her," he said, smiling.

At that I was glad, for how he would hold my being with the heathen
I somewhat doubted, and I told him so.

"Why, my son, I know not that you had much choice. And as for
fighting against outlanders--let me heft that axe of yours."

He took it, and it fell into his hands in a way that told me that
he, too, had been a stark fighting man at some time.

"Take it away, my son, take it away!" he cried, thrusting it back
on me; "I am not the man to blame you. And I know that much good
has come to us from your being with them. And from your talk about
martyrs I know that you have done no honour to their gods."

I said truly that the question had never come into my mind. For,
save as oath or war cry, the names of Thor and Odin were not heard.
They sacrificed on going to sea, and on return; and meanwhile cared
naught, so far as I knew, for none had questioned my faith.

He said it was well, and so talking we went on. And he said that, as
friend of his, none would question me, so that I should find all I
needed for my journey in the town. And when we came there--meeting
the sheriff's ill-armed levy on the way--we went to the house of a
great thane, and there were well and kindly received.

Yet once and again as I slept I dreamed and woke with the cry of
Rorik's men in my ears, and before me the bell seemed to flash
again as it crashed through the ship's side. And once I woke