He told his tale, how he had conceived suspicions that the Danes intended a winter descent; how he had risked his life (in the exuberance of youthful daring) to ascertain the truth; how, trusting to his knowledge of Carisbrooke, wherein he had spent many pleasant days in his boyhood, he had ventured amongst the Danes as a gleeman, in imitation of Alfred of old; how there he had assisted, unsuspected, at a meeting of the council in the great hall, and heard it decided to invade England, and finally how he had escaped. And then he continued: "And in that council I heard that the Danes had a secret friend in the English army, who ever gave them due warning of our movements, and who caused all the miscarriage of our last campaign. Stand forth, Edric Streorn, for thou art the man, and my sword shall prove it, if need be." "Edmund, thou ravest," cried the king; "produce thy witnesses." "Alfgar, son of Anlaf, answer; whom didst thou espy talking with Sweyn?" "Edric Streorn." "How didst know him?" "Because he threatened my life on St. Brice's night, and I had often seen him while dwelling in Mercia." "A Dane witnessing against a free-born Englishman? Can it be endured?" cried Ethelred. "What, here, my royal guard!--here! here! your King is insulted--insulted, and by his son and his son's minions." The guard rushed in, their weapons in their hands. "Seize my son, the false Edmund." "Here I am," quietly said the hero of the English army, for such he was, although not recognised as such by the government of his father. "Here I am; what Englishman will bind me?" The men stood as if paralysed. "Will you not obey?" shouted the weak Ethelred, and stamped in impotent anger on the floor. But they would not--they could not touch Edmund. Edric whispered in the king's ear. "I was wrong," said the king; "retire, guards. "Edmund, come with me; tell me what you have seen. I will hear you, and judge between you and my Edric--judge fairly." "Wait till my return, Alfgar." Alfgar waited. No one spoke to him; all the company seemed utterly bewildered, as well they might be until, after the expiration of an hour, during which time Ednoth had left the hall, and the company broke up by degrees, an officer of the court came and whispered in his ear that Edmund awaited him without the gates. He left the table at once, and proceeded beyond the precincts of the palace, following his guide. "Where is the prince?" "He has had a stormy interview with his father, and has just left him, refusing to lodge in the palace, to sleep without the precincts. I am to conduct you thither."