ulnoth in the Ha

k and other vikings from the North who had gathered with them. The room was long and low, and its oaken beams were black with age and

scene, and on the mighty hearth a huge fire of logs burnt, and t

d chairs at a table which ran crosswise the width of the hall, the

fiercer now than when Wulnoth had seen them lead the

r, but Hubba was smooth of face save for his heavy mousta

king lords, holdas of high birth and warriors of fame, and each was clad in his war gear, and each had his weapons ready to hand; for words

the lesser leaders sat at their feasting, and the place rang with shouts of laughter and wild jest, and ever and anon with the music of the harp and th

t sight of the captain. "So thou hast come bac

ar," came the answer. "And the men of Osric are

"Osric will not defy our might again." An

this a captive from the foe? That cannot be, seeing that he is unbound

one noble, bending forward and staring at Wulnoth.

his horn and cr

blue eyes and yellow hair,"

heal,

"one would think that we have no men in Denmark, noble

ong plaits which fell on either side his face, and on his arms he had massy bracelets of gol

iend or foe-and, by my word, I love a good foeman. As for being berserker, this st

war, stopping what might have led to a quarrel.

Wulnoth, who had stood there erect an

horse. By my faith, most of thy people-for surely thou art Saxon by thy eyes and hair-most of thy people, I say, rather shun us. No

answered Wulnoth, and at this the vikings laughed, and said that su

but we love sharp swords. Thou hast a

. For my place, I come from the North, whither I was taken in my childhood after that the sword of the Dane had harried our land. As thou sayest, I am landless and nameless, and, moreover, a thrall-though I have rent the thrall collar fr

ast come to serve under

ravest, the mightiest, and the noblest in the worl

"Am I not he?" And a

thee. Nay, I seek one whose name is greater than even thine-I seek Regner Lodbrok, thy father." A

he who seeks such honor must of the honor be worthy. If thou wouldst serve

d Wulnoth calmly. And at that the holdas laughed, for the

er," he said. "The bloodhou

," was the ready answer. "But enough of such talk. Thou de

block of wood and gav

nderer. Split me that block at one blow

red. "Far too easy. Let me see thee

roared the Dane. "No m

him. Then slowly and steadily he pulled, and the muscles of his arms and back stood out like ropes, and he thought within himself that his work with Osth was bearing

acseg, "but we have a mighty man

always together. The bear is stron

ther than quick brains. Still, methinks the Wanderer is not slow

hy father's service, I am willing to prove that I am worthy of it." And Hungwar frowned, f

" he said, "and I noticed it not.

ance i

ace, with the handle an inc

d. "Which, then, will sever this with a

, for he, like all the viki

d arms he lifted his sword high in the air and smote with all hi

him the Norse Jarl Eric, and after him Biorn Ironsides the

d, "Give me another bar, for this one is much

ght Hungwar, and he sent for his own mace

Guthrun cried out that it was not fair s

scream of the gull as it flies before the storm. And lo, the iron was sheere

he vikings. "Worthy is he to be

another tas

ba fiercely. "All this is but child's play a

, with bare arms and hai

Hubba?" he asked. And

st boxer, and no man can stand a blow from h

wered Wulnoth. "St

rst, how shall Wanderer have strength to strike back? Let them fight one ro

"I care not," and he and Wigl

d in Wulnoth's ear, "and he fights not over fair

ghters faced each other, and the vikings forgo

Wulnoth caught it and turned it aside, and then he smote and Wiglaf could not avoid the blow, and though he caught it

h was worthy to be of the best of them; and Hubba and Hungwar fr

h rise, and he

own shoulders, and if any of you dare try it, then do it first. See you yon beast?" and he point

. "What new wonder canst thou show us? Only be caref

to his knees with hand, and hand alone?"

e is no man on e

he leaped the rails and entered the bull's field, while all there crowded

g deeply. Then, like a bolt, it charged, and the onlookers gasped, for they thought that now the daring man mu

e, and he gripped the wide-spreading horns and stood, and the b

gwar, "the man is in a poor

e does not desire to let go. Look,

en he gripped tighter and swung mightily, and the bull was jerked off its feet; and then he twisted sharply, putting out ever

d carry him round on their shoulders, crying "Skoal" to him. But

e to put us to shame with his stren

ck, "Even so. But the dagger may turn great

only Guthrun noticed and

the Danish holdas, and this is how Guthrun knew that