love and power； of gold also； more than I can count。 When I go forth；
my armies； who still look on me as half a god； shout their welcome and
kiss the air after their heathen fashion。 My beauteous queen bows down
to me and the women of my household abase themselves into the dust。
The people of the Ancient City of Gold turn their faces to the wall
and the children cover their eyes with their hands that they may not
look upon my splendour as I pass； while maidens throw flowers for my
feet to tread。 Upon my judgment hangs life or death； and my lightest
word is as though it were spoken from heaven。 These and many other
things are mine； the trappings of power； the prerogative of the Lord…
from…the…Sea who brought victory to the Chanca people and led them
back to their ancient home where they might live safe； far from the
Inca's rage。
And yet often； as I sit alone in my splendour upon the roof of the
ancient halls or wander through the starlit palace gardens； I call to
mind that great catch of fishes in the English sea and of what
followed after。 I call to mind also my prosperity and wealth as one of
the first merchants of London Town and what followed after。 I call to
mind； too； the winning of Blanche Aleys； the lady so far above me in
rank and station and what followed after。 Then it is that I grow
afraid of what may follow after this present hour of peace and love
and plenty。
Certainly one thing will follow； and that is death。 It may come late
or it may come soon。 But yesterday a rumour reached me through my
spies that Kari Upanqui； the Inca of Tavantinsuyu； he who once was as
my brother； but who now hates me because of his superstitions； and
because I took a Virgin of the Sun to be my wife； gathers a great host
to follow on the path we trod many years ago when the Chancas fled
from the Inca tyranny back to their home in the ancient City of Gold
and to smite us here。 That host； said the rumours； cannot march till
next year； and then will be another year upon its journey。 Still；
knowing Kari； I am sure that it will march； yes； and arrive； after
which must befall the great battle in the mountain passes wherein； as
of old； I shall lead the Chanca armies。
Perchance I am doomed to fall in that battle。 Does not the rune upon
Wave…Flame； the sword of Thorgrimmer my ancestor； say of him that
holds it that；
〃Conquering； conquered shall he be；
And far away shall sleep with me〃？
Well； if the Chancas conquer； what care I if I am conquered？ 'Twould
be a good death and a clean； to fall by Kari's spear； if I knew that
Kari and his host fell also； as I swear that fall they shall； St。
Hubert helping me。 Then at least Quilla and her children would live on
in peace and greatness since they can have no other foe to fear。
Death； what is death？ I say that it is the hope of every one of us and
most of all the exile and the wanderer。 At the best it may be glory；
at the worst it must be sleep。 Moreover； am I so happy that I should
fear to die？ Quilla cannot read this writing； and therefore I will
answer； No。 I am a Christian； but she and those about her； aye； my own
children with them； worship the moon and the host of heaven。 I am
white…skinned； they are the hue of copper； though it is true that my
little daughter； Gudruda； whom I named so after my mother； is almost
white。 There are secrets in their hearts that I shall never learn and
there are secrets in mine from which they cannot draw the veil because
our bloods are different。 Yet God knows； I love them well enough； and
most of all that greatest of women； Quilla。
Oh！ the truth is that here on earth there is no happiness for man。
It is because of this rumour of the coming of Kari with his host that
I set myself to this task； that I have long had in my mind； to write
down something of my history； both in England and in this land which；
at any rate for hundreds of years； mine is the first white foot to
press。 It seems a foolish thing to do since when I have written who
will read； and what will chance to that which I have written？ I shall
leave orders that it be placed beneath my feet in the tomb； but who
will ever find that tomb again？ Still I write because something in my
heart urges me to the task。
I return to the far…off days。 Our boat being full with merry hearts we
set sail before a faint wind for Hastings beach。 As yet there was
little light and much fog； still the landward breeze was enough to
draw us forward。 Then of a sudden we heard sounds as of men talking
upon ships and the clank of spars and blocks。 Presently came a puff of
air lifting the fog for a little and we saw that we were in the midst
