turned again to close the door, and offer excuse for so fierce a
greeting. Then she lowered her arm, slung the axe in its place at
her waist, loosened the furs about her face, and shook over her
shoulders the long white robe--all as it were with the sway of one
movement.

She was a maiden, tall and very fair. The fashion of her dress was
strange, half masculine, yet not unwomanly. A fine fur tunic,
reaching but little below the knee, was all the skirt she wore;
below were the cross-bound shoes and leggings that a hunter wears.
A white fur cap was set low upon the brows, and from its edge
strips of fur fell lappet-wise about her shoulders; two of these
at her entrance had been drawn forward and crossed about her
throat, but now, loosened and thrust back, left unhidden long
plaits of fair hair that lay forward on shoulder and breast, down
to the ivory-studded girdle where the axe gleamed.

Sweyn and his mother led the stranger to the hearth without
question or sign of curiosity, till she voluntarily told her tale
of a long journey to distant kindred, a promised guide unmet, and
signals and landmarks mistaken.

"Alone!" exclaimed Sweyn in astonishment. "Have you journeyed thus
far, a hundred leagues, alone?"

She answered "Yes" with a little smile.

"Over the hills and the wastes! Why, the folk there are savage and
wild as beasts."