de his tent again, Solve gazed with the
expressionless aspect of a still drowsy man upon the countenance of
Kettle, whose flat nose and open mouth gave vent to tones resembling
those of a bassoon. Beside him, and nestling close to him, lay the
youthful Alric, with his curly head resting on Kettle's broad bosom; for
the lad, albeit manly enough when awake, had sufficient of the child
still about him to induce a tendency on his part, when asleep, to make
use of any willing friend as a pillow. Thorer the Thick was also there,
with his head on his arm, his body sprawling indescribably, his shield
above him like a literal coverlet, and his right hand on his sword-hilt.

"Ho!" exclaimed Solve, in a tone that marvellously resembled the tones
of modern men in similar circumstances.

Kettle and Thorer, however, sprang up to a sitting posture with very
primitive alacrity, for in those days a man's life often depended on his
being and keeping very wide-awake.

Poor Alric was tumbled somewhat unceremoniously to one side, but that
failed to awaken him, for he was not yet sufficiently trained to sleep
in the midst of alarms, and felt very naturally inclined to growl and
bite when shaken or told to "get up!"

In a few minutes, however, his lethargy was overcome; the men were
aroused; the tents were struck; the longship was pushed off, and, under
the influence of thirty pair of oars, it crept like a monstrous insect
away over the sea.

Those who had not to work at the oars sat at first quietly on the
thwarts, or leaned over the gunwale gazing into the deep, or up at the
sky, enjoying the warm air and their own fancies. But after a time
talkative spirits began to loose their tongues, and ere long a murmur of
quiet conversation pervaded the ship.

"I wonder what news we shall hear at the stede when we arrive?" said
Thorer to Kettle, who with several others sat on the poop beside Solve.

"I hope it won't be bad news," answered Kettle. "Harald is not the man
to sleep through the summer when there is work to be done. If it wasn't
that I expect to give him the tooth-ache before I go, surely I should
have been in Ireland long ago."

"Whom didst thou serve under, Kettle, before we brought thee to Norway?"
asked Alric.

"Under the King of Dublin," replied Kettle.

"Was he a great king?"

"A great king? Aye, never was there a greater; and a great king he is
yet, if he's alive, though I have my own fears on that point, for he w