th but for better
reasons than those of gain, however longed for. For that is what he
had answered Eadmund the king when the land was offered him, and he
was asked to become a Christian.

"Yet if such a thing might be," said Halfden, "gladly would I hail
you as brother in very truth."

So we sat without speaking for a while, and then Halfden said that
were I to stand among the crowd of men on the morrow there would
surely be no notice taken of me.

Yet as I lay on my wolf skins at the head of the great hall, and
prayed silently--as was my wont among these heathen--I asked for
that same help that had been given to men of old time who were in
the same sore strait as I must very likely be in tomorrow.

Then came to me the thought: "What matters if outwardly I reverence
Thor and Odin while I inwardly deny them?" and that excuse had nigh
got the better of me. But I minded what our king had told me many a
time: how that in the first christening of our people it had ever
been held to be a denying of our faith to taste the heathen
sacrifices, or to bow the head in honour, even but outward, of the
idols, so that many had died rather than do so. And he had praised
those who thus gave up their life.

Then, too, I remembered the words of the Prior of Bosham concerning
martyrs. And we had been led to speak of them by this very question
as to sacrifice to the Danish gods. So I made up my mind that if I
might escape notice, I would do so--and if not, then would I bear
the worst.

So I fell asleep at last. And what it may have been I know
not--unless the wind as it eddied through the high windows clashed
some weapon against shield on the walls with a clear ringing
sound--but I woke with the voice of Bosham bell in my ears--and
Rorik and Halfden each in his place started also, and Rorik
muttered a curse before he lay down again, for he sat up, looking
wildly.

But greatly cheered with that token was I, for I knew that help was
not far from me, and after that I had no more fear, but slept
peacefully, though I thought it was like to be my last night on
earth.

CHAPTER X. WHAT BEFELL AT THE GREAT SACRIFICE.

Very early in the gray morning Halfden woke me, and he was fully
armed, while at the lower end of the hall the courtmen were rising
and arming themselves also, for Vikings must greet Odin as warriors
ready to do battle for him when Ragnaroek {xvi} and the last
great fight shall come.

"Rise and arm yourself," he s