then make a war-garth after their manner at Wolf-stead and carry fire and the sword and the chains of thralldom into every House of the Mark.  Now therefore fetch a compass and come into the wood on the north-west of the houses and make your way to the Thing-stead of the Mid-mark.  For who knoweth but that to-morrow we may fall upon these thieves again?  Of this shall ye hear more when we may speak together and take counsel face to face; for we stay-at-homes know somewhat closely of the ways of these Romans.  Haste then! let not the grass grow over your feet!

“’But to thee, Thiodolf, have I a word to say when we meet; for I wot that as now thou canst not hearken to my word.’  Thus saith the Hall-Sun.”

“Wilt thou speak, War-duke?” said Arinbiorn.  But Thiodolf shook his head.  Then said Arinbiorn; “Shall I speak for thee?” and Thiodolf nodded yea.  Then said Arinbiorn:  “Ali son of Grey, art thou going back to her that sent thee?”

“Yea,” said the lad, “but in your company, for ye will be coming straightway and I know all the ways closely; and there is need for a guide through the dark night as ye will see presently.”

Then stood up Arinbiorn and said:  “Chiefs and captains, go ye speedily and array your men for departure:  bid them leave all the fires burning and come their ways as silently as maybe; for now will we wend this same hour before moonrise into the Wild-wood and the Thing-stead of Mid-mark; thus saith the War-duke.”

But when they were gone, and Arinbiorn and Thiodolf were left alone, Thiodolf lifted up his head and spake slowly and painfully: 

“Arinbiorn, I thank thee:  and thou dost well to lead this folk:  since as for me that is somewhat that weighs me down, and I know not whether it be life or death; therefore I may no longer be your captain, for twice now have I blenched from the battle.  Yet command me, and I will obey, set a sword in my hand and I will smite, till the God snatches it out of my hand, as he did Throng-plough to-day.”

“And that is well,” said Arinbiorn, “it may be that ye shall meet that God to-morrow, and heave up sword against him, and either overcome him or go to thy fathers a proud and valiant man.”

So they spake, and Thiodolf stood up and seemed of better cheer.  But presently the whole host was afoot, and they went their ways warily with little noise, and wound little by little about the Wolfing meadow and about the acres towards the wood at the back of the Houses; and they met nothing by the way except an out-guard of the Romans, whom they slew there nigh silently, and bore away their bodies, twelve in number, lest the Romans when they sent to change the guard, should find the slain and have an inkling of the way the Goths were gone; but now they deemed that the Romans might think their guard fled, or perchance that they had been carried away by the Gods of the woodland folk.

So came they into the wood, and Arinbiorn and the chiefs were for striking the All-men’s road to the Thing-stead and so coming thither; but the lad Ali when he heard it laughed and said: