I paid no heed to them as the day went on, only wishing that Odda would come and speak to me about his doings, for I had sent word to him that we were in the river.

Sometimes a thane would stay and speak with me from the wharf alongside which my own ship was with one or two others, and they were pleasant enough, though they troubled me with over many thanks, which was Odda's fault.
However, I will say this, that if every man made as little of his own doings and as much of those of his friends as did the honest ealdorman, it were well in some ways.
By and by, while we were talking, having got through my grumble, Kolgrim came along the shore with some Saxon noble whom he had met; and this stranger was asking questions about each ship that he passed.

I suppose that Kolgrim had answered many such curious folk already; for when he came near and we could hear what he was saying, I was fain to laugh, for, as sailors will, he was telling the landsman strange things.
"What do we pull up the anchor with ?" he was saying.

"Why, with yonder big rope that goes from masthead to bows." and he pointed to the great mainstay of our ship.

"One must have a long purchase, if you know what that is." "Ah, 'tis wonderful," said the Saxon.
Then he caught my eye, and saw that I was smiling.