Now after Ingvar had helped himself, the cauldron came to Guthrum, and then to Halfden, and then it must come to me, and I had heaped food before me that I might pass it by more easily, knowing that this was the sacrificed meat of which I might not eat.  But the men stayed before me, and I made a sign to them to pass by, and honest Thormod leaned across me to take his share quickly, and they passed to him, wondering at me a little, but maybe thinking nothing of it.  They were but thralls, and had not been at the Ve.

But Rorik’s men had their eyes on me, and when the cauldron passed Thormod, and I had not taken thereout, one rose up and said, pointing to me: 

“Lo! this Saxon will not eat of the sacrifice.”

At that was a growl of wrath from the company, and Ingvar rose, looking over the heads of my comrades, saying: 

“Have a care, thou fool; go not too far with me.”

Then Guthrum laughed and said: 

“This is foolishness to mind him; moreover, he has fought for and won his right to please himself in the matter.”

So too said Halfden and Thormod, but against their voices were now many raised, saying that ill luck would be with the host for long enough, if this were suffered openly.

Now a Dane or Norseman takes no heed of the religion of other folk unless the matter is brought forward in this way, too plainly to be overlooked.  But then, being jealous for his own gods, whom he knows to be losing ground, he must needs show that he is so.  Nor do I blame him, for it is but natural.

So to these voices Ingvar the godar must needs pay heed, even if his own patience were not gone, so that he might not suffer that one should sit at the board of Thor and Odin, untasting and unacknowledging.

He called to two of his courtmen.

“Take this man away,” he said, very sternly, “and put him in ward till tomorrow.  Today is the feast, and we have had enough trouble over the business already.”

The two men came towards me, and all men were hushed, waiting to see if I would fight.  As they came I rose from my place, and they thought I would resist, for they shifted their sword hilts to the front, ready to hand.  But I unbuckled my sword belt, and cast the weapon down, following them quietly, for it was of no good to fight hopelessly for freedom in a strange land.

Many men scowled at me as I passed, and more than one cried out on me.  But Halfden and Thormod and Hubba, and more than were angry, seemed glad that this was all the harm that came to me just now.  And Ingvar leaned back in his great chair and did not look at me, though his face was dark.

They put me into a cell, oak walled and strong, and there left me, unfettered, but with a heavily-barred door between me and freedom; and if I could get out, all Denmark and the sea around me held me prisoner.

Yet I despaired not altogether, for already I had gone through much danger, and my strength had not failed me.