"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.