“Master,” he said, very gravely, “this is like to be a matter of which we have not seen the end.  Yon Danes are up channel, and, as I believe, lying at anchor by the Holms.  It will not be their way, if, having gone so far up, they sack not every town on their way back-unless they are beaten off on their first landing.  Now the country is raised against them, sure enough; but our levy is a weak crowd when it is first raised, and they are tried warriors, every one.  Now they may go on up tide to the higher towns, or else they will be back here, like a kite on a chicken, before men think, and Bridgwater town will see a great fight, and maybe a burning, before tomorrow.”

Then I said that the levy would beat them off easily enough; but the old warrior shook his head.

“I was at Charnmouth,” he said, “when King Ethelwulf himself led the charge.  And our men fought well; but it was like charging a wall bristling with spears.  Again and again our men charged, but the Danes stood in a great ring which never broke, although it wavered once or twice, until we were wearied out, and then they swung into line and swept us off the field.  Until we learn to fight as they fight, we are weaker.”

Then I began to fear for Alswythe, and asked him what guard was left for the hall, and again he shook his head.

“Myself, and five others—­not the strongest—­and a dozen women, and three boys, thralls.”

I knew not what to say to this; but the wise old man had already thought of a plan in case of danger.  And in this, he said, I could advise him, for he was a stranger.

“Horses enough are left,” he told me, “and if the Danes come to Bridgwater, and are not beaten off, I shall mount the Lady Alswythe and the women, and take them to a safer place.  But whither?”

I told him at once of the house of a great thane beyond the Quantocks, easily reached by safe roads through the forest land, where Danes would not care to follow, and he thanked me.

Then he said that I might well try to join the levy; but that it was possible that it would be hard for me.  And I told him that if I could not manage it I would join in the fight when no man would question me, and that seemed possible to both of us.  But if the Danes yet kept away I knew I could wait in hiding, having money now, safely enough till they had gone and the levy dispersed.

Then came Alswythe back, bearing with her the things I needed.  And Wulfhere begged her not to bide alone in the wood now, since robbers might be overbold now that the men were drawn off to the levy.  That was good advice in itself; but I knew that he would have her near the hall, lest there should be sudden need for fleeing.  She promised him, thanking him for the warning, and he left us.

Then she tended me as I ate, carefully, and never had there been for me so sweet a meal as that, outlawed and homeless though I was to the world.  For her word was my law now, and my home was all in her love for me.