he riggers.
The Saxon stood, and looked after him with a smile breaking over
his pleasant face, and I thought that maybe I owed him some amends
for my comrade's rough jesting, though indeed he had his revenge.

So I came ashore and spoke to him. He was a slight, brown-haired
man of about thirty, bearded and long-haired after the Saxon
fashion, and I thought he seemed to be recovering from some wound
or sickness that had made him white and thin. He wore his beard
long and forked, which may have made him look thinner; but he
seemed active and wiry in his movements--one of those men who make
up for want of strength by quickness and mastery of their weapons.
Soberly dressed enough he was, but the cloth of his short cloak and
jerkin was very rich, and he had a gold bracelet and brooch that
seemed to mark him as high in rank.

"My comrade has been well caught, thane," I said; "he will be more
careful what tales he tells the next comer. But I think he was
tired of giving the same answers to the same questions to all who
come to see us."

"Likely enough," the Saxon answered, laughing a little. "I asked to
see the prizes and the vikings' ships, and he showed me more than I
expected."

Then he looked along the line of vessels that he had not yet
passed, and added:

"I thought there were more Norse ships with Odda."

I told him how the other vikings had left us with their plunder at
Wareham, saying that I thought they could well be spared at that
time.

"However," I said, "I did not count on the Saxons leaving their
vessels so soon."

"Then I take it that I am speaking with King Ranald, of whom Odda
has so much to say," he said, without answering my last words.

"I am Ranald Vemundsson," I said; "but this ship is all my kingdom
now. Harald Fairhair has the land that should have been mine. I am
but a sea king."

Then he held out his hand, saying that there was much for which
every Saxon should thank me, and I passed that by as well as I
could, though I was pleased with the hearty grip he gave me.

"So long as Odda is satisfied it is enough," I said. "If I have
helped him a little, I have helped a man who is worth it."

"Well," said the thane, "you seem to be pleased with one another.
Now I should like to see this ship of yours, of which he has so
much to say."

We went over her, and it was plain that this thane knew what he was
talking about. I wondered that the king had not set him in command
instead of Odda, w