his ancestors, and Martin his guest.

______________________________________________________________

Martin's first wish after his release was, as our readers will
imagine, to visit his mother, and assure her of his safety in
person. Kynewulf was in waiting to escort him. He had caused a
litter to be constructed of the branches of trees, knowing that the
severe strain Martin had undergone must have rendered him too weak
for so long a journey; and the "merrie men" were only too eager to
relieve each other in bearing so precious a burden.

"You will find our chieftain very far from well," said Kynewulf, as
he walked by Martin's side. "He was wounded by one of the arrows
from the castle when we came to demand your liberation of Drogo,
and the wound has taken a bad turn."

"How does my poor mother bear it?"

"Like a true wife and good Englishwoman."

No more was said. Martin lapsed into deep thought until the retreat
of the outlaws was attained. There, on a couch strewn with skins
and soft herbage, lay the redoubtable Grimbeard; and by his side,
nursing him tenderly, Mabel of Walderne. But for this she had been
with Martin's rescuers at the castle, but she could not leave her
dying lord, who clung fondly to her now, and would take food from
no other hand.

The wound he had received had been thought slight, and neglected.
Hence it had become serious, and since Kynewulf departed
mortification had set in.

The mother rose and embraced her "sweet son."

"Thank God!" she said, and led him to his stepfather's side.

Grimbeard raised himself with difficulty, and looked Martin in the
face.

"Martin is here," he said. "Let my dying eyes gaze upon him again.

"Martin, I have longed for thee. Tell me more about Him thou lovest
so deeply."

"My father, He is waiting to receive and to bless thee. Cast
thyself wholly on the Incarnate Love which embraced thee on the
Tree. Say, for His sake, canst thou forgive all, even these Normans
thou hast so hated?"

"Dost thou forgive the wretch who shut thee up, my gentle boy, in
that dungeon?"

"Yes, verily, and pray to God to pardon him, too."

"Then I may pardon my foes, although my life has been spent in
fighting against them for England's freedom. But I see we must
submit, as thou hast often said, to God's will; and if the past may
be forgiven, my merrie men will be well content to make peace, and
to turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into
pruning