rebel who fell at Senlac."

"Wilfred of Aescendune! I remember the stripling when he sought his
father's corpse on the battlefield, but had heard that he had lost
his life in the fire which consumed the monastery."

"Nay, sire, he had fled to the rebels, and we doubt not now that he
and the outlaws, with whom he found a home, fired the monastery,
themselves, to cover his flight."

"Tell me, then, what could have driven him to so violent a course,
and tell me truly; for some cause there must have been."

It must be remembered that, at this period, William had not given
up all hope of reconciling the English to his rule.

"I know no cause, sire, save--"

"Save what?" said he sternly, for Etienne hesitated.

"My liege, the lad, whom your royal will made the heir to the lands
my father had won by his services on the field of battle, never
lost his sympathy with the rebel rout around, or all had perhaps
been well; he struck me in defence of a churl whom I found stealing
game, and I challenged him to fight."

"And did he shirk the contest? I should not have thought it of
him."

"He ran away, sire, and was brought back; was sent to the monastery
by my father for a time of penance as a punishment; the same night
the building was burnt by the outlaws, as we have every reason to
think by his connivance, since he joined them and became their
head, while we all thought him dead."

"And how didst thou learn he yet lived?"

"By his actions; the outlaws under his command burnt our farms,
slew our men in the woods, and not our common men only, whose loss
might better be borne, but they murdered a noble youth, my fellow
page, entrusted to my father's care, Louis de Marmontier; and
finally, by the help of a false guide, they entrapped my father and
his retainers into a marsh, which they set on fire, and all
perished."

Etienne spoke these words with deep emotion, but still firmly and
distinctly.

"Fear not, my son, thy father's death shall be avenged, or my sword
has lost its power. Weep not for the dead--women weep, men avenge
wrongs on the wrongdoer; but tell me, art thou certain of these
facts? didst thou or any one else see this Wilfred at the head of
the outlaws?"

"My liege, I saw him myself; I penetrated their fastnesses in the
forest, and but narrowly escaped with life."

"And saw Wilfred of Aescendune?"

"Distinctly, my liege, almost face to face, in command of the
rebels."

"And then, what happened afte