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"So Halfden bides in England. What meant he by his message?" "Why, Wulfric, if you cannot see I will not tell you." "What of Ingvar?" "Now, Wulfric," said Thormod, "if I did not know that you at least were not afraid of him, I should say that he was best left alone. But as neither you nor I fear him, let us go and see what may be done."
Then I asked the jarl how he called his sons, with a little honest envy in my heart that I could never hope to equal their skill in this matter of boat building, wherein I had been wont to take some pride of myself. "Three sons have I in Jutland, Wulfric, my friend, and they, when they hear my story, will hold you dear to them.
"No, Lord Earl," I said; "that were to confess guilt, which would be a lie." Then Beorn cried: "I pray you, Wulfric, let us pay and have done!" But I turned from him in loathing. "Ho, Master Falconer," said Ulfkytel, "the man is an outlander! To whom will you pay it? To Wulfric who saved his life?"
Now I thought I would try to sleep, for the darkness was very great, and just as I lay down in a corner the barring of the door was moved, and the door opened gently. "Do you sleep, Wulfric?" said Halfden's voice, speaking very low. "What is it, brother?" I asked in as low a voice, for I had not been a viking for naught.
Now Osritha came to herself, and saw me standing looking on her, for I feared that she was dead, and she stretched her hands to me, not regarding those around her in her joy and trouble. "Wulfric," she cried, "take me hence into some place of peace." I raised her very gently, holding her in my arms for a moment, but not daring to speak to her as yet.
Halfden was well pleased, and shouted: "Nay, Thormod; your turn to guard now; let Wulfric smite at you!" "No, by Thor, that will I not," he said; "he who taught to guard has doubtless taught to strike, and I would not have my head broken, even in play!" Now he sat down, and I said, mindful of Lodbrok's words: "It seems to me that I have been well taught by the jarl."
My father grasped the offered hand frankly, and, smiling a little, said: "Rather should you thank Wulfric, my son, here; for it was his line that reached you." "No fault that of yours," answered the Dane; and he turned to me with the same hearty greeting. "Now, friend Wulfric, I owe you my life, and therefore from this time forward my life is for yours, if need be.
Yet I thought he was silent beyond his wont. Presently he rose up and paced the deck for a little, and then came and sat down by me again. "I am restless, son Wulfric," he said, laughing softly; "and I know not why." "For the sake of supper," I answered, "for I am that also, and tide seems mighty slow therefore."
Then said Earl Ulfkytel: "Here is a matter that is not easy in itself, and I will not hide this, that the father of this Wulfric and I are unfriendly, and that Beorn has been a friend of mine, though no close one. Therefore is more need that I must be very careful that justice is not swayed by my knowledge and thoughts of the accused.
"Is Wulfric wounded then?" asked Ulfkytel. And I was not. "Whence then is Beorn's sword stained?" he asked. Then came my two thralls, and spoke to the truth of my story, as did one of the men who had stayed with them, for he too had seen the deer hanging where I had left it, nearly a mile away from where the fight was.
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