"
"Come on board, then; we know you well, and right glad we are to have
Hereward with us."
And Hereward laid his ship's bow upon the quarter of the royal ship (to
lay alongside was impossible, for fear of breaking oars), and came on
board.
"And thou art Hereward?" asked a tall and noble warrior.
"I am. And thou art Swend Ulfsson, the king?"
"I am Earl Osbiorn, his brother."
"Then, where is the king?"
"He is in Denmark, and I command his fleet; and with me are Canute and
Harold, Sweyn's sons, and earls and bishops enough for all England."
This was spoken in a somewhat haughty tone, in answer to the look of
surprise and disappointment which Hereward had, unawares, allowed to pass
over his face.
"Thou art better than none," said Hereward. "Now, hearken, Osbiorn the
Earl. Had Swend been here, I would have put my hand between his, and said
in my own name, and that of all the men in Kesteven and the fens, Swend's
men we are, to live and die! But now, as it is, I say, for me and them,
thy men we are, to live and die, as long as thou art true to us."
"True to you I will be," said Osbiorn.
"Be it so," said Hereward. "True we shall be, whatever betide. Now,
whither goes Earl Osbiorn, and all his great meinie?"
"We purpose to try Dover."
"You will not take it.
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