So was a full end made of that host, for none but those few were left alive from Stert field, and Somerset and Dorset had taken their fill of vengeance.

But, for all the victory, down sat Ealhstan the Bishop, and hiding his face in his hands wept that such things could be, and must be till war is no more.

CHAPTER XVI.  AT GLASTONBURY.

On that hard-won field we lay all that day, for we knew not if more Danes were left up country, or if by chance the ships might fall into our hands with the rising tide.  And I think we might have taken them had not our men, in their fury, broken the boats which lay along the bank; so that we could not put off to them.  Therefore, as the tide rose again and they floated, the men on board hauled out, and setting sail with much labour, for there were very few in each ship, stood off into mid channel.  Out of Severn they could not get, for the wind was westerly, and the tide setting eastward, so at last they brought up in the lee of the two holms, and there furled sail and lay at anchor.

Very stiff and sore were we when we had rested for a little, and there fell a sadness on the levy, now that the joy of battle had gone, and the cost of victory must be counted.  And that was heavy, for so manfully and steadily had the vikings fought that they had accounted for man to man as nearly as one might count, either slain or maimed.

Now on this matter I heard Wislac speak to Aldhelm, who sat facing him, and holding his aching head with both hands.

“So, friend,” quoth Wislac, “as touching that matter of dispute we had.  How stands the account?”

“I know not, nor care,” said Aldhelm.  “All I wot is that my head is like to split.”

“Nay, that will it not, having stood such a stout blow,” said Wislac, laughing.  “Cheer up, and count our score of heads.”

“I can count but one head, and that my own.  Let it bide.”

“So, that is better,” said Wislac.  “I should surely have been slain five times by my own count, but it seems I am wrong.  Wherefore I must have escaped somehow.  And that is all I know about it.”

Then he turned to me, and asked if I had noted any doings at all.

And when I thought, all I could remember plainly were the fall of the tall chief I slew, and the coming of Ealhstan, and the attack of the berserk, and no more; all the rest was confused, and like a dream.  So I said that it seemed to me that we had had no time to do more than mind ourselves, but that withal my shield wall had kept the standard.  And that kept, there need be no question as to who had done best.

Then Wislac nodded, after his wont, and said that if Aldhelm was content so was he.

Whereupon Aldhelm held out his hand, and said that Wislac was wise and he foolish.  And Wislac, grasping it, answered that it was a lucky foolishness that had brought so stout a comrade to his side, for had it not been for Aldhelm putting his thick head betwixt him and an axe, slain he would have been.