Wulnoth to the

ney over the Westarweg was the shortest road, yet he had no boat in which to sail, and, moreo

and hard, and many were the times that he felt he w

being who was so like himself, and he would cry to Wulnoth to wrestle with him ere he we

ng, long leagues towards the southern sea, where he must perforce take ship of some kind if he wished to reach the sea-king's land on th

the forest swine, and took their flesh for his food, and on this and on the wild berr

ke a wild man and a berserker, and, moreover, looking like one also, since his face

ing him to give up so wild a journey, but in the day time the better voices always answered and encouraged him; and oft in his dreams Edgi

, and honor, and love, and that which is better t

t little cross of wood, bound with grass and wreathed with thorn

y wastes did Wulnoth go, and of those whom he met his only que

t come to the sea, and there thou must take ship. But beware what thou doest in the

ess men, who sprang up and seized their weapons and b

earlessly. "As for my business, that is my own alon

sword of thine looks a goodly sword. How sayest thou? Abide with us and be content, and thou shalt have fun and plunder enough and to spare, and hardly a day shall pass but thy sword shall sing its merry song while the red flames burst from the roof. The life of the masterless man may not be so full

e since he had a task to do, and might not turn from

ing and the strongest lord," explai

om, and beyond that again in the land of the Franks, thou wilt find many who cry that they are the mightiest and bravest; and yet, by the hammer of the great Thor, they are migh

ighty man, if the stories that I have heard of h

man. I know

ok the dragon-slayer," cried anot

all heads must bow at last, for D

if I would find Guthred and win Edgiva I must be ready to die? If that i

s two sons, for they are merciless as the edge of the sword, and fiercer than the flames in war time. By my beard, I had

r than the fire, yet I go on," said Wulnoth stoutly. "My way must

tout heart," the masterless men answered, "but

und which the robbers sat, their faces glowing red in the flame light, passed on

til he came to a town, and there

th the big sword, who lo

manded his business; and when he knew that Wul

d and Denmark, who are the scourge of all honest peoples, and goest thou to join t

hanging me. Yet this I say, jarl-there may be other reasons why one seeks the sea-kings out. The flames may have burst fr

ered the jarl, "though in truth thou must be a b

y; "therefore again I say let me go in peace, and perchance thou mayst hear a tal

any long and weary days of trial; and there before him, dark and vast, the stormy B

ent Wulnoth to ask if he could get ship to Denmark, but n

come nearer if it may be helped, whilst as for the sea, the storms will be sw

s far off as ever, for this sea I must cro

dering upon how he might cross it; and while he stood there, yet once again there

alt wrestle with me yet once again, and I will carry thee back to the land f

er, and he seized this man whom he

whom I have already overthrown more than once. Now we will indeed make an end, and i

lnoth had easy mastery-for each time they had fought he had grown the stronger

together, and if we peri

other answered,

Not yet! I will show

d Wulnoth. "Speak quickly, f

ter of the deep-one shaped like a seal but ever so much larger-larger than the largest ox, with huge tusks like unto the

"Now watch, and when the battle is fierce, take thy sword

d with its tusks, and the whole air trembled with the bellowings and roarings of the strife. But the bears got one on either side, and Wulnoth saw that the fight was going against the sea-cow and that

th wondered that he could understand its speech, not knowing that

ord, for without that help methinks the bears would have made an end of me. N

sire to cross the water, and

"Nor will it take long to fulfil. Now get thee on to my back and h

ea, faster than the fastest ship could sail, until the shores of the North faded and the shores of the South grew clear, and then, beating against the wind and making for the l

set they were, grizzled in battle and marked with many marks of the war game; and as they talked and laughed, suddenly over the waves rang the sound of a voice,

s surely some warlock come

of the pirates, answered w

h-song comes, it comes, therefore round with the ship and let us g

and near Wulnoth approac

viking lords; I

d who art thou who sailest the swan bath in so s

have wandered far, seeking that which I seek, and I have com

lst the rowers sat open-mouthed and wide-eyed. "'T is strange, an

hat is it that thou d

d Wulnoth, "and so I have heard Regner Lodbrok

r moons ago he sailed to East Anglia and we await his message to join him. But his sons are in the hall, and Hungwar and Hubba are names known to men. Also there is the renowned Guthr

let me have ship, all fearing

reetings are somewhat rough. But what of th

for my payment he brought me over, as you see. Now sh

d flew before the wind. But swift though they went, swifter still sped the sea-cow, and when they

ou with us, and we will lead thee to our lords. And look that thou answer firmly and without fear, and in few words, for Hu

oth. "Lead the way." And so to the

bath, and how he met the vikings, and was