re, for
till more came with the host there were none like him in our land.
I told him that it was but my own dog; yet for all that, I know
that this tale of a wolf passed for the truth over all the land as
it flew from mouth to mouth, so that soon I myself heard from one
who knew me not very strange stories of that finding of ours.

Yet would that tale hardly be stranger than was the truth, that not
one of the wild creatures, either beast or bird, had harmed our
king's sacred head. And how it should be so preserved in that place
I cannot tell, but I say what I saw. Yet his body was not so
preserved in the place where we had hidden it.

These things are beyond me, nor can I tell all the thoughts that
came into my mind as I looked into the face of the king whom I had
loved, and who loved me.

Now would we take our treasure, as we must needs think it, to
Hoxne, and the monks were about to lift it again. But Raud came
forward very solemnly, begging that he might be allowed to bear it,
"Because he would make what amends he might."

And I signed to the monks to suffer him to do so, and he took it.
None else but I knew what part he had had with the other Danes in
this matter, and the monks did but think him grieving for what his
comrades had done.

So he bore it to Hoxne village, and we passed the place where the
church had been. There, amid the blackened ruins of the walls and
roof, stood the font of stone, fire reddened and chipped, yet with
the cross graven on its eastward face plain to be seen. And to that
place Raud led us, none staying him, yet all wondering.

When he came there he strode over the burnt timber until he came to
the font, and there, under the graven cross, he set down his burden
very gently, and stood up, looking in my face, and saying:

"Here will I leave the worship of Odin and cleave to that faith for
which Eadmund the King died, and for which you, Wulfric, were
willing to die both in Jutland and here by Eadmund's side. Will any
forbid me?"

Then I knew that the man was in such earnest, that none, save he
perilled his own soul, might hold him back, and I took his hand and
spoke to the elder monk, saying:

"I will answer for this man, father, as to his will. If he knows
enough of our faith, I pray you baptize him straightway."

There was rain water in the font, sparkling and clear, and without
any delay or doubt the good man came forward and stood thereby,
while I yet held Raud's hand as hi