There was a murmur of wonder as he came, and it grew louder as he
unhelmed and stayed before them.

And then one shouted, "Skoal to Havelok Gunnarsson!" and at once the
shout was taken up along the line. And that shout grew until the chiefs
joined in it, for it was the voice of the host, which cannot be
gainsaid; and without more delay, one by one the leaders pressed forward
and knelt on one knee to their king, and did homage to him. Only the
Norsemen held back; and presently, when we were talking to the Danish
chiefs in all friendly wise, they drew apart with their men, and formed
up into a close-ranked body that looked dangerous.

"Surely they do not mean to fight!" said Withelm.

Then one of them shouted that he must speak to the king, and that seemed
as if they owned him at least, so Havelok went to them.

"You have heard my terms," he said, "and I think that they are all that
you could ask. What is amiss?"

"Your terms are good enough," the speaker said, "and we know that our
time is come. But we must have surety that the people will not fall on
us, for we are flying, as it were. And we want the body of our king. We
would not have him buried any wise, as if he was a thrall."

"He shall be given to you, and as for the rest none shall harm you.
Moreover, for that saying about your king I will add this: that if there
are any of you who hold lands to which there is no Danish heir, he shall
take service with me if he will, and so keep them."