Even if a prying Dane looked our way he would hardly see us thus hidden, or if he did would take us but for villagers and care not.
Now I saw that the tide was on the turn, and that Halfden's ship--my own ship, as I have ever thought her--had hauled out, and her boats waited for the last of the crew at the wharf side.

But Rorik's ship was there still, and her men were busy rigging a crane of spars as though they would lower some heavy thing on board her.
Nor could I guess what that might be.
Then I looked at the village, which was burning here and there, and at the monastery.

They had not fired the church, and the Danes clustered round the tower doorway, busied with something, and I could see them well, for the smoke from the burning buildings blew away from us.
Now I asked the prior what heavy things worth carrying away might be in the monastery.
"Naught," he said; "since they have drunk all the ale that was in the cask or two we had.
"But," he added, "there is the great bell, it is the only weighty thing else." Then I knew what was toward, and said: "I fear, Father, that your bell is going to be taken to become metal for mail shirts, and axe heads, and arrowheads, and helms." "Holy St.Wilfrith!" cried the monk, in great grief; "would that we could have saved it.

There is no such bell in all England, and if they take it, many a sailor will miss its call through fog and driving mist, and many a shepherd on yonder downs will wait for its ringing, and be the wearier for lack thereof." "Never have I seen bell too large for one man to handle," I said; "this must be a wondrous bell!" So it was, he told me, and while we watched the busy Danes, he began to sing to me in low tones the song of Bosham bell which his people would sing by the fireside.
"Hard by the haven, Wilfrith the holy Bade men a bell tower Sturdily build.
Thence should a bell sound Over the wide seas, Homeward to hail The hardy shipmen.
Thus was the bell wrought By skilful workmen: Into the fierce fire, When it was founded, Helm and harness The warriors hove; Willingly women, The jewel wearers, Golden and silver gauds Gave for the melting; And a great anchor The seamen added.
Thus was a wealth Of wondrous metal.
When all was molten More grew its marvel! Cast in a chalice, Cuthred the priest." "Aye, Father," said I, "that is a wondrous bell." He nodded, and went on, with his eyes fixed on the monastery.
"Thus as the bell swings Soothly it speaketh: Churchward it calleth With voice of the chalice, Speaking to shipmen With voice that is sea born.
Homeward the husband Hailing with voices Fresh from the fireside, Where flashed the gold gifts-- Clashing the war call, Clear with its warrior voice." "That was the voice of the bell that sounded as we came," I thought; and even as I would have said it, the bell of Bosham spoke again, and the prior stopped with an exclamation, and pointed.
Out of the gateway came four Danes, bearing the bell between them, and as they crossed the threshold, one stumbled, and the bell clanged as they dropped it on the courtyard pavement.

The tears ran down the holy man's face as he saw this mishap to his beloved bell, which was kept bright as when it was first founded, by the loving hands of his people.
Now the Danes put it on that farm cart I had seen, and which they had mended, and took the bell down to the wharf, and we watched them sling it to the crane they had rigged, and place it amidships on deck.