But Kenric at that moment felt the boat grinding upon a sunken rock, and Aasta’s question passed his notice.

Beyond the tunnel they searched for a safe landing place in one of the little bays.  Aasta pointed to a high cliff that had many caverns hollowed out in its steep front, and she bade him steer into one of those caves.  Kenric laughed and asked how she thought they could ever arrive upon the heights by that way.  But when she suddenly put her finger to her lips, in token that she had heard voices upon the cliff, Kenric obeyed her and took the boat into the yawning cavern.

When they were far within Aasta said:  “Heard you not voices up above us, my lord —­ the voices of many men?”

“Even so,” said Kenric.  “But methinks it will go ill with us here if we be discovered by some passing boat.  We should then be entrapped.”

“Not so,” said she.  “Follow me and you shall see that we have chosen a better point of landing than you could have hoped for.”

And stepping upon the rocks at the far end of the cave she led him up a flight of rocky steps until suddenly they saw the light of day.  At once they emerged into a wide ravine that clove the cliffs and led upward to the grassy heights of the island.  Then Aasta drew back and held Kenric so that he might go no farther, and she pointed across the ravine where a dip in the opposite headland revealed a wide and sheltered bay.

“Look, my lord,” she whispered.

Kenric saw an unexpected sight, for in the waters of that bay there lay at anchor a hundred and fifty ships of war with the falcon flag of King Hakon flying at each masthead.

The sight of so vast an armament appalled him.  How it happened that these foreign ships were riding at anchor off his own island was a thing that passed his comprehension.

Aasta was the first to break the silence of wonderment.

“My lord,” said she, “there is more in this than the dying words of your kinsman William foretold.  And right wise were you to bid me put on this fisher maid’s disguise.  Give me your dirk, Earl Kenric, lest I meet misfortune, and I will take my creel of fish and offer it for sale among the people.  It may be that in speaking with the islanders I shall hear that which the mere sight of these ships cannot explain.”

Then Kenric returned to the boat, bringing back the basket of fish, which he gave to Aasta together with his dirk.

“You will trust me, my lord?” she asked.

Kenric smiled.  “To the end,” said he.  “But what is your plan, Aasta?”

“That you remain with the boat, my lord, while I journey to the village, wherever it may be found.  Not long shall I be, and I beg you not to leave the cave till I return.”

Taking the fish creel over her back she went away.  Passing up the ravine and mounting to the heights, she had not gone far when she saw a party of warriors sitting round a camp fire.  She went boldly towards them.