to Eadgyth.

"Nay, lady," he answered; "Halfden and Hubba and Osritha have to be
thanked--if any thanks need be to us for caring for Jarl Lodbrok's
preserver. Little share may I take of the matter."

"Yet I will thank all in your place," she said, and then shrank
back to Egfrid's side.

Never had I seen a more handsome couple.

Then Ingvar laid his hand on a great golden snake that twined round
his right arm, and I thought he was going to give it as a bridal
gift to my sister, for that is ever a viking's way, to give
lavishly at times when he might have taken, if the mood seizes him.
But as he glanced at the gold he saw blood specks thereon, and I
heard him mutter:

"No, by Freya, that were ill-omened."

And he did but seem to put it in place, as if thinking. Then he
replaced his helm, bowing, and said:

"Now must I stay your rejoicing no longer. Fare you well, lady, and
you, noble Egfrid; I must ride back to Thetford town on my own
affairs. Yet I leave you Wulfric. Will you remember hereafter that
you spoke with Ingvar the king, and that he was your friend?"

"Aye, surely," answered they both at once.

Then once more the music played, and the little train went on and
up the hill, and Ingvar and I stood together for a while looking
after them.

"I thank you, King," I said.

"Aye, Wulfric; and maybe you and yours are the only ones who will
say that word to me in all this land. Now take my rede, and do you
and your folk begone as soon as maybe, for even I cannot hold back
men who are not from our own place."

Then I parted from him, going after my people, and thinking that
all was well for us, and that surely our king was safe, until I
came to where my horse still stood. There over the lane hedge
looked that lame white horse that I had seen, speaking as it were
in his own way to mine. And when I saw him thus near, it was indeed
the king's, and a great fear that he was not far off took hold of
me.

CHAPTER XII. IN HOXNE WOODS.

Many of the village folk loitered on the bridge and in the lanes,
looking curiously at the Danes, and talking of the wedding and the
like. And some of these I saw Ingvar's men questioning, and very
soon a knot of them gathered round one man, and there was some loud
talking.

Then I would have hastened back, but Ingvar saw me, and waved
sternly to me to depart, and slowly enough I went on my way. But I
could not forbear looking back when I reached the road to the
house.