disappeared in the wood. "That is a man I am glad to see the last
of," said Helgi, as they started for the town. "It can only be by
black magic that Atli made him serve us."

"It is strange indeed," replied Estein, thoughtfully. "I have
noted before that a powerful mind has a strong influence on men of
less wisdom, yet like enough there is something more besides."

When they had come near enough to be recognized, a loud and joyful
shout went up from their men; one after another of the victors ran
out to meet them, and it was with quite a company at their back
that they entered the burning town. In the open market-place,
round which most of the houses stood, they found Ketill, his
armour dinted and smeared with blood, and his eyes gleaming with
stern excitement. At last he had got his burning, and he was
enjoying it to the full. A batch of captives had just been
pitilessly decapitated, their gory heads and trunks were strewn on
the crimson snow, and beside them lay five or six more, their legs
bound by ropes, awaiting their turn.

Inured though he was to spectacles of blood and carnage, Estein's
mind recoiled from such a scene of butchery as this, and he
replied to Ketill's shout of astonishment and welcome,--

"Right glad I am to see this victory, Ketill, and gallantly you
must have fought, but when has it become our custom to slay our
prisoners?"

"Ay," answered Helgi, "we could well have missed this part."