, "what ails thee?"

"Quick, come with me, all of ye! There is work for your swords at hand.
Lend me thy sword, Erling. It is the short one, and the axe will be
enough for thee."

The excited lad did not wait for permission, but snatched the sword from
his brother's side, and without further explanation, ran back towards
the cliffs, followed closely by the astonished men. He made straight
for the hole that led to the cave, and was about to leap into it when
Hauskuld stepped out and almost received him in his arms. Before the
berserk could plant his feet firmly on the turf, Alric heaved up his
brother's sword and brought it down on Hauskuld's head with right good
will. His arm, however, had not yet received power to cleave through a
steel helmet, but the blow was sufficient to give it such a dint that
its wearer tumbled back into the hole, and went rattling down the steep
descent heels over head into the cave. The boy leaped down after him,
but Hauskuld, although taken by surprise and partially stunned, had
vigour enough left to jump up and run down to the boat. His men, on
hearing the noise of his fall, had also rushed to the boat, and pushed
off. The berserk sprang into the water, and swam after them, just as
his pursuers reached the cave. Seeing this, his men being safe beyond
pursuit, lay on their oars and waited for him. But Hauskuld's career
had been run out. Either the fall had stunned him, or he was seized
with a fit, for he suddenly raised himself in the water, and, uttering a
cry that echoed fearfully in the roof of the cavern, he sank to the
bottom. Still his men waited a minute or two, but seeing that he did
not rise again, they pulled away.

"It is unlucky that they should have escaped thus," said Alric, "for
they go to tell King Harald what they have seen."

"Friends," said Erling, "I have a plan in my head to cheat the King. I
shall send Thorer round with my Swan to this cave, and here let it lie,
well armed and provisioned, during the battle that we shall have to
fight with Harald ere long. If ill luck should be ours, those of us who
survive will thus have a chance of escaping with the women."

"What need is there of that?" said Glumm; "we are sure to give him the
tooth-ache!"

"We are sure of nothing in this world," replied Erling, "save that the
sun will rise and set and the seasons will come and go. I shall do as I
have said, chiefly for the sake of the women, whom I should not lik