Thereat Hakon smiled as if well pleased, and said no more.  Bertric did but speak the truth concerning me.  But most of all, it seemed to me that the new things I had learned were so wondrous that I thought myself unfitted for them.  I think that, if I tell the truth, I must needs say that I was afraid thereof, in ways which I cannot set into words.

Bertric and I went out to look for men when all was said that needed saying, and the first person we found was Dalfin.  The prince was learning to be a very Norseman, and was in favour with all.

“Ho, Dalfin,” I said, “are you minded to sail for another cruise with the queen and us two?”

“Why,” he asked, “what of Hakon and his warfare?”

We told him what we were to be about, and his face fell.  I think he deemed at first that he was in some way bound in honour to go with us and see Gerda righted.  But it was plain that he would rather follow Hakon and meet with the adventure which must needs be before him ere he came to the throne of his fathers.

So we played with him for a while, until he said that he would sail with us if we needed him so sorely, and then let him go.  There was no honour to be won with us, and here he might end by standing high in the court, and we had no need of him.  Then we went and chose men who were ready for a chance of speedy adventure, rather than the waiting which matters of policy required here for the moment.  Presently Bertric would bring the ship back to Hakon with them, if all went well.  So we had no trouble in raising a very willing crew.  Moreover, the men who knew her were glad to serve Gerda.

So word went about quickly of what we wanted, and we might have had twice the number we asked for.  Presently Asbiorn heard it, and came up from the ships and sought us.

“So you are going to try conclusions with my friend Arnkel?” he said.  “Let me come with you.  You need a pilot.”

Now, we liked Asbiorn well enough, for all the way in which we had met him, and the company whence he came to us.  He was quiet and fearless, keeping himself to himself, but pleasant in his ways, troubling more over the thought of the ill repute of his father than need have been, perhaps, for none blamed him for that.  We had already thought of him as likely to be useful to us; but he, again, might do well with the king, for he had place and name to win, as had Dalfin.  We were glad that he would help us therefore, and hailed his coming accordingly, to his content.

This island where we lay was hilly, and forest clad.  The ships were at anchor in the little sound between it and a smaller island, hidden and safe, and the ladies were lodged in a house among the woods on the south side of the hill, near the lodging of Hakon.  The woods were pleasant at this time, with the first touch of autumn on the leaves of the birches, and the ripe berries of the Norseland were everywhere.

So it happened that presently, as I went to Hakon’s lodging with some question which I had for him, I must take the nearest way from the ships by the woodland paths, having to cross the island from east to south, and leaving Bertric and Asbiorn on board.  I had it in my mind to find Thoralf’s good wife presently, and talk to her, for it seemed to me that this cruise might have much in store for me.  Hakon had told her of our sailing with the morning’s tide.