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They answered nothing, for all of them were in flight. Yes, even Leif fled, cursing me over his shoulder as he went. Presently I was alone with the dead Steinar and the shattered god, and in that loneliness strange visions came to me, for I felt that I had done a mighty deed, one that made me happy.

Steinar, Steinar, who could have dreamed that this would be the last of all our happy fellowship?" When I had spoken such words as these to him, I flung my arms about him, and we embraced each other. Then that picture fades. It was the hour of sacrifice.

Oh! surely not with my brother Steinar," I gasped, and staggered against the door-post, where I stood like one who has been struck helpless. Ragnar sprang at the messenger, and, dragging him from his horse, would have killed him had not some stayed his hand.

Seeing me, it loosed Steinar, whom I dragged away and cast behind me, but in the effort I slipped and fell forward. The bear smote at me, and its mighty forearm well for me that it was not its claws struck me upon the side of the head and sent me crashing into a tree-top to the left. Five paces I flew before my body touched the boughs, and there I lay quiet.

It is that he sailed for Lesso at the rising of the moon last night, there purposing to celebrate the marriage of his daughter, the lady Iduna, with Steinar, lord of Agger, and is therefore grieved that he and the lady Iduna cannot be present at your feast this day." Now, when I heard these words I felt as though a spear had been thrust through me. "Steinar!

Wake up, now, brother Olaf, and tell us: Is not the bear dead?" Then I answered, "Why, of course, a bear is dead; see its skull, also pieces of its hide?" "There!" exclaimed Ragnar. "Our family prophet has settled the matter. Let us go home." "Olaf said that a bear was dead," answered Steinar, hesitating.

Then it laid its head flat upon the snow and died. Ragnar looked at it and muttered: "Dead!" Then he walked to that top of the fallen tree in which I lay, and again muttered: "Dead! Well, Valhalla holds no braver man than Olaf the Skald." Next he went to Steinar and once again exclaimed, "Dead!" For so he looked, indeed, smothered in the blood of the bear and with his garments half torn off him.

I was about to answer sharply, since Ragnar stung me with his bitter talk of Steinar, of whom I knew him to be somewhat jealous, because he thought I loved my foster-brother more than I did him, my brother.

I forgive you, Steinar, if I have aught to forgive, and I tell you, so weary am I of this world, which I feel holds little that is good, that, if I might, I'd yield up my life instead of yours, and go to seek the others, though I doubt whether I should find them, since I think that our roads are different. Hark! the priests call me.

I pray Odin that this folly may not have cost you your lordship. Fortune is a wench who will not bear slighting." "I know it," answered Steinar, and there was something strange in his voice. "Believe me, I do not slight fortune; I follow her in my own fashion." "Then it is a mad fashion," grumbled my father, and walked away.