At once the Dane knew what had happened, and he swung his horse round and spurred it fiercely, making for flight.  Then Harek looked at me and touched his sword hilt, and I nodded.  It was well to let no tidings of our knowledge go back to the host.  After the Dane therefore went Harek, and I looked at Osmund.

“Jarl,” I said, “I am in a strait here.  If you go back, your life is in Alfred’s hands.”

“I know it,” he said, smiling faintly.  “It is a hard place maybe for us both, but there is only one way.  You must get back to the king, and I with you; for you have to answer for me, and my word is passed not to escape.”

Then Thora said: 

“The king is just, as all men know.  How should he slay you for what you cannot help?”

“Ay,” he answered, smiling at her, “that is right.”

So she was satisfied, knowing nought perhaps of what the place of a hostage is.

So we started back to Chippenham quickly, and after us I heard Harek coming.  He had a led horse when he joined us, and I knew that none would take word to the Danish host that the king was warned.

When we came to the hilltop over which we had ridden so blithely an hour ago or less, we looked back, and at first saw nothing.  Then over the white brow of a rolling down that shone in the level sunlight came a black speck that grew and lengthened, sliding, as it were, like a snake down the hillside.  And that line sparkled like ice in the sunlight from end to end; for it was the Danish host on the march, and in two hours they would be where we stood, and in two more they who were mounted would be in Chippenham streets, where Alfred had not enough men even to guard the gates against such a force as was coming.

Then we rode hard for the lives of all who were in the town, and as I went I thought also that we rode to the death of the brave, honest jarl who was beside me, saying nothing, but never letting his horse falter.  Just as bravely rode Thora.

In an hour we were at the gates, and I rode straight to the king’s house, and sought him on urgent business.

Ethered of Mercia came out to me.

“What is it, Ranald?” he said.  “The Witan is set now.”

I told him in few words, and his face changed.

“It seems impossible in frost and snow,” he said.

“Ay; but there are proofs,” I said, pointing through the great doorway.

There was my party, and Kolgrim was binding a wound on Harek’s arm of which I knew nought till that moment, and the led horses and spoils were plain enough to say all.

Then Ethered made haste and took me to the great hall, where Alfred sat with some thirty thanes of his Witan {xi}, and many clergy.  I knew they were to meet on some business that I had nought to do with.  Ethered went to the king without any ceremony, and speaking low told him my message.  Whereon the king’s face grew white and then red, and he flashed out into terrible wrath: