Then will be no suspicion if the Danes see us from across the water." That was wise counsel, and we left our arms in a baggage wagon, borrowing frocks from the churls who followed us, and only keeping our seaxes in our belts.
Then Dudda found a horse that was led with the wagons, and I bade the man whose it was lend it to him, promising good hire for its use.

And so we two rode off together across the marshland, away by Burnham, while the levy held on steadily by the main road.
Then was I glad that I had brought the collier, for the marsh was treacherous and hard to pass in places.

But he knew the firm ground, as it were, by nature, and we went on quickly enough.

Now and then we passed huts, but they were empty; for away across the wide river mouth at Burnham, though we rode not into that village, we could see the six long black ships as they lay at Stert, and the smoke of the fires their guard had made on shore.
But on this side of the river they had been, for Burnham was but a heap of ashes.

They had crossed in their small boats, doubtless, and found the place empty.
Then at last we came to a hut some two miles off in the marshes from Combwich, and in that we left our horses, giving them hay from the little rick that stood thereby.