"Sneaking son of a wolf," he finished, "I despise myself that I cannot
find it in my heart to do it, now that you are at my mercy; but I have
not been wont to do such things, and you are not worth beginning on.
Crawl on your miserable way."

While the archer staggered off, clutching his shoulder, Sigurd came back
to his horse, wiping his sword composedly. "It was obliging of you to
stay and hold High-flyer," he said, as he mounted. "If he had been
frightened away, I should have been greatly hindered, for I have many
miles before me."

That brought them suddenly back to their first topic; but now Alwin
handled it with perfect courtesy.

"Let me urge you again to turn back with me. It is not easy for me to
answer your questions, for this morning is the first time I have seen
the maiden; but she is awaiting you at the cross-roads with the old man
she calls Tyrker, and--"

"Tyrker!" cried Sigurd Haraldsson. "Leif's foster-father had that name.
It is not possible that it is my little foster-sister from Greenland!"

"I have heard them mention Greenland, and also the name of Leif," Alwin
assured him.

Sigurd smote his knee a resounding thwack. "Strangest of wonders is the
time at which this news comes! Here have I just been asking for Leif in
the guardroom of the King's house; and because they told me he was away
on the King's business, I was minded to ride straight out of the city.