shire and the adjoining lands, where we can still trace their settlements by the Danish names they gave them. About one-fourth of the village names in Lincolnshire end in the suffix by, and we get such unmistakably Danish names as Kirkby, Asgardby, Grimsby, and Raithby, which all go to show that this district was once the residence of a Danish population.

Ye Mariners of England!

Ye Mariners of England!
That guard our native seas;

Whose flag has braved a thousand years
The battle and the breeze;

Your glorious standard launch again

To match another foe!

And sweep through the deep,

While the stormy winds do blow;
While the battle rages loud and long,
And the stormy winds do blow.

The spirits of your fathers

Shall start from every wave!

For the deck it was their field of fame,
And Ocean was their grave:

Where Blake and mighty Nelson fell

Your manly hearts shall glow,
As ye sweep through the deep

While the stormy winds do blow;
While the battle rages loud and long,

And the stormy winds do blow.

Britannia needs no bulwarks,
No towers along the steep;

Her march is o'er the mountain-waves
Her home is on the deep.

With thunders from her native oak
She quells the floods below,

As they roar on the shore,

When the stormy winds do blow;
When the battle rages loud and long,
And the stormy winds do blow.

The meteor flag of England
Shall yet terrific burn;

Till danger's troubled night depart,

Then, then, ye ocean warriors!

Our song and feast shall flow
To the fame of your name,

When the storm has ceased to blow;
When the fiery fight is heard no more,
And the storm has ceased to blow.

THOMAS CAMPBELL.

CHAPTER XVI.

IN THE WILDS OF SOMERSET.

We now come to the year 878, which has been said to be "the greatest and saddest and most glorious in all Alfred's life." It would appear that part of the Danish host had withdrawn to Gloucester, and

that Alfred had disbanded his army, evidently under the impression that his enemies meant to keep their oaths. But again his hopes were shattered, for a new band of the Northmen, under a great leader, Hubba, came to the assistance of their comrades, and very soon a new attack was directed on Wessex. And so, at the beginning of winter in 877, a great storm began, which burst over the kingdom in the early days of 878.

The attack was carried on by land and water, the fleet of twenty-three Danish ships being commanded by Hubba. The land army marched into Wiltshire and took possession of Chippenham, a royal castle on the left bank of the Avon. Making this their headquarters, the Danes ranged the country, destroying everything with fire and sword. In fact, the old chronicler says "they overspread the land like locusts, and seemed, like them, to rise out of it." Many of the West Saxons, once so brave, were now seized with fear, and those who were able fled to the continent. Bishops, priests, and monks gathered together their relics, precious stones, and ornaments from the monasteries, and carried them to places of safety; but the common people had to remain, and their cruel oppressors reduced them to a condition of servitude.

In the midst of all the disorder and defeat, we have one bright picture of the bravery of the WestSaxons. Many faithful followers of Alfred had thrown themselves into a fortress in Devonshire. They had fought bravely in the open field with the Danes, and now, when forced to give way, they retired

behind the walls of this fortress at Cynwith.

The Danes surrounded the place and thought they could starve the gallant garrison into surrender. But they were rudely deceived, for, in spite of a scarcity of water, the men held out bravely. Not only did this devoted body of men defend themselves from attack, but they determined to make an attempt to assail the enemy, even if they perished in the effort. So, early one morning, even at the dawn of day, they sallied forth and surprised the Danish army. They gained a complete victory, leaving dead on the field nearly one thousand Danes and the great seaking, Hubba.

There is a story connected with this battle, which relates that the Danish standard called Raven fell into the hands of the victors. It is said that the three sisters of Inguar and Hubba wove that flag and got it ready in one day. This standard was carried into every battle, and the Danes had a tradition that, if they were to gain the victory, a live crow would appear flying in the middle of the flag; but if they were doomed to defeat, it would hang motionless.

But this brilliant little victory was the last effort to resist the Danes. The English Chronicle gives us the result of all the mischief wrought by the Danes in a few sentences. It says: "And many of the people they drove beyond sea, and of the remainder the greater part they subdued and forced to obey them, except King Alfred. And he, with a small band, with difficulty, retreated to the woods and to the fastnesses of the moors."