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I wandered for long among the Finns, I dwelt with the Lapps, and learned the lore of those folks. Then I came to Jemtland, where cunning men were said to live." "Cunning!" exclaimed Estein furiously; "treacherous hounds call them." "Cunning, indeed, they are," said the old man, "but not wise. This Jomar here is held a spaeman by the people."
After looking for a moment in astonishment at their fallen guide, his would-be victim burst out laughing, and picking up the dagger, handed it back to him, saying, "I forgot, friend Jomar, that you were so nigh me. You owed me something, indeed, but try not to pay it like that again, for your own sake." The man took the dagger sullenly and answered, "I hope never more to see either of you.
So far he had been in that half-waking state when things produce a confused and almost monstrous impression, but suddenly his wits were startled into quickness. Among several voices that seemed to talk with Jomar, his ear all at once caught a woman's. Even the approach of an enemy could not have made him more alert.
I learned of the plot to treacherously entrap thy force, and though I have long lived out of Norway my Norse blood boiled within me." "Could you not have warned us sooner?" said Estein. "Thorar kept his plans secret so long that it was too late to do aught save what I have done. I sent Jomar to the feast, as thou knowest."
"With the melting of the snow I shall take to the sea again, and steer for the setting of the sun." The old seer laid his hand affectionately upon his shoulder. "There spoke the brother of Olaf," he said. "And now to sleep. In the morning I shall send Jomar to warn Ketill, so trouble not thyself further." "If I but knew Helgi's fate," Estein began. "Doubt not my words," said Atli.
With every step they took the distant sounds grew louder and the shouts of men, and even it seemed the clash of steel, could be distinguished. "The attack is made," cried Helgi. "Pray the gods they scatter not the dogs before we come up." Jomar heard him, and looked over his shoulder with a savage glance. "Sometimes dogs bite and rend," he said.
Like an infuriated animal Jomar turned upon him. "Whelp of a Norseman!" he cried, drawing his dagger and springing forward, "never more " As he spoke, Estein, who stood between them, had just time to throw out one foot and bring the Jemtlander flat on his face, his dagger flying from his hand.
"Assuredly," replied the old man; "I have never known him fail me, little though he may have liked the errand." "And what said Ketill? Had they been attacked? What news brought Jomar back?" "Let us wake the knave, and ask him," said Helgi; and suiting the action to the word, he drove one foot sufficiently hard into the sleeper's side to rouse him with a start. "What said friend Ketill?"
There he lay, and smiled to himself at the prospect below. The fire had been raked up to burn brightly, and Jomar, as before, lay fast asleep beside it; but between Helgi and the blaze stood the old seer and the hooded and cloaked form of a woman. Her face was hidden, but her back, the watcher thought, promised well.
All were Jemtlanders, and Jomar, when he saw them, cursed aloud, while the Norsemen pressed the more excitedly forward. Thirty yards further and they were at the edge of the wood, stopping at a spot not far from where the expedition first came out upon the town.
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