However, they believe that she will grow tired out at last when she finds that there is no hope whatever of a rescue.

The ships are being built for a long sea voyage, for Sweyn is going to lead them to join the Viking Hasting in the Mediterranean, and has promised his men the plunder of countries ten times richer than France or England.

With so long an expedition in view, they may well think that the Lady Freda's resolution will soon give way, and that she may come to see that the position of the wife of a bold viking is a thousand times preferable to that of a captive.

Many of the men loudly express their wonder why she would refuse the love of so valiant a warrior as Sweyn." The news was at once good and bad.

Edmund did not fear Freda's resolution giving way for a long time, but the news that Sweyn intended to carry her upon so distant an expedition troubled him.