Then he bade the men get out the boat, which was a good one, and fitted for carrying cargo from ship to shore. Two of Bertric's men were to go ashore with me and the nuns, taking messages also to the Bosham folk of what had befallen the ship. "You will scare the wife if you say you have fallen into the hands of the Danes," Egil said laughing at the shipmaster. "It is the truth," Bertric said stoutly. "'Tis the doing of yon cat." "You shall come to no harm with us, and your ship shall come back to Bosham shortly. We have no war with your earl, and all will be well. Tell them, therefore, that it is thus. King Cnut is generous to all who fight not against him." When I heard that I began to see why our people went over to his side so readily, and it seemed to me that he was fighting not only with sword, but also with policy. "Now call your nuns, father," Egil said. "May I have one word with Redwald first?" the abbot asked. "Tell him what you will," Egil answered, and went forward. He called one of the priests and told him to bid the three nuns come forth. Then Elfric said to me: "Two of these women are nuns, the third, she who stood by you so well even now--saving your life, moreover--is not. She is the orphan daughter of a thane, whom her guardians begged me to take to Normandy, finding her a place in the queen's household or in some convent, if that might not be. She is friendless. But I think she may as well go with the nuns to Selsea. Bid her wait there till she hears from me--unless some lady will take pity on her and give her shelter." "She will be more likely to take the vows, as have so many maidens of today who are in her case," I said. "I will do all for the nuns and her that I can." The three sisters came out now. Two were weeping, and they were the nuns. The third was flushed and looked troubled, and she cast a glance back into the dark cabin. I heard the queen's voice speaking fast to her, as it would seem, and she shrank away as if dreading it. Elfric went to meet them, and then the queen herself came through the cabin door stooping, for it was not high. "This is your doing," she said to the abbot. "Am I to be left without any attendants?" "My queen," the good man said, "we can take the sisters no further with us. They must go ashore." The queen looked at the coast, which was plain enough now. It was certain that she had no knowledge that we were returning to England. That the ship was on another tack meant nothing to her. "Why cannot they bide here and go on land with me? We cannot be more than an hour in reaching the harbour," and she pointed to Selsea. "Tell her, father, I pray you," said the maiden in a low voice. "She believes that we are even now nearing her home." Then I thought that this might come more easily from myself, seeing that Elfric had to stay with her, and I stood before her, and spoke.