even a feast. What say you?"

"This snow work and marching call for feasting," replied Helgi,
with a laugh.

"Then Ketill shall stay here with the rest of our troop, and you
and I, with twenty more, will to the king. Forward, men!"

"Spare not the ale," added Ketill.

"A courteous and gallant man is Thorar, for a Jemtlander," said
Helgi to Ketill, as they marched down to the town.

"Dogs and women are his people," replied Ketill. "They are fit
neither to be friends nor enemies."

Estein liberated the prisoners they had taken on the march, and
leaving Ketill in charge of the main force and the hostages, he
and Helgi set forth about noon for the seat of King Bue.




CHAPTER X.

KING BUE'S FEAST.


Their way at first took them over a flat, white waste by the
shores of the lake. Estein fell back and let Helgi walk in front