that it had
chanced that I had left her and so was safe.

Then when I told him of my turning viking thereafter, he laughed
grimly, with a glitter of his eye, saying that he would surely have
done the same at my age--aye, and any young man in all England
likewise, were he worth aught.

So when I had told him all about my journey, I showed him the bag
that Halfden gave me, and well he knew the value of the treasure
therein.

"Why, son Wulfric," he cried; "here is wealth enough to buy a new
ship withal, as times go!"

And I would have him keep it, not being willing to take so great a
sum about with me, and that he did willingly, only asking me to let
him use it, if chance should be, on my behalf, and making me keep
the silver money for my own use going homeward.

"Yet I will keep you awhile, for Egfrid, the Thane's son of Hoxne,
who is here at court, goes home for Yuletide, and so you can ride
with him. And I think it will be well that we should send word to
your father of how things have been faring with you, for so will
you have naught of misfortune to tell when you come home."

I thought this wise counsel and kindly, for my people would best
tell those wives and children of their loss, and so things would be
easier for me. And Ingild sent writing to my father by the hand of
some chapman travelling to the great fair at Norwich; and with his
letter went one from me also, with messages to Lodbrok--for Eadmund
had made me learn to write.

So after that I abode with Ingild, going to the court of Ethelred
the King with him, and seeing the great feasts which the merchant
guilds made for the king while he was in London; with many other
wondrous sights, so that the time went quickly, and the more so
that this Egfrid was ever with me. I had known him when we were
little lads together at our own king's court, but he had left to go
to that of our great overlord, Ethelred, so that I had not seen him
for long years. And one may sail up our Waveney river to Hoxne,
where his father's house is, from ours at Reedham, though it is a
long way.

Now in the week before Yuletide we would start homewards, so with
many gifts and words of good speed, Ingild set us forth; and we
rode well armed and attended as the sons of great thanes should. So
the way was light to us in the clear December weather, and if it
were long the journey was very pleasant, for Egfrid and I grew to
be great friends, and there is nothing more joyous than to be