h step that we
took forward.

Now it was sheer hewing at the mass who crowded on us; and I mind how we
seemed to fight in silence, although the battle cries were unceasing,
and waxed ever louder; for it was as when one walks by the shore and
thinks not at all of the noise of breakers that never ends. Now and then
there was one shout that was new, and it seemed to be the only voice.
Most of all, the noise grew on the wings where the savage Welsh fell on
their masters and ancient foes in wild tumult.

We tried to cut our way to Alsi, for we could see him as he sat on his
horse--the only mounted man in all the hosts; but we could not reach
him. And presently the time came when we who were foremost must let
fresh men take our places. Sigurd stepped to my side, and Withelm fell
back, and another took the place of Arngeir, and then my turn came, and
we went slowly from the front to where the hollow centre of the wedge
gave us rest. Only a few arrows fell there now and then; but the time
for using bows was past, seeing that we were hand to hand with all the
Lindsey host. And then I saw that Sigurd had done what we had failed in,
for he had reached the shield wall that was round the king himself. And
for a moment I was savage that the chance came to him so soon after I
had left the fighting line; but then I minded that Eglaf, my friend,
would be there, and I was glad that I need not cross swords with him
after all. I had thought of that happening before the fight began, but
in the turmoil of hottest struggle I had forgotten it.

Now Sigurd was before the thick mass of the housecarls, and hand to hand
with them; and then he was among them, and he leapt at the bridle of
Alsi's horse and grasped it. I saw the king's sword flash down on his
helm, and he reeled under the stroke, but without letting go of the
rein. Then the housecarls made a rush, and bore back our men, and the
horse reared suddenly. There was a wild shout, and the war saddle was
empty; and again our men surged forward, so that I could not see what
had happened.

But now our Welshmen had been beaten back from the wings--not easily,
but for want of training--and they were forced back across the brook,
and there held our bank well, giving way no step further. The water kept
them in an even front, against their will, as it were; and Alsi's men
charged them in vain, knee deep in the stream that ran red. But that let
loose the men who had been held back from us; and n