these Devils bewail themselves, and at least bear off what we may."

'Bold as a wolf, cunning as a fox was Witta! He set four archers on the
foredeck to shoot the Devils if they should leap from the tree, which
was close to the bank. He manned ten oars a-side, and bade them watch
his hand to row in or back out, and so coaxed he them toward the bank.
But none would set foot ashore, though the gold was within ten paces. No
man is hasty to his hanging! They whimpered at their oars like beaten
hounds, and Witta bit his fingers for rage.

'Said Hugh of a sudden, "Hark!" At first we thought it was the buzzing
of the glittering flies on the water; but it grew loud and fierce, so
that all men heard.'

'What?' said Dan and Una.

'It was the Sword.' Sir Richard patted the smooth hilt. 'It sang as a
Dane sings before battle. "I go," said Hugh, and he leaped from the bows
and fell among the gold. I was afraid to my four bones' marrow, but for
shame's sake I followed, and Thorkild of Borkum leaped after me. None
other came. "Blame me not," cried Witta behind us, "I must abide by my
ship." We three had no time to blame or praise. We stooped to the gold
and threw it back over our shoulders, one hand on our swords and one eye
on the tree, which nigh overhung us.

'I know not how the Devils leaped down, or how the fight began. I heard
Hugh cry: "Out! out!" as though he were at Santlache again; I saw
Thorkild's steel cap smitten off his head by a great hairy hand, and I
felt an arrow from the ship whistle past my ear. They say that till
Witta took his sword to the rowers he could not bring his ship inshore;