tide, and called for some Essex men who knew the
place, and one came and told me that in two hours' time we might
cross at a ford higher up, which they name Hull bridge, though
there is no bridge there. And when he heard that, at once our king
set his men in order and cheered them with fresh hopes, and we
started to march thither.

And at the same time Cnut's ships began to move, and from Burnham
and from this shore his men were coming up on the tide towards the
very place where we would cross, and before the ford could be
passed by us we knew that they would be there in force.

"So," said Eadmund quietly, "they are before us. We will even go
back to the hill."

We went back, and then I think that we knew the worst. We were
hemmed in upon it, for the half of the Danish force that had
remained were barring our way inland, while from the river every
other man of the Danish host was coming up to attack us from that
side.

"Now it would seem that some of us will stay on this hill for
good," said Eadmund; "but if we must lie here till the last day it
is a place whence one can look out over the English land and sea
and river for which we have died."

And so he drew us up in the ring again there on the hilltop, which
was wide enough, and we sat down and waited for the coming of the
Danes.

"Lord king," I said, "let us make a wedge and cut through the Danes
inland. So shall we win back to the open country, and we can gather
men afresh."

He smiled wearily at me, and it seemed to me that at last he had
given up hope. And but for Streone's treachery that thing would
never have been. It had broken our king's spirit.

"Friend," he said, "I will die here if I can."

"That shall not be while there is one to give his life for you," I
answered, and the thanes around us murmured "Aye!" in that stern
voice that means more than aught of clamour.

Then I saw some Wessex thanes speaking earnestly to one another,
and presently they beckoned to me, and while Eadmund sat silent on
his horse I went to them to hear what they would.

"We will get the king off this field if we can," they said. "We
cannot lose him. If chance is, we will take him against his will.
Hinder us not."

"That is well," said I. "I will help you, for he is the hope of
England."

Maybe Ashingdon hilltop is full fifty acres in the more level
summit, and we could not guard it all; so we waited on that edge
nearest the Danes, the half circle that faces inla