We were not young , but I think no shame to say whenas we drove out of that secret harbour at sunrise over a still sea , we two rejoiced and sang as did the knights of old when they followed our great Duke to England . Yet was our leader an heathen pirate ; all our proud fleet but one galley perilously overloaded ; for guidance we leaned on a pagan sorcerer ; and our port was beyond the world 's end . Witta told us that his father Guthrum had once in his life rowed along the shores of Africa to a land where naked men sold gold for iron and beads . There had he bought much gold , and no few elephants ' teeth , and thither by help of the Wise Iron would Witta go . Witta feared nothing -- except to be poor . ' `` My father told me , '' said Witta , `` that a great Shoal runs three days ' sail out from that land , and south of the shoal lies a Forest which grows in the sea . South and east of the Forest my father came to a place where the men hid gold in their hair ; but all that country , he said , was full of Devils who lived in trees , and tore folk limb from limb . How think ye ? '' ' `` Gold or no gold , '' said Hugh , fingering his sword , `` it is a joyous venture . Have at these Devils of thine , Witta ! '' ' `` Venture ! '' said Witta sourly . `` I am only a poor sea-thief . I do not set my life adrift on a plank for joy , or the venture . Once I beach ship again at Stavanger , and feel the wife 's arms round my neck , I 'll seek no more ventures . A ship is heavier care than a wife or cattle . '' ` He leaped down among the rowers , chiding them for their little strength and their great stomachs . Yet Witta was a wolf in fight , and a very fox in cunning . ` We were driven South by a storm , and for three days and three nights he took the stern-oar , and threddled the longship through the sea . When it rose beyond measure he brake a pot of whale 's oil upon the water , which wonderfully smoothed it , and in that anointed patch he turned her head to the wind and threw out oars at the end of a rope , to make , he said , an anchor at which we lay rolling sorely , but dry .
This craft his father XXXXX had shown him .
Africa Guthrum Hugh Witta longship nights oars sea-thief sorcerer whale