Wolf shared the repast, and then the three lay down to sleep.

Egbert, overcome by the immense exertions he had made during the fight, was soon asleep; but Edmund, who had done his best to keep a brave face before his kinsman, wept for hours over the loss of his gallant father.
On the following morning Egbert and Edmund started for Croyland.

The news of the defeat at Kesteven had already reached the abbey, and terror and consternation reigned there.

Edmund went at once to his uncle and informed him of the circumstance of the death of his father and the annihilation of the Saxon army.
"Your news, Edmund, is even worse than the rumours which had reached me, and deeply do I grieve for the loss of my brave brother and of the many valiant men who died with him.

This evening or to-morrow the spoilers will be here, and doubtless will do to Croyland as they have done to all the other abbeys and monasteries which have fallen into their hands.