He at once despatched two of his men, a Dane and a Saxon, with orders to journey as rapidly as possible to the rendezvous, where the Dragon was to be found at the mouth of the Rhine, and to beg Egbert to move round with all speed to the Maas.
Having done this, he purchased a small and very fast rowing-skiff at Liege, and taking his place in this with his four remaining followers, he rowed up the river.

It took them three days before they reached the edge of the forest.

On reaching their former hiding-place, they landed.
The bushes were carefully drawn aside, and the boat hauled up until completely screened from sight of the river, and Edmund and the Dane at once started for the encampment of the Northmen.
They had been ten days absent, and in that time great progress had been made with the galleys.

They looked indeed completely finished as they stood high and lofty on the river bank.

The planks were all in their places; the long rows of benches for the rowers were fastened in; the poop and forecastle were finished and decked.