Then I knew that the worst was come, and prepared to meet it.  But Halfden spoke.

“All men’s customs are not alike, and a stranger has his own ways.”

But Ingvar’s face was black with rage, and not heeding Halfden, he shouted: 

“Set the man before me.”

No man stirred, for indeed I think that most of our crew knew not who was meant, and those near me would, as Halfden told me, say nought.

Then said Ingvar to Rorik:  “Point the man to me.”

Then Rorik pointed to me.  So I stood forth of my own accord, not looking at him, but at Ingvar.

“So,” said the jarl, harshly, “you dare to dishonour Thor?”

I answered boldly, feeling very strong in the matter.

“I dishonour no man’s religion, Jarl, neither yours nor my own.”

“You did no honour to the Asir,” he said sternly.

“Thor and Odin are not the gods I worship,” I answered.

“I know.  You are one of those who have left the gods of your fathers.”

Then one of our men, who had stood next to me, spoke for me, as he thought.

“I saw Wulfric sign Thor’s hammer even now.  What more does any man want from a Saxon?”

Thereat Ingvar scowled, knowing, as I think, what this was.

“You claim to be truth teller,” he said; “did you sign Thor’s hammer?”

“I did not,” I answered.

Then Halfden came to my side.

“Let Wulfric go his own way, brother.  What matters it what gods he worships so long as he is good warrior and true man, as I and my men know him to be?”

So he looked round on the faces of my comrades, and they answered in many ways that this was so.  And several cried: 

“Let it be, Jarl.  What is one man to Thor and Odin?”

Now I think that Ingvar would have let the matter pass thus, for the word of the host is not lightly to be disregarded.  But Rorik would not suffer it.

“What of the wrath of the gods, Godar?” he said.  “How will you put that aside?”

Then was a murmur that they must be appeased, but it came not from our crew; and Ingvar stood frowning, but not looking at me for a space, for he was pulled two ways.  As godar he must not pass by the dishonour to the gods, yet as the son of the man whom I had saved, how could he harm me?  And Rorik, seeing this, cried: 

“I hold that this man should live no longer.”

“Why, what dishonour has he done the gods?” said Halfden.  “If he had scoffed, or said aught against them—­that were a different thing.  And what does Thor there care if one man pays no heed to him?  Surely he can keep his own honour—­leave it to him.”

“It is dishonour to Thor not to hail him,” said Rorik.

Now Ingvar spoke again to me: 

“Why do you no honour to the gods?”

“My fathers honoured them, for the godarship was theirs, and would have been my father’s and mine, even as it is yours, Jarl Ingvar.  For good reason they left that honour and chose another way and a better.  And to that way I cleave.  I have done despite to no man’s faith—­neither to yours nor my own.”