"And to which of you did he beckon?"
"It was to Halward Neck."
"And where is Halward Neck?"
Then there was a silence, and after that another man, very red in the face and with gleaming eyes, spoke between his teeth.
"I will show you where Halward Neck is," he said. "Come with me." He led him out into the yard, while the rest crowded at the door.
He showed him the dead man; he held the lamp close to his face.
"Who did this?" said Sigurd. Then, beginning with a low murmur, all voices rose and the name of Gunnar was cried in his ears. Sigurd lifted his head, and all were silent.
"I don't believe it," he said, "but somebody must tell the king of it."
They went back into the house and shut the doors. Sigurd was told what every one knew, or thought that he knew. One man had seen Gunnar go down to the hard in his cloak and hood; half-a-dozen had seen him come into the yard afterwards; three or four had heard Halward greet him; some had seen the beckoning, others had seen Halward follow him out. Then they had gone out to look for them, and there found Halward slain.
Sigurd said, "It looks very black against Gunnar, but I cannot believe it. Yet I know that the king must be told, and that he will be ready to think the worst of my brother because he has been so stiff against his religion. Now my thought at first was that I would tell him myself, since none of you seemed ready to go with the news—but see here, my friends, you would not have me bear witness against my own brother?"