'
Then the throng set up a shout, and made way a little, so that Hall-
face and Gold-mane and the others could get to the door. And they
entered into the Hall, and saw much folk therein; and men were
sitting at table, for supper was not yet over. But when they saw the
new-comers they mostly rose up from the board and stood silent to
hear the tale, for they had been talking many together each to each,
so that the Hall was full of confused noise.
So Hall-face again cried out: 'Men in this hall, good is the
tidings. The runaways are slain; and it was Face-of-god who slew
them as he came back safe from the waste.'
Then they shouted for joy, and the brethren and Stone-face with them
(for he had entered with them from the street) went up on to the
dais, while the others of the Hue-and-cry gat them seats where they
might at the endlong tables.
But when Face-of-god came up on to the dais, there sat Iron-face
looking down on the thronged Hall with a ruddy cheerful countenance,
and beside him sat the Bride; for he had caused her to be brought
thither when he had heard of the tidings of battle. She was daintily
clad in a flame-coloured kirtle embroidered with gold about the bosom
and sleeves, and there was a fillet of golden roses on her ruddy
hair.
Pages:
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259