y had themselves been overborne. So for half an
hour I waited, pacing the road before the nunnery, while I bade the men
see to my horse; but the place was very quiet, being on that side the
town away from the fight, so that any coming thence would stay their
flight when the shelter of the houses was reached.

At last came one, running at a steady pace, and I sprang to meet him,
for it was Wulfhere. His face was hard and set, his armour was covered
with blood, and he had a bandage round his head instead of helmet; but
he was not hurt much, as one might see by the way he came.

He grasped my hand without a word, and threw himself on the bank by the
road side to get breath, and I stood by him, silent for a while.

"Heregar," he said at last, "it is well for Bridgwater town, and these
here in this nunnery, that you obeyed and fought not."

"Wherefore?" I said. "Must we fly?"

"I saw you rally the men on Cannington Hill, and that was the best thing
done in all this evil day."

"Then," I asked, "do they yet stand?"

"Aye; for the Danes have drawn off, and our men bar the way here."

I told him what I had hoped from a charge of our levy; but he shook his
head and told me that, even had our men the skill to see their
advantage, the Danes had formed up again on seeing that this might be,
and had gone back in good order to their first post at Combwich.

"But our levy will not bide a second fight," he said sadly. "Already the
men are making off home, in twos and threes, saying that the Danes will
depart, and the like. Tomorrow the way here will be open, for there will
be no force left to Osric by the morning. I have seen such things before."

"Then must the Lady Alswythe fly," I said: "but where is Matelgar?"

"Struck down as he fled," said Wulfhere grimly. "I saw Osric and twenty
of his men close round him and beat back the Danes for a moment: but I
could not win to them, and so came back to you as you rallied us. That
was well done," he said again.

"I left when Osric came up. Matelgar I saw not," I said.

"Osric saw you, though," answered Wulfhere, "and, moreover, knew you.
And I heard him cry out when he saw the white horse riderless; for the
arrows were still flying, and he thought you slain, I think."

Now I wondered if Osric would be wroth with me, thinking I had fought
against his orders; but I had little time to think of myself, all my
care being for Alswythe, who had lost home and father in one day; being