Yet I know that, as I watched the ship in her trouble, in my own mind I had been going over what was amiss, as any seaman will, without thought of powers above.  And I thought that the sharp pitching of the vessel had cast the great bell from amidships, where I had seen the Danes place it unsecured, against the frail gunwale, first to one side, and then, with greater force yet, against the other; so that it burst open gunwale and planking below, and already she was filling when the wave came and ended all.  For these swift viking ships are built to take no heavy cargo, and planks and timbers are but bound together by roots and withies; so that as one stands on the deck one may feel it give and spring to the blow of a wave, and the ship is all the swifter.  But though the outer planking is closely riveted together with good iron, that could not withstand the crashing weight of so great a bell when it was thus flung against it.

However that may have been—­and thus I surely think it was—­Bosham bell passed not into the power of the heathen, but destroyed them; and it lies at the bottom of the deepest reach of the haven whence the depth and swiftness of the tide will hardly let men bring it again.  So I suppose that, profaned by heathen hands, it may no longer call men from across the water and woodland to the church of God.

Soon came the boats from Halfden’s ship and picked up those who yet clung to what they might of the wreck, and then ship and Danes passed from Bosham haven, leaving the silent tower and burning village to mark where they had been.

Then the prior sighed, and turning away, said: 

“Let us go to Chichester and find shelter.  Night comes soon, and rest.”

Sadly enough we went, though not for long:  for when we came into the roadway from the forest land, the prior put his heavy thoughts aside, and spoke cheerfully to me.

“What is done is done; and but for you, my son, things would have been worse.  And their greed for the bell has made them spare the church itself.  Surely you must have fallen from the clouds to help us—­borne hither from the East Anglian land whose tongue bewrays you.”

“I marvel that you trusted me,” I said.

“I trusted your face, my son, and when one is in a hard case the first help is ever the best.  Yet now I would fain know somewhat of my good comrade.”

Now I think that to any but this monk, with his friendly smile and way of quiet authority, I should have been ashamed to own my part with the Danes.  But a few hours of companionship in danger knit closer than many a long day of idleness together, and he seemed to me as a near friend.  Moreover, he had trusted me without question; so I told him all my tale and he listened patiently.

“Now I am glad that I cursed not your friend’s ship—­for I forgot her,” he said, smiling.

At that I was glad, for how he would hold my being with the heathen I somewhat doubted, and I told him so.