Then my father said, "This is the old custom, that they who are of
different family should be brothers indeed. Out of one earth should they
be made afresh, as it were, that on the face of earth they shall be one.
Pass therefore under the arch, beginning with Havelok."
Then, while my father spoke strange and ancient runes, Havelok did as he
was bidden, kneeling down and creeping under the uplifted turf; and as I
came after him he gave me his hand and raised me, and so with each of
the other two. And then, unbidden, Arngeir followed, for he too loved
Havelok, and would fain be his brother indeed.
After that my father took a sharp flint knife that he had brought with
him, and with it cut Havelok's arm a little, and each of us set his lips
to that wound, and afterwards he to the like marks in our right arms,
and so the ancient rite was complete.
Yet it had not been needed, as I know, for not even I ever thought of
him but as the dearest of brothers, though I minded how he came.
Now after this my father grew stronger, maybe because this was off his
mind; but he might never go to sea again, nor even to Lincoln town, for
he was not strong enough. What his illness was I do not rightly know,
hut I do not think that any one here overlooked him, though it might be
that from across the sea Hodulf had power to work him harm.
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