as the laugh subsided.

"Then I must keep my captive till you bring his price." And Yaspard
stuck to that, and urged his arguments so well that finally it was
agreed that he should hold Gloy till his friends produced the
stipulated ransom.

The prisoner did not seem very distressed. He had never been to Boden,
and he anticipated having a good time during his captivity. He took
for granted that his prison would be Noostigard, the home of his
cousins--so little did he understand the mind and method of a Viking
boy!

It is no part of my intention to tell you just now what those boys
arranged. They hugely enjoyed laying plans, and we shall hear
presently how these were carried out.

Before parting they engaged in a preliminary combat--we might be nearer
the right term for it if we called it a knightly joust.

Gloy and Pirate were not in the tournament, for Yaspard had said the
magic words "On guard" to his dog, and pointed out Gloy, who did not
from that moment dare to move from the spot. The wooden swords were
given to Bill and Gibbie; Tom and Lowrie had two huge broadswords which
had been rendered harmless by chopping sticks. The rival captains
chose two rapiers rusted to their sheaths.

It was a famous joust. The old iron clashed and sounded very terrible.
The young heroes fought valiantly. Presently Bill's wooden sword broke
in two, and he ought to have owned himself beaten, but he didn't. He
caught Gibbie in a true wrestler's grip, and soon they were rolling
together on the sandy seashore.

Tom very soon settled Lowrie by striking his mighty heavy weapon from
his hand; but this victory was of no account in the general action when
Harry's rapier went spinning over his head, and he went down on his
back before the vigorous fencing of Yaspard. He was on his feet,
however, in time to witness the final roll over of Bill and Gibbie.
They had reached the water's edge, and the incoming tide washed over
them, putting a most effectual stop to their wrestling-match. Choking
with sand, and wet with spray, they let go of each other and jumped to
their feet, panting, but happy, and declaring that "it wasn't a bad
round, that."

All agreed that the joust had ended in a draw between the two parties,
so--highly pleased with themselves and their new acquaintances--both
crews got into the boats, and were soon sailing in opposite directions
away from Havnholme.

When the _Osprey_ reached Boden, Yaspard ran her into