He presented a dismal object; his hair and beard had been scorched
in some intense fire, and his clothes blackened and burnt.
The two Normans, old man and boy, stood up aghast.
"What! is it thou, Owen of Bayeux?"
"I was that man a few hours agone. I doubt what I am now."
"What hast thou suffered, then? Where are the baron and his men?"
"Burnt in the Dismal Swamp?"
"Burnt?"
"Yes, burnt; I speak good French do I not?"
"Owen, Owen," cried the old Raoul, "do not mistake thy friends for
foes! tell us what dreadful event has happened, to disturb thy
reason."
"Would it were but disturbed! Oh that I should have lived to see
this day!"
"Tell us," cried young Tristam, "tell us, Owen."
"A fate was on us, as on the Egyptians of old; only they perished
by water, we by fire."
"But how?"
"Ordgar the guide, whom we thought we had secured so opportunely,
led us into the marshes and left us therein; and while we were
there, the English fired the reeds and bulrushes on all sides."
"And the baron?"
"He and all have perished; I only have escaped to tell thee. Where
are the rest who were left behind?"
"Here they are," cried Tristam, as a group of old warriors
approached.
"Come, Roger, Jocelyn, Jolliffe--come hear the news," cried the
boy.
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