“Who are you to command me thus?” he said shortly.

“Heregar, the thane of Cannington.” said I, still only anxious that he should go quickly.

“Heard one ever the like!” said the man, and then I remembered.

I looked round at my fire.  Two huts were burning now, very brightly, for the wind fanned the flames.

“Saw you ever the like?” I said, and pointed.  “Now, will you go?”

The bright light shone on a row of flashing, gilded dragon heads on the ships’ stems—­on lines of starlike specks beyond them, which were helms and mail coats—­and on lines again of smaller stars above, which were spear points.

“Holy saints!” cried the man, adding a greater oath yet; “be you Heregar the outlaw or no, truth you tell, and well have you done.  Let us begone, men!”

And with that those three leapt away into the darkness up the hill, leaving me to follow if I listed.

That was not my way, however, and I ran on to Matelgar’s hall.

One stood at the gate.  It was Wulfhere.  Inside I heard the trampling of horses, and knew that they would be ready in time.  Wulfhere laid hand on sword as I came up, doubting if I were not a Dane, but I cried to him who I was, and he came out a step or two to me, asking for news.

And when I told him what I had seen and done, he, too, said I had done well, and that I had saved Alswythe, if not many more.  Also, that he had sent a man 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 that thane of whom I had told him.  And I said that I would go some way with him, and then return to join the levy, making known my ill-luck with Osric.

“Ho!” said he; “it was well he sent you away, as it seems to me.”

That was the word of the old crone, I remembered, that it should be so.

Then came a soft touch on my arm, and on turning I saw Alswythe standing by me, wrapped in a long cloak, and ready.  And neither I nor she thought shame that I should lay my arm round her, and kiss her there, with the grim old housecarle standing by and pretending to look out over Stert, where the light of my fires shone above the trees.

“Heregar, my loved one, what does it all mean?” she said, trembling a little.  “Have they come?”

I folded my arm more closely round her, and would have answered, but that Wulfhere did so for me.

“Aye, lady, and it is to Heregar that we owe our safety, for he has been down to Stert and warned us all.”

At that my love crept closer to me, as it were to thank me.  Then she said: 

“Will there be fighting?  And will my father have to fight?”

“Aye, lady,” said Wulfhere again, “as a good Saxon should.”

“Must I go from here?” she asked again; and I told her that the house would be burnt, maybe, in an hour or so.