ised the chant we heard also.

I saw Harek struggle and try to break away; but at that they
whirled yet more quickly, and he lost his footing, and fell, and
was dragged up; and then he too must dance, or be haled along the
ground. My eyes grew dizzy with watching, while the drum and the
chant dulled into a humming in my brain.

"This cannot go on for long," I thought.

But then, from among those who sat round and chanted, I saw now one
and now another dart to the ring and take the place of a dancer who
seemed to tire; and so at last one came and gripped Harek's wrist
and swung into the place of his first holder before he knew that
any change was coming, and so with the one on the other side of
him.

Then it was plain that my comrade must needs fall worn out before
long, and I knew what I was looking on at. It was the dance of the
pixies, in truth--the dance that ends but with the death of him who
has broken in on their revels--and I would that I and Harek had
been slain rather with Kolgrim by the stream yonder.

At last the scald fell, and then with a great howl they let him go,
flinging him out of the circle like a stone, and he lay in a heap
where they tossed him, and was quite still.

Then the dancers raised a shout, and came and sat down, and some
brought earthen vessels of drink to refresh them, while they began
to turn their eyes to me, whose turn came next.

Whereon a thought came into my mind, and I almost laughed, for a
hope seemed to lie in a simple trick enough. That I would try
presently.

Now I looked, and hoped to see Harek come to himself; but he did
not stir. He lay near the swords, and for the first time now,
because of some thinning of the mist, I saw what was on the bank
where these had been placed. There was a great stone dolmen, as
they call it--a giant house, as it were, made of three flat stones
for walls, and a fourth for a roof, so heavy that none know how
such are raised nowadays. They might have served for a table, or
maybe a stool, for a Jotun. The two side walls came together from
the back, so that the doorway was narrow; and a man might stand and
keep it against a dozen, for it was ten feet high, and there was
room for sword play. One minds all these things when they are of no
use to him, and only the wish that they could be used is left.
Nevertheless, as I say, I had one little hope.

It was not long before the savage folk were ready for my dance, and
they made the ring again,