His feet were yet bound, and he would need an edge-tool to loose that binding.

Telling him, then, that I would not run the chance of his falling on me from behind, I took his dagger and the seax they had given me, and stuck them in the ground a full hundred yards away, and then bade him, when I was out of sight, crawl thither as best he might and so loose himself.
The poor wretch was too glad to be spared to do aught but repeat that he would do my errand faithfully, and thank me; and, but for the sort of madness that was still on me, I must have been ashamed to torture him so.

I am sorry now as I think of it, and many a man who has well deserved punishment have I let go since that day, fearing lest that old cruelty should be on me again, perhaps.
Then I turned and walked away, and even as I passed the weapons, I heard the low howl of a wolf from the swamp to my right.

Far off it was, but at that sound the man cast himself on hands and knees and began to crawl in all haste to free himself.
Then I laughed again, and plunging deeper into the wood, lost sight of him..