"Spear me rather," said I in a low voice to the men.
They laughed uneasily, but did not move, and Edric again bade them take me to the tree, which was about a hundred paces away.
They took me there and set me under a great bough, and then stood looking at me and the earl. They had no rope, and the belts that bound me were of no use for a halter. Edric saw what was needed, and swore. Then he sent one of the men to the ships to get a line of some sort; and I think that his utter hatred of anyone who had seen through his plans made him spare me from spear or sword, for there is no disgrace in death by steel. But at this time there seemed no disgrace in the death he meant me to die, for it was shame to him, not to me.
The ships were not so far off. It was not long before three or four men came through the gathering dusk, and one had a coil of rope over his shoulder. And after them came across the hillside a horseman, beside whom ran a man on foot. There were many men about, and these were too far for me to heed them. I only noticed that which should end my life.
"Set to work quickly," said Streone.
So they flung the end of the line over the bough, sailorwise, and made a running bowline in the part that came down. There is torture in that way, and some of the men grumbled thereat, being less hard hearted. So they began to argue about the matter, and Streone watched my face, for this was pleasure to him, as it seemed, though he did not look straight at me. I wished they would hasten, that was all.
Now the horseman and his follower came up, and lo! Egil was the rider, and with him was Thrand.
"Ho!" cried Egil, "hold hard. That is my man."
Streone turned on him with a snarl.
"Your man!" he said. "I took him. Hold your peace."