ed but recently.

_Brand_.--If they had not lit the fire we would never have found them.
Better had it been they had not lit it!

_Broddi_.--A pity that brave men such as Thorolf was should not be good
men to work together with, likewise. Now Thorolf kneels down for the
blow. Do not look that way, Brand!

_Brand_.--Has he the crucifix in his hand?

_Broddi_.--No; he reached it to Deacon Sigurd, before kneeling down. Why
does Helgi let a brave man wait so long for the blow?

(_A heavy blow on a body is heard without_. BRAND _starts up, pulls_
THOROLF'S _ring from his arm and gives it to_ BRODDI.)

_Brand_.--Give Helgi Skaftason this ring; he will have need of the value
in it. It is the ring Thorolf handed over to me in Flugumyr. I will not
wear it!

_Broddi_.--It shall be as you wish. Now our men have laid a shield over
Thorolf's body.

(_The slayers of_ THOROLF _enter from the left_.)

_Alf_.--Great news abroad!

_Brand_.--We know what has happened, and that Thorolf Bjarnason is dead.

_Alf_.--'Dog-like on crushed bones he fed,
Tan of bark his hide dyed red.'[A]

[Footnote A: Alf's lines are to be understood, so that Thorolf lived
like a beggar in his youth, eating crushed bones (of dried fish;
the dried fish are beaten with a hammer so as to crush the bones
and separate them from the meat), and gnawing the bark of trees.
(H. Hermannsson.) The lines are from a stanza made by one Gudmund
Asbjarnason on Thorolf Sturlunga, ch. 122.]

_Broddi_.--Shame on you, Alf, to make mock at Thorolf, now he is dead.

(_Enter from the right_ LADY HELGA, ASBJORN, _and_ SALVOR. HELGA _in
traveling costume, with a veil with long white tassels. All present are
greatly alarmed as they see her_.)

_Brand_.--Lady Helga! Hail, cousin!

_Helga_.--Hail to all of you! (_They bow to her_.) What are you about,
here, kinsman Brand?

_Brand_.--I am biding for better weather. But what may be the purpose of
your journey?

_Helga_.--I am on a voyage to inspect our building of ships. In the
snowstorm I and Asbjorn lost our way; but a short while ago we saw a
fire or a light and turned that way. Now we are come here.

_Brand_.--How fares Kolbein, your husband?

_Helga_.--Very eager you are now to succeed to him. (_Smiles_. THOROLF'S
_men, weaponless, come running up and stop behind_.) You here!

_First Man_.--They have slain Thorolf Bjarnason. His body lies here!

_Helga_ (_grasps at her heart for a moment_).--Thorolf B