(d) With good wind they make Grassless Land, go ashore, find a huge,
rocky cavern, strike a flint to kindle a fire at the entrance as a
safeguard against demons, and a torch to light them as they explored the
cavern.

(e) First appears iron seats set amid crawling snakes.

(f) Next is sluggish water flowing over sand.

(g) Last a steep, sloping cavern is reached, in a chamber of which lay
Outgarth-Loke chained, huge and foul.

(h) Thorkill plucks a hair of his beard "as big as a cornel-wood spear."
The stench that arose was fearful; the demens and snakes fell upon the
invaders at once; only Thorkill and five of the crew, who had sheltered
themselves with hides against the virulent poison the demons and snakes
cast, which would take a head off at the neck if it fell upon it, got
back to their ship.

(i) By vow to the "God that made the world", and offerings, a good
voyage was made back, and Germany reached, where Thorkill became a
Christian. Only two of his men survived the effects of the poison and
stench, and he himself was scarred and spoilt in the face.

(k) When he reached the king, Guthrum would not listen to his tale,
because it was prophesied to him that he would die suddenly if he heard
it; nay, he even sent men to smite him as he lay in bed, but, by the
device of laying a log in his place, he escaped, and going to the king
as he sat at meat, reproached him for his treachery.