upon the whole future of the English people. School histories
pass briefly over them; and the incident of the burned cake
is that which is, of all the actions of a great and glorious
reign, the most prominent in boys' minds. In this story I have
tried to supply the deficiency. Fortunately in the Saxon
Chronicles and in the life of King Alfred written by his friend
and counsellor Asser, we have a trustworthy account of the events
and battles which first laid Wessex prostrate beneath the foot of
the Danes, and finally freed England for many years from the
invaders. These histories I have faithfully followed. The account
of the siege of Paris is taken from a very full and detailed
history of that event by the Abbe D'Abbon, who was a witness
of the scenes he described.

Yours sincerely,
G. A. HENTY




CHAPTER I: THE FUGITIVES



A low hut built of turf roughly thatched with rushes
and standing on the highest spot of some slightly
raised ground. It was surrounded by a tangled growth
of bushes and low trees, through which a narrow and winding
path gave admission to the narrow space on which the
hut stood. The ground sloped rapidly. Twenty yards from