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Yet my men went headlong over the oarsmen as we struck, rising again with a great shout of grim laughter, to follow me over the bows as I leapt among the pirates who thronged on Ingvar's deck before me. Then was the sternest fight I have ever seen, for we fought at close quarters, they for dear life, and we for those even dearer than life.
But I pined for the touch of that one who had tended me when I was wounded before, Osritha, whom I had learnt to love as she did so. Sometimes I would think that between her and me had now risen up a barrier stronger than the sea that was washing our shores alike, because that of Ingvar's sister I might not think aught any longer.
Yet those few could hold the country in peace, because men knew that at their back was the might of Ingvar's awful host, which came on a land unawares, marching more swiftly than rumour could fly before it, so that not one might know where the next blow would fall until suddenly the war beacons of flaming villages flared up, and it was too late to do aught but fly.
And some of these I saw Ingvar's men questioning, and very soon a knot of them gathered round one man, and there was some loud talking. Then I would have hastened back, but Ingvar saw me, and waved sternly to me to depart, and slowly enough I went on my way. But I could not forbear looking back when I reached the road to the house.
But Ingvar's face was black with rage, and not heeding Halfden, he shouted: "Set the man before me." No man stirred, for indeed I think that most of our crew knew not who was meant, and those near me would, as Halfden told me, say nought. Then said Ingvar to Rorik: "Point the man to me." Then Rorik pointed to me. So I stood forth of my own accord, not looking at him, but at Ingvar.
I shouted to my men, and the arrows flew. Through skin-clad backs and bare necks the arrows pierced, and the smitten pirates fell back into their own ship, as they swarmed the higher sides of Ingvar's, like leaves from a tree.
And in Ingvar's house the thralls wrought to prepare a great feast in honour of Jarl Halfden's homecoming. Soon I stood with the jarls and Osritha at the landing place, and behind us were the courtmen in their best array. And as we came to the place where we would wait, Halfden's ship came past the bar into the haven's mouth.
Now, when I thought how the wind had held at any quarter rather than north or east for long weeks, it seemed to me likely that it was this only that had kept them from us, and that the going into Humber was no part of Ingvar's plan, but done as of necessity. For to bring over so mighty a host he must have swept up every vessel of all kinds for many a score miles along the shores.
But the body of the king was gone, and his arms and mail were gone. The hoofmarks of Ingvar's horses were everywhere; but at last I made out that they had gone on through the wood. Presently the dog growled, looking towards the village, and I heard voices coming nearer, and with them I heard the tread of a horse.
So we were left face to face with those two, and I saw that Ingvar's face was dark with doubt, but that Hubba seemed less troubled. Yet both looked long and sternly at us. "Tell us this tale of yours," said Ingvar at last; "and lie not." Now it seemed to me that it were well to get the worst over at once without beating about beforehand.
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