I was full of wonder at this, for he might well have made me promise to take up arms against Cnut no more, and I could have done no less than promise it, seeing that I was in his hands. "Why, I must tie you down for a while," he said laughing at my face of doubt. "Nay, Egil, I do but wonder that you set me free at all," I said. "Is that so? I have wondered that you slew me not in the heat of battle. Well, I will add this, that if we fall on Earl Wulfnoth you may fight for him." I held out my hand, and Egil took it. "You have my word, Egil; you are most generous," I said. Then he glanced at sword Foe's Bane. "Some day you and I, maybe, will have a good fight for your sword in all friendliness," he said. "Surely I thought you would take it back," I cried. "I feared so, for it was my father's sword." "Aha! I knew there was somewhat strange about that blade," he said. "Tell me what story it has." I told him in a few words about the winning of the sword from the grave mound by Thorgeir, my grandfather, and asked Egil how he came by it. "I bought it from a man after Nacton fight, and I have never had any luck with it. I was sure it was a magic sword of some sort; for it let go three men whom I should surely have slain with any other blade. It seemed to turn in my hand. Such swords as these will not be used by any other than he who can win them from the owner." "Ottar, Olaf's scald, said that it would draw the holder to me," I said; "but I would not believe it." "You English have forgotten the old sayings," Egil said. "Now you know that he is right; keep the sword therefore." Then I said: "If I must die a bed death, Egil, the sword shall be sent to you, for I think that you have the most claim to it." He grew red with pleasure at my saying, and Elfric broke in on our talk. "I would that I might see many more meetings of brave foes like this. Then would peace come very shortly." "Why, father," said Egil, "Redwald and I have not any hate for each other, though we must fight on opposite sides." "That is well. I would that it were ever so." Then Egil changed his tone, for we were nearing shore. The ships he had seen were still far away, beating southward now. "Are these maidens nuns, or but in disguise, father?" he said. Elfric answered not at once, and I said: "Three are nuns, two only are disguised. You will not take the queen's maidens from her?" "Not I," he answered. "I think that even with the abbot's help and theirs I shall have trouble enough with the queen when she finds that the shore we reach is not Normandy." "Shall you take me?" asked Elfric. "I must take all but my own friend here, and the three holy women; I will not hinder them. They can find shelter in Selsea or Chichester--a nun has always friends and a house--if Redwald will see them safely to the door," Egil said very kindly.