Yet he at least is well, and here to speak with you and tell you all." Then for the great and terrible sorrow that came at the end of the joyous homeward sailing, down on the hard sand Halfden the Jarl threw himself, and there lay weeping as these wild Danes can weep, for their sorrow is as terrible as their rage, and they will put no bounds to the way of grief of which there is no need for shame.

Nor have they the hope that bids us sorrow not as they.
And while he lay there, all men held their peace, looking in one another's faces, and only the jarls and Osritha and myself stood near him.
Very suddenly he raised himself up, and was once more calm; then he kissed the maiden, and grasped his brothers' hands, and then held out both hands to me, holding mine and looking in my face.
"Other was the meeting I had planned for you and me, Wulfric, my brother-in-arms.

Yet you are most welcome, for you at least are here to tell me of the days that are past." "It is an ill telling," said Ingvar.
"That must needs be, seeing what is to be told," Hubba said quickly.
But those wise words of Osritha's had made things easier for me, for now Halfden knew that into the story of the jarl's death, I and my doings must come, so Ingvar's words meant little to him.
"You went not to Reedham ?" I said, for now the men were at work again, and all was noise and bustle round us.
"I have come here first by Orkneys from Waterford, where we wintered," he answered.

"And I have been over sure that no mishap might be in a long six months." "What of the voyage ?--let us speak of this hereafter," said Hubba.
And Halfden, wearily, as one who had lost all interest in his own doings, told him that it had been good, and that Thormod would give him the full tale of plunder.
Then came a chief from the ship whose face I knew, though he was not of our crew.

It was that Rorik whose ship the Bosham bell had sunk, and who had been saved by Halfden's boats.