he bishop said to me, very quietly, but with a look in his eyes
which seemed to show that this was what he longed for:

"Heregar, my son, go and tell the thanes what the abbot says, and ask if
they will go without me."

All the thanes were waiting to hear the bishop's answer to our request,
and I told them this, and they knew at once what answer to give, for
they said, or Osric said for them, while all applauded:

"We will not go against these heathens unless the bishop leads us. Else
must Somerset fight her own battles."

So with that word I went back to the bishop, and told him.

"So, Tatwine, my brother, you see how it is. Needs must that I go, else
were it shame to us that heathen men should have freedom in a Christian
land."

But Tatwine groaned, and, maybe knowing the bishop well, said no more.

Then Ealhstan bade him remember all the saints who had warred against
the heathen, and were held blameless--nay, rather, the holier.

"Therefore," said he, "I am in good company, and will surely go."

Whereupon Tatwine rose up and went out, saying that he should go to the
abbey and seek protection for the bishop, and men say he bided there
almost night and day, praying until all was past. Certainly I saw him no
more in his accustomed places, save at mass.

When he had gone the bishop smiled a little, looking after him, and then
spoke to us.

"I may tell my council that this is what I should love. Nevertheless, it
will not be I who lead, but you three. For the counsel must be
Wulfhere's, and the coolness Wislac's, and the rest Heregar's, who will
by no means bide that we run away. Now, I think that you three will make
a good leader of me."

On that we thanked him for his words, and we followed him out to the
hall. And there the thanes shouted and cheered as he came, and still
more when he prayed them to follow him to victory or a warrior's death.
And that they swore to do, not loudly, but in such sort that none could
mistake that they would surely do so.

Then he bade them muster their men by the first light in the morning,
and so he would lead them first of all to Brent, to join the ealdorman.
And Osric should be his second in command.

That pleased all, and soon we were left alone with him again, but we
could hear outside the cheering of men now and then, as some thane
gathered his following and told them the name of their leader.

So we three went out presently and saw to our horses, and then I was
wond