“There was another man had a dream,” said Thord, turning from Martin angrily. “He was standing in the king’s ship, and he saw a great witchwife with a fork and a trough stand on the island. And he saw a fowl on every ship’s stem, a raven, or else an eagle, and he heard the witchwife sing an evil song.” By this time they were in St. Omer. Hereward rode straight to the Countess Judith’s house. He never had entered it yet, and was likely to be attacked if he entered it now. But when the door was opened, he thrust in with so earnest and sad a face that the servants let him pass, but not without growling and motions as of getting their weapons. “I come in peace, my men, I come in peace: this is no time for brawls. Where is the steward, or one of the Countess’s ladies? Tell her, madam, that Hereward waits her commands, and entreats her, in the name of St. Mary and all Saints, to vouchsafe him one word in private.” The lady hurried into the bower. The next moment Judith hurried out into the hall, her fair face blanched, her fair eyes wide with terror. Hereward fell on his knee. “What is this? It must be bad news if you bring it.” “Madam, the grave covers all feuds. Earl Tosti was a very valiant hero; and would to God that we had been friends!” She did not hear the end of the sentence, but fell back with a shriek into the women’s arms. Hereward told them all that they needed to know of that fratricidal strife; and then to Thord Gunlaugsson,-- “Have you any token that this is true? Mind what I warned you, if you lied!” “This have I, Earl and ladies,” and he drew from his bosom a reliquary. “Ulf the marshal took this off his neck, and bade me give it to none but his lady. Therefore, with your pardon, Sir Earl, I did not tell you that I had it, not knowing whether you were an honest man.” “Thou hast done well, and an honest man thou shall find me. Come home, and I will feed thee at my own table; for I have been a sea-rover and a Viking myself.” They left the reliquary with the ladies, and went. “See to this good man, Martin.” “That will I, as the apple of my eye.” And Hereward went into Torfrida’s room. “I have news, news!” “So have I.” “Harold Hardraade is slain, and Tosti too!” “Where? how?” “Harold Godwinsson slew them by York.” “Brother has slain brother? O God that died on cross!” murmured Torfrida, “when will men look to thee, and have mercy on their own souls? But, Hereward, I have news,--news more terrible by far. It came an hour ago. I have been dreading your coming back.” “Say on. If Harold Hardraade is dead, no worse can happen.” “But Harold Godwinsson is dead!” “Dead! Who next? William of Normandy? The world seems coming to an end, as the monks say it will soon.” [Footnote: There was a general rumor abroad that the end of the world was at hand, that the “one thousand years” of prophecy had expired.] “A great battle has been fought at a place they call Heathfield.”