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And so it came to pass that when we landed I saw two men in the Danish array standing behind the Welsh nobles, and I seemed to know them. One was tall and grim and scarred, and the other broad of shoulder and white of hair and beard. They were Thorleif and old Thrond, come from Ireland to see their friends in this land, and so Jefan's guests.
They rattled, and the steersman turned his head and laughed at me. It was old Thrond. "That is right, lad," he said, turning his head back to watch his course again. "None the worse for the wetting, it seems." Truth to tell, I felt little of it, being altogether myself again after the rest. So I laughed also, setting aside for the moment the question of what my fate was to be.
Into my mind there came the thought of what old Thrond had told me, and I would that this maiden could be warned.
One came and told Thorleif that the thane waited to speak with him, and he was gone from the ships for half an hour with Thrond. When he came back his face was grimmer than ever, and a red scar which crossed his forehead was burning crimson.
I took him aside and walked out into the open with him. "Erling," I said, "do you mind that tale which Thrond tells concerning a damsel set afloat?" "Ay, more than mind it I saw it done! She went from our village. I was a well-grown lad of fourteen then. Now I know what you would say. It is the word of Thrond that this Quendritha, whom men fear so, is she. He says so, since you spoke to him."
Before old Thrond had reached them the work of slaughter had begun, and wonderfully fast the men were carrying the meat on board the ships, heaping it in piles forward, and throwing the hides over the heaps. I heard one of the guards say to another that this was a good "strand hewing," that being their name for this hasty victualling of the ships.
Thrond played from morning until evening and practised new tunes; at night he dreamed about them: they bore him far over the hills, away to foreign lands, as though he were afloat on sailing clouds. His mother made a new suit of clothes for him; but his father would not take part in what was going on.
If the king was happy and yon fair maiden was content, they knew more of the queen than I. So I ended my questionings by a hearty wish that old Thrond had never told me that wild tale of his, and said naught of my prince, but listened patiently to the king until some one came and prayed him to meet the council, which he had forgotten.
The weary men laid in the oars at that moment, and threw themselves down to rest. "Ho, Saxon!" he said, "on my word I had forgotten you. Who had you tied up?" "I did," said Thrond. "He said somewhat about taking back a promise, and wanted to go overboard." Thorleif stooped and unbound me, and I thanked him. "Well, you won't go overboard now," he said, nodding toward the shore.
The stranger saluted them with a short "Good-evening!" and came forward. Thrond grew frightened and sat down on a cricket by the hearth. The mother asked the man to take a seat on the bench along the wall; he did so, and then the mother could examine his face more closely. "Dear me! is not this Knud the fiddler?" cried she. "Yes, to be sure it is.
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