"Odin! It is Wulfric!" he said. "Now, skoal to you, Wulfric! But I would that you were not here."
"How is that, Jarl?" I asked; but I had ever heard that the jarl was in high good humour before a fight.
"I would not fight with you, for you have been our guest. And many a man have I questioned since yesterday, and all men say that you were my father's friend. It was a true story that you told me."
"You believed it rightly, Jarl."
"Aye--and therefore I will not fight with you."
Then I asked him to leave the land in peace, and his face darkened.
"I speak of yourself alone," he said, "as for land and king and people--that is a different matter."
"You have had your revenge," I said.
"What?" he asked fiercely. "Is the life of Lodbrok, my father, worth but the death of a hound like Beorn? Stand aside, Wulfric, and let me have my revenge in full."
Now, seeing that our talk was earnest, there rode up another Danish chief, and it was Guthrum, the man who had seemed to take my part at the idol feast. I was glad to see him come at this moment.