Then he told me to come, and we left the two boys at once and turned away towards the haven. There was nothing strange in this, for cargo often came at odd times, and we were wont to work late in stowing it. I did wonder that we had not stayed to s.n.a.t.c.h a bit of supper, but it crossed my mind that the Norseman had told my father of some goods that had maybe been waiting for the whole day while we were at sea. And then that did not seem likely, for he had taken us for thralls. So I was puzzled, but held my peace until it should seem good to my father to tell me what we were about.
When we reached a place where there was no house very near and no man about, he said to me at last, "What is on hand I do not rightly know, but yon man was Hodulf, the new king, as I suppose we must call him. He would not tell me his name, but I saw him when he and the jarl made terms the other day. Now he has bidden me meet him on the road a mile from the town as soon as it is dark, and alone. He has somewhat secret for me to do."
"It is a risk to go alone and unarmed," I answered; "let me go home and get your weapons, for the errand does not seem honest."
"That is what I think also," said my father, "and that is why I am going to meet him. It is a bad sign when a king has a secret to share with a thrall, and I have a mind to find out what it is. There may be some plot against our jarl."
He was silent for a few minutes, as if thinking, and then he went on.
"I cannot take arms, or he would suspect me, and would tell me nothing; but if there is any plotting to be done whereof I must tell the jarl, it will be as well that you should hear it."
Then he said that he thought it possible for me to creep very close to the place where he was to meet Hodulf, so that I could hear all or most of what went on, and that I might as well be armed in case of foul play, for he did not suppose that the Norseman would think twice about cutting down a thrall who did not please him.
It was almost dark by this time, and therefore he must be going. I was not to go home for arms, but to borrow from Arngeir as we pa.s.sed his house. And this I did, saying that I had an errand beyond the town and feared prowling men of the Norse host. Which danger being a very reasonable one, Arngeir offered to go with me; and I had some difficulty in preventing him from doing so, for he was like an elder brother to all of us. However, I said that I had no great distance to go, and feigned to be ashamed of myself for my fears; and he laughed at me, and let me go my way with sword and spear and seax4 also, which last my father would take under his fisher"s jerkin.
I caught up my father quickly, and we went along the sands northwards until we came to the place where we must separate. The road was but a quarter of a mile inland from this spot, for it ran near the sh.o.r.e, and it was not much more than that to the place where Hodulf would be waiting.
"Creep as near as you can," my father said; "but come to help only if I call. I do not think that I am likely to do so."
Then we went our ways, he making straight for the road, and I turning to my left a little. It was dark, for there was no moon now, but save that I was soundly scratched by the brambles of the fringe of brushwood that grew all along the low hills of the coast, there was nothing to prevent my going on quickly, for I knew the ground well enough, by reason of yearly bird nesting. When I reached the roadway the meeting place was yet to my left, and I could hear my father"s footsteps coming steadily in the distance. So I skirted the road for a little way, and then came to an open bit of heath and rising land, beyond which I thought I should find Hodulf. Up this I ran quickly, dropping into the heather at the top; and sure enough, in a hollow just off the road I could dimly make out the figure of a mounted man waiting.
Then my father came along the road past me, and I crawled among the tall heather clumps until I was not more than twenty paces from the hollow, which was a little below me.
Hodulf"s horse winded me, as I think, and threw up its head snorting, and I heard its bit rattle. But my father was close at hand, and that was lucky.
"Ho, fisher, is that you?" he called softly.
"I am here," was the answer, and at once my father came into the hollow from the road.
"Are any folk about?" Hodulf said.
"I have met none. Now, what is all this business?" answered my father.
"Business that will make a free man of you for the rest of your days, and rich, moreover, master thrall," said Hodulf. "That is, if you do as I bid you."
"A thrall can do naught else than what he is bidden."
"Nay, but he can do that in a way that will earn great reward, now and then; and your reward for obedience and silence thereafter in this matter shall be aught that you like to ask."
"This sounds as if I were to peril my life," my father said. "I know naught else that can be worth so much as that might be."
"There is no peril," said Hodulf scornfully; "your skin shall not be so much as scratched --- ay, and if this is well done it will know a master"s dog whip no more."
I heard my father chuckle with a thrall"s cunning laugh at this, and then he said eagerly, "Well, master, what is it?"
"I will tell you. But first will you swear as on the holy ring that of what you shall do for me no man shall know hereafter?"
"What I do at your bidding none shall know, and that I swear," answered my father slowly, as if trying to repeat the king"s words.
"See here, then," said Hodulf, and I heard his armour clatter as he dismounted.
Then the footsteps of both men shuffled together for a little while, and once I thought I heard a strange sound as of a m.u.f.fled cry, at which Hodulf muttered under his breath. I could see that they took something large from the saddle bow, and set it on the ground, and then they spoke again.
"Have you a heavy anchor?" asked the king.
"A great one."
"Well, then, tie it to this sack and sink it tonight where tide will never shift it. Then you may come to me and claim what reward you will."
"Freedom, and gold enough to buy a new boat --- two new boats!" said my father eagerly.
Hodulf laughed at that, and got on his horse again. I saw his tall form lift itself against the dim sky as he did so.
"What is in the sack?" asked my father.
"That is not your concern," Hodulf answered sharply. "If you know not, then you can tell no man, even in your sleep. Put off at once and sink it."
"It is in my mind," said my father, "that I had better not look in the sack. Where shall I find you, lord, when the thing is in the sea? For as yet I have not heard your name."
I think that Hodulf had forgotten that he would have to answer this question, or else he thought that everyone knew him, for he did not reply all at once.
"You may ask the king for your reward," he said, after a little thought, "for this is his business. Now you know that it will be best for you to be secret and sure. Not much worth will your chance of escape from torture be if this becomes known. But you know also that the reward is certain."
"The king!" cried my father, with a sort of gasp of surprise.
I could almost think that I saw him staring with mouth agape as would a silly thrall; for so well had he taken the thrall"s part that had I not known who was speaking all the time, I had certainly had no doubt that one was there.
"Come to Hodulf, the king, and pray for freedom and your gold as a boon of his goodness, saying naught else, or making what tale you will of a hard master, or justice, so that you speak naught of what you have done, and that --- and maybe more --- shall be granted."
"You yourself will speak for me?"
"I am the king --- and think not that the darkness will prevent my knowing your face again," Hodulf replied.
There was a threat in the words, and with them he turned his horse and rode away quickly northwards. I heard the hoofs of his men"s horses rattle on the road as they joined him, before he had gone far.
When the sounds died away altogether, and there was no fear of his coming back suddenly on us, my father whistled and I joined him. He almost started to find how near I was.
"You have heard all, then?" he said.
"Every word," I answered, "and I like it not. Where is this sack he spoke of?"
It lay at his feet. A large sack it was, and full of somewhat heavy and warm that seemed to move a little when I put my hand on it. Still less did I like the business as I felt that.
"More also!" quoth my father, as if thinking of the king"s last words. "If that does not mean a halter for my neck, I am mistaken. What have we here, son, do you think?"
"Somewhat that should not be here, certainly," I answered. "There would not be so much talk about drowning a dog, as one might think this to be."
"Unless it were his wife"s," answered my father, with a laugh.