After that the crossing went on quickly, men swimming beside
the boats, and in an hour and a half all were over.
When we found that all was safe, the bishop bade me cross with the
standard, and so keep the men together. He himself came last of all.
When Wulfhere came, swimming beside the boat in which sat Wislac, he
took three men and went quietly to Combwich, which was nearly half a
mile from where we landed, and was back presently, reporting all quiet.
Then Dudda and the other rowers sank the boats, lest they should be seen
by chance, and so betray us and our crossing.
Now we went--I leading through this place I knew so well--round the
head of the little creek, and so on up the hill, walking in single file
almost, and very silently. And when we topped the hill--there before
us, among the tree trunks, glowed a little fire, and round that sat six
Danes, wrapped in their red cloaks, and, as I could see, all or most of
them asleep.
At that I stopped, and the line behind me stopped also, making a clatter
of arms as men ran against one another in the dark.
One of the Danes stirred at that, and looked up and round; but he could
see nothing, and so folded himself up again. Then I saw that they had an
ale cask.
Now I knew that this post must be surrounded and taken, and whispered to
Wulfhere, who was next me, what to do.
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