well-made tale.

And after that the matter was out of my hands, for the same chief who
had asked for the tale came and stood by my side, and he faced Hodulf
and spoke.

"For twelve years have I served you as king, and now I know that I have
wasted the faith I gave you. What became of the sisters of Havelok?
Answer me that, Hodulf, or I will go and ask their brother concerning
whom you have lied to me."

"Go and ask him," answered Hodulf, biting his lips; "go and hear more
lies. Who can know the son of Gunnar when he sees him?"

"That is answered out of your own mouth," said the chief. "Is Sigurd a
fool that he should hail the first man who asks him to do so?"

And from beside me Withelm answered also, "Maybe it is a pity that
Griffin of Wales was slain last night in trying to kill Havelok. He knew
him, and I have heard that he came here to warn Hodulf that his time was
come."

Hodulf's face grew whiter when he heard that; but it was what he needed,
as some sort of excuse to let loose his passion.

White and shaking with wrath and fear, he rose up and he cried,
"Murdered is Griffin! Ho, warriors, let not these go forth!"

Whereon the old chief lifted his voice also, "Ho, Gunnar's men! Ho, men
who love the old line! To Grim's son, ahoy!"

And he drew his sword, snapping the thongs that had bound it to the
sheath, so manfully tugged he at them in his wrath, and there was a rush
of men to us, and another to Hodulf.

Now I think that we might have slain him there, and after that have been
slain ourselves, for the odds were against us, even though I had the
courtmen; but that was Havelok's deed to do, for the sake of father and
sisters to be avenged, and so we only cut our way out of the hall to the
door, which my men threw open at once. There were two of Hodulf's men
hurt only, for the most of them had run to the high place, and few were
between us and our going. So we took five chiefs and their followers
back with us, and that was worth the errand.

We thought that it would not be long now before Hodulf was on us; but
the days passed, and there was no news of him, and all the while we grew
stronger. I do not know if the same could be said of him, and it is
doubtful if time made much difference to his forces. Those who followed
him were the men who owed all to him, either as men raised to some sort
of power when he first came, or else strangers whom he had brought in
with him. Some of the younger chiefs of the