would be safe to go to Bridgwater, for then we
should be behind the levy, and that the Danes must cut through that
before reaching us. And to that Wulfhere agreed, for I knew he would
rather be swinging his sword against the Danes at Stert than flying
through the woods of the Quantocks.

Alswythe thanked me, without words indeed, and then in a few minutes she
was mounted, and we were going up towards the high road to Bridgwater.
We had twelve horses, and on them were the women of the house, bearing
what valuables they might, as Wulfhere had bade them. One horse carried
two women, but they were a light burden, and we had no such terrible
haste to make, seeing that every moment brought us nearer the levy.
There were the men and boys as well, but they led the beasts.

Now when we reached the high road, some half mile away, suddenly
Alswythe reined up her horse, by which I walked, giving a little cry,
and I asked what it was.

Then she said, sobbing a little, that she would her cows were driven out
into the forest where they were wont to feed, lest the cruel Danes
should get them. And to please her I think I should myself have gone
back, but that Wulfhere called one of the men, who, it seemed, was the
cowherd, bidding him return and do this, if the Danes were not coming
yet. Glad enough was I to hear the man say that he had done it already
--"for no Dane should grow fat on beasts of his tending, and they were
a mile off by now."

So we went on, and every minute I looked to meet our levy advancing. But
the moon rose, and shone on no line of glancing armour that I longed
for, and Wulfhere growled to himself as he went. I would have asked him
many questions, but would not leave Alswythe, lest she should be
alarmed. And all the way, as we went, I told her of what had befallen me
with Osric, saying only that her father was there, but had not been able
to speak for me. And I told her of the old crone's words, which she
thought would surely come true, all of them, as they had begun to do so.

It is a long five miles from Matelgar's place to the town, and we could
only travel at a foot's pace. But still we met no force. Indeed, until
we were just a half mile thence, we saw no one. Then we met a picket,
who, seeing we were fugitives, let us go on unchallenged.

But Wulfhere stopped and questioned the men, and got no pleasant answer
as it seemed, for he caught us up growling, coming alongside of me, and
saying--for Alswythe cou