United States or Greece ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
He came and knelt before Dalfin, and asked him to forgive him. "What for?" asked the prince. "For telling foolishness," answered the man. "Yet I think it should be told with the rest of the news." "Tell it, then."
Gerda started away from the gunwale and looked at us, and Dalfin set his hand on his sword hilt. It was just as if they had spied us, and I half expected to see the tall stemhead of the ship come towering through the thickness over our rail. There was nothing to tell us how fast we were going through the water, and we seemed still. I saw Bertric smiling.
Dalfin thanked him, and after he had heard, he paid no more heed to us, but turned to our guide. "Brother Phelim," he said wearily, "see you to all that may be done. The care must be yours, as was the first welcome. I do not know why you wandered so far at this hour." "Because I thought there might be poor folk in need, father," said Phelim meekly. "Moreover, I am shepherd today."
"They meant her to run far from shore before her rigging went. That is why the halliards have been brought aft, out of the way of the flame." "And why the sail was wet," said Dalfin. "And maybe why we are not chased." "It comes into my mind," said Bertric slowly, "that there has been pestilence on board, and that they would rid themselves of it." But I hardly noted what he said.
"We are rough nurses at best," said Bertric; "but we can do better than this. Let us get the bedstead that is forward, and set a fold or two of the awning on it for her to rest on. Better than the hard deck when she comes to herself, and maybe not so terrifying." We left Dalfin to tend her, and brought the bedstead and canvas with all speed, and so lifted her on it.
A sea burial such as many a good man of our kin has found will be best. I could ask no more for myself." "And what of the treasure?" I asked. "Shall that go with him?" "It is Gerda's, and she must say," he answered. "Yet she will need it." Then Dalfin said: "It will be hard to tell her so, but she must not part with it. It stands between her and want, if it may be saved for her.
Then in much comfort we saw to our arms, red with the sea rust, and hung them round the cell, which was some nine feet across and about the same height, and by the time that pleasant work was done the brothers were back, and the little bell on the chapel, where it hung in a stone cote, rang for their vespers. They bade us come also, and Bertric and Dalfin rose up and went gladly.
Aye, I have a feud here, and with all who dwell at ease. I am Heidrek the Seafarer." He turned away, and left us with some sign to his men; but Asbiorn stood still and spoke again to us. "You bear a Scottish name," he said. "Have you no Scottish kin besides Melbrigda?" I shook my head, whereon Dalfin spoke for me.
"He fell on us at dawn, and by noon we were at sea with him as captives. That same night we escaped, thanks to the young chief, Asbiorn." "Then he came straightway from your home and fell on mine," she said gravely. "Surely the wrath of the Asir will fall on Heidrek ere long, if, indeed, the Asir care aught what a warrior does of wrong." "Has he burnt you out also, lady?" asked Dalfin.
Hakon came to the consecrating of that church, and with him were Bertric and Dalfin, and then those good friends of ours stood sponsors for us at the first christenings that were therein. Thereafter Bertric went home to England, and we have seen him no more. Only we know that he is high in honour with his king, and happily wedded in his Dorset home.
Word Of The Day