Presently he said: 

“I have believed that all the Danes were as much one under Guthrum their king as are my folk under theirs.  I cannot see the end of this war.”

“It will end when Alfred the king is strong enough always to have men in the field to face every leader that will fall on him,” Harek said.  “What King Ranald says is true.  It is as if his own father had minded what Harald had sworn in the old days.”

“Wherefore Harald brought all Norway under him, that every man should mind what he said,” the Saxon answered.

Then came three or four more thanes along the shore, and he rose up and waved his hand to them.

“Here are more butts for Kolgrim,” he said, laughing.  “Now, King Ranald, I must go to my friends.  But I have learned much.  I think you must speak with the king before you go, and I will tell him all you have said.”

“Maybe we shall meet again,” said I, taking his offered hand.  “I think I would see Alfred; but he is over wise, from all accounts, to learn aught from me.”

“King Alfred says that wisdom comes little by little, and by learning from every one.  I belong to the court, and so shall surely meet you if you do come to speak to him.”

Then I asked the thane’s name.

“Godred {vi} men say it is,” he answered, laughing; “but that means better counsel than belongs to me.”

So he went ashore and joined the thanes, who had gone slowly along the road, and we lost sight of him.

“Yonder goes a pleasant comrade enough,” I said to Harek.

“Ay,” the scald answered; “but if that is not Alfred the king himself, I am much in error.”

“It is not likely.  I think he is a bigger man and older, from all accounts,” I said carelessly.  “Moreover, he would not have put up with Kolgrim’s jests as he did.”

“One knows not; but I thought he spoke of ‘my folk’ once.  And he seemed to ask more than would a simple thane, and in a different way.”

However, it seemed to me that Harek had found a marvel for himself, and I laughed at him for supposing that Alfred the king would come there to speak to any man.

Now towards evening Odda came, and with him many servants and a train of wagons.  He would make a feast for us in the best house of the village, by the king’s order.  Every one of us was called, and all the leading Saxon shipmen, when all was ready, and it was a kingly feast enough.

While they were making it ready, the ealdorman came to me on board the ship, and welcomed me in most friendly wise.

“I have a message for you, King Ranald,” he said presently.  “Some thanes have been to me from the king, and he bids me ask you to come and speak with him.”

“I saw a thane here this morning who was anxious for me to see the king,” I said.  “A pleasant man enough—­one Godred.”

“Ay, Godred is pleasant enough,” Odda said, smiling, “but he is a terrible man for asking questions.”