rey, art thou going back to her
that sent thee?"

"Yea," said the lad, "but in your company, for ye will be coming
straightway and I know all the ways closely; and there is need for a
guide through the dark night as ye will see presently."

Then stood up Arinbiorn and said: "Chiefs and captains, go ye speedily
and array your men for departure: bid them leave all the fires burning
and come their ways as silently as maybe; for now will we wend this same
hour before moonrise into the Wild-wood and the Thing-stead of Mid-mark;
thus saith the War-duke."

But when they were gone, and Arinbiorn and Thiodolf were left alone,
Thiodolf lifted up his head and spake slowly and painfully:

"Arinbiorn, I thank thee: and thou dost well to lead this folk: since as
for me that is somewhat that weighs me down, and I know not whether it be
life or death; therefore I may no longer be your captain, for twice now
have I blenched from the battle. Yet command me, and I will obey, set a
sword in my hand and I will smite, till the God snatches it out of my
hand, as he did Throng-plough to-day."

"And that is well," said Arinbiorn, "it may be that ye shall meet that
God to-morrow, and heave up sword against him, and either overcome him or
go to thy fathers a proud and valiant man."

So they spake, and Thiodolf stood up and seemed of better cheer. But
presently the whole host was afoot, and they went their ways warily with
little noise, and wound little by little about the Wolfing meadow and
about the acres towards the wood at the back of the Houses; and they met
nothing by the way except an out-guard of the Romans, whom they slew
there nigh silently, and bore away their bodies, twelve in number, lest
the Romans when they sent to change the guard, should find the slain and
have an inkling of the way the Goths were gone; but now they deemed that
the Romans might think their guard fled, or perchance that they had been
carried away by the Gods of the woodland folk.

So came they into the wood, and Arinbiorn and the chiefs were for
striking the All-men's road to the Thing-stead and so coming thither; but
the lad Ali when he heard it laughed and said:

"If ye would sleep to-night ye shall wend another way. For the Hall-Sun
hath had us at work cumbering it against the foe with great trees felled
with limbs, branches, and all. And indeed ye shall find the Thing-stead
fenced like a castle, and the in-gate hard to find; yet will I bring you
th