ther
made a prisoner by Redwald, the captain of King Edwy's hus-carles, who
holds our house, and has driven us all out."

"Your father murdered! Your family expelled! Your brother a prisoner!
These are strange news."

"Why this delay!" cried another speaker, riding up from behind. "The
king is impatient to get on. Ride faster."

"The king!" cried Alfred. "Oh, lead me to him."

"Who is this," demanded the second officer, "who demands speech of the
royal Edgar?"

"Alfred of Aescendune. He tells us that the infamous Redwald holds the
fortified house there, has murdered the thane Ella, and expelled the
family, save the brother, whom he holds to ransom."

"No, not to ransom," cried Alfred. "It is his life that is threatened.
Oh, take me to Edgar!"

"He is close behind, in company with the Ealdorman of Mercia and Siward
of Northumbria."

"Stay behind with him, Biorn, and let us continue our route. You may
introduce him to the king, if he will see him."

The first party--the advance guard--now passed on, and was succeeded
almost immediately by the main body, foremost amongst whom rode Prince
or rather King Edgar, then only a youth of fifteen years of age. We last
beheld him a boy of twelve, at the date of Elfric's arrival at the court
of Edred. By his side rode Siward, Ealdorman of Northumbria.

"Who is this?" cried the latter, as he saw Alfred and his attendant
waiting to receive him.

"Alfred of Aescendune, with a petition for aid against Redwald, who has
seized his father's castle."

"Alfred of Aescendune!" cried Edgar. "Halt, my friends, one moment.
Alfred of Aescendune, tell me your story; to me, Edgar, your king."

Alfred hastened to pour his tale of sorrows into an ear evidently not
unsympathising, and when he had concluded Edgar asked--"And tell me
what is your request. It shall be granted even to the uttermost."

"Only that you, my lord, would hasten to our aid and deliver my brother
for his poor widowed mother's sake."

"We should send a troop against Redwald in any case, but even had our
plans been otherwise, know this, Alfred of Aescendune, that he who by
his devoted service saved the life, or at least the liberty, of Dunstan,
the light of our realm of England, and the favourite of heaven, has a
claim to ask any favour Edgar can grant.

"Siward, my father, bid the advanced guard bend its course towards
Aescendune at once."

"My lord, the men are too weary to travel all night. We had purposed