It seemed to me that they were hard featured and cruel looking, though towards me were none but friendly looks.

Yet I speak of the crew only, for Halfden was like his father in face and speech, and that is saying much for him in both.
They spread a great awning, striped in blue and white like the sail, over the after deck, and there they set food and wine for us, and Halfden and I sat down together.

And with us one other, an older man, tall and bushy bearded, with a square, grave face scarred with an old wound.

Thormod was his name, and I knew presently that he was Halfden's foster father, and the real captain of the ship while Halfden led the fighting men.
"Food first and talk after," quoth this Thormod, and we fell to.
So when we had finished, and sat with ale horns only before us, Halfden said: "I have sought tidings of my father from the day when he was lost until this.

Now tell me all his story from end to end." And I did so; though when it came to the throwing of the line to the boat I said naught of my own part in that, there being no need, and moreover that I would not seem to praise myself.