What was happening I must tell, therefore, as Owen has told me, for
I saw nothing to speak of.

As the horn was blown, one of the men who had been on guard came
into the hall hastily and spoke to my father.

"The house is beset, Lord. Stuf blew the horn and bade me tell you.
There are men all round the stockade."

"Outlaws?"

The man shook his head.

"We think not, Lord. But it is dark, and we cannot fairly see them.
We heard them call one 'Thane.' Nor are there any outland voices
among them, as there would be were they outlaws."

Then my father armed himself in haste and went out. The night was
very dark, and it was raining a little. Stuf had shut the stockade
gates, which were strong enough, and had reared a ladder against
the timbers that he might look over.

Close to the ladder stood Owen, armed also, for he had been out to
see that all was quiet and that the men were on guard.

"There are men everywhere," he said. "I would we had some light."

"Heave a torch on the straw stack," my father answered; "there will
be enough then."