an; he never spoke to anyone on
the subject; we incline, however, to the belief that there were mingled
ideas in his brain and mixed feelings in his heart as he rode to
Ulfstede!

Great was the sensation in the hall when Erling, Glumm, and Kettle
entered with the marks of the recent fight still visible upon them--
especially on Glumm, whose scalp wound, being undressed, permitted a
crimson stream to trickle down his face--a stream which, in his own
careless way, he wiped off now and then with the sleeve of his coat,
thereby making his aspect conspicuously bloody. Tremendous was the
flutter in Ada's heart when she saw him in this plight, for well did she
know that deeds of daring had been done before such marks could have
been left upon her gruff lover.

The hall was crowded with armed men, for many bonders had assembled to
await the issue of the decision at the Thing, and much anxiety as well
as excitement prevailed. Ulf recognised his late thrall with a look of
surprise, but each of them was made to quaff a brimming tankard of ale
before being allowed to speak. To say truth, they were very willing to
accept the draught, which, after the fatigues they had undergone, tasted
like nectar.

Erling then stood up, and in the midst of breathless silence began to
recount the incidents which had befallen him and his companion while in
the execution of their mission.

"In the first place," he said, "it is right to let ye all know that the
King's countenance towards us is as black as a thundercloud, and that we
may expect to see the lightning flash out before long. But it is some
comfort to add that Glumm and Kettle and I have slain, or rendered unfit
to fight, twenty of Harald's men."

In the midst of the murmur of congratulation with which this
announcement was received, Erling observed that Hilda, who had been
standing near the door, went out. The result of this was, that the poor
youth's spirit sank, and it was with the utmost difficulty he plucked up
heart to relate the incidents of the fight, in which he said so little
about himself that one might have imagined he had been a mere spectator.
Passing from that subject as quickly as possible, he delivered his
opinion as to the hopes and prospects before them, and, cutting his
speech short, abruptly quitted the hall.

Any little feeling of disappointment that might have been felt at the
lame way in which Erling had recounted his exploits was, however, amply
compensa