Part 14 (1/2)

”How goes it, friend?” he cried in a loud voice. ”Hast slept well?

We are in your own land, and will be ash.o.r.e soon.”

That was for others to hear. Then he stood aside to let a little more light into the cabin, and it seemed that he had no suspicions that all was not as he would have it. He came inside and felt me carelessly enough.

”Well,” he said. ”You are warm in here, and no mistake. If I mistake not, you have been trying to wriggle out of these bonds.”

He set his hand under some of the las.h.i.+ngs and pulled them without uncovering me much, though it would not have mattered if he had done so, as it was very dark in here.

As I knew only too well, they were fast as ever, and he said:

”Well, we can tie a knot fairly. Presently we will loosen you a bit--in the morning maybe.”

He went and closed the door, and I fell to work again. He would leave me now for a while.

There was a long talk from s.h.i.+p to sh.o.r.e before the gangplank was run out, and presently Thorgils spoke to Evan, seemingly close to the cabin door:

”Here's a bit of luck for your princess,” he said. ”Her father is up in the camp yonder, with his guards behind him. Maybe there is trouble with the Tenby Danefolk, or going to be some. It is as well that we put in here. Now he bids us take the lady up to him and bide to feast with him, Will you come with me?”

”I stay by my goods,” answered Evan, with a laugh. ”If there is a levy in the camp there will be men who will need watching among them.”

”Why, then, we six Nors.e.m.e.n can go, and leave you to tend the s.h.i.+p.”

”That will be all right,” said Evan, somewhat gladly, as I thought; ”so long as we are here you need have no fear. Every one knows that a chapman will fight for his goods if need be. But a Welshman will not meddle with a Welshman's goods.”

”So long as he is there to mind them,” laughed Thorgils. ”Then we can go. I do not know how soon we can be back, though.”

”That is no matter. We are used to keeping watch.”

”Ay. How is that hurt friend of yours after the voyage?”

”Well as one could expect,” answered Evan, ”He says he has slept almost all the way. He is comfortable where he is.”

They went aft, and soon I heard the princess speaking with them.

Then the well-known click and clash of armed men marching in order came to me, as the chief sent a guard for his daughter. It was terrible to hear the voices of honest men so close to me and to be helpless, and I worked at the rope feverishly.

I heard the princess and her party leave the s.h.i.+p, and almost as the last footstep left the deck one strand of the cord went. I worked harder yet, with a great hope on me.

”Presently the Nors.e.m.e.n will be full of Howel's mead,” I heard Evan say to one of his men. ”Then we will get ash.o.r.e and leave swiftly.

I think we need not stay to pay Thorgils for the voyage.”

”Let us tell some of the sh.o.r.e men to bide here to help us,” said the other--”we have the Saxon to carry.”

”That is a good thought.”

They clattered over the plank ash.o.r.e, and another strand of the rope went at that time. I thought it was but one of another turn of the line, however. Five minutes more of painful sawing and straining and I felt another strand give way. That made three, and now one of the two turns of line that held my arms could have but one strand left, and that ought to be no more than I could break by force. Then I wrestled with it with little care if my struggles as I bent and strove made noise that might call attention to me, for it was my last chance. The lines bruised and cut me sorely, even through my mail, but I heeded that no more than I did the hardness of the timbers against which I rolled; and at last it did snap, with a suddenness that let my elbow fly against the iron that had been my saving, almost forcing a cry from me.

I was yet bound to my splints, but with my arms free it was but the work of a few seconds to cast off the last of my bonds, and within five minutes after the strand had parted I was on my feet, and rubbing and stretching my bruised and cramped limbs into life again. Then I felt in the darkness for the bale that held my gear, and found it and tore it open.

How good it was to gird the sword on me again, and to feel the cold rim of the good helm round my hot forehead! I was myself again, and as I slipped Gerent's gold ring on my arm I thought that it was almost worth the bondage to know what pleasure can be in the winning of freedom. I forgot that I was troubled with thirst and hunger, having touched nothing since I broke my fast with Owen; though, indeed, there was little matter in that, for I had done well at that meal with the long ride before me, and one ought to be able to go for a day and a night without food if need be, as a warrior.