rl. "That ever England
should be taken by the strong hand!"

'Seeing that Red William and Henry after him had each in just that
fashion snatched England from Robert of Normandy, we others knew not
where to look; but De Aquila saved us quickly.

'"Promise kept or promise broken," he said, "Harold came near enough to
breaking us Normans at Senlac."

'"Was it so close a fight, then?" said Henry.

'"A hair would have turned it either way," De Aquila answered. "His
house-carles stood like rocks against rain. Where wast thou, Hugh, in
it?"

'"Among Godwin's folk beneath the Golden Dragon till your front gave
back, and we broke our ranks to follow," said Hugh.

'"But I bade you stand! I bade you stand! I knew it was all a deceit!"
Harold had waked, and leaned forward as one crying from the grave.

'"Ah, now we see how the traitor himself was betrayed!" said William of
Exeter, and looked for a smile from the King.

'"I made thee Bishop to preach at _my_ bidding," said Henry; and turning
to Harold, "Tell us here how thy people fought us?" said he. "Their sons
serve me now against my Brother Robert!"

'The old man shook his head cunningly. "Na--Na--Na," he cried. "I know
better. Every time I tell my tale men stone me. But, Thanes, I will tell
you a greater thing. Listen!" He told us how many paces it was from some
Saxon Saint's shrine to another shrine, and how many more back to the
Abbey of the Battle.

'"Ay," said he. "I have trodden it too often to be out even ten paces. I
move very swiftly. Harold of Norway knows that, and so does Tostig my
brother. They lie at ease at Stamford Bridge, and from Stamford Bridge
to the Battle Abbey it is----" he muttered over many numbers and forgot
us.

'"Ay," said De Aquila, all in a muse. "That man broke Harold of Norway
at Stamford Bridge, and came near to breaking us at Santlache--all
within one month."

'"But how did he come alive from Santlache fight?" asked the King. "Ask
him! Hast thou heard it, Rahere?"

'"Never. He says he has been stoned too often for telling the tale. But
he can count you off Saxon and Norman shrines till daylight," said
Rahere, and the old man nodded proudly.

'"My faith," said Henry after a while, "I think even my Father the Great
Duke would pity if he could see him."

"How if he _does_ see?" said Rahere.

'Hugh covered his face with his sound hand. "Ah, why hast thou shamed
him?" he cried again to Rahere.

'"No--no," says the old man, reac