place of refuge, save the trees, he would have found that night,
for he was then passing across the valley that winds down to our
home.

So it happened that when at last he saw the red light from the door
of our hall gleaming across the snow, for it had been left open
that perchance I might see it, he was close to the place, and he
came into the courtyard inside the stockading without meeting any
one, for he came from the side on which the village is not.

There I woke as the house dogs barked, and at first it was with a
cry of fear lest the wolves were on us again; but the fear passed
as I saw my father come quickly into the light of the doorway, and
heard his voice as he stilled the dogs and cried to ask if the boy
was found.

"Ay, Thane, he is here, and safe," my friend answered, and he set
me down in the midst of the court, while the dogs leapt and fawned
round me.

Then I ran to the arms that were held out for me, forgetting for
the moment the one who had brought me back to them, and left him
standing there.

Then the man who had saved me turned after one long look at that
meeting, and I think that he was going his way in silence, content
with that he had done, but my father saw it and called to him:

"Friend, stay, for I have not thanked you, and I hold that there is
reward due to you for what you have brought back to me."