of a great fleet； a French fleet； for the Lilies of France flew at
their mast…heads； saw； too； that their prows were set for Hastings；
though for the while they were becalmed； since the wind that was
enough for our light； large…sailed fishing…boat could not stir their
bulk。 Moreover； they saw us； for the men…at…arms on the nearest ship
shouted threats and curses at us and followed the shouts with arrows
that almost hit us。
Then the fog closed down again； and in it we slipped through the
French fleet。
It may have been the best part of an hour later that we reached
Hastings。 Before the boat was made fast to the jetty； I sprang to it
shouting：
〃Stir！ stir！ the French are upon you！ To arms！ We have slipped through
a whole fleet of them in the mist。〃
Instantly the sleepy quay seemed to awaken。 From the neighbouring fish
market； from everywhere sailormen and others came running； followed by
children with gaping mouths； while from the doors of houses far away
shot women with scared faces； like ferreted rabbits from their
burrows。 In a minute the crowd had surrounded me； all asking questions
at once in such a fashion that I could only answer them with my cry
of：
〃Stir！ the French are upon you。 To arms； I say。 To arms！〃
Presently through the throng advanced an old white…bearded man who
wore a badge of office； crying as he came； 〃Make way for the bailiff！〃
The crowd obeyed； opening a path； and soon we were face to face。
〃What is it； Hubert of Hastings？〃 he asked。 〃Is there fire that you
shout so loudly？〃
〃Aye； Worship；〃 I answered。 〃Fire and murder and all the gifts that
the French have for England。 The Fleet of France is beating up for
Hastings； fifty sail of them or more。 We crept through them in the
fog； for the wind which would scarce move them served our turn and
beyond an arrow or two； they took no note of a fishing…boat。〃
〃Whence come they？〃 asked the bailiff； bewildered。
〃I know not； but those in another boat we passed in the midst shouted
that these French were ravaging the coast and heading for Hastings to
put it to fire and sword。 Then that boat vanished away； I know not
where； and that is all I have to tell save that the French will be
here within an hour。〃
Without staying to ask more questions； the bailiff turned and ran
towards the town； and presently the alarm bells rang out from the
towers of All Saints and St。 Clement's； while criers summoned all men
to the market…place。 Meanwhile I； not without a sad look at my boat
and the rich catch within； made my way into the town； followed by my
two men。
Presently I reached an ancient； timbered house； long； low； and
rambling； with a yard by its side full of barrels； anchors； and other
marine stores such as rope； that had to do with the trade I carried on
at this place。
I； Hubert； with a mind full of fears； though not for myself； and a
stirring of the blood such as was natural to my age at the approach of
my first taste of battle； ran fast up to that house which I have
described； and paused for a moment by the big elm tree that grew in
front of the door； of which the lower boughs were sawn off because
they shut out the light from the windows。 I remember that elm tree
very well； first because when I was a child starlings nested in a hole
in the trunk； and I reared one in a wicker cage and made a talking
bird of it which I kept for several years。 It was so tame that it used
to go about sitting on my shoulder； till at last； outside the town a
cat frightened it thence； and before I could recapture it； it was
taken by a hawk； which hawk I shot afterwards with an arrow out of
revenge。
Also this elm is impressed upon me by the fact that on that morning
when I halted by it； I noted how green and full of leaf it was。 Next
morning； after the fire； I saw it again； all charred and blackened；
with its beautiful foliage withered by the heat。 This contrast
remained upon my memory； and whenever I see any great change of
fortune from prosperity to ruin； or from life to death； always I
bethink me of that elm。 For it is by little things which we ourselves
have seen and not by those written of or told by others； that we
measure and compare events。
The reason that I ran so hard and then paused by the elm； was because
my widowed mother lived in that house。 Knowing that the French meant
mischief for a good reason； because one of their arrows； or perhaps a
quarrel from a cross…bow； whistled just past my head out there upon
the sea； my first thought was to get her away to some place of safety；
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