Now, I need say little of all this ceremony and the words which
passed of thanks to Hakon for driving the enemy to his end.
Myrkiartan made no suggestion that Hakon should stay here, and
seemed more willing to speed him on his way elsewhere. Presently,
he said, there should be sent to the strand oxen and casks of mead
as provender for the voyage, and Hakon was most welcome to take the
ship if he would.
Thereon Dalfin asked for the captives, and they were brought in--a
dozen Danes, who stared at their captors haughtily in spite of
their bonds. Then they spied Bertric in the splendid arms which
Gerda gave him, for we had come fully armed, and they looked toward
him as if they would ask his help, but were too proud to do so. And
then of a sudden one of them spoke my name, and I knew him, though
his face was half-hidden in the mud of the field on which some
common chance had sent him down. It was that man of ours who had
told me that there was always the chance of escape, and had tried
to gnaw my bonds when we were in the ship's forepeak--Sidroc, the
courtman. I did not pretend to know him then and there, thinking it
might seem proof that Hakon was in league with Heidrek in some way.
Presently, when his low cry was forgotten, I looked at him, and he
saw that I knew him, and was content.
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