of
the hall stockade. So they came at last to the tree, and on it the
head hung yet, but the body was clean gone. All round the tree the
snow was reddened and trampled by the fierce beasts who leapt to
reach the head, and the marks of their clawing was on the trunk,
where they had tried to climb it. From the footmarks it seemed that
there were eight or nine of them. Three great ones had left the
head and followed us presently as far as the brook, half a mile
away.

After that the two men went on to the place where Owen had found
me, and there my father, judging from the dress and loneliness of
the Briton that he might be able to help him somewhat, said:

"I do not know what your plans may be, but is there any reason why
you should not bide here and help me tend the life you have kept
for me?"

Then answered Owen: "You know nought of me, Thane. For all you ken,
I may be but an outlaw who is fleeing from justice."

"Do I know nought about you? I think that last night and what I
have seen today have told me much, and I have been held as a good
judge of a man. If so be that you were an outlaw, which I do not
think, what you have done is enough to inlaw you again with any
honest man--even had you taken a life, for you have saved one. Did
I know you were an outlaw I would see to your pardon. But maybe you
are on a journey that may not be hindered?"

Now Owen was silent for a little, and there came a shadow over his
face as he answered, slowly and with his eyes on the far sea:

"No man's man am I, and I am but drifting Westward again at random.
Yet I can say in all truth, that I am no wanderer for ill reason in
any wise. I will tell you, Thane, here and alone, that there are
foes in my home for whose passing, in one way or another, I must
needs wait. Even now I was on my way to Bosham, where they tell me
are Western monks with whom I might bide for a time, if not
altogether. I was lost in the forest last night."

Now my father saw that some heavy sorrow of no common sort lay
beneath the quiet words of the man before him, and he forbore to
ask him more. Also, he deemed that in the Welsh land he would
surely rank as a thane, for his ways and words bespoke more than
his dress would tell. Therefore he said:

"Wait here with us for a while at least. There will be no more
welcome guest."

"Let me be of some use, rather," Owen answered. "If I bide with
you, Thane, and I thank you for the offer, let it be as I have
bide