rships the old gods--the Asir."

"Certainly I do that--ill enough."

"Then," said Alfred, while Odda shifted in his seat, seeming
anxious as to how I should take this, "it is our rule that before a
heathen man can serve with us, he shall at least be ready to learn
our faith, and also must be signed with the cross, in token that he
hates it not {viii}."

"Why should I not learn of your faith?" I said. "Neot asked me of
mine. As for the other, I do not know rightly what it means. I see
your people sign themselves crosswise, and I cannot tell why,
unless it is as we hallow a feast by signing it with Thor's
hammer."

"It is more than that," Alfred said, motioning to Sigehelm to say
nothing, for he was going to speak. "First you must know what it
means, and then say if you will be signed therewith."

Then he said to Sigehelm:

"Here is one who will listen to good words, not already set against
them, as some Danes are, by reason of ill report and the lives of
bad Christians. Have no fear of telling him what you will."

Now, if I were to serve King Alfred, it seemed to me to be only
reasonable that I should know the beliefs of those with whom I had
to do. Then I minded me of Neot, and his way of asking about my
gods, as if the belief of every man was of interest to him.

"Here is a deep matter to be talked of, King Alfred," I said. "It
does not do to speak lightly and carelessly of such things. Nor am
I more than your guest as yet, willing to hear what you would have
me know. When winter has gone, and you know if I shall be any good
to you, then will be question if I enter your service altogether,
and by that time I shall know enough. Maybe I shall see Neot again;
he and I began to speak of these things."

Then Sigehelm said:

"I think this is right, and Neot can tell you more in a few words
than I in many. Yet whatever you ask me I will try to tell you."

"I want to speak with Neot," answered the king, "and we will ride
together and seek him when peace is made. I have many things to say
to him and ask him. We will go as soon as it is safe."

So ended my talk with King Alfred at that time, and I was well
content therewith. So also were my men, for it was certain that
every one of them would find some place of command, were it but
over a watch, when Alfred's new sea levies were to be trained.

Many noble Saxons I met in the week before peace was made with the
Danes in Exeter, for all the best were gathered ther