more quietly,--

"You are right. It was another Estein whom you saw before. Bear
with me, and go on."

He sat down on a bench as he spoke and gazed into the fire.

"The gods indeed have dealt heavily with thee," said Atli, "and it
is at their bidding that I called thee here."

"Spoke they with King Bue also?" said Estein, with a slight curl
of his lip, looking all the time at the fire.

"Nay; hear me out, Estein. I knew that King Hakon would send, ere
long, an avenging force to Jemtland."

"He was never the man to forgive an injury," he added, apparently
to himself.

"So, as thou knowest, I sent that token to thee. Then unquiet
rumours reached mine ears; for though I live apart from men here
in this forest, little passes in the country--ay, and in Norway
too--that comes not to Atli's knowledge. I learned of the plot to
treacherously entrap thy force, and though I have long lived out
of Norway my Norse blood boiled within me."

"Could you not have warned us sooner?" said Estein.

"Thorar kept his plans secret so long that it was too late to do
aught save what I have done. I sent Jomar to the feast, as thou