e baton from
him. "Get thee gone, and use thy legs well. We must not do the King
the dishonour to appear before him without our weapons in these
unsettled times. Let the token be sent out north, south, east, and
west; and, harkee, lad, say nothing to anyone about the object of the
assembly."

Alric's countenance became grave, then it again relaxed into a broad
grin. Giving his brother an emphatic wink with one of his large blue
eyes, he darted past him, and was soon far up the glen, running with the
speed of a deer and waving the war-token over his head.

CHAPTER FOUR.

DESCRIBES WARLIKE PREPARATIONS, AND A NORSE HALL IN THE OLDEN TIME--
TELLS ALSO OF A SURPRISE.

Instead of returning to Ulfstede, Erling directed his steps homeward at
a brisk pace, and in a short space of time reached the door of his
forge. Here he met one of his father's thralls.

"Ho! fellow," said he, "is thy mistress at home?"

"Yes, master, she is in the hall getting supper ready against your
father's return."

"Go tell her there will be no men to eat supper in the hall to-night,"
said Erling, unfastening the door of the forge. "Say that I am in the
forge, and will presently be in to speak with her. Go also to Thorer,
and tell him to get the house-carles busked for war. When they are
ready let him come hither to me; and, harkee, use thine utmost speed;
there may be bloody work for us all to do this night before the birds
are on the wing. Away!"

The man turned and ran to the house, while Erling blew up the
smouldering fire of the forge. Throwing off his jerkin, he rolled up
his sleeves, and seizing the axe on which he had been engaged when Hilda
interrupted him, he wrought so vigorously at the stubborn metal with the
great forehammer that in the course of half an hour it was ready to fit
on the haft. There was a bundle of hafts in a corner of the workshop.
One of these, a tough thick one without knot or flaw, and about five
feet long, he fitted to the iron head with great neatness and skill.
The polishing of this formidable weapon he deferred to a period of
greater leisure. Having completed this piece of work, Erling next
turned to another corner of the forge and took up the huge two-handed
sword which he had made for his friend Glumm.

The weapon was beautifully executed, and being highly polished, the
blade glittered with a flashing light in the ruddy glare of the forge
fire. The young giant sat down on his anvil and