"Ay, it is true," they thought. "God has protected Herr Arne
through the greatest perils. He holds His hand over him. He will
not let His servant perish."

III

As soon as Torarin drove out upon the road his dog Grim came up to
him and jumped up on to the load. When Torarin saw that the dog
had been waiting outside the parsonage his uneasiness came back.
"What, Grim, why do you stay outside the gate all the evening? Why
did you not go into the house and have your supper?" he said to
the dog. "Can there be aught of ill awaiting Herr Arne? Maybe I
have seen him for the last time. But even a strong man like him
must one day die, and he is near ninety years old."

He guided his horse into a road which led past the farm of
Branehog to Odsmalskil.

When he was come to Branehog he saw sledges standing in the yard
and lights shining through the cracks of the closed shutters.

Then Torarin said to Grim: "These folks are still up. I will go in
and ask if they have been sharpening knives here tonight."

He drove into the farmyard, but when he opened the door of the
house he saw that a feast was being held. Upon the benches by the
wall sat old men drinking ale, and in the middle of the room the
young people played and sang.