Chapter 11:  The Summons Of The Beacons.

Now, for all the peace of this holy island there hung over it an ever-present fear of which I learned when we spoke to Phelim concerning the treasure which we would leave in the care of the brethren when we went hence.

He said that it was well if we would do so, and that they would bury it under that new shed which we had helped to build, since no Danes would wonder at seeing newly-turned earth there.

“Moreover,” he said, “if we are not here when you come for it, you will know where it is.”

He said this quietly, and as a matter of course, and I asked him in surprise if it was likely that they would leave their island.

“Not alive,” he answered; “but the Danes may spy our easily-taken flocks at any time, and come ashore here.”

“Why, they would not harm the unresisting,” I said.

“Nay, but we are priests of the faith, therefore the heathen rage against us.  Already they have slain almost every brotherhood along the shores of this land, and of Scotland.  Our turn may come at any time.”

He was in no way disquieted at this terrible thought.  Thereafter I knew that to him such a death was martyrdom, and most glorious.

But Bertric listened with a troubled face, and presently, when we were alone again, he said that he was anxious.

“I only hope that we may not have brought trouble on these good men who have sheltered us,” he said.  “There was a ship which must have seen us cast ashore here.”

“We should have had her back by this time if she meant seeking us.”

“It is not her whom I fear,” he answered.  “This ship of ours was too precious for Heidrek to let go easily.  So soon as that fog cleared, and he found we were not ahead on the Norway shore, he would put about.  He knew that we must be undermanned, being so close to us.  Then he would get back to where he lost us, and thereafter would guess the only course we could have taken, for the matter of handling the sail would settle that.  We could not have gone far ere the wind dropped.  Then supposing he picked up our mast?”

“Unlikely enough,” I said.  “We are raising trouble for ourselves.”

Bertric shook his head.  “I know Heidrek only too well.  He may spend this season in hunting for the treasure which he so nearly had.  News of a wreck flies fast, and he has but to touch here and there on our track or thereabout to hear of us sooner or later.”

Now, I did not trouble much more about this, but it bided in Bertric’s mind, and made him restless.  That third day passed without sign from the mainland, as was likely, seeing that the fishers had to reach the king.  It would have been of no use for us to take the boat and cross, for Dalfin told us that we needs must have horses, and maybe a guard when we would go to his place, which was a long day’s ride from the shore.  We were well cared for here, and it was a pleasant place wherein to wait.