Great numbers of cattle were penned up near the village.
Edmund and Egbert having halted their men stole forward until close to the village in order to learn the nature of the ground and the position of the Danes.

Upon their return they waited until the fires burned low and the sound of shouting and singing decreased.

It was useless to wait longer, for they knew that many of the Danes would, according to their custom, keep up their revelry all night.

Crawling along the ground the band made for the great pen where were herded the cattle which the Danes had driven in from the surrounding country, and over which several guards had been placed.

Before starting Egbert assigned to each man the special duties which he was to fulfil.
The Saxons crept up quite close to the Danish guards unobserved.