Oh, how shall I thank you for this ?" Then she glanced at my helm again, and drew a sudden little quick breath.
"Is it possible that you are Alfred of Wessex?
It were like what they say of him to do as you have done for a friendless maiden." Then she caught my hand and held it in both of hers, looking half fearfully at me.
"Lady," I said, "I am not King Alfred, nor would I be.

Come, let us hasten." "I will take you no further," she said then.

"Now I am sure that you are of the Northmen that were seen with the Saxons.

You are not of us, and I shall lose you your life." Then came the quick trot of horses, and I saw a little troop coming down the street, their arms flashing in the streaks of moonlight between the houses.
"I will see you in good hands, Lady Thora," I answered.

"Who are these coming ?" "It is my father," she said, and drew me back deeper into shadow.
After the horsemen and beside them ran men who bore planks and ropes, and it was plain that the jarl had found out his loss, and hastened to bridge the gap and cross the river.
I saw that I could keep up the pretence no longer.
"Let me walk behind you as your servant," I said.