"I then will remember your face, and you--"

At that instant a door opened, and turning suddenly he saw Atli
come from behind a great bearskin that concealed the entrance to
his inner chamber. The old man's face grew dark with displeased
surprise, yet he hesitated for an instant, as if uncertain what to
do. Then he came up to the girl and said,--

"Thy chamber is ready for thee." To Helgi he added, "I would speak
with thee, Helgi."

The girl at once left the fire, and followed him back to the other
room. As she turned away, Helgi said,--

"Farewell, lady."

"Farewell," she answered frankly, with a smile, and went out with
Atli.

"A bold raid and a lucky one," said the Viking complacently to
himself. "A fairer face and brighter eyes I never saw before. Who
can she be? Like enough some lady come to hear the spaeman's
mystic jargon, and swallow potions or mutter spells at his
bidding. I am in two minds about turning wizard myself, if such
visitors be common. Methinks I could give her as wise a rede as
Atli. But it is strange how she came here; she is not of this
country, I'll be sworn."

His reflections were cut short by the entrance of Atli.