ay bare
of covering, and on the white hand of Goldberga that was across it. And
on the one they saw the crimson bent-armed cross that was the mark of
the line whence he and his father had sprung, and on the other glowed
and flashed the blood-red stone of the ring of Eleyn the queen. And
round that circle of sunshine was light enough for the chiefs to see
those two noble faces, and they were content.

"Gunnar's son," said one old chief: "but were he only the son of Grim,
for those twain would I die."

So the warriors crept back to the hall silently as they had come; and
now they went out to their men and told them that all doubt had gone,
and along the road that led to Hodulf's town the jarl sent mounted men
to watch for his coming. And always fresh men were pouring in, and among
them went the chiefs who had seen Havelok, and told them the news.

Now it was not long before there was a gathering of all the chiefs in
the hall of Sigurd, that they might break their fast, and then they saw
Havelok as he led in the princess to meet them. He stood on the high
place in his arms, and a shout of greeting went up; and when it was
over, Sigurd asked him to tell all that had happened to him; and he did
that in as few words as might be, for he was no great speaker, though
what he did say was always to the point, and left little to be asked.

And when he had ended, there rose up a grey-headed old chief, and said,
"Give this warrior the horn of Gunnar, that we may hear him wind it. I
would not say that unless I were sure that he was the right man to have it."

Now I stood beside Havelok, and while Sigurd went from the hall to some
treasure chamber to get this that had been asked for, I said to him,
"Mind you the day when we met Ragnar. and a call came into your dream?
Wind that call now; for, if I am not wrong, it will be welcome to those
who knew your father."

"I mind the day but not the call. I have never remembered it since," he
said, and I was sorry.

Sigurd brought the horn, and it was a wondrous one, golden and heavy. It
seemed to be a hunting horn, not very long, and little curved, but from
end to end it was wrought with strange figures of men and beasts in
rings that ran round it.

"Have you seen this before?" asked Sigurd wistfully, and looking into
Havelok's face as he gave it into his hand.

One could feel that men waited his answer, and it came slowly.

"Ay, friend, I am sure that I have, but I cannot yet say wh