I went along the highroad now, for it was dark, and few were about.  Only now and then I met a little party of men hurrying to the gathering place, and mostly they spoke to me, asking for news.  And from them I learned, too, that nothing had been seen, while daylight served, of the Danes.  Once, I had to say I was on Osric’s errand, as he bade me, being questioned as to why I was heading away from the town.

I could not see my hall as I passed close by its place, for the lights that ever shone thence in the old days, so lately, yet seeming so long, gone, were quenched.  But I thought of a safe place whence to watch if the Danes came, where were trees in which I might hide if need were, as I had hidden this morning.  This was on the little spur of hill men call by the name of the fisher’s village below it, Combwich.  It looked on all the windings of Parret river, and there would I soon know if landing was to be made for attack on Bridgwater.  But I thought it likely that there would be an outpost of our men there for the same reason, and going thither went carefully.

Sure enough there was a little watchfire and half a dozen men round it on the best outlook, and so I passed on still further, following round the spur of hill till I came to where the land overlooks the whole long tongue of Stert Point.  That would do as well for me, I thought, and choosing, as best I could in the dark, a tree into which I knew by remembrance that I might easily get, I sat down at its foot, looking seaward.

Now by this time the tide, which runs very strong and swiftly, must be flowing again, and I thought that most likely the Danes, having anchored during the ebb, would go on up channel with it, and that therefore I might have to hang about here for days before they landed, even were they to land at all.  And this I had heard said many times by the men of the levy, some, indeed, saying that they might as well go home again.

But I should do as well here as anywhere, or better, since, while Matelgar was away, I might yet see Alswythe again; though that, after my repulse by the sheriff, or perhaps I should rather say by his advisers, I thought not of trying yet.  It would but be another parting.  Still, I might find old Wulfhere, and send her messages by him before setting out westward again.

Almost was I dozing, for the day had been very long, when from close to Stert came that which roused me completely, setting my heart beating.

It was a bright flash of light from close inshore, on the Severn side of the tongue, followed by answering flashes, just as I had seen them at Watchet.  But now the flashes came and went out instantly, for I was no longer looking down on the ship’s decks as then.

Well was it that I had seen this before from Quantock heights; for I knew that once again the Danes were landing, and that the peril was close at hand.

Then at once I knew the terrible danger of Alswythe, for Matelgar’s was the first hall that would be burnt.