“Greenland!  What for?”—­“You are jesting.”  “That pagan hole!”—­“In three days?  It is impossible!”—­“Is the chief witch-ridden?”—­” Has word come that Eric is dead?”—­” Has Leif quarrelled with King Olaf, that the King has banished him?”—­” Greenland, grave-mound for living men!”—­“What for?”—­“In the Troll’s name, why?”—­” You are lying; it is certain that you are.”—­” Speak, you raven!”

“In a moment, in a moment,—­give me breath and room, my masters,” the thrall answered boldly.  “It is the truth; I myself heard the talk.  But first,—­I have ridden far and fast, and my throat is parched with—­”

A dozen milk-bowls were snatched from the table and passed to him.  He emptied two with cool deliberation, and wiped his mouth on his sleeve.

“I give you thanks.  I shall not keep you waiting.  It happened last night when Leif came in to make his report to the King.  Olaf was seated on the throne in his hall, feasting.  Many famous chiefs sat along the walls.  You should have heard the cheer they gave when it was known that Leif had the victory!”

Here Kark’s roving eyes discovered Alwin among the listeners; he paused, and treated him to a long insolent stare.  Then he went on: 

“I was saying that they cheered.  It is likely that the warriors up in Valhalla heard, and thought it a battle-cry.  Olaf raised his drinking-horn and said, ’Hail to you, Leif Ericsson!  Health and greeting!  Victory always follows your sword.’  Then he drank to him across the floor, and bade him come and sit beside him, that he might have serious speech with him.”

A second cheer, loud as a battle-cry, went up to Valhalla.  But mingling with its echo there arose a chorus of resentment.

“Yet after such honors why does he banish him?”—­“Did they quarrel?”—­“Is it possible that there is treachery?”—­“Tell us why he is banished!”—­“Yes, why?” —­“Answer that!”

The messenger laughed loudly.  “Who said that he was banished?  Rein in your tongues.  As much honor as is possible is intended him.  It happened after the feast—­”

“Then pass over the feast; come to your story!” was shouted so impatiently that even Kark saw the wisdom of complying.

“It shall be as you like.  I shall begin with the time when every warrior had gone to bed, except those lying drunk upon the benches.  I sat on Leif’s foot-stool, with his horn.  It is likely that I also had been asleep, for what I first remember was that Leif and the King had ceased speaking together, and sat leaning back staring at the torches, which were burning low.  It was so still that you could hear the men snore and the branches scraping on the roof.  Then the King said, while he still looked at the torch, ’Do you purpose sailing to Greenland in the summer?’ It is likely that Leif felt some surprise, for he did not answer straightway; but he is wont to have fine words ready in his throat, and at last he said, ’I should wish to do so, if it is your will.’  Then the King said nothing for a long time, and they both sat looking at the pine torch that was burning low, until it went out.  Then Olaf turned and looked into Leif’s eyes and said, ’I think it may well be so.  You shall go my errand, and preach Christianity in Greenland.’”