These were lost from his sight, and only the flashing of swords showed where the struggle was still going on in the centre of the confused mass.

Edmund had been on his knees for some time, but he now rose.
"Come, old boy," he said to the hound, who lay beside him watching the distant conflict and occasionally uttering deep angry growls.

"I must obey my father's last command; let us away." He took one more glance at the distant conflict before turning.

It was plain that it was nearly finished.

The swords had well-nigh ceased to rise and fall when he saw a sudden movement in the throng of Danes and suddenly a man burst out from them and started at headlong speed towards him, pursued by a number of Danes.