"King and witan and people have been fools enough to buy peace with gold and not with edged steel.

But that has been ransom, not tribute.

When a warrior is made prisoner and held to ransom, is the man who takes the gold to set him free his master, therefore, ever after?
Scatt, forsooth! I have a mind to go and teach the pack of fools whom Streone leads by the nose and calls a witan, that there is one man left in England who is strong enough to make them pay scatt to himself!" Then Olaf said, very quietly: "Why not put an end to Danegeld once for all by helping me drive out the last Dane from England?
We should be strong enough as things are now.
"For Streone and his tools to reap the benefit?
Not I," said the earl.

"Come, we have forgotten our own business." Now it seemed to me that Wulfnoth was eager to get our men back to the ships outside of the walls again, for there is no doubt that had Olaf chosen to take the place for Ethelred it was already done.
But such thought of treachery to his host could never be in Olaf's mind, and it was the last time that he tried to win the earl over.
So Wulfnoth went quickly down the ranks and noted all things as a chief such as he will.

But now and then he waxed moody, and growled in his thick beard, "Scatt, forsooth!" So presently he asked Olaf to bring two ship's crews--about eight-score men in all--against the outlaws.