Presently the Dane said that he had known gerfalcons to fly from Iceland to Norway in a day, and at that Beorn laughed as in scorn.
"Who shouted from Norway to Iceland to say that a lost hawk had come over?" he said.
The Dane laughed a little also, as at a jest; though one could tell that Beorn rather meant insult.
"Why," he answered, "the bird got loose from her master's ship as he sailed out of port in Iceland, and he found her at home in Nidaros at his journey's ending; and they knew well on what day she came, which was the same as that on which she got free."
Then I said, lest Beorn should scoff again:
"Now, if this falcon got free from here, surely she will go home to your land."
"Aye, and so my sons will think me dead, seeing her come without me. Wherefore keep her safely mewed until she has learnt that this is her home, for I would not have that mischance happen."
That I promised easily, for I prized the bird highly. And that I might not leave him with the surly Beorn, I asked the jarl to come and see her safely bestowed, and left the room with him.
As we crossed the courtyard to the mews, where our good hawks were, Lodbrok said to me:
"I fear yon falconer is ill pleased with me."