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Across the entrance to this passage floated some bundles
of light rushes。 These the boy drew out one by one。 Attached
to each was a piece of cord which； being pulled upon；
brought to the surface a large cage； constructed somewhat
on the plan of a modern eel or lobster pot。 They were baited
by pieces of dead fish； and from them the boy extracted half
a score of eels and as many fish of different kinds。
〃Not a bad haul；〃 he said as he lowered the cages to the
bottom again。 〃Now let us see what we have got in our pen。〃
He paddled a short way along the broad to a point where
a little lane of water ran up through the rushes。 This
narrowed rapidly and the lad got out from his boat into the
water； as the coracle could proceed no further between the lines
of rushes。 The water was knee…deep and the bottom soft and
oozy。 At the end of the creek it narrowed until the rushes
were but a foot apart。 They were bent over here； as it would
seem to a superficial observer naturally； but a close
examination would show that those facing each other were tied
together where they crossed at a distance of a couple of feet
above the water； forming a sort of tunnel。 Two feet farther
on this ceased； and the rushes were succeeded by lines of
strong osier withies； an inch or two apart； arched over and
fastened together。 At this point was a sort of hanging door
formed of rushes backed with osiers； and so arranged that at
the slightest push from without the door lifted and enabled a
wild…fowl to pass under； but dropping behind it prevented its
exit。 The osier tunnel widened out to a sort of inverted basket
three feet in diameter。
On the surface of the creek floated some grain which
had been scattered there the evening before as a bait。 The
lad left the creek before he got to the narrower part； and；
making a small circuit in the swamp； came down upon the
pen。
〃Good！〃 he said； 〃I am in luck to…day； here are three fine
ducks。〃
Bending the yielding osiers aside； he drew out the ducks
one by one； wrung their necks； and passing their heads
through his girdle； made his way again to the coracle。 Then
he scattered another handful or two of grain on the water；
sparingly near the mouth of the creek； but more thickly at
the entrance to the trap； and then paddled back again by the
way he had come。
Almost noiselessly as he dipped the paddle in the water；
the hound's quick ear had caught the sound； and he was standing
at the edge of the swamp； wagging his tail in dignified
welcome as his master stepped on to dry land。
〃There； Wolf； what do you think of that？ A good score
of eels and fish and three fine wild ducks。 That means bones
for you with your meal to…nightnot to satisfy your hunger；
you know； for they would not be of much use in that way； but
to give a flavour to your supper。 Now let us make the fire up
and pluck the birds； for I warrant me that father and Egbert；
if they return this evening； will be sharp…set。 There are the
cakes to bake too； so you see there is work for the next hour
or two。〃
The sun had set now； and the flames； dancing up as the
boy threw an armful of dry wood on the fire； gave the hut a
more cheerful appearance。 For some time the lad busied
himself with preparation for supper。 The three ducks were
plucked in readiness for putting over the fire should they be
required； cakes of coarse rye…flour were made and placed in
the red ashes of the fire； and then the lad threw himself down
by the side of the dog。
〃No； Wolf； it is no use your looking at those ducks。 I am
not going to roast them if no one comes； I have got half a one
left from dinner。〃 After sitting quiet for half an hour the dog
suddenly raised himself into a sitting position； with ears erect
and muzzle pointed towards the door； then he gave a low
whine； and his tail began to beat the ground rapidly。
〃What！ do you hear them； old fellow？〃 the boy said；
leaping to his feet。 〃I wish my ears were as sharp as yours are；
Wolf； there would be no fear then of being caught asleep。
Come on； old boy； let us go and meet them。〃
It was some minutes after he reached the edge of the
swamp before the boy could hear the sounds which the quick
ears of the hound had detected。 Then he heard a faint splashing
noise； and a minute or two later two figures were seen wading
through the water。
〃Welcome back； father；〃 the lad cried。 〃I was beginning
to be anxious about you； for here we are at the end of the
fourth day。〃
〃I did not name any hour； Edmund；〃 the boy's father
said； as he stepped from the water； 〃but I own that I did not
reckon upon being so late； but in truth Egbert and I missed
our way in the windings of these swamps； and should not
have been back to…night had we not luckily fallen upon a man
fishing； who was able to put us right。 You have got some
supper； I hope； for Egbert and I are as hungry as wolves； for
we have had nothing since we started before sunrise。〃
〃I have plenty to eat； father； but you will have to wait till
it is cooked； for it was no use putting it over the fire until I
knew that you would return； but there is a good fire； and you
will not have to wait long。 And how has it fared with you；
and what is the news？〃
〃The news is bad； Edmund。 The Danes are ever receiving
reinforcements from Mercia； and scarce a day passes but
fresh bands arrive at Thetford； and I fear that ere long East
Anglia； like Northumbria； will fall into their clutches。 Nay；
unless we soon make head against them they will come to
occupy all the island； just as did our forefathers。〃
〃That were shame indeed；〃 Edmund exclaimed。 〃We
know that the people conquered by our ancestors were
unwarlike and cowardly； but it would be shame indeed were
we Saxons so to be overcome by the Danes； seeing moreover
that we have the help of God； being Christians； while the
Danes are pagans and idolaters。〃
〃Nevertheless； my son； for the last five years these heathen
have been masters of Northumbria； have wasted the
whole country； and have plundered and destroyed the
churches and monasteries。 At present they have but made a
beginning here in East Anglia； but if they continue to flock
in they will soon overrun the whole country； instead of having；
as at present； a mere foothold near the rivers except for
those who have come down to Thetford。 We have been among
the first sufferers； seeing that our lands lie round Thetford；
and hitherto I have hoped that there would be a general rising
against these invaders； but the king is indolent and unwarlike；
and I see that he will not arouse himself and call
his ealdormen and thanes together for a united effort until it
is too late。 Already from the north the Danes are flocking
down into Mercia； and although the advent of the West Saxons
to the aid of the King of Mercia forced them to retreat
for a while； I doubt not that they will soon pour down again。〃
〃'Tis a pity； father； that the Saxons are not all under one
leading； then we might surely defend England against the
Danes。 If the people did but rise and fall upon each band of
Northmen as they arrived they would get no footing among us。〃
〃Yes；〃 the father replied； 〃it is the unhappy divisions
betwe