Thorleif came aft to speak with the shipmaster from our stern.
Then there climbed on the bows of the trader a tall, handsome young man, at the sight of whom I could not withhold a cry of wonder, for I knew him well.

He was Ecgbert the atheling, nephew of our great king Ina, and the one man whom Bertric feared as a rival when he came to the throne.

His father and mine had been close friends, and we two had played and hunted together many a time, until the jealousy of Bertric drove him to seek refuge with Offa of Mercia.

I thought him there yet.
"Yield yourselves," said Thorleif, "and we will speak in peace of ransom.

I will come on board with a score of men, and harm none." "We have yielded, seeing that there was no other chance for as," said Ecgbert quietly.