three
hours after noon before
But from all I gathered , the Danes were over on the other coast , and out of our way for the time at least . Then I grew very stiff in the tree : but so many were about that I dared not come down . They were , however , mostly gathered in the open in front of the great gate , and only passers by came near me . It was some three hours after noon before they gathered into ranks at last , and the roll was called over by Matelgar himself , as he rode along the line fully armed . When that was done , he put himself at the head , and they filed off up the road towards Bridgwater . I remembered that , when I was quite little , my father once had to call out a levy against the West Welsh , and then there was great cheering as the men started . There was none now -- only the loud voice of the thane as he chided loiterers and those who seemed to straggle .