g and going enough, and we have many strangers
here.

"Who is the yellow-haired man?"

"A chapman from the town. Some shipmaster whom the ealdorman
knows."

Now, after I was back in my place and the bustle was ended, there
fell an uneasy silence, for men knew not if the feast was to go on.
Many of the ladies had gone, with the queen, and Elfrida was there
no longer. But Ina stood up with a fresh cup in his hand, and he
smiled and said, while the eyes of all were on him:

"Friends, we have seen a strange thing, but you have also seen the
deeds of a brave maiden and a ready warrior to whom I am beholden
for my life, as is plain enough. Yet we will not let the wild ways
of our western neighbours mar the keeping of our holy tide. Maybe
there is more to be learnt of the matter, but if so that can rest.
Think now only of these two brave ones, I pray you, for I have yet
the Bragi bowl to drink, and it is not hard to say whom I should
pledge therein."

Then he looked round for Elfrida, not having noticed that she had
gone with the queen.

"Why," he said, "it was in my mind to pledge the lady first, but I
fear she has been fain to leave us. So I do not think that I can do
better than pledge both my helpers together, and then Oswald can
answer for the lady and himself at once."

He rose and held the cup high, and I rose also, not quite sure if I
were myself or some one else, with all the hall looking at me.

"Drinc hael to the lady Elfrida, bravest and fairest in all the
land of Somerset!" he cried. "Drinc hael, Oswald the king's
thane--thane by right of ready and brave service just rendered!"

Then he drank with his eyes on me, and there went up a sort of
cheer at his words, for men love to see any service rewarded on the
spot if it may be so. Now I was at a loss what to say, and the lady
should have been here to bring the cup to me in all formality.
Maybe I should have stood there silent and somewhat foolish, but
that the ealdorman, her father, helped me out.

"Come and do homage for the new rank, lad," he said in a low voice.

He was at the lower table near me now, for the high table had been
broken and the king stood alone on the dais.

So I went to the steps, and bent one knee at their top, and kissed
the hand of the king, and then held out the hilt of my sword, that
he might seem to take it and give it me again. But he bade me rise,
and so he took off his own sword, which was a wondrous one, and the
token o