"Is it far to King Bue's hall?" he asked.

"The marshes are firm and frozen, and the snow lies nowhere very
deep. We should reach it by nightfall."

Helgi laughed, and said,--

"A flight of wild ducks passed overhead just now, and called to
mind their kinsmen cooked; their kinsmen cooked called to mind the
wherewithal to wash them down; and, in brief, I, for one, shall be
glad to meet King Bue."

"We have a saying that the king loves a guest who loves his
cheer," replied Thorar with a smile.

"Know you one of an old man," Estein asked, "and--but I forget it-
-something of a maiden too? I saw it somewhere written in Runes."

In obedience to an indefinable instinct, he had said nothing of
the token to Helgi, and his foster-brother looked at him in
surprise. The mention of the Runes brought no look of recognition
to Thorar's face. With his grave smile he answered,--

"There are many sayings concerning maids, and some concerning old
men; also, if I mistake not, one or two about young men and
maids."

"Spare Estein those last," cried Helgi lightly. "He thinks himself
old, and never gives maids a thought at all."