w Alsi grows uneasy, knowing that this had become plainer and plainer
to him as the wedding went on.

"Why, what do you know of this knave of mine?" he asks. "He was goodly
enough for the sake of my oath, and the Witan will have none of him.
That is all I care for."

"What do I know of him? Just this--that you have married the queen of
the East Angles to Havelok, son of Gunnar Kirkeban of Denmark, for whom
men wait over there even now. The Witan not have him? I tell you that
every man in the land will follow him and Goldberga if they so much as
lift their finger. Done are the days of your kingship, and that by your
own deed."

Alsi grows white at this and trembles, for he minds the wondrous ring
and the names of the Asir, but he asks for more certainty.

Then Griffin tells him that he was with Hodulf, and knew all the secret
of the making away with the boy, and how that came to naught. Then he
says that Hodulf had heard from certain Vikings that they had fallen on
Grim's ship, and that in the grappling of the vessel the boy and a lady
had been drowned. It is quite likely that they, or some of them, thought
so in truth, seeing how that happened. After that Hodulf had made
inquiry, and was told that there were none but the children of Grim with
him, and so was content. So my father's wisdom was justified.

"Now I learned his name the other day; and I have a ship waiting to take
me at once to Hodulf, that I may warn him. I have ridden back from
Grimsby even now to say that, given a chance, say on some lonely ride,
that might well have been contrived, I would take Goldberga with me
beyond the sea. I thought more of that than of Hodulf, to say the truth."

Now Alsi breaks down altogether, and prays Griffin to help him out of this.

"Follow the party and take her. They are few and unarmed, and it will be
easy, for men think that there is a plot to carry her off, and this will
not surprise any. Go to the sheriff and tell him that it has happened,
and he will hang the men on sight when you have taken them. Then get to
sea with the girl, and to Hodulf, and both he and I will reward you."

"Thanks," says Griffin, with a sneer; "I have my own men. Yours might
have orders that I am the one to be hanged. It would be worth your while
now to make a friend of your kitchen knave. You are not to be trusted."

So these two wrangle for a while bitterly, for Alsi is not overlord of
Griffin in any way. And the end is that the thane r