The young king bowed and thanked her, and there that matter ended for the time. Presently, after the ships had come to anchor with the last light in the river mouth, and the men had spread the awnings for us aft, he spoke to us about it, and I told him what I thought. Also I told him how that Bertric and I had enough wealth on us at this moment for the fitting out of a ship as we had planned. Whereon he laughed.
"Keep that," he said, "and I shall be content. Gerda will know nothing of the worth of what you have, and you will use it for her if needed. I have a plan in my mind for her, which may be told hereafter."
Then one of the men came to the opening of the awning.
"A boat, King Hakon, with two men in her, pulling to us from the western bank."
"Hail her to keep off," said Hakon.
And Osric added that they should heave a big stone into her if she did not. "Spies, most like," he said.
They hailed the boat, and had an answer at once.
"Tell Hakon that hither comes a courtman of Queen Gerda's."
Hakon said that it must be some man who had escaped; but Bertric and I knew at once.
"It is Dalfin the Prince," we said. "He has had to fly from those brothers of his."