e teeth through
thick lips in all unconcern. Many of these men had chains on their
legs, and this black among them.

"Chained to the oar benches they were, poor thralls," Eric said.
"We could not bide that, so we cut them free. Then they fell on
their lords and rent them."

Owen shuddered. He had seen the southern galleys before, and knew
why no man was left alive of the foreigners who had fought. Our kin
do not slay the wounded. But there were some Britons left among the
captives, and one of them cried to Owen by name for mercy.

We had that man on board the Dane and questioned him, and learnt
all. He had no reason to hide aught when he was promised safety.

Daffyd had heard that we were to cross from Tenby, having had all
the doings of Owen spied upon since the winter. Then he learned
that when I came over Owen was to return, and therefore he had my
doings watched also. He hired this foreign ship in Marazion, where
she put in for trade just as he was wondering how to compass our
end on the journey, promising her fierce crew gold of his own and
all plunder there might be, if they would help him to an easy
revenge. So they came into the Severn sea, and lay for a fortnight
or more under Lundy Island, watching for us as a cat watches for a
mouse, and getting news now and then from Welsh fishers from
Milford Haven.

It was from them that Daffyd learned of my wedding, and so it came
to pass that neither he nor the strangers thought for a moment that
our two ships held aught but passengers and much plunder, with a
princess to hold to ransom, moreover, for the taking. They took no
account of the few house-carles we might have with us, and even I
knew nought of the crossing of the armed Danish ship with us, which
was planned so that it came as a pleasant surprise to us all.
Thorgils was right, and it had been a terrible one for them.

So the plunder fell to Eric, and it was worth having. There was the
ship and arms and captives, and the gold of Daffyd, and that of the
traders, moreover, with some strange and precious woven goods from
southern looms, silken and woollen, which yet remained in the hold,
wondrous to look on.

Now, in halting words enough I went to thank Eric and his men for
that which he had done for me and mine, which indeed was more than
I knew how to put into words.

"Hold on, comrade," he said, staying me. "I will tell you somewhat.
Good friends enough we are with Howel nowadays, but it was not
alw