But in the morning the dream had, as it seemed, passed from the
mind of Eadmund, for he was very cheerful, as was his wont, and
said naught of it. However, I told my father thereof, for the
remembrance was heavy to me. And he, when he heard it, bit his lip
a little, pondering, but at last laughed.

"Trouble not yourself about it, son Wulfric," he said; "were I to
mind every dream that I have had, I think that I should take no joy
in life. Why, every year, for the last five past, I have dreamed of
sore shipwreck, and the old vessel's timbers are yet hanging
together!"

I laughed also, and thought that maybe he was right--for my
father's judgment was ever the best in my eyes--and so set my mind
at rest, though the strangeness of the matter would not let it be
altogether forgotten.

Now as days went on and we saw more of our guest, Lodbrok, there
was, I think, no man of our household who would willingly have seen
him take ship and leave us; for his ways and words were pleasant to
all alike, and there seemed to be no craft of which he knew not
something, so that he could speak to each man, in field or village
or boat, of the things that he knew best. And that is a gift that
may well be longed for by any man who would be loved by others.

Greatly pleased with him was Eadmund the King, so that he would
talk long with him of the ways and laws and peoples beyond the
seas; and also of hunting and hawking, which they both loved well.
And in this last Lodbrok was the best skilled master I have ever