There is danger at hand, I fear." "Ah," he answered, setting down his pen, and rising hastily.

"The Danes at last.

Well, we have long expected them to come to us, as to our brethren elsewhere.

But what shall the poor queen do ?" "Is there no place where you can hide her ?" I said.
"None," he answered gloomily.

"Tell me more." I told him, and he shook his head.
"Men in the narrow waters, and men in the open," he muttered.
"Hemmed in on every side." "Danes in the open sea ?" I said, with a new fear on me.