And as the wind from above blew down upon the swelling hangings on the walls, they flashed up suddenly in a brighter blaze.
And now the highest beam fell with a crash; and thereupon rang out a sound as though forty harp strings had all at once uttered their dying wail. And it was even so, for the beam had severed in twain Halfred's silver harp, which lay close by his head.
At this wailing harp cry Halfred opened his eyes, and looked around him, and all the truth broke upon him. He sprang up and shouted threateningly through slaughter and flames--Hartvik and Eigil protected him with shield and sword--
"Hold! Peace, peace in the hall! Magic has frenzied us all! Quench, quench the fire which devours us all!"
And so great was his power over friends and foes that for a moment all paused.
Then hark! From without there thundered on the hindmost door of the hall heavy axe strokes, and the cry--
"Halfred, Halfred, save thy house! Save the Singing Swan!"
With a crash the door fell inwards, and new devastation was seen, which kindled afresh the momentarily smothered battle fury in the hall.
Halfred looked through the doorway. The house of his forefathers, and the ships in the harbour, and the Singing Swan were all wrapped in flames.
The followers of the princes of Westgothaland, who were lodged in the pine huts, had first heard the din of battle, and seen the flames in the hall. "To the rescue--to the rescue of our lords," they shouted, tore down the wooden wall that divided them from the Mead hall, and hurried to their aid.