"Our family prophet has settled the matter.
Let us go home." "Olaf said that _a_ bear was dead," answered Steinar, hesitating.
Ragnar, who had already swung himself round in his quick fashion, spoke back over his shoulder: "Isn't that enough for you?
Do you want to hunt a skull or the raven sitting on it?
Or is this, perchance, one of Olaf's riddles?
If so, I am too cold to guess riddles just now." "Yet I think there is one for you to guess, brother," I said gently, "and it is: Where is the live bear hiding?
Can't you see that there were two bears on that ice-head, and that one has killed and eaten the other ?" "How do you know that ?" asked Ragnar.
"Because I saw the slot of the second as we passed the birch wood yonder.

It has a split claw on the left forefoot and the others are all worn by the ice." "Then why in Odin's name did you not say so before ?" exclaimed Ragnar angrily.
Now I was ashamed to confess that I had been dreaming, so I answered at hazard: "Because I wished to look upon the sea and the floating ice.

See what wondrous colours they take in this light!" When he heard this, Steinar burst out laughing till tears came into his blue eyes and his broad shoulders shook.

But Ragnar, who cared nothing for scenery or sunsets, did not laugh.

On the contrary, as was usual with him when vexed, he lost his temper and swore by the more evil of the gods.