rose between me and that door, waiting and
warming my hands quietly, and as unconcernedly to all seeing as I could.

"Ho, friend," said the man, so suddenly that he made me start; "look at
your sword hilt before the thane comes," and he pointed and grinned.

Sure enough, my sword hilt was not fastened to the sheath as it should
be in a peaceful hall, but the thong hung loose, as if ready for me to
thrust wrist through before drawing the blade. So I grinned back,
without a word, lest Matelgar should hear my voice and know it, and
began to pretend to knot the thong round the scabbard. All the same, I
was not going to fasten it so that I could not draw if need were, and
only kept on plaiting and twisting.

Then I heard Matelgar's voice and footstep, and I desisted, and, taking
the arrow from my belt, stood up and ready.

He came in, looking round, but not seeing me at first through the blue
smoke, for as I knew he would, he entered by the door through which my
guide had gone just now. So I waited till he stood with his hand on his
chair, while the old warrior came down towards me.

Then I strode forward boldly up to the foot of the dais, and looking
steadily a Matelgar, cast the arrow at his feet, saying:

"In the king's name. The levy is at Bridgwater Cross. In all haste."

He threw up his hands as one too terrified to draw sword--who would
ward off some sudden terror--giving back a pace or two, and staring at
me with wild eyes. His face grew white as milk, and drawn, and his
breath went in between his teeth with a long hissing sound. But he spoke
no word, and as he stood there, I turned and walked out into the
courtyard and to the gate, going steadily and without looking round,
like a man who has nothing either to keep or hurry him.

Three grooms, whom I knew, stood with an unbridled horse on one side,
but they were busy and minded me not till I was just at the gate.

Then one said to the other, "Yonder goes Heregar, as I live!"

Then there came a cry like a howl of rage from the hall, but no word of
command as yet, nor did either housecarle come out that I could hear.

Then I was at the gate, and as I passed it, turning sharp to the right,
for that was the nearest way to the woods, I heard one running across
the court.

When I heard that, instead of keeping straight on, I doubled quickly
round the angle of the palisade. By the time I had turned it the man may
have been at the gate, and would think me vanish