But it was noon before he could lead them to attack us, and by that time he learned that Odda had halted above the town, and need not be feared.

But by that time also every post of vantage along the hills was in our hands, and if Edington height was to be held by Danes again, it must be won by hard fighting.

That is a thing that no Dane shrinks from, and now for Guthrum there was nought else to be done, for he was surrounded, as it were.
No man saw the whole of that fight, for it began at noon, as I have said, when Guthrum turned to find the hillward road blocked behind him.

And from that time on it raged from spur to spur and point to point, as step by step the Danes won back to the hillsides.

But the crest of the hill they never gained, save where for a time they might set foot and be driven headlong in turn by those who had given way before them at first.