he would pass when he went back, hearing your horn. Then I
shot, and the arrow went true; but I drew sword, being mad, and
made more sure. That is all. Surely I thought I should escape, for
I told no man what I would do, and all men thought me far away,
with the king."

Then he stopped, and recovered his strength before he could go on.

"I hated Lodbrok because he had taken my place beside the king, and
because his woodcraft was greater than mine, though I was first in
that in all our land. And I feared that he would take the land the
king offered him, for I longed for it."

Then Beorn closed his eyes, and I was turning away, for I need ask
no more; but again he spoke:

"Blind was yon dotard Ulfkytel not to see all this; would that you
had slain me in the woods at first--or that he had hanged me at
Caistor--or that I had been drowned. But justice is done, and my
life is ended."

Those were the last words that I heard Beorn, the falconer, speak,
for I left him, and Raud gave him to drink again.

"Have you no more to ask?" said Ingvar gloomily, and frowning on
Beorn, as he lay helpless beyond the hearth.

"Nothing, Jarl."

"What was the last word he said. I heard not."

"He said that justice was done," I answered.

"When I have done with him, it shall be so," growled Ingvar, and
his hand clutched his sword hilt, so that I thought to see him slay
the man on the spot.

"Has he told you all?" I asked of Hubba.

"All, and more than you have told of yourself," he answered; "for
he told us that it was your hand saved my father, and for that we
thank you. But one thing more he said at first, and that was that
Eadmund the King set him on to slay the jarl."

On that I cried out that the good king loved Lodbrok too well, and
in any case would suffer no such cowardly dealings.

"So ran his after words; but that was his first story,
nevertheless."

"Then he lied, for you have just now heard him say that his own
evil thoughts bade him do the deed."

"Aye--maybe he lied at first; but we shall see," said Ingvar.

Now I understood not that saying, but if a man lies once, who shall
know where the lie's doings will stop? What came from this lie I
must tell, but now it seemed to have passed for naught.

"Now shall you slay the man in what way you will, as I have said.
There are weapons," and Ingvar pointed to the store on the walls.

"I will not touch him," I said, "and I think that he dies."

"Then shall you see