Whereon Bertric raised his arm in answer and called to his men, and luffed while they lowered the sail.

The Dane at the same time struck sail, and got out some oars in order to come alongside of us.

There was no sea running that would make this dangerous.
Then I went to the low door of the after cabin, and spoke to the queen.
"Here is a ship that will come alongside ours," I said.

"Fear nought, but wait for my word." And then a glint of bright colour caught my eyes, and I looked more closely into the dark place; and there sat the queen no longer as a humble abbess, but in her own dress, for she had cast off the garb she hated, and she answered me: "Who dares to stay the Queen of England on her passage ?" "Oh, madam," I said, "for pity's sake don the convent robe again.

I fear that the Danes are on us." Then she cowered back into the shadow and said nought, for the very word terrified her when she knew her foes were so near.