anchorite's cell, and our lands, as you see, are of the smallest.
Are you content to come to such a place?"

Estein smiled. "If you dwell there, I am content," he said.

Osla tossed her head with what quite failed to be an air of
impatience.

"Such things are easy to say now," she said. "If you say them
again after you have lived on a hermit's fare for one whole day, I
may begin to believe you."

They descended the hill, and in a little creek on the shore came
upon a skiff.

"This is our long ship," said Osla. "If you wish to show your
gratitude, you may assist me to launch her."

"Now," she said, when Estein had run the boat into the water, "you
can rest while I row you across."

"It has never been my custom to let a girl row me," he replied,
taking the oars.

"But your wounds?"

"If I have any I have forgotten them."

"Well, I will let you row, for the tide is at the turn, and you
will not need to watch the currents. There is a great roost here