id="id00347">Thorolf (from without).—All's well, companions, I heard a human voice! (Silence.)

Jarngrim.—Thorolf!

Thorolf (from without).—Where are you?

Jarngrim.—Here!

Thorolf (and two others enter.. THOROLF'S men never see JARNGRIM. They kindle a fire forthwith).—What is your name, friend?

Jarngrim.—Jarngrim I am called.

Thorolf.—We have lost our way. Will you allow me to sit down at the fire?

Jarngrim.—There is a plenty of dry fuel in the cave.

(THOROLF'S men have been kindling the fire which burns up brightly.
JARNGRIM nods to THOROLF.)

Jarngrim.—This eve we shall drink mead together!

Thorolf.—And no houses hereabouts? (With arising suspicion.) How many are there of you?

Jarngrim.—Never have I had a companion, except my horse and two hawks.

Thorolf (points to the ravens, mockingly).—Your hawks are of a black color, likely; they are sitting there near enough to you.

Jarngrim.—Near they sit to me, whenever good prey is near.

Thorolf.—Who has made you an outlaw?

Jarngrim.—The White Christ.

Thorolf.—Excommunicated then you are! Bishop Botolf will absolve you if you confess to him your troubles.

Jarngrim.—Never would Botolf admit me to church if he knew who I am.

Thorolf.—Give some of your property to the church for absolution.

Jarngrim.—The temples of the White God have taken possession of all my goods, except my horse and my hawks,—we four still journey together.

Thorolf.—Become my follower and accompany me to Eyafirth, if Kolbein the Young dies.

Jarngrim.—Kolbein the Young will not die. But to be your man, Thorolf, I care not, because you pursue your ends to excess, small means as you have. It will never end well.

Thorolf.—How can you know that, you who are ignorant of all?

Jarngrim.—An old man knows that a man's character is his destiny.

Thorolf.—Go then and serve Kolbein the Young if he lives.

Jarngrim.—Oft was I a follower of Kolbein.

Thorolf.—How may that be, then, that I know you not?

Jarngrim.—The haughty heed not though they see a sage. Most men knew me in former times, but few know me now. Small has become the number of my friends.

Thorolf.—Now I recognize you, friend. I saw you in the battle of Orlygsstad, when you stood over the corpse of Sighvat Sturluson.

Jarngrim.—A great friend of mine was Sighvat.

Thorolf.—And a short time ago, when you stood over the body of Tumi Sighvatsson, at Reykholar. You turned your back to the church. And whither are you journeying now?

Jarngrim.—Thither where tidings are near. Whenever I come down the mountain side there arises tumult in the valleys; wherever I remain all day great battles are fought. The Norns have decreed all that. But now men say that the White God is about to come from the south, with great splendor, and that he will bring with him peace. I ween it will prove a lie.

Thorolf.—Decreed by the Norns! You must be an old man?

Jarngrim.—I was Ingolf's the First Settler's pilot on his journey to Iceland.

Thorolf.—I am not a book-learned man; yet must you, then, be exceedingly old and yet are not gray-haired.

Jarngrim.—I and my likes grow not gray.

Thorolf.—Will you tell me where I am?

Jarngrim.—This is the cave by Kolbein's stream.

Thorolf (shudders).—I have heard it mentioned! But what do you here?

Jarngrim.—I gather shields for my roof.

Thorolf.—Shields?

Jarngrim.—Those that drop from the hands of men slain in battle.

Thorolf (in fear and wrath).—You plunder the dead!

Jarngrim.—Mine are all the slain!

Thorolf.—Are you Woden, then, the father of all devils? (Draws his sword and strikes at him, but the blow strikes the roof of the cave.)

Jarngrim (who has not stirred while the blow was struck).—Rarely avails the blow which is struck too high.

Thorolf (holds his shield before his body, with his sword behind it, and peers under the hood of JARNGRIM).—You startled not!

Jarngrim.—But you have changed color. I never blink my eyes.

Thorolf.—Yet it may go ill with but one eye, you evil spirit!

Jarngrim.—Many are the eyes of day, the night has but one! Let not the fire die down, Thorolf! The mead you will drink with me to-night has become warm! Is well-nigh ready.

(JARNGRIM walks into the cave. As soon as his back is turned a black patch is seen between his shoulders. THOROLF strikes another blow at him, but his sword strikes the rock wall. JARNGRIM and the ravens vanish.)

Thorolf.—Is he hiding here, the hell-hound?

His Men—Who? Who?

Thorolf.—I have spoken with Woden and he has foretold me my death.

First Man.—You have not spoken with any one, since we came here. But we have heard avalanches in the distance, nor is that strange in weather such as this.

Thorolf.—I shall live no longer than this fire burns! Take well care of the fire, men! Where are you, my men? (Falls into a swoon. The second man tends the fire and makes it blaze up; the first man busies himself with THOROLF.)

Second Man.—He is very ill.

First Man.—He may have seen some ill wight, for ever since he saw the fire he has lost his senses.

Broddi (behind the stage).—There is that fire again, let us go that way.

First Man.—I heard some one speaking, a small distance away. Likely, they are no friends of Thorolf's who are abroad.

Second Man.—And no water at hand to put out the fire, neither would it avail now.

Brand (without).—None but fugitives will be here!

(Enter BRAND KOLBEINSSON, BRODDI, ALF, EINAR THE RICH, DEACON SIGURD, HELGI SKAFTASON, and six other men.)

Broddi.—What's this? Seize the men that cower over Thorolf.

(THOROLF'S men are seized and disarmed.)

Einar.—There he lies now, the lord of Eyafirth!

Alf.—Strike the dog!

Thorolf (regains his senses and stands up quickly).—For shame, neighbor Alf! Why do you seize upon my men and hold them?

Broddi.—So that they may harm no one! Now, Thorolf, it is our intention that this will be our last meeting.

Einar.—Death is before your door now, Thorolf.

Thorolf.—'The love of many girls had I, One time every one must die.'[A] Did I see right? Is