.

IN HOXNE WOODS.
Many of the village folk loitered on the bridge and in the lanes, looking curiously at the Danes, and talking of the wedding and the like.

And some of these I saw Ingvar's men questioning, and very soon a knot of them gathered round one man, and there was some loud talking.
Then I would have hastened back, but Ingvar saw me, and waved sternly to me to depart, and slowly enough I went on my way.

But I could not forbear looking back when I reached the road to the house.
Only Ingvar was now on horseback, and the men seemed to be swarming over the bridge railings, and climbing under it among the timbers.
Then were shouts, and the village churls began to run every way, and one or two came up the hill towards me.
"What is it ?" I asked.
"Oh, master," the first man cried, "when the bridal folk went over the bridge on the way to the church, one man looked over into the water, and cried that he saw somewhat sparkle therein like gold, and others looked, and some saw naught, but others said that they saw in the water as it were the image of golden spurs.

And the Danes asked us if we saw the king; but we had not.