by the side of Halfden, his son, as these tokens may tell you. As
for the rest, that is for yourself alone, Jarl. For I have no good
tidings, as I fear."

"Who is this man, then, and why cries he thus in terror?"

"Beorn, falconer to Eadmund, King of the East Angles," I said.

But I would not answer at once to the other question, and Ingvar
seemed not to notice it.

Then there was silence while the great jarl sat on his horse very
still, and looked hard at me and at Beorn; but when the men would
have bound us he signed them back, letting Beorn go free. Whereupon
his knees gave way, and he sank down against the house wall, while
I leant against it and looked at the mighty Dane, somewhat dreading
what I had to tell him, but meaning to go through all plainly.

Now the ring of men closed round us, staring at us, but in silence,
save for the ringing of the horns that were blowing in the woods to
call Hubba from his sport. And Jarl Ingvar sat still, as if carved
in oak, and seemed to ponder, frowning heavily at us, though the
look in his eyes went past me as it were.

Glad was I when a horseman or two rode up and reined in alongside
Ingvar. I think that the foremost rider was the most goodly warrior
to look on that I had ever seen, and one might know well that he
was Lodbrok's son.

"Ho, brother!" he cried; "I thought you had harboured the greatest