ng were strewn
oars and planking, and the like. It was pitiful enough. But the
brothers had toiled till light failed them, for they had saved the
other boat and the sledges, and also the sail, together with
smaller things, among which was the cauldron of our first meals,
which was a treasure to them. Inside it, on the sand hill, was the
little silver cup from the penthouse, too, and the empty wine
pitcher lay hard by.

"There are men who would pray for a wreck like this every week,"
said Bertric, with a short laugh. "But it will be all that we can
do to get these good men to keep what they have saved, even if the
things are of any use to them. They need little and covet naught."

Presently he heaved a great sigh, and half turned from the sea, as
if impatient.

"As good a little ship as ever was framed," he said. "And to come
to such an end. Mishandled on a lee shore."

"Why, there is no blame to us," I said. "We were helpless."

"It lies heavy on my mind that we ought to have weathered the point
yonder; I held on too long. At best I knew where she was strained,
and should have gone on the other tack first. And the canvas we got
on her! We might have done better than that."

"It did not seem so at the time," I answered, laughing. "It is easy
to think now of what might have been done."

"So it is. But for all my days I shall feel it in my bones that I
threw the ship away. I shall dream that I am weathering the island.
Two ships I have lost running."

"One by war and the other by sheer misfortune," I answered. "You
make too much of it altogether."

He laughed ruefully. "Well, think what a voyage we might have had
if we had chanced to pick up a crew."

"It was your own doing that Heidrek did not pick us up," I said.
"Maybe that thought will comfort you somewhat."

"I was never glad of a fog before," he answered.

And there that matter ended, for now we had wandered to a place
whence we could see the strait between us and the mainland, which
we must cross presently.

That was not yet possible, for here the currents, as the tide rose
and swirled round either end of the island, were like a mill race,
while the heavy sea which still beat on the shore made the turmoil
still wilder as it set across the narrow opening.

"Here we have to bide till that mends," said Bertric. "We must make
the best of it, for a day or two. Maybe it matters little, for
Gerda needs rest. And Dalfin will sleep till midday if we let hi