Again he stood silent for a while and turned his face toward the
sea. The morning sun shone high in the sky, and the waves
reflected its radiance. The liberated vessels scudded this way and
that, and the sea birds came flying from the south with joyous
cries. The fish lay near the surface and glittered in the sun as
they leapt high out of the water, wanton after their long
imprisonment under the ice. The gulls, which had been circling out
beyond the edge of the ice, came in great flocks toward land to
fish in their old waters.

The skipper could not endure this sight. "Shall I be counted the
friend of murderers and evildoers?" he said. "Can I close my eyes
and refuse to see why God keeps the gates of the sea barred
against my vessel? Shall I be destroyed for the sake of the
unrighteous who have taken refuge with me?"

And the skipper went forward and said to his men: "Now I know why
we have been held back while all other ships have put to sea. It
is because we have murderers and evildoers on board."

Then the skipper went to the Scottish men-at-arms, who still lay
asleep in the ship's hold. "Listen," he said to them; "keep you
quiet yet awhile, no matter what cries or tumult you may hear on
board. We must follow God's commandment and not suffer evildoers
amongst us. If you obey me I promise to bring you the chest which
holds Herr Arne's money, and you shall share it among you."

But to Torarin the skipper said: "Go down to your sledge and cast
your fish out on the ice. You shall have other freight anon."