Thorolf is with thee? Where is he?
ORNULF. On board the ship. (Points towards the background, to the
right.) Scarce shalt thou know the boy again, so stout and strong and
fair has he grown. He will be a mighty warrior, Sigurd; one day he
will equal thee.
DAGNY (smiling). I see it is now as ever; Thorolf stands nearest
thy heart.
ORNULF. He is the youngest, and like his mother; therefore it is.
SIGURD. But tell me--thy errand to Gunnar--thinkest thou to-day----?
ORNULF. Rather to-day than to-morrow. Fair amends will content me;
if Gunnar says me nay, then must he take what comes.
(KARE THE PEASANT enters hastily from the right; he is clad in a
grey frieze cloak and low-brimmed felt hat; he carries in his
hand a broken fence-rail.)
KARE. Well met, Vikings!
ORNULF. Vikings are seldom well met.
KARE. If ye be honourable men, ye will grant me refuge among you;
Gunnar Headman's house-carls are hunting me to slay me.
ORNULF. Gunnar's?
SIGURD. Then has thou done him some wrong!
KARE. I have done myself right. Our cattle fed together upon an
island, hard by the coast; Gunnar's men carried off my best oxen, and
one of them flouted me for a thrall. Then bare I arms against him and
slew him.
ORNULF. That was a lawful deed.
KARE. But this morning his men came in wrath against me.
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