The only point in the narrative which excited their contentment was the news that the Danes were building ships and were going to make their way down to the sea.
"In Heaven's name let them go!" was the cry; "who would interfere with the flight of a savage beast?
If they are going down the river they will scarcely land to scatter and plunder the country, and he would be mad indeed who would seek them when they are disposed to let us alone." Finding his efforts vain in the country near the forest Edmund went down the river to the town of Liege, which stood on its banks.

When it became known that a band of Northmen was on the upper river, and was likely to pass down, the alarm spread quickly through the town, and a council of the principal inhabitants was summoned.

Before these Edmund told his story, and suggested that the fighting men of the town should march up the river and fall upon the Danes in their camp.
"It is but two days' march--the Northmen will be unsuspicious of danger, and taken by surprise may be easily defeated." The proposition, however, was received with absolute derision.
"You must be mad to propose such a thing, young Saxon, if Saxon indeed you are, but for aught we know you may be a Northman sent by them to draw us into an ambush.

No; we will prepare for their coming.

We will man our walls and stand on the defensive, and if there be, as you say, but three hundred of them, we can defend ourselves successfully; and we may hope that, seeing our strength, and that we are prepared for their coming, the Northmen will pass by without molesting us; but as for moving outside our walls, it would be worse than folly even to think of such a thing." After this rebuff Edmund concluded that he could hope for no assistance from the inhabitants of the country, but must depend upon himself and the Dragon alone.