There were no hermits to be seen, for they were either in their
cells, or at their tasks about the place. So I went to the first
cell and looked in, and finding it empty, went to the next. Fergus
sat there, writing in some beautiful book which he was busied with.
One never found a brother idle.
"Father," I said, "I must disturb you. There is danger at hand, I
fear."
"Ah," he answered, setting down his pen, and rising hastily. "The
Danes at last. Well, we have long expected them to come to us, as
to our brethren elsewhere. But what shall the poor queen do?"
"Is there no place where you can hide her?" I said.
"None," he answered gloomily. "Tell me more."
I told him, and he shook his head.
"Men in the narrow waters, and men in the open," he muttered.
"Hemmed in on every side."
"Danes in the open sea?" I said, with a new fear on me. The end
might be nearer than we deemed it.
"Aye, two ships sailing this way."
They were those which we had seen and forgotten. I ran out, and
while Fergus went to Bertric, climbed the little hill beyond the
village, and looked seaward. The ships were six miles away, and
heading due west, having edged somewhat farther from the shore than
when we first sighted them. They were not coming hither.
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