Free The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson Page B

divided among them all. Solomon received many expressions of thanks from them all, and various costly presents; then he departed, together with the prisoners whom they had freed, since he was anxious to get clear of the Christians' country as soon as he could. Toke, who had not yet stopped drinking, began to weep when he heard that Solomon had left them, saying that now he had nobody to help him to converse with his girl. He drew his sword and wanted to run after him; but Orm and the others succeeded in quieting him without having to resort to violence, and in the end he nestled contentedly down beside his girl, having first bound her fast to him so that she should not steal away or be stolen while he slept.
    The next morning they began to share out the booty, which proved to be no simple task. Everybody wanted to have as big a share as the next man; but it was decided that Krok and Berse and the helmsmen and one or two others should have three times as much as the rest. Even then, though the business of sharing everything out fairly was allotted to the wisest among them, it was difficult to satisfy everyone. Berse said that, as it was largely due to Toke that the fortress had been taken, he, too, ought to have a triple share; and they all agreed that this should be so. But Toke replied that he would be content with his single share if he might be allowed to bring his girl on board and keep her there without anyone objecting.
    “For I should dearly like to bring her home with me,” he said, “even though I cannot be completely sure that she is the margrave’s daughter. I am already getting on excellently with her, and when she is able to speak our language and we can understand each other’s conversation, it will be better still.”
    Berse remarked that this might not turn out to be such an advantage as Toke supposed, and Krok added that the ships were going to be so heavily laden with all the booty they had won that, even allowing for the fact that they had lost eleven men in the fight, he doubted whether there would be room for the girl on board; as things were, they would probably have to leave some of the less valuable booty behind.
    At this, Toke rose to his feet, lifted the girl on to his shoulder, and commanded them all to have a good look at her and to note how beautiful she was and what a fine figure she had.
    “I do not doubt,” he said, “that she is well able to excite the lust of any man. Now, if there be any man here who covets her, I shall be happy to fight him for her, here and now, either with sword or with ax, whichever weapon he cares to choose. Let the winner keep the girl; and the man who dies will, by his absence, lighten the ship more than she will burden it; and in this way I can fairly take her with me.”
    The girl held tightly with one hand to the beard on Toke’s cheek, and went red and wriggled her legs and put her other hand over her eyes; but then she took it away again, seeming to enjoy being looked at. They all thought that Toke’s proposition had been cunningly devised. But none of them elected to fight with him, despite the beauty of the girl, for they all liked him and, besides, feared him for his strength and his skill at arms.
    When all the booty had been shared out and stored aboard, it was decided that Toke should be permitted to bring his girl aboard Krok’s ship, though it was heavily laden; for they agreed that he had deserved such a reward for his part in the storming of the fortress. They then held counsel regarding the question of the homeward voyage, and agreed that they should return along the Asturian and Frankish coasts if the weather was bad, but that if it was good, they should try to make for Ireland, thence to proceed homewards round the Scottish islands; for, with such booty as they had, it would be taking an unnecessary risk to sail through frequented waters, where they might encounter other ships.
    They ate and drank as much as they could hold, having now an