Little waves began to curl over it, and when the sun broke out it flashed bright where the wind came over in flaws here and there.

Then from each ship were unfurled great sails, striped in bright colours, and one by one they got under way, and headed over towards the Welsh coast, beyond channel.

The tide had turned.
"They are going," said I, with much gladness.
One of the men shook his head.
"They do but slant across the wind, master.

Presently they will go about and so fetch the Wessex shore again, and so on till they reach where they will up channel." We watched them, and while we watched, a man came up from the west, heated and tired out, and limping with long running as it seemed.

And when he saw me he ran straight to me, and thrusting a splinter of wood into my hand, cried in a panting voice: "I can no more--In the king's name to Matelgar of Stert--the levy is at Bridgwater Cross.