Then she came, and mounted behind me on a skin that I had taken from a chair before the hearth.
Then we were away, and I was very glad.

The good horse made nothing of the burden, and we went quickly.

Many a time had I ridden double, with the rough grip of some mail-shirted warrior round my waist, as we hurried back to the ships after a foray; but this was the first time I had had charge of a lady, and it was in a strange time and way enough.

I do not know if it was in the hurry of flight, or because they had none, but the horses had no saddles such as were for ladies' use.
So I did not speak till we were half a mile from the house, and then came a hill, and we walked, because I feared to discomfort my companion.

Then I said: "Lady, we are strangers, and know not to whom we speak nor to whom we must take you." There was a touch of surprise in her voice as she answered: "I am the Lady Thora, Jarl Osmund's daughter." Then I understood how this was the chief to whom the man I spoke with first had bidden me go for orders.