Kitabı oku: «Самые известные английские легенды / The Most Famous English Legends», sayfa 17
She smiled sadly on the young Saxon: “I knew your face again in spite of the disguise, but you come too late. Give my farewell to Sigtryg, and say that my father’s will, not mine, makes me forget my promise.”
“Have you not been told, lady, that he is here?” asked Hereward.
“Here?” the princess cried. “I have not heard. He loves me still and has not abandoned me?”
“No, lady, he is too true a lover for falsehood. He sent forty Danes yesterday to demand you of your father.”
“And I did not know of it,” said the princess softly; “yet I had heard that Haco had taken some prisoners, whom he wants to blind.”
“Those are our messengers, and your future subjects,” said Hereward. “Help me to save them and you. Do you know Haco’s plans?”
“Only this, that he will march tomorrow along the river, and where the ravine is darkest and forms the border between his kingdom and my father’s, the prisoners are to be blinded and released.”
“Is it far from here?”
“Three miles to the east from this hall,” she replied.
“We will be there. Have no fear, lady, whatever you may see, but be bold and look for your lover in the fight.” So saying, Hereward kissed her hand and went out of the hall unnoticed.
Returning to Sigtryg, the young Saxon told all that he had learnt, and the Danes planned an ambush in the ravine where Haco had decided to blind and set free his captives. All was in readiness, and side by side Hereward and Sigtryg were watching the pathway from their covert. The bridal procession came in a strange way: first the Danish prisoners bound each between two Cornishmen, then Haco and his unhappy bride, and last a great group of Cornishmen. Hereward hadtaken command77, so that Sigtryg might take care of safety of his lady, and his plan was simplicity itself. The Danes were to wait till their comrades, with their guards, had passed through the ravine; then, while the leader engaged Haco, and Sigtryg took care of the princess, the Danes would release the prisoners and kill every Cornishman78, and the two parties of Danes, uniting their forces, would restore the order in the land and destroy the followers of Haco.
The plan was carried out exactly as Hereward had planned. The Cornishmen, with Danish captives, passed first without attack; next came Haco, riding angry and morose beside his silent bride: he was sure of his success, while she was looking eagerly for any signs of rescue. As they passed, Hereward sprang from his shelter, crying, “Upon them, Danes, and set your brothers free!” and himself struck down Haco and smote off his head. There was a short fight, but soon the rescued Danes were able to help their deliverers, and the Cornish guards were all killed; while the men of King Alef, who never cared too much about Haco, fled, and the Danes were left masters of the field. Sigtryg had in the meantime seen to the safety of the princess, and now, together with Hereward, he escorted her to the ship, which soon brought them to Waterford and a happy wedding feast.
The Prince and Princess of Waterford always recognised in Hereward their deliverer and best friend, and in their gratitude wished him to always live with them in their castle; but he knew “how hard a thing it is to look into happiness through another man’s eyes”, and would not stay. His reckless and daring temper drove him todeeds of arms79 in other lands, where he was going to win many a battle. But he always felt glad in his own heart that his first deeds had been to rescue two maidens from their fate, and that he was rightly known80 as Hereward the Saxon, the Champion of Women.
