“Let every man who has any knowledge of care for the wounded, or who has known a wound of his own and the way it was cared for, go among these brave ones and help them.”

Nor would he leave the place till he saw men going up and down among the hurt, tending them as well as they could; and he was the more content when he saw Bishop Sigehelm and many other clergy come on the field from the rear, where he had bidden them stay.  The bishop had mail under his robes, having been eager to join in the fight, as would Eahlstan, his great forerunner, have certainly joined; but Alfred would not suffer him to do so.

Once more Guthrum tried to rally his men, when the flight bore him to his camp at the hill foot, on the way across the fens to the town.  There was a sharp fight there, and Ethelnoth was wounded as he led on his men; and thence the Danes fled to Bridgwater, making no more delay.  So close on them were our men that Guthrum’s housecarls closed the gates after their king on many of their comrades, who fell under the Saxon spear in sight of safety.  Nor did we give them time to drive in the cattle that were gathered from all the countryside to the meadows round the place.

Then came Thord to me and put me in mind of somewhat.

“Now is our work to be done, king.  These Danes will take Hubba’s ships and be gone down the river next.  We must stop them in some way, for the king’s plan is to starve them out, as it seems.”

We had left the king at that time, for we would not suffer him to join in pursuit, which has its dangers, if men turn desperate and make a stand, as many did, dying like brave warriors that they were.  So I rode on quickly with my followers, and came to the river bank below the bridge.  The Danes were swarming on the ramparts of the fortress like angry bees, and in the ships, which lay beneath the walls, men were busy, even as Thord had guessed they would be, making ready to sail when tide served.  We could not reach them by any means, for every boat had been taken from this side long ago, when the first news of defeat was brought back by flying horsemen.

Then Thord’s face glowered under his helm, and he pointed to the ship that was farthest from the bridge, and therefore likely to be the first to start away when the tide was full.  It was my own ship, which they had got afloat.

“Thor’s hammer smite them!” he growled; “they have launched the old keel without finishing her painting—­just as I left her.  How are we to stay their going off with her?”

“Is there a chain cable anywhere?” I asked.

“Not one in the place,” he said; “and if we did get one across the river, we should have to fight to keep the far end of it.”

The tide was rising fast, and I thought we should surely lose every ship, while Guthrum and his chiefs would escape us at the same time.  One might line the banks with archers, certainly, but that would not stay the going.  Evening was closing in, moreover.  By midnight they would be gone, and I was in a difficulty out of which I could not see my way.