Dan flushed , but opened the book and began -- gabbling a little -- at ` The Discoverer of the North Cape . ' ` Othere , the old sea-captain , Who dwelt in Helgoland , To King Alfred , the lover of truth , Brought a snow-white walrus tooth , That he held in his brown right hand . ' ` But -- but -- this I know ! This is an old song ! This I have heard sung ! This is a miracle , ' Sir Richard interrupted . ` Nay , do not stop ! ' He leaned forward , and the shadows of the leaves slipped and slid upon his chain-mail . ' `` I ploughed the land with horses , But my heart was ill at ease , For the old sea-faring men Came to me now and then With their Sagas of the Seas . '' ' His hand fell on the hilt of the great sword . ` This is truth , ' he cried , ` for so did it happen to me , ' and he beat time delightedly to the tramp of verse after verse . ' `` And now the land , '' said Othere , `` Bent southward suddenly , And I followed the curving shore , And ever southward bore Into a nameless sea . '' ' ' A nameless sea ! ' he repeated . ` So did I -- so did Hugh and I. ' ` Where did you go ? Tell us , ' said Una . ` Wait . Let me hear all first . ' So Dan read to the poem 's very end . ` Good , ' said the knight .
` That is XXXXX 's tale -- even as I have heard the men in the Dane ships sing it .
Cape Dan Helgoland Hugh Othere Richard Sagas chain-mail right sea-captain