“You three fall back on that,” she said, laughing.  “It is no part of the treasure, and is here by mistake.  Yet I know what it holds, and you may be glad thereof.”

Dalfin threw it open, and laughed also.  It was full of the holiday clothes of some half-dozen of the head courtmen of the old king; blue and brown jerkins, and white and blue hose, short red cloaks, and fair linen underwear.  They had brought it for the feasting after the mound was made, and had forgotten it in the onset of Heidrek.  I have seen men of some rank wear no better.  Thorwald’s men were in good case.

“You have made new men of us from head to foot,” said Dalfin gleefully.  “In very truth we have sore need of change.”

Now we went to replace the deck planking, and she bethought herself.

“Let us keep the little chest with the gold where we can reach it easily,” she said.  “Supposing we are wrecked it will be well to have it at hand.”

That was wise, and we set it on deck again.  It was not more than one could carry easily, though heavy, having iron rings at either end as handles.  I took it aft out of the way, and set it by the steering bench.  And then we ended our work, and things were shipshape once more.

It was very hot as the sun rose higher.  There was a feeling of thunder in the air, and Gerda was glad to seek the shelter of her awning from the heat and glare from sea and sky.  The ship swayed gently to the dying swell, and the sail flapped idly against the mast, while ever we looked to see the longships of Heidrek coming in the offing in search of us.

Once I climbed the mast, and was glad to see no sign of his sails.  Though we must have baffled him for the time, we could not have sailed far ere the wind failed.  Presently, in the shelter of the boats, we fitted ourselves out afresh from the courtman’s chest, and felt more like ourselves again.  We set the mail we needed no longer for the time in the chest, and that done, longed for the wind which did not come.  It was breathless.

The awning grew stifling, and Gerda left it for our midday meal, coming to the after deck, and sitting there with us.  Presently she looked at our dress and smiled, jesting a little.  Then she set her hand on the little chest of gold which stood on the deck by her and opened it.

“I am going to ask you to wear some of these things,” she said, half shyly.  “I have a fancy to see you three as you should be, with the things which belong to your rank on you.”

Bertric shook his head at that.  “No, lady,” he said.  “What need?”

“Maybe I would see my friends as they should be,” she answered.  “Maybe I would fain for once give the gifts a queen may give, if never again.  And maybe it is as well that some of these treasures should be shared among us because we know not what may come.”

“Well,” said Bertric, laughing, “maybe they will not be so likely to go overboard without us.”