“And arrows?”

“Whole sheaves of them; and as good yew bows as were ever bent.”

“Come, we shall do; and now about provisions?”

“You see we have bounteous fare now, but it would not last many days.”

“Many days we shall not want it—­many days?  Why, the levies must all be out within twenty-four hours, and the Danes are not strong enough to maintain themselves here.  It is but a raid; but they might all have been taken or slain had my father but believed me.  As it is, they have shed much innocent blood by this time.”

“You think, then, our buildings are capable of defence?”

“Assuredly; it would be madness to sacrifice such a position.  If the Danes are about in the neighbourhood, it would be far more dangerous to expose your helpless ones without the fortifications.  Have you all your people here, or are there a few sick?”

“A few sick, only.”

“Let them be sought at once; the heathen will be revelling like fiends about the country.  For the present I think Dorchester and Abingdon safe.  Wallingford, if I may judge by the light over the hills, has utterly fallen.  They were probably taken unawares; and their defences were never good.  Now we must at once to work.”

“Prince, you have more experience of war than I; you will be our commander.”

“I accept the post.  To tell the truth, it will be a treat for me after the illness and confinement I have gone through; the thought of the struggle makes me feel myself again.”

And so this strangely constituted man went forth and spoke to the assembled multitude, who stood passively gazing at the distant conflagration.

“Now, Englishmen, a few words to you all.  We shall have, I hope, to fight these Danes; and for the honour of our country must even quit ourselves like men.  Why should not the Englishman be a match for the Dane? ay, more than a match for the cutthroat heathen?  Here we stand on a rock with our defence secure; and here we will live or die in defence of our women and children.  What say you all?”

“We will live or die with you.”

“Well said, men.  Now, one good hearty cheer; no, stop, I should like them to be caught in their own traps.  I know their plan.  If they find the good people of Dorchester are awake, as the noise shows, they will swarm all over the neighbourhood like wasps after honey, to plunder the isolated houses and farms, and carry off all they can; and this place is too conspicuous—­too much of a city on a hill—­to be hidden.  Well, we will be ready for them.  Now, first of all, we must set our outposts around to give us due warning of their approach; and then every man must arm himself as best he can, and let me see what figure you can all make.”

He was interrupted by a childish voice, and saw Herstan’s little son, a boy of twelve years, touching his garment, and looking at him with unfeigned admiration.