he heart to remain in safety, without knowing whether
Alwin lived or died? How could I spend my days decking myself in fine
clothes, while my best friend fought for his life? Was it to be expected
that I could help coming?" She spoke softly, half-crouching in her
hiding-place, but her heart was in every word.

Her judges could not stand against her. Rolf swore that she would have
been unworthy the name of shield-maiden had she acted otherwise. And
Sigurd pressed her hand with brotherly tenderness.

"You should know that I am not blaming you in earnest, my foster-sister,
because I grumble a little when I cannot see my way out of the tangle."
He bent over Kark to make sure that he was really as unconscious as he
seemed; then he lowered his voice nervously. "What makes it a great
mishap is that your presence doubles Alwin's risk, and because one can
never be altogether sure to what lengths Eric's son will go,--even with
one whom he loves as well as he loves you. If I could find some good way
in which to break the news to him before he sees you,--"

Helga sprang out of her niche, and stood, straight and rigid, before
them. "You shall not endanger yourself to shield me. You will feel it
enough for what you have already done. The first burst of his anger I
will bear myself, as is my right."

Before they had even guessed her intention, she slipped past them,
leaped lightly over Kark's motionless body, and delivered herself into
the light of the torches. In another instant, a roar of amazement and
delight had gone up from the benches; and the men were dropping their
games and knocking over their goblets to crowd around her.

"She has got out of her wits," Rolf said, wonderingly.

"He will kill her," Sigurd answered, between his teeth. "For half as
much cause, Olaf Trygvasson struck a queen in the face."

They followed her aft, like men walking in a dream; but between the
rings of broad shoulders they soon lost sight of her. All they could see
was the Norman's dark face, as he stepped upon a bench and silently
watched the approaching apparition.

"The Troll take him! If he cannot keep that look out of his eyes, why
does he not shut them?" Sigurd muttered, irritably.

Perhaps it was that look which Helga encountered, as she made the last
step that brought her face to face with the chief. At that moment, a
great change came over her. When the guardsman pushed back to the
extreme limits of his chair to regard her in a sort