"It is a pity to see a good warrior who will do a kindly turn to a
captive naught but a wolf's-head Viking. I have need of courtmen."
"I might do worse," he answered; "but hither comes my father, and I
have no mind to fight him at the very beginning of my service."
Hakon looked at the two ships, which were nearing us fast, though
we were still close-hauled, as when the boat was brought alongside.
"I had no mind to fight him," said Hakon.
"It is not his way to let a ship pass without either toll or
battle," Asbiorn said bluntly.
"Why, then, go forward and get dried," Hakon said. "We will speak
of this presently, after we have met your ships."
Thereon Asbiorn ungirt his sword and gave it to me solemnly.
"It is in my mind that this might get loose when our men come over
the side," he said. "Better that I am your captive for a while."
With that he walked forward, and Hakon looked after him with a
smile that was somewhat grim. Then someone touched my arm, and
there was Father Phelim, with a face full of trouble. With him were
two men, dressed in somewhat the same way as himself. They were
Hakon's English chaplains, and they could not understand his Erse.
"Malcolm," he said, "what of our brethren on the island? There are
the wild Danes yet there--on the shore.
Pages:
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227