Then we were silent, listening to the feet and voices overhead. The
Danes found the belfry presently, and began to toll the bell
unskillfully while the men below jeered at those who handled the
ropes. Then the bell clashed twice strangely, and the prior laughed
outright.

"The clumsy churls have overthrown her," he said, "now I hope that
one has had his head broken thereby."

I marvelled that he could jest thus, though maybe, after the strain
and terror of the danger we had so far escaped, it was but natural
that his mind should so rebound as it were.

Very soon after this the Danes came clattering into the little
court where the well was, and straightway came to its mouth,
casting stones down it, as no idle man can help doing. The
sacristan crept to the furthest corner of our little den and sat
there trembling, while I and the other monk listened with set teeth
to the words that came down to us. Nor will I say that I was not
somewhat frightened also, for it seemed to me that the voices were
unknown to me. They were Rorik's men, therefore, and not our
crew--who likely enough would but have jeered at me had they found
me hiding thus.

"Halfden's men have drunk all the ale in the place, and that was
not much," said one man; "let us try the water, for the dust of
these old storehouses is in my throat."

Then he began to draw up the bucket, and it splashed over us as it