DAGNY (from the back). Haste thee, Gunnar! Call thy men to arms!
GUNNAR. To arms! Against whom?
DAGNY. Kare the Peasant is coming, and many outlaws with him; he means thee no good; Sigurd has barred his way for the time; but who can tell——
GUNNAR (moved). Sigurd has done this for me!
DAGNY. Sigurd is ever thy faithful friend.
GUNNAR. And we, Hiordis—we, who thought to——! It is as I say— there is a spell in all thy speech; no deed but seemeth fair to me, when thou dost name it.
DAGNY (astonished). What meanest thou?
GUNNAR. Nothing, nothing! Thanks for thy tidings, Dagny; I go to gather my men together. (Turns towards the door, but stops and comes forward again.) Tell me—how goes it with Ornulf?
DAGNY (bowing her head). Ask me not. Yesterday he bore Thorolf's body to the ships; now he is raising a grave-mound on the shore;— there shall his son be laid.
(GUNNAR says nothing and goes out by the back.)