Then said Witred, “That is the truth, thanes.  Now what will you, for the time goes on?  This man said that it was thought that the deed would not be known till waking time in the morning.  It is not midnight yet.”

We looked at one another, for what was best we could not say.  It was more than likely that the queen had planned against some too early discovery of the deed, and even now waited for any sign which should tell her to act.  But for the staying of that man at the entrance, I have no doubt that by this time her men had been warned to fall on us.  The gathering of the Welsh, and the open passage into the heart of the palace, might be seeming proof that we had planned the downfall of Offa, and so short work with us.

Now one said that it were best to tell Offa straightway, but Selred and my comrades would not have that.  We were not so sure in our own minds that he was guiltless in the matter; and at last Selred said that he would try to reach the guest hall and wake the other thanes and bring them here.

So we passed into the council chamber, and I think we were all glad to be away from the side of that pit.  Erling stood at the great door, and he had taken the bars down from that which led to the guest hall.  If only we could make some one of our folk hear without too much noise, they could unbar it from their side.

“There is one asleep near to it,” said Erling; “I heard him in the stillness.”

I tapped sharply once or twice on the heavy door with my sword handle.  I heard the sounds the sleeper made on the other side, and presently they stopped suddenly.  Whereon I tapped again, and I heard a voice, and then another, as if men heard it.  And then a tapping came back.  The door was very thick, and made of oaken logs, bound together with iron, so that it was hard to hear.  But I set my face close to it and spoke, thinking that no doubt an ear was not far off beyond.

“Unbar the door,” I said—­“unbar.”

“Who is that?” came the muffled voice.

Then Selred answered, and presently I heard the great bars being drawn from their sockets in the door posts, and at last the door opened slowly toward us.  A thane was there with his sword in his hand, staring at us.

“Let me in, for I have a word to say,” said Selred quietly.  “Be silent, for one does not want to rouse the place.”

He passed in, and we closed the door.  Beyond the other door lay the housecarls of Offa down the long hall where we had feasted, and within his own chambers there were a score or more of the young thanes of his bodyguard sleeping across his own doors.

Now we heard the still voice of Selred, and after it a stifled outcry, hushed almost before it arose, and then silence.  In a minute the door was pushed gently, and the father came back with a pale face.  Ho had told the thanes, and they were arming in silence.  Then they would come and see what we had seen.