he me, else
had I not been here today. So he bided with us until I went to sea,
and there I met Halfden, and went on a raid with him, coming back
from the South Saxon shores to wait at our place for his coming to
take Lodbrok home. But he came not last winter, and so we waited
till this spring should bring him. For my ship was lost, and no
other came."

"What!" said Ingvar; "he died not of stress of storm, but lived so
long! Then he has been slain!" and he half started from his seat in
rage.

But Hubba, though his teeth were set, drew him back.

"Hear all," he said.

I went on without bidding, not seeming to note these things.

"The jarl and I hunted together, and the chance of the day parted
us, and he was slain; nor can I say by whom. But this man and I,
being found with his body, were accused of the deed. And because
there was no proof, our great earl, who loves even-handed justice,
would have us cast adrift, even as was Lodbrok; that the guilty
might suffer, and the innocent escape."

Then Ingvar rose up, white and shaking with wrath, and drew out his
sword. Whereon Beorn yelled and fell on the floor, grovelling with
uplifted hands and crying for mercy.

But the great jarl paid no heed to him, and hove up the sword with
both hands over my head, saying in a hoarse voice:

"Say that you lie--he is not dead--or you slew him!"

Now I think the long struggle with the sea, or my full trust in the
earl's words, or both, had taken away my fear of death, for I spoke
without moving, though the great blade seemed about to fall, and
the fierce Dane's eyes glared on mine.

"It were easy for me to have lied; I would that I did lie, for then
Lodbrok would be living, and I beside him, waiting for Halfden my
friend even yet."

"Odin!" shouted Ingvar; "you speak truth. Woe is me for my father,
and woe to the land that has given him a grave thus foully."

With that he let his sword fall, and his passion having gone, he
sat down and put his face in his hands, and wept tears of grief and
rage. And I, as I watched him, was fain to weep also, for my
thoughts were akin to his.

Now Hubba had sat very still, watching all this, and he kept his
feelings better than did his fierce brother, though I might well
see that he was moved as deeply. But now he spurned Beorn with his
foot, bidding him get up and speak also. But Beorn only grovelled
the more, and Hubba spurned him again, turning to me.

"I believe you speak truth,"