We took this
latter, as it was easy to get her to the water, and she was all we
needed.
"Go and get your arms," I said to Dalfin. "We will pull round and
meet you at the rock where the fishers landed."
"Hurry, then," he said, and went his way to the cells in all haste.
More slowly Gerda followed him, and we pushed off and bent to the
oars. There was little sea, and we went swiftly from the open round
the eastern point of the island and into the strait.
Now I pointed out the distant sails to Bertric, but he had already
seen them.
"I do not rightly make out what they are yet," he said; "but I do
not think them Danish. Honest Norse traders from Dublin, most
likely."
It was at the time of the slack water at the top of high tide now,
and we found Dalfin and Gerda waiting with Phelim and another of
the brothers at the flat rock. At the first sight I thought the
prince had changed his mind, and would stay, as if Gerda had
over-persuaded him. For he stood there bare headed, and without
mail or shield, though he had the axe and sword which Gerda had
given him, and the great torque was on his neck.
"Where is the mail?" I asked, as we steadied the boat by the rock.
"Waiting my return," he answered. "Today I am an Irish
prince--tomorrow the queen's courtman again, if she will.
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