h of us it seemed we could not live without each other a single
day.

GUNNAR. Ornulf, Ornulf!

ORNULF (with growing uneasiness). Ye stand all silent, I mark it
now. What ails you? Where is Thorolf?

DAGNY. Sigurd, Sigurd--this will be the direst blow to him!

GUNNAR (struggling with himself). Old man!--No---- ---- and yet, it
cannot be hid----

ORNULF (vehemently). My son! Where is he!

GUNNAR. Thorolf is slain!

ORNULF. Slain! Thorolf? Thorolf? Ha, thou liest!

GUNNAR. I would give my warmest heart-blood to know him alive!

HIORDIS (to ORNULF). Thorolf was himself to blame for what befell;
with dark sayings he gave us to wit that thou hadst fallen upon Egil
and slain him;--we had parted half in wrath, and thou hast ere now
brought death among my kindred. And moreover--Thorolf bore himself
at the feast like a wanton boy; he brooked not our jesting, and spoke
many evil things. Not till then did Gunnar wax wroth; not till then
did he raise his hand upon thy son; and well I wot that he had good
and lawful ground for that deed.

ORNULF (calmly). Well may we see that thou art a woman, for thou
usest many words. To what end? If Thorolf is slain, then is his
saga over.

EGIL. If Thorolf is slain, I shall have no warriors.

ORNULF. Nay, Egil--we have lost our warriors, but thou and I. (To
HIORDIS.) Thy father sang:

Jokul's kin for Jokul's slayer
many a woe shall still be weaving.

Well has thou wrought that his words should come true. (Pauses a
moment, then turns to one of the men.) Where got he his death-wound?

THE MAN. Right across his brow.

ORNULF (pleased). Hm; that is an honourable spot; he did not turn
his back. But fell he sideways, or in towards Gunnar's feet?

THE MAN. Half sideways and half towards Gunnar.

ORNULF. That bodes but half vengeance; well well,--we shall see!

GUNNAR (approaching). Ornulf, I know well that all my goods were
naught against thy loss; but crave of me what thou wilt----

ORNULF (sternly interrupting him). Give me Thorolf's body, and let
me go! Where lies he?

(GUNNAR points silently to the back.)

ORNULF (takes a step or two, but turns and says in a voice of
thunder to SIGURD, DAGNY, and others who are preparing to follow
him, sorrowing). Stay! Think ye Ornulf will be followed by a train
of mourners, like a whimpering woman? Stay, I say!--I can bear my
Thorolf alone. (With calm strength.) Sonless I go; bu