Then her strength seemed to give way at last as the fullness of her trouble came to her, and she turned from us and sank down sideways on the bed where she sat, and wept silently.  It was hard for us to stand and see this; but we were helpless, not at all knowing what we could do.  I suppose that we could have done nothing, in truth; but it seemed as if we ought to have been of some help in word, at least.

At last she ceased, and sat up again, trying to smile.

“Yesterday, I had thought myself far from such foolishness as this,” she said.  “Today, I know that this mail and helm of mine and the sword that lies yonder in the chamber where you found me are not fitting for me.  They are an idle boast and empty.  I am only a weak woman—­and alone.”

Almost was she to breaking down again, but she was brave.  And then Bertric spoke for the three of us.

“Lady,” he said, “we are homeless wanderers, but we would not have you think yourself altogether alone so long as we can plan for you.  Mayhap we can do no more, but, at least, we shall see.  I cannot think that all hope is lost.  See, we have the ship, and it is high summer.  Not one of us can be worse off than we have been of late, and we may win to comfort once more.”

Thereat she looked at the three of us, and rose up and stretched her hands toward us, as in greeting.

“I will trust you,” she said.  “I will think of you as friends and brothers in trouble, and in enmity to Heidrek the evildoer.  It must be that you three have wrought loyally together through the long storm, and you can never be aught but friends thereafter, for you have tried one another.  Let me be as the fourth of you without favour.”

“Lady,” said Dalfin, “I have sisters at home, and they were wont to share all the sport of myself and my brothers, even as you say, as of our number without favour.  But always the sisters had the favoured place, because we willed it, and should be unhappy if it were otherwise.  There were some favours which they held as their unspoken right.

“Is not that so in your land, Bertric the Thane, and in yours, friend Malcolm the Jarl?”

Truly this Dalfin knew how to set things in the right way, for even I, who had no sisters, was not left out of that answer.  So we both said that he was right, and she knew well what we meant, and was content.  Moreover, by naming our titles once again, though they were barren enough here in all truth, he told her that it was on our honour to help her.

“I am more than content,” she said softly.  “I am no longer friendless.  Now I will tell you what befell me, and then you shall plan what you may, not in anywise thinking too much of me, but for all four of us.”

She set the blue cloak round her as if chill, and was silent, thinking for a few minutes.  Bertric and I leant on the gunwale close by, and Dalfin set himself on the deck near us.  And all the while she spoke, Bertric was glancing eastward across the still water for the first sign of the breeze we longed for.  I know now that on him was a dread lest it should bring with it the brown sails of Heidrek’s two ships; but he did not show it.  It was likely that men would have watched for the smoke of the burning ship, and that when they did not see it, would put out to search, guessing what had happened.