A Sea Queen's Sailing by Charles W. (Charles Watts) Whistler
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page 26 of 289 (08%)
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hates to have captives held as slaves on board his ship."
Dalfin shivered a little. "It is very cold," he said ruefully. So it was, for the June nights in the north have still a nip in the air. I told him that sea water has no harm in it, but at the same time thought we might as well get out the oars and make what way we could. Then when we lifted the sail and looked for them, there were none. Only the short steering oar was there; but the new pair I had made myself this winter were gone. No doubt the pirates had put them in their own boat, for they were good. Not that it seemed to matter much, for so soon as the ship was a mile or two farther, we could make sail in safety. We could have done little in the time but warm ourselves. So we had to be content to sit still while the dark sail drew away, and our clothes dried on us. "Well," said the Saxon presently, "how you feel, friends, I do not know; but I want to shout and leap with the joy of being free again. Nine months I have been a thrall to Heidrek, watched, and bound betimes, moreover." He held out his hands, and they were hard with the oar, and there were yet traces of cords round the strong wrists. "Tell us how you came into this trouble," I said, "it is likely that we shall be comrades for a while." "Easily told," he said. "When I was at home in England, I was Bertric the ship thane, and had my place in Lyme, in Dorset. I owned my own ship, and was thane by right therefore, according to |
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