e a broad axe, wedge beaten and gold inlaid. There was
not much to choose between his shield and Odda's, but I thought the
spear the weaker weapon.

"Axe against spear," said Harek; "here is somewhat of which to
sing."

Once Odda feinted, lunging at Hubba's face; and the Dane raised his
shield a little, but did not move else, nor did his eyelids so much
as flinch, and his steady look never left his foe's face. Then, as
Odda recovered, the great axe flashed suddenly, and fell harmless
as its mark sprang back from its sweep; while like light the spear
point went forward over the fallen axe, that recovered too slowly
to turn it, and rang true on the round shield that met it.

I had not thought much of spear play until now, for we think little
of the weapon.

Again the Saxon lunged, and Hubba hewed at the spear shaft,
splintering it a little as the quick-eyed spearman swung it away
from the blow. Then the butt was over Odda's left shoulder, and
before one could tell that its swing aside had ended, forward flew
the point, darting from left to right over Hubba's arm that had not
yet recovered from the lost axe blow, and behind the shield's rim.
That blow went home, and the mighty Dane reeled and fell.

One moment's silence, and then a howl from the Danes who watched,
and they flew on us, bearing us back a pace or two. Odda went down
under the rush that was made on him, and I called to my comrades,
and stood over him, and beat them back. But Hubba's fall was the
end.

Even as I stood there, there came a rash of men from our ranks past
me; and I cheered, for I saw Heregar's silver mail driving straight
for the Raven standard, at the head of the young thanes who were
the shield wall of the Dragon of Wessex. Then, too, closed in the
wounded men and the country folk; and the Danes broke and fled
towards the ships in disorder. We followed for a little way, and
then the thralls ended matters. They say that not one Dane reached
the river's bank, beyond which their comrades watched and raged,
powerless to help them.

I went back to where Odda had fallen, and at that time there rose a
thundering cheer of victory from our wearied line, and helms were
cast into the air, and weapons waved in wild joy. That roused one
who lay before me, and white and shaking, up rose Odda from among
the slain. I went to him, and got my arm round him; and again the
men cheered, and little by little the colour came back to his face.

"I thought y