prey to the attacks of their enemies.  This is, at least, a very improbable statement, for a river like the Thames occupies always the lowest channel of the land through which it passes to the sea.  Besides, such a river, in order that it should be possible for vessels to ascend it from the ocean, must have the surface of its water very near the level of the surface of the ocean.  There can, therefore, be no place to which such waters could be drawn off, unless into a valley below the level of the sea.  All such valleys, whenever they exist in the interior of a country, necessarily get filled with water from brooks and rains, and so become lakes or inland seas.  It is probable, therefore, that it was some other operation which Alfred performed to imprison the hostile vessels in the river, more possible in its own nature than the drawing off of the waters of the Thames from their ancient bed.

Year after year passed on, and, though neither the Saxons nor the Danes gained any very permanent and decisive victories, the invaders were gradually losing ground, being driven from one intrenchment and one stronghold to another, until, at last, their only places of refuge were their ships, and the harbors along the margin of the sea.  Alfred followed on and occupied the country as fast as the enemy was driven away; and when, at last, they began to seek refuge in their ships, he advanced to the shore, and began to form plans for building ships, and manning and equipping a fleet, to pursue his retiring enemies upon their own element.  In this undertaking, he proceeded in the same calm, deliberate, and effectual manner, as in all his preceding measures.  He built his vessels with great care.  He made them twice as long as those of the Danes, and planned them so as to make them more steady, more safe, and capable of carrying a crew of rowers so numerous as to be more active and swift than the vessels of the enemy.

When these naval preparations were made, Alfred began to look out for an object of attack on which he could put their efficiency to the test.  He soon heard of a fleet of the Northmen’s vessels on the coast of the Isle of Wight, and he sent a fleet of his own ships to attack them.  He charged the commander of this fleet to be sparing of life, but to capture the ships and take the men, bringing as many as possible to him unharmed.

There were nine of the English vessels, and when they reached the Isle of Wight they found six vessels of the Danes in a harbor there.  Three of these Danish vessels were afloat, and came out boldly to attack Alfred’s armament.  The other three were upon the shore, where they had been left by the tide, and were, of course, disabled and defenseless until the water should rise and float them again.  Under these circumstances, it would seem that the victory for Alfred’s fleet would have been easy and sure; and at first the result was, in fact, in Alfred’s favor.  Of the three ships that came out to meet