"Then since I need no revenge, let the slaying cease," said
Estein, "though in truth the treacherous dogs ill deserve mercy."
"As you list," replied Ketill; "yet there is one here who would be better out of the world than in it."
As he spoke he went up to one prisoner who was lying on his side, with his face pressed down into the snow, like one sorely wounded, and in no gentle fashion turned him over with his foot.
"Can you not let me die?" said the man, looking up coldly and proudly at his captors, though he was evidently at death's door. "It will not take long now."
"Thorar!" exclaimed Estein.
"You have named me, Estein," replied the wounded lawman. "I had hoped to witness thy death, now thou canst witness mine."
"Treacherous foe and faithless friend," said Estein, sternly, "well have you deserved this death."
"Faithless to whom?" replied Thorar. "To my king and master Bue I alone owed allegiance. Long have I planned how to rid us of your proud and cruel race, and I thought the time had come. Witless and confident ye walked into my snare, like men blindfolded; and it was the doing of the gods, and not of you, that my plan miscarried."
"'Witless and confident?'" answered Estein. "Say rather trustful of pledges that only a dastard would break."
"The strong and foolish fight with weapons suited to their hands," said Thorar; "the weak and wise with weapons suited to their heads."