I heard the same sort of dull trampling as before, and there was also a voice.

“It seems to be almost beneath us,” I said.

But the footsteps were plainly going away from us, and growing fainter in the distance.  I climbed on a settle and looked out of the high window, which was set aloft so that none could see into the chamber as they passed it.  But I could see no man.  There were some wood piles and sheds between the rampart and us, but nothing stirred about them so far as I could see.  Whereby I supposed that they had passed round the corner.  On the rampart an armed sentry was pacing, black against the low moon, and beyond him the fires of the Welsh—­who watched us—­burnt as brightly as last night.

Now there was a gentle knock on the outer door, and I opened it.  One of the thanes said that the man who served me would see me, and I went out into the great hall, bidding Sighard and the chaplain goodnight as I did so.  Down the length of the hall men were throwing themselves on the rushes to sleep along the walls in their wonted places, though there were yet groups at the tables still telling tales and drinking.  The torches were almost all burnt out save where these men were, and across the open roof were strange white shafts of moonlight through the smoke, from windows and under westward eaves.

Outside the door, on the high place, stood Erling alone, for the tables there had been cleared away.  Only the throne of the king remained.  And in the light from the council chamber I saw that the face of my comrade was white as death.

“Where is Ethelbert the king?” he said, almost wildly, and clutching my arm.

“In his chamber,” I answered.  “All is well.  I saw him there not ten minutes ago.”

“How can that be?  It is not that time ago since he stood by me on the rampart, where I walked alone, and spoke to me.”

“It was some one else like him,” I said.  “He is going to sleep.”

But Erling stared beyond me, and grew yet paler.  I saw the black rims grow round his eyes.  Then his grip tightened on my arm, and he gasped: 

“He stood before me, and that red line round his neck had drops like gems therefrom.  He said, ’Now do I die and pass to rest.  I would that you came after me.’  And I said, ’Trouble not yourself, king, for the like of me.’  And he smiled wondrously, and answered, ’Nay, but needs must I, for you are the only heathen man in this palace garth.  I would that all were well with you as with me.’  Then he was gone, and there was only a brightness, and betimes that faded.  Then I came hither.  There is ill which has befallen the king.”

“Impossible,” I said.  And even as I said it into my mind flashed that strange, unaccounted for trampling, and I went back, with Erling after me, unbidden.  The six thanes who waited in the council chamber stared at me, but I did not heed them.  Across to the king’s door I went, and passed in.  Selred and the old thane were talking quietly under their breath, and I had but been gone three minutes.