Hall-face was the first of them, and he threw his arms about his
brother and said: 'Well met, Gold-mane, though thou comest amongst
us like Stone-fist of the Mountain. Art thou hurt? With whom hast
thou dealt? Where be they? Whence comest thou?'
'Nay, I am not hurt,' said Face-of-god. 'Stint thy questions then,
till thou hast told me whom thou seekest with spear and sword and
candle.'
'Two felons were they,' said Hall-face, 'even such as ye saw lying
dead at Wood-grey's the other day.'
'Then may ye sheathe your swords and go home,' said Gold-mane, 'for
one lieth at the bottom of the eddy, and the other, thy feet are
well-nigh treading on him, Hall-face.'
Then arose a rumour of praise and victory, and they brought the
torches nigh and looked at the fallen man, and found that he was
stark dead; so they even let him lie there till the morrow, and all
turned about toward the Thorp; and many looked on Face-of-god and
wondered concerning him, whence he was and what had befallen him.
Indeed, they would have asked him thereof, but could not get at him
to ask; but whoso could, went as nigh to Hall-face and him as they
might, to hearken to the talk between the brothers.
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