt. Be there such a place?'

'Egypt?' said another; 'that's the land parson preaches of in the
church; there were Pharaohs there, and plagues.'

'Ay,' said the first;