its web for us."

Helgi laughed again.

"That would be a good revenge--to let Liot slay the men of Estein,
a shipload at a time. If Odin wishes us to die, I shall try to
meet my fate stoutly, but I shall not help him in the slaying.
Nay, Estein, I can devise a better plan than yours."

Estein smiled for the first time since he had come on board.

"So long as it gives me a good fight with stout foes, and with you
at my side, I care not what plan you propose."

"There speaks yourself again!" cried Helgi; "and I think that ere
long you will meddle with my schemes. I will call Ketill and the
Orkneyman, and we four will hold council here."

Ketill, the broad-beamed captain of the ship--the same whose path
had been stopped by Atli--a man of few words and stout deeds, and
Grim, the Orkneyman, came up to the poop. There they deliberated
for long. Helgi was all for fire.

"Let us hear how the men of Liot will sing when they are warm."

Ketill gave a short laugh.

"I, too, am for burning," he said.

"We must catch them when they are drinking," said Grim. "When