ch."

Then I was silent, for I was ashamed of those gains, and I did not
look into the bag, but bestowed it inside my mail shirt, for I
would not offend him. Then, when I was armed and ready, he gave me
many messages for his father, and thanks to mine. A ring, too, he
gave me for a sure token of his friendship to me; and so as the
ship crept, under oars only, up Bosham haven, we talked of the
hunting we would have together, when the leaves were fallen in our
forests; and that was pleasant to look forward to.

Now began frightened men to run to and fro on the haven's banks,
and then suddenly came the ringing of a bell from the low tower of
the church, and the Danes began to look to their arms, stringing
bows, and bringing up the pebble ballast for sling stones, in case
the landing should be resisted.

But when we came to a little wharf, the other ship being perhaps a
mile astern of us, there was no man. Only a small fishing vessel
lay alongside, and that we cast adrift, taking its place.

Then Halfden and I and twenty men went quickly ashore and marched
up among the trees of the village street. There was no man in
sight, but the bell was still ringing.

A great fear for the holy men shut up in the little monastery came
over me now, and I asked Halfden to let me warn them, for I knew
that he was like his father and would not deny me in this.

"Go and do so if you can," he said, "and so farewell till we meet
at Reedham. We shall bide here till Rorik's men join us, and you
will have time."

So he took my hand and I went quickly thereafter, the men calling
after me "Farewell, axeman!" heartily enough, knowing of my going
to Reedham, and caring nothing for the monks, seeing that there
would be no fighting.

Now, guided by the bell, I went on quickly, seeing no man. The
houses stood open and deserted, and all along the road were
scattered goods, showing that the people had fled in haste, so that
they had soon cast aside the heavier things they had thought to
save.

Soon I came to the gate of the little stone-walled monastery, over
which rose the tower whence the bell yet rang; for the church
seemed to make one side of the courtyard into which the gate would
lead. A farm cart stood outside; but the gates were closed, and
when I looked, I saw that the pin of the wheel was broken, so that
the cart could go no further. And that made me fear that more than
the monks were penned inside those four walls.

I knocked lou