at
Cannington to Severn shore between those two. And this shall you render
in return for those rights: that you shall be ready at all times to bear
the standard of Wessex, against all comers from over seas, at my bidding."

Now that was the Dragon of Wessex of which the old witch spoke. And lo!
those things that had been foretold of me were sooth, and I knelt before
the king, and swore to bear him this service faithfully.

So the rest bore witness of that oath gladly, rejoicing in the honour,
which was in truth to them as well as to me, for I could not have gone
through aught without them, and if mine was the grip on Ealhstan's
banner shaft, theirs were the hands that had kept it there.

Then said Ethelwulf; "Choose now one who shall have charge under you of
the watchings and beacons on your shore."

And straightway I turned to Wulfhere, and begged him to do this for me,
and it was good to see the warrior's face light up with gladness as he
promised to give me his help. Doubtless that was what the king had in
store for him, for at once he gave him the manor of the Watchet thane
who had been slain, for as it chanced he had no heirs, and the land came
back to the king.

That was the end of a long morning's work, and very kindly did Ethelwulf
take his leave of us, saying that we must have these matters confirmed
when the Witan [xii] met in two days' time.

So we went out, landed men and noble, and with us went the atheling, who
took us to his own lodgings at the abbey, where he would see and speak
to our men that he might write yet more from their lips, for he said
that often it was good to hear what the common sort thought.

And my collier must needs tell him--for he was very pleasant, so that
none need fear his rank--of Grendel, and also of the saint, which
mightily pleased the atheling. So that often would he call me "Grendel"
in sport thereafter, for we grew close friends in the time we bided at
Salisbury.

And that seemed long to me, for now would I fain be back at Glastonbury
with Alswythe.

Soon Wislac, also, grew tired of the court, and said that he longed for
the deep meadows and lofty trees, and green downs along the clear river
in this June time, and must seek his own home again. But it seemed that
Alfred over-persuaded him, for reasons which he told me not, and he stayed.

We went to the great meeting of the Witan, taking our seats there when
our rights were confirmed to us. And into my hands was pu