But he spoke no word, and as he stood there, I turned and walked out into the courtyard and to the gate, going steadily and without looking round, like a man who has nothing either to keep or hurry him.
Three grooms, whom I knew, stood with an unbridled horse on one side, but they were busy and minded me not till I was just at the gate.
Then one said to the other, "Yonder goes Heregar, as I live!" Then there came a cry like a howl of rage from the hall, but no word of command as yet, nor did either housecarle come out that I could hear.
Then I was at the gate, and as I passed it, turning sharp to the right, for that was the nearest way to the woods, I heard one running across the court.
When I heard that, instead of keeping straight on, I doubled quickly round the angle of the palisade.

By the time I had turned it the man may have been at the gate, and would think me vanished.

But now I ran and got to cover in a thicket close to the rear of the house.

A bad place enough, but I must chance it.
I could hear shouts now from the courtyard.

I looked round for a way to escape, but to reach the woods I had now a long bit of open ground to cover, and was puzzled.