"I have commanded that my men shall not hold speech with the men of Eric
except on friendly matters; that they shall avoid a quarrel as they
would avoid death."

His tone of quiet authority had begun to have its usual effect upon his
young follower; Alwin's head had bent before him. But suddenly he looked
up with a daring flash.

"Then I have not been disobedient to you, lord; for I would not avoid
death if it seemed to me that such shirking were cowardly."

A moment the retort brought a grim smile to Leif's lips; then suddenly
his face froze into a look of terrible anger. He half started from his
chair.

"Do you dare tell me to my face that, because I order you to keep the
peace, I am a coward?"

Alwin gave a great gasp. "Lord, there is no man in the world who would
dare speak such words to you. I but meant that I cannot bear such
treatment as Thorhall's in silence."

Had another said this, the answer might have been swift and fierce; but
Leif's manner toward this follower was always different from his way
with others,--whether out of respect for his accomplishment, or a fancy
for him, or because he discerned in him some refinement that was rare in
that brutal age. The anger faded from his face and he said quietly: "Can
you not bear so small a thing as that, for so great a cause as the
spreading of your faith?"