through his mind, like a prospect shown by a flash of lightning, a
sharp memory of the hermit Andreas. Instinctively he drew back,
but the first words spoken dispelled the thought.

"I have waited for thee, Estein."

"Atli!" he exclaimed.

"Ay," said the old man. "I see thou knewest not where thy way
would lead thee. But enter, Estein, if indeed after a king's feast
thou wilt deign to receive my welcome."

He added the last words with a touch of irony that hardly tended
to propitiate his guest.

"I have to thank you, methinks," replied Estein, as he entered,
"for bringing me to that same banquet."

He found himself in a room that seemed to occupy most of the small
house. One half of it was covered with a wooden ceiling which
served as the floor of a loft, while for the rest of the way there
was nothing beneath the sloping rafters of the roof. A ladder
reached from the floor to the loft, and at one end, that nearest
the outer door, a fire of logs burned brightly.

All round the walls hung the skins of many bears and wolves, with
here and there a spear or a bow.

Atli left the other man to close the door, and followed Estein up
to the fire.