look of that mother who spoke
with me in the garden at Thetford, and I had a mind to stay and see
this thing to an end, for it was all that I might do. Maybe I could
find the body of her son and see it brought back to her.

"I bide here," I said; and Selred stepped to my side without a
word.

"I also," said Sighard; "I have words to say yet before I die."

They tried to persuade us, but in vain, and at last they left the
matter. In silence they went each to his place, and took the arms
and things which were of value, and so passed down the passage with
Witred at their head, and I heard one or two threaten the honest
thane with death if he played them false. But he did not answer
them, for he knew that they spoke wildly as yet in the new terror
which had broken their sleep.

After that we went back to the council chamber and sat down. The
worst strain was past with their going, as it seemed to me, and the
morning would tell what was to be.

"We will stay here," said Selred. "There should be three thanes and
myself, and you two and Erling will seem the right number when men
look into this room presently."

So again the silence of the midnight came down on us, and in the
chill we waited for the return of Witred; and it was two hours
before he came. After him we closed the trapdoor, and the doors of
the private rooms of the king who had gone, and then the Mercian
planned that matter of the horses.

"Halfway to the forest," he told us, "some of the thanes would fain
have returned to fall on this place, and take revenge and die. Once
I deemed that they would do so, but that fit passed from them. Then
they went on with me, and now they are safe. It may be that they
will get their horses, and if not, they will scatter and make their
way home on foot. Men who come to such a gathering as this have
money enough with them."

After that it was a question with us, and a hard one, to know what
it were best to do. It seemed terrible to wait there until men woke
and learned all; but save that we might find Offa himself, there
was naught else to be done. We must wait him. It is not to be
supposed that his thanes would hear one word which seemed to hint
that he had had any hand in this deed; but it was plain enough that
they feared what evil Quendritha might not have urged him to, else
had they made haste to call him.

Now, while we waited there and doubted, word came from Gymbert
secretly to Quendritha that her bidding had