to return to Ireland. I am in the same case with thyself--was
taken from my home in Jemteland, laboured as a thrall, wrought out my
freedom, and remained in Haldor's service, but have never wished to
return home."

"Didst thou leave a wife and children behind thee?" asked Kettle.

"Nay; I was carried away while very young."

"Is thy father alive, or thy mother?"

"No, they are both dead."

"Then I wonder not that ye have no desire to return home. My father and
mother are both alive--at least I have good reason to believe so--my
wife and children are waiting for me. Canst wonder, man, that I long to
behold once more the green hills of Ireland?"

"Nay, if that be so, I wonder not," replied Thorer.

"Come, Kettle, thou forgettest that we wait for the story about old
Guttorm Stoutheart," said Solve Klofe, arranging the corner of a sail so
as to protect his back from the sun.

"'Tis an old story now in Horlingdal," said Kettle; "but as thou hast
not been in this quarter for a long time, no doubt it is new to thee.
Thorer there knows it well; but I find that it bears telling more than
once. Well, it was, as I have said, two years past that Guttorm went
south to Valland on viking cruise. He called at Horlingdal in passing,
and got some of the dalesmen. Among others, I was allowed to go. He
and I got on very well together, and we were fortunate in getting much
booty. One day we came to a part of the coast where we saw a strong
castle of stone on the top of a hill a short way inland. We also saw
plenty of cattle on a plain near the sea, so Guttorm ordered his
longship to be steered for the shore, and we began to drive some of the
cattle down to the beach, intending to slaughter them there, as our
provisions were getting low. On seeing this, a party of men came out
from the castle and bade us begone. We told them to be easy in their
minds, for we only wanted a little food. We even went so far as to ask
it of them civilly, but the men were such surly fellows that they
refused to listen to reason, and attacked us at once. Of course we
drove them back into their castle, but in doing so we lost one or two of
our best men. This angered old Guttorm, who is not a quarrelsome man,
as ye know. He would have gone away peaceably enough if he had been let
alone to help himself to a few beasts; but his blood was set up by that
time, so he ordered all the men on shore, and we pitched our tents and
besieged the castle.