SIGURD (with suppressed emotion). No, truly. Small tidings have I
had of Gunnar since we sailed from Iceland together. I have wandered
far and wide and served many outland kings, while Gunnar sat at home.
Hither we drive at day-dawn before the storm; I knew, indeed, that
Gunnar's homestead lay here in the north, but----

DAGNY (to ORNULF). So _that_ errand has brought thee hither?

ORNULF. That and no other. (To SIGURD.) Our meeting is the work
of the Mighty Ones above; they willed it so. Had I wished to find
thee, little knew I where to seek.

SIGURD (thoughtfully). True, true!--But concerning Gunnar--tell me,
Ornulf, art thou minded to go sharply to work, with all thy might, be
it for good or ill?

ORNULF. That must I. Listen, Sigurd, for thus it stands: Last
summer I rode to the Council where many honourable men were met.
When the Council-days were over, I sat in the hall and drank with
the men of my hundred, and the talk fell upon the carrying-away of
the women; scornful words they gave me, because I had let that wrong
rest unavenged. Then, in my wrath, I swore to sail to Norway, seek
out Gunnar, and crave reckoning or revenge, and never again to set
foot in Iceland till my claim was made good.

SIGURD. Ay, ay, since so it stands, I see well that if need be the
matter must be pressed home.

ORNULF. It must; but I shall not crave over much, and Gunnar has
the fame of an honourable man. Glad am I, too, that I set about this
quest; the time lay heavy on me in Iceland; out upon the blue waters
had I grown old and grey, and I longed to fare forth once again before
I----; well well--Bergthora, my good wife, was dead these many years;
my eldest sons sailed on viking-ventures summer by summer; and since
Thorolf was growing up----

DAGNY (gladly). Thorolf is with thee? Where is he?

ORNULF. On board the ship. (Points towards the background, to the
right.) Scarce shalt thou know the boy again, so stout and strong and
fair has he grown. He will be a mighty warrior, Sigurd; one day he
will equal thee.

DAGNY (smiling). I see it is now as ever; Thorolf stands nearest
thy heart.

ORNULF. He is the youngest, and like his mother; therefore it is.

SIGURD. But tell me--thy errand to Gunnar--thinkest thou to-day----?

ORNULF. Rather to-day than to-morrow. Fair amends will content me;
if Gunnar says me nay, then must he take what comes.

(KARE THE PEASANT enters hastily from the right; h