swim over to Biorn's dwarf-country."

"I propose that we go to the landing place," exclaimed Sigurd. "It may
be that the ship which Valbrand sighted this morning is nearly here."

"I say nothing against that," Rolf assented.

They wheeled promptly toward a gate. But at that moment, Alwin caught
sight of a blue-gowned figure watering linen in front of the
women's-house.

"Do you go on without me," he said, drawing back. "I will follow in a
moment."

Sigurd threw him a keen glance. "Is it your intention to do anything
exciting, like quarrelling with Thorhall as you did last night? Let me
stay and share it."

There was a little embarrassment in Alwin's laugh. "No such intention
have I. I wish to see the hunters ride in."

The hunters were an imposing sight, as they swept into the court, and
broke ranks with a cheer that brought heads to every door. White-robed
thralls ran among the champing horses, unsaddling them; scarlet-cloaked
sportsmen tumbled heaps of feathered slain out of their game-bags upon
the grass; horns brayed, and hounds bayed and struggled in the leash.
But Alwin forgot to notice it, he was hurrying so eagerly to where
Helga, Gilli's daughter, walked between her strips of bleaching linen,
sprinkling them with water from a bronze pan with a little broom of
twigs.