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At that I seemed to see all the plot, and my heart sank within me, for this Beorn was most crafty, and had planned well to throw doubt on me if things by ill chance fell out as they had, and so I rode in silence wondering what help should come, and whence.
I must inquire into this matter. Who knows aught about it?" he asked as he went out into the corridor. "I do, my lord king," Beorn replied as he pushed his way through the throng. "It was a plot to take your life. Wulf, his man Osgod, and myself had no certain knowledge of it, but we had cause for suspicion, and therefore lay outside your door. We were to take it in turns to watch.
Spurling looked sharply up from his corner; being ignorant of the matter which Granger hinted at, he watched to see if the words contained a reference to himself. Peggy turned her head away and began to steal softly out. But her brother stayed her, and throwing his arm about her shoulder, said, "I promise you; we shall return." And Beorn gave him his hand as a sign of his assent.
"I believe I have cut my fingers to the bone," Beorn groaned; "I feel as if I were holding a bar of hot iron.
I was desirous that Beorn should tell you the tale, being older and more accustomed to the speech of the court than I was, but he held that the message, being first given to me, it was I who should deliver it." "He judged rightly," the duke said, "and deserves credit for thus standing aside." At this moment two knights entered.
For he would ever leave the hall as at this time, so that the housecarles and lesser guests might have greater freedom of talk when we were gone. So we rose up, and as we did so I saw Beorn, the falconer, look sourly at Lodbrok; and it misliked me that he should harbour any ill will even yet against the Dane who had done him no wrong.
At that I shouted and spurred swiftly towards those two letting the other horse go free with I know not what wild thoughts in my mind. And when I came near I knew that the living man was Beorn, and that the dead was Lodbrok my friend. Then I took my horn and wound it loud and long, charging down upon that traitor with drawn sword, for I had left my hunting spear with the slain deer.
They were, moreover, gratified by the confidence that he had shown in coming among them, and in seeing for the first time in the memory of man a monarch of England in Northumbria. Ulf and Beorn had kept regular watch, but without success, and Ulf's comrades had as steadily watched the other entrances. Beorn had two or three conferences with Ulf.
You ain't a Mormon, are you?" he asked abruptly. Granger, taken aback by the question, smiled slowly and shook his head. "Well, then, I'd have you to know," Beorn continued, "that I was brought up in the Mormon faith. One o' the earliest memories I have is o' the massacre o' the Latter-Day Saints at Gallatin, when Governor Boggs issued his order that we should be exterminated an' driven out.
Beorn, who as the elder was specially addressed, shortly related the story of their escape and journey. "You have done well," the baron said when he had concluded. "Guy, you may learn from these young Saxons that even pages may be called upon to do work of more importance than handing wine-cups and standing behind their lord on state occasions.
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