ing, they yet lacked courage to assail him. In
this way Wermund satisfied the dull amazement of Ket, and declared
that he had set forth and expounded the true reasons of the king's safe
escape.

After this Athisl fled back to Sweden, still wantonly bragging of the
slaughter of Frowin, and constantly boasting the memory of his exploit
with prolix recital of his deeds; not that he bore calmly the shame of
his defeat, but that he might salve the wound of his recent flight by
the honours of his ancient victory. This naturally much angered Ket and
Wig, and they swore a vow to unite in avenging their father. Thinking
that they could hardly accomplish this in open war, they took an
equipment of lighter armament, and went to Sweden alone. Then, entering
a wood in which they had learnt by report that the king used to take his
walks unaccompanied, they hid their weapons. Then they talked long with
Athisl, giving themselves out as deserters; and when he asked them what
was their native country, they said they were men of Sleswik, and had
left their land "for manslaughter". The king thought that this statement
referred not to their vow to commit the crime, but to the guilt of some
crime already committed. For they desired by this deceit to foil his
inquisitiveness, so that the truthfulness of the statement might
baffle the wit of the questioner, and their true answer, being covertly
shadowed forth in a fiction, might inspire in him a belief that it was
false. For famous men of old thought lying a most shameful thing. Then
Athisl said he would like to know whom the Danes believed to be the
slayer of Frowin. Ket replied that there was a doubt as to who ought
to claim so illustrious a deed, especially as the general testimony was
that he had perished on the field of battle. Athisl answered that it was
idle to credit others with the death of Frowin, which he, and he alone,
had accomplished in mutual combat. Soon he asked whether Frowin had left
any children. Ket answering that two sons of his were alive, said that
he would be very glad to learn their age and stature. Ket replied that
they were almost of the same size as themselves in body, alike in years,
and much resembling them in tallness. Then Athisl said: "If the mind and
the valour of their sire were theirs, a bitter tempest would break upon
me." Then he asked whether those men constantly spoke of the slaying of
their father. Ket rejoined that it was idle to go on talking and talk