There was little of that in Olaf's fleet, where all were old comrades, and had each long ago found the place that he could best fill.
So the levies marched on Gainsborough, and Olaf bided in the Thames and gathered ships and men till we had a fair fleet and a good force.

Then came the news that Cnut and all his host had taken ship and fled from England without waiting to strike a blow at Ethelred, and our folk thought that this was victory for us.

But Olaf rode down to the ships in haste, and took them down to Erith, while his land levies followed on the Kentish shore.

For he thought it likely that Cnut did but leave Ethelred and his armies in Lindsey while he would land here unopposed.
Then came a fisher's boat with word that Cnut's great fleet was putting into Sandwich, but before we had planned to throw our force between him and London came the strange news that again he had left Kent and had sailed northwards.
We sailed then to Sandwich to learn what we might, sending two swift ships to watch if Cnut put into the Essex creeks.

But at Sandwich we found the thanes whom Swein had held as hostages left, cruelly maimed in hand and face, with the message from Cnut that he would return.
"He may return," said Olaf, "but if all goes well he will find England ready for him.