Therefore would he think thereof
more fully.
"What," he asked, "is the main difficulty?"
I said that the crossing of Parret was like to be hard in any case; but
at night and unobserved yet more so. But that, could we reach the
farther bank, I could find places where we might lie in wait for a day,
if need were, with many men.
Thereupon the bishop took that great book of Caesar's wars, and looked
into it. But he seemed long in finding aught to meet that case, while we
talked of one thing or another concerning it among ourselves.
At last he shut the book and said, very gravely: "I would that I could
swim."
"I also, Father," said Wislac, "and why I cannot, save for sheer
cowardice, I know not, having been brought up on Thames side, and never
daring to go out of depth."
At that we were fain to laugh, so dismally did the broad-shouldered
Mercian blame himself. But the bishop said that if I went, needs must
that he came also. But he did not dissuade me in any way.
"Wulfhere the Counsellor," he said then, "have you no plan?"
"To cross the river?" answered the veteran. "Aye, many, if they may be
managed. Rafts for those who cannot swim, surely."
Now I bethought me of the many boats that ever lay in the creek under
Combwich, and wondered if any were yet whole.
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