stly heap with a shudder of loathing. "And we are not without guilt
who have permitted it. It is of no consequence what sort of a man he
was; he was a human being and of our kind,--and they were fiends. You
need not tell me that we could not help it," he added in fierce
forestalling. "Had he been Sigurd, we would have helped it or we would
both have lain like that."

Rolf shrugged his shoulders resignedly as they turned away. "Have it as
you choose," he assented. "At least you cannot deny that you were
helpless; let that console you. May the gallows take my body if you are
not the most thankless man ever I met! Here are you rid of your enemy,
and at the moment when he was most a hindrance to you, and not only do
you reap the reward of the deed, but you bear no dangerous
responsibility--"

He was checked by a glimpse of the face Alwin turned toward him. Pride
and loathing, passion and sternness, were all mingled in its expression.

The Saxon said slowly, "Heaven's mercy on the soul that reaps the reward
of this deed! Easier would it be to suffer these tortures a hundredfold
increased. Profit by such a deed, Rolf Erlingsson! Do you think that I
would live a life that sprang from such a death? To cleanse my hand from
the stain of such a murder, though the blood had but spattered on it, I
would hew it off at the wrist."

CHAPTER XXIX

THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG

He is happy
Who gets for himself
Praise and good-will.
Ha'vama'l

It was a picture of sylvan revelry that the sunset light reddened, as it
bade farewell to the Norse camp on the river bluff. On the green before
the huts, two of the fair-haired were striving against other in a
rousing tug-of-war. Now the hide was stretched motionless between them;
now it was drawn a foot to the right, amid a volley of jeers; and now it
was jerked back a foot to the left, with an answering chorus of cheers.
The chief sat under the spreading maple-tree, watching the sport
critically, with an occasional gesture of applause. Over the head of the
bear-cub she was fondling, Helga watched it also, with unseeing eyes.
Those who had come in from hunting and fishing sprawled at their ease on
the turf, and shouted jovial comments over their wine-cups.

They welcomed Rolf and the Norman with a shout, when the pair appeared
on the edge of the grove.

"Hail, comrades!"--"It was in our minds to give you up for lost!" "Your
coming we will take as an omen that