“What are all these beacon fires about?” asked Dalfin shortly.

“Danes in the river Bann, lord,” the head man said.

“Have they landed yet?”

“No, lord.  They wait for ransom they have demanded.  If it comes not, they will burn and harry all Ulster.”

“How many ships, then?” asked Dalfin, on hearing that threat.

“Two ships, lord, and great ones.”

The prince laughed at the man.

“What, burn all Ulster with two shiploads of men?  That is a great boast which we shall not care for.  Where is my father, the king—­and where is the muster?”

The man told him that the king was at some place or other, with the mustering warriors.  Thereat Dalfin bade the man get him a horse at once, and the fisher threw up his hands and said that there was never a horse within ten miles.  Dalfin laughed and spoke to us.

“Just what I thought,” he said.  “If I get to the muster by sunset I shall be lucky, unless I meet with a horse on the way.  And—­I am out of condition with these long days on board ship.”

He groaned, and we bade him wait till he was sent for; but that he would not hear.

“I shall take a dozen of these knaves as guard—­and maybe to carry me betimes.  Wish me luck, for I must be going.”

Now the wild fishers had been whispering among themselves, and one of them made up his mind to tell somewhat.  He came and knelt before Dalfin, and asked him to forgive him.

“What for?” asked the prince.

“For telling foolishness,” answered the man.  “Yet I think it should be told with the rest of the news.”

“Tell it, then.”

“I spoke with the man who carried the gathering cry, and he said that the evil Lochlannoch, concerning whom are the beacons, have bidden men give up the treasure which they say we must needs have won from a certain wreck.  There has been no wreck, lord, save yours, and the prince will ever have treasure.”

Now a sudden heat of rage seemed to fall on Dalfin, and he cried aloud to the men: 

“Hearken, fools!  It is not to be said that the prince was wrecked like a fisher churl.  There has been no wreck—­if there has been, there was no treasure.  Mind you that.”

“Lord,” said the man, trembling, “I cannot tell if aught was told the Lochlannoch.  We have said naught to them, not having seen them.”

“Dalfin,” I said, with a great chill on me, “ask if they know the name of the leader of these men.”

He changed colour, for I think that the knowledge of what I feared came to him in a flash.  He asked, and the man at his feet muttered what was meant for the name of Heidrek.  He said it once or twice, stammering, but I knew it, and Bertric caught it also.

“What is it that the man says?” he asked quickly.  He had been content to wait until presently to hear what the news was, until this came to his ears.

“What you feared,” I answered.  “Heidrek treasure hunting.”