"Let us row out to them again," and they did so.
"Where can he have been hidden?" says Sweyn.
"There's not much good in knowing that," says the Earl, "for now he will be away thence; two sacks lay there by the rest of the lading, and Hrapp must have come into the lading in their place."
Then Thrain began to speak, and said—
"They are running off the ship again, and they must mean to pay us another visit. Now we will take him out of the lading, and stow other things in his stead, but let the sacks still lie loose. They did so, and then Thrain spoke—
"Now let us fold Hrapp in the sail."
It was then brailed up to the yard, and they did so.
Then the Earl comes to Thrain and his men, and he was very wroth, and said, "Wilt thou now give up the man, Thrain?" and he is worse now than before.
"I would have given him up long ago," answers Thrain, "if he had been in my keeping, or where can he have been?"
"In the lading," says the Earl.