said doubtfully, "you
will want us all. We are not over-manned."

Nor were they. The ship pulled five-and-thirty oars a side, but had
no more than two men to each, instead of the full fighting number,
which should be three--one to row, one to shield the rower, and one
to fight or relieve. King Athelstane had given Hakon these ships
and sailing crews, but could not find Norsemen for him. Those who
were here had been picked up from the Norse towns in Ireland, where
many men of note waited for his coming. Eric, his half brother, was
not loved in Norway.

Presently I learned that Hakon was steering westward thus in order
to find that ship which we had seen when we were wrecked. It
belonged to some friend of his cause.

But Hakon would have the hermits protected, and Osric manned our
boat and sent it away, bidding the men hasten. They had a two-mile
sail to the island now, but the Danes stood and watched the coming
of the boat as if unconcerned. Doubtless they had not seen what
happened to their comrades, and thought they were returning.

"Tell me about these ships," Hakon said to Bertric when the boat
had gone. "Is there to be fighting, as this Asbiorn says?"

"Heidrek will not fight without surety of gain," my comrade
answered. "His ships are full of men, but he cannot tell that you
are under-manned. He can see that he must needs lose heavily in
boarding, for you have the advantage in height of side. I doubt if
he will chance it. There is an Irish levy waiting ashore for him,
and he has not faced that--or has been driven off."

"Rid the seas of him," growled Earl Osric. "Get to windward of him
and run his ships down, and have done."

"There is not a seaman in the North Sea who will not thank you if
you do so," said Bertric. "Those two ships are a pest."

"See to it, Osric," answered Hakon.

Then he glanced at us and saw our arms lying at our feet, for his
men had brought them from the boat.

"I was going to offer to arm you, but there is no need. Bertric and
I have drawn sword together against Danes before now, but I do not
know whether Malcolm may not owe some fealty to Eric, my half
brother. I am going to try to turn him out of Norway--as men have
begged me to do--and I would sooner have you on my side than
against me."

"Thanks, King Hakon," I answered. "I have owned no king as yet. My
sword is yours to command; but first I have promised to see Queen
Gerda into safety, at least, in Norway, if her home may