The thing was so plain that I could but bow my head in assent.

“Now,” he went on, “I have heard private talk of this sort before now; but never mind.  I cannot inlaw you again, Heregar; for that must needs be done in full Moot, as was the outlawry.  Yet shall all my power be bent to help you back to your own, if only for the sake of today.”

Then would I thank him, but he stopped me.

“To the man who lit the fire of Stert, who checked the panic on Cannington Hill, thanks are due, not gratitude from him.  And to him justice and reward.”

Now I knew not what to say; but at that moment came a hurried rapping on the door and the sound of voices, speaking together.  Then the door was thrown open and a man entered, heated and breathless, crying: 

“The Danes—­they are on our men again!”

Then Osric flushed red, and his eyes sparkled, and he bid the thanes who crowded after the messenger get to horse and sound the assembly at once to go to the assistance of those who were yet on the hill.

And yet he turned to me when this was said, and took my hand again.

“Get your lady in safety to Glastonbury, where Ealhstan the Bishop is.  I will care for the nuns if need be.  Take this ring of mine and show it to him, and then ride with it to Eanulf the Ealdorman and tell him of our straits.  The words I leave to you, who have done better than all of us today.”

Then he took helm and sword from one who brought them in haste, and armed himself, while I, putting the ring he had given me on my finger, yet stood beside him.  When he was armed he turned sharply to me.

“You want to fight again,” he said.  “Well, I will not blame you; but believe me, you will do more for us in going to Eanulf than in spending your life here for nought.”

Then he saw he had said too much, perhaps, and motioning his man out of the room, so that we were alone, he went on quickly:  “I say for nought, because all I can do is to hold back the Danes for a little; you have seen how it is.  We are evenly matched in numbers, or thereabout; but they are trained and hardened warriors, and our poor men are all unused to war.  Moreover, Heregar, these Danes come to fight, and our men do but fight because they must.  Now I will send one after you to Glastonbury to let you know how this matter goes; but it will be, I fear, no pleasant message.”

Then would I not ask him for men as I had been minded to do, knowing what a strait he was in, and that his words were only too true.  Those two differences between Dane and Saxon in those days of the first fighting left the victory too plainly on the side of the newcomers.  And they sum up all the reasons for the headway they made against us till Alfred, our wise king, taught us to meet them in their own way.

So once more I felt the grip of Osric’s hand on mine, and I left him, with a heavy heart indeed, but with a new hope for myself and for Alswythe, in the end.