The Danes were defeated, and driven off the ground.

They fled toward Reading.

Ethelred and Alfred pursued them.

The various parties of Danes that were outside of the fortifications, employed in completing the outworks, or encamped in the neighborhood, were surprised and slaughtered; or, at least, vast numbers of them were killed, and the rest retreated within the works--all maddened at their defeat, and burning with desire for revenge.
The Saxons were not strong enough to dispossess them of their fastness.

On the contrary, in a few days, the Danes, having matured their plans, made a desperate sally against the Saxons, and, after a very determined and obstinate conflict, they gained the victory, and drove the Saxons off the ground.