stormy voyage looks like, if light will serve me."

And so saying, I being nearest to him, the king turned me round
with his strong hands, and scanned my rough, wet garments and fur
cap.

"Truly, son Wulfric," he cried, laughing, "I think these things
suit you as well as war gear, and better than court finery, in this
dim light at least. Now let me see the thane himself."

Then my father would have him come back to the house at once, out
of the stormy weather, for the rain was coming now as the wind
fell; and we went, not waiting for the change of garments, for that
the king would not suffer.

As we turned away from the staithe, Lodbrok took my arm, asking me
where he might find shelter.

"Why, come with us, surely!" I answered, having no thought but that
he would have done so as our guest.

"Thanks," he said; "I knew not if your help could go so far as that
to a man whose story might well be too strange for belief."

Now it had seemed to me that no one could doubt such a man, and so
I told him that we had no doubt of him at all in that matter. And
he thanked me gravely again, walking, as I thought, more freely
beside me, as knowing that he was held to be a true man.

We followed my father, who walked with the king, at a little