but as
Harek's heathen songs say, it is the sword's mass that I will sing
to them."

Then his eyes glowed, and he was silent, and I wondered at the
courage and resource in the slight figure that was before me.

"All goes well, and the plan is good," he went on directly. "They
look for some easily-beaten attack from this side of the Parret,
and at the first sign thereof will leave Edington height for the
level ground below, as they did when Hubba came. Then when they
turn, on Edington hill will be our levy suddenly--a levy of which
they have not dreamed. And there will be the greatest fight that
England has seen yet, and after that there will be a Saxon overlord
of England against whom none will dare rise."

"May it be so, my king," I answered.

"It will be so," he said. "Here in this cottage have I had the word
that tells me thereof; and you, Ranald, brought the sign that made
the word sure to me."

I minded it, and I knew that for all my life my ways were bound to
the service of Alfred the king; for my fate was linked with his, as
it seemed, from my first coming.

It was not long now before the day came that will never be
forgotten; for word was brought in from every quarter that thanes
and freemen and churls alike would not be behind when Alfred gave
the word, and he sent back to bid them meet him at Ecgbryht's
Stone, beyond Selwood, on Whitsunday. There is a great and strong
camp there on a rocky hill that looks out far and wide, near the
two great roads, British and Roman, that cross in the vale beneath;
and to that all were to gather, for there would the Golden Dragon
be set up. Men call it White Sheet Castle.

On the day before I rode to Odda, who had already drawn his men to
the Petherton ridge above Bridgwater, and told him what the king's
word was. Then I went on up the long side of the Quantocks, and
spoke in the Maytime woods with Thora, telling her--for she was a
warrior's daughter, and was worthy of a warrior's love--that I must
be at the king's side. And so she bade me fight bravely, speaking
many noble and loving words to me, until I must go. Then I led her
back to Osmund in his place among the rough huts within the wide
circle of the camp ramparts, that now held but a few poor folk from
the Parretside lands.

"King Alfred makes some new move," I said to him, "and it is
possible that we may not meet again. I think that what is coming
will end all the trouble between Saxon and Dane."

He shoo