terms, I doubt not, with your father."

The wily berserk had changed his tone to that of one who addresses a
superior in rank while he thus tempted the boy; but he little guessed
the spirit of his captive.

"What!" he exclaimed scornfully; "wouldst thou have me turn traitor to
my own father?"

"Nay, I would have you turn wise for the sake of your father and
yourself. Think well of what I say, and all I ask of you is to guide me
to a good point of observation. There is a cave, they say, near
Ulfstede, with its mouth to the sea, and a secret entrance from the
land. No doubt I could find it myself with a little trouble, but it
would save time if you were to point it out."

"Never!" exclaimed Alric sternly.

"Truly thou art a chip of the old tree," said Hauskuld, taking Alric's
ear between his finger and thumb; "but there are means to take which
have been known to bend stouter hearts than thine. Say, wilt thou show
me the cave?"

He pinched the ear with gradually increasing force as he spoke, but
Alric neither spoke nor winced, although the blood which rushed to his
face showed that he felt the pain keenly.

"Well, well," said the berserk, relaxing his grip, "this is a torture
only fit for very small boys after all. Hand me the pincers, Arne."

One of the men drew in his oar, and from a locker pulled out a pair of
large pincers, which he handed to his chief, who at once applied them to
the fleshy part at the back of Alric's arm, between the elbow and the
shoulder.

"When thou art willing to do as I bid thee, I will cease to pinch," said
Hauskuld.

Poor Alric had turned pale at the sight of the pincers, for he knew well
the use they would be put to; but he set his teeth tightly together, and
determined to endure it. As the pain increased the blood rushed again
to his face, but an extra squeeze of the instrument of torture sent it
rushing back with a deadly chill to his heart. In spite of himself, a
sharp cry burst from his lips. Turning suddenly round, he clenched his
right hand, and hit his tormentor on the mouth with such force that his
head was knocked violently against the steering oar, and two or three of
his front teeth were driven out.

"Thou dog's whelp!" shouted Hauskuld, as soon as he could speak.
"I'll--"

He could say no more; but, grasping the boy by the hair of the head, he
seized his sword, and would certainly have slain him on the spot, had
not the man named Arne interposed.

"The K