"The son of Odin hath had speech with this god of the Jews," slowly responded Wulf. "I myself asked for his healing, but the sons of the gods are not like other men. Hold ye your peace, for the jarl was bidden to tell no man."
"Let him alone, then," said Tostig. "It is enough that he walketh so well. But yonder is the centurion, Julius, talking with Caius."
"I am to slay him yet," said Wulf. "Watch ye, for we belong to Caius."
Enough of Saxon knew their master to gather that saying, and it pleased him well, for he turned and saw blue eyes that flashed a little, and dark eyes that seemed to ask his bidding.
"There is truth in these Saxons!" he said to himself. "Were I to command the death of Julius, he were dead this hour."
But at that moment the voice of Julius rose in a sound of chiding.
"O Caius," he said, "I did indeed pay my wagers, as became me, but thy Saxon died and the payment should be restored to me. If the lion and the tiger slew him, the wager is void."
"Justly spoken, O my friend," replied Caius; "but knowest thou this man, or is he dead?"
Then turned Julius, wondering, for before him stood the son of Brander smiling in a mockery, and saying:
"Hael to thee, O Julius, the captain! Hast thou any wild beasts with thee this day? I am Ulric the Jarl!"