The iron workers in the old Roman days had first built there, and they knew how to choose their ground.

Thence, too, the Romans would float their boatloads of iron down to the port of Anderida, as they called Pevensea; and there were yet old stone buildings that had been raised by them.
So if these outlaws chose to hold the place, it was likely that we should have some fighting, though this would not be quite after the manner of forest dwellers, unless it were true that Danes were among them.
"Whether there is any fight in them or not," said Wulfnoth, "I will have the place surrounded, and let not one get away." "That is early morning work," Olaf answered.

"How many of my men will you have ?" "It depends on what manner of men they are," said the earl.

"All I know of them yet is that they are good trenchermen." That pleased not Olaf altogether, for there seemed to be a little slight in the words--as though he had come to the earl to be fed only.

And he made a sign to me that I knew well; and I thought to myself that Wulfnoth of Sussex was likely to wish that he had seen our warriors in their war gear before.
Olaf paid no heed to me as I went quickly down to the ships.