ted by Glumm, who, although usually a man of few words, had no
lack of ideas or of power to express them when occasion required, in a
terse, stern style of his own, which was very telling. He gave a
faithful account of the fight, making mention of many incidents which
his friend had omitted to touch on, and dwelling particularly on the
deeds of Kettle. As to that flat-nosed individual himself, when called
upon to speak, he addressed the assembly with a dignity of manner and a
racy utterance of language which amazed those who had only known him as
a thrall, and who now for the first time met him as a freed man. He
moreover introduced into his speech a few touches of humour which
convulsed his audience with laughter, and commented on the condition of
affairs in a way that filled them with respect, so that from that hour
he became one of the noted men of the dale.

Erling meanwhile hurried towards one of the cliffs overlooking the
fiord. He was well acquainted with Hilda's favourite haunts, and soon
found her, seated on a bank, with a very disconsolate look, which,
however, vanished on his appearing.

"Wherefore didst thou hasten away just as I began to speak, Hilda?" he
said, somewhat reproachfully, as he sat down beside her.

"Because I did not wish to hear details of the bloody work of which thou
art so fond. Why wilt thou always be seeking to slay thy fellows?"

The girl spoke in tones so sad and desponding, that her lover looked
upon her for some time in silent surprise.

"Truly, Hilda," he said, "the fight was none of my seeking."

"Did I not hear thee say," she replied, "that Kettle and Glumm and thou
had slain twenty of the King's men, and that ye regarded this as a
comforting thought?"

"Aye, surely; but these twenty men did first attack Glumm and me while
alone, and we slew them in self-defence. Never had I returned to tell
it, had not stout Kettle Flatnose come to our aid."

"Thank Heaven for that!" said Hilda, with a look of infinite relief.
"How did it happen?"

"Come. I will tell thee all from first to last. And here is one who
shall judge whether Glumm and I are to blame for slaying these men."

As he spoke, the hermit approached. The old man looked somewhat paler
than usual, owing to the loss of blood caused by the wound he had
received in his recent defence of Ulfstede. Erling rose and saluted him
heartily, for, since the memorable prowess in the defence of Ulfstede,
Christian had been