I
will never wear mail or sword again."

Then she fled forward, and something held us back from so much as
helping her to cross that barrier. We knew that she was near to
breaking down, and no wonder.

There fell an uneasy silence on us when she was within the shelter
of the awning and its folds closed after her. Dalfin broke it at
last.

"Well," he said, "I suppose that you two seamen know which way you
are steering in the fog--but it passes me to know how."

Bertric and I laughed, and were glad of the excuse to do so. We
told him that we steered by the wind, which had not changed. But
now we had only one course before us. We must needs head south and
try to make the Shetlands. Eastward we might not sail for fear of
Heidrek, and westward lay the open ocean, Still, we held on for
half an hour, and then, still shrouded in the white folds of the
fog, headed south as nearly as we might judge.

In an hour the wind fell. The fog darkened round us as the sun wore
to the westward, and the sea went down until only the long ocean
swell was left, lifting the ship easily and slowly without breaking
round her. There was naught to be done; but, at least Heidrek could
not find us.

"There may be days to come like this," Bertric said, with a sort of
groan. "What is to be planned for him who lies yonder?"

Now, I told them what Gerda had said to me, and I could see that
Bertric was relieved to hear her thought of a sea burial.

"I had thought of the same," he said at once. "It is not fitting
that here the old warrior should be drifted to and fro, well nigh
at the mercy of the wind, with the chances of a lee shore or of
folk who make prey of hapless seafarers presently. A sea burial
such as many a good man of our kin has found will be best. I could
ask no more for myself."

"And what of the treasure?" I asked. "Shall that go with him?"

"It is Gerda's, and she must say," he answered. "Yet she will need
it."

Then Dalfin said:

"It will be hard to tell her so, but she must not part with it. It
stands between her and want, if it may be saved for her. Yet, if it
was the will of the old king that it should be set in his grave, I
do not know how we can persuade her to keep it. He is not here to
say that he does not need it; for he has learnt that now."

I glanced at the penthouse with the thought of that strange vision
of mine. I could not tell my comrades of it, but I thought that, if
need was, I might tell Gerda presentl