Now must we wait, trembling,
for Osric's next messenger."
But as for me, though the old man was sorely terrified, as one might
see, I thought there was little trembling on the bishop's part, though
he spoke of it. Rather did he seem to speak in scorn of such as would so
wait.
"Tell me now," he went on presently, "how the men rallied, and with what
spirit, on the hill where Heregar stayed them?"
"Well and bravely," answered Wulfhere, "so that the Danes drew back,
forming up hastily lest there should be an attack on them; but none was
made."
Then the bishop's eyes flashed, and I thought to myself that I would he
had been there. Surely he would have swept the Danes back to their
ships, and I think that was in Wulfhere's mind also, for he said:
"We want a leader who can see these things. No blame to Osric therein,
for it was his first fight."
Then the bishop laughed softly in a strange way, though his eyes still
flashed, and he seemed to put the matter by.
"Truly," said he, "with you, Wulfhere, to advise, and myself to ask
questions, and Heregar to prevent our running away, I think we might do
great things. Well, there is Eanulf, who fought at Charnmouth."
So saying he rose up, and clapped his hands loudly.
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