and draw you out. But I say, Father Swythe,
you're big and strong. Don't you think if you were to try, you could
get out on to the grass? Try and struggle out before they come back."

"But if I began to sink--"

"Then I should run and shout to the shepherds to come and pull you out."

"But I shouldn't like you to leave me to sink alone, my boy."

"It would be a long, long time before you were regularly mired," said
the boy. "Now, you try! Give me both hands."

Father Swythe did as he was told, and, while his young companion threw
himself back and dragged, the monk kicked and struggled bravely, and
with such good effect that, to the surprise of both, he glided slowly
through the reeds, and in less than a minute he sat up panting on the
short grass, with the water streaming from the front of his gown.

"That was very brave and nice of you, my boy," he said, as he rose to
his feet, "and I shall never forget it."

"Oh, it was easy enough!" said Fred, laughing. "There, let's go over
the hill, and when the boys come back they'll begin poking the pole
about down among the reeds, and think we're both smothered. No: here
they come. Look, they're bringing the pole."

Surely enough they were; but the monk did not stop. He began trudging
up hill through the hot sunshine so as to get back to take off his wet
cassock and put on an old one that was dry, Fred choosing to stay with
him and to talk about the bees and birds and flowers they passed, of
which the monk could talk in an interesting way, even though it was a
thousand years ago.

As for the three others, they threw down the pole as soon as they saw
that the monk was safe, and then followed at a distance to the big
castle-like house--the palace in which the King dwelt; but there was
very little reading that afternoon; for there was too much to say about
the fresh attack made by the Danes, who had come up the river and
landed, to ravage the country. Ethelwulf, who was not a very warlike
King, was very anxious as to the result of the fight, and was busy
getting more men together by means of his jarls or chiefs, so as to go
to the help of those who had already set out.

In fact, instead of studying Latin and learning to write, the boys stood
about learning something of the art of war, and what was to be done to
defend their country when an invading enemy was ravaging the land.

CHAPTER THREE.

FRED IS LEFT BEHIND.

Time went on, and King Ethelwulf gath