"Nay," answered Richard Wood. "Here be two men who will row for us. Do ye stay where ye be and watch."
Then they all climbed into the small row-boat and were pulled away toward Eric's ship.
"Ay, we will watch," said Herebald to Bernulf.
A little later the boat went alongside, and the spy and his men-at-arms climbed heavily and clumsily aboard, after a brief parley with skipper Eric, in which he had at first refused them permission to do so.
"They be here!" exulted Richard Wood in his thought, "else why should we be forbidden to come aboard?"
"What seek ye?" demanded the skipper, in a gruff tone when they were safely on deck.
"Two runaways," answered Richard Wood, loudly, for already the anchor was being lifted.
"There be no runaways here," returned the skipper, positively.
"We will see, we will see," returned Richard Wood. And laying firm hold of the rail he lunged down the steep companionway, followed by his men-at-arms and one of the seamen, whom the captain by a nod of his head bade to follow them. Once down, they gazed about them and knew not which way to turn.
"Where is the captain?" said Richard Wood, sternly. "Bid him come down and show us all parts of the ship at once."