He sang us strange Moorish songs that first night , and half persuaded us to go with him . I was on pilgrimage to forget -- which is what no pilgrimage brings . I think I would have gone , but ... ` Look you how the life and fortune of man changes ! Towards morning a Dane ship , rowing silently , struck against us in the mist , and while we rolled hither and yon Hugh , leaning over the rail , fell outboard . I leaped after him , and we two tumbled aboard the Dane , and were caught and bound ere we could rise . Our own ship was swallowed up in the mist . I judge the Knight of the Gold Pieces muzzled his dogs with his cloak , lest they should give tongue and betray the merchants , for I heard their baying suddenly stop . ` We lay bound among the benches till morning , when the Danes dragged us to the high deck by the steering-place , and their captain -- Witta , he was called -- turned us over with his foot . Bracelets of gold from elbow to armpit he wore , and his red hair was long as a woman 's , and came down in plaited locks on his shoulder . He was stout , with bowed legs and long arms . He spoiled us of all we had , but when he laid hand on Hugh 's sword and saw the runes on the blade hastily he thrust it back . Yet his covetousness overcame him and he tried again and again , and the third time the Sword sang loud and angrily , so that the rowers leaned on their oars to listen . Here they all spoke together , screaming like gulls , and a Yellow Man , such as I have never seen , came to the high deck and cut our bonds . He was yellow -- not from sickness , but by nature -- yellow as honey , and his eyes stood endwise in his head . ' ` How do you mean ? ' said Una , her chin on her hand . ` Thus , ' said Sir Richard . He put a finger to the corner of each eye , and pushed it up till his eyes narrowed to slits . ` Why , you look just like a Chinaman ! ' cried Dan .
` Was the man a XXXXX ? ' '
Chinaman Hugh Man Richard Una endwise night oars rowers steering-place