ship, choosing rather death by water than by the sword. But I saw
some half dozen whose faces set hard with other thoughts than
these, and they turned to seek their weapons from under the fore
deck.

Then I spoke to them, for it was time; and I would have neither
fear nor defiance shown, for I knew that we should be boarded.

"Yonder ship belongs, as I think, to the people of our guest,
Lodbrok the Dane. So it seems to me that they will gladly hear news
of him from us, as he is a great man in Denmark. And surely we have
deserved well of his folk in every way, and we of East Anglia are
at peace with the Danish host. Therefore, let us wait till they
board us, and then let no man stir from his place or speak a word,
that I may talk with them in peace."

Those words were listened to eagerly, and they wrought on the minds
of my poor fellows as I wished. Moreover, to put our one chance of
safety into form thus heartened me also, for I will not say that I
feared nothing from these vikings, who might know and care naught
concerning our sea-borne guest, even were they Danes.

Yet it seemed that none saw my fears, for in a little the men asked
if they might take their weapons. And though it seemed hard to me
and them alike to bide unarmed, I knew it was safer, and so bade
them meet the Danes in all peaceful seeming.

Now we saw a boat lowered from the longship's side, and one by one
armed men entered her, and she sank deeply in the water. Ten I
counted, and at last one more, who, I supposed, was the leader.