the thanes from Hants and Wilts and Dorset and Somerset to meet me
on a fixed day, and so fall on them. Now we will build a fort
yonder on Stane hill that will make them wonder, and so the plan
will begin to work. For I have only told you the main lines
thereof; the rest must go as can be planned from day to day."

Then he looked steadfastly at the Selwood heights, and added:

"And if the plan fails, and the battle I look for goes against us,
there remain Heregar's places yet. Petherton, Combwich, and
Dowsborough are good places, where a king may die in a ring of
foes, looking out over the land for which his life is given."

"We shall not fail, my king," said Heregar. "Devon will gather to
you across the Quantocks also."

"Ay," he said; "and you will need them with you."

Then said I:

"Hubba is in Wales, and is likely to come here when he hears that
his fellows are gathering against us. Then will Devon be needed at
Combwich in Parret mouth, or at Watchet."

"That will be Devon's work," the king said. "If Hubba comes before
your ships are ready to meet him, he must at least be driven to
land elsewhere, or our stronghold is taken behind us."

Now I was so sure that Hubba would come, that this seemed to me to
be the weakest part of the king's plan. But Alfred thought little
of it.

"My stronghold seems to be on Quantock side; it is rather beyond
Selwood, in the hearts of my brave thanes and freemen. Fear not,
cousin. Hubba will come, and you and Heregar will meet him; and
whether you win or not, my plan holds."

Then I knew that the king saw far beyond what was plain to me, and
I was very confident in him. And I am sure that I was the only man
who had the least doubt from the beginning.

Now, after all was planned, Heregar and I rode back to his place,
and sent word everywhere that the king was safe, though he
commanded us to tell no man where he lay as yet. None but thanes
were to be in the island with him; and from that time the name we
knew it by began, as one by one the athelings crossed the fen paths
thereto, and were lost, as it were, in the hiding place.

Then we wrought there at felling timber and hewing, until we had
bridged the river and made a causeway through the peat to Stanmoor
hill, and then began to make a triple line of earthworks around its
summit. No carelessly-built fort was this, for the king said: "If
the nobles build badly, there will be excuse for every churl to do
the like hereaft