But on that day Einar gave me the great ship that we had taken from Halfdan, the king’s son, saying that he would add to Sigurd’s giving.  Also he bade me choose what men I would for her crew, bidding me thank him not at all, for I was his foster son, and a king by birth moreover.

So when I knew that this would please him, I chose Thord for my shipmaster, and Kolgrim for marshal, as we call the one who has charge of the ordering of the crew.  And I chose a hundred good men whom I knew well, so that indeed I had the best ship and following in Norway, as I thought.  At least there were none better, unless Harald Fairhair might match me.

Now there was one thing that pleased me not at this time, and that was that Kolgrim, my comrade, never called me aught but “master” since I came from Sigurd’s presence—­which is not the wont of our free Norsemen with any man.  Nor would he change it, though I was angry, until I grew used to it in time.

“Call me not ‘master,’ Kolgrim, my comrade,” I said; “it is unfittinq for you.”

At last he answered me in such wise that I knew it was of no more use to speak of it.

“Master of mine you are, Ranald the king, since the day when you dared more than I thought man might, while I lay like a beaten hound outside, and dared not go within that place to see what had become of you.  Little comradeship was mine to you on that day, and I am minded to make amends if I can.  I think I may dare aught against living men for you, though I failed at that mound.  I will give life for you, if I may.”

I told him that what he had done was well done, and indeed he had had courage to go where none else had dared; for I had ties of friendship that made me bold to meet Jarl Sigurd, and might go therefore where he might not.  It was well that he did not come into the presence of the dead.

“Therefore we are comrades, not master and man,” I said.

“Nay, but master and man—­lord and thrall,” he answered.

So I must let him have his way, but he could not make me think of him as aught but a good and brave comrade whom I loved well.

They hailed me as king when I went on board my ship for the first time with my own men, as I have said.  Then our best weapon smith asked for gold from the men, and they gave what they had—­it was in plenty with us of Einar’s following—­and made a golden circlet round my helm, that they might see it and follow it in battle.

It was good to wear the crown thus given willingly, but in the end it sent me from north to south, as will be seen.  That, however, is a matter with which I will not quarrel, for it sent me to Alfred the king.

We had left the firth two days, cruising slowly northward, when one ship came from the north and met us, not flying from our fleet, but bearing up to join us.  And when she was close, there came a hail to tell Einar that she bore a messenger from Harald the king in peace, and presently we hove to while this messenger went on board the Jarl’s ship.