Behind each of the threatened points they raised banks of earth ten feet high, and cut away the bank perpendicularly behind the shattered wall, so that the assailants as they poured in at the gaps would have to leap ten feet down.
Each night the masses of wall which fell inside were cleared away, and when the breach was complete, and it was evident that the assault would take place the next morning, the hides which had been prepared were laid with the hairy side down, on the ground below.

Through them they drove firmly into the ground numbers of pikes with the heads sticking up one or two feet, and pointed stakes hardened in the fire.

Then satisfied that all had been done the Saxons lay down to rest.
In the morning the Danes advanced to the assault.

This time they were but little annoyed in their advance by the archers.

These were posted on the walls at each side of the gaps to shoot down at the backs of the Danes after they had entered.