"He who offers has the power to grant. I am Earl Erik."
"Then I gladly accept."
Another made a pun which so pleased the earl that he, too, was set free.
One of the captives had long, beautiful hair, and as Thorkill came near him on his bloody errand he twisted his hair into a coil and asked the executioner not to soil it with his blood. To humor him Thorkill asked one of the bystanders to hold the coil while he struck. The man did so, but as the axe came down the captive jerked his head aside so that the axe fell on the wrists of the coil-holder, both his hands being cut off.
"Some of the Jomsvikings are still alive," laughed the captive.
"Who are you?" asked Erik.
"I am said to be a son of Bue."
"Do you wish to live?"
"What other choice have I?"
At Erik's command he, too, was released.