"Tell me," he asked, "who is this man, our master, and whither is
he taking us?"

"I cannot tell," answered the youth. "It is but three days since
that he bought me, and I can ill understand the tongue these men
speak, for I am not of this land. My home is far across the seas."

"In what realm?" asked Thorgils.

"In England."

"That must be far away indeed," said Olaf, "for never have I heard
of such a land."

"It is an island, out across the Western Sea," explained Thorgils;
"often have I heard it named. In that same land it was that King
Erik Bloodaxe lived and died. Many vikings out of Norway have
crossed the seas for the sake of the wealth they can win from the
Angles. And if I were a viking it is to England I would steer my
course."

"Gladly would I go with you," said the English youth; "ay, even
now, if we could but escape. But it seems that we are journeying
away from the seacoast, and there is little hope that we can win
our way on board a ship."

"There is hope enough if we do not delay our escape," returned
Thorgils, looking out to where the campfires burned. He was silent
for many minutes, then, laying his hand on the stranger's arm, he