I had to slip into the bushes and lie quiet till I knew who it was, and when I came out he smiled gravely at me, shaking his head, yet as one not displeased altogether.
"Well managed, master," he said, still smiling, "but I knew not that you had so strong a rope to draw you hither." Then I told him the trouble I was like to bring on Alswythe if he told her all that passed at Brent; letting him have his own thoughts about my reason for coming to Matelgar's hall, which were wrong enough, though natural at first sight, maybe.
He promised to be most wary, and I was content.

Then I asked him how I should join the levy.
"Master," he said, very gravely, "this is like to be a matter of which we have not seen the end.

Yon Danes are up channel, and, as I believe, lying at anchor by the Holms.

It will not be their way, if, having gone so far up, they sack not every town on their way back-unless they are beaten off on their first landing.

Now the country is raised against them, sure enough; but our levy is a weak crowd when it is first raised, and they are tried warriors, every one.