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Updated: May 2, 2025
"After all," I said, "maybe it will only be a matter of hunger for a day or two." Bertric smiled, and pointed to the locker under the stern thwart, on which I was sitting. "I think I told you that you were but a few minutes before me in this matter," he said. "Well, when I heard that Asbiorn would take the boat, I knew my chance had come.
I clung to the old faith of my fathers, and that was not wonderful. But Gerda learned, and loved all that she heard. I had to turn the words of the teacher into the homely Norse for her, and her questions were many and eager. Somewhere about midnight thereafter, Bertric woke with a start which roused me, so that I sat up and asked what was amiss.
"No hurry," said I to Bertric, who was anxious, "there is no wind to fan the turfs into flame. It can but smoulder slowly." "It is here," cried Dalfin, lifting a fagot whose under side was scorched and blackened, though more by heat and smoke than flame.
I cannot describe the touching scene when Elfwyn told the fate of dear Bertric. Well, they will learn by and by to thank God for him and his example, for we doubt not he died a martyr, although we know not the details, and, unless Alfgar yet lives, shall perhaps never know them. We held a long consultation upon our future movements.
"Every reason, Malcolm," she said, as if angry with me. "Do you think that all the care you had for her before Hakon came is to go for naught?" "Bertric and Dalfin are to be remembered in that matter also." "Of course. But Asa Thor, who was only Malcolm the Jarl after all, being a fellow countryman, has had the first place." "You seem to have heard all the story," I said, smiling.
There was no honour to be won with us, and here he might end by standing high in the court, and we had no need of him. Then we went and chose men who were ready for a chance of speedy adventure, rather than the waiting which matters of policy required here for the moment. Presently Bertric would bring the ship back to Hakon with them, if all went well.
It would have been a relief to me if some ship's dog had flown out and barked at us; but all was silent, and that was uncanny here in the open sea, and on such a ship. "Well," said Bertric, "crew or no, we must go on board. No use in waiting."
"I do not altogether know its worth, but it may go toward the freeing of Norway from Eric and the men who follow him." "Nay," he answered, "I cannot take it from you." "Once," she said, and she looked at me as I sat on the deck hard by with Bertric, "once it seems long ago, though it is but so few days I would have sent it into the deep with him who gathered it.
Then said Bertric, with set teeth, "If we may not outsail Heidrek, it will be my part to sink one of his ships with our own, if it may be done." "Aye," she said. "Do so." Therein I was altogether with them, and Dalfin smiled a strange smile in assent. "You would steer this ship against the other?" he asked.
It was the first day that I had not worn mail since we left London; but Foe's Bane was loose in the scabbard, and ready in case of need. "Ho, skipper!" Egil cried, "whom have you on board?" "Yon priest and some more of his sort," Bertric said. "We have lit on a crow's nest," a man said, laughing. "Where are they, then?" "In the fore peak, and aft here, deadly sick," said Bertric.
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