The skins of the oxen killed for the use of the garrison were carefully laid aside, the inside being thickly rubbed with grease.
The Danish preparations were at length completed, the war-engines were brought up and began to hurl great stones against the wall at three points.

The Saxons kept up a constant fire of arrows at those employed at working them, but the Danes, though losing many men, threw up breastworks to protect them.
The Saxons manufactured many broad ladders, and in the middle of the night, lowering these over the walls, they descended noiselessly, and three strong bodies fell upon the Danes guarding the engines.

These fought stoutly, but were driven back, the engines were destroyed, and the Saxons retired to their walls again and drew up their ladders before the main body of Danes could arrive from the camp.

This caused a delay of some days in the siege, but fresh engines having been constructed, the assault on the walls was recommenced, this time the whole Danish army moving out and sleeping at night close to them.
After three days' battering, breaches of from thirty to fifty feet wide were effected in the walls.

The Saxons had not been idle.