The man on hearing the footsteps came to his door with a bent bow.

When he saw that the new-comers were Saxons he lowered the arrow which was already fitted to the string.
"Can you tell us," Edmund said, "which is the way to Athelney?
We know that it is an island amidst these morasses, but we are strangers to the locality and cannot find it." "And you might search for weeks," the man said, "without finding it, so thickly is it surrounded by deep swamps and woods.

But what want ye there ?" "Men say," Edmund replied, "that King Alfred is hidden there.

We are faithful followers of his.

I am Ealdorman Edmund of Sherborne, and have good news for the king." "If ye are indeed the Ealdorman of Sherborne, of whose bravery I have heard much, I will right willingly lead you to Athelney if you will, but no king will you find there.