In spite of the angry shouts and entreaties of the guide, the door thrust open, and the party, armed with their axes and bows, at once rushed out into the night.  The storm had for the moment abated and they had no difficulty in making their way along the track.  In fifty yards they came to a bend of the path, and saw, a little distance before them, a black mass of animals, covering the road, and congregated round a figure who stood with his back to the rock.  With a shout of encouragement they sprang forward, and in a few moments were in the midst of the savage animals, who turned their rage against them at once.  They had fired two or three arrows apiece, as they approached, into them; and now, throwing down their bows, the archers betook themselves to their swords, while Cuthbert with his heavy battle-axe hewed and cut at the wolves as they sprang towards him.  In a minute they had cleared their way to the figure, which was that of a knight in complete armour.  He leant against the rock completely exhausted, and could only mutter a word of thanks through his closed visor.  At a short distance off a number of the wolves were gathered, rending and tearing the horse of the knight; but the rest soon recovering from their surprise, attacked with fury the little party.  The thick cloaks of the archers stood them in good stead against the animals’ teeth, and standing in a group with their backs to the rock, they hewed and cut vigorously at their assailants.  The numbers of these, however, appeared almost innumerable, and fresh stragglers continued to come along the road, and swell their body.  As fast as those in front fell, their heads cleft with the axes of the party, fresh ones sprang forward; and Cuthbert saw that in spite of the valour and strength of his men, the situation was well nigh desperate.  He himself had been saved from injury by his harness, for he still had on his greaves and leg pieces.

“Keep together,” he shouted to his men, “and each lend aid to the other if he sees him pulled down.  Strike lustily for life, and hurry not your blows, but let each tell.”  This latter order he gave perceiving that some of the archers, terrified by this furious army of assailants with gaping mouths and glistening teeth, were striking wildly, and losing their presence of mind.

The combat, although it might have been prolonged, could yet have had but one termination, and the whole party would have fallen.  At this moment, however, a gust-of wind, more furious than any which they had before experienced, swept along the gorge, and the very wolves had to crouch on their stomachs to prevent themselves being hurled by its fury into the ravine below.  Then even above the storm a deep roar was heard.  It grew louder and louder.  The wolves, as if struck with terror, leaped to their feet, and scattered on either way along the path at full speed.

“What sound can this be?” Cnut exclaimed in an awestruck voice.  “It sounds like thunder; but it is regular and unbroken; and, my lord, surely the earth quakes under our feet!”