The Saxons had posted guards, who on the approach of the Danes roused Edmund with the news that the enemy were close at hand.

The Saxons were soon on their feet.
"Now, my friends," Edmund said to them, "here is the time for trying what benefit we have got from our exercise.

We cannot well draw off, for the Danes are as fleet-footed as we; therefore let us fight and conquer them." The men formed up cheerfully, and the little body moved out from the wood to meet the Danes.

The latter gave a shout of triumph as they saw them.

The Saxon force, from its compact formation, appeared even smaller than it was, and the Norsemen advanced in haste, each eager to be the first to fall upon an enemy whom they regarded as an easy prey.
As they arrived upon the spot, however, and saw the thick hedge of spears which bristled round the little body of Saxons, the first comers checked their speed and waited till Haffa himself came up, accompanied by his principal warriors.
Without a moment's hesitation the jarl flung himself upon the Saxons.
In vain, however, he tried to reach them with his long sword.