that stayed at the doorway itself, after coming across the garth, and
then a voice that was strange to him which bade him open. At once he
caught up his axe and went to the door, and asked quietly who was there.

"Open at once," said the man who was without; "we must speak with you."

"Go hence, I pray you, and wait for morning," said the sheriff. "Here
are guests of the jarl's, and they must not be disturbed."

"Open, or we will open for ourselves," was the answer. "We have no time
to stay here talking."

"That is no honest speech," quoth Biorn. "Go hence, or give me your
errand from without."

"Open, fool, or we will have the door down."

"There is an axe waiting for you if you do that. I rede you go hence in
peace, or it may be worse for you in the end."

I suppose it was in the mind of the sheriff that here were some friends
of his who had been overlong at the ale bench in the hall that evening;
but on this there was a little talk outside, and then the crash of a
great stone that was hurled against the door; and at that he started
back and got his mail shirt on him, for the door was strong enough to
stand many such blows yet. It seemed that there was more than a drunken
frolic on hand. Then came another stone against the door, and it shook;
and at the same moment Havelok came from his chamber to see what was
amiss, for the noise had waked him. He had thrown on the feasting gear
that he had been wearing; but he had neither mail nor helm, though he