ings sailed f

of themselves, but old Wahrmund took him aside and whispered more than o

test injury which thou canst do to him is to beat h

inst him who overthrows him in fair fight!" answe

glaf when he

by Wulnoth, for Guthrun the viking lord met him, hav

and if thou takest my advice, thou wilt not tarry with the sons of Regner too long. Yet if thou hast d

d if I tarry not, how shall I either meet with this champion Regner Lodbrok, or learn tidings of Prince Guthred my f

o do him harm, and even Hungwar spoke fairly to him,

tween them, and very cautiously did Wulnoth question the viking, not letting hi

sword-singing between brave men. 'T is our trade, yet sometimes I think that peace time is the best. Yea, I remember Lethra, and I mind me of the anger of Hungwar because a boy-who by the way was a Saxon thrall to Jarl

omrade!" said Wulnoth eagerly. "A s

at him sharply and

rnly. "Thus I counsel to question none save me, and if thy questions may be answered with honor, then I will answer them. Dost kn

the son of Cerdic. Yet know, Wahrmund, that Cerdic was no thrall to Berwulf, for Berwulf murdered the Saxon jarl Tholk, and Cerdic refused to s

the other, and then Wulno

s; and on the day when the evil came to Lethra-this was prophesied by a wise woman-Guthred the Prince made me swear that I would see

a, for they sold him as a slave, though he was a king's son; and I have heard that his master took him to the lan

ahrmund," answered Wulnoth, "a

hou dost stay with us, that is all I ask. If thou go into battle with us, fight for us and no

seek this camp and serve Regner Lodbrok; and so I h

ld that he were back to lead us himself, for the camp is broken wi

is? Dost thou know any people who worship not th

making them merciful to the foe and calm in face of torment and death. Some of our men have put their captives to sharp torture to make them renounce this God of theirs; but I have not known one succeed. They have killed their victims, but in dying the Chr

Regner Lodbrok is in Angleland also! 'T is strange. It points to my g

s this which comes speeding towards the land? Let us go dow

t was but a small one, with a few rowers, and no shields hung

urety yonder man at the helm is Bern,

eir oars and came ashore, and stood with drooping heads,

k, why comest thou thus, as they that flee i

s noble brother, for I have heavy tidings to tell; and the soul of Regner Lodbrok call

the son of Sigurd, the vikings will have a song to sing and a fire to light"; and, with that, Wahrmund tur

r their souls hungered for the man's game, and they tired of t

ing, and why dost thou turn thy spear

r, and he hath ill news to tell to thee, O jarl." And then the chiefs looked up, and all voices w

id, while Hubba sat

died as a mighty hero, and that his sword sang merrily ere he fell, and the Valkyrs were busy.

hero death did Regner die, but such a death as a nithing would have deserved; and yet he died a hero, and sang his death-s

shall not cry in vain. Truly, our swords are weary of idleness and our ships yearn

e land, but to see for themselves if it was a good land and fair, and worth the attacking. And on the eastern coast a great storm had come, and driven them on shore, so that the ship was wreck

im Regner went. But Ella liked not the coming of the stranger; for the Danes, who had settled in the north and taken possession of the land, desired that no more of their numbers should come

s dungeon did King Ella cause a number of deadly vipers to be let loose-for he had a mind to shame Regner Lodbrok as well as sl

ey took and bound, and cast into the vipers' tower, bidding him, since he had slain the dragon, slay also the snakes, which were less than the

ame thereof is Krakamal; and that song is known to this day amongst the sagas of the Northland; and

hen the story was finished there was silence for a short space, and then upro

d bids us take vengeance on his foes. Now, those who list come, and those who will tarry, tarry; but, as for Hubba and me, we will cross the We

at swords flash out, as they cried Skoal to the memory of Regn

leave a pathway of ashes and death; and then will we take this land for our own. But as for Ella, King of Northumbria, better for him tha

y his long ships; so that never before in all the land was so vast a fleet prepared, nor so great an army gath

kettle-five kings of might; and Biorn Ironsides and many champions, so that one knows not all their names. And with them came many young warriors, the sons of holdas, seeking to make a name,

ie like black snakes on the water; never did so many s

made in the space of one noontide; and thereon was the Raven of Odin, worked in cunning work; and it stret

o come then the raven's wings drooped and its head hung; but if victory w

you shall presently hear, the men of Wessex took that banner and slew Hubba, and still the raven's wi

over the dark, rolling sea the rovers sailed; so that the ships were as m

ia, where their father, Regner Lodbrok, had landed at the first; and over the ship the great raven banner streamed, and around the seamews circled and screamed; and the wind blew the salt foam

h spoil may be gathered; and the people are soft and easy to conquer. Skoal to the Angleland, and Skoal to the landing; for heroic deeds

d the vikings swarmed to the ships' sides, and there, ahead, they saw the sa

nd meet us; so that we fought on sea and kept the fire from their land? The

pain marked, who pondered the same thing, and who afterwards caused such long ships to be built, and not only beat the Danes at their own

and Hubba, and this is how Wulnoth sailed with