But then the ship herself would close on us, and not one of us but would pay for that deed with his life.
So she came slowly over the glassy water of the slack tide, and my men watched her, saying nothing.
Soon she came alongside, and at a sign from me Kenulf threw a line which the bowman caught, and I thought that a word or two of wonder passed among her crew.

They dropped to where the curve of our deck was lowest, and instantly the leader leapt on board and all but one of his men followed, axe or drawn sword in hand.

As I had bidden them, not one of my men stirred save Kenulf, who made fast the line and stood watching.
The leader was a young man, of about my own age, clad in golden shining bronze scale armour and wearing a silver helm on which were short, black, curving horns; and he bore a double-headed axe, besides the sword at his side.

He looked round on us--at the men standing silent, at Kenulf, and at me as I stood on the after deck resting on the tiller, and broke into a great laugh.
"Well," he cried, "are you all dumb, or fools, or wise men; or a little of all three ?" But my men answered nothing, even as I had bidden them, and I thought that my time was not yet come to speak.
"The fog has got into their throats," said a Dane; for with a great lifting of my heart I knew their tongue, and it was Lodbrok's and not Norse.
"Struck speechless with fear more like," said another.
"Ho, men," said the leader, "which is your captain ?" One of our crew pointed to me, and I came to the break of the deck saying: "I am master of this ship." And I spoke as a Dane, for my long company with Lodbrok had given me the very turn of his speech.
At that the viking stared at me, and one of his men said: "When did Danes take to trading on this coast ?" "You are Saxon by all seeming," said the leader, "yet you speak like a Dane.

Whence are you, and how learned you our tongue so glibly ?" "We are from Reedham in East Anglia, which is at peace with the Danish host," I said; "and I learnt the Danish speech from one who is my friend, Lodbrok the Dane, whom men call Jarl Lodbrok." Now at that word the Danes all turned to me, and hardly one but let fall some word of wonder; and the young leader took two great steps towards me, with his face flushing and his eyes lit up with a new look.
Then he stopped, and his face changed, growing white and angry, and his teeth closed tightly as he looked at me.