altogether by the hand of God. Some will ever say, no
doubt, that they took the Cross on them by necessity; but I know
that it was not so. Nor have their lives since that time given any
reason for the thought.

Then Alfred asked the name of that old warrior who withstood us,
and Osmund told him.

"I will have that chief as a hostage," the king said, "for I think
that he is worth taming."

"I think that King Alfred's hostages are not in any way to be
pitied," Osmund said.

"Save that they are kept from home and friends, I would have them
as happy as may be," the king answered; "but I would have none
presume on what mercy came to you, Jarl Osmund, for the sake of the
Christmastide message."

"I think that none will do so," Osmund said. "There is full
knowledge among my kin that you showed mercy when justice was about
to be done, and well they know that your kindness was not weakness.
It is likely that the mercy shown here also will do more for peace
than would even destruction of your enemies."

So it seemed at last, for on the fourteenth day of the siege the
Danes accepted the king's terms with one consent. And more than
that, Guthrum and thirty of his chiefs asked that they might be
baptized; which was a wonder to all of our host.

Now I have said nothing about the life in the great camp before
Bridgwater, for it had nothing of much note to me, though it was
pleasant enough. I think there was some jealousy of me among the
younger thanes at one time; but it passed because I would not
notice it, and also because I took no sort of authority on me,
being only the king's guest and warrior as yet. But I did find a
few young thanes of Odda's following who knew somewhat of the sea,
and I was wont to talk with them often of the ships and the like,
until I knew they would be glad to take to the viking's path with
me in the king's ships, bringing their men with them. And often
Alfred spoke with me of the matter, until I was sure that he would
have me stay.

It was but a few days after the peace had been made when Alfred
went to a great house he had at Aller, which lies right amidst the
marshes south of Athelney. We had saved that house and the church
by our constant annoyance of the Danes, with many another house and
village along the fen to which they dared not come for fear of us
at last. Guthrum was to come to him there, and I think that he
chose the place because there at least was nought to bring thoughts
of defe