How are we to stay their going off with her ?" "Is there a chain cable anywhere ?" I asked.
"Not one in the place," he said; "and if we did get one across the river, we should have to fight to keep the far end of it." The tide was rising fast, and I thought we should surely lose every ship, while Guthrum and his chiefs would escape us at the same time.

One might line the banks with archers, certainly, but that would not stay the going.

Evening was closing in, moreover.

By midnight they would be gone, and I was in a difficulty out of which I could not see my way.
Suddenly Thord smote his hands together, and his face grew brighter.
"I have it," he cried.

"There is an old vessel that lies in a creek a mile down the river.