36 THIRD QUARTERLY MEETING. 
lulled into security ; for, five months afterwards, they were 
surprised by Alfred, at not more than 20 miles from the 
place where he had been beaten. 
It is the popular belief that Alfred lived at Athelney 
during the interval, concealed in the guise of a peasant. 
He was there concealed, it is true, but it was in the guise, 
not of a peasant, but of a warrior. He constructed on 
that small island a fortress, and a bridge defended with 
towers. Here he made head for awhile, until his emissaries 
informed him that his faithful men of Somerset were ready 
to obey his call; perhaps also, until the Earl of Devon, 
with his vietorious troops, could join him. Then was the 
time for action. Riding in the gray of morning 40 miles 
from Athelney to Brixton Deveril, he found himself there 
when night closed, at the head of a gallant army. By 
what means could that army be so suddenly collected and 
concentrated upon one point? This difhiculty has never 
been cleared up by those who have written on the deeds 
of Alfred. I will attempt to solve it with the aid of 
popular tradition. Ona headland within a few miles of 
Brixton Deveril, is a high tower, built to commemorate the 
raising of Alfred’s standard, (sothe country people have 
handed it down,) just before the last campaign with the 
Danes. Alfred passed this lofty hill in his rapid morning 
ride to Brixton. It is seen we all know, to the distance 
of 50 miles on almost every side, down into Dorsetshire, 
away to the east into Wiltshire, and throughout all the 
lowlands of Somersetshire to Quantock and the Bristol 
Channel. Everywhere it is seen except in the valley 
where the Danish army lay, between Westbury and 
Eddington, as far as the unlucky battle field of Chippenham. 
Here then is the solution of Alfred’s wonderful success, a 
'man@uvre which equals Napoleon’s at Austerlitz, and 
“ 
