"
"Tonight, then?"
"I have naught to do after I have carried the nets home."
"That is well," said the stranger; and after that he dropped his voice
so that I heard no more, but he and my father talked long together.
We waited, and at last the talk ended, and my father came hack to us,
while the stranger rode away northward along the sands. Then I asked who
the man was, and what he wanted.
"He is some chief of these Norsemen, and one who asks more questions of
a thrall, as he thinks me, than he would dare ask Sigurd the jarl, or
Grim the merchant either, for that matter."
Seeing that my father did not wish to say more at this time, we asked
nothing else, but went homeward in silence. It seemed as if he was ill
at ease, and he went more quickly than was his wont, so that presently
Raven and little Withelm lagged behind us with their burdens, for our
catch had been a good one.
Then he stopped outside the garth when we reached home, and told me not
to go in yet. And when the others came up he said to them, "Do you two
take in the things and the fish, and tell mother that Radbard and I have
to go down to the ship. There is cargo to be seen to, and it is likely
that we shall he late, so bid her not wait up for us."
Then he told me to come, and we left the two boys at once and turned
away towards the haven.
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