And it was well for us that the tide was so low, for else we should surely have been spied.
Yet we got them into the creek, Elgar making them fast so that they would rise as the water rose.

Then he said he would swim back, and if he could manage it would raise the large boat and bring that also.
So without climbing out from under the high banks of the creek he splashed out into the tideway, and started back.
Now Dudda and I must make our way along to the horses, and so we began to get out of the creek, which was very deep, at this low ebb of the water, below the level of the meadows.

Dudda was up the bank first, and looked towards Combwich.

Then he dropped back suddenly, and bade me creep up warily and look also, through the grass.
So I did, and then knew how near an escape we had had, for there was a party of Danes, idlers as it seemed, among the burnt huts, turning over the ashes with their spears and throwing stones into the water.
Then I saw Elgar's head halfway across the river, and knew he could not see the Danes over the high bank.

He was swimming straight for them, and unless he caught sight of one who stood nearest, surely he was lost.