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Nevertheless the marsh folk were wont to call their friend "Hablok Curan" in their talk, for a wonder he was to all who knew him. So he came home with his great basket, and said, "Here sit I by the fire, eating more than my share, and helping to win it not at all. Now will I make amends, for I will go the fisher's rounds through the marshlands with my basket, and I think that I shall do well."
The Lindseymen drew back a foot's pace as they saw the giant who came on them, and I heard some call that this was Curan of Grimsby, as if in wonder. Then we had to fight hard, and Sigurd fell back past me, with a wound on his shoulder where Alsi's sword had glanced from the helm. No life had been left to Sigurd had a better hand wielded the weapon; but he was not badly hurt.
We walked away from the tent and across the hillside for some way, and then he said without more words, "This is the message that Alsi sends to Havelok, whose name was Curan. 'Forgive the things that are past, for many there are that need forgiving. I have no heir, and it is for myself that I have schemed amiss. In Lincoln town lies a great treasure, of which Eglaf and I alone know.
"Then I can help you," said Mord gladly. "Say nothing to the cook, for I have found old friends who come from far in the marsh, and they will tell me at once if they have heard of any priest. Why, when I think, they know Welsh, and one has called himself by a Welsh name, and you have seen him Curan the porter."
And all the way men joined us for the sake of Curan, whom they knew, and of Goldberga, of whom they had heard, so that in numbers at least our host was a great one.
"But suppose that he thanks the king for the gift. Both he and the king will be wroth with me." "Not Curan, when he has once got the things on; and as for Alsi, he will take the thanks to himself, and chuckle to think that the mistake has gained him credit for a good deed that he never did." "Hush, comrade, hush!" said Berthun quickly; "naught but good of the king!" "I said naught ill.
Yet he knew that he would have been laughed at for a fool if he had said that he thought Curan more than he seemed. Now Alsi was alone, and he fell to thought again. By-and-by it was plain to be understood what his thoughts had been, and they were bad. And after he had slept on them they were no better, seeing what came of them.
I told him that I had a dream palace which had all these things, but was not the same. And at that he smiled and asked my name. 'Curan, I said, of course; and at that he smiled yet more, in a way that seemed to say that he did not believe me.
"I mind the first day your father came here, and never a penny had he, and since then there has been no want in this house. Luck comes with Grim and his folk, as I think. But this is a son whom I have not seen before, if he is indeed your brother." "I am Grim's son Curan," said Havelok, "and I have not been to Lincoln ere this. But I have heard of you many times."
Now, if it is true that he is the son of the Danish king, it does seem as if your dream might be bidding you to have no fear of what seems doubtful in the matter, though I cannot tell, and do not like to say so for certain. His name is not Curan, but Havelok." Then Goldberga said, "I have heard of that flight and of the wreck from Mord often.
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