"No," put in Floki, curtly.
"Why not?" demanded Roland, and he leaned toward the tall giant, frowning.
"What use, when he has gone?" rejoined Floki.
"You 've seen him!" exclaimed Liutrad.
"Ay, lad."
"What did he say, man?" asked Worad, sharply.
Floki eyed the questioner with a cold stare; but then, smiling in a peculiar way, he answered dryly: "The earl bade me take joy."
"Take joy!--why take joy?" asked the queen.
Floki fixed his stare upon Lupus and the drooping Fastrada, and stood muttering to himself. But he made no response until Roland repeated the inquiry. When he turned and saw the anxiety of both queen and count, his look lost its coldness; but he shook his head.
"There are others here who can best answer that," he said. "If they will not speak, go ask the earl. Ho, all! to your benches! Cast off, men!"