hief places to the men who had kept the
standard and broken the Danish ring.

When the feasting was done, then came the telling of great deeds over
the ale cup, and that lasted long, and many were the brave men praised;
nor were the deeds of the vikings, as brave foes, forgotten, for men
praised them also. Moreover, the gleemen sang of the fight, and in those
songs my name came so often, as needs it must, seeing that I bore the
standard, that I will not set them down. Nor is there need, for the
housecarles sing them even yet.

Now before we went to rest, Eanulf bade me wait on him early in the
morning, and so, being refreshed by a long, quiet night, I went to him
as he had bidden me.

There he thanked me as man to man for that crossing of Parret, and for
staying the going of the Danes, saying that a greater man than he should
add to the thanks. For needs must that one took word of all that had
befallen to Ethelwulf the King, and that to be such a messenger was most
honourable. Therefore should I myself bear the news, taking with me my
two friends and such men as I chose, and should bear, written down, the
reports of both Osric and Ealhstan, besides his own.

"Else," said he, "there are perhaps some to whom credit is due whose
names may pass unmentioned."

And thanking him, I said that that was likely, for I knew few in the
levy, which came from far and wide.

Whereat he laughed, saying that I was either very modest or very simple.
So I knew that he spoke of myself, and thanked him again.

"Nay," he said, "small thanks to me, for if I did you not justice the
men would."

Then all of a sudden he asked me about the business of my trial, and
what I thought of it, bidding me tell him as a friend, thinking naught
of the judge.

And that I was able to do now without passion, so far off and small a
thing it seemed after all these stirring doings. And I knew that but for
it I had been only a foolish thane, and slain maybe over my feasting in
my own hall, or on Combwich hill, with my back to the foe, beside Matelgar.

Now when I had ended my tale and my thoughts concerning it, he told me
that he had found out much of late, as he and the thanes spoke together
here while waiting for the levy, and that word should go to the king of
the whole matter, so that without waiting for the Moot, he should inlaw
me again.

Then I knew not enough to say; but he clapped me on the shoulder, saying
that he had been an unjust judge f