I grumbled at the risk he had run, but he said that his burden was not so heavy as mine had been.
For a few minutes we sat on the beach and found our breath again, Gerda trying to tell us what she felt concerning what we had done, and then giving up, because, I suppose, she could not find the right words; which was a relief, for she made too much of it all.
Then the four of us went up the beach to the shelter of the low, grassy sand hills above it, and there Dalfin turned and faced us with a courtly bow, saying gravely: "Welcome to Ireland, Queen Gerda, and you two good comrades.

There would have been a better welcome had we come in less hurry, but no more hearty one.

The luck of the O'Neills has stood us in good stead." "If it had not been for the skill of these two friends, it seems to me that even the luck of the torque had been little," said Gerda quietly.

"You must not forget that." "It is part of the said luck that they have been here," answered Dalfin, with his eyes twinkling as he bowed to us.

"All praise to their seamanship." Then he sat down suddenly as if his knees had given way, and looked up as if bewildered.
"Is this silly island also afloat ?" he asked, "for it feels more like a ship than any other dry land I was ever on.
"It will do so for a time," I said.