And he put it away.
"Tell me, if you don't mind," he asked, for the food and the lightening of the strain upon his nerves had made him conversational, "what is that song which you sang upon the ship, and why did you sing it ?" She coloured a little, and smiled, a sweet smile that seemed to begin in her eyes.
"It is an old Norse chant which my mother taught me; she was a Dane, as my father is also by descent.

It has come down in her family for many, many generations, and the legend is that the women of her race always sang it or repeated it while the men were fighting, and, if they had the strength, in the hour of their own death.

I believe that is true, for she died whispering it herself; yes, it grew fainter and fainter until it ceased with her breath.

So, when I thought that my hour had come, I sang it also, for the first time, for I tried to be brave, and wished to go as my forefathers went.

It is a foolish old custom, but I like old customs.