e
we should wait till the next night, unless word should come beforehand.

So we went to sleep. And as I slept in my place, with the standard
flapping above me, and my comrades on either side and behind, it seemed
to me that one came and waked me. And when I sat up and looked, thinking
it was a messenger from the bishop, I saw that it was Matelgar.

Now this time I had no fear of him, and I waited for him to speak, just
as though he had been before me in the flesh, for there seemed naught
uncanny about the matter to me. And yet even at the moment that seemed
strange, though it was so.

But for a while he looked not at me, but out over the low lands towards
Parret mouth and Stert, shading his eyes with his hand as though it were
broad noonday. And then he turned back to me and spoke.

"Heregar; I promised to stand by you again when the time came. Now I bid
you go to Combwich hill, there to wait what betides. So, if you will do
the bidding of the dead who has wronged you, but would now make amends,
shall you thank me for this hereafter--aye, and not you only."

Then out over Parret he gazed again and faded from beside me, so that I
could ask him nothing. Then knew I that I was awake, and that this had
been no dream; for a great fear came on me for a little, knowing what I
had seen to be not of this world. Yet all around me my comrades slept,
and only round the rim of the trenched hill went the wakeful sentries,
too far for speech--for we leaders were in the centre of the camp.

But presently I began to think less of the vision, and more of the
words. And at first they seemed vain, for Combwich hill was over near to
Stert; nor did I see how I could reach the place without cutting through
the Danes (who would doubtless leave a strong guard with the ships, and
were also in and about Bridgwater), seeing that the river must be crossed.

Then as I turned over the matter, not doubting but that a message so
given was sooth, and by no means lightly to be disregarded, I seemed to
wake to a resolve concerning the meaning of the whole thing. What if I
could win there under cover of darkness, and so fall on the Danish host
as Eanulf drove them back and the bishop and Osric chased them to the
ships?

That seemed possible, if only I could cross Parret with men enough, and
unseen. I would ask Wulfhere and Wislac, when morning came, and so, if
they could help, lay the matter before the bishop himself. So thinking I
fell asleep aga