Now one of the franklins there, who knew me well enough, said: 

“Wulfric, be not ashamed to confess it, if for once you shot ill—­if your arrow went by chance to Lodbrok’s heart, I pray you, say so.  It may well be forgiven.”

Very grateful was I for that kind word, but I would not plead falsely, nor, indeed, would it have told aught of the other wound that had been made.  So I shook my head, thanking the man, and saying that it was not so.

Now I think that the earl had planned this in order to make one of us speak at the last, and for a moment I thought that Beorn was about to speak, but he forbore.  Then Ulfkytel sighed heavily and turned away, speaking in a low voice to the thanes with him, and they seemed to agree with his words.

At length he turned to us and spoke gravely: 

“It is, as I said, too hard for me.  The Lord shall judge.  Even as Lodbrok came shall you two go, at the mercy of wind and wave and of Him who rules them.  You shall be put into Lodbrok’s boat this night, and set adrift to take what may come.  Only this I lay upon you, that the innocent man shall not harm the guilty.  As for himself, he need, as I think, have no fear, for the guilty man is a coward and nidring {xii}.  Nor, as it seems to me, if all may be believed, can the guiltless say for certain that the other did it.”

Then was a murmur of assent to this strange manner of justice of Earl Ulfkytel’s, and I, who feared not the sea, was glad; but Beorn would have fallen on the ground, but for his guards, and almost had he confessed, as I think.

“Eat and drink well,” said Ulfkytel, “for maybe it is long before you see food again.”

“Where shall you set them afloat?” asked a thane.

“Am I a fool to let men know that?” asked the earl sharply.  “There would be a rescue for a certainty.  You shall know by and by in private.”

The guards took us away, and unbinding our hands, set plenty of good food and drink before us.  And for my part I did well, for now that I knew the worst my spirits rose, and I had some hopes of escape, for there was every sign of fair weather for long enough.  And viking ways had taught me to go fasting for two days, if need be, given a good meal to start upon.

But Beorn ate little and drank much, while the guards bade him take example from me, but he would not; and after a while sat silent in a corner and ghastly to look upon, for no one cared to meddle with him.

As soon as it grew dusk they bade us eat again, for in half an hour we should set forth to the coast.  At that Beorn started up and cried out, wringing his hands and groaning, though he said no word, except that I should surely slay him in the boat.

Then I spoke to him for the first time since he had claimed the falcon, and said that from me, at least, he was safe.  And I spoke roughly, so that I think he believed me, so plain did I make it that I thought one who was surely cowardly in word and deed was not worth harming, and he ceased his outcry.