Even you, Freda, worshipper of Odin as you are, must see that it is a higher and a better life to do good to your fellow-creatures than to do evil." "It sounds so," the girl said hesitatingly; "but the idea is so new to me that I must think it over before I can come to any conclusion." Freda then went about her occupations, and Edmund, knowing that Siegbert would not return for some time, as he was going with Bijorn to a council which was to be held early in the day, strolled down to look at the galleys ranged along on the beach.

These varied greatly in form and character.

Some of the sailing ships were large and clumsy, but the galleys for rowing were lightly and gracefully built.

They were low in the water, rising to a lofty bow, which sometimes turned over like the neck of a swan, at other times terminated in a sharp iron prow, formed for running down a hostile boat.

Some of them were of great length, with seats for twenty rowers on either side, while all were provided with sails as well as oars.