mighty noise. Has any man heard of Liot Skulison or Osmund
Hooknose before?"

"Ay," answered Ulf. "They call them the bairn-slayers, because
they show no mercy even to children."

"They will meet with other than bairns to-day," said Helgi.

Estein and Thorkel had been employed in binding the two vessels
together with grapnels. Then Estein turned to his men and said,--

"We are of one mind, are we not? We fight while we may, and then
let Odin do with us what he wills."

Without waiting for the shout of approval that followed his words,
he sprang to the bow, and raising his voice, cried,--

"We are ready for you, Liot and Osmund. When you get on board you
can take what you find here."

From another ship a man shouted,--

"Then you will fight, little Estein? Remember that we are called
the bairn-slayers."

Instantly Thorkel took up the challenge. Three beakers of ale had
made him in his happiest and most warlike mood, and his eyes
gleamed almost merrily as he answered,--

"I know you, Osmund the ugly, by that nose whereon men say you