Our people captured him and slew some of his followers, and the ship speedily took to flight." "Father," the girl said in a clear voice, which at once attracted the attention of all, "unless my eyes deceive me the young Saxon standing behind Jarl Bijorn is he whose ship captured us as we left England, and who suffered no harm to be done to us." The Northman turned in his chair.
"It is he, Freda, surely enough, though how he comes to be a slave here to my comrade Bijorn I know not.

Bijorn, my friend, I owe this youth a deep debt of gratitude; he had my life and the life and honour of Freda in his hands, and he spared both, and, slave though he may be of yours at present, yet I hail him as my friend.

Tell me how came he in your hands?
He is Edmund, the valiant young Saxon who smote us more than once so heavily down in Wessex." "I know it," Bijorn replied, "and will tell you how he came into my hands, and in truth he was captured by accident and not by any valour of my arm." The jarl then related the circumstances under which Edmund had been captured, and the narrow escape he had had of being offered as a sacrifice to Odin.

And Siegbert then told his guests at length the incidents of his capture by the Dragon.
"He let me go free and without a ransom," he concluded, "and that part of my obligation I should be glad to repay, though for his gentleness to Freda I must still remain his debtor.

What say you, Bijorn, will you sell him to me?
Name your price in horses, arms, and armour, and whatever it be I will pay it to you." "In truth, Siegbert," Bijorn said, "I like not to part with the lad; but since you are so urgent, and seeing that you cannot otherwise discharge the obligation under which, as you say, he has laid you, I cannot refuse your prayer.