may take it, therefore, but you must not
offer us aught else. We are vowed to poverty."

Now, I did not know of what he spoke, but Gerda did in some way,
which is beyond me. Wherefore she was more than content. It is my
thought that all her days it will be a good and pleasant thing to
mind the use that cup came to at the last, and where it is.

The treasure was all on board Hakon's ship, and we must go with the
tide. The Danes were unbound and sent to help Thoralf on the ship
which had been theirs, with the offer of freedom if they worked
well; and I will add that they gave no trouble, and took service
with Hakon as free men afterward, having learnt the good of
honesty. The hermits saw us to the shore, and so we left them, and
the ships hoisted sail to a fair breeze, and were away for Norway
and what lay before Hakon when he came thither. And if the
blessings and prayers of the hermits availed aught, he would do
well.

Now, we had to gather men for this warfare that might be to come.
There were Norsemen in the Scottish islands everywhere who would
join him, for thither had fled many who were not friendly with
Eric, and the Orkney and Shetland Islands held more still. So we
sailed up the narrow seas among the isles, finding here one man,
and here a dozen, until the ships were fully manned, and that with
such a force as any leader might go far with, for the men served,
not for pay alone, but also for hope in Hakon, and to regain their
old homes in the old land. Moreover, two chiefs joined him with
their ships and crews in Hebrides, and there we heard news of Eric,
and how that men hated him, and would rise for Hakon everywhere
when once they knew that he was in the land.

So that was a long voyage and pleasant to me, nor did I seem to
care how long it lasted. Maybe the reason for that is not far to
seek, for I could not tell what more I might see of Gerda when it
ended. For I knew only too well that I had naught to offer her,
being but a landless man, with nothing but my sword for heritage.
And as the days passed, it seemed to me that in some way Gerda kept
herself afar from me, being more ready to speak with Hakon and
Bertric than myself, though again at times she was as ever with
myself in all ways.

Now I did not altogether wonder at this, and made the best thereof,
being minded to pass from her ken with Hakon when the time came. I
supposed that we should all go together with the young king to that
place which