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The scene as they entered was strange and stirring. Immediately before them lay a wide courtyard, in the centre of which stood King Bue's hall, high and long, and studded with bright windows. Men were ranged in a line from the gateway to the hall, bearing great torches.
We had to travel for long through open country when we left the town, and we have never reached the beginning of it yet." Jomar gave a quick, contemptuous laugh, and answered shortly, "Think you then that Thorar brought you by the shortest route? Those prisoners whom you set free reached King Bue's hall many hours before you. You are not wise, you Northmen."
I shrewdly suspected, from my memory of the way I had come overnight, that he was leading me back to King Bue's hall, and meant on our parting to put a horde of his rascally fellows in my way. I cared little, however, for I had mine own ending for our walk. When we had gone a little way I stopped and said to him, "'My friend, I am loth to lose your company, but here is the parting of our ways.
Thor with his hammer evidently acting; but in behalf of whom? Overboard, all ye Bue's men!" And taking his two sea-chests, with all the gold he had gained in such life-struggle from of old, sprang overboard accordingly, and finished the affair. Hakon Jarl's renown rose naturally to the transcendent pitch after this exploit.
"Little he told even me," replied Atli, "save that he had seen Ketill for the briefest possible space, and then returned straightway home." "Did he hear aught of the twenty good men who followed us to King Bue's hall?" It was Jomar himself who replied, though without turning over or looking at the speaker. "Would you have me save them, too, from their fate?
Seeing that all was at an end, he seized two chests of gold to prevent their capture by the victors, and sprang with them into the sea, shouting: "Overboard all Bue's men!" On Vagn's ship a similar fierce fight was taking place, ending only when all but thirty of the vikings were slain. Then a savage scene was enacted, one worthy only of those barbarous times.
A young moon had just risen above the trees, and by its pale light they saw a small village at the end of the glade. Many lights flashed, and a babel of voices chattered and shouted as they approached. "All King Bue's men have not fled, it seems," Helgi said in a low voice.
To make for King Bue's hall, and, taking advantage of the woods that covered all the country, spy out what might be seen, was the hazardous scheme he proposed. Perhaps, he thought, Helgi might be wandering the country too, and if fate was kind they might meet. In any case he could not rest in his state of uncertainty, and he pushed boldly on.
The onset of the Jomsvikings was so terrific in this last fierce fight that the earl's men gave back, and might have been all slain had not his son Erik boarded Bue's ship at this crisis and made an irresistible charge. A terrible cut across the face severed Bue's nose. "Now," he cried, "the Danish maidens will kiss me no more."
A moment's reflection assured him that it was out of the question, but, to convince himself, he went forward and joined the lawman. "Is it far to King Bue's hall?" he asked. "The marshes are firm and frozen, and the snow lies nowhere very deep. We should reach it by nightfall." Helgi laughed, and said,
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