"If your
messengers had not come upon me as I was riding on the Watling Street and
brought me here, a prisoner, I would have argued the matter with arrows, and
you would needs have battered down the defence of stone walls to convince me."
Mutters of mingled admiration and censure buzzed around; and one English
noble, more daring and also more friendly than the others, drew near and spoke
a word of friendly warning in Sebert's ear. Through it all, Canute sat
motionless, studying the Etheling with his bright colorless eyes.
At last he said unexpectedly, "If you would not obey my summons until my men
had dealt with you by force, it cannot be said that you have much respect for
my authority. Do you not then acknowledge me as King of the English?"
Rothgar betrayed impatience at this branching aside. Sebert himself showed
surprise.
He said hesitatingly, "I--I cannot deny that. You have the same right that
Cerdic had over the Britons. Nay, you have more, for you are the formal choice
of the Witan. I cannot rightly deny that you are King of the Angles."
"If you acknowledge me to be that," Canute said, "I do not see why you have
not an argument for your defence."
While all stared at him, he rose slowly and stood before them, a dazzling
figure as the light caught the steel of his ring-mail and turned his polished
helm to a fiery dome.
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