"Aye," he said, "a man can always find a place. I do not think you will have to seek far."
We found Gerda up the glen, watching Fergus milk the little black and white kine which had their byres in that sheltered place. Among the trees wandered half a score of goats, and the ground was white with the wind flowers everywhere. She was bright, and seemed very fair that morning, rejoicing in rest and the peace that was all around.
"See," she said, after our greeting, "even the birds are not feared of us here. They are the little brothers and sisters of the hermits."
So indeed it seemed, for the wood birds flew to us, seeking the food which the brethren never failed to bring them. Gerda stretched out her hand with some crumbs of bread, and they perched thereon, fearless, while Fergus looked up at us and smiled a good morning.
"Have you found your breakfast, my sons?" he asked. "We set it in your cell; but the prince slept still, and we did not wake him."
We had not looked into the hut, and so went back slowly, Gerda with us. And on the way we asked how we might try to plan for her.
"Oh, if you will but do so," she said eagerly. "In any case, let me go back to Norway as soon as I may. Yet I do not know where to look for a friend who can help me to my own there."
"We had thought of Harald Harfager, the king," I said. "He was Thorwald's friend, as you told us. He will act as your guardian."
She looked at us in some surprise.
"Have you heard naught from Norway of late?" she asked.