u in safety, my most beloved daughter!"

Chapter III. Where War-dogs Kennel

Openly I now speak
Because I both sexes know:
Unstable are men's minds toward women;
'T is when we speak most fair,
When we most falsely think:
That deceives even the cautious.
Ha'vama'l.

This morning there were few travellers upon the Street. South of the
highway the land was held by English farmers, who would naturally remain
under cover while a Danish host was in the neighborhood; while north
of the great dividing line lay Danish freeholds whose masters might be
equally likely to see the prudence of being in their watch-towers when
the English allies were passing. Barred across by the shadows of its
mighty trees, the great road stretched away mile after mile in cool
emptiness. At rare intervals, a mounted messenger clattered over the
stones, his hand upon his weapon, his eyes rolling sharply in a keen
watch of the thicket on either side. Still more rarely, foraging parties
swept through the morning stillness, lowing cows pricked to a sharp
trot before them, and squawking fowls slung over their broad shoulders.
Captured pigs gave back squeal for squawk, and the voices of the riders
rose in uproarious laughter until the very echoes revolted and cast back
the hideous din.

The approach of the first of these bands caused Randalin's heart to leap
and sink under her brave green tunic. For all that she could tell from
their dress, they might as well be English as Danish. If her disguise
should fail! As they bore down upon her, she drew her horse to the
extreme edge of the road and turned upon them a pale defiant face.

On they came. When they caught sight of a sprig of a boy drawn up beside
the way with his hand resting sternly on his knife, they sent up a shout
of boisterous merriment. The blood roared so loudly in Randalin's ears
that she could not understand what they said. She jerked her horse's
head toward the trees and drove her spur deep into his side. Only as he
leaped forward and they swept past her, shouting, did the words reach
home.

"Look at the warrior, comrades!" "Hail, Berserker!" "Scamper, cub, or
your nurse will catch you!" "Tie some of your hair on your chin, little
one!"

As the sound of hoof-beats died away, and the nag settled back to his
steady jog-trot, the girl unclenched her hands and drew a long breath.

"Though it seems a strange wonder that they should not know me for a
woman