The Brethren | Page 9

there."
Now Rosamund turned very pale, while the face of Wulf went red and
white, and he gripped his sword-hilt. But Godwin, calm as ever, rode
forward a few paces, and said quietly:

"Of your courtesy, say what you need of us. If it be money, we have
none--nothing but our arms and horses, which I think may cost you
dear."
Now the man with the crooked knife advanced a little, accompanied by
another man, a tall, supple-looking knave, into whose ear he whispered.
"My master says," answered the tall man, "that you have with you that
which is of more value than all the king's gold--a very fair lady, of
whom someone has urgent need. Give her up now, and go your way
with your arms and horses, for you are gallant young men, whose blood
we do not wish to shed."
At this it was the turn of the brethren to laugh, which both of them did
together.
"Give her up," answered Godwin, "and go our ways dishonoured? Aye,
with our breath, but not before. Who then has such urgent need of the
lady Rosamund?"
Again there was whispering between the pair.
"My master says," was the answer, "he thinks that all who see her will
have need of her, since such loveliness is rare. But if you wish a name,
well, one comes into his mind; the name of the knight Lozelle."
"The knight Lozelle!" murmured Rosamund, turning even paler than
before, as well she might. For this Lozelle was a powerful man and
Essex-born. He owned ships of whose doings upon the seas and in the
East evil tales were told, and once had sought Rosamund's hand in
marriage, but being rejected, uttered threats for which Godwin, as the
elder of the twins, had fought and wounded him. Then he
vanished--none knew where.
"Is Sir Hugh Lozelle here then?" asked Godwin, "masked like you
common cowards? If so, I desire tomeet him, to finish the work I began
in the snow last Christmas twelvemonths."

"Find that out if you can," answered the tall man. But Wulf said,
speaking low between his clenched teeth:
"Brother, I see but one chance. We must place Rosamund between us
and charge them."
The captain of the band seemed to read their thoughts, for again he
whispered into the ear of his companion, who called out:
"My master says that if you try to charge, you will be fools, since we
shall stab and ham-string your horses, which are too good to waste, and
take you quite easily as you fall. Come then, yield, as you can do
without shame, seeing there is no escape, and that two men, however
brave, cannot stand against a crowd. He gives you one minute to
surrender."
Now Rosamund spoke for the first time.
"My cousins," she said, "I pray you not to let me fall living into the
hands of Sir Hugh Lozelle, or of yonder men, to be taken to what fate I
know not. Let Godwin kill me, then, to save my honour, as but now he
said he would to save my soul, and strive to cut your way through, and
live to avenge me."
The brethren made no answer, only they looked at the water and then at
one another, and nodded. It was Godwin who spoke again, for now that
it had come to this struggle for life and their lady, Wulf, whose tongue
was commonly so ready, had grown strangely silent, and fierce-faced
also.
"Listen, Rosamund, and do not turn your eyes," said Godwin. "There is
but one chance for you, and, poor as it is, you must choose between it
and capture, since we cannot kill you. The grey horse you ride is strong
and true. Turn him now, and spur into the water of Death Creek and
swim it. It is broad, but the incoming tide will help you, and perchance
you will not drown."
Rosamund listened and moved her head backwards towards the boat.

Then Wulf spoke--few words and sharp: "Begone, girl! we guard the
boat."
She heard, and her dark eyes filled with tears, and her stately head sank
for a moment almost to her horse's mane.
"Oh, my knights! my knights! And would you die for me? Well, if God
wills it, so it must be. But I swear that if you die, that no man shall be
aught to me who have your memory, and if you live--" And she looked
at them confusedly, then stopped.
"Bless us, and begone," said Godwin.
So she blessed them in words low and holy; then of a sudden wheeled
round the great grey horse, and striking the spur into its flank, drove
straight at the deep water. A moment the stallion hung, then from the
low quay-end sprang