Gerda would go ashore with us, and so in no long time we, who had left here so hastily, stood once more on the shore, and wondered to find ourselves back again, and safe; for the memory of that flight came back to us afresh with all we saw.  We had forgotten it in the wild doings of the long day which came thereafter.

Now, there is no need for me to tell of the greetings which were for us, and for the young king.  They were those of men who owed much on either side, and yet must part again straightway.  It seemed that Hakon’s men who had been landed were either Christians, or else men who had taken the “prime signing” on them, which was the way in which they proved that they were ready to learn the new faith.  Phelim would call them “catechumens,” therefore, and that word may be known as meaning the same thing.  Presently I was to hear more of that from him.  The good hermits were ready to praise them and their ways to the king, while, as for Asbiorn’s men, they had given no trouble at all, for they were tied up in the cell we had used.  One or two of Hakon’s men, who were from Dublin, could speak the Erse, and that had been good.

So there was gratitude and content when the hermits came and spoke with Hakon through Dalfin, while I set the men to work getting the treasure down to the boats.  The brothers had buried it as they promised, risking somewhat as they worked, for Asbiorn’s Danes might have wandered from the beach at any time.  When that was done they fled to the hill, until one of Hakon’s men had gone altogether unarmed and spoken with them, telling them that we and they were safe.

Now, we had left Fergus behind us with the bishop, and he would find his way back here shortly.  Presently Phelim sought the old superior and spoke long with him, and at last came and asked Gerda to do the same.  She went willingly enough, as she reverenced the old teacher, taking me with her.

“My daughter,” he said, “have you a mind to learn more of those things of which we have spoken?”

“I can wish nothing better,” she answered.

“Then,” he said, “I have bidden Phelim go across the seas with you to teach you and yours.  Will it please you that he shall do so?”

She flushed with delight, for that was what she had most wished, as she had told me yonder on the shore.  And I suppose that because she had so told me, she looked to me to answer.

“Aye, what says Malcolm, my countryman?” asked the old man.

“If Father Phelim will undertake the task, which will be hard,” I answered.

“He will bear hardship for that work,” the superior said, setting his hand on the shoulder of the strong man, who had knelt before him.  “We shall miss him, but we shall know that mayhap he will bring you twain to meet with us hereafter.”

Then I said, being moved by words and tone, “So may it be, father,” and he smiled at me in much content.

After that Phelim said naught of his own feelings in the matter, but went to the brothers one by one and took leave of them.  Afterwards I heard that yesterday the bishop had loosed him from some vows which bound him to the island-hermit life, if it came to pass that we would take him with us.  And that was what he had thought would befall him when he and Fergus rowed with us, with Asbiorn in chase.