By the time the day had fairly broken, they were away under
Jomar's guidance.
"Remember, Estein, my rede," said Atli, as they departed.
"When the snows melt," cried Estein in reply; "and I think I shall not have long to wait."
It was a raw, grey, blustering morning, with no smell of frost in the air, but rather every sign of thaw, and the old man, after watching the two tall mail-clad figures stride off with their dwarfish guide hastening in front, closed the door, and turned with a grave and weary look back to the fire.
Hardly had he come in when the inner door opened, and the girl entered hastily.
"Who was that other man?" she asked. "I saw but his back, and yet—" she stopped with a little confusion, for Atli was regarding her with a look of keen surprise.
"Knowest thou him?" he asked. "Where hast thou seen him before?"
"Nay," she answered, with an affectation of indifference, as if ashamed of her curiosity, "I only wondered who he might be."
"He is a certain trader from Norway, whom men call Estein," said
Atli, still looking at her curiously.
"I know not the name," she said; and then adding with a slight shiver, "How cold this country is," she turned abruptly and left the room again.