forbidden meat; and that danger passed.

Rolf murmured approvingly in Sigurd's ear: "He is wise to lie low as
long as possible. It is a great thing to get a good foothold before the
whirlwind overtakes one."

Sigurd shook his head in his goblet. "When you wish to disarm a serpent,
it is best to provoke him into striking at once, and so draw the poison
out of his fangs."

Under the shelter of some twanging chords, Alwin whispered up to them:
"If you could sit here and see Kark's face, you would think of a dog
that is going to bite. And he keeps watching the door. What is it that
he expects to come through it?"

Neither could say. They also took to watching the entrance.

Meanwhile the feasting went merrily on. The table was piled with what
were considered the daintiest of dishes,--reindeer tongues, fish,
broiled veal, horse-steaks, roast birds, shining white pork; wine by the
jugful, besides vats of beer and casks of mead; curds, and loaves of rye
bread, mounds of butter, and mountains of cheese. Toasts and compliments
flew back and forth. Alwin was kept leaping to supply his master's
goblet, so many wished the honor of drinking with him. His news of
Norway was listened to with breathless attention; his opinion was
received with deference. Often it seemed to Alwin that he had only to
speak to have his mission instantly accomplished. The English youth
noticed, however, that amid all Leif's flowing eloquence there was no
reference to the new faith.