"Up to your old tricks, sea-wolf!" laughed Sigurd. "What did you talk about?"
"The price of swords, mainly," answered Skarde. "The Danes finally decided that ours were better, so we gave them Ketil's old trading ship and brought in the Dane with us; she is brand new, and as fast as the 'Crane.' It was hard work, though, for I had only thirty men, and they were double that. We lost ten killed, and half of us are wounded; but that is no matter. Now for your story."
Sigurd quickly outlined the position of himself and Astrid. When he concluded, Biorn was silent for some time.
"It is no light matter, Sigurd, to brave Ethelred; but I think we had best carry off the Lady Astrid. Once aboard the 'Crane,' we would be safe. But how to do the business?"
"By craft only, Biorn. Astrid saw me to-day, and knows we are here. How to get a message to her?"
"That is easy enough. Do you write it, and I will shoot an arrow into her window to-night."
"Good! I never thought of that." Sigurd procured a bit of parchment, and in a few minutes the message was ready. "I told her that to-morrow night we would wait beneath her window. She must contrive to let herself down, and if necessary we will fight our way down to the 'Crane.' Is she below the bridge or above it?"
"Below. I will go down to-morrow and bid the men be ready to receive us. We must get some fresh water on board, too."
An hour later Biorn returned. "The arrow flew straight, Jarl. I waited a few minutes and saw a light cross her shutter thrice."
Sigurd nodded. "Then she understands. Get the 'Crane' ready to-morrow, and return by nightfall. Better have a boat or two at the water-stairs, just at the end of this street."