One thing I could do, I could fire the beacon on the Quantocks. That was a good thought; and I hurried to the point where I knew it was ever piled, ready, since the day of Charnmouth fight two years agone.
I found it, and, hammering with the flint I had found in case of such a necessity as last night's, I kindled the dry fern at its foot to windward, and up it blazed. Then in a quarter hour's time it was answered from Brent, and from a score of hills around.
Now, as I stood by the fire, I heard the sound of running footsteps, far off yet, and knew they were the messengers who were bidden to fire the beacon. So I slipped aside into cover of its smoke, and lay down in a little hollow under some bushes, where I could both see and hear them when they came.
They were four in all, and were panting from their run.
"Who fired the beacon?" said one, looking round.
"Never mind," said another; "we shall have credit for mighty diligence in doing it."
"But," said the first, "he should be here."
Then they forgot that in the greater interest they had left, or escaped from, and began to talk of the vikings.
The men from two ships had landed, I learned, and had surprised the place; scarce had any time to flee; none to save goods. They mentioned certain names of the slain whom they had seen fall, and of these one was the franklin whom I was going to seek. There was no help for me thence now.
One man said he had heard there were more ships lying off; but they did not know how many, and I could see they had been in too great haste to care to learn.