to his father."

The monk had started for the expected scene of battle, intent on doing
good, with a small party of the thralls of Aescendune, just after Edwy
had left the hall; consequently, he knew nothing of the death of the
thane or the subsequent events. Oh, how sweetly his words fell upon
Elfric's ears, "Carry him home to his father."

A litter was speedily made; one of the thralls jumped into a willow tree
which overhung the stream, and cut down some of the stoutest boughs. The
others wove them with withes into a kind of litter, threw their own
upper garments thereon in their love, placed the poor wounded form as
tenderly upon it as a mother would have done, and bore him from the
field, ever and anon stopping to relieve some other poor wounded
sufferer, and to comfort him with the intelligence that similar aid was
at hand for all, as the various lights now appearing testified.

For themselves, they felt all other obligation fade before their duty to
their young lord. He was object of their solicitude.

So they bore him easily along, until they reached a stream; there they
paused and washed the heated brow, and allowed the parched lips to
imbibe, but only slightly, the pure fresh beverage, sweeter far than the
stimulant the good monk had poured down his throat on the field. Then
they arranged his dress--bound up his wounds, for the Benedictine was
an accomplished surgeon for the times; after which, having satisfied
himself that his patient was able to bear the transit, he departed, with
a cheerful benediction, to render the like aid to others.

So comforted was Elfric, and so relieved from pain, that he slept all