The sail was lowered and the vessel brought to the bank.

The anchors were taken ashore and she was soon solidly moored.
Then the crew leapt on to the land and ascended the bank to the great level inclosure.
The walls were, as Egbert had said, intact--and indeed, except on the side facing the river, remained almost unbroken to the present day.

An hour's labour sufficed to block the gateway, where a pair of massive doors were in position, for the place had been defended by the Saxons against the Danes at their first landing on the coast.

A few men were placed as sentries on the walls, and, feeling now perfectly safe from any attack on the land side, Edmund and his followers returned on board the Dragon for the night..