chests on the reeds and striking out with their legs, and in a few
minutes were on the southern bank of the river.

"Now we must make to the east of south," Wulf said. "I should say
if we walk steadily all night we shall be beyond the territory of
this vile count. I hope before long we shall strike on some road
leading in the right direction, for if we get among the woods again
we shall be able to make no progress. But any road we may come upon
going at all in the right direction is likely to lead to Rouen."

"How far is it, do you think?"

"I have a very vague idea. The prior had a map of Normandy, and on
this he pointed out to me how the duchy had grown since William
came as a boy to be its duke. I can remember the general position
of the town, but not more than that. I should think from the Somme
to Rouen must be over seventy miles and less than a hundred, but
more closely than that I cannot guess."

They came upon no road before morning, but as the country was open
they made good progress, and when they lay down in a thicket as the
day was breaking they calculated that they must be nearly thirty
miles south of the Somme.

"I feel that I want sleep," Beorn said, "but still more that I want
food. If it is another sixty miles to Rouen I know not how we are
going to travel the distance fasting"

"No, we must get some food to morrow or rather to day, Beorn. We
have nothing of any value to offer for it. They searched us too