here idly in a fog? Tell your men to row like valiant Vikings,
Ketill, and not like timorous women."

The respect due to rank in Norway was little more than the proud
Norseman chose to pay, and it was with small deference to his
prince that Ketill answered,--

"You are fey, I think, Estein. I shall not lose my ship that you
may the sooner feed the fishes."

"Are you, too, afraid? By the hammer of Thor! I think you are in
league with Liot. I shall make these cravens row."

"That you will not," replied Ketill.

In an instant both swords were half-drawn. The men within earshot
were too much surprised at this sudden change from Estein's usual
manner to his followers to do more than look in astonishment at
the dispute, and in another instant the blades would have clashed,
when Helgi rushed between them.

"What is this?" he cried. "Are you possessed of evil spirits, that
you would quarrel on the eve of battle? Remember, Ketill, that
Estein is your prince; and Estein, my brother, what ails you? You
are under a spell indeed. Would that I had slain the witch ere you
parted. You can gain nothing by wrecking the ship, and this fog is
too dense to row a race off such a coast as this."

Perhaps it was the allusion to the "witch" that brought Estein to
his senses, for his eyes suddenly softened.