e better," he said; "but is it worth while to continue at it when no
Englishmen are watching?" And his words seemed to open a door against
which the others were crowding.

"King Canute, I willingly admit myself the block-head you called me."
Ulf Jarl hastened to declare in his good-natured roar. "When I saw you
take your point away from Edmund's breast, that day, my heart got afraid
that you were obliged to do it to save yourself. Even after I heard how
you had made a bargain to inherit after each other, I never suspected
what kind of a plan was in your mind."

And Eric of Norway smote his thigh with the half resentful laugh of a
man who has been told the answer to a riddle which he has given up. "I
will confess that your wit surpasses mine in matters of cunning. I did
suspect that you might think it unfeasible to kill him before the face
of his army, but I had no idea that it would be possible to get the land
from him both according to law and without further fighting or loss of
men. On a lucky day is the King born who has a mind like this!"

One after another, all the nobles echoed the sentiment; until even the
mob of soldiers found courage to voice their minds.

"His wit is made out of Sleipnir's heels!" "Skroppa herself could not be
foreknowing about him!" "I am as glad now as I was disappointed when I
saw him take his blade off the Ironside--" "When I saw that, I thought
I would turn English--" "They will try now to turn Danish." "You speak
well, for he will get great fame on account of his wisdom." So they
filled the air with marvelling admiration.

Standing in silent listening, Canute's gaze travelled from face to
face until it came to the spot where Elfgiva fluttered among her women,
holding her exquisite head as if it already wore a crown. An odd gleam
flickered over his eyes, and he made a step toward her. "You!" he said.
"What do you believe?"

Pealing her silvery laughter, she turned toward him, her eyes peeping at
him like bright birds from under the eaves of her hood. "Lord, I believe
that I am afraid of you!" she coquetted. "When I bethink me that all the
time I have been chiding you for being unambitious for glory, you have
had this in your mind! I shall never presume to compass your moods
again. Yes. Oh, yes! I shall see daggers in your smile and poison in
your lightest word." Laughing, she stooped and kissed his hand with the
first semblance of respect which she had ever shown him.

In the Danis