There was a celebrated place called the Stone of Egbert, where the meeting was to be held.

Each chieftain whom the messengers should visit was to be invited to come to the Stone of Egbert at the appointed day, with as many armed men, and yet in as secret and noiseless a manner as possible, so as thus, while concentrating all their forces in preparation for their intended attack, to avoid every thing which would tend to put Guthrum on his guard.
The messengers found the Saxon chieftains very ready to enter into Alfred's plans.

They were rejoiced to hear, as some of them did now for the first time hear, that he was alive, and that the spirit and energy of his former character were about to be exhibited again.

Every thing, in fact, conspired to favor the enterprise.

The long and gloomy months of winter were past, and the opening spring brought with it, as usual, excitement and readiness for action.