there was a plain
steel helmet, but he wore no "serk", or shirt of mail (hence the name of
berserk, or bare of serk), and he was, like the rest of his comrades,
noted for being capable of working himself up into such a fury of
madness while in action, that few people of ordinary powers could stand
before his terrible onset. He was called Hake, the berserk of Hadeland,
and was comparatively short in stature, but looked shorter than he
really was, in consequence of the unnatural breadth and bulk of his
chest and shoulders. Hake led Erling out to the door of the house,
where they found Glumm waiting with two horses ready for the road.

"Thou art sharp this morning, Glumm."

"Better to be too sharp than too blunt," replied his friend. "It seemed
to me that whatever should be the result of the talk with the King
to-day, it were well to be ready for the road in good time. What is
yonder big-shouldered fellow doing?"

"Hush, Glumm," said Erling, with a smile, "thou must be respectful if
thou wouldst keep thy head on thy shoulders. That is Hake of Hadeland,
King Harald's famous berserk. He is to conduct us past the guards. I
only hope he may not have been commissioned to cut off our heads on the
way. But I think that perchance you and I might manage him together, if
our courage did not fail us!"

Glumm replied with that expression of contempt which is usually styled
turning up one's nose, and Erling laughed as he mounted his horse and
rode off at the heels of the berserk. He had good reason to look grave,
however, as he found out a few moments later. Just as they were about
to enter the forest, a voice was heard shouting behind, and Jarl
Rongvold was seen running after them.

"Ho! stay, kinsman, go not away without bidding us farewell. A safe and
speedy journey, lad, and give my good wishes to the old folk at
Haldorstede. Say that I trust things may yet be happily arranged
between the men of Horlingdal and the King."

As he spoke the jarl managed to move so that Erling's horse came between
him and the berserk; then he said quickly, in a low but earnest whisper:

"The King means to play thee false, Erling. I cannot explain, but do
thou be sure to take _the road by the fells_, and let not the berserk
know. Thy life depends on it. I am ordered to send this berserk with a
troop of nineteen men to waylay thee. They are to go _by the forest
road_.--There, thou canst not doubt my friendship for thee, for now my