t Ada's father, King Hakon, in his longship, to our
aid; perhaps he may be coming into the fiord even now while we are
talking. And--and, she said also that Rolf Ganger had left the King in
a huff, and perhaps we might look for help from him too. So methinks I
bring good news, don't I?"

"Good, aye, and stirring news, my boy," cried Erling striding onward at
such a pace that the carle with the fish was left behind, and Alric was
compelled to adopt an undignified trot in order to keep up with his huge
brother. "From this I see," continued Erling in a tone of deep
seriousness, "that the long-looked-for time is at last approaching.
This battle that must surely come will decide the fate of freemen. King
Harald Haarfager must now be crushed, or Norway shall be enslaved.
Alric, my boy, thou hast been styled Lightfoot. If ever thou didst
strive to merit that title, strive this night as ye have never striven
before, for there is urgent need that every friendly blade in the land
should assemble in the dale without delay. I will send thee forth with
the split arrow as soon as I have seen and spoken with my father.--Ha!
I see him coming. Go into the house, lad, and sup well and quickly, for
no sleep shall visit thine eyelids this night."

Alric's breast swelled with gratification at being spoken to thus
earnestly and made of such importance by his brother, whom he admired
and loved with an intensity of feeling that no words can convey.
Looking up in his face with sparkling eyes, he gave him a little nod.
Erling replied with another little nod and a sedate smile, and the boy,
turning away, dashed into the house, at which they had now arrived.

"Hast heard the news, Erling?" asked Haldor, as his son drew near.

"Aye, Alric has told it me."

"What thinkest thou?"

"That the game is about to be played out."

Haldor looked full in Erling's face, and his own noble countenance
glowed with an expression of majesty which cannot be described, and
which arose from the deep conviction that one of the most momentous eras
in his life had arrived--a period in which his own fate and that of all
he held most dear would in all probability be sealed. Death or victory,
he felt assured, were now the alternatives; and when he reflected on the
great power of the King, and the stern necessity there was for the
exertion of not only the utmost bravery, but the most consummate skill,
his whole being glowed with suppressed emotion, while his b