"Happily we have all our force; the feast has brought them all here. There would be from sixty to seventy men, besides a score of boys."
"And how are you provided with weapons?"
"Each man has a battle-axe, and there are scores of spears in the armoury."
"And arrows?"
"Whole sheaves of them; and as good yew bows as were ever bent."
"Come, we shall do; and now about provisions?"
"You see we have bounteous fare now, but it would not last many days."
"Many days we shall not want it--many days? Why, the levies must all be out within twenty-four hours, and the Danes are not strong enough to maintain themselves here. It is but a raid; but they might all have been taken or slain had my father but believed me. As it is, they have shed much innocent blood by this time."
"You think, then, our buildings are capable of defence?"
"Assuredly; it would be madness to sacrifice such a position. If the Danes are about in the neighbourhood, it would be far more dangerous to expose your helpless ones without the fortifications. Have you all your people here, or are there a few sick?"