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.  For if they were, surely one might swim over and bring one back.  And that I said.

Then of a sudden, the bishop rose up, and seemed to have come to a decision, saying: 

“See here, thanes; ever as we march to Bridgwater, we draw nearer Parret.  Now by this evening, we shall be close over against this place Combwich, so that one may go thither and spy what there is to be done, and come back in good time and tell us if crossing may be made by raft or boat.  Let this rest till then.  But if it may be so, then I, and Heregar and his following, and two hundred men will surely cross, and wait for what may betide.  For I think this plan is good.”

So he would say no more of it then.  And presently all his men were mustered, and we marched from Brent slowly along the way to Bridgwater.

CHAPTER XIV.  ELGAH THE FISHER.

Now men have said that this plan of mine needed no ghost to set it forth, but is such that would enter the mind of any good leader.  That might be so had there been one there who knew the country as I knew it, but there was not.  And I was no general as was Eanulf.  However that might be, I tell what happened to me in the matter, and sure am I that but for Matelgar’s bidding I had never thought of this place or plan.

But once Ealhstan had heard thereof, the thought of it seemed ever better to him.  And when we were fairly marching along the level towards Bridgwater he called me, and began to talk of that business of spying out the crossing place.

Now I too had been thinking of that same, and asked him to let me go at once, taking one man with me.  Then would I rejoin him as best I might, and close to the place where I might fix on means of getting over.

Now there seemed little danger in the matter, for our spies had reported no Danes on this side of Parret, for they kept the water between us and them, doubtless knowing that Osric had gone to Brent at first, and thinking it likely that another levy might be made.  So the bishop, not very willingly, as it seemed to me, let me go, as there was none else who could go direct to the point as I could without loss of time, even as Osric told him.