"
"Only thou wilt bring father back home with thee?"
"By God's help, my child."
At this moment a numerous and warlike band of Normans emerged from
the woods, in full view, and paused on the edge of the Swamp.
"Now they come forth to their doom. The Lord hath delivered them
into our hands," said Haga.
Foremost amongst them the old man recognised his son Ordgar; his
arms were bound, and a cord attached to the thongs which confined
them, held by a man-at-arms.
We will transport ourselves to the other side of the Swamp.
Hugo sat there on his steed, in the full panoply of warlike pride,
throbbing with the desire of vengeance, and with the hope of
recovering his son--whom he was destined never to see again; for
justice, although her pace may seem tardy, seldom fails to overtake
evildoers, even in this world; and he who, as men thought, had
slain others by fire, was destined to perish by the same avenging
element.
But no shadow of coming events was there to disturb his equanimity;
all seemed to promise the gratification of his fondest wishes, and
he was in the highest spirits.
And now he bade them bring Ordgar forward, and the guide--his feet
free, but his arms bound--stood before him.
"Thou hast said that thou knowest the road through the Swamp?"
"I do.
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