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must be bought for the manufacture of shields。 It will be best
to send orders to the ealdormen and thanes to send hither
privately the smiths； armourers； and shield…makers in the
villages and towns。 They cannot work with the Danes ever about；
but must set up smithies here。 They must bring their tools
and such iron as they can carry； what more is required we
must buy at the large towns and bring privately in carts to
the edge of the morass。 The utmost silence and secrecy must
be observed； that the Danes may obtain no news of our
preparations until we are ready to burst out upon them。〃
A fortnight later Athelney presented a changed appearance。
A thousand men were gathered there。 Trees had been
cut down； a strong fort erected on the highest ground； and
formidable works constructed at three points where alone a
landing could be effected。 The smoke rose from a score of
great mounds； where charcoal…burners were converting timber
into fuel for the forges。 Fifty smiths and armourers were
working vigorously at forges in the open air； roofs thatched
with rushes and supported by poles being erected over them
to keep the rain and snow from the fires。 A score of boats
were threading the mazes of the marshes bringing men and
cattle to the island。 All was bustle and activity； every face
shone with renewed hope。 King Alfred himself and his thanes
moved to and fro among the workers encouraging them at
their labours。
Messengers came and went in numbers； and from all
parts of Wessex King Alfred received news of the joy which
his people felt at the tidings that he was again about to raise
his standard； and of the readiness of all to obey his summons。
So well was the secret kept that no rumour of the
storm about to burst upon them reached the Danes。 The
people； rejoicing and eager as they were； suffered no evidence
of their feelings to be apparent to their cruel masters；
who； believing the Saxons to be finally crushed； were lulled
into a false security。 The king's treasure had been brought
from its hiding…place to Athelney； and Edmund and Egbert
had also handed over their own share of the booty to the
king。 The golden cups and goblets he had refused to take；
but had gladly accepted the silver。
Edmund and Egbert had left Athelney for a few days on
a mission。 The king had described to them minutely where
he had hidden the sacred standard with the Golden Dragon。
It was in the hut of a charcoal…burner in the heart of the
forests of Wiltshire。 Upon reaching the hut； and showing to
the man the king's signet…ring； which when leaving the
standard he had told him would be the signal that any who might
come for it were sent by him； the man produced the standard
from the thatch of his cottage； in which it was deeply
buried； and hearing that it was again to be unfurled called
his two stalwart sons from their work and at once set out
with Edmund and Egbert to join the army。
Easter came and went； but the preparations were not
yet completed。 A vast supply of arms was needed； and while
the smiths laboured at their work Edmund and Egbert drilled
the fighting men who had assembled； in the tactics which
had on a small scale proved so effective。 The wedge shape
was retained； and Edmund's own band claimed the honour
of forming the apex； but it had now swollen until it contained
a thousand men； and as it moved in a solid body； with its
thick edge of spears outward； the king felt confident that it
would be able to break through the strongest line of the Danes。
》From morning till night Edmund and Egbert； assisted
by the thanes of Somerset who had gathered there； drilled
the men and taught them to rally rapidly from scattered order
into solid formation。 Unaccustomed to regular tactics
the ease and rapidity with which these movements came to
be carried out at the notes of Edmund's bugle seemed to all
to be little less than miraculous； and they awaited with
confidence and eagerness their meeting with the Danes on the
field。
At the end of April messengers were sent out bidding
the Saxons hold themselves in readiness； and on the 6th of
May Alfred moved with his force from Athelney to Egbertesstan
（now called Brixton）； lying to the east of the forest of
Selwood； which lay between Devonshire and Somerset。 The
Golden Dragon had been unfurled On the fort in Athelney；
and after crossing the marshes to the mainland it was carried
in the centre of the phalanx。
On the 12th they reached the appointed place； where
they found a great multitude of Saxons already gathered。
They had poured in from Devonshire； Somerset； and
Wiltshire； from Dorset and Hants。 In spite of the vigorous
edicts of the Danes against arms a great proportion of them
bore weapons； which had been buried in the earth； or concealed
in hollow trees or other hiding…places until the time
for action should again arrive。
As they saw the king approaching at the head of his
band； with the Golden Dragon fluttering in the breeze； a
great shout of joy arose from the multitude； and they crowded
round the monarch with shouts of welcome at his reappearance
among them； and with vows to die rather than again to
yield to the tyranny of the Northmen。 The rest of the day
was spent in distributing the newly fashioned arms to those
who needed them； and in arranging the men in bands under
their own thanes； or； in their absence； such leaders as the
king appointed。
Upon the following morning the army started； marching
in a north…easterly direction against the great camp of
the Danes at Chippenham。 That night they rested at Okeley；
and then marched on until in the afternoon they came within
sight of the Danes gathered at Ethandune； a place supposed
to be identical with Edington near Westbury。
As the time for Alfred's reappearance approached the
agitation and movement on the part of the people had
attracted the attention of the Danes； and the news of his
summons to the Saxons to meet him at Egbertesstan having come
to their ears； they gathered hastily from all parts under
Guthorn their king； who was by far the most powerful viking
who had yet appeared in England； and who ruled East Anglia
as well as Wessex。 Confident of victory the great Danish
army beheld the approach of the Saxons。 Long accustomed
to success； and superior in numbers； they regarded with
something like contempt the approach of their foes。
In the centre Alfred placed the trained phalanx which
had accompanied him from Athelney； in the centre of which
waved the Golden Dragon； by whose side he placed himself。
Its command he left in the hands of Edmund； he himself
directing the general movements of the force。 On his right
were the men of Somerset and Hants； on the left those of
Wilts； Dorset； and Devon。
His orders were that the advance was to be made with
regularity； that the whole line were to fight for a while on
the defensive； resisting the onslaught of the Danes until he
gave the word for the central phalanx to advance and burst
through the lines of the enemy； and that when these had been
thrown into confusion by this attack the flanks were to charge
foward and complete the rout。 This plan was carried out。 The
Danes advanced with thei