Each day did the Saxon King send and ask them whether they would yield to him, and each day they sent back an answer that they would not. But Alfred made no attempt to attack them, for he knew that hunger must do its work in the end. And at the end of that fortnight Guthrun called a great meeting of all his warriors, and asked them what should be done-- "We wait in vain for aid," he said, "and this Alfred grows in power each day. Men have wearied of our cruelty and hate us for our deeds; and methinks sometimes that I hate myself for having taken part in some things that have gone. Now, what can we do? We can stay till hunger slays us--but that is not a warrior's death." "We can go forth sword in hand and die like heroes," said one holda; and the others nodded. "That is a hero death," Guthrun said, "but it is death, and life is sweet." "We may not go back to the Northland with this shame tale," said another. "Landless and nameless should we then be, and all men would scoff at us." "This England is a fair land, and plenteous," said Guthrun, "and here it would be good to stay." "And here we cannot stay, unless it be in the death-sleep," was the reply he received. "Softly," he replied. "Here we can abide as Alfred's thanes. If we swear obedience to him, he will give us land, and we can live in peace; and that is better than this perpetual slaying and harrying, and better than being slain." Then the holdas were silent, and they pondered; and at last one said gravely-- "Now, Guthrun, the matter is thus. Alfred may do as thou sayest if we are Christians; but Alfred will not do so if we are worshippers of our gods. For myself," and he laughed bitterly, "I care little what gods I worship, and the gods of our land have failed us." Now again all the holdas bent their brows and thought. And Guthrun spoke and said that long he had pondered this thing; and that he felt that the gods of the Northland were no gods, but only the creatures of sagas; but that the Lord Christ was a God indeed, who had been on earth amongst men, and had been spoken with. And he told them how the maiden Edgiva had spoken with him concerning the matter; and how she had said that Wulnoth the Wanderer was a Christian. And he had determined to abide by the issue of the fight; and to say that did Wulnoth conquer, then the Lord Christ was the true God; and that if Hungwar conquered, that the gods of the Northland were the mightier. "Ye know how the fight went," he said--"how Hungwar was shamed, and broken, and slain. To my mind, the Christians' God is the true God; and if Alfred will but make terms with us, and accept our service, I, for my part, am right ready to accept the faith of this land and remain here in peace." Then rose one old graybeard of a warrior, and he spoke, leaning on his axe, and his voice was deep and full, and he said--