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They had got the trunk of a tree, and were going to batter the door in. But now we were all armed, for Raven had brought Havelok's gear with him when he fetched his own.
That was a homely weapon to Raven, and out into the moonlight he came with it, and swept a Welshman away from Havelok's side as he came. But now more men were coming townsfolk who had been roused by the noise and they knew nothing of the attackers, and so thought them friends of ours, who joined us in falling on their sheriff; and there was a wild confusion when Withelm and I came down armed.
Then he came to the room where Havelok and Goldborough lay asleep, and out of Havelok's mouth came a flame like that of a hundred and ninety-seven candles. And on his shoulder was the cross of kingship, and that was shining too.
And that was good hearing for us all, for there was not a man who did not long to be up and doing, though to smite a blow for Havelok should be the last deed that he might do. They made me captain of the courtmen who were Havelok's own, maybe because I had served with Alsi, and Withelm was captain of Goldberga's own guard.
Now I think that we might have slain him there, and after that have been slain ourselves, for the odds were against us, even though I had the courtmen; but that was Havelok's deed to do, for the sake of father and sisters to be avenged, and so we only cut our way out of the hall to the door, which my men threw open at once.
But she did not; and presently there seemed to come into her eyes some brave resolve, and she was herself again, looking from Alsi to Havelok, and again at Alsi. Now, too, the king looked at him up and down, as one who measures his man before a fight. And when he met Havelok's eyes he grew red, and turned away to the folk below him. "So, friends," he cried, "what say you?
"That is my thought also," said my father; "but now am I Havelok's foster-father, and for him I can make a home across the sea, where I will train him up for the time that shall surely come, when he shall return and take his father's kingdom." "That is well," the jarl said, "but you have little time.
At first we thought that we would make for Grimsby; but then it seemed best to land elsewhere, and more to the south, for we would have messages sent at once to Ragnar to call East Anglia to Havelok's banner, and Alsi would have less chance of cutting us off from him. So we sailed to Saltfleet haven, which lies some twenty-five miles southward from Grimsby.
"On my word as a king, truth it is," said Alsi hastily, for there was that in Havelok's face that he did not like. One might think that the king was growing afraid of his own kitchen knave. "If that is so, there is no more to be said," answered Havelok. "Yet you will forgive me if I say that I must have this from the lips of the princess herself as well. It may be that her mind will change."
They left the stone where he had set it, and any one may see it there to this day, and there I suppose it will be for a wonder while Havelok's name is remembered. Then they began wrestling and the like, and I left the crowd and went to Withelm, going afterwards to the widow's. I was not yet wanted by Eglaf for any housecarl duty.
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