I was roused before long by a tapping on the deck overhead, which came now and again as if Asbiorn, who was steering still, was beating time to some air.

So he was, for soon he began to whistle softly, and then to hum to himself.

I will not say that the music was much; but he sat barely a fathom from the open hatch, and presently the words he sang caught my ear.

They were of no song I had ever heard, and they seemed to have little meaning in them.

I listened idly, and the next thing was that I knew, with a great leap of my heart, that what he sang, or pretended to sing, was meant for myself.