“Let us go back to Jarl Einar; he will fear for us,” I said, sheathing the sword and girding it to me.

So we went across the meadow, and even as we went a blast of cold wind came from, over the mountains, and with it whirled the black thunderclouds of the storm that had been gathering all day.  We ran to an overhanging rock on the hillside and crept beneath it, while the thunder crashed and the lightning struck from side to side of the firth, and smote the wind-swept water that was white with foam.

“Master,” said Kolgrim, “the Jarl Sigurd is wroth; he repents the sword gift.”

But I did not think that he had aught to do with this.  For, as any hill-bred man could tell, the storm had been brewing in the heat, and was bound to come, and would pass to and fro among the hills till it was worn out.

Nevertheless, when it passed away in pouring rain that swept like a hanging sheet of moving mist down the glens from the half-hidden mountains, and the sun shone out brightly again over the clear-cut purple hillsides and rippling water, I looked at the mound in wonder.  For it was closed.  We had sought shelter in a place near that whence we saw the mound in coming, and could see the fallen side, though not the doorway, looking across its front.  And now the slope of the bank seemed to have been made afresh, as on the day when Sigurd had been closed in, years ago.  None could say, save those who had seen it, where the opening into the grave-chamber might be.

Now both the opening and closing of Sigurd’s grave mound seem very strange to me.  Thord and the scalds will have it that he himself wrought both.  As for me, I know not.  In after days I told this to Alfred the king when he wondered at my sword, and he said that he thought an earthquake opened and washing rain closed the mound, but that it happened strangely for me.  I cannot gainsay his wise words, and I will leave the matter so.

Thereafter Kolgrim and I went back to Einar, who yet waited for us.  Glad was he to see us return in safety; but both he and Thord were speechless when they saw the jarl’s sword girt to me and the jarl’s golden ring on my hand.  Neither they nor any one else will believe that I met with no peril; and the tale that the scalds made hereafter of the matter is over wonderful, in spite of all I may say.  For they think it but right that I should not be over boastful of my deeds.

But Jarl Einar looked on sword and ring, and said: 

“Well have you won these gifts.  My brother is in peace in his resting place now.  I hold that he called for you.”

So we went back to the ships, and there for many days the men stared at Kolgrim and me strangely.  They say I was very silent for long, and it is likely enough.  Moreover, Einar was wont to say that I seemed five years older from that day forward.

We went no more to the place of the mound, for it seemed to need no care of earthly hands.  Nor were any wishing to go to so awesome a place, and we left the firth next day, for the men waxed uneasy there.