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"By the hilt of my sword, he was an accomplished man who was able to make such pictures! Look at that horse, it does not keep you guessing a moment to tell what it is. And yonder man with the red flames leaping about him, I wish I knew why he was bound to that post!" Alwin also was bitten with curiosity. "I tell you what I will do," he offered.
When the last of them shouted his farewell to Sigurd and disappeared amid the shadows of the wood-path, Alwin arose and walked slowly back to the deserted camp. Even the sunset light had left it now; a soft grayness shut it in, away from the world. The air was full of night-noises; and high in the pines a breeze was whispering softly.
If he looks sharply at you, hide the jar with your arm and it is likely he will think that you have been stealing some food for yourself, and be too sleepy to care." Lord Alwin of Northumbria lost sight of the lounging figures about him, lost sight of Sigurd chasing the circling hound, lost sight of everything save the imperious young person before him.
Or cast yours aside, man to man." His voice broke with his passion and the violence of his heart-beats. But the mocking laughter that burst out died in a sudden hush. A moment before, Sigurd had concluded his pursuit of the thieving hound and rejoined the group, in time to gather something of what had passed. The instant Alwin ceased, he stepped out and placed himself at the young thrall's side.
When its owner had handed it up, he looked it through hastily, yet turning the leaves with reverence, and crossing himself whenever he encountered a pictured cross. As he handed it back, he turned his eyes on Alwin, blue and piercing as steel. "It is likely that you are a high-born captive. That you can read is an unusual accomplishment. It is not impossible that you might be useful to me.
The upper stone lay in fragments. Whereupon Alwin realized that it had all been a flourish to impress him. So, though unquestionably impressed, he refused to show it. A second time he was turning his back on them, when Helga stopped him. "You must bring something that I want, first. In the northeast corner of the provision shed, was it not, Sigurd?"
"I did not know it was you, Rolf Erlingsson," he hiccoughed over and over in maudlin terror. "I beg you not to be angry." "It is seldom that I have seen such a coward as that," Alwin said in disgust as they walked on. Rolf turned upon him his gentle smile. "It is your opinion, then, that a man must be a coward to fear me?"
This gave a turn to the affair that proved of special interest to Alwin. There is an old Norse proverb which prescribes "Lie for lie, laughter for laughter, gift for gift;" so, while he accepted these favors, Tyrker began to look around for some way to repay them. His gaze wandered over fabrics and furs and weapons, till it finally fell upon the slaves' bench.
By Peter, if it were not that the joke appears to lie wholly on my side, I could find it in my heart to punish the four of you without mercy, for no other crime than your opinion of my intelligence!" Alwin took a hesitating step forward. He had been standing where his first defiance had left him, a light of comprehension dawning in his face; and also a spark of resentment kindling in his eyes.
The sunlight, glancing from her silver helm, fell upon her floating hair and turned it into a golden glory that hid rents and stains, and redeemed even the kirtle, which stopped at the knee. As he helped the old man to mount, Alwin gazed at her with unwilling admiration. Perhaps some day he would show her that he was not so utterly contemptible as...
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