When it tilted towards us we perceived a track worn deep into the ice by the paws of the prisoned bear as it had marched endlessly round.
Also we saw a big grinning skull, whereon sat a raven picking at the eye-holes, and some fragments of white fur.
"The bear is dead!" exclaimed Ragnar.

"Odin's curse be on that club-footed fool who gave us this cold ride for nothing." "Yes, I suppose so," said Steinar doubtfully.

"Don't you think that it is dead, Olaf ?" "What is the good of asking Olaf ?" broke in Ragnar, with a loud laugh.
"What does Olaf know about bears?
He has been asleep for the last half-hour dreaming of Athalbrand's blue-eyed daughter; or perhaps he is making up another poem." "Olaf sees farther when he seems asleep than some of us do when we are awake," answered Steinar hotly.
"Oh yes," replied Ragnar.

"Sleeping or waking, Olaf is perfect in your eyes, for you've drunk the same milk, and that ties you tighter than a rope.

Wake up, now, brother Olaf, and tell us: Is not the bear dead ?" Then I answered, "Why, of course, a bear is dead; see its skull, also pieces of its hide ?" "There!" exclaimed Ragnar.