now put upon him?"

"Nay, he is no chattel of mine," said the merchant. "He is the
thrall of goodman Reas, over in Rathsdale--a morning's walk from
here. If you would deal with him a guide will soon be got to take
you over the hill."

"Young flesh will keep," returned the warrior. "I will buy the lad
next time we come to Esthonia."

Sigurd said: "It may be that ere that time he will already be
sold, Jarl Klerkon; for it chances that I also have taken a fancy
to him."

"In that case," said the viking, "we may make him the stake to be
fought for in our coming horse fight. And if my horse overcomes
yours, then the lad shall be my prize, and I will make a viking of
him."

"And how if the victory be mine and not yours?" asked Sigurd.

"You shall have value equal to the boy, be assured of that, hersir."

"Agreed," said Sigurd. "And now, what news have you from west over
sea?"

"Ill news and good. There has fallen a great famine in Norway. In
Thrandheim the folk are dying for lack of corn and fish, and in
Halogaland the snow has lain over the valleys nigh until midsummer,
so that all the livestock have been bound in stall and fed upon