brown. Sigurd could not see his face, and might not have noticed
him had not the elder lad urged him forward, bidding him step upon
the plank and show his skill.

"Not I," said the younger, with an impatient toss of his cropped
head. And he thrust his thumbs into his belt and drew back. "Too
much have I already done in bidding Rekoni try the feat. Well is
it for me that he is not hurt by his fall into the sea, else would
his father's whip be about my back. Even as the matter stands, my
master will surely stop my food for having left his sheep to stray
upon the hills."

"I had but wished to see you succeed where your master's son has
failed," sighed the elder lad. And at this the boy turned round
and said more softly:

"Well, Thorgils, for your pleasure will I do it, and not for the
vikings' praise. Lend me your dirk."

So he took the knife from Thorgils' belt, and, leaving the crowd,
walked boldly to the end of the gangplank. Here he rubbed the soles
of his bare feet in the dust and then stepped to the middle of the
narrow board.

"Now what thinks this child that he can do?" cried one of the
vikings.

The boy turned sharply and looked at the man who had spoken. He was
a tall, red bearded man, whose nose was flat against his scarred,
bronzed face. At sight of him the boy drew back a pace as if in