Then Hereward smote a second time; but the porter did not come out.
Then he took the lance by the shaft, and smote a third time. And he smote so hard, that the lance-but flew to flinders against Winchester Gate.
And at that started out two knights, who had come down from the castle, seeing the meinie on the down, and asked,—
“Who art thou who knockest here so bold?”
“Who I am any man can see by those splinters, if he knows what men are left in England this day.”
The knights looked at the broken wood, and then at each other. Who could the man be who could beat an ash stave to flinders at a single blow?
“You are young, and do not know me; and no shame to you. Go and tell William the King, that Hereward is come to put his hands between the King’s, and be the King’s man henceforth.”
“You are Hereward?” asked one, half awed, half disbelieving at Hereward’s short stature.
“You are—I know not who. Pick up those splinters, and take them to King William; and say, ‘The man who broke that lance against the gate is here to make his peace with thee,’ and he will know who I am.”
And so cowed were these two knights with Hereward’s royal voice, and royal eye, and royal strength, that they went simply, and did what he bade them.