Now nothing would serve Halfden but that I must go with him on board his own ship, there to tell him all I might; and he laughed gaily, saying that he had looked indeed for a rich booty, but had gained that which was more worth to him.

Then I told Kenulf that we would bide at anchor till we knew what should be done, thinking it likely that Halfden would wish us to pilot him back to Reedham.

“We shall lose our tide,” grumbled the old man, who was himself again, now that he knew we had naught to fear.

“That is all we shall lose,” I answered, “and what matters it? we have all our time before us.”

“I like not the weather,” he said shortly.

But I paid no more heed to him, for Halfden spoke to me.

“Let me leave a few men here,” he said; “the boat is overladen, and the sea is rising with the breeze;” and then he added with a smile that had much grim meaning in it.  “They bide as friends with you, and but for our safety; not to take charge of your ship.”

So I bade Kenulf give the three who remained the best cheer that we might, treating them as Lodbrok’s men; for the old pilot loved the jarl well, and I knew that for his sake he would do much.

Then in a few more minutes I stood on the deck of Halfden’s ship, and word went round quickly of my news, so that I had a good welcome.  Yet I liked not the look of the Danish men, after the honest faces of our own crew.  It seemed to me that they were hard featured and cruel looking, though towards me were none but friendly looks.  Yet I speak of the crew only, for Halfden was like his father in face and speech, and that is saying much for him in both.

They spread a great awning, striped in blue and white like the sail, over the after deck, and there they set food and wine for us, and Halfden and I sat down together.  And with us one other, an older man, tall and bushy bearded, with a square, grave face scarred with an old wound.  Thormod was his name, and I knew presently that he was Halfden’s foster father, and the real captain of the ship while Halfden led the fighting men.

“Food first and talk after,” quoth this Thormod, and we fell to.

So when we had finished, and sat with ale horns only before us, Halfden said: 

“I have sought tidings of my father from the day when he was lost until this.  Now tell me all his story from end to end.”

And I did so; though when it came to the throwing of the line to the boat I said naught of my own part in that, there being no need, and moreover that I would not seem to praise myself.  And I ended by saying how Lodbrok was even now at court with Eadmund, our king, and high in favour with him and all lesser men.

Many were the questions that the Danes asked me as I spoke, and I answered them plainly, for indeed I was glad to see the look in Halfden’s eyes as I spoke to him of his father, I having naught but pleasant things to tell of him, which one may say of few men, perhaps.  And by and by I spoke of his having taught me the use of the Danish axe.