Also I told him how that Bertric and I had enough wealth
on us at this moment for the fitting out of a ship as we had
planned. Whereon he laughed.
"Keep that," he said, "and I shall be content. Gerda will know
nothing of the worth of what you have, and you will use it for her
if needed. I have a plan in my mind for her, which may be told
hereafter."
Then one of the men came to the opening of the awning.
"A boat, King Hakon, with two men in her, pulling to us from the
western bank."
"Hail her to keep off," said Hakon.
And Osric added that they should heave a big stone into her if she
did not. "Spies, most like," he said.
They hailed the boat, and had an answer at once.
"Tell Hakon that hither comes a courtman of Queen Gerda's."
Hakon said that it must be some man who had escaped; but Bertric
and I knew at once.
"It is Dalfin the Prince," we said. "He has had to fly from those
brothers of his."
So it was, and he had come to see more adventure with King Hakon.
"I might find enough if I stayed," he said; "but of an evil sort."
"Why, what is amiss then?" I said.
"Only that my brothers do not like favourites, and I happen to be
one for the moment. There would have been fighting if I had stayed,
and that would have ended in my good father being pushed off his
throne by my elder brother lest I should be named as successor to
the crown.
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