Thorolf (in fear and wrath).—­You plunder the dead!

Jarngrim.—­Mine are all the slain!

Thorolf.—­Are you Woden, then, the father of all devils? (Draws his sword and strikes at him, but the blow strikes the roof of the cave.)

Jarngrim (who has not stirred while the blow was struck).—­Rarely avails the blow which is struck too high.

Thorolf (holds his shield before his body, with his sword behind it, and peers under the hood of JARNGRIM).—­You startled not!

Jarngrim.—­But you have changed color.  I never blink my eyes.

Thorolf.—­Yet it may go ill with but one eye, you evil spirit!

Jarngrim.—­Many are the eyes of day, the night has but one!  Let not the fire die down, Thorolf!  The mead you will drink with me to-night has become warm!  Is well-nigh ready.

(JARNGRIM walks into the cave.  As soon as his back is turned a black patch is seen between his shoulders.  THOROLF strikes another blow at him, but his sword strikes the rock wall.  JARNGRIM and the ravens vanish.)

Thorolf.—­Is he hiding here, the hell-hound?

His Men—­Who?  Who?

Thorolf.—­I have spoken with Woden and he has foretold me my death.

First Man.—­You have not spoken with any one, since we came here.  But we have heard avalanches in the distance, nor is that strange in weather such as this.

Thorolf.—­I shall live no longer than this fire burns!  Take well care of the fire, men!  Where are you, my men? (Falls into a swoon.  The second man tends the fire and makes it blaze up; the first man busies himself with THOROLF.)

Second Man.—­He is very ill.

First Man.—­He may have seen some ill wight, for ever since he saw the fire he has lost his senses.

Broddi (behind the stage).—­There is that fire again, let us go that way.

First Man.—­I heard some one speaking, a small distance away.  Likely, they are no friends of Thorolf’s who are abroad.

Second Man.—­And no water at hand to put out the fire, neither would it avail now.

Brand (without).—­None but fugitives will be here!

(Enter BRAND KOLBEINSSON, BRODDI, ALF, EINAR THE RICH, DEACON SIGURD, HELGI SKAFTASON, and six other men.)

Broddi.—­What’s this?  Seize the men that cower over Thorolf.

(THOROLF’S men are seized and disarmed.)

Einar.—­There he lies now, the lord of Eyafirth!

Alf.—­Strike the dog!

Thorolf (regains his senses and stands up quickly).—­For shame, neighbor Alf!  Why do you seize upon my men and hold them?

Broddi.—­So that they may harm no one!  Now, Thorolf, it is our intention that this will be our last meeting.