should carry with him, and I was putting a last polish on the arms that
should keep him, while the tramp of men who went to the gathering rang
down the street, one by one at first, and then in twos and threes. My
mother neither wept nor trembled, but worked with a set face that would
not show fear.

Then came in my father, and I armed him, begging at the same time that I
might go also, for I could use /my/ weapons well enough; but he told me
that some must needs bide at home as a guard, and that I was as much
wanted there as at the king's place, wherewith I had to be content. It
was by no means unlikely that we also might be attacked, if it was true
that the king's men were outnumbered, as was said.

Now when my father went to say farewell to us, nowhere could be found my
brother Withelm.

"The boy has gone to watch the muster," my father said. "I shall see him
there presently."

Then, because he saw that my mother was troubled more than her wont, he
added, "Have no fear for me. This will be no more than a raid of
Norsemen, and they will plunder and be away with the tide before we get
to the place."

So he laughed and went out, having done his best to cheer us all, and I
went with him to where the men were gathered in their arms in the wide
space in the midst of the houses. There I sought for little Withelm, but
could not find him among the women and children who looked on; and
before we had been there more than a few minutes the jarl gave the word,
and the march was begun. There were about fifteen miles to be covered