"Aye, and if not, and we are to be drowned, it were better," he
said grimly. "One would die as a warrior, anywise."
Now, all this while Dalfin sat with Gerda under the shelter of the
boats forward, having stayed there to watch the water in the hold
after we had tried to weather the island. Now and again Dalfin rose
up and slipped into the bilge and baled fiercely, while Gerda
watched the shore and the green hills, which looked so steady above
the tumbling seas, wistfully.
I went to them and told them that we must needs face the end of the
voyage in an hour or so, and that we would arm ourselves in case
the shore folk gave trouble.
"They will do no harm," he said; "but it may be as well."
"One cannot be too sure of that," I answered; but saying no more,
as I would not alarm Gerda with talk of wreckers.
"Bad for them if they do," he said. "We will not leave one alive to
talk of it."
I laughed, for he spoke as if he had a host at his heels.
"No laughing matter," he said, rising up; "but it is not to be
thought of that a prince of Maghera should be harmed in his own
land."
"What is that? Your own land?"
"Of course," he said, staring at me. "Will you tell me that you two
seamen did not know that yonder lies Ireland? Why, that hill is--"
I cannot mind the names, but he pointed to two or three peaks which
he knew well, and I had to believe him.
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