endurance, but unaware of the marvel of their speed, that, in the
three hours before midnight had overpassed all that vast distance
that he could only traverse from twilight to twilight. For clear
daylight was passing when he came to the edge of an old marl-pit,
and saw how the two who had gone before had stamped and trampled
together in desperate peril on the verge. And here fresh blood
stains spoke to him of a valiant defence against his infamous
brother; and he followed where the blood had dripped till the cold
had staunched its flow, taking a savage gratification from this
evidence that Christian had been gashed deeply, maddening afresh
with desire to do likewise more excellently, and so slake his
murderous hate. And he began to know that through all his despair
he had entertained a germ of hope, that grew apace, rained upon by
his brother's blood.

He strove on as best he might, wrung now by an access of hope, now
of despair, in agony to reach the end, however terrible, sick with
the aching of the toiled miles that deferred it.

And the light went lingering out of the sky, giving place to
uncertain stars.

He came to the finish.

Two bodies lay in a narrow place. Christian's was one, but the
other beyond not White Fell's. There where the footsteps ended lay
a great white wolf.

At the sight Sweyn's strength was blasted; body and soul he was
struck down grovelling.