It was Heregar.
"I thought you slain, friend," I said gladly.
"Would that I were! for my charge is lost; they have my banner," he answered.
"That may be won back yet," I said.

"But there is no shame to you; we were outnumbered by more than two to one." "I have borne it through ten battles," he said, and that was all; but he put his face in his hands and groaned.
Now I looked out over the field we had left, and saw the Danes scattering in many ways.

Some were going in a long line up the steep hill beyond which the village lay, and over this line swayed and danced the lost banner.

There was a crowd of our men from the broken wings gathered there--drawn together by the king as he fled, as I knew afterwards; and I think the Danes bore our banner with them in order to deceive them.

I knew that the lane was deep and hollow up which they must go, and there were woods on either side.
Whereat I sprang up.
"Thane," I said, "here is a chance for us to win back the banner, as I think." He looked up sharply, and I pointed.
"Let us ride at once into the wood, and wait for them to pass us.
Then, if we dare, we can surely dash through them." Kolgrim sat close to me, and our horses were tethered to a spear.
He rose up when he heard me speak, saying: "Here is more madness.