used in that part of the country. When I entered I found
the nephew standing by the side of the coffin, and the old Sea-king
himself sitting on the foot of it.

"`Thou art not quite dead yet?' says I, looking hard in his face.

"`Not yet,' says he, `and I don't expect to be for some time.'

"`Are we to put you into the coffin?' I asked.

"`Yes,' says he, `and see that my good axe lies ready to my hand. Put
thy sword on my left side, nephew, that thou mayst catch it readily.
They bury me in consecrated ground to-day, Kettle; and thou, being one
of my nearest of kin, must attend me to the grave! Thou must go unarmed
too, but that matters little, for thy sword can be placed on the top of
my coffin, along with thy shield, to do duty as the weapons of the dead.
When to use them I leave to thy well-known discretion. Dost
understand?'

"`Your speech is not difficult for the understanding to take in,' says
I.

"`Ha! especially the understanding of an Irishman,' says he, with a
smile. `Well, help me to get into this box, and see that thou dost not
run it carelessly against gate-posts; for it is not made to be roughly
handled!'

"With that old Guttorm lay back in the coffin, and we packed in the
nephew's sword and shield with him, and his own axe and shield at his
right side. Then we fastened down the lid, and two men were called to
assist us in carrying it to the appointed place.

"As we walked slowly forward I saw that our men were drawn up in a line
at some distance from the castle wall, with their heads hanging down, as
if they were in deep grief,--and so they were, for only a _few_ were
aware of what was going to be done; yet all were armed, and ready for
instant action. The appointed spot being reached, we put the coffin on
the ground, and ordered the two men, who were armed, to retire.

"`But don't go far away, lads,' says I; `for we have work for ye to do.'

"They went back only fifty ells or so, and then turned to look on.

"At the same time the gate of the castle opened, and twelve priests came
out dressed in long black robes, and carrying a cross before them. One
of them, who understood the Norse language, said, as they came forward--

"`What meaneth the sword and shield?'

"I told him that it was our custom to bury a warrior's arms along with
him. He seemed inclined to object to this at first, but thinking better
of it, he ordered four of his men to take up the coffin, which they did,
shoulder