d grew
round the sunken hull, making the channel impassable altogether for
the time, and so the last way of escape for Guthrum and his men was
barred.

So I thought we had done well, and left Thord and my men to guard
the ship and take her back to Combwich, where she would lie safely
in the creek, while I rode to Alfred, almost sleeping on my wearied
horse as I went.

There were two wrecks in that place in the morning; for they
brought down one of Hubba's ships in the dark on the next tide, and
she ran on the sunken stem of the buss, and went down almost at
once. After that no more attempt was made to fly by water.

Then began a siege that lasted for a fortnight, without anything
happening that is worth telling; for the fear of Alfred was on the
Danes, and they had not heart so much as to make one sally from the
gates.

Chapter XIII. The Greatest Victory.

Now in a few days it was plain that Alfred held the Danes in the
hollow of his hand as it were, and could do what he would with
them. At first we looked for messengers from the place, to treat
with him for peace; but none came. From the town at times we could
hear shoutings and the noise of men who quarrelled, as if there
were divided counsels among them that led to blows. They were very
short of food also, because all their stores of cattle were left
outside the walls, as I have said, so that we fared the better for
their plundering while we waited.

At the end of the first week, therefore, Alfred sent a message
under flag of truce, and told the chiefs that he was willing to
hear what they would say; and next day Guthrum asked that some
chiefs might come and speak with him. But Alfred would not trust
the Danes enough to send any of his nobles into the town, and bade
Guthrum come out to the camp and say what he had to say. But he
would not. Then one day, when Alfred held counsel as to what was
best to be done to ensure lasting peace, I said that I thought Jarl
Osmund might be of use, for he could go between the two camps in
safety.

That seemed good to the king, and Heregar and I rode to find him,
crossing the tidal ford at Combwich, where we heard from village
folk who had returned that the Danish lord bided in Heregar's house
beyond the fort.

There I thought I should find Thora, and we went quickly. The place
looked very deserted, and when we came to the courtyard gates it
seemed more so, for the Maytime had sprinkled the gay-patterned
paving of