Think--is there any honour to the mighty dead that he should wander across the lone sea thus, as we met him ?" I knew that he was right, and did not gainsay him.

After all, we were sure to have looked into that chamber presently, and to have found what I feared--suddenly and unexpectedly--would have been worse.

So I set my fears aside as best I could, and went forward with them both to the end of the house, in which we had seen no sign of door.

I thought that perhaps the upright timbers which closed the end might be loose; but they were nailed to the roof beam, against which they were set too firmly for us to move them, and we must look for some axe or other tool.
"One of the chests forward is the ship's carpenter's," said Dalfin.
"I opened it when we sought for food just now." He slipped round the house and came back with a heavy hammer and a broad chisel.

Bertric took them, and prised away the upper end of the midmost timber without any trouble.