to make of."

"What is it?" I said. "Is the war to be here once more?"

"The war is no nearer than Ashdown Heath; but it seems that the
Wessex men have found a leader."

Then he told me of the long fighting round Reading, and how at last
Halfden had cut his way through Wessex and joined forces with
Guthrum after many victories. But that then Ethelred and Alfred the
Atheling had made a great effort, winning a mighty victory on
Ashdown Heath, slaying Bagsac the king and both the Sidracs, Harald
and Osbern the jarls, Frene, and many more with them. Nine battles
had they fought that year and last.

"How hear you of this?" I said.

"There has come a messenger from Guthrum with the news, and even
now the Danes march in all haste from the towns to fill up the gaps
in the ranks of the host, and he says that ships must go back to
Jutland to Ingvar for more men from overseas."

Now this news was nothing to us East Anglians for the most part,
and to me it was but a turn of the fight between Dane and Saxon for
the overlordship of all England. That was not a matter to be
settled by one or two victories on either side, nor might one see
how it would end. Yet I was glad, for of all things I feared that
Ingvar might be our master in the end, and this seemed to say that
it was none so certain.

More men came in after that, hastening the going to the front of
those who would, for not all the Danes among us would stir from
their new homes, saying that they had done their part, and knowing
that what they left others might take.

And in ten days' time Cyneward came to me saying that there were
two longships coming in from the open sea.

"Let the pilots go out to them," I said; for it was of no use
withholding this help from the Danish ships, little as we liked to
see them come. So I forgot the matter.

Then again Cyneward ran to me in haste, and with his eyes shining.

"Master, here is Halfden's ship. Come and see!"

Gladly I went out then, and when I saw those two ships my heart
leapt up with joy, for it was indeed my own ship that was leading,
and I thought that Halfden would be in her.

So soon as she was in the river she made for our wharf, and that
was not the wont of the Danes, who mostly went on past us up the
river to where the great towns were. And at once when she was
alongside I went on board, and at sight of me half her crew came
crowding round me, shouting and shaking my hand; for they were our
old crew, the