sleeper's side to rouse him with a start.

"What said friend Ketill?" Helgi went on, careless of the man's
ugly look; "sent he back any message?"

Jomar answered with a dark scowl, regarding him steadily for a
minute as if to make sure who he was, and then he snapped back
shortly,--

"He said he had lost a dog that answered to the name of Helgi, and
would be well pleased if the beast had died of the mange in the
wood," and without another word he rolled over and closed his eyes
again.

"'Dog!'" cried Helgi. "Hound, I will beat one dog as it deserves!"

In another instant the Jemtlander would have suffered for his
temerity, had not Atli seized the angry Norseman's arm,
exclaiming,--

"Peace, Helgi Sigvaldson! Wouldst thou strike my servant in mine
own house? The man loves not Norsemen, yet has he saved thy
foster-brother's life, and likely, too, those of Ketill and all
his company."

"Tell us, Atli," interposed Estein, "what he said on his return."

"Little he told even me," replied Atli, "save that he had seen
Ketill for the briefest possible space, and then returned
straightway home."