Whereat Raud was pleased, and together we went to the great house, and entered, unchallenged.  Hubba came forward and held out his strong hand to me frankly, smiling a little, but gravely, and I took it.

“Beorn has told the truth,” he said; “forgive me for doubt of you at any time.”

“Aye, let that be forgotten,” said Ingvar, coming from beyond the great fire, and I answered that I thought it not strange that they had doubted me.

“Now, therefore,” said Hubba, “you yourself shall question Beorn, for there are things you want to know from him.  And he will answer you truly enough.”

“After that you shall slay him, if you will,” said Ingvar, in his stern voice, “I wonder you did not do so in the boat.  Better for him if you had.”

“I wonder not,” said Hubba.  “The man is fit for naught; I could not lay hand on such a cur.”

I had no answer to make after that, for the warrior spoke my own thoughts, and I held my peace as they took me to the further side of the hearth, past the fire, beyond which I had not yet been able to see.

Then I knew how Beorn had been made to speak the truth.  They had tortured him, and there was no strength left in him at all, so that I almost started back from the cruel marks that he bore.  Yet I had things to hear from him, now that he had no need to speak falsely, and I went to his side.  The two jarls stood and looked at him unmoved.

“The justice of Ulfkytel is on you, Beorn,” I said slowly; “there is no need to hide aught.  Tell me how you slew Lodbrok, and why.”

Then came a voice, so hollow that I should not have known it for the lusty falconer’s of past days: 

“Aye; justice is on me, and I am glad.  I will tell you, but first say that you forgive me.”

Then I could not but tell this poor creature that for all the harm he had done me I would surely forgive him; but that the deed of murder was not for me to forgive.

“Pray, therefore, that for it I may be forgiven hereafter,” he said, and that I promised him.

Then he spoke faintly, so that Hubba bade Raud give him strong drink, and that brought his strength back a little.

“I took your arrows at Thetford, and I followed you to Reedham.  There I dogged you, day by day, in the woods—­five days I went through the woods as you hunted, and then you twain were far apart, and my chance had come.  Lodbrok reined up to listen, and I marked where he would pass when he went back, hearing your horn.  Then I shot, and the arrow went true; but I drew sword, being mad, and made more sure.  That is all.  Surely I thought I should escape, for I told no man what I would do, and all men thought me far away, with the king.”

Then he stopped, and recovered his strength before he could go on.

“I hated Lodbrok because he had taken my place beside the king, and because his woodcraft was greater than mine, though I was first in that in all our land.  And I feared that he would take the land the king offered him, for I longed for it.”