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230 KIPLING'S SUSSEX
blood of the Vikings, looked upon any unlucky ship driven ashore on their coast as theirs by right, and when Wilfrid's ship was driven ashore while he was sailing home from France, the South Saxons swooped down to loot any gear that might be cast up by the sea. One of the Saxons skilled in magic began to practise his black art on Wilfrid and his ship with a view to hasten their destruction, but a well-flung stone from one of the Archbishop's crew killed him. Maddened by the sight of their leader's death they plunged into the surf and engaged Wilfrid's men, who gradually retreated to the ship. The tide rising before its accustomed time floated the ship and thus enabled Wilfrid and his retainers to make off. It was twenty years later that Wilfrid returned to the South Saxons as a missionary during a period of famine. Rain had not fallen for three years, but Wilfrid taught the people to fish with an angle-hook and thus relieve much distress. In return for this many of the people offered to keep faith with the Christian God. During the day on which the Saxons were baptized into the Church the rain fell in a deluge, and the great famine came to an end. It is said that St. Wilfrid founded a monastery at Selsey, on a part of the land now claimed by the sea. Kipling tells us how Wilfrid |
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