When I gathered myself up I saw Ecgbert and Thorleif aft, while the Danes were rummaging the ship, and I made my way to them.

And as I came the atheling stared at me, and then hastened forward with outstretched hand of welcome.
"Why, Wilfrid, old comrade, how come you here?
I heard only of a West Saxon, and whether this is luck for you or not I do not know." "Good luck enough, I think," I answered, with a great hand grip.

"I had not yet let myself wonder how long it would be before I saw home again." His face fell, and he looked doubtfully at me.
"I cannot take you home, Wilfrid; I am flying thence myself.

The Danish chief will set you ashore somewhere at his first chance, he says." "Why, what is amiss again ?" "The old jealousy, I suppose," he answered grimly.

"As if a lad like myself was likely to try to overturn a throne! Here had I hardly settled down in Mercia as a fighter of the Welsh and hanger-on of Offa's court, when there come Bertric's messengers, asking that I should be given up, and backing the demand with a request for closer alliance by marriage.