t for
stealthy footfalls drawing nearer to us. And I liked it not.

We pulled Kolgrim up, and went on upstream, drawing our swords,
though I yet thought of nothing but tin merchants whom we had
disturbed in some strange play of their own. Doubtless they would
take us for outlaws.

Now through the fog, dark against the flickering glow of the fire,
and only seen against it, came creeping figures; and I suppose that
some dull glitter of steel from helms or sword hilts betrayed us to
them, for word was muttered among them, and the rattle of stones
shifted by bare feet seemed to be all round us. I thought it time
to speak to them.

"We are friends, good people," I said. "We mean no harm, and have
but lost our way."

There was a whistle, and in a moment the leaping shadows were on
us. Kolgrim went down under a heavy blow on his helm, and lay
motionless; and Harek was whirled by a dozen pairs of hands off his
feet, and fell heavily with his foes upon him. I slew one, or
thought I slew him, and I stood over Kolgrim and kept them back
with long sword sweeps, crying to them to hold, for we were
friends--King Alfred's guests.

Now they were yelling to one another, and one threw a long-noosed
line over me from behind. It fell over my arms, and at once they
drew it tight, jerking me off my feet. As I went down, a howling
crowd fell on me and took the good sword from me, and bound me hand
and foot, having overpowered me by sheer numbers.

Then they looked at Kolgrim, and laughed, and left him. I was sure
he was dead then, and I fell into a great dumb rage that seemed
like to choke me.

They dragged the scald and me to the fire, and I saw into what
hands we had fallen, and I will say that I was fairly afraid. For
these were no thrifty Cornish folk, but wild-looking men, black
haired and bearded, clad in skins of wolf, and badger, and deer,
and sheep, with savage-eyed faces, and rough weapons of rusted iron
and bronze and stone. So strange were their looks and terrible in
the red light of the great fire, that I cried to Harek:

"These be trolls, scald! Sing the verses that have power to scare
them."

Now it says much for Harek's courage that at once he lifted up no
trembling voice and sang lustily, roaring verses old as Odin
himself, such as no troll can abide within hearing of, so that
those who bore him fell back amazed, and stared at him. Then I saw
that on the arms and necks of one or two of these weird folk were
gol