ndered nearer and nearer. Then they came over the little
rise in the road and were on me with levelled spears.

I got my horse between them and me, across the narrow roadway, and
hove up my axe and waited. But when Ingvar saw who I was, he held
up his hand, and his men threw up their spear points and halted,
thinking perhaps that I was the king.

"Where is the king?" shouted Ingvar.

I saw that their horses were done, and not knowing which way the
king had gone answered truly.

"I know not. The road forks, and that is as far as I know."

Then Ingvar swore a great oath.

"You know not which way he went?"

"I do not," I said.

"Catch a thrall and ask him," he said to his men.

And those silly folk were yet standing at the corner, maybe
thinking us belated wedding guests, and the men took one, dragging
him to their chief. But the man said that he had seen no horsemen
pass. Truly he had heard some, but all men were at the house door
waiting for the bride to come forth, and paid no heed.

So the king had passed by before the procession set out, and I knew
not what to think.

"What bride?" said Ingvar.

And the music answered him, coming nearer and nearer, and now they
were crossing Hoxne bridge--a bright little array of wedding
guests, and in the midst I could see those two, Egfrid and Eadgyth,
and after came a crowd of village folk.

"See yonder," said a Dane, pointing. "By Baldur, here is a wedding!
Gold and jewels to be had for the taking!"

But my horse was across the road, and my axe was in the way, and I
cried to Ingvar as the men began to handle their weapons.

"Mercy, Jarl Ingvar! This is my sister's wedding--that Eadgyth of
whom your own sister would ever ask so much."

"Hold!" roared the chief, and his men stayed, wondering. "An you
touch so much as a hair of any in that company--the man who
touches, I will slay!" he said, and the men stared at him.

"Yon is the bridal of Reedham folk," he said, "and the bride is she
who befriended Lodbrok. They shall not be hurt."

For he must needs justify himself, and give reason for withholding
plunder from Danes as free as himself.

"Aye, King, that is right," they said on hearing that, and Ingvar
turned to me.

"For Osritha's sake, lest I should harm you in aught," he said.
"Now ask me no more. Let us meet them in peace."

Now I knew that my folk were safe for this time at least, and my
heart was light, and so leaving my horse I walked beside the k