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any petitioner who sought their aid。
〃By Thor！〃 Bijorn exclaimed； 〃my good war…horse welcomes
the stranger。 As I said to you anon； Sweyn； I had intended
to offer him as a sacrifice to Odin； but as the gods
have thus declared him welcome here I must needs change
my intentions。 Who are you； young Saxon？〃 he asked as
Edmund was brought before him； 〃and whence do you come？
And how is it that a war…ship of your people is found upon
our coasts？〃
〃I am Edmund；〃 the young man said steadily； 〃an
ealdorman of King Alfred of the West Saxons。 The ship which
was seen on your coast is mine； I built it to attack the
Northmen who harry our coasts。 I am here because； when
in chase of four of your ships； a storm arose and blew us
hither。〃
〃You speak boldly；〃 the jarl said； 〃for one in the hands of
his foes。 How old are you？〃
〃I am twenty…two；〃 Edmund replied。
〃The same age as you； Sweyn。 Stand side by side and let
me compare you。 Ay；〃 he went on； 〃he lacks nigh three inches
of your height； but he is more than that bigger across the
shouldersa stalwart young champion； indeed； and does
brave credit to his rearing。 These West Saxons have shown
themselves worthy foemen； and handled us roughly last year；
as this will testify；〃 and he pointed to the scar of a sword…cut
across his face。 〃Doubtless this is the son of that Saxon earl
who more than once last summer inflicted heavy losses upon
us。 Is that so； young Saxon？〃
〃I am the Ealdorman Edmund himself；〃 the young man
replied quietly。 〃My successes were won not by my own
strength or courage； but by the valour of those under me；
who； fighting in a novel manner； gained advantage over your
Northmen。〃
〃By Thor！〃 Bijorn exclaimed； 〃and this is the youth who
attacked us at night and drove off the cattle we had taken
and slew many of our followers； Sweyn！ Truly he would be a
rare sacrifice to offer to Odin； but the god has himself
welcomed him here。〃
〃It may be that he welcomed him as a sacrifice； father；〃
Sweyn suggested。
〃Ah！ that may be so；〃 the jarl replied。 〃We must consult
the omens to find out the true meaning of my charger's neighing。
Nevertheless in either case I shall be content； for if he
be not welcomed as a sacrifice he is welcome as bringing
good fortune； and in truth he will make a noble cup…bearer
to me。 It is not every jarl who is waited upon by a Saxon
ealdorman。 But till the omens have spoken let him be set
aside and carefully watched。 In a day or two we will journey
to Odin's temple and there consult the auguries。〃
Three days passed； during which Edmund was well fed
and treated。 At the end of that time he was ordered to
accompany the jarl on a journey。 Two days' travelling brought
them to a temple of Odin。 It was a rough structure of unhewn
stones situated in a wood。 Bijorn and his son entered； while
Edmund remained without under a guard。 Presently the jarl
and his son came out with a priest。 The latter carried a white
bag in his hand with twelve small pieces of wood。 On half of
these four small nicks were cut； on the others five nicks。 All
were placed in the bag； which was then shaken。
〃Now；〃 the priest said； 〃you will see the will of Odin； the
first three sticks drawn out will declare it。 If two of the three
bear an even number of nicks； the neigh of your horse signifies
that Odin accepted the sacrifice； if two of them bear unequal
numbers； then it meant that his coming was propitious to you。〃
The bag was again shaken。 Edmund looked on calmly；
for Saxons and Northmen alike disdained to show the slightest
fear of death； even the colour did not fade from his cheek
as he watched the trial upon which his life depended。
The first stick drawn out bore five marks； the priest
showed it to the jarl； and without a word dropped it in the
bag again。 This was again shaken and another stick drawn
out； this bore but four notches； the chances were even。 The
silence was unbroken until the third twig was drawn。
〃Odin has spoken；〃 the priest said。 〃The neigh of the
horse indicated that the coming of this Saxon was propitious
to your house。〃
The jarl gave an exclamation of satisfaction； while
Sweyn's brow darkened。 Bijorn had indeed set his heart upon
retaining this famous young Saxon leader as his slave and
cup…bearer； and it was probable that in his interview with the
priest before the drawing his inclinations had been clearly
shown； for a slight difference between the thickness of the
sticks might well have existed and served as an index to the
priest in drawing them。
Bijorn； in his gratification at the answer of the god；
bestowed a handsome present upon the priest； and then rode
back to his abode well content with his journey。 Edmund
was at once installed in his new duties。 Hitherto he had not
entered the house nor seen the females of the family。 Ulfra；
the jarl's wife； was a woman of commanding stature and appearance。
Like most of the northern women she had accompanied her
husband in his many wanderings； and shared his dangers and
privations。 The wives of the Norsemen occupied a far
more exalted position in the households of their
lords than did those of the people of southern Europe； they
were not only mistresses of the house； but were treated with
respect as well as with affection； they were not； as in the south；
regarded as puppets for the amusements of an idle hour； but
were the companions and advisers of their husbands； occupying
a position at least as free and respected as at the present day。
There were two daughters； who both bade fair to resemble
their mother in stature and dignity of demeanour；
for both were models of female strength and activity。
Edmund's duties were light。 In the morning he gathered
firewood for the household； at the meals he handed the
dishes； and taking his station behind the jarl's chair； refilled
his goblet with mead as often as it was empty。 Usually a large
party sat down to supper； for an expedition to France was
talked of in the spring； and the jarls and warriors often met
to discuss the place of starting； the arrangements for the
voyage； and the numbers which each leader would place in the
field。 The feasts were kept up to a late hour； and； as was the
invariable custom of the Northmen； the arrangements decided
upon overnight were rediscussed at a morning meeting；
for they held that while over the wine…cup each man would
speak the truth frankly and honestly； the colder counsels and
greater prudence which the morning brought were needed
before any matter could be finally settled。
A month thus passed； and Bijorn； his family and followers
then moved south； as there was to be a great conference
near the southern point of the country； at which a large
number of the chiefs from Denmark were to be present。
Edmund observed that for some reason Sweyn was looking
forward anxiously to this meeting； and his sisters more
than once joked him about his anxiety。
〃Pooh！ pooh！〃 the jarl said one day in answer to such
an observation。 〃Sweyn is but a lad yet。 I know what you are
driving at； and that Sweyn is smitten with the charms of my
old companion's daughter； the pretty Freda； I noted it when
we were in camp together；