e, and so rode on
the way to Combwich, thinking to see the sails of the ships in
Bridgwater Bay. But a shift of wind had come, and they were yet
over on the Welsh coast, waiting for the tide to enable them to
come down on us.

By that time a fire burned on the highest spur of the Quantocks to
tell us that Odda was there, and at once another was lit on the
Combwich fort to bring him to us, for it seemed certain that here
we must fight the first battle of Alfred's great struggle.

"Here you must meet this newcomer and drive him away, if it can be
done, or if not, hinder him from coming further; or if that is
impossible, do your best. I would have you remember that defeat
here is not loss of all hope, for beyond Selwood lies our real
gathering. But victory, even if dearly bought, will almost win the
day for us."

So Alfred said, and we, who began to see what his great plan was,
were cheered.

In the evening Odda came with eight hundred men of Devon. Alfred
had two hundred maybe, and my few men and the townsfolk made
another two hundred. But Hubba had twenty-three longships, whose
crews, if up to fighting strength, would not be less than a hundred
in each.

So we watched till the tide fell, when he could not come into the
Parret, and then I went back to Heregar's hall. It seemed very
bare, for all goods had been sent up to the great refuge camp of
Dowsborough, to which all day long the poor folk had been flying,
driving with them their sheep and cattle and swine, that they might
save what they could. But with Odda had come his daughter, the Lady
Etheldreda, who would not leave him; and she and the Lady Alswythe
and Thora were yet in the house, and Osmund the jarl sat in the
hall, listless and anxious of face. It was an ill time for him; but
there were none of us who did not like him well, and feel for him
in his helplessness.

"What news?" he said, when he saw me come into the hall.

"Hubba will be here on the next tide--with early morning," I said.

He sighed, and rising up went to the doorway and looked out to the
hills.

"I would that I could make these two noble ladies seek refuge
yonder," he said; "but one will not leave her father, nor the other
her husband."

Then I said:

"At least I think you should take Thora there. This is a difficult
place for you."

"I know Hubba," he said, "and if I abide here I may be of use. I
need not tell you that you are fighting the best warrior of our
time, and that