and peace?"

"That depends," replied the Dane, "upon who it is that offers it."

"He offers who has the power to give it--Ulf of Romsdal."

"I will take it," says he, "from Ulf's hands."

Upon that the rope was loosed from his feet, but Swart, whose vengeance
was still unsatisfied, exclaimed--

"Although thou shouldst give all these men life and peace, King Ulf, yet
will I not suffer Einar to depart from this place with life."

So saying he ran at him with uplifted axe, but one of the viking
prisoners threw himself before Swart's feet, so that he tumbled over
him, and the axe fell at the feet of a viking named Gills. Gills caught
the axe and gave Swart his death-wound.

Then said Ulf, "Gills, wilt thou accept life?"

"That will I," said he, "if thou wilt give it to all of us."

"Loose them from the rope," said Ulf.

This was done, and the men were set free.

Eighteen of the Danish vikings were killed, and twelve got their lives
upon that occasion.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

TELLS OF DISCUSSIONS AND EXCITING DEEDS AT ULFSTEDE.

While the fight at the Springs which we have just described was going
on, Christian the hermit sat in the hall at Ulfstede conversing with
Hilda and Dame Astrid, and some of the other women. All the fighting
men of the place had been taken away--only one or two old men and Alric
were left behind--for Ulf, in his impetuosity, had forgotten to leave a
guard at home.

"I hope it will fare well with our men at the Springs," said Hilda,
looking up with an anxious expression from the mantle with which her
nimble fingers were busy.

"I hope so too," said Christian, "though I would rather that there had
been no occasion to fight."

"No occasion to fight!" exclaimed Alric, who was dressing the feathers
on an arrow which he had made to replace the one he lost in shooting at
the Dane,--and the losing of which, by the way, he was particularly
careful to bring to remembrance as often as opportunity offered--
sometimes whether opportunity offered or not. "No occasion to fight!
What would be the use of weapons if there were no fighting! Where
should we get our plunder if there were no fighting, and our slaves?
why, what would Northmen find to _do_ if there were no fighting?"

The hermit almost laughed at the impetuosity of the boy as he replied--

"It would take a wiser head than mine, lad, to answer all these
questions, more particularly to answer them to thy satisfaction.
Notwithstanding