Then of a sudden the ship was smitten from under the keel with a heavy, soundless blow, and the waters of the firth ebbed and flowed fiercely about us; and then the sound passed on and down the firth swiftly and strangely as it had come, and left us rocking on the troubled waters that plashed and broke along the rocks of the shore, while the still, thick air seemed full of the screams of the terrified eagles and sea birds that had left them.

“Odin defend us!” the jarl said; “what is this?”

I shook my head, looking at him, and wondering if my face was white and scared as his and that of every man whom I could see.

Now we waited breathless for more to come, but all was quiet again.  The birds went back to their eyries, and the troubled water was still.  Then presently our fears passed enough to let us speak with one another; and then there were voices enough, for every man wished to hear his own again, that courage might return.

Then a man from the Orkneys who had been with Jarl Sigurd came aft to us, and stood at the break of the deck to speak with Einar.

“Jarl,” he said, almost under his breath, “it is in my mind that Sigurd, your brother, is wroth because his mound has been untended since we made it.”

Then Einar said: 

“Was it so ill made that it needs tending?”

“It was well made, jarl; but rain and frost and sun on a new-made mound may have wrought harm to it.  Or maybe he thinks that enough honour has not been paid him.  He was a great warrior, jarl, and perhaps would have more sacrifice, and a remembrance cup drunk by his own brother at his grave.”

Now this man’s name was Thord, the same who taught me runes—­a good seaman and leader of men, and one who was held to be wise in more matters than most folk.  So his word was to be listened to.

“You know more of these matters than I, Thord,” Einar answered.  “Is it possible that Sigurd could work this?”

“Who knows what a dead chief of might cannot work?” Thord said.  “I think it certain that Sigurd is angry for some reason; and little luck shall we have if we do not appease his spirit.”

Then the jarl looked troubled, as well he might, for to go near the mound that held an angry ghost was no light matter.  It lay far up the firth, Thord said, and the ships could not go so far.  But Einar was very brave, and when he had thought for a little while he said: 

“Well, then, I will take boat and go to Sigurd’s mound and see if he ails aught.  Will any man come with me, however?”

I liked not the errand, as may be supposed, but I could not leave my foster father to go alone.

“I will be with you,” I said.  “Will not Thord come also?”

“Ay,” the grim Orkney man answered.