And hardly had I stepped on them than there came a great shout from the men behind us, while one seized my arm and pointed seaward across the marshes.
There came rushing across the level--blending channel and land into one sea as it passed--a vast white roller, great as any wave which breaks upon the shore, and its length was lost behind the hill before us, and far away to our left.

So swiftly did it come that it seemed that none of us might gain the hill before it whelmed us and causeway and bridge alike.
Earl Wulfnoth grasped the bridle of the pack horse, and the man Spray lashed it, shouting aloud to us to hasten.

And Olaf turned in his saddle and saw me, and reined up until I grasped his stirrup leather, and ran on beside him.

And our men broke and ran, some following us, and some going back to the hill whence we came.

And all the while the great white billow was thundering nearer, and my head reeled with its noise and terror till I knew not what I was doing, and let go my hold of Olaf's stirrup.
Then it broke over bridge and causeway, and through its roar I heard yells, and the crash of broken timber, before I lost all knowledge of aught but that I was lost in that mighty wave, and was being whirled like a straw before it, where it would take me.
I struck out wildly as if to swim--but of what avail was that against the weight of rushing water?
I seemed to be rolled over and against broken timber and reeds and stones--and once my hand touched a man, for I felt it grate over the scales of armour--and my ears were full of roarings and strange sounds, and I thought that I was surely lost.
Then a strong grip was on me, and the water flew past me, and hurled things at me, for I no longer went with it.