Bertric spoke again to Dalfin, asking him how it came to pass that he could not swim, which was as much a wonder to him as it had been to me.
"Yesterday I would have asked you why I should be able," Dalfin answered lightly, "today I know well enough.

But my home in Maghera, where we of the northern O'Neills have our place and state, lies inland.

Truly, there is the great Lough Neagh, on which, let me tell you, we have fought the Danes once or twice; but if there is any swimming to be done for the princes, there are always henchmen to get wet for them.

Never did I dream that a day would come when there was swimming which no man could do for me.
That is why." "But it seems that you have ships, if you fought the Danes on the water ?" "Never a ship! We fell on them in the fishers' coraghs--the skin boats." "And beat them ?" "Well, it was not to be expected; but we made them afraid." Dalfin stood up in the boat unsteadily, and swung his arms to warm himself.

She was a wide and roomy fishing craft, and weatherly enough, if she did make more leeway than one would wish in a breeze.
"There is less wind," he said.