m saw that and came to me.

"Let me go to the young prince," he said; "I may be of use here.
There will be trouble, unless someone tells the poor folk that
these ships are friendly in very deed."

So we went to Hakon, and I told him what Phelim thought.

"The good father is right enough," he answered. "But how is he to
get ashore unharmed? To send a boat would mean that it would be
fallen on before it was seen who was in it."

"Let me swim," said Phelim stoutly.

"Maybe your tonsure might save you, father," said Hakon; "but I
would not risk it. One cannot see much of a man in the water."

"Let me have one of the small boats--it can be launched from the
far side of the ship--and I will row him ashore," I said. "I can
speak the Gaelic."

Hakon considered. "Well," he said, "it may save endless trouble,
and I do not see why you should not go. Phelim must stand up, and
they will see him."

Thoralf would have us bide on board, letting Phelim stand on the
bows and hail the shore. But that would have made trouble at once,
for he would have been thought to be a captive. Then Earl Osric
said that we might as well wait until we must, but Hakon and I and
Phelim thought it easier to deal with the few men here than to wait
until the rest returned, most likely flushed with the victory their
numbers must needs give them. So in the end the small quarterboat
was got over the side away from the village, and we took our place.
Phelim was in the bows, and I set my helm at my feet, and had a
dark cloak over my mail.

I pulled away from the ship and came round her stern in a wide
sweep, in order not to seem at once as if we came from her. Then we
went swiftly to the beach, and Phelim stood in the bows and signed
to the men who stood along it. They saw what he was, and ran
together to meet him, ceasing their cries to hear him. But I was
not going to run more risk than I could help. So soon as we were
twenty yards from the beach, I stopped pulling, and bade Phelim say
his say.

He told them what was needful, and they growled at first, as if
they could not believe him. Then he pointed to Fergus, who could be
seen on board the ship, and they grew more satisfied. At last he
told them that they must fetch Dalfin the Prince as soon as
possible, for that we of the ship, or some of us, were those who
had brought him back. And at last he told how there was a queen on
board who had avenged the death of Dubhtach of the Spearshafts, and
giv