you have, and you will use it for her
if needed. I have a plan in my mind for her, which may be told
hereafter."

Then one of the men came to the opening of the awning.

"A boat, King Hakon, with two men in her, pulling to us from the
western bank."

"Hail her to keep off," said Hakon.

And Osric added that they should heave a big stone into her if she
did not. "Spies, most like," he said.

They hailed the boat, and had an answer at once.

"Tell Hakon that hither comes a courtman of Queen Gerda's."

Hakon said that it must be some man who had escaped; but Bertric
and I knew at once.

"It is Dalfin the Prince," we said. "He has had to fly from those
brothers of his."

So it was, and he had come to see more adventure with King Hakon.

"I might find enough if I stayed," he said; "but of an evil sort."

"Why, what is amiss then?" I said.

"Only that my brothers do not like favourites, and I happen to be
one for the moment. There would have been fighting if I had stayed,
and that would have ended in my good father being pushed off his
throne by my elder brother lest I should be named as successor to
the crown. Or else in sudden end to myself."

Then he laughed, as if somewhat pleasant came to mind.

"There are strange stories afloat concerning me and the torque
already," he went on. "It is said that the fairy queen has had me
in her court for all this time I have been away, and that she gave
me back the thing. So I have even fled suddenly and secretly, and
they will hold that she has lured me back again."

"It is not altogether for your own safety that you have fled," said
Hakon gravely.

"Faith, and so it is not," he answered. "I had but to lift my
finger, and the wearing of the torque would have set me on the
throne. And a mighty uneasy seat that would have been, too! I think
my father is used to it, and might have missed the seat. So I
left."

"For your father's sake," said Hakon, smiling at him. "Well, come
and help me to not quite so uneasy a realm, and all may be for the
best. There is little freedom for him who holds an Irish throne, as
it seems to me."

Chapter 16: In Old Norway.

The ships were under way with the tide in the gray of the early
morning, and crept along the shore to the island slowly. There were
men watching our going from the cliffs, but there had been no alarm
from the Irish in the night. I dare say they claim to have driven
Hakon of Norway from their shores even to t