246 The Story of

ries had gone down in thousands, and over
their fallen trunks and broken branches the
white billows were tumbling and leaping in
clouds of spray in the moonlight. Happily
the land sloped away to the north, so that
unless the wind changed and blew against us
the Priory seemed to be in no present danger.
Overhead the great cross vibrated in the
storm, and the face of the Christ gazed sea-
ward, and the holy arms were opened wide.
The sight of that divine figure filled the
Prior’s heart with peace and confidence.
“Whether to live or to die,” he murmured,
“in Thee, O Lord, have we placed our trust.”
Such was the terrible inroad of the sea
which broke the western forest of Amounder-
ness. For many a day the land lay in salt
swamp till the sands were blown over it and
buried the fallen timber; and afterwards the
very name of Forest was forgotten, and the
people called all that part the Field-lands.

Now it was in this same year that the
grievous pestilence named the Black Death
raged in England; but it was not till the
winter had gone by that it reached Amoun-
derness. Then were seen those terrible days