A Sea Queen's Sailing

where we had first spoken of this matter. She saw t

thers?" she as

s I knew they would," I answered. "We are at one

of the chance of meeting another ship at any time here on the Norway coast; of crews and of wreckers who would hold naught sacred; of the chance of our drifting thus idly for many days in this summer weather--all chances which were mor

ighing. "You will suffer th

is yours. Was it the wish of Thorwald t

half proudly and ha

treasure was mine, for he did but hoard to give. I would se

to the depths with his war gear, and so through Aegir's halls to the plac

, and shrank away a litt

ear to you men after

ent, and I felt my face flu

r could ask. They are a warrior's treasure, and mayhap we hold them as dear as did Thorw

ncing at me again as if she kn

honour to their winner without thought of why he had kept them thus. Now, in the power they have for you lies your comfort, and maybe the regaining of your home. Do

ee strangers," and she turned away swiftly, going to the gunw

omen in her place would have kept the brave heart she did before us, and this weakness would pass. But it was a long while before she turned to me again, so that I began to fear that in some way I had set things too bluntly before her, and wished that Dalf

foolish words. Indeed, I hardly knew what I said, for I was hard pressed with the thoughts o

it and kissed it in answer, having no word at all

. "Now, tell me what may be done if I keep t

least there must be sufficient to keep her in comfort in any land until she could find a passage back to Norway, and claim guardianship and help from

at I may not lightly part with the treasure as I had meant, though it is hard for me to forego what I had set my heart on. It is true that all was

to lighten the trouble as much as we might, b

t pact which we made at the

all in readiness for what must be done; but

my men cry the last farewell to Thorwald as the ship left the shore. The te

had to say was that Gerda was content with our plan, and all three of us were somew

nking which we had lowered from where it was made to unship for a gangway amidships for shore-going and the like. We had set him so that it needed but to raise the inboard end of this planking when the time came that he should pass from his sh

the bows or wash of water alongside, and the swell which lifted us did not break. Only there was the little creaking of the yard and the light beating of the idle sail against

he head of that rough sea bier, and over against us beyond it the open gangway and the heaving, gray water, which now and then rose slowly and evenly

nt to do so. Even as my hands touched the wood there came a sudden rushing, and I felt a new lift of the ship, and into the open gangway poured the head of a great, still wave, flooding the deck around our feet, and hiding in its smother of white foam and green water that which lay before us, so that we must needs start back hastily. The shi

ny sea come on board since we lowered the gunwale nor did any come afterward. Ge

egir himself wh

ed to Gerda, fearing lest she should be over terrified, and saw her staring with wide eyes into

at is yon

ose and fell. And we could see that she had the same high dragon stem and stern as our ship, and on her decks we could make out forms of men amidships, dim and misty as the ship herself. Yet though we could see her thus, in no wise could we make o

hat ship

hailed again and for the third time. I thought that the outline of the strange sail grew more dim at the f

to me. "Thorwald is therein," and she raised her hand

and at the same moment. Still no sound came to us, close as the ship must surely be--so clos

y, for she was fainting. I do not know what my face was like as I saw that ghostly greeting,

ent, still watching the ship. And as he went, one of that ghostly crew went also, and stood as he stood, with outstretched arm set on the dim stern

for she was but overwrought, th

he asked. "What

red Bertric. "I have seen it once or

I have heard tell of it. It comes from the

is Aegir's ship, and it

you speak. But the ship may indeed have come for Thorwald

to my place now, for I am weary, and woul

nd. And, indeed, so were we all, for that penthouse, and its awesome tenant, had weighed

in and lift with the first rays of the rising sun. But the night had no more visions for me, and w

degree take the place of the ballast which the little ship needed. There was some water in her bilge from the great wave, and that we

h lumbered the deck. Then she came to us, looking brighter and content, with words of good morrow in a

t possible to stow all, or nearly all, there? For it may be as well that fo

t come, and there was time. Far off, toward where the land should be, the fog still hung in banks, and doubtless Heidrek was sti

laid in one place for stowage on either side of the keel. It

se chests," Gerda said brightly. "T

ere was enough to make Gerda a rich woman in any land where she might care to make a home, if only we could save it for her. One chest held bags of silver coin, stamped with the heads of many kings, and won from many lands, though most came from the English shores, where the burgesses of coast towns would p

h the face of Thor stamped on them, and written runes. Two bales there were also of wondrous stuffs from the looms of eastern lands, gold inwoven and shining, bought in far-off Gardariki, where the great fair is, or won from hall and palace in t

e me keep," Gerda said somewhat sadly, as w

fin said cheerfully. "It is a great thing to

d to a big plain chest which s

is no part of the treasure, and is here by mistake. Y

and brown jerkins, and white and blue hose, short red cloaks, and fair linen underwear. They had brought it for the feasting after the mo

to foot," said Dalfin gleefully. "In

the deck planking, an

we can reach it easily," she said. "Supposing we

ough heavy, having iron rings at either end as handles. I took it aft out of the way, and s

ter of her awning from the heat and glare from sea and sky. The ship swayed gently to the dying swell, and the sail fl

e the wind failed. Presently, in the shelter of the boats, we fitted ourselves out afresh from the courtman's chest, and felt more like ourselve

nd sitting there with us. Presently she looked at our dress and smiled, jesting a little. Th

aid, half shyly. "I have a fancy to see you three as you sh

d at that. "No, lady,

or once give the gifts a queen may give, if never again. And maybe it is as well that

"maybe they will not be so lik

mewhat if it was on us, we let her have her way. So in the end she chose out the heavy golden bracelets which Bertric and I should wear, and then asked

Norse work, and gave it to him. He took it and looked at it curiously, and his face lighted up. It had some strang

that this torque should come to me here, for there is a song of it which I

he high seas from Danish Vikings," she

ng are the names of Danish princes who fell ere it was won from us, and they are not a few. Now your folk have avenged the loss, an

, and so set the torque on his neck. It bent easily, and fastened with hook

rtric, "here i

, in the stillness, the thunder rumbled across the sea, and the heavy drops of the first rain fell, b

and white bird. Gerda's awning had gone; and Dalfin shouted. But we could not heed that. We were wrestling with the helm, for the wind was heavy and unsteady, and the thunder rolled round us and above us, while the lightning shot in j

o us to hold on, and a fresh squall was on us. It came out of the south as if hurled at us, taking the sail aback. The forestay parted, and then with a crash an

there was none. We had been well aft, and the falling masthead and yard had not reached us, though i

r of the wreck, she never screamed or let go her hold of the stern