for I know but too well that my dear father has fallen；
but rouse yourself； I pray you； let me bandage your wounds；
which bleed fast； for you will want all your strength； and we
must needs pursue our way well into the forest； for with
to…morrow's dawn the Danes will scatter over the whole country。〃
〃Yes；〃 Egbert said； turning round and sitting up； 〃I must
not in my grief forget my mission； and in truth I am faint
with loss of blood。 It was well the Danes stopped when they
did； for I felt my strength failing me； and could have held out
but little further。 Yes； Edmund；〃 he continued； as the lad；
tearing strips from his garments； proceeded to bandage his
wounds； 〃your father is dead。 Nobly； indeed； did he fight；
nobly did he die； with a circle of dead Danes around him。
He； Algar； Toley； and myself were the last four to resist。 Back
to back we stood； and many were the Danes who fell before
our blows。 Toley fell first and then Algar。 The Danes closed
closer around us。 Still we fought on； till your father was beaten
to his knee； and then he cried to me； 'Fly； Egbert； to my son。'
Then I flung myself upon the Danes like a wild boar upon
the dogs； and with the suddenness of my rush and the heavy
blows of my battle…axe cut a way for myself through them。
It was well…nigh a miracle； and I could scarce believe it when
I was free。 I flung away my shield and helmet as soon as I had
well begun to run； for I felt the blood gushing out from a
dozen wounds； and knew that I should want all my strength。
I soon caught sight of you running ahead of me。 Had I found
we were gaining upon you I should have turned off and made
another way to lead the Danes aside； but I soon saw that you
were holding your own； and so followed straight on。 My knees
trembled； and I felt my strength was well…nigh gone； when；
looking round； I found the Danes had desisted from their
pursuit。 I grieve； Edmund； that I should have left the battle
alive when all the others have died bravely； for； save a few
fleet…footed youths； I believe that not a single Saxon has
escaped the fight； but your father had laid his commands upon
me； and I was forced to obey； though God knows I would
rather have died with the heroes on that field。〃
〃'Tis well for me that you did not； my good Egbert；〃
Edmund said； drying his eyes； 〃for what should I have done
in this troubled land without one protector？〃
〃It was the thought of that；〃 Egbert said； 〃that seemed
to give me strength as I dashed at the Danes。 And now；
methinks； I am strong enough to walk again。 Let us make
our way far into the forest； then we must rest for the night。
A few hours' sleep will make a fresh man of me； and to…morrow
morning we will go to Croyland and see what the good abbot
your uncle proposes to do； then will we to the hut where we
dwelt before coming hither。 We will dig up the chest and
take out such valuables as we can carry； and then make for
Wessex。 After this day's work I have no longer any hope that
East Anglia will successfully oppose the Danes。 And yet the
Angles fought well； and for every one of them who has fallen
in these two days' fighting at least four Danes must have
perished。 Have you food； Edmund； for in truth after such a
day's work I would not lie down supperless？〃
〃I have in my pouch here； Egbert； some cakes； which I
cooked this morning； and a capon which one of the monks
of Croyland gave me。 I was tempted to throw it away
as I ran。〃
〃I am right glad； Edmund； that the temptation was not
too strong for you。 If we can find a spring we shall do well。〃
It was now getting dark； but after an hour's walk through
the forest they came upon a running stream。 They lit a fire
by its side； and sitting down ate the supper； of which both
were in much need。 Wolf shared the repast； and then the
three lay down to sleep。 Egbert； overcome by the immense
exertions he had made during the fight； was soon asleep； but
Edmund； who had done his best to keep a brave face before
his kinsman； wept for hours over the loss of his gallant
father。
On the following morning Egbert and Edmund started
for Croyland。 The news of the defeat at Kesteven had already
reached the abbey； and terror and consternation
reigned there。 Edmund went at once to his uncle and informed
him of the circumstance of the death of his father
and the annihilation of the Saxon army。
〃Your news； Edmund； is even worse than the rumours
which had reached me； and deeply do I grieve for the loss of
my brave brother and of the many valiant men who died
with him。 This evening or to…morrow the spoilers will be
here； and doubtless will do to Croyland as they have done to
all the other abbeys and monasteries which have fallen into
their hands。 Before they come you and Egbert must be far
away。 Have you bethought you whither you will betake
yourselves？〃
〃We are going to the king of the West Saxons；〃 Edmund
replied。 〃Such was my father's intention； and I fear that
all is now lost in East Anglia。〃
〃'Tis your best course； and may God's blessing and
protection rest upon you！〃
〃But what are you going to do； uncle？ Surely you will
not remain here until the Danes arrive； for though they may
spare other men they have no mercy on priests and monks？〃
〃I shall assuredly remain here； Edmund； at my post； and
as my brother Eldred and Earl Algar and their brave
companions died at their posts in the field of battle；
so I am prepared to die here where God has placed me。
I shall retain here with me only a few of the most aged and
infirm monks； too old to fly or to support the hardships of
the life of a hunted fugitive in the fens； together with some
of the children who have fled here； and who； too； could not
support such a life。 It may be that when the fierce Danes
arrive and find nought but children and aged men even their
savage breasts may be moved to pity； but if not； God's will be
done。 The younger brethren will seek refuge in the fens； and
will carry with them the sacred relics of the monastery。 The
most holy body of St。 Guthlac with his scourge and psalmistry；
together with the most valuable jewels and muniments； the
charters of the foundation of the abbey； given by King
Ethelbald； and the confirmation thereof by other kings； with
some of the most precious gifts presented to the abbey。〃
Edmund and Egbert set to work to assist the weeping
monks in making preparations for their departure。 A boat
was laden with the relics of the saints； the muniments of the
king； and the most precious vessels。 The table of the great
altar covered with plates of gold； which King Wichtlof had
presented； with ten gold chalices； and many other vessels；
was thrown into the well of the convent。
In the distance the smoke of several villages could now
be seen rising over the plain； and it was clear that the Danes
were approaching。 The ten priests and twenty monks who
were to leave now knelt； and received the solemn benediction
of the abbot； then； with Edmund and Egbert； they took
their places in the boat and rowed away to the wood of
Ancarig； which lay not far from the abbey。
The abbot Theodore and the aged monks and priests
now returned to the church； and； putting on their vestments；
commenced the services of the day； the abbot himself
celebrated high mass； assisted by brother Elfget the deacon；
brother Savin the sub…deacon； and the brothers Egelred and
Wyelric； youths who acted as taper…bearers。 When the mass
was finished； just as the abbot and his assistants had
partaken of the holy communion； the Danes burst into the
church。 The abbot was slain upon the holy altar by the hand
of the Danish king Oskytal； and the other priests and monks
were beheaded by the executioner。
The old men and children in the choir were seized and
tortured to disclose where the treasures of the abbey were
concealed； and were also put to death with the prior and
sub…prior。 Turgar； an acolyte of ten years of age； a
remarkably beautiful boy； stood by the side of the sub…prior
as he was murdered and fearlessly confronted the Danes； and
bade them put him to death with the holy father。 The young
Earl Sidroc； however； struck with the bearing of the child；
and being moved with compassion； stripped him of his robe and
cowl； and threw over him a long Danish tunic without sleeves；
and ordering him to keep close by him； made his way out of
the monastery； the boy being the only one who was saved
from the general massacre。
The Danes； furious at being able to find none of the
treasures of the monastery； broke open all the shrines and
levelled the marble tombs； including those of St。 Guthlac；
the holy virgin Ethelbritha； and many others； but found in
these none of the treasure searched for。 They piled the bodies
of the saints in a heap； and burned them； together with
the church and all the buildings of the monastery； then； with
vast herds of cattle and other plunder； they moved away from
Croyland； and attacked the monastery of Medeshamsted。
Here the monks made a brave resistance。 The Danes brought
up machines and attacked the monastery on all sides； and
effected a breach in the walls。 Their first assault； however；
was repelled； and Fulba； the brother of Earl Hulba； was
desperately wounded by a stone。
Hulba was so infuriated at this that when； at the second
assault； the monastery was captured； he slew with his own
hand everyone of the monks； while all the country people
who had taken refuge within the walls were slaughtered by
his companions； not one escaping。 The altars were levelled
to the ground； the monuments broken in pieces。 The great
library of parchments and charters was burnt。 The holy relics
were trodden under foot； and the church itself； with all
the monastic buildings； burnt to the ground。 Four days later；
the Danes； having devastated the whole country round and
collected an enormous booty； marched away against
Huntingdon。
Edmund and Egbert remained but a few hours with the
monks who had escaped from the sack of Croyland； for； as
soon as they saw the flames mounting up above the church；
they knew that the Danes had accomplished their usual work
of massacre； and there being no use in their making further
stay； they started upon their journey。 They trave