A Sea Queens Sailing | Page 8

all fours, and let himself go with
a splash, which I thought every man in the ship must have heard. He
fell on his back, with his arms in the air, grasping somewhat in them,
which I thought was some man who tried to hold him. Yet I had not
seen one come aft. Then there seemed to be a fight in the water where
he was, and with that I left the boat to herself. There was a long, deep
swell running, but it did not break, and I was maybe fourscore yards
from him. The boat would drift after me with the wind, and I swam to
his help with all my might. I could see him as the rollers lifted me on
their crests now and then, and round him the white water flew as he
struggled with somewhat. At that time I saw the tall figure of Asbiorn
on the fast-lessening stern of the ship, and with him was another man.
One of them seemed to come right aft and look over the stern, and then
stooped to the cleat where the painter had been fast. Then both went to
the helm, and bided there. Neither looked into the cabin hatch, so far as
I could tell.
A long, oily roller slipped from under me, and in its hollow I saw
Dalfin. He was learning to swim, with the little four-legged bench
belonging to the helmsman as his support. It had never entered my
mind that the son of a chief could not swim. I cannot remember when I
could not do so, and any one of us would have thought it shame not to
be at home in the water, whether rough or calm. Nor had he warned me
that he could not do so; and therein I hold was the deed of a brave man.
He would not hold me back in any way, but would give me my chance,
and take his own. He had to reach the bench, too, which was risky, and
that, no doubt, had delayed him. I swam up to him, and he laughed and
spluttered.
"Is all going well? Where is the boat?" he gasped.
"Very well," I said. "But why not tell me you could not swim? I would
have hove up the boat alongside for you."
"Aye, and so have been seen," he said. "I saw this bench, and--"

The sea filled his mouth, and he had to be silent. I saw the boat coming
to us as the wind drifted her, and swam round him, while he splashed
wildly as the bench lifted to the waves. Then I saw what was amiss, and
got it across and under his chest, and he was happy.
"It is the first time I have ever been out of my depth," he said. "I shall
be happier yet when I am in the boat. Yonder she comes!"
I turned my head sharply at that, for he was looking north. We had been
running northward dead before the wind when we went overboard, and
any boat thence must needs come from the ship.
Then I saw no boat at all, but only the head of a man who swam slowly
toward us, and into my mind it came that this was one of our own men
who had seen us go, from amidships, and had managed to follow. So I
hailed him, but the answering voice was strange to me. With a few
strokes the swimmer neared us, and I saw that he was a young man,
brown-haired and freckled, with a worn, anxious face, that had
desperation written on it. I had never set eyes on him before.
"I would fain make a third in this escape," he said, speaking fair Danish,
but slowly, as if unused to it. "I have been a captive with Heidrek like
yourselves, and I saw you go."
"You are no Dane?" I said, being somewhat cautious, as may be
supposed.
"A Saxon of Wessex," he answered. "On my word, I have had no part
in this raid, for I was left with the ships."
"Then you are welcome," I said frankly. It was certain that no man
would do as we had done, save he were in as sore straits.
The black bow of the boat lifted on the waves close to us, and I swam
to her and climbed in over her stern. By this time the ship was too far
off to be dangerous, unless it was thought worthwhile to come back to
pick up the boat, which was unlikely, as it would have been done at
once if at all. Between us, the Saxon and I managed to get Dalfin into
her, and then our new companion followed. He wore a