“Archers, keep the Danes back.  See those brutes there aiming at your wives on the roof; bring them down; make them keep their distance.  Guard well the palisades.”

But, although his orders were obeyed, the Danes grew bolder; the men could not work on the roof in the midst of the arrows.  The women and children, emerging terror-struck from the hall, made every father’s heart sink within him.

Edmund cried aloud: 

“To the gate, to the gate! the villains have got the drawbridge down.”

He rushed to the spot himself, and found that some adventurous Dane had severed the chains and lowered the bridge in the momentary confusion of its defenders, and the gate was yielding before their strokes.

He arrived; and that moment the gate fell.  He stood in the breach himself; one man against a dozen.  He did all a hero could; but he was already bleeding.  Alfgar, ever faithful, fought like a lion by his side.  Herstan and his bravest warriors brought their aid, but all seemed lost.

“Tell them to retreat to the river.

“Herstan, conduct the retreat; Alfgar and I can keep them out for five minutes more.”

“All is lost! all is lost!” the cry arose within.

“No; saved! saved!” cried Father Cuthbert from the roof.  “What!  Englishmen, to the rescue! to the rescue!”

The Danes suddenly wavered, then turned in surprise and despair; for from the darkness behind emerged the forms of hundreds of Englishmen, who fell upon the Danes.  The levies were out, and only just in time.

“One charge!” said Edmund; and, rushing forward, led the way into the heart of the foe.

. . . . . .

The Danes who had attacked the house of Herstan were so far in advance of their countrymen that they were forced to retreat instantly before the superior force which came to the rescue of the besieged; and they fell back, at first in some order, but shortly, owing to the darkness and the pressure of their foes, in utter confusion.

But Edmund could pursue them no longer.  His strength, having been so lately an invalid, was utterly gone.  He fell from sheer exhaustion, and was borne back by Alfgar to the hall.

But there was no longer need for his protection.  He had saved the mansion and all its inmates, as they most readily owned.  And now he received all the loving care and attention he deserved.

Meanwhile the English continued the pursuit until a small remnant of Danes repassed the river; only a small remnant of the party which, as it will be easily guessed, instigated by Edric, had sallied forth to besiege the place where Edmund had found refuge, who had so recently provoked the bitter hostility of Sweyn.

The following day the whole army of the Danes retreated from the ruins of Wallingford towards the south; and the next day encamped in the village of Cholsey, which, with its priory, they utterly destroyed.  Then they continued their retreat along the slope of the downs, by Aston, until they reached Cuckamsley hill, where they abode as a daring boast; for it had been said that if they ever reached that spot they should never see the sea again.  Alas! the prediction was unfulfilled {xii}.