They had now broken into a run, and the uproar sounded so loud
that they knew they must be close upon the town.

"Some one comes," exclaimed Helgi, and just as he spoke a man
dashed past them in the opposite direction, and throwing them only
a startled glance, disappeared among the trees behind. A minute
later two others ran by to one side, and a fourth stopped and
turned when he came upon them. All were Jemtlanders, and Jomar,
when he saw them, cursed aloud, while the Norsemen pressed the
more excitedly forward.

Thirty yards further and they were at the edge of the wood,
stopping at a spot not far from where the expedition first came
out upon the town. The great lake and the open country lay below
them, white still, but with all the sheen and sparkle off them,
and overhung now by a grey, wet-weather sky. But they took little
note of sky or snow-fields, for their eyes were enthralled by a
more stirring spectacle.

Over the little town rolled a dense and smoky canopy, and from
each doomed house the flames leapt and danced. All around it the
plain was alive with the signs and terrors of war they saw, black
against the snow, men flying over the open country, turning
sometimes for the woods, or sometimes sliding and running across
the frozen lake, the shouts of the pursuers came to them in a
confusion of uproar, and here and there out over the waste, and
more thickly near the town, the dead lay scattered. The battle was
at an end. Small parties of Norsemen were still driving the
vanquished Jemtlanders before them cutting them down as they fled;