But it is dark, and we cannot fairly see them.
We heard them call one 'Thane.' Nor are there any outland voices among them, as there would be were they outlaws." Then my father armed himself in haste and went out.

The night was very dark, and it was raining a little.

Stuf had shut the stockade gates, which were strong enough, and had reared a ladder against the timbers that he might look over.
Close to the ladder stood Owen, armed also, for he had been out to see that all was quiet and that the men were on guard.
"There are men everywhere," he said.

"I would we had some light." "Heave a torch on the straw stack," my father answered; "there will be enough then." The stack was outside the stockade, and some twenty yards from its corner.

One of the men ran to the hall and brought a torch from its socket on the wall, and handed it to Stuf, who threw it fairly on the stack top, from the ladder.