However, they were taking all the ale and cider casks they could find on board their ships, and never a word of payment.
"Do not go near them," said my cousin.

"Doubtless some one will pay presently, and I will go and speak with their head men.

Maybe they can't find any one who can rightly understand their talk." "Oh ay," said an old man, "it passes me to know how a thane like your worship can understand all sorts of talk they use in England.
It is all the likes of us can compass to understand even a Mercian; but I warrant you would ken what a Northumbrian means easily." He shook his head with much wisdom, and we left him grumbling at the speech of the priest we had already heard of.
We passed down the straggling shoreward street, and as we neared the waterside we heard the shouts and laughter of the strangers plainly enough.

And over the houses were the mastheads of their three ships.

One of them had a forked red flag, whereon was a raven worked in black, so well that it was easy to see what bird it was meant for.