some
common chance had sent him down. It was that man of ours who had
told me that there was always the chance of escape, and had tried
to gnaw my bonds when we were in the ship's forepeak--Sidroc, the
courtman. I did not pretend to know him then and there, thinking it
might seem proof that Hakon was in league with Heidrek in some way.
Presently, when his low cry was forgotten, I looked at him, and he
saw that I knew him, and was content.

"Look at the men, Bertric," said Dalfin. "See if there are any you
will care to take. You know them."

"We cannot leave any of them here," Bertric said to me. "Hakon can
set them ashore anywhere if he does not like them. Asbiorn might
manage them though, and with Hakon's men they will learn manners."

He spoke our own tongue of course, and the king asked what he said.
Dalfin said that Hakon would take them away altogether if the
clemency of the king would allow it. Whereon the king waved his
hand, and said that they should be sent down with the oxen.

Now, I did not think that this pleased the men of the court. There
was a sort of uneasy murmur for a time, and then there was a
silence, which grew somewhat awkward at last. I thought it was time
for us to go, for there was nothing else to say, but the bishop
came forward. He had been speaking with Phelim for some time, and
now told Myrkiartan how that Hakon was a good Christian man and had
saved the hermit brotherhood even now. That story made the black
looks pass at once, and after that it was easy to take our leave
and make our way out of the tent; and glad enough I was to be in
the open once more. The whispering of the nobles had not been
pleasant at times.

Dalfin came out with us, and he was grave. There had been words and
looks now and then among the group of men with his two brothers
which he did not like.

"You had better tell Hakon from me that he had best sail hence as
soon as possible. Maybe as soon as tide will serve. I will see that
you get the men now and at once. Never wait for the provender
unless it comes soon."

"Come down to the ship with us," I said. "Tell Hakon this yourself
if you will."

He shrugged his shoulders at that and glanced round him.

"If it were not for you two I doubt if Hakon would not have been
fallen on by this time," he said. "There are boats enough, hidden
in the village from Heidrek, which can be brought out at any
moment."

He was speaking in the Dansk, but suddenly took to the E