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Updated: June 23, 2025
While a rustling green curtain still hid the tragedy, the rescuers learned the nature of their companion's peril; for suddenly, above the cries for help and the crash of trampled brush, there rose the roar of an infuriated bear. Alwin's heart leaped in his breast, and his nostrils widened with such a fierce joy as won him the undying respect of the sportsmen around him.
A widening circle of red stained the shoulder of Alwin's white tunic. The thrall's lips set in a harder line; his blows became more furious, as if pain and despair gave him an added strength. Heaving his sword high in the air, he brought it down with mighty force on Egil's blade. The next instant the Black One held a useless weapon, broken within a finger of the hilt.
Even while they shivered and nodded beneath it, a pair of gray Saxon eyes were sending keen glances through it, searching every corner. As the eyes turned back to the outer darkness, Alwin's voice whispered with a long breath of relief: "I am certain they have not noticed that we have gone out." From the darkness, Sigurd's voice interrupted softly: "Is Kark there?"
So evenly were they matched, that from a little distance it looked as if they were braced motionless. Their heels ground deep into the soft sod. Their breath began to come in labored gasps. It could not last much longer; already the great drops stood on Alwin's forehead. Only a spurt of fury could save him. Suddenly, in changing his hold, Egil grasped the other's wounded shoulder.
Alwin's relief was so great that at first he dared not believe it. When the truth of it dawned upon him, he was overcome with wonder and admiration. In those days, nine men out of every ten could draw their swords and rave and die for their principles; it was only the tenth man that was strong enough to keep his hand off his weapon, or control his tongue and live to serve his cause.
Alwin's excitement bore down her caution. "I have guessed the riddle of what my service is to be, or, to tell it truthfully, luck has guessed it for me, owl that I am! Here has it " But Helga's hand fell softly over his mouth. "Dumb as well as blind shall you be, till I have finished! Already I have stayed out long enough to excite suspicion.
"I say nothing against the Englishman's courage or his skill; yet I will not conceal it even in payment for a comrade's life, I do not like to give my friendship to one of thrall-birth." That loosened Alwin's tongue. "In my own country," he said haughtily, "you would be done honor by a look from me.
It was well that he had reached the end, for he could not have spoken another syllable. Bewilderment tied Alwin's tongue. Sigurd was the first to speak. "That seems to me a fair offer; and half the condition is already fulfilled. I clasped his hand last night." Rolf answered with less promptness.
Alwin's momentary surprise was forgotten at sight of the treasure thus disclosed. Beneath the cloak, thrown down like a thing of little value, lay an open book. It was written in Anglo-Saxon letters of gold and silver; its crumpled pages were of rarest rose-tinted vellum; its covers, sheets of polished wood gold-embossed and adorned with golden clasps.
He unbuckled his own gold-mounted weapon and forced it into Alwin's hands, then turned authoritatively to the Wrestler: "Rolf, if you count yourself my friend, lend me your sword." It was yielded him silently; and they stepped out face to face, the young noble and the young thrall. But before their steel had more than clashed, Egil came between and knocked up their blades with his own.
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