So he turned from me, and I went out without a word, for he was Ingvar.  Yet sometimes I wish that I had bidden him farewell, when the thought of his dark face comes back to me as I saw him for the last time in his own hall, leaning away from me over his carven chair, and very still.

I sought Thormod, and told him that he must see the king with his tidings, for I would not see his face again.

“Nor shall we see Jutland again,” he said, pointing to the ship, which lay now in the same place where the pirate had been, alongside Ingvar’s.  And the other ship had come in during the night, and was at anchor in the haven.

“Shall we sail home at once?” I asked him.

“Aye; no use in waiting.  We are wanted at Guthrum’s side, and can take no men, but a few boys back.  Yet the other ship will stay while I send messengers inland, if Ingvar will not.  But I shall return no more.”

“Then,” said I, “I will speak to the Lady Osritha.”

“Go at once,” he said, smiling; “bid her come with us to the better home we have found.”

I had not seen Osritha since I left her yesterday, and now I feared a little, not knowing how she would look on things.

Yet I need not have feared, for when they took me to her bower she rose up and came to me, falling on my neck and weeping, and I knew that I had found her again not to part with her.

When she grew calmer, I asked her if she would return with us to Reedham, telling her how there would be no fear of war there in the time to come.  And she held her peace, so that I thought she would not, and tried to persuade her, telling her what a welcome would be to her from all our folk, and also from the Danish people who loved her so well.

So I went on, until at last she raised her head, smiling at me.

“Surely I will follow you—­let me be with you where you will.”

So it came to pass that next day we sailed, Osritha taking her four maidens with her, for they would not leave her; having, moreover, somewhat to draw them overseas even as I had been drawn to this place again.  And with us went close on a score of women and children whose menfolk were settled already near to Reedham.  These were the first who came into our land, but they were not to be the last.

I had seen Ingvar no more, busying myself about fitting the ship with awnings and the like for these passengers of ours; and what Thormod did about the men he sought I know not, nor did I care to know.

There is a dead tree which marks the place where I had been cast ashore in Lodbrok’s boat, and which is the last point of land on which one looks as the ship passes to the open sea from the haven.  And there we saw Ingvar the king for the last time.  All alone he stood with his hands resting on his sword, looking at our ship as she passed.  Nor did he move from that place all the time we could see him.

Silently Thormod gave the tiller into my hands, and went to the flag halliards.  Thrice he dipped Halfden’s flag in salute, but Ingvar made no sign, and so he faded from our sight, and after that we spoke no more of him.  But Osritha wept a little, for she had loved him even while she dreaded him, and now she should see him no more.