two flew towards us.

At my voice, Osritha, who sat on her own horse in the midst of the
company, turned round, saying quickly:

"Who is it speaks?"

And I took off my helm, and she saw me plainly, and cried my name
aloud, and then swayed in her saddle and slipped thence into her
old steward's arms, and one or two of the maidens went to her help.

But the men cheered, knowing that now help, and maybe victory, had
come with us.

"Is all well?" they said in many voices.

"All is well," I answered; "let us take back your mistress."

Now Osritha came to herself, and saw me standing looking on her,
for I feared that she was dead, and she stretched her hands to me,
not regarding those around her in her joy and trouble.

"Wulfric," she cried, "take me hence into some place of peace."

I raised her very gently, holding her in my arms for a moment, but
not daring to speak to her as yet. And I lifted her into the saddle
again, telling her that all was well, and that we might take her
back to the town in safety. Then she smiled at me in silence, and I
walked beside her as we went back.

Then rode forward Cyneward and the steward to deal so with matters
that the women might be terrified as little as possible with sights
of war time, and we followed slowly. Naught said Osritha to me as
we went, for there were too many near, and she knew not what I
might have to tell; yet her hand sought mine, and hand in hand we
came to Ingvar's house, and to the lesser door. There I left her,
and went to seek Thormod.

The large hall was cleared, and little trace beyond the dint of
blows on walls and table showed what fight had raged therein, but
only Thormod and Cyneward and Ingvar were there; and Ingvar slept
heavily in his great chair.

"This is his way of late," said Thormod, looking coldly at him;
"fury, and terror, and then sleep. I fear me that Ingvar the King
goes out of his mind with that of which he raves. Nor do I wonder,
knowing now from Cyneward here what that is. Little help shall we
take back from Ingvar, for he has bestirred himself to gather no
new host since he came back."

"Men said that trouble at home brought him from England. I suppose
he judged it likely that the Jomsburgers might give trouble," I
said.

"The foes that sent him back were--ghosts," said Thormod bitterly.
"Come and let us see to the ship."

So we went down to the wharf, and found the ship but little hurt by
that business. And I stayed on bo