"How many are there in this band ?" "Enough to sack the Penhurst miners' village," the thane said.

"Men say that there are Danes among them; and I know that there are men who are well armed beyond the wont of outlaws and forest dwellers." Then Wulfnoth called to us: "See here, King Olaf, this is your fault; you have driven the Danes out of Kent into our forests, and now we have trouble enough on our hands." "Then, Earl Wulfnoth," answered Olaf, "my men and I will fight them here again." But when we drew near I was fain to look on one of the two ladies who still sat on their horses waiting for the earl's pleasure.

One was Relf the thane's wife, and the other his daughter; and it was in my mind that I had never seen so beautiful a maiden as this was.
It seemed to me that I could willingly give my life in battle against those who had harmed her home, if she might know that I did so.
But the thane was telling Olaf that there must be some three hundred of the outlaws and others.
"I had forty-two men yesterday, and I have but twenty with me now," said he.
"Then you fought ?" asked Wulfnoth.
"Aye," answered the thane shortly, for it was plain enough that he had done so.
"Have they burnt your house ?" "Not when I left.

They are mostly strangers to the land, and they bide where there is ale and plunder, in the old Penhurst village at the valley's head." "Then," said Olaf, "let us march at once and save the thane's hall." "That is well said," answered the earl, rubbing his hands with glee.

"We will make a full end; there will be no more trouble for many a year to come." Then he bethought him of the two ladies, and he called his steward and bade him take them in.