derer;
whereupon Leif had sworn to mete the same justice to any man of his who
should slay a follower of Eric.

Slowly, as the blaring horns and trampling hoofs drew nearer, the three
rose to their feet. Only Alwin struck the ground a savage blow with the
bat he still held.

"By Saint George! it is unbearable that we should be forced to act in
such a foolish way! Has Leif less spirit than a wood-goat? I do not see
what he means by it."

"Nor I," echoed Sigurd.

"Nor I," growled Egil. "I believed he had some of Eric's temper in him."

"I do not see why, myself," Rolf admitted; "but I see something that
seems to me of greater importance, and that is how he looked when he
gave the order."

They followed him across the grassy enclosure, though they still
grumbled.

"Where shall we go?"

"The stable also is full of Eric's men."

"Before long we shall be shoved off the land altogether. We will have to
swim over to Biorn's dwarf-country."

"I propose that we go to the landing place," exclaimed Sigurd. "It may
be that the ship which Valbrand sighted this morning is nearly here."

"I say nothing against that," Rolf assented.

They wheeled promptly toward a gate. But at that moment, Alwin caught
sight of a blue-gowned figure watering linen in front of the
women's-house.

"Do you go on without me," he said, drawing back. "I will follow in a
moment."

Sigurd threw him a keen glance. "Is it your intention to do anything
exciting, like quarrelling with Thorhall as you did last night? Let me
stay and share it."

There was a little embarrassment in Alwin's laugh. "No such intention
have I. I wish to see the hunters ride in."

The hunters were an imposing sight, as they swept into the court, and
broke ranks with a cheer that brought heads to every door. White-robed
thralls ran among the champing horses, unsaddling them; scarlet-cloaked
sportsmen tumbled heaps of feathered slain out of their game-bags upon
the grass; horns brayed, and hounds bayed and struggled in the leash.
But Alwin forgot to notice it, he was hurrying so eagerly to where
Helga, Gilli's daughter, walked between her strips of bleaching linen,
sprinkling them with water from a bronze pan with a little broom of
twigs.

The outline of her face was sharper and the roses glowed more faintly in
her cheeks, but she welcomed him with her beautiful frank smile.

"I was hoping some of you would think it worth while to come over here.
It is a great relief