bushes seeking more. As I did so, by and by, I came in sight of the
beacon on the hilltop, and looking up at it, rather blaming my
carelessness, saw that but two men were there, tending it, and from
their silver collars I knew that they were thralls. They were putting on
green bushes to make a smother and black smoke that would warn men that
the enemy were yet at hand.

When I saw that both the men were strange to me, I went up to them, as
though come to find out news of the business. And they saluted me,
evidently not knowing me. I talked with them awhile, and then shared
their breakfast with them, glad enough of it. They had, however, no more
to tell me than I had already learnt, beyond tales of horror brought by
the fugitives of last night, which I will not write.

Those people had soon passed on, fearing, as each new group came up,
that the enemy was on their heels. They had doubtless scattered into the
villages beyond.

So the time went idly, and the sun rose, while yet the tide fell and the
ships lay beneath us. Smoke, as of cooking fires, rose from their decks,
and they were evidently in no hurry. Nor need they be. In those days we
had no warships such as our wise king has made us since then, and none
could harm them on the open water.

In an hour's time, however, there came a change over the sea. Little
waves began to curl over it, and when the sun broke out it flashed
bright where the wind came over in flaws here and there. Then from each
ship were unfurled great sails, striped in bright colours, and one by
one they got under way, and headed over towards the Welsh coast, beyond
channel. The tide had turned.