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Updated: May 2, 2025
"If only we could get under the lee of that island we were safe," said Bertric to me. "It would be calm enough to anchor." "We can but try it," I answered. And with that we luffed a little, getting the island on our port bow, but it was of no use.
An oar flashed past me on a wave, and Phelim shipped his oar with a smothered cry. Fergus had fainted at last. I heard the sharp howl of delight from the men astern as they saw that, but Bertric and I never ceased pulling. And suddenly Gerda's face lit up with a new hope, and she pointed to the ships and cried to us to look. "The leading ship is heading for us," she said breathlessly.
And I can see no sign of a break in these black cliffs for many a long mile ahead." Now Bertric turned and took a long look at the ships, and his face was half toward me. He seemed puzzled. "It is hardly possible," he muttered to me, "but I could almost swear that they were English. If not, they are Frisian. But what could have brought either into these seas? Have we taken to the Viking path?"
"Thou hast left one behind thee one who did not fear to die the martyr's death." "Dost thou mean Bertric of Aescendune?" "I do; they slew him, cruelly, although neither he nor his have ever dealt cruelly with thy people." "Thy people, why not our people? art thou ashamed of thy kindred?" "Of their cruelty and treachery." Anlaf laughed aloud.
Over the door was a cross of white stones set in the wall, and at the eastern end was a cross also, and an altar, on which were candles of wax, at which I wondered, seeing them in this place. Round the walls ran a stone slab as bench, but I was the only one who used it. The others knelt, facing eastward, and I, at a sign from Bertric, sat by the door, wondering what I should see and hear.
"What is that yonder?" he asked under his breath, and pointing to the far end of the chamber. "As it were a heap of mail and linen." I could not see what he meant, for I stood on one side, but Bertric stepped a pace toward him, and looked more closely past the bier, which almost hid whatever the pile might be. It seemed the only thing set carelessly, for all else was in perfect order.
"The people cannot hold you as in league with Arnkel now," I said. "They will not molest you." "They know that there is no league between us now, at all events," he answered, with a short laugh. "No, there will be no trouble of any kind." Bertric and I rose up and bade Eric's men go to the guest hall, and so we two went out of the great door with Asbiorn.
Supper being ended, Elfwyn rose to go out, and his example was followed by Alfgar and Bertric, and several of the serfs, who from the lower end of the ample board had heard with much alarm the previous conversation. Ascending the hill, they directed their steps towards the highest point, where an old watchtower had once been reared, composed of timber, and overlooking the forest.
He has lost all; while we were both wanderers from home only. My folk will trouble not at all for me for a year or so, and a shipmaster may be away as long as he chooses. None will look for you till you return, I suppose? Well, I came out to find adventures, and on my word, I am in the way to find them." "Not a bad beginning," laughed Bertric.
Heidrek altered his course at once, sailing a point or two more free than we, either, as Bertric thought, because he could lie no closer to the wind, or else meaning to edge down on us. And, he being so far to windward, for a time it seemed as if he neared us fast. In two hours we knew that we outsailed him, close hauled.
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