"Did he hear aught of the twenty good men who followed us to King
Bue's hall?"

It was Jomar himself who replied, though without turning over or
looking at the speaker.

"Would you have me save them, too, from their fate? I heard naught
of them, and wish only to hear of their deaths. Too many enemies
have I helped already."

Helgi was about to reply hotly, but Atli checked him with a
gesture, whispering,--

"Will not his deeds atone for his words?"

Low as he spoke, Jomar caught the words, and muttered loud enough
to be heard,--

"Would that my words might become my deeds."

Nothing about the mysterious old man had impressed Estein more
than his extraordinary influence over this strange disciple or
servant, for he seemed to be partly both; and that one who so
loathed and hated the Norsemen could be made to serve his enemies
at a word, seemed to point to a power beyond the ken of ordinary
man. Helgi, too, was evidently struck, for he looked askance from
one to the other, and then fell silent.

By sunrise next morning, the foster-brothers arranged to start for