Others had been taken prisoners.

Others still had become hopelessly dispersed, having fled from the field of battle in diverse directions, and wandered so far, in their terror, that they had not been able to rejoin their leader in his retreat.

Then, great numbers of those who pressed on under Guthrum's command, exhausted by fatigue, or spent and fainting from their wounds, sank down by the way-side to die, while their comrades, intent only upon their own safety, pressed incessantly on.

The retreating army was thus, in a short time, reduced to a small fraction of its original force.

This remaining body, with Guthrum at their head, continued their retreat until they reached a castle which promised them protection.