"I have seen three men whom I know well among them." "Who are they ?" "Wisborough men--freemen of Erpwald's." My father and Owen looked at one another.

Words my father knew he should have to put up with, after today, from Erpwald, but this seemed token of more than words only.
Then came the blast of a horn from outside, and a strange voice shouted that the thane must come and speak with those who called him.

So my father went to the gate and answered from within it: "Here am I.What is all the trouble ?" "Open the gate, and you shall know." "Not so, Thane," cried one of our men, who was peering through the timbers of the stockade.

"Now that I can see, I have counted full fifty men, and they are waiting as if to rush in." Then said my father: "Maybe we will open the gate when we are sure you are friends.

One may be forgiven for doubting that when you come thus at midnight to a peaceful house." "We are friends or not, as you choose, Aldred," the voice answered.
"I am Erpwald, Woden's priest, and I am here to stay wrong to the Asir of which I have heard." "I will not pretend not to know what you mean, Erpwald," answered my father.