steps more and I reached the end of the chamber,
for my outstretched fingers touched its marble wall. I turned and
marched back, and lo! at the twentieth step that hand took mine again
and led me to the right, whereon once more the murmur of voices reached
me.

Thrice this happened, and every time the murmur grew more loud. Indeed,
I thought I heard one say,

"The man's not blind at all," and another, "Some spirit guides him."

As I made my fourth journey I caught the sound of a distant tumult,
the shouts of war, the screams of agony, and above them all the
well-remembered cry of "_Valhalla! Valhalla! Victory or Valhalla!_"

I halted where I was and felt the blood rush into my wasted cheeks. The
Northmen, my Northmen, were in the palace! It was at this that Martina
had hinted. Yet in so vast a place what chance was there that they would
ever find me, and how, being blind, could I find them? Well, at least my
voice was left to me, and I would lift it.

So with all my strength I cried aloud, "Olaf Red-Sword is here! To Olaf,
men of the North!"

Thrice I cried. I heard folk running, not to me, but from me, doubtless
those whose whispers had reached my ears.

I thought of trying to follow them, but the soft and gentle hand, which
was like to that of a woman, once more clasped mine and held me where I
was, suffering me to move no single inch. So there I stood, even
after the hand had loosed me again, for it seemed to me that there was
something most strange in this business.

Presently another sound arose, the sound of the Northmen pouring towards
the hall, for feet clanged louder and louder down the marble corridors.
More, they had met those who were running from the hall, for now these
fled back before them. They were in the hall, for a cry of horror,
mingled with rage, broke from their lips.

"'Tis Olaf," said one, "Olaf blinded, and, by Thor, see where he
stands!"

Then Jodd's voice roared out,

"Move not, Olaf; move not, or you die."

Another voice, that of Martina, broke in, "Silence, you fool, or you'll
frighten him and make him fall. Silence all, and leave him to me!"

Then quiet fell upon the place; it seemed that even the pursued grew
quiet, and I heard the rustle of a woman's dress drawing towards me.
Next instant a soft hand took my own, just such a hand as not long ago
had seemed to guide and hold me, and Martina's voice said,

"Follow where I lead, Olaf."

So I followed eight or ten paces. T