204 THE VA11ANGIANS. 



whom he had secured in the same manner, far over the plain, with a 

 whirlwind's speed. But as they entirely emerged from the protec- 

 tion of the trees, the sound of hoofs was heard in another direction, 

 and they descried a party of five horsemen advancing on their right, 

 whose gestures were evidently hostile three of whom directed their 

 chargers full upon themselves, whilst the other two, though at un- 

 equal distances, sped in pursuit of their leader. The Frank, for he 

 it was who held Evadne, endeavoured, when he perceived his pur- 

 suers, to urge his steed to still further exertions, but in his most 

 headlong career the animal stumbled on a stone concealed by weeds 

 or grass. His riders fell to the earth, and though both were un- 

 harmed, the stranger had scarcely recovered his feet, when Redwald, 

 equally rapid and more fortunate, had overtaken him, and throwing 

 himself from his steed, had seized his Evadne, whom he scarcely 

 hoped to find uninjured by the violence of the shock. But the 

 ravisher, drawing his sword, rushed on the British warrior with the 

 desperation of a tiger, provoking a contest which, though desperate, 

 was short. In skill, activity, courage, and mutual hatred, the com- 

 batants were well matched, but, stronger and somewhat taller than 

 his adversary, the Varangian had, on this occasion at least, the ad- 

 vantage of coolness, for the violence of the fall might have confused 

 the brain and eyesight of the stranger, whose head was speedily cleft 

 in sunder by a dreadful blow. In the meantime the other two had 

 surrendered to Austin and three other Varangian chiefs, who had 

 prevailed on Redwald to allow them to accompany him. They 

 proved to be deserters from the Frank company in the service of the 

 Emperor, and before they suffered the just reward of their crimes, 

 their confession, together with letters and other documents found oil 

 the person of the slain, had proved the Frank captain, the rival of 

 Redwald, and the itinerant merchant, who had laboured to corrupt 

 the fidelity of the Varangians, to be the same individual. It further 

 appeared that he w r as a Sicilian-Norman, rich, powerful, and high in 

 favour with Guiscard, and that his name was Geoffrey Montalto. 



It was on the eve of the 18th of October, 1081, that the numerous 

 army of Alexius, commanded by their monarch in person, having 

 performed a toilsome march of 500 miles, were assembled in the 

 plains before Durazzo. But that army was composed of unequal 

 and discordant materials ; it consisted of the troops of various na- 

 tions, widely differing in valour, arms, discipline, and manner of 

 fighting, not unlikely to dispute amongst themselves, and the fidelity 

 of some of whom, it might be reasonably imagined, was not calcu- 

 lated to resist a very severe trial. First in physical and mental 

 hardihood of all these numerous bands stood the Varangians, but 

 being composed exclusively of infantry, though they might be con- 

 sidered invincible by any thing like an equal number of that descrip- 

 tion of troops, their scanty defensive armour would be likely to render 

 unequal a contest betwixt them and the well protected Norman 

 cavalry. The besetting sin of these warriors was intemperance, 

 which the example of their chiefs did not always tend to check, and 

 which led to not unfrequent quarrels between them and the native 

 subjects of Alexius ; but the indefatigable exertions of Redwald, 



