ou."

"Speak to this man," he said, pointing to one of the courtmen; for
they heard all I said, and he could not refuse to listen altogether
to what concerned his fellow chiefs. Then he rode past me, and the
men, save that one of whom he spoke, followed him.

Now I was angry as he, but kept that to myself, and waited till he
was out of hearing before I looked at the man who waited. And when
I did so, the man grinned at me, saying:

"Truly it is like old times to see you stand up thus to the
jarl--king, I mean. There is not a man in our host dare do it."

And lo! it was my friend Raud the forester. His beard was gone, and
he had a great half-healed scar across his jaw, so that I had not
known him even had I noticed any but Ingvar.

Then I was glad, for here was one whom I could trust, even if his
help was of little use.

"Glad am I to see you, Raud my friend, though it must be in this
way. Why is the jarl so angry?"

"Why, because the bishop has escaped us. We never saw so much as
his horse's tail. And if he be like the bishop we saw at Hedeby, I
am glad."

"Surely he is," I said. "But now I have come to offer ransom for
the king, and you must tell Guthrum and the other chiefs that it
would be paid very quickly if they will take it."

At that Raud shook his head.

"I will tell them, but it is of little use. There has been talk of
it before, but when we came into East Anglia Ingvar claimed the
king for himself, giving up all else."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because when he made Beorn speak, Beorn said that Eadmund the King
had set him on to slay Lodbrok. I heard the man confess it."

"But he left that story, telling the truth about himself," I said.

"Aye, so he did. But the tale has stuck in Ingvar's mind, and
naught will he hear but that he will have revenge on him."

"What will he do?" I said, looking after the Danish king, who went,
never turning in his saddle, with bowed shoulders as one who
ponders somewhat.

"How should I know?" answered Raud, carelessly. "Let us go on.
Maybe if you come with me we shall hear them speak together."

"Raud," I said, "if harm is done to the king, I shall surely fall
on some of you--and Ingvar first of all."

"Not on me with axe, I pray you," he answered laughing, and
twisting his head on one side. "I mind me of Rorik."

"Let us be going," I said, for I could not jest.

So we trotted after the party, and when we were near, Raud left me
and went to Ingvar's side, spe