Then must Beorn confess or swear falsely, and I looked at him and his cheek was pale. But he, too, laid hand on the dread book in its awful place and sware that he was innocent--and naught happened. For I looked, as I think many looked, to see the blood start from the wound that he had given the jarl, but it was not so. There was no sign. Then crossed my mind the first doubt that I had had that Beorn was guilty. Yet I knew he lied in some things, and the doubt passed away quickly.
Then Ulfkytel pushed away the table from before him so that it fell over.
"Take these men away," he said. "I have heard and seen enough. I will think!"
They led us away to the cells again, and I wondered how all this would end. In an hour they brought us back, and set us in our places again. The earl had more to say, as it seemed.
"Will you two pay the weregild {[xi]} between you?"
"No, Lord Earl," I said; "that were to confess guilt, which would be a lie."
Then Beorn cried:
"I pray you, Wulfric, let us pay and have done!"
But I turned from him in loathing.
"Ho, Master Falconer," said Ulfkytel, "the man is an outlander! To whom will you pay it? To Wulfric who saved his life?"