sore sickness that comes of the swaying of the
deck that will not cease."

"Give it him yourself, ealdorman," I said. "You know him over well
to send it by another. It would not be so good a gift."

"As you will," he answered. "But I fear that viking terribly. Black
grows his face, and into his beard he blows, and the hard Norse
words grumble like thunder from his lips. Then know I that Odda the
ealdorman has been playing the land lubber again, and wonder what
is wrong. Nor is it long ere I find out, and I and my luckless crew
are flying to mind what orders are howled at us. In good truth, if
Alfred ever needs me to hurry in aught, let him send Thord the
viking to see that I do so. One may know how I fear him, since I
chose rather to risk battle with Jarl Osmund on shore than to bide
near him in my own ship any longer."

Then the jarl and I laughed till our sides ached, and Odda joined
us when he could not help it, so doleful was his face and solemn
were his words when he told his tale. But I knew that he and Thord
were the best of friends after those few days in the ship together,
and that the rough old viking had given every man of the crew
confidence. Nevertheless he was apt to rage somewhat when things
went in slovenly wise.

So Odda helped me through with Osmund's thanks, and I was glad. I
was glad also that the horns blew for the feast, so that no more
could be said about the Wareham doings.

Now I sat close to King Alfred at the feast, and saw much of his
ways with men. I thought it plain that he had trouble at times in
keeping back the pride and haughtiness which I had heard had been
the fault in both Neot and himself, for now and then they showed
plainly. Then he made haste to make amends if one was hurt by what
he had said in haste. But altogether I thought him even more kingly
than the mighty Harald Fairhair in some ways.

Truly he had not the vast strength and stature of Norway's king,
but Alfred's was the kingliness of wisdom and statecraft.

Once I said to Odda:

"Can your king fight?"

"Ay, with head as well as with hand," he answered. "His skill in
weapon play makes up for lack of weight and strength. He is maybe
the best swordsman and spearman in England."

I looked again at him, and I saw that since last I turned my eyes
on him he had grown pale, and now his face was drawn, and was
whitening under some pain, as it would seem; and I gripped Odda's
arm.

"See!" I said, "the king dies! he