was even to me an awesome sight, for in
the mists they seemed ready and waiting for the word that would never
come to their ears, resting on the spears that they could use no more.
It had been done by the marshmen in the dark hours of the morning, and
from across the stream I saw Alsi's men staring at the new force that
they thought had come to help us. There were men enough moving along our
bank with food to us to prevent them seeing that this line stirred not
at all.

There was a scald who came with us from Denmark, and now with the full
rising of the sun he took his harp and went along the stream bank
singing the song of Dunheidi fight and so sweet was his voice, and so
strong, that even Alsi's men gathered to hearken to him. His name was
Heidrek, and he has set all that he saw with Havelok into a saga; but
we, here, mostly remember the brave waking that he gave us that morning.
It was wonderful how the bright song cheered us. One saw that the
stiffened limbs shook themselves into litheness once more, and the
listless faces brightened, and into the hearts that were heavy came new
hope, and that was the song's work.

Now men began to jest with their foes across the stream, and those who
had Danish loaves threw them across in exchange for English, that they
might have somewhat to talk of. Ours were rye, and theirs of barley; but
it was not a fair change after ours had been so long a voyage.

It was not long before our war horns sounded for the mustering, and men
ran to their arms. The Lindsey host drew back from the talk with our men
at the same time, and, without waiting for word from their leaders,
began to get in line along the stream, where they had been when we
halted last night. But we had no thought of falling on them until we had
had some parley with the king or the Earl of Chester. And now it was
plain that with the grim rearguard behind us we outnumbered the men of
Alsi who were left.

Now came from the village in rear of the foe a little company, in the
midst of which was one horseman, and that was the king himself. His arm
was slung to his breast, and he sat his horse weakly, so that it was
true enough that he had been hurt. With him were the earl and Eglaf, and
the housecarls, and I sent one to fetch Havelok quickly, that there
might be no delay in the words that were to be said.

Alsi rode to the water's edge and looked out over our host, and his
white face became whiter, and his thin lips twitched