e way to Hedeby, where Ansgar the Bishop had built the
first church in all Denmark. But we won there at last and in
safety. And there Ansgar's folk received me well, and I parted from
my three comrades, not without grief, so that I asked them to take
service with us in England. Almost they consented, but Rolf and
Thoralf had wives and children, and Raud would by no means leave
his brother.

Now in a few days, a company of merchants went from Hedeby with
goods for England, and with them I went; and in no long time I came
into Ingild's house by London Bridge, and was once more at home as
the second week in May began.

CHAPTER XI. THE COMING OF INGVAR'S HOST.

Aught but joy did I look for in my homecoming, but it was all too
like that of Halfden, my friend.

No need to say how my kind godfather met me as one come back from
the dead, nor how I sent gifts back to Ansgar's people, who sorely
needed help in those days.

But very gently the old man told me that Elfric my father was dead,
passing suddenly but a month since, while by his side sat Ulfkytel
the Earl, blaming himself for his blindness and for his haste in
not waiting for the king's judgment, and yet bidding my father take
heart, for he had never known his ways of justice fail. And he
asked forgiveness also, for there had been a deadly feud concerning
this between him and my people, so that but for Eadmund the King
there would have been fighting. Yet when one told Ulfkytel that men
held that my father's heart broke at my loss, the great earl had
made haste to come and see him, and to say these things. So they
made peace at last.

When I knew this it seemed to me that I had lost all, and for long
I cared for nothing, going about listless, so that Ingild feared
that I too should grow sick and die. But I was young and strong,
and this could not last, and at length I grew reconciled to things
as they were, and Ingild would speak with me of all that I had seen
in Denmark.

Now when I told him what I feared of the coming of Ingvar's host he
grew grave, and asked many things about it.

"Ethelred the King is at Reading," he said; "let us go and speak to
him of this matter."

So we rode thither, and that ride through the pleasant Thames-side
country was good for me. And when we came to the great house where
the king lay, we had no trouble in finding the way to him, for
Ingild was well known, and one of the great Witan {xviii} also.

I told Ethelred the ki