Haf.—­Come, sir bishop.

Botolf (to KOLBEIN KALDALJOS).—­If Kolbein commits such wickedness you shall let the ‘Peace of God’ be rung over all the land until next Monday evening; and then all the ill deeds he does meanwhile will become two-fold crimes.

Kolbein.—­’God’s peace’—­hm!  That is a new thing in this land!  In that case I shall come after Monday and break to pieces ‘Likabong’ and the other bells of the cathedral; then you will have to cease ringing for a while, sir bishop.

Botolf.—­Now the foul fiend talks through Kolbein’s mouth.

Haf.—­Come along with the foul fiend, sir!

Kolbein Kaldaljos.—­The church needs men to guard it, the danger is greater than ever.  Give me the watchword, sir bishop.

Botolf (aside to KOLBEIN KALDALJOS).—­God is our castle!

Haf.—­Come along, sir bishop!

Botolf (to himself).—­Better I were a simple monk in Helgiseter cloister in Norway, than be a weak bishop and stand between the feuds of the chieftains of this land.  But the king requested me.

(KOLBEIN THE YOUNG and HAF lead the BISHOP away between them.)

KOLBEIN KALDALJOS.—­Oh the enormity to take the bishop prisoner in his own cathedral.  And yet we have won the victory.  I shall let the ’Peace of God’ be rung out over the land, and that will protect the bishop from all danger and also give my son Brand time to collect his forces.

(Exit.  The scene is empty a little while.  Then BRODDI, ALF, and the other slayers of THOROLF enter hurriedly.)

Broddi.—­Where is the bishop?

Alf.—­I was told that Kolbein Kaldaljos was here. (KOLBEIN KALDALJOS enters again.)

Kolbein Kaldaljos.—­You come too late, Broddi.  Kolbein the Young has taken the bishop with him against his will to Flugumyr.

Broddi (aghast).—­Unlike Kolbein to other men.  Who could have thought of such an unheard-of thing?

Kolbein Kaldaljos.—­And will kill the bishop, if you show any hostilities against Kolbein.

Alf.—­Will kill the bishop?  Whenever has the like been heard, to take a bishop out of his church against his will and threaten him with death!  He will straightway be doomed to hell when he dies, but not before having made away with us all.

Broddi—­I have two hundred men.  Kolbein has not even one hundred and will get no more before to-morrow evening.  Who cares about the bishop’s life?  He will have to die some day.  I shall ride after Kolbein with all my men, and the battle is won.  Have you no message to me from the bishop?

Kolbein Kaldaljos.—­He authorizes you to use the fortifications and wishes you to defend the see.

Broddi.—­What do I need the fortifications now?  I have twice as many men.