"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.