at Alfred's feet. "Scald have I been since I could sing,
and nought have I heard like this."

"Some day," Neot said; "it is enough now that you should know what
you have heard."

So ended that strange song strife on Neot's quiet hillside. The sun
set, and the fleecy mists came up from the little river below, and
we sat silent till Alfred rose and said farewell, and we went to
the guest house in the village.

Now I think that none will wonder that after we had been with Neot
for those ten days, we were ready and willing to take on us the
"prime signing," as they called it, gladly and honestly. So we were
signed with the cross by Neot, and Alfred and Ethelnoth and Guerir
were our witnesses.

I know that many scoff at this, because there are heathen who take
this on them for gain, that they may trade more openly, or find
profit among Christian folk, never meaning or caring to seek
further into the faith that lies open, as it were, before them. But
it was not so with us, nor with many others. We were free to serve
our old gods if we would, but free also to learn the new faith; and
to learn more of it for its own sake seemed good to us.

So we went back to Exeter with the king, and Neot came for a few
miles with us, on foot as was his wont, parting from us with many
good words. And after he was gone the king was cheerful, and spoke
with me about the ordering of the fleet we were to build, as though
he were certain that I should take command of it in the spring.

And, indeed, after that time there was never any question among us
three vikings about it. It seemed to us that if we had lost Norway
as a home, we had gained what would make as good a country; and,
moreover, Alfred won us to him in such wise that it seemed we could
do nought but serve him. There can be few who have such power over
men's hearts as he.

Exeter seemed very quiet when we came back; for the Danes were
gone, and the king's levies had dispersed, and only the court
remained, though that was enough to make all the old city seem very
gay to those who had known it only in the quiet of peace.

One man was there whom I had hardly thought to meet again, and that
was Osmund the Danish jarl. For he was a hostage in the king's
hands, to make more sure that the peace would be kept. I knew there
were hostages to be given by the beaten host; but I had not asked
who they were, and had been at the ships when they were given up,
ten of them in all, and of the b