The Kings Sons | Page 6

you think if you were to try, you could get out on
to the grass? Try and struggle out before they come back."
"But if I began to sink--"
"Then I should run and shout to the shepherds to come and pull you
out."
"But I shouldn't like you to leave me to sink alone, my boy."
"It would be a long, long time before you were regularly mired," said
the boy. "Now, you try! Give me both hands."
Father Swythe did as he was told, and, while his young companion
threw himself back and dragged, the monk kicked and struggled
bravely, and with such good effect that, to the surprise of both, he
glided slowly through the reeds, and in less than a minute he sat up
panting on the short grass, with the water streaming from the front of
his gown.

"That was very brave and nice of you, my boy," he said, as he rose to
his feet, "and I shall never forget it."
"Oh, it was easy enough!" said Fred, laughing. "There, let's go over the
hill, and when the boys come back they'll begin poking the pole about
down among the reeds, and think we're both smothered. No: here they
come. Look, they're bringing the pole."
Surely enough they were; but the monk did not stop. He began trudging
up hill through the hot sunshine so as to get back to take off his wet
cassock and put on an old one that was dry, Fred choosing to stay with
him and to talk about the bees and birds and flowers they passed, of
which the monk could talk in an interesting way, even though it was a
thousand years ago.
As for the three others, they threw down the pole as soon as they saw
that the monk was safe, and then followed at a distance to the big
castle-like house--the palace in which the King dwelt; but there was
very little reading that afternoon; for there was too much to say about
the fresh attack made by the Danes, who had come up the river and
landed, to ravage the country. Ethelwulf, who was not a very warlike
King, was very anxious as to the result of the fight, and was busy
getting more men together by means of his jarls or chiefs, so as to go to
the help of those who had already set out.
In fact, instead of studying Latin and learning to write, the boys stood
about learning something of the art of war, and what was to be done to
defend their country when an invading enemy was ravaging the land.
CHAPTER THREE.
FRED IS LEFT BEHIND.
Time went on, and King Ethelwulf gathered and led off to the
assistance of Jarl Cerda all the fighting-men he could assemble, as a
wounded messenger had arrived from that noble, asking the King for
more help, for he was sore pressed by the enemy.

The Danes, he sent word, were in great force, and more and more of
their war-galleys kept coming up the river, the occupants slaying and
destroying wherever they landed.
It was an anxious time for Queen Osburga, whose eyes often looked red
as if she had been weeping, while her cheeks grew white and thin, and
she shut herself up a great deal, so that no one should see her.
The men-folk had nearly all departed from the place, and there was no
one to exercise authority, so, as soon as the four boys had recovered
from their disappointment at not being allowed to go with the little
army their father led, they began to look upon it as a free and jovial
time in which they could do whatever pleased them most, and this they
did to such an extent that poor Swythe's face became full of lines, and
after trying in vain to make his pupils continue their studies, and
putting up with a great amount of disobedience on their part, he began
to reproach them in his mild way. He was one of the gentlest and most
amiable of men, but the wilfulness of the boys had at length compelled
him to protest.
"It seems so shocking," he said, rather piteously. "I only beg and pray
of you all, now that the King is at the war and our dear lady the Queen
in such sorrow and trouble, to try your best to get on with your lessons,
so that the King may feel proud of his sons when he returns. Ethelbald
laughs and mocks at me; Ethelbert says he will not study; Ethelred
follows his example; and Alfred, of whom I expected better things, has
just told me he does not mind a bit what I say, and that he will do just
as