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upon the Saxons。 In vain； however； he tried to reach them
with his long sword。 As he neared them the front line of the
Saxons dropped on one knee； and as the Danes with their
shields dashed against the spears and strove to cut through
them； the kneeling men were able with their pikes to thrust
at the unguarded portions of the bodies below their shields；
and many fell grievously wounded。 After trying for some
time in vain； Haffa； finding that individual effort did not
suffice to break through the Saxon spears； formed his men
up in line four deep； and advanced in a solid body so as to
overwhelm them。
The Saxons now rose to their feet。 The spears； instead
of being pointed outwards； were inclined towards the front；
and the wedge advanced against the Danes。 The Saxon war cry
rose loud as they neared the Danish line； and then； still
maintaining their close formation； they charged upon it。 The
assault was irresistible。 The whole weight was thrown upon
a point； and preceded； as it was； by the densely…packed spears；
it burst through the Danish line as if the latter had been
composed of osier twigs； bearing down all in its way。
With shouts of surprise the Danes broke up their line
and closed in a thick mass round the Saxons； those behind
pressing forward and impeding the motions of the warriors
actually engaged。 The Saxons no longer kept stationary。 In
obedience to Edmund's orders the triangle advanced； sometimes
with one angle in front； sometimes with another； but
whichever way it moved sweeping away the Danes opposed
to it； while the archers from the centre shot fast and strong
into the mass of the enemy。
Haffa himself； trying to oppose the advance of the
wedge； was slain by a blow of Egbert's axe； and after half an
hour's fierce fighting； the Danes； having lost upwards of fifty
of their best men； and finding all their efforts to produce an
impression upon the Saxons vain； desisted from the attack
and fled。
At once the wedge broke up； and the Saxons followed
in hot pursuit； cutting down their flying enemies。 Obedient；
however； to Edmund's repeated shouts they kept fairly together；
and when the Danes； thinking them broken and disordered；
turned to fall upon them； a single note of the horn
brought them instantly together again； and the astonished
Danes saw the phalanx which had proved so fatal to them
prepared to receive their attack。 This they did not attempt to
deliver； but took to flight； the Saxons； as before； pursuing；
and twice as many of the Danes were slain in the retreat as in
the first attack。
The pursuit was continued for many miles； and then；
fearing that he might come across some fresh body of the
enemy； Edmund called off his men。 Great was the triumph
of the Saxons。 A few of them had suffered from wounds
more or less serious； but not one had fallen。 They had
defeated a body of Danes four times their own force； and had
killed nearly half of them； and they felt confident that the
tactics which they had adopted would enable them in future
to defeat any scattered bodies of Danes they might meet。
For a week after the battle they rested； spending their
time in further improving themselves in their drill；
practicing especially the alterations of the position of
the spears requisite when changing from a defensive attitude；
with the pikes at right angles to each face； to that of an
attack； when the spears of both faces of the advancing wedge
were all directed forward。 A messenger arrived from the king；
to whom Edmund had sent the news of his various successes；
and Alfred sent his warmest congratulations and thanks for
the great results which had been gained with so small a force；
the king confessing that he was unable to understand how with
such disproportionate numbers Edmund could so totally have
routed the force of so distinguished a leader as Haffa。
For some weeks Edmund continued the work of checking
the depredations of the Danes； and so successful was he
that the freebooters became seized with a superstitious awe
of his band。 The rapidity of its maneuvering； the manner in
which men； at one moment scattered； were in another formed
in a serried mass； against which all their efforts broke as
waves against a rock； seemed to them to be something
superhuman。 In that part of Wessex； therefore； the invaders
gradually withdrew their forces across the frontier； but in
other parts of the country； the tide of invasion being
unchecked； large tracts of country had been devastated； and
the West Saxons could nowhere make head against them。 One day
a messenger reached Edmund telling him that a large Danish
army was approaching Sherborne； and urging him to return
instantly to the defence of his earldom。
With rapid marches he proceeded thither； and on arriving
at his house he found that the Danes were but a few miles
away； and that the whole country was in a state of panic。 He
at once sent off messengers in all directions； bidding the
people hasten with their wives and families； their herds and
valuables； to the fort。 His return to some extent restored
confidence。 The news of the victories he had gained over
the Danes had reached Sherborne； and the confidence of
their power to defeat the invaders which his followers
expressed as they scattered to their respective farms again
raised the courage of the people。
All through the night bands of fugitives poured into the
fort； and by morning the whole of the people for many miles
round were assembled there。 Egbert and Edmund busied
themselves in assigning to each his duty and station。 All the
men capable of bearing arms were told off to posts on the
walls。 The old men and young boys were to draw water and
look after the cattle； the women to cook and attend to the
wounded。 The men of his own band were not placed upon
the walls； but were held in readiness as a reserve to move to
any point which might be threatened； and to take part in
sorties against the enemy。
Soon smoke was seen rising up in many directions； showing
that the enemy were at their accustomed work。 Cries
broke from the women； and exclamations of rage from the
men； as they recognized by the direction of the smoke that
their own homesteads and villages were in the hands of the
spoilers。 About mid…day a party of mounted Danes rode up
towards the fort and made a circuit of it。 When they had
satisfied themselves as to the formidable nature of its
defences they rode off again； and for the rest of the day
none of the enemy approached the fort。
CHARTER VI： THE SAXON FORT
A strict watch was kept all night； and several scouts
were sent out。 These on their return reported that
the Danes were feasting； having slain many cattle and
broached the casks of mead which they found in the cellars
of Edmund's house。 This they had not burned nor the houses
around it； intending； as the scouts supposed； to make it their
headquarters while they attacked the fort。
Edmund and Egbert agreed that it would be well to show
the Danes at once that they had an active and enterprising
foe to deal with； they therefore awakened their band； who
were sleeping on skins close to the gate； and with them started
out。
It