I fired all three in the cabins under the fore deck, so that, as their bows were towards the town, the light would not be seen till I was away.
Then we went swiftly back to Kolgrim, and as I mounted and rode off, the blaze flared up behind us, for the tarred timbers burned fiercely in the wind.
"That will tell Odda that the Danes are flying.

And maybe it will save Wareham town from fire, for they will think we are on them.

So I have spoiled Jarl Osmund's supper for him." Then I minded that this would terrify the Lady Thora maybe, and that put me out of conceit with my doings for a moment.

But it was plain that she was brave enough, for there were many things to fray her in the whole of this matter, though perhaps it was because Kolgrim stayed beyond the river that she made so sure that I was a man of King Alfred's and no friend to the Danes.
So we rode away, pleased enough with the night's work, and reached Poole in broad daylight, while the gale was slackening.

Well pleased was Odda to see me back, and to hear my news.
Then he asked me what I would do next.