"The gods indeed have dealt heavily with thee," said Atli, "and it is at their bidding that I called thee here."
"Spoke they with King Bue also?" said Estein, with a slight curl of his lip, looking all the time at the fire.
"Nay; hear me out, Estein. I knew that King Hakon would send, ere long, an avenging force to Jemtland."
"He was never the man to forgive an injury," he added, apparently to himself.
"So, as thou knowest, I sent that token to thee. Then unquiet rumours reached mine ears; for though I live apart from men here in this forest, little passes in the country—ay, and in Norway too—that comes not to Atli's knowledge. I learned of the plot to treacherously entrap thy force, and though I have long lived out of Norway my Norse blood boiled within me."
"Could you not have warned us sooner?" said Estein.
"Thorar kept his plans secret so long that it was too late to do aught save what I have done. I sent Jomar to the feast, as thou knowest."
Estein's guide had been sitting before the fire, consuming a supper of cold meat, and paying little heed to the talk, but at the last words he rose, and throwing the bones on to the flames, said,—
"It was by no will of mine; I bear no love to the Norsemen."
"Peace!" exclaimed Atli sternly. "Art thou too ungrateful for what
I have done for thee, and fearless of what I can do?"