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Updated: June 28, 2025
In neither was there a sign of an inhabitant to be seen, and they seemed for all the world like dwellings of the dead. "This is passing strange," said Helgi. "Unless, perhaps, the Jemtlanders spend the winter in holes and caves, like the bears they resemble in all but courage." "The alarm has spread, I fear," answered Estein. "We must make the more haste." "Ay," said Ketill; "on, on!"
"Hostages," suggested Estein laconically. When this motley company had come within a hundred yards of them, they stopped, and their leader advanced alone. As he drew near to the Norsemen, Estein stepped out a pace or two to meet him, but they stood so close that Helgi and Ketill could hear all that passed.
The oars dipped and the boat crept slowly landwards. "You know the landing, Grim?" Grim, who sat at the tiller, merely nodded; and presently the bows grated on a strip of gravel beach. "The trolls take you!" muttered Ketill. "Could you not have told us to slacken speed? The dead could hear a landing like this." "'Tis all right yet, Ketill," whispered Estein. "We are too far from the hall."
Now, as for me, my will is rather to abide the same death that my kinsmen suffer, but I would not lead you by my wilfulness into so great a trouble, for I know the temper of my kinsmen and friends, that ye would not desert me, even though it would be some trial of manhood to follow me." Bjorn, the son of Ketill, answered: "I will make known my wishes at once.
He was at an early age both big and strong as he grew up; and as to growth of body, he was goodlier than any man, tall and broad-shouldered, slender of waist, with fine limbs and well-made hands and feet. Hrut was of all men the fairest of feature, and like what Thorstein, his mother's father, had been, or like Ketill Flatnose. And all things taken together, he was a man of the greatest mettle.
In the open market-place, round which most of the houses stood, they found Ketill, his armour dinted and smeared with blood, and his eyes gleaming with stern excitement. At last he had got his burning, and he was enjoying it to the full.
"Bring the spades!" cried Ketill "a fitting enough epitaph for Liot Skulison." His conqueror was already in Helgi's arms. "I thought I should have had to avenge you, Estein. My heart is light again." "Odin has answered me, Helgi." "And the spell is broken?" "No; that spell, I fear, will break only with my death-wound." Helgi laughed out of pure light-heartedness.
"You need ale, Estein," said his opponent; "a man going to fight should be gay." "It is more fitting," replied Helgi, "for the man who comes back to be cheerful." "Well said," said Ketill. Liot only laughed, and springing ashore before the boat had touched the rocks, cried, "I had little thought to have such a pleasant morning. We will finish what we began before, Estein."
Grim pressed the tiller hard down, and circling round the swimmers they were presently hauling them in on the sheltered side. Then the crowd on shore set off for their ships. Ketill, dripping with water, and bleeding from an arrow wound on the shoulder, watched them with a grim smile. "They will find their ships ready for sea," he said.
The four swimmers stoutly struck out for dear life, to a splashing accompaniment of darts and stones. "By the hammer of Thor! they will be struck as we take them on board," exclaimed Helgi. "Friend Ketill makes a generous mark." "Round them!" said Estein. "Get between them and the shore."
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