a. "This Wulfric
was the man who took Father from the breakers."

Then the maiden smiled at me, though her eyes were full of tears,
and she asked me:

"How will they bury him in your land? In honour?"

"I have a brother-in-law who will see to that," I said. "And,
moreover, Eadmund the King, and Elfric, my father, will do him all
honour."

"I will see to that," growled Ingvar, turning sharply from where he
sought another weapon on the wall.

Not knowing all he meant, this pleased me, for I thought that we
should sail together to Reedham for this, before very long. But
Osritha, knowing his ways, looked long at him, till he turned away
again, and would not meet her eyes.

"Now go back to your place, my sister," he said. "It is not well
for you to bide here just now."

"Why not? Let our friend tell me of Father also," she said
wilfully.

"Because I am going to do justice on Lodbrok's slayer," said
Ingvar, in a great voice, swinging an axe again.

Then the maiden turned pale, and wrung her hands, looking at
Ingvar, who would not meet her eyes; and then she went and laid her
hands on his mighty arm, crying:

"Not that, my brother; not that!"

"Why not?" he asked; but he did not shake off her little hands.

"Because Father would not have men so treated, however ill they had
done."

"Aye, brother; the girl is right," said Hubba. "Let him die; for
you gave him to Wulfric, and that is his word."

"Well then," said Ingvar, setting back the axe at last, "I will not
carve him into the eagle I meant to make of him. But slay him I
must and will, if the life is yet in him."

"Let Odin have him," said Hubba; and I knew that he meant that the
man should be hanged, for so, as Halfden's vikings told me, should
he be Odin's thrall, unhonoured.

Then the maiden fled from the hall, glad to have gained even that
for the man, instead of the terrible death that the Danes keep for
traitors and cowards.

Now Ingvar put back the axes he had kept, saying that the girl ever
stood in his way when he would punish as a man deserved. After that
he stood for a while as if in thought, and broke out at length:

"We will see if this man can sing a death song as did Ragnar our
forefather."

And with that he waited no more, but strode out into the courtyard,
we following. And I feared what I should see; until I looked on
Beorn, and though he was yet alive, I saw that he was past feeling
aught.

They bore him out of the village to