And then Odda made for us as good a feast as he might in the best house that was there, bidding every shipmaster to it.
Merry enough were all, though we had but ship fare; for the Saxons had great hopes from this victory.
Now Odda made much of what I had done--though it was little enough--saying that I and my men deserved well of Alfred, and that he hoped that we should stay with him for this winter, which would perhaps see the end of the war.
"Why," said I, "things would have been much the same if I had not been here." "That they would not," he answered.

"I should have blundered past this place in the night, and so lost the Danes altogether; or if I had not done that, they would soon have found out what state my men were in.

You should have heard old Thord rate them into order; it is in my mind that he even called me--Odda the ealdorman--hard names in his broad Norse tongue.

But at least he gave us somewhat more to think of than the sickness that comes of heaving planks that will by no means keep steady for a moment." He laughed heartily at himself, and then added: "Good King Alfred thought not at all of that matter.

Now I can shift the whole credit of this victory to your shoulders, and then he will not believe that I am the born sea captain that he would have me think myself." "I will not have that," I said, "for I have not deserved it." "Ay; but, I pray you, let me put it from myself, else shall I be sent to sea again without any one to look to for advice," he said earnestly, and half laughing at the same time.