So deep was she that, as she left the ship, I thought how that one
sack of our grain, hove into her as she came alongside, would sink
her and leave her crew to drown in our sight. But then the ship
herself would close on us, and not one of us but would pay for that
deed with his life.

So she came slowly over the glassy water of the slack tide, and my
men watched her, saying nothing.

Soon she came alongside, and at a sign from me Kenulf threw a line
which the bowman caught, and I thought that a word or two of wonder
passed among her crew. They dropped to where the curve of our deck
was lowest, and instantly the leader leapt on board and all but one
of his men followed, axe or drawn sword in hand. As I had bidden
them, not one of my men stirred save Kenulf, who made fast the line
and stood watching.

The leader was a young man, of about my own age, clad in golden
shining bronze scale armour and wearing a silver helm on which were
short, black, curving horns; and he bore a double-headed axe,
besides the sword at his side. He looked round on us--at the men
standing silent, at Kenulf, and at me as I stood on the after deck
resting on the tiller, and broke into a great laugh.

"Well," he cried, "are you all dumb, or fools, or wise men; or a
little of all three?"

But my men answered nothing, even as I had bidden them, and I
thought that my time was not yet come to speak.