Of course folk did wonder at this sudden sailing of ours, but my father
made no secret of his wish to get out of the way of Hodulf, who had
taken the ships of one or two other men elsewhere, so that all thought
he feared that his would be the next to be seized, and deemed him
prudent in going. As for our own crew, they were told that it was
certain that the ship would be taken unless we went on this tide, and so
they worked well.
Very early in the morning, and unseen, Arngeir had brought Eleyn, the
queen, on board, and she was in the cabin under the raised after deck
all the while that the bustle of making ready was going on. Only my
father went in there at any time, unless he gave the key to one of us,
for there he kept his valuables and the arms.
Presently, when all the men were forward and busy, I got Havelok on
board unnoticed. We had kept Withelm running to and fro from ship to
house with little burdens all the morning, mightily busy; and then, when
the chance came, Havelok in Withelm's clothes, and with a bundle on his
head, came running to me. I waited by the after cabin, and I opened the
door quickly and let him in. Then he saw his mother; and how those two
met, who had thought each other lost beyond finding, I will not try to say.
I closed the door softly and left them, locking it again, and found
Withelm close to me, and Arngeir watching to see that all went well.
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