chair, and was hefting it and fingering it and shifting it from hand to
hand. Gradually the eyes of all the company centred upon the gleaming
wedge, following it up and down and back and forth, expecting, dreading.

"If he does not wish to go so far as to slay his own son, he has yet an
easy mark in me," Alwin murmured, his eyes following the motions like
snake-charmed birds. "If he raises it again like that, I think I shall
dodge." Out of the corners of his eyes, he could see many movements of
uneasiness among Leif's men.

Only Leif went on quietly: "You have always known that your gods must
die, so it should not surprise you to be told now that they are dead;
and it should gladden your hearts to know that One has been found who is
both ever-living and willing to help. Therefore King Olaf has sent me to
lay before you, that if you will accept this faith as the men of
Trondhjem have done--"

Helga sprang aside with a shriek of warning. Eric's arm had shot up and
back. With a bellow of rage, he leaped to his feet and hurled the axe at
his son's head. Simultaneously came an oath from Valbrand and a roar
from the crew; then a thundering blow, as the axe, missing the Lucky One
by ever so small a space, buried itself deep in the wall behind him.

Instantly every man of the crew was on his feet, and there was clashing
of weapons and a tumult of angry voices. Eric's men were not behindhand,
and many of the guests drew swords to protect themselves. They were on
the verge of a bloody scene, when again Leif's voice sounded above the
uproar. He had drawn no weapon, nor swerved nor moved from his first
position.