"Tell us this tale of yours," said Ingvar at last; "and lie not."

Now it seemed to me that it were well to get the worst over at once
without beating about beforehand. And now that the jarls knew that
Lodbrok was dead, the hardest was to tell them how he died, and why
I was here thus.

"Well loved I Lodbrok the Jarl, and well do I love Halfden his
son," I said. "Have patience with me while I tell all from the
first."

"Go on," said Ingvar, knitting his brows.

"Safely came Jarl Lodbrok to the English shores," I went on;
"steering his boat through the storm as I think no other man might.
And my father and I, lying at anchor for tide in our coasting ship,
took him from the breakers. Some of his craft taught he me, else
had I not been here today. So he bided with us until I went to sea,
and there I met Halfden, and went on a raid with him, coming back
from the South Saxon shores to wait at our place for his coming to
take Lodbrok home. But he came not last winter, and so we waited
till this spring should bring him. For my ship was lost, and no
other came."

"What!" said Ingvar; "he died not of stress of storm, but lived so
long! Then he has been slain!" and he half started from his seat in
rage.

But Hubba, though his teeth were set, drew him back.