what that seemed strange, and
unmeet for the lady to set eyes on.

"Bide here, jarl," I said, "and let us go on and see what is here;
the place looks deserted."

And I looked meaningly at him, glancing at Thora.

But he had seen what had caught my eye, and he stayed at once,
turning back into the main road, and beckoning Harek to come with
him and Thora, for some reason of his own.

Then Kolgrim and I went on. What we had seen was a man lying
motionless by the farm gate, in a way that was plain enough to me.
And when we came near, we knew that the man had been slain. He was
a farm thrall, and he had a pitchfork in his hand, the shaft of
which was half cut through, as with a sword stroke that he had
warded from him, though he had not stayed a second cut, for so he
was killed.

"Here is somewhat strangely wrong," I said.

"Outlaws' work," answered Kolgrim; for the wartime had made the
masterless folk very bold everywhere, and the farm was lonely
enough.

We rode through the swinging gate, and then we saw three horses by
the stable yard paling, and with them was an armed man, who saw us
as we came round the house, and whistled shrilly. Whereon two
others came running from the building, and asked in the Danish
tongue what he called for. The first man pointed to us, and all
three mounted at once. They were in mail and helm, fully armed.

Now we were not, for we had thought of no meeting such as this, and
rode in woollen jerkins and the like, and had only our swords and
seaxes, as usual; but for the moment I did not think that we should
need either. Outlaws such as I took them for do not make any stand
unless forced.

Presently one of the men, having mounted leisurely enough, called
to us.

"There is no plunder to be had," he said, "even if you were not too
late; our folk cleared out the place over well last time."

Then a fourth man, one who seemed of some rank, rode from beyond
the house, passing behind us without paying any heed to us, except
that he called to the men to follow him, and so went down the lane
towards where Osmund was waiting with Harek.

All this puzzled me, and so I cried to the three men:

"What do you here? Whose men are you?"

At that they looked at one another--they were not more than ten
yards from us now--and halted.

"You should know that," one said; and then he put his hand to his
sword suddenly, adding in a sharp voice:

"These be Saxons; cut them down."

When hand goes to