They said that he had saved the thane's life more than once in the great battles about Reading, when the Danish host first came.
This man was out daily, seeking news with the rest; and one day, just a week after we had come to Cannington, when the frost had bound everything fast again, he came home and sought his master.
Heregar and I and Osmund sat together silently before the fire, and he looked from one to the other of us outlanders.
"Speak out, Dudda," said Heregar, who knew his ways; "here are none but friends." "Ay, friends of ours sure enough; but are they the king's ?" "Most truly so.

Have you news of him ?" "I have not; but I have heard some fenmen talking." Then Osmund rose up and went his way silently, as was his wont; and Dudda grinned at us.
"He is a good Dane," he said; "now I can speak.

They say there is some great lord hiding in the fens beyond the round hill where Tone and Parret join, that we call the Stane--somewhere by Long Hill, they say.

Now I mind that one day when the king rode with you across the Petherton heights, he looked out over all the fens, and called me and asked much of them.

And when I told him what he would, he said, 'Here is a place where a man might lie hid from all the world if he chose.' So he laughed, and we rode on." "I mind it," said Heregar; "but it was many years ago." "I think he may be there, for our king weighs his words, and does not forget.