THORGRIM THE EASTERLING’S VOICE (near the casement)
                        Find that out for yourselves: 
  I am only sure his bill is yet within.

  (A noise of falling is heard.)

                        GUNNAR
  The Easterling from Sandgil might be dying—­
  He has gone down the roof, yet no feet helped him.

  (A shouting of many men is heard:  GUNNAR starts back from the
  casement as several arrows fly in.)

Now there are black flies biting before a storm. 
I see men gathering beneath the cart-shed: 
Gizur the White and Geir the priest are there,
And a lean whispering shape that should be Mord. 
I have a sting for some one—­

(He looses an arrow:  a distant cry follows.)

                                    Valgard’s voice.... 
  A shaft of theirs is lying on the roof;
  I’ll send it back, for if it should take root
  A hurt from their own spent and worthless weapon
  Would put a scorn upon their tale for ever.

(He leans out for the arrow.)

RANNVEIG
Do not, my son:  rouse them not up again
When they are slackening in their attack.

                        HALLGERD
  Shoot, shoot it out, and I’ll come up to mock them.

GUNNAR (loosing the arrow)
Hoia!  Swerve down upon them, little hawk.

(A shout follows.)

Now they run all together round one man: 
Now they murmur....

A VOICE
Close in, lift bows again: 
He has no shafts, for this is one of ours.

(Arrows fly in at the casement.)

GUNNAR
Wife, here is something in my arm at last: 
The head is twisted—­I must cut it clear.

(STEINVOR throws open the dais door and rushes through with a
high shriek.)

                        STEINVOR
  Woman, let us out—­help us out—­
  The burning comes—­they are calling out for fire.

  (She shrieks again.  ODDNY and ASTRID, who have come behind her,
  muffle her head in a kirtle and lift her.)

      ASTRID (turning as they bear her out)
  Fire suffuses only her cloudy brain: 
  The flare she walks in is on the other side
  Of her shot eyes.  We heard a passionate voice,
  A shrill unwomanish voice that must be Mord,
  With “Let us burn him—­burn him house and all.” 
  And then a grave and trembling voice replied,
  “Although my life hung on it, it shall not be.” 
  Again the cunning fanatic voice went on
  “I say the house must burn above his head.” 
  And the unlifted voice, “Why wilt thou speak
  Of what none wishes:  it shall never be.”

  (ASTRID and ODDNY disappear with STEINVOR.)

                        GUNNAR
  To fight with honest men is worth much friendship: 
  I’ll strive with them again.