“I have more than half forgotten the little Latin they taught me at Monasterboice long ago,” he answered; “but he is telling them that here we have not a lady merely, but a queen.  It is the first trouble again.”

Now the brethren consulted, still standing in the hut doors, and at last, being thereto exhorted once more by our friend, they came toward us slowly, as if wishing to show that they had no longing for things outside their island cares.  Five out of these six were old men, our guide being the youngest, and two of them were very old, with long, white beards.  One of these two came forward as they neared us, and spoke for the rest, greeting Dalfin first, as their prince, with all respect, though not at all in the humble way in which he had first been hailed.

“It is our good fortune,” he said, “that we are able to shelter you.  It has been our sorrow that up till this time those strangers who have come from the sea have needed nothing from us but the last rites.  We are all unused to guests, and you will forgive us if we know not how to treat them rightly.  But what we can do we will.”

He waved his hands toward the huts, and said no more.  Dalfin thanked him, and after he had heard, he paid no more heed to us, but turned to our guide.

“Brother Phelim,” he said wearily, “see you to all that may be done.  The care must be yours, as was the first welcome.  I do not know why you wandered so far at this hour.”

“Because I thought there might be poor folk in need, father,” said Phelim meekly.  “Moreover, I am shepherd today.”

The old man waved his hand as if to say that the excuse was enough, and with that turned and went his way, leaning on the arm of the other ancient brother, the three who had stood behind them making way reverently.

“He is our superior,” whispered Phelim.  “He has been here for forty years.  He will forget that he has seen you presently.  Now, come, and we will see how we may best bestow you.”

“Concerning what is on board the ship,” said Bertric, staying him.  “It is needful that we get it ashore before the tide turns.  It is but half an hour’s hard work, at the most, if you folk help.”

Phelim stared, for Bertric spoke in the Dansk tongue we had been using.  I had to translate for him, and Phelim nodded.

“Tell the sea captain that all will be well.  We will return at once.  We do but find a house for the queen.”

So we went on to the central green amid the huts, and there stood and looked round, while Phelim and Fergus deliberated for a time.  It seemed that the pigs had one empty hut, and the fowls another.  The largest was the chapel, and so there was not one vacant.  I think that they each wished for the honour of turning out for us.

“Father Phelim,” I said at last, for Bertric waxed impatient, “let one good brother leave his cell for that of another, leaving it free for the queen, and then we can shift for ourselves.  We do not at all mind sleeping in the open, for so we have fared for the last week and more.”