The trees of
the grove were two hundred yards from the house, maybe, and among them
loomed high and black the watchtower I had seen from the sea. A wide
path had been cut to it, and the moonlight shone straight down this to
the door of the building.
Now Biorn went out first, and then he helped out Goldberga, and after
her we made Havelok go; and we called to these three to get to the tower
as Withelm came next, for every moment I looked to see our enemies--if
they are to be called so when I hardly suppose they knew what they were
fighting about--come round to fall on the back of the house.
Because of Goldberga they went; and Biorn opened the tower door, and she
passed into the blackness of its entry, but the two men stayed outside
for us. And we three were all out of the house when the first of the
crowd bethought themselves, and made for the back, and saw us.
At once they raised a shout and a rush, and we did not think it worth
while to wait for them, as they would get between us and the tower,
which was open for us. So we ran, and they were, some twenty of them,
hard at our heels as we reached the door, and half fell inside, for the
winding stairway was close to the entry. I think that Biorn and Havelok
had made their plans as they saw what was coming, for Havelok followed
us and stood in the doorway, while Biorn was just outside with his axe
ready.
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