ng as yet.

Guthrum turned to me.

"Well, King Ranald?"

"Alfred the king bids me say that he would fain treat with you
hereafter as a brother altogether. And that can only be if the
great trouble between Dane and Saxon is removed--that is, if
Guthrum becomes a Christian."

Now I expected some outburst of scorn and wrath on this, but
instead of that a silence fell, in which the chiefs looked at one
another; and Guthrum gazed at me steadfastly, so that I felt my
face growing hot under his eyes, because I knew I must say more,
and that of myself and my own wishes most likely.

Then Guthrum said slowly:

"Why has he not sent some priest to say this?"

"Because he thought that a warrior would listen best to a brother
warrior," I answered.

"Ay, that is true," said the king. "Are you a Christian,
therefore?"

"I am as yet unbaptized," I said. "I have taken the prime signing
on me, as have many others; but I shall certainly seek baptism
shortly."

"You came here as a heathen, then?"

"As a heathen altogether, except that I had no hatred of
Christians," I answered, not quite seeing what the king would know.

"What turned your mind so far from the old gods that you should be
a fit messenger on such a matter to us?"

"I have learned from Alfred and Neot," I answered, "and I know that
I have found what is true."

Then Guthrum turned to Osmund.

"What say you, jarl? you have been with Alfred also."

"When Ranald is baptized, I shall be so with him," the jarl
answered simply.

And that was the first word thereof that I had heard from him.

Then an older chief spoke sharply to us.

"What profit do you look to make thereout--either of you?"

"Certainty of better things both in this life and in that to come,"
I answered.

"Ay, so they always say," the chief growled; "but what place with
Alfred in return?"

"It is likely that I shall gain no place with him," I said. "Jarl
Osmund knows that I do not count on that."

"Ay," said Osmund, "I know it. Nor will any man think that I seek
honour at Alfred's hands."

Then Guthrum rose up, and spoke gravely and yet very determinedly,
as if this was no new matter to him.

"Here, chiefs, are two good and tried warriors who willingly choose
Alfred's faith. You and I have heard thereof since we were in
England; and many a man have we seen die, since we have been here,
because he would not give it up. I mind me of Edmund, the martyred
king, whom Ingvar, our great c