fight to-day! Among them thine own goodman,
Dame Astrid, and his house-carles; for if no one is left at Ulfstede
there can be no supper there for them; and as the poor lads are likely
to be well worn out, we must have something wherewith to cheer them."

"But what if ill luck betide us?" suggested Astrid.

"Ill luck never betides us," replied Herfrida, with an expression of
bland assurance on her handsome face. "Besides, if it does, we shall be
none the worse for having done our part."

"_Some_ people are always forecasting evil," muttered Ingeborg, with a
sour look, as she kneaded viciously a lump of dough which was destined
to form cakes.

"And some other people are always forecasting good," retorted Ada, with
a smile, "so that things are pretty well balanced after all. Come now,
Ingeborg, don't be cross, but leave the dough, and let us go to thy
room, for I want to have a little gossip with thee alone."

Ingeborg was fond of Ada, and particularly fond of a little gossip,
either public or private. She condescended, therefore, to smile, as it
were under protest, and, rubbing the dough from her fingers, accompanied
her friend to her chamber, while the others broke into several groups,
and chatted more or less energetically as they worked, or idled about
the house.

"Is there any fear of our men losing the day?" asked Hilda of the
hermit, who stood looking out of a window which commanded a view of the
fiord, where the ships of the opposing fleets could be seen engaged in
the battle, that had just begun.

Poor Hilda asked the question with a look of perplexity in her face; for
hitherto she had been so much accustomed to success attending the
expeditions of her warlike father and friends, that she had never given
much thought to the idea of defeat and its consequences.

"It is not easy to answer that question," replied the hermit; "for the
success or failure of thy father's host depends on many things with
which I am not acquainted. If the forces on both sides are about equal
in numbers, the chances are in his favour; for he is a mighty man of
valour, as well as his son, and also thy father. Besides, there are
many of his men who are not far behind them in strength and courage; but
they may be greatly outnumbered. If so, defeat is possible. I would
say it is probable, did I not know that the Ruler of events can, if He
will, give victory to the weak and disaster to the strong. Thy father
deems his cause a