Ragnar, nothing daunted, organized and marshaled them as an army, and marched into the interior to attack any force which might appear against them.

His course led him to Northumbria, the most northerly Saxon kingdom.

Here he soon encountered a very large and superior force, under the command of Ella, the king; but, with the reckless desperation which so strongly marked his character, he advanced to attack them.

Three times, it is said, he pierced the enemy's lines, cutting his way entirely through them with his little column.

He was, however, at length overpowered.