the duke will so regard it. We should not have walked well-nigh a
hundred miles in two days and nights, and that almost without food,
had we not deemed it so."

"Brother Gregory," the prior said, "bid lay-brother Philip at once
prepare three palfreys, and tell him he is to ride himself with
these two Saxon youths to Rouen. The distance is thirty miles," he
went on as the monk left the room. "It is not yet six o'clock, and
though our palfreys are not accustomed to travel at rapid speed,
you will be there this afternoon in time to have audience with the
duke."

The lads returned their warm thanks to the prior. "We would gladly
tell you the purport of our mission," Beorn said, "but we are only
the bearers of news, and the duke might be displeased did he know
that we had confided to any before it reached his own ear."

"I wish not to learn it, my son. It is sufficient for me that you
have a mission to our duke, and that I am possibly furthering his
interest by aiding you to reach him. But, in sooth, I am more moved
by the desire to aid two stranger youths, whom the sea and man alike
seem to have treated hardly. Is it long since you left England?"

"We have well-nigh lost account of time, father, so much has taken
place in a few days. 'Tis but a week since we were sailing along
the English coast with a large company in three ships, when a sudden
tempest arose, carried away our sail, blew us off the shore, and
then increasing in fury drove us before it until we were wrecked
on the coast of Ponthieu, near St. Valery. Since then we have been
prisoners, have escaped, and have journeyed here on foot."