“I did but go back for a few things that I did not care to leave,” he said; and he showed me that he had brought his own horse from the stables, and on it were large saddlebags.  No poor man was Berthun after years of service in the palace, where gifts from thane and lady are always ready for the man who has had the care of them.  Across the saddle bow also were his mail shirt and arms, and his shield hung with his helm from the peak.

“You see that I must needs cast in my lot with yours, or rather Curan’s,” he said, laughing; “but it is in my mind that in the end I shall not be sorry to have done so.  I think that I am tired of the fireside, and want adventure for a while.”

“Well,” I answered, “you are likely to have them, and that shortly, if I am not mistaken; but we shall see.  Now about these horses, for we had better get out of Lincoln as soon as we may.”

The man he had spoken with was a merchant, who came yearly, and was a friend of his.  He had more horses than he meant to keep, as he had here each year; for every one knows that a horse can always be sold in Lincoln, and they were good ones.  Then my gold came in well, and I bought three, one for each of us brothers.  I daresay that I paid dearly for them, but there was no time for haggling in the way that a horse dealer loves.  Out of the way of Alsi we must get, before he bethought him of more crafty devices.  And I thought, moreover, that we should be riding towards East Anglia shortly, and it was not everywhere that a steed fit to carry Havelok on a long journey was to be had.

I had bidden him leave all this to me as we came down the hill, and glad he was to do so.  Now he had dismounted, and stood by the side of the princess, speaking earnestly to her.  It was plain that what he said was pleasant to her also.  But we left them apart, as one might suppose.

Now came a warrior into the courtyard, and he bore more arms.  It was Withelm, who had borrowed the gear of the widow’s dead husband, that he might be ready for whatever might happen:  and it was good to see Havelok’s eyes grow bright as he spied the well-known weapons that his brother had in his arms.  He said one word to Goldberga, and then came to us.

“Let me get into war gear at once,” he said, laughing in a way that lightened my heart.  “I shall not feel that I have shaken off service to Alsi until I have done so.”

And then he saw Berthun here for the first time.

“Nay, but here is my master,” he added.  “And I will say that I owe him much for his kindness.”

“Now the kindness shall be on your part, if any was on mine.  Take me into your service, I pray you, henceforward.”

“Good friend of mine,” said Havelok, “naught have I to offer you.  And how should one serve me?”

“With heart and hand and head, neither more nor less,” answered Berthun.  “I have seen you serve, and now will see you command.  Let me bide with you, my master, at least, giving you such service as I may.”