ld say with truth that I am glad to see thee, cousin," he
said, "but I fear me that thine errand to the King is not likely to end
in pleasant intercourse, if all be true that is reported of the folk in
Horlingdal."

"Thanks, kinsman, for the wish, if not for the welcome," replied the
youth, somewhat stiffly, as he dismounted; "but it matters little to me
whether our intercourse be pleasant or painful, so long as it is
profitable. The men of Horlingdal send a message to Harald Haarfager;
can my companion and I have speech with him?"

"I can manage that for thee, yet would I counsel delay, for the King is
not in a sweet mood to-night, and it may go ill with thee."

"I care not whether the King's mood be sweet or sour," replied Erling
sternly. "Whatever he may become in the future, Harald is not yet the
all-powerful king he would wish to be. The men of Horlingdal have held
a Thing, and Glumm and I have been deputed to see the King, convey to
him their sentiments, and ask his intentions."

A grim smile played on the jarl's fine features for a moment, as he
observed the blood mantling to the youth's forehead.

"No good will come to thee or thine, kinsman, by meeting the King with a
proud look. Be advised, Erling," he continued in a more confidential
tone; "it is easier to swim with the stream than against it--and wiser
too, when it is impossible to turn it. Thou hast heard, no doubt, of
Harald's doings in the north."

"I have heard," said Erling bitterly.

"Well, be he right or be he wrong, it were easier to make the Glommen
run up the fells than to alter the King's determination; and it seems to
me that it behoves every man who loves his country, and would spare
further bloodshed, to submit to what is inevitable."

"Every lover of his country deems bloodshed better than slavery," said
Erling, "because the death of a few is not so great an evil as the
slavery of all."

"Aye, when there is hope that good may come of dying," rejoined the
jarl, "but now there is no hope."

"That is yet to be proved," said the youth; and Glumm uttered one of
those emphatic grunts with which men of few words are wont to signify
their hearty assent to a proposition.

"Tut, kinsman," continued Rongvold, with a look of perplexity, "I don't
like the idea of seeing so goodly a youth end his days before his right
time. Let me assure thee that, if thou wilt join us and win over thy
friends in Horlingdal, a splendid career awaits thee,