, for certain," he said; "but there is no need to show it
in that wise."

So he strode after him.

"By your leave, earl, I will arrange your cloak across the shield, and
then you can get it to your armourer without notice."

"That is well thought of," answered Ragnar, as Havelok did as he had
said. "I do not forget that I think that I owe you my life, though I
have said nothing as yet."

"How is that?"

"Griffin would have flown on me as he did on you, certainly; and it is
in my mind that you foresaw it, which I did not. I could not have stayed
him."

"Well I did," answered my brother; "else had either I or you a hole in
us like the one that is well covered now. But I feared what came to pass."

Ragnar held out his hand, and Havelok took it, and so they parted
without more words; but I knew that these two were friends from that
time forward, whatever happened.

There were some sports of some sort on hand, when we came to see what
all the noise was; and Berthun, seeing us, called Havelok to him.

"I have been looking for you," he said, with that curious tone of his
that always seemed to be asking pardon for his boldness in speaking to
my brother; "for here are games at which they need some one to show the
way."

"This is a sport that I have not seen before," answered Havelok, looking
over the heads of the crowd. "I should make a poor hand at it."

They had been tossing a great fir pole, which was now laid on one side,
with its top split from its falls, and they, thanes and freemen in turn,
were putting a great stone, so heavy that a matter of a few inches
beyond the longest cast yet made would be something to be proud of. Good
sport enough it was to see the brawny housecarls heave it from the
ground and swing it. But no one could lift it above his knee, so that
one may suppose that it flew no great distance at a cast.

"Nay, but the thanes are trying," Berthun said. "It is open to all to do
what they can. One of your porters is best man so far."

"Well, I will not try to outdo him."

"I would that you would lift the stone, Curan. That is a thing that I
should most like to see."

"Well then, master, as you bid me, I will try. But do not expect too much."

The man who had the stone made his cast, which was nothing to speak of;
and then the stone lay unclaimed for a time, while all the onlookers
waited to see who came forward next. Then Havelok made his way through
the crowd, and a silence as of wonder f