"Pray, therefore, that for it I may be forgiven hereafter," he
said, and that I promised him.

Then he spoke faintly, so that Hubba bade Raud give him strong
drink, and that brought his strength back a little.

"I took your arrows at Thetford, and I followed you to Reedham.
There I dogged you, day by day, in the woods--five days I went
through the woods as you hunted, and then you twain were far apart,
and my chance had come. Lodbrok reined up to listen, and I marked
where he would pass when he went back, hearing your horn. Then I
shot, and the arrow went true; but I drew sword, being mad, and
made more sure. That is all. Surely I thought I should escape, for
I told no man what I would do, and all men thought me far away,
with the king."

Then he stopped, and recovered his strength before he could go on.

"I hated Lodbrok because he had taken my place beside the king, and
because his woodcraft was greater than mine, though I was first in
that in all our land. And I feared that he would take the land the
king offered him, for I longed for it."

Then Beorn closed his eyes, and I was turning away, for I need ask
no more; but again he spoke:

"Blind was yon dotard Ulfkytel not to see all this; would that you
had slain me in the woods at first--or that he had hanged me at
Caistor--or that I had been drowned. But justice is done, and my