"Without doubt," answered Leif decidedly. "I can certainly not realize it. But why should I become otherwise? Must they not have once been young and full of life? Now they drivel!"
Helga sat for a little while and thought. And while she thought, her expression changed and became pensive and serious.
"You are so imprudent, Leif," she said, with anxious eyes, "I fear you will be killed in your first battle."
Leif laughed arrogantly. "Have you not noticed that I am invulnerable," he outbroke, with a beaming smile, "that nothing can injure me? There is something or other which protects me. I have thought about it. It can only be your love, Helga. What else should it be?"
Helga kissed him. She had tears in her eyes. "If my love can protect you, Leif, you are invulnerable. My own friend, do whatever you will, only do not quite forget me."
Leif hurried from the place to meet Ingolf. And when he found him he was so completely the old Leif, with body and soul intent upon a definite object, that, with the stream of his talk and the irresistible absoluteness of his manner, he swept all ill-humour out of Ingolf's mind. Now that Leif had become quite himself again, Ingolf needed no more to be on the watch regarding his own attitude towards him. Ingolf stood quite quietly, listened to him, and allowed him to talk freely, without the slightest attempt at interruption. He merely stood and looked at him, and enjoyed feeling how his eagerness infected his own mind like a happy excitement. Ingolf felt at that moment a gladness which he had forgotten. He could have embraced his brother.
While Leif spoke further and developed his plans, Ingolf pondered. He only followed Leif's stream of talk with one ear, only to ensure that nothing important escaped him. Meanwhile, he subjected the project to independent consideration. Perhaps it was, at any rate, over early to join in a Viking expedition just now. Perhaps they ought rather to wait a couple of years; Leif was so young, and was still not of the warrior's age. But, on the other hand, Leif needed a change just now. And he was quite self-reliant, though not of the proper age. They could also train themselves in the use of weapons in the winter. If they waited, Leif would again become strange and not to be understood or put up with. For Leif's sake they must go. How completely he was again the old Leif, even in his thoughts!
Ingolf concluded his considerations by saying: "I will talk with my father about the matter," in the middle of Leif's stream of words. Then Leif became uncontrollable for a while. He seized hold of Ingolf and whirled him round. He knew that with this sentence the matter was decided. But it seemed to him when, out of breath he let his laughing brother go, that he absolutely must say something about Orn.
"The old blusterer!" he snorted contemptuously. "To think that we should guide ourselves by his opinion. Well, do as you like. Only forget not to say that we shall bring wine home for him—much wine. Then you will see how tractable he will become. I will promise my father the same, in order to make him willing to give up the keys of the weapon-chest."
Ingolf went to his father, put the matter in a few words before him, asked him for ships and merchandize, and first and foremost for his consent to their making an expedition the next summer.