Edmund, the King

ve a great shout of glee, and threw themselves into the shallow wat

ero. Yet the fight was with the Danes; and when the evening came the conquered Saxons broke and fl

er, and each was jealous of his neighbor; so that they were like a bundle of sticks when the binding is broken, and each fell away from the rest. But

The young and the old they slew, and the fair maiden, and the old wife; and they took the tender babes and beat out their bra

e old gods of the North as nithings fit only for death, and despised them for the Lord they worshipped, and for the priests they obeyed; and they had sworn that they would sw

e done it but for one man, who was strong enough and patient enough to re

ner that night, and deep they drank and well they feasted; yet the

the distance, through the night air, and above the sound of the sea, there came the ringing of a deep-voiced bell and

is that which they sing to their God, that He may give them the victory on the morrow. By Thor,

ade," Wulnoth answered; "though they we

now let us sleep, for there will be work to do

th. "For I have no mind for sle

p and was soon asleep, while Wulnoth sat listening to the distant song, and won

hought that surely Wyborga the Wise had been wrong, for how could this Lord, Wh

voice spoke, and it was the voice of Edgiva crying to him to awake; and he opened his eyes

up. But then like a flash Wulnoth cast his spear and smote th

soldiers, and looked to see who this might be; and l

d I, by wearing thy cloak, came nigh to getting it in my ribs

prepared for battle; and the great ships, with their crews, sto

Go forward we must; and if we

d said that Wiglaf was ever good at paying his debts, and that he was a

sent by Edmund, the King of East Anglia, to demand why strangers came to hi

now either give hostages that you will dwell

ghed the viking chiefs

to us. And tell him to pull down his churches, and to scourge his priests away and to worship Thor; or, by Odin and h

ubba spake

e should be struck off and put in a sack. Then he cut off the ears of the last one and bade him go back and give the head

ngs all around, he cast the shame in Hubba's teeth, and he said that neither the King nor

; and the brave messenger was scourge

hat this was a shame deed to slay messengers who did but their duty; and he could not but think

land; and on the next day they saw the army of the East Sax

hite Christ. Let Him fight for

riests passed along their ranks they bowed t

e sword sang, and the shield received the blow, and fierce the fight raged; but still the Danes were victorious, and drove the forces of the Saxons back, so that they were scattered like the leaves

rd did they press him that, at last, he sprang from his horse and sped down the bank of

y; and as they crossed the bridge, seeking to escape from the Danes who were everywhere, they espied the moonlight shining on th

ey were seized and brought before Hungwar who questioned them, whether they had seen the King; and the man, to save his life and

id a curse on the bridge, and said that whoever crossed it t

for Hungwar ordered both him and his wife to be slai

hough he was a king; and he was placed in the holdas' hall, where the chief jarls and the kings gathered; and

; and he looked upon the face of the King standing there

Wulnoth remembered so well; and his mien was lofty and calm, and his manner

the King looked up and smiled, and his smile was one

id, "and He alone is God"; and at that Hung

conditions. First, thou shalt strip all thine altars and cast them down, and give the gold to me; and if thou do it not, then be sure that I shall. Then shalt thou do homage to me here in

's altar; and be thou sure that though He holds me unworthy to guard His house, He will find a champion to do so. I will not

hat god a man calls on so long as he saves his life?" Yet, for all

ough he was a king, they beat him and scourged him with whips till the flesh was torn and the blood flowed; and then they asked him whether he wou

he said, "and I will be scourged for

and these Danes are but as ravening beasts, while this is a man indeed."

ey twisted his chains and placed sticks beneath the links, until the flesh was all bruised and t

Wahrmund; "for why else would he bea

ot let them triumph over him; while, as for these holdas who st

n," said Wahrmund significantly, "or we may have

d Hungwar darkly when again he knew that King Edmun

in shall make m

un, who liked not this sport. "A word

I will ne

vikings took their bows and their casting spears and made him their target; and the task was to wound the K

body was so cut and marred that it could not be seen for wounds and blood

pity, and with disgust that a brave man should be so treated; and when th

nd for thee. I will stand and cast my spear, and I will take c

s head, and opened his

ient. My Lord was smitten with a spear for me, and I will suffer the spear for His glory; He Who is stronger than the st

no more a king, and who was now nigh to death, had something which he possessed not, something which made him grand and

giveth peace and joy for sorrow and labor, an

little cross hung. And the King asked him to lift it to his lips that

idroc, and Frena, and many jarls, and he stood before the King and asked

d his eyes again,

rne in silence. Now make an end and trouble me no more, for, had I fifty lives, and each could take a lifetime in dy

his fist in the calm face, and he ordered his

hat this was a shame deed which was being done in their midst, while Guthrun said openly that though he loved to slay a man in fair fig

his force divided and quarrelling as did the Saxons, and so he g

hey told him, and K

is to li

ad, and so sleep came for

the men of East Anglia, and pu