became cheers he flung down the mallet and was well pleased when the
Jarl said,

"By the Hammer of Thor! Thorolf the Strong is well named!"

But Ulf was still more pleased; and when all had gone away he stored
in a safe place all the bits of the Star which had been broken off--to
tell the truth, when Thorolf ended little was left of it but bits.

From that time on, Ulf spent all his spare time in the smithy. It was
not regularly in use at that period, and few cared to ask what he was
doing. Now and then a boy looked in, but all he saw was that Ulf was
forging the bits of iron into slender spindles and had a heap already
done. Such spindles made good fish-hooks, when bent and pointed, and
they were well content when he gave them one or two. Much of his time
while sheep-watching he was busy also; and one day Edith Fairhair
found he had not forgotten her. She came running to the Jarl to show
him a great treasure.

Sigurd looked it over curiously. It was the long shank bone of an ox,
polished till it was as white as ivory, and carved in quaint patterns.
Then on one side two figures were scratched in quite skilfully; one
evidently a captive holding out chained hands, the other a girl
holding up a knife. On the other side were the same figures, but the
chain had been cut in two. Something rattled within the bone, and
taking out a pretty stopper the Jarl let fall in his lap five slender,
shining rods of steel, so beautifully round and smooth and glistening
that he cried,

"Well done, Ulf! When the year is ended I think none other will