So the warriors laughed, and went to draw Elfric away; but when he saw that I stood before the cabin door, he stepped aside by himself and watched what should befall.  I had no mail on, and at first they did not notice me.  It was the first day that I had not worn mail since we left London; but Foe’s Bane was loose in the scabbard, and ready in case of need.

“Ho, skipper!” Egil cried, “whom have you on board?”

“Yon priest and some more of his sort,” Bertric said.

“We have lit on a crow’s nest,” a man said, laughing.  “Where are they, then?”

“In the fore peak, and aft here, deadly sick,” said Bertric.

Then Egil’s eyes lit on me, and he stared for a minute.

“Ho!” he cried, “here is no crow, but a stout warrior enough.  What do you here, Olaf’s right-hand man?”

“Helping the crows over seas,” I said, trying to meet his words lightly, though my heart was heavy enough.

“Why then, friend,” he said, “I must see these charges of yours.  Stand aside, and let me go into that cabin.”

“Nay, Egil; they are but nuns here.”

The honest warrior looked puzzled, but some of his men began to crowd aft, being tired of the parley, and one tried to push me aside, saying: 

“Let us fetch them out, and waste no more words.”

Whereon I sent him reeling against the gunwale, hands to face, for I dealt with him even as Godric served my warrior at Stamford.

Then I had my sword out, for it was time—­and two men who drew sword on me went down on the deck before me.  Sword Foe’s Bane smote not amiss.  Then was a ring of shouting Danes forming, and I felt someone at my shoulder, and Egil cried out: 

“Hold, men! the warrior is my man.  Let me deal with him.”

And there was Sister Sexberga beside me, with Bertric’s sword, that had hung over his berth, in her hand; and her eyes were flashing, and it seemed to me that she had used a sword before this, or had learnt its use.  It was reddened now.

The men gave back, and Egil came before me and he was laughing.

“That is enough, Redwald of Bures,” he said.  “I owe you a life, and you have it.  If all your charges are like that maiden we had better begone.  Little nunnery training is there about her sword play.”

Then the sister shrank back into the cabin, and the men stared after her with a kind of awe, as at a Valkyrie of the old faith who had come to my help.  There was a man whom she had smitten who was binding up a wound in his bare forearm.  I believe that she stayed a shrewd blow from me.

“Let us go, Egil,” I said.

“Presently, maybe.  But I seek someone, and must needs see your people.  No harm shall come to them.”

Then I thought that all was well, and I turned to the door and spoke: 

“Lady abbess, you must needs come forward.  I know this chief, and you need fear nought.”