help, and I went and
moved her chest for her, and hung a heavy curtain, which I have no
doubt was a wrecked boat's sail once, to its stone pegs across the
door. They had lit a fire for her at the first, and the cell was
comfortable altogether.

"Now I shall rest," she said. "By and by, no doubt, you will bring
me supper, but it is strange not to feel the tossing of the ship.
It is wonderful to be warm and in safety once more. You have been
very good to me."

But I thought of her patience and cheerfulness through the
countless discomforts and dangers of the voyage, and knew that the
praise was hers.

"We have said truly that you are a sea-king's daughter indeed, my
queen," I answered. "It is enough to hear you say that we are not
useless courtmen."

We three went to our hut and took off our mail, and found dry
clothing in the chest, with many thanks to the careful half-dozen
warriors who had kept their best therein. Then in much comfort we
saw to our arms, red with the sea rust, and hung them round the
cell, which was some nine feet across and about the same height,
and by the time that pleasant work was done the brothers were back,
and the little bell on the chapel, where it hung in a stone cote,
rang for their vespers.

They bade us come also, and Bertric and Dalfin rose up and went
gladly. I had no thought that I could be welcome, and was staying,
but Phelim called me.

"Malcolm is a Norse Scot," said Dalfin quietly. "He is not of our
faith, and I do not know if he may come.

"If he will, he may," answered the hermit kindly. "He can be no
evil heathen, seeing that he is your friend."

So, not wishing to seem ungracious, I followed them into the
chapel, which was stone built after the same manner as the cells,
but with a ridge roof instead of the rounded top, and much larger,
being about fifteen feet long and ten wide. Over the door was a
cross of white stones set in the wall, and at the eastern end was a
cross also, and an altar, on which were candles of wax, at which I
wondered, seeing them in this place. Round the walls ran a stone
slab as bench, but I was the only one who used it. The others
knelt, facing eastward, and I, at a sign from Bertric, sat by the
door, wondering what I should see and hear.

There was enough for me to wonder at. I heard them pray, and I
heard them sing, and whether of prayer or song the words were good
to listen to. I heard them pray for the safety of men at sea in the
gale