you speak of, and I have a mind to be as
fair in it as I may. Now, I think you can help me."

This honest saying warmed my heart to him somewhat, and weary
enough of his lawman's work this warrior looked. Yet I was not sure
that he would not try to use me to make his hold on the land more
sure.

"Tell me in what way that may be," I said, therefore.

"Let me come and ask you of this and that when I am in a strait
owing to knowing naught of Saxon ways. Then can I say to a Dane,
'Thus says Wulfric, Lodbrok's friend,' and to an Anglian, 'So says
the Thane of Reedham.' Then I think I shall do well, for I would
fain be fair."

"I will ever be ready to do that, Guthrum," I said; and I held out
my hand to him, for I could not help it.

So he took it and wrung it warmly.

"Now must I go back to Thetford very soon," he said. "Come back
that you may be near me."

"I must live here, in London now," I said; for I would by no means
live with his court, nor did I think that he should have thought it
of me after my words.

"Why not go back to your own place now? I can see you often at
Reedham."

"That is an ill jest," I said; for I thought nothing so sad as
going back to see that dear home of mine but a blackened heap of
ruins, nor would I ever ask any who might have seen the place
concerning it, knowing how the Danish ships had burnt all the coast
villages.

Guthrum looked at me as if puzzled.

"No jest, Thane," he said; "why not go back?"

"To ruins--what good?" I answered.

"Now I think you mean that you will not take your land at my
hands," he said.

"That were to own you king."

"Then, Wulfric, my friend, if I may call you so, that the lands of
a friend are not mine to give and take I need not tell you. Nor do
we harm the lands of a friend. There is one place in East Anglia
that no Dane has harmed, or will harm--the place that sheltered
Jarl Lodbrok. And there is one man whose folk, from himself to the
least of all, are no foes of ours--and that is the Thane of
Reedham. Ah! now I see that I have gladdened you, and I think that
you will come."

"This seems almost impossible," I said, in my wonder and gladness.

"Nay, but word went round our host that it was to be so. There you
might have bided all unknowing that war was near you. You do but go
back of your own free will."

Now I was fain to say that I would at once go back to my place, but
there was one thing yet that I would say to Guthrum.

"Will you