e,--began the attack and won the day.

Tradition declares that after the victory he ordered his army to
commemorate their triumph by carving that colossal figure of a horse
on the side of a neighboring chalk hill, which still remains so
conspicuous an object in the landscape. It was shortly after this
that Alfred became "King of the West Saxons"; but the war, far from
being ended, had in fact but just begun.

55. The Danes compel Alfred to retreat.

The Danes, reenforced by other invaders, overcame Alfred's forces and
compelled him to retreat. He fled to the wilds of Somersetshite, and
was glad to take up his abode for a time, so the story runs, in a
peasant's hut. Subsequently he succeeded in rallying part of his
people, and built a stronghold on a piece of rising ground, in the
midst of an almost impassable morass. There he remained during the
winter.

56. Alfred's Great Victory; Treaty of Wedmore, 878.

In the spring Alfred marched forth and again attacked the Danes. They
were intrenched in a camp at Edington, Wiltshire. He surrounded them,
and starved them into complete submission. They had to confess that
Alfred's muscular Christians were more than a match for the most
stalwart heathen. The Danish leader swore to maintain a peace, called
the Peace or Treaty of Wedmore. (See maps facing p. 32 and p. 38.)
More than this, the discomfited warrior sealed the oath with his
baptism,--an admission that Alfred had not only beaten him but
converted him as well.

By the Treaty of Wedmore, 878, the Danes bound themselves to remain
north and east of a line drawn from London to Chester, following the
old Roman road called Watling Street. All south of this line,
including a district around London, was recognized as the dominions of
Alfred, whose chief city, or capital, was Winchester. (See map facing
p. 32.)

By this treaty the Danes got much the larger part of England (called
the Danelaw), but they acknowledged Alfred as their Overlord. He thus
became, in name at least, what his predecessor, Egbert (S49), had
claimed to be,--supreme ruler of the whole country, though the highest
title he ever assumed was "King of the Saxons or English."

57. Alfred's Laws; his Translations.

Alfred proved himself to be more than mere ruler, for he was also a
lawgiver and teacher as well. Through his efforts a written code was
compiled, prefaced by the Ten Commandments and ending with the Golden
Rule. Referring to this