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Updated: June 3, 2025
And then came an old warrior, well armed and handsome, with iron-gray hair and beard, and he stepped on the deck and looked curiously at us. "Captives, eh?" he said to the men. "Whence came they?" "Thorleif sent them in," answered one of the guard. "It was his word that they would be good hostages."
But most think that he had such belief in his own power that he did indeed look to see these men bow to it, and lay down their arms then and there. But none will ever know, by reason of what was to come. "Throw down your arms!" he commanded again, when the laughter ceased. His voice shook with rage. "Stay!" said Thorleif. "What is your authority?"
When it grew dark they lighted great fires along the wharves, and sat by them in their arms, drinking the Weymouth ale, and eating the Dorset fare they had taken. The ship guards went ashore, and their places were taken by others, and I saw strong pickets passing out of the town to guard the ways into it. Thorleif would not risk aught in the way of safeguard.
And turning over what Erling had said of himself, I remembered that Thorleif had told me how he had come from Wales round the Land's End to Weymouth. I thought rightly that he had picked up Erling there. I had a good hour's swim in a deep pool of the river, and enjoyed it to the full.
Then said Thorleif, who had been watching us in silence: "Take him, prince, for you will need him. He has kept faith with us, though he might have escaped easily enough, because he thought his word withheld him. And he has proved himself a man in battle with the waters, as I know well. Let him go with you, and be glad of him." "I am loath to take him from his folk to share my misfortunes."
I asked Erling of his shipwreck, and if Thorleif had been lost, but he could not tell me. He had been washed off the fore deck as the ship met a great breaker, and with him had come an oar, which he clung to for long hours, making his way shoreward as best he might. The ship was in danger at the time, and he lost sight of her very soon.
Whereon she shot up into the wind, and her sail rattled down. Thrond whistled to himself. "Empty as a dry walnut shell, or I am mistaken," he said between his teeth. Then he shouted to Thorleif, and some order came back. The sail was lowered, and the ship swung alongside the stranger under oars only, while a rush of men came aft.
"Had you bided with Thorleif for another season, you had found that out. I have not forgotten. Dismount, and we will see what is hidden in the saddlebags." We went into a sheltered nook among the water-side trees, and he brought out bread and venison enough for two meals each, and I was glad of the rest and food.
I was a courtman then to the father of Thorleif, our jarl here, and I myself made the boat ready and launched her in it." And then he told me that which I have set down at the beginning of this tale neither more nor less. What was the fullness of the evil the woman had wrought he did not tell me, and I am glad. When he ended he sat silent and brooding for a long time.
When I gathered myself up I saw Ecgbert and Thorleif aft, while the Danes were rummaging the ship, and I made my way to them. And as I came the atheling stared at me, and then hastened forward with outstretched hand of welcome. "Why, Wilfrid, old comrade, how come you here? I heard only of a West Saxon, and whether this is luck for you or not I do not know."
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