tians. The ways
of persecution must be forgotten and that cannot come to pass until
the chiefs at least have accepted the faith."

"It is strange to me, my king," I said, "that Guthrum, who has been
in England for ten years, is not Christian by this time."

"Ay, but his hosts are heathen," the king answered. "Now I think I
can speak to you as if no longer a heathen at least?"

"As a Christian, my king," I answered.

"Well, then," he said, smiling on me, "go and speak to Guthrum and
tell him what I have said. I think that he will listen to you
better than if I sent a priest or even Bishop Sigehelm. Warrior may
speak to warrior plainly."

Now this was a hard thing for me to do, as it seemed. Maybe it was
the hardest thing he could have asked me. But it was in my mind
that I could not but go to Guthrum and give the message, else would
I seem to deny the faith that I loved. Alfred saw at once that I
was troubled in some way, and I believe that he knew well what the
seeming doubt was.

"Once you brought a token of good to me," he said. "Now that was
all unknowing. Go now and take a message of good to Guthrum openly,
and have no fear."

"What shall I say?"

"Mind not that at all," he answered; "what is needed will come to
you."

So I said that I would go if Harek might come with me, for his
words were ever ready. But Alfred would not suffer that. I must go
without help from a scald, taking only my own words; and at last I
consented, though indeed my only fear was that I might not succeed
by reason of my slowness of speech.

Then I went to Osmund, and told him that I was to go into the town
with him next day, for that is how Alfred planned for me; and I
told him also what my part in the business was to be. Whereon he
surprised me.

"I do not know that your errand is so hopeless as you seem to
think," he said. "Guthrum has harmed no Christians in East Anglia
since he was king there."

"Well," I answered, "I hope it may be easy, though I doubt it."

I would not say more then, but, being anxious, went and spoke long
with Harek. The brave scald's wounds were deep, though he had said
little of them. Some say that he saved the life of Ethelnoth at the
time when that ealdorman was struck down, and that also is
Ethelnoth's story; though the scald says that if so it was by
accident, and less worth speaking of than many braver deeds that
were wrought and went untold that day.

"Here have I been in England but six mo