Alfin's weapon dull,
And flattened down his stupid skull--
This did the bold King Gundalf do
When he went o'er the sea to woo.'"

The wholesale robbery and murder which was thus related by the old Norse
viking appeared quite a natural and proper state of things in the eyes
of all save two of those assembled in the hall, and the saga was
consequently concluded amid resounding applause. It is to be presumed
that, never having seen or heard of any other course of life, and having
always been taught that such doings were quite in accordance with the
laws of the land, the consciences of the Northmen did not trouble them.
At all events, while we do not for a moment pretend to justify their
doings, we think it right to point out that there must necessarily have
been a wide difference between their spirits and feelings, and the
spirits and feelings of modern pirates, who know that they are
deliberately setting at defiance the laws of both God and man.

It has been said there were two in the hall at Ulfstede who did not
sympathise with the tale of the old warrior. The reader will scarce
require to be told that one of these was Hilda the Sunbeam. The other
was Christian the hermit. The old man, although an occasional visitor
at the stede, never made his appearance at meal-times, much less at the
nightly revels which were held there; but on that day he had arrived
with important news, just as Guttorm began his story, and would have
unceremoniously interrupted it had not one of the young house-carles,
who did not wish to lose the treat, detained him forcibly at the lower
end of the hall until it was ended. The moment he was released the
hermit advanced hastily, and told Ulf that from the door of his hut on
the cliff he had observed bands of men hastening in all directions down
the dale.

"Thy news, old man, is no news," said Ulf; "the token for a Thing has
been sent out, and it is natural that the bonders should obey the
summons. We expect them. But come, it is not often thou favourest us
with thy company. Sit down by me, and take a horn of mead."

The hermit shook his head.

"I never taste strong liquor. Its tendency is to make wise men
foolish," he said.

"Nay, then, thou wilt not refuse to eat. Here, Hilda, fetch thy friend
a platter."

"I thank thee, but, having already supped, I need no more food. I came
but to bring what I deemed news."

"Thou art churlish, old man," exclaimed Ulf angrily; "sit do