A Thane of Wessex

ring place, and mostly they spoke to me, asking for news. And from them I learned, too, that nothing had been seen, while daylight serv

came, where were trees in which I might hide if need were, as I had hidden this morning. This was on the little spur of hill men call by the name of the fisher's village below it, Combwich. It looked on all the windings o

the spur of hill till I came to where the land overlooks the whole long tongue of Stert Point. That would do as well for me, I thought, and ch

ed during the ebb, would go on up channel with it, and that therefore I might have to hang about here for days before they landed, even were

that, after my repulse by the sheriff, or perhaps I should rather say by his advisers, I thought not of trying yet. It wou

long, when from close to Stert came that which

llowed by answering flashes, just as I had seen them at Watchet. But now the flashes ca

ock heights; for I knew that once again the Danes

nger of Alswythe, for Matelgar's wa

and then to hurry back to that outpost I had passed half

find mud between them and shore, too deep to cross, and must wait till the ships could come up to land, or

indeed meant, or if these were but signals

wedge that Stert makes between the waters of Parret and the greater Severn Sea. There are high banks along the shore to keep out the spring tides

swirls here and there beyond half a mile of mud, black as pitch in contrast) but that I could make out at last six long black ships, lying as it seemed on the edge of

o me, so that I knew they were edgi

ves, piling it to windward against the wooden walls. Then I fired the heap, and it blazed up bright and strong, and at

arned as well. That, however, I would see to myself, and, if I could, I would aid him in getting Alswythe into a place of safety. So I ran

down to see what my fire meant. They challenged me, halting with levelled spear

who seemed to be the

nes would be ashore in half an hour. I spoke as I was wont to speak when I was a thane, forget

command me thus?

gton." said I, still only anx

ike!" said the man, a

ts were burning now, very brightl

e?" I said, and point

' stems -- on lines of starlike specks beyond them, which were helms and mail

h yet; "be you Heregar the outlaw or no, truth you

way into the darkness up the hill

however, and I ran

they would be ready in time. Wulfhere laid hand on sword as I came up, doubting if I were no

an to tell Matelgar of his plans. Then he told me that even now the horses were ready, and that he was about to abandon the place, going to the house of

s well he sent you aw

e old crone, I remember

dy. And neither I nor she thought shame that I should lay my arm round her, and kiss her there, with the grim ol

es it all mean?" she said, trem

nd her, and would have answered,

at we owe our safety, for he has be

oser to me, as it were t

ting? And will my f

ulfhere again, "as

in; and I told her that the house wo

, and tried not to w

he said, with a littl

cried out that she must bide near at hand lest

to overpersuade her, but then a gr

must be lost, if we

the Danes must cut through that before reaching us. And to that Wulfhere agreed, for I knew he would

ses, and on them were the women of the house, bearing what valuables they might, as Wulfhere had bade them. One horse carried two women, but they were a light bu

y, suddenly Alswythe reined up her horse, by which I

her I think I should myself have gone back, but that Wulfhere called one of the men, who, it seemed, was the cowherd, bidding him return and do this, if the Danes were n

t. I would have asked him many questions, but would not leave Alswythe, lest she should be alarmed. And all the way, as we went, I told her of what had befallen me with Osric, saying only

oot's pace. But still we met no force. Indeed, until we were just a half mile thence, we s

, and saying -- for Alswythe could not know the ways of war -- that they would attack with morning light. But I felt only too keenly, thou

taken. Already we were passing groups of fugitives from the nearer country

she said that she would go to her aunt, who was the prioress of the White Nuns, and bide in the nunnery walls till all was safe. And that seemed a good plan, bo

without going through the crowded town, and so turn

it was very cold. But Alswythe pointed to a crimson glow behind us

That glow was not in the east, but sh

d Alswythe smiled on me, though she was pale and overwrought with

sked our business, frightened at the glint of mail she saw. But Alswythe's voice she knew we

a journey; and after a little time, while the portress told the prioress, the doors were throw

and noble-looking lady, greeting her and us kindly, and so

. And the prioress thanked us for our care, not knowing me in the half light, and in mail, and so were we left in the courtyard, where an old lay brother, brought

hould return, or until orders came from their master himself or from the la

to the roadway and walked

now?"

and that the lady is safe. So shall I march with the r

," I an

best -- just

and there came a sound of shouting from the place of the market cross, and then we heard the bray of

ight not be. So I left him at last, sayi

him when he called me, and I c

et they have come back, and they mean to fight. Now our levy is raw, and has no discipline, and I doubt it will be as it was

eturn and hide w

then he added, looking at me doubtfully, "I

and by my love for my Alswythe and care for her safety. And I knew no

Hill, and there look on the fight; or, if it be nearer this, find such a place as you know. Then, if there is victor

ight," I said,

ff, and of all. He bade you fight not today -- let it be so. There is loyalt

," said I shortly, an

town, and waited at that place where I had met with the old woman, until I saw the van of our forces marching down t

ought to see them marching in close order and in silence. But they were in a long line with many gaps, and here and th

as silence, and a closing up as they breasted the steep pitch; and then I must go through woods, and so lost sight of them for a while. I passed close to my own hall -

ear of the force that I might reach

p, and some of these last were making for the shelter of swamp and wood. I myself was on a little rise of heathy land and could see pl

htly, showing scarlet cloaks and gilded helms not only on the roadway, but flanking the hills on either

nd silent. And that seemed terrible to me. So for a moment they stood, and then, as at some signal, from the

d hear the crash of arms on shields as the lines met -- th

and presently, when I would take my hand from my sword hilt, it was stiff and cramped from cl

ely have joined, but th

he king's thane! There is work for

who had come I know not ho

the mud banks lay bare and glistening with the falling water. "Let them drive these Dan

f they might not reach their ships, and became penned in on Stert

r. Remember, when the

. And men were crawling back from the fight, to fall exhausted in the rear, and then -- then the stea

two steps, with drawn sword, towards that broken, flying rabble, remembered Alswythe, and turned

ries of those who fled, and the savage shouts of the pursuing vikings. I was in the midst of tha

g, snorting, by the wayside where he had stopped, and I spok

d was full of our men, flying; and a thought came into my head, and I da

ntage ground and block the way against the Danes; bidding them remember the helpless ones in the town,

ild with rage and desperate, and the line grew thicker and firmer as more came up, with the sheriff hims

lest men should notice my going, but the horse follo

my mail had fallen apart: but I knew not if any

as men gathered what had befallen from my haste.