"My comrade has been well caught, thane," I said; "he will be more careful what tales he tells the next comer. But I think he was tired of giving the same answers to the same questions to all who come to see us." "Likely enough," the Saxon answered, laughing a little. "I asked to see the prizes and the vikings' ships, and he showed me more than I expected." Then he looked along the line of vessels that he had not yet passed, and added: "I thought there were more Norse ships with Odda." I told him how the other vikings had left us with their plunder at Wareham, saying that I thought they could well be spared at that time. "However," I said, "I did not count on the Saxons leaving their vessels so soon." "Then I take it that I am speaking with King Ranald, of whom Odda has so much to say," he said, without answering my last words. "I am Ranald Vemundsson," I said; "but this ship is all my kingdom now. Harald Fairhair has the land that should have been mine. I am but a sea king." Then he held out his hand, saying that there was much for which every Saxon should thank me, and I passed that by as well as I could, though I was pleased with the hearty grip he gave me. "So long as Odda is satisfied it is enough," I said. "If I have helped him a little, I have helped a man who is worth it." "Well," said the thane, "you seem to be pleased with one another. Now I should like to see this ship of yours, of which he has so much to say." We went over her, and it was plain that this thane knew what he was talking about. I wondered that the king had not set him in command instead of Odda, who frankly said what was true--that he was no sailor. I supposed that this man, however, was not of high rank enough to lead so great a gathering of Saxons, and so I said nothing to him about it. By and by we sat on the after deck with Harek, and I had ale brought to us, and we talked of ship craft of all sorts. Presently, however, he said: "What shall you do now--if one may ask?" "I know not. When I sailed from Wareham, I thought to have seen more sea service with Alfred your king. But now his men are going home, and in a day or two, at this rate, there will be none left to man the ships." "We can call them up again when need is," he answered. "They should not go home till the king sends them," I said. "This is not the way in which Harald Fairhair made himself master of Norway. Once his men are called out they know that they must bide with him till he gives them rest and sends them home with rewards. It is his saying that one sets not down the hammer till the nail is driven home, and clinched moreover." "That is where the Danes are our masters," the Saxon said, very gravely. "Our levies fight and disperse. It was not so in the time of the great battles round Reading that brought us peace, for they never had time to do so. Then we won. Now the harvest wants gathering. Our people know they are needed at home and in the fields."