thrall could get to Hodulf, so that he would suspect nothing just at
first. There were merchants in England who would care for the boy well,
and the two boats might be sunk, so that the king should not ask whose
they were. So when Grim came home again the fisher would be thought of
as drowned on his errand, and Hodulf would be content.

But then, after a little talk of this, it was plain that all the town
could not be told to say that the fisher was drowned on such a night,
and Hodulf would leave naught undone to find the truth of the matter. So
the puzzle became greater, and the one thing that was clear was that
Grim was in sore danger, and Havelok also.

Then suddenly outside the dogs barked, and a voice which they obeyed
quieted them. Grim sprang for his axe, which hung on the wall, and went
to the door, whereon someone was knocking gently.

"Open, uncle; it is I, Arngeir."

"What does the boy want at this time?" said Grim, taking down the great
bar that kept the door, axe in hand, for one must be cautious in such
times as these.

Arngeir came in---a tall young man of twenty, handsome, and like Grim
in ways, for he was his brother's son.

"Lucky am I in finding you astir," he said. "I thought I should have had
to wake you all. Are you just home from sea, or just going out?"

"Not long home," answered Leva; "but what has brought you?"