ides towards Grimsby
first of all, with twenty men at his heels, knowing more than we
thought. But he hears naught of us, and presently meets Arngeir on his
way thence to see us. Him he knows, for already he has had dealings with
him in the hiring of the ship. So he learns from him that certainly no
such party as he seeks is on the road, and therefore rides off to the
Ermin Street to stay us from going south.

But now we had time for a long start; and so he follows the Roman road
when he reaches it all that day and part of next, and we hear no more of
him at that time. There are many parties travelling on that way, and he
follows one after another.

Now Arngeir knew at once that somewhat had happened when he heard from
Griffin that the most notable man of those whom he sought was named
Curan, and therefore he turned back at once and waited for us. And when
we came in sight of the long roof of the house that Grim, our father,
had built, standing among the clustering cottages of our fishers, with
the masts of a trading ship or two showing above it in the haven, he was
there on the road to greet us, having watched anxiously for our coming
from the beacon tower that we had made.

Maybe we were two miles out of Grimsby at this time, for one can see far
along the level marsh tracks from our tower; and Withelm and Mord and I
rode on to him as soon as we saw him, that we might tell him all that
had happened, and we rode slowly and talked for half a mile or so.

Then Withelm waited and brought Havelok to us, staying himself with the
princess, that he might tell her the wondrous story of her husband; for
we thought that it would be easier for him than for our brother maybe.
Havelok was not one to speak freely of himself.

And when Goldberga had heard all, she was silent for a long way, and
then wept a little, but at last told Withelm that all this had been
foretold to her in her dream.

"Yet I am glad," she said, "that I did not know this for certain, else
had my Havelok thought that I did but wed him for his birth. Tell him,
brother, that it was not so; say that I knew him as the husband Heaven
sent for me when first I saw him."

Now Havelok listened to Arngeir as he told him the well-kept secret, and
now and again asked a question.

And when all was told he said, "Now have the dreams passed, and the
light is come. I mind all plainly from the first."

And he told all that had happened after Hodulf caught him, from the