Alfred. That is true. But I am not that kind of stranger. I meant to say that I am stranger here in this forest; but I am a friend to all Englishmen.

Greta. You are not one of those Danes, then? Alfred. No, indeed! I am an enemy to the Danes. I wish they were all driven from our land.

Gubba. Good! good! Give me your hand. Alfred. I was with King Alfred in the last great battle with the Danes.

Greta. You were? Bless you for a hero.
Gubba. What became of our good king?

Alfred. His men were put to flight and many were slain; and some say that he, too, was killed.

Gubba. Ah! these are, indeed, sad times. But if you were with the king, I am your friend. You shall sup with us. You shall rest in our cottage. You shall stay with us as long as you wish.

Alfred. I thank you very much. If I can do anything to help you, I shall be glad indeed.

Gubba. Well, I am needing help just now. All the men have gone to the war, and there is a great deal to be done. Can you chop wood?

Alfred. I have never tried; but I might learn.

Gubba. Can you thatch a roof? The cow house must be covered.

Alfred. No; I cannot thatch.

Greta. Can you make baskets?
Alfred. I have never learned.

Greta. Can you milk a cow?

Alfred. Well, I don't know. I have never touched

a cow.

Gubba. Why, here's a fellow with as many hands as I have, and he can't do anything!

Greta. Do you see those cakes I have baking on the hearth? I wonder if you can watch them while I milk the cow?

Alfred. Certainly, I can do that. I'll not take my eyes away from them.

Greta. Well, be sure you turn them when they're brown. And don't let them burn.

Alfred. Trust me for that, good woman.

Greta [taking her pail]. Now come, Gubba. Don't sit there; it's time to feed the pigs. The fellow will watch the cakes.

[Both go out, leaving Alfred alone.]

Alfred. Alas, alas! my poor country. I grieve not for myself, but for my people.

[He falls into deep thought and forgets the cakes, which soon burn to a crisp. After an hour, Greta returns with a pail of milk. Gubba follows with an ax.]

Greta. Well, sir, are the cakes done? — Mercy on

us, he's let them burn. They're as black as a coal. — What do you mean, you lazy thing?

Alfred. Indeed, good woman, I'm very sorry. But I was thinking of something else of how to save our country from the Danes.

Greta. A pretty fellow you are, to save the country - too lazy to turn a cake! Get out of the house at once. No supper for you, sir!

[Alfred starts to go out, but at the door is met by Edgar with some soldiers and hunters.]

Gubba [trying to escape]. Run, Greta, run! The Danes! the Danes! We are lost.

Greta. Have mercy on us!

Edgar [addressing King Alfred]. Hail, my king! Soldiers. Hail to the king! Hail to King Alfred! Edgar. How glad I am to find you, my king! And I have good news for you.

Alfred. Good news? I could have no better news than to see your faces. But tell me what it is.

Edgar. A thousand men are waiting for you at the edge of the woods - all ready to follow you and fight another battle with the Danes. I have here a list of the leaders who will help you.

[Offers the king a paper. Alfred takes it and reads it by the dim light of the fire.]

Gubba [aside to Greta]. They're not Danes, Greta. He's the king of England in disguise. What will become of us? Only think of scolding a king as you did! We shall both lose our heads for it.

Greta. But who would have thought that he was the king! He looks just like a man.

Gubba. We might have guessed that he was king; for he showed that he is not fit for anything else.

Alfred [coming forward]. This is certainly good news, Edgar. There is no reason for despair while you and so many other brave men are ready to help me. Soldiers and Hunters. Hurrah! hurrah for King Alfred! Down with the Danes!

FOURTH READER - 15

Alfred. Yes, down with England's enemies! Come, let us hasten to join our friends who are waiting for us. Soon we shall deal those Danes such a blow that they will be glad to leave our country in peace.

Soldiers. Down with the Danes!

Hunters. Hurrah for England and King Alfred!

Alfred. Come, my men! Good-by, my friends, Gubba and Greta! You have indeed been very kind

to me.

Gubba [falling upon his knees]. Do you indeed forgive us?

Alfred. There's nothing to forgive. I thank you for allowing me to sit by your fire. Good-by! [Goes out with Edgar.]

Gubba. Well, now, that's what I call a king!

EXPRESSION: Alfred the Great was king of Saxon England more than a thousand years ago. The Danes from Denmark attempted to conquer the country but were at last defeated and obliged to make peace with King Alfred. Try to learn something more about those early times.

Read the play silently. Be sure that you know the persons, the place, the time, the action.

Choose parts; read the play aloud, and act it as though you were really the persons speaking.

Pronounce correctly: Al'fred, Gub'ba, Gre'ta, Ed'gar, lishmen; disguise, despair, hasten.

Eng'