fall some word of wonder; and the young leader took two great steps
towards me, with his face flushing and his eyes lit up with a new
look.

Then he stopped, and his face changed, growing white and angry, and
his teeth closed tightly as he looked at me. Then he said:

"Now if you are making a tale to save your skins, worse shall it be
for you. What know you of Lodbrok?"

I held out my hand, on which the jarl's ring shone white against
the sea-browned skin.

"Here is a token he gave me before I sailed, that some friend of
his might know it and speak to me," I said.

The viking dropped his axe on the deck and seized my hand, gazing
at the ring and the runes graven thereon.

"Lives he yet?" he said, breathless.

"Aye, Halfden Lodbroksson, your father lives and is well in our
house," I answered; for now I knew that this was surely the
youngest of those three sons of whom the jarl had told me so often.

Now at that word the Danes broke into a great cheer, but Halfden
laid his hands on my shoulders and kissed me on both cheeks, while
the tears of joy ran down his face.

"Well must Lodbrok my father love you if he has told you so much