emed that this was expected, for when he heard it, Alfred bade
that they should be brought in.

There were six of them in all, and they were in handsome dresses,
but without mail, though not unarmed. The leader of them was Jarl
Osmund, whom I had seen for a moment in Wareham street. I thought
that his handsome face was careworn, as though peace would be
welcome to him. But he and all his comrades carried themselves
bravely.

Now there was long converse between the king and these chiefs, and
it seemed that peace would be made.

Yet Alfred's face was hard as he spoke to them--not like the bright
looks with which he had jested with us just now, or the earnest
kingly regard which had gone with his words of thanks.

Presently the Danes said that the whole force would retire into
Mercia beyond Thames, harming none by the way, and keeping peace
thereafter, if the conditions were honourable.

Then the king flashed out into scorn:

"What honour is to be looked for by oath breakers?"

"We are not oath breakers, King Alfred," Osmund said, looking him
in the face.

"Once did the Danes swear to me on their holy ring, which seems to
me to be their greatest oath, and they broke the peace so made.
What is that but that they are forsworn?"

"We swore nought to you, lord king," Osmund said. "Half of the men
with us came newly from across the sea but a week or so since.
Guthrum and those who swore are in their own land."

Then the king glanced at me, suddenly, as it would seem,
remembering what I had told him of the freedom of the chiefs.

"Ha! now I mind me of a word spoken in time," he said. "It has
seemed to me that there was oath breaking; maybe I was wrong. I
will take your words that you have not done so. Is that amends
enough?"

"It is well said, lord king," Osmund answered gravely.

"But," Alfred went on, "I must have the word of every chief who is
in Exeter, and they must speak for every man. Tell me in all truth
if there are those who would not make peace with me?"

Then said Osmund:

"Some will not, but they are few."

"What if you make peace and they do not? what shall you do with
them?"

"They must go their own way; we have no power over them."

"Has not Guthrum?"

"No more than we. A free Dane cannot be hound, unless he chooses,
by another man's word."

Then Alfred said plainly:

"I cannot treat for peace till I have the word of every chief in
Exeter. Go your ways and let that be known."

So O