"He is our superior," whispered Phelim. "He has been here for forty
years. He will forget that he has seen you presently. Now, come,
and we will see how we may best bestow you."
"Concerning what is on board the ship," said Bertric, staying him.
"It is needful that we get it ashore before the tide turns. It is
but half an hour's hard work, at the most, if you folk help."
Phelim stared, for Bertric spoke in the Dansk tongue we had been
using. I had to translate for him, and Phelim nodded.
"Tell the sea captain that all will be well. We will return at
once. We do but find a house for the queen."
So we went on to the central green amid the huts, and there stood
and looked round, while Phelim and Fergus deliberated for a time.
It seemed that the pigs had one empty hut, and the fowls another.
The largest was the chapel, and so there was not one vacant. I
think that they each wished for the honour of turning out for us.
"Father Phelim," I said at last, for Bertric waxed impatient, "let
one good brother leave his cell for that of another, leaving it
free for the queen, and then we can shift for ourselves. We do not
at all mind sleeping in the open, for so we have fared for the last
week and more."
But they would not have that, and in the end Phelim himself led
Gerda with much pride to his own cell and handed it over to her,
while another brother left his cell to us three, it being a large
one, which, indeed, is not saying much for the rest.
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