Maybe it was all useless, but we
would leave nothing to be spied which might bring the men to the
island sooner than needful.
That took only a few minutes, but in them I cannot tell how many
wild plans for Gerda's safety went through my mind. Beyond the bare
chance which lay in getting to the hillside and trying to keep out
of sight of the men when they landed, there seemed to be nothing we
could do.
Now, along the little shore path came Gerda to seek us, smiling at
our haste. The boat she missed at once, and looked round for it.
"Why, what has become of the boat?" she asked. "I thought you
landed here."
Bertric looked at me, and I at him, and Gerda caught the glance.
"There is something which you fear to tell me," she said steadily.
"Let it be spoken at once, for we have faced danger together ere
this, have we not?"
"Have you not seen a large boat down the strait?" I asked lamely.
"No," she said, and was stepping forward to the edge of the water,
past the screen of low shore bushes to look, but I stayed her.
"It is the boat which we fear," I said. "There are Danes in her,
and we think they are seeking the wreck."
She looked me in the face for a moment, and read what was written
there.
"We might welcome the coming of honest Vikings," she said, "whether
Dane or Norse.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203