afely though with much toil and danger, and there
found the master almost crazed with fear and doubt of the issue, and the
man with him injured by a falling block. Indeed, this poor captain clung
to the rail, watching the cable as it dragged the anchor and fearing
every moment lest it should part.

The rest is soon told. We got out two more anchors and did other things
such as sailors know, to help in such a case. When all was as safe as
it could be made, I and my man and four sailors started for the quay,
telling the master that I would return upon the morrow. The wind and
current aiding us, we landed safe and sound and at once I rode back to
Cheapside.

Now, though it is short to tell, all this had taken a long while, also
the way was far to ride in such a storm. Thus it came about that it was
nigh to ten o'clock at night when, thanking God, I dismounted at the
gate of my house and bade the servant take the horses to the stable. As
I drew near the door, it opened, which astonished me and, as the light
within showed, there stood Kari. What astonished me still more, he had
the great sword, Wave-Flame, in his hand, though not drawn, which sword
he must have fetched from where it was kept with the French knight's
armour and the shield that bore three arrows as a cognizance.

Laying his finger on his lips he shut the door softly, then said in a
low voice:

"Master, there is a man up yonder with the lady."

"What man?" I asked.

"That same lord, Master, who came here with her once before to buy
jewels and borrow gold. Hearken. The feast being finished the guests
went away at fall of night, but the wife-lady withdrew herself into the
chamber that is called sun-room (the solar), that up the stairs, which
looks out on the street. About one hour gone there came a knock at the
door. I who was watching, opened, thinking it was you returned, and
there stood that lord. He spoke to me, saying:

"'Moor-man, I know that your master is from home, but that the lady is
here. I would speak with her.'

"Now I would have turned him away, but at that moment the lady herself,
who it seemed was watching, came down the stairs, looking very white,
and said:

"'Kari, let the lord come in. I have matters of your master's business
about which I must talk with him.' So, Master, knowing that you had lent
money to this lord, I obeyed, though I liked it not, and having fetched
the sword which I thought perchance might be needed, I waited."