At length Edmund bade messengers go through the camp, and cause every man to retire to rest, for they must all be stirring by dawn on the morrow.
He himself, with Alfgar, went through the host and then inspected the watch. When he came to the outpost nearest the foe he found Hermann on duty as officer of the watch, and spoke earnestly to him and his men.
"Be on your guard," he said, "as men who know that the welfare of England depends upon them; if you see the least movement on the part of the crafty Canute, rouse the camp at once; they are not unlikely to attack us by night if they can surprise us, not otherwise."
Alfgar was standing on a low mound contemplating the opposite camp, that of his own countrymen, attentively.
"Well, Alfgar, my son, do you see aught?" said Edmund approaching him.
"I fancied I saw some figures seek the hollow where the ditch passes from us to them."
"We will wait and see whether aught comes of it," said the king; "how do you like our prospects?"
"Well, my lord, I would sooner be with you at this moment than in any other place in England."
"Even than in Aescendune?"
"Yes; just now."