"Young heads need sleep," replied the old man. "There was no need
to rise before, or I should have roused thee. Jomar has been gone
since daybreak, and till he returns thou canst do naught."

"Naught?" said Estein. "Have I not got my foster-brother to seek
for? Give me but a meal to carry me till nightfall and I will
away."

At first the old man endeavoured to dissuade him, but finding he
was obdurate, he finally gave him a cap and coat of wolf-skin to
be worn over his mail lest he should be seen by any natives, a
good bow and arrows, and copious but perplexing directions
regarding the forest paths. As he sallied forth, and followed the
track by which he had come the night before, his plans were vague
enough. To make for King Bue's hall, and, taking advantage of the
woods that covered all the country, spy out what might be seen,
was the hazardous scheme he proposed. Perhaps, he thought, Helgi
might be wandering the country too, and if fate was kind they
might meet. In any case he could not rest in his state of
uncertainty, and he pushed boldly on. He smiled as he glanced at
his garb: the long wolf-skin coat reached almost to his knees,
over his legs he had drawn thick-knitted hose to keep out the
cold, his helmet was hidden by the furry cap, and the only part of
his original equipment to be seen were the sword girt round his
waist and the long shield that hung upon his back. He had been in
two minds about taking this last, but ere the day was done he had
reason to congratulate himself that it was with him.

Before long he struck the open glade they had gone down by