seemed likely that here in turn would Wessex stand her ground.

It is a great square-sided patch of rolling, forest-covered
country, maybe twelve miles long from north to south, and half as
much across. None can enter it from the north, because there is the
sea, and a wild coast that is not safe for a landing; on the west
the great, steep, fort-crested Quantock Hills keep the border; on
the eastern side is the river Parret, and on the north the Tone,
which joins it. Except at Bridgwater, at the eastern inland corner,
and Taunton, at the western--one at the head of the tidal waters of
the Parret, and the other guarding the place where the Quantocks
end--there is no crossing the great and wide-stretching fens of
Sedgemoor and Stanmoor and the rest that lie on either bank of the
rivers. Paths there are that the fenmen know, winding through mere
and peat bog and swamp, but no host can win through them; and
perhaps those marches are safer borders than even the sea.

If one came from the sea, one must land at Watchet, and then win a
path across the Quantocks, and there is the ancient camp of
Dowsborough to block the way; or else put into the Parret, and
there, at the first landing place, where they say that Joseph of
Arimathaea landed, bearing the holy thorn staff in his hand, is the
strong hill fort of Combwich, old as the days of that Joseph, or
maybe older.

So with walled towns and hill forts the corners of Heregar's land
were kept; and with sea and marsh and hill the sides were strong,
and we thought to find Alfred the king here before us. But he was
not; and next day we rode on to Taunton to seek him there, for that
was the strongest fortress in that part of the west. And again he
was not to be heard of. Then fear for his life began to creep into
our minds, and we came back to Cannington sorely downcast.

Then Heregar spoke to me very kindly of what he thought I could
best do, and it was nothing more or less than that I should leave
this land, which seemed to have no hope of honour for me now.

"Go rather to Rolf, your countryman," he said. "There is great talk
of his doings in Neustria {xii} beyond the Channel. It is your
kindness only that holds you here, King Ranald, and there wait
glory and wealth for you and your men."

So he urged me for a little while, not giving me time to answer him
as I would; but when I said nothing he stayed his words, and then I
spoke plainly, and it was good to see his face light u