a prize of their own to win. And those who do not win it will yet be
none the worse for trying."

Then Jarl Swend laughed as he looked at Sigurd, and said,

"Truly, it is not for nothing that men call thee Sigurd the Wise; now
I see why the young men who sail their longships from your vik are
luckier than other men." And Sigurd was satisfied.

But when all the other lads had gone, and the sunset flush had faded
into grey, Ulf lingered, then went up to the high seat, and said,
boldly,

"Jarl Sigurd, thrall am I, yet a chief's son also. Is the offer open
to me?"

Sigurd looked at a scar on his arm and laughed. Then he nodded kindly,
and said,

"Thrall thou art, and a chief's son also. Win thou the prize and
thrall art thou no longer."

Then Ulf took a long, long look at the Jarl, a look which somehow
included Edith Fairhair also, and went away.




SPARK V